5

The next sound came from the dark.

A soft rustle. Then another. Then too many.

I turned my head.

The shadows beyond the fire were packed with eyes.

Zombie wolves.

"Hhrrr!"

I fought the rope. Everyone else slept like the dead, which was rude, considering I was the dead one.

"Hhrrr!"

Wake up. Wake up. If you people want to die, do it without me attached to your campsite.

I kicked a rock. By luck or divine comedy, it struck Ethan in the head.

He sat up, one hand over his temple. Annie stirred beside him.

"Ethan? What happened?"

Ethan glared at me. "Maya, are you trying to get killed?"

I jerked my chin toward the trees and groaned as hard as I could.

Death. Teeth. Wolves. Please use the one brain cell I used to love.

Ethan understood.

His whole body shifted into combat. He kicked Drew awake.

"Up. Something's coming."

Drew blinked at the dark. "What something? The only dangerous thing here is Maya."

I bared my teeth.

I would not have warned you if I were not scared, genius.

Zombie wolves attacked other zombies, too. I might have been dead, but I did not want to lose an arm.

Ethan fired first.

The pack came out of the dark.

"Drew," Ethan said through his teeth. "Untie Maya."

Drew whipped around. "Are you serious? Now? Why do you still care about that thing?"

"I said untie her."

The command cracked like a whip. Drew hesitated, then came toward me with murder in his eyes.

Annie stood behind Ethan, her eyes red with disappointment.

Me?

I was delighted.

I knew it. Ethan still had feelings for me.

The second the rope fell, I decided a person, or former person, should have a conscience. I planted myself beside Ethan and helped tear through several wolves.

Annie went pale.

Fair. She probably had not seen many zombies, much less zombie wolves.

Then again, neither had I.

A few days ago I had fought regular zombies for several rounds before heroically dying. I was brave. Very brave.

Annie, meanwhile, remained in Ethan's arms, protected from every angle.

My jaw tightened.

Lucky girl.