06

Ethan's first gunshot cracked through the station.

The pack charged.

“Untie Nora,” Ethan ordered.

Logan stared at him. “Now? Why are we helping the zombie?”

“Untie her.”

There was enough steel in Ethan's voice to make Logan move.

He came toward me with a knife and an expression that suggested he'd rather use it on my throat. Across the room, Avery watched with wet eyes and open disappointment.

I, on the other hand, was delighted.

See? Ethan still cared.

Once my hands were free, I could've run. Instead, I stayed beside him and helped bring down several wolves.

Even after dying, I had standards.

Avery had gone pale. She probably hadn't seen many zombies up close, much less a pack of infected wolves.

To be fair, neither had I.

But I'd fought a crowd of zombies for several minutes before I went down. That made me practically a veteran.

Ethan kept Avery tucked against his side, covering her from every direction while he fired.

Jealousy gnawed at me.

Lucky girl.

When only a few wolves remained, I decided it was time to leave. I made it three steps before Ethan caught the back of my jacket.

“Going somewhere?”

“Hrrk.”

Could zombies look embarrassed? Because I felt spectacularly embarrassed.

Behind him, one last wolf lunged for Avery.

I didn't like her, but I didn't want to watch her die. I opened my mouth to warn Ethan.

He moved first.

He grabbed me and hurled me into the wolf's path, then pulled Avery into his arms.

I hit the animal hard enough to send us both sprawling.

I twisted back toward Ethan, fury tightening every dead muscle in my face.

Before I could make a sound, a bullet punched through my forehead.

Ethan went still.

So did I.

Soldiers filled the ruined entrance. At their head stood a man with an assault rifle still aimed at me.

He hurried to Avery.

“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head and smiled up at him. “I'm fine. Ethan protected me.”

Her brother handed Ethan a metal clearance badge.

“This will get you into the survivor compound. Come on. I'll take you in.”

Humans reunited. Zombie eliminated.

Perfect ending.

Except I was the zombie.

As I fell, memories flashed through my mind. Every meal I'd fought for. Every exam I'd passed. Every plan I'd made.

I'd worked so hard to stay alive.

I had never expected living to be this difficult.

The last thing I saw was Ethan staring at me instead of taking the badge.

His eyes were red. His voice shook.

“Nora?”