Chapter 8

Evelyn’s POV

“There's someone else outside,” he said. “I heard them screaming. I think they're coming here.”

Ethan pulled his hand away. “What?”

The man stumbled towards the living room. His shoulder struck the kitchen table, sending a glass crashing to the floor. He bent over, gripping the edge of the table as though he couldn't catch his breath.

“Are you okay?” Ethan asked.

The man didn't answer as his back began to jerk. I took two steps backwards.

“Ethan, get away from him.”

He turned his head. The man's mouth opened, but instead of words, a low, wet sound came out. His fingers tightened around the table until his knuckles turned white.

Then he lifted his head and his eyes were bloodshot.

“Help me,” he rasped.

Ethan stepped closer but I grabbed his shoulder. “Don't!”

The man lunged and everything happened at once.

Ethan stumbled backwards as the stranger crashed into him. They hit the kitchen counter, sending plates and utensils scattering across the floor. The man's teeth snapped close to Ethan's neck.

“Get him off me!” Ethan shouted.

I grabbed the nearest chair and swung it against the man's back but he barely reacted.

I struck him again, harder this time. The chair broke against his shoulder, but he only turned towards me.

His face was twisted, his mouth hanging open as he released a growl that didn't sound human. I backed away, searching for something I could use as a weapon.

The man charged.

I dodged, but his shoulder clipped mine, sending me crashing against the refrigerator. Pain shot through my arm.

Vanessa screamed and Ethan scrambled to his feet and rushed towards her.

“Vanessa!”

The stranger turned at the sound and lunged in her direction. Ethan caught her around the waist and dragged her behind the kitchen island.

I pushed myself away from the refrigerator.

“Ethan!”

He didn't look at me. The infected man slammed into the island. Vanessa screamed again, and Ethan pulled her down, shielding her with his body.

I reached for a knife on the counter. The man's head turned towards me.

I held the knife with both hands, my fingers trembling.

“Stay back,” I whispered and swung the knife, catching his shoulder. He barely slowed down. His hand struck my chest, and I fell hard against the floor.

The knife slipped from my fingers.

“Ethan!” I looked towards him  but he was already moving Vanessa towards the hallway.

“Ethan, help me!”

He glanced back and for one brief second, our eyes met. I was on the floor, the infected man turning towards me, and my husband was standing a few feet away with Vanessa clinging to him.

Ethan tightened his arm around Vanessa.

“Come on, baby. I've got you.”

The word cut deeper than the pain in my shoulder. He pulled her towards the hallway. “Ethan, don't leave me!”

He hesitated.

I reached for the fallen knife, but the infected man was already moving. His hands scraped across the floor as he crawled towards me.

“Ethan!” I screamed again.

“Just get up and move!” he shouted.

I stared at him in disbelief. He had opened the door. He had ignored every warning I gave him. He had brought this man into our home, and now he was telling me to save myself while he carried Vanessa away.

He looked at me once more. Then he turned and disappeared into the hallway with her, leaving me all alone.

The infected man dragged himself upright, blood dripping from his mouth. My shoulder throbbed, and my hands were shaking so badly that I could barely hold the knife.

I thought about my parents.

My mother waiting for me to come. My father refusing to let her examine his arm. The promise I had made to reach them.

And Ethan had just made it harder.

He had risked all our lives to bring a stranger inside, then abandoned me when his decision put us in danger.