Chapter 9

Evelyn's POV

The infected man stumbled forward, forcing me to move away from the cabinet. I tried to reach the kitchen counter, hoping to find something I could use to keep him away, but my shoulder throbbed every time I lifted my arm.

A glass lay broken near my feet. I bent to pick up a piece, but the movement sent another wave of pain through my shoulder.

The man suddenly lurched towards me.

I stumbled backwards and hit the refrigerator. My breath caught as he reached for my clothes.

“Please, stay away!”

I pushed against his chest, but he barely moved. His fingers caught my sleeve, and I struggled to pull free.

He was stronger than me.

Much stronger.

My knees nearly gave way as I tried to keep him at a distance. I couldn't understand how someone who had been begging for help moments earlier could turn into this.

“Somebody help me!”

My voice cracked.

I looked towards the hallway again, hoping Ethan would return. Even after everything, some desperate part of me wanted him to come back and help me.

But he had already made his choice.

He had chosen Vanessa.

The infected man pulled at my sleeve, and I cried out as the fabric tore. I stumbled sideways, knocking a chair over. It crashed onto the floor, but the man didn't even flinch.

I tried to move around the kitchen island, but he followed.

My breathing became uneven. My shoulder was burning, my palm was scraped, and I was beginning to feel dizzy.

I couldn't keep this up.

My mother flashed through my mind.

She was probably still waiting for me to call. My father might be getting worse, and I had no idea whether she had managed to keep him away from her.

I had promised to reach them.

I couldn't die here.

Not after getting another chance.

“Please,” I whispered, backing towards the kitchen wall. “I don't want to die.”

The man lunged.

I raised my injured arm instinctively, but the impact sent me crashing against the cabinets. Pain shot through my shoulder, and I cried out.

His hands caught my clothes again.

I tried to push him away, but my strength was gone. My fingers slipped against his bloodied shirt as he forced me down.

“Get off me!”

I struggled beneath him, but every movement made my shoulder hurt worse. His face came closer, his mouth opening as he snapped at me.

I turned my head just in time to keep his teeth from reaching my neck.

A sob escaped me.

“Help!”

I didn't know who I was calling anymore. Ethan was gone. Vanessa was gone. My parents were too far away to hear me.

I was alone.

The infected man's weight pressed against my chest. I tried to shove him away, but my arms were shaking too badly.

Then I heard something outside.

An engine.

For one foolish second, I thought Ethan had returned.

“Help me!” I screamed.

The engine stopped.

Footsteps followed, approaching the house.

I couldn't see the front door from where I lay, but I heard someone moving around outside. A moment later, the front door opened.

The infected man jerked his head towards the sound, then turned back to me.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I couldn't hold him back anymore.

The footsteps grew closer.

Then a gunshot rang through the house. The weight pressing against my chest suddenly disappeared.

I opened my eyes, gasping for air.

The infected man lay motionless beside me.

For a moment, I couldn't understand what had happened. I stared at his body, waiting for him to move again, but he didn't.

Someone stepped into the kitchen and I lifted my head weakly.

A tall man stood in the doorway, holding a gun. His eyes moved quickly over the room before settling on me.

Then he lowered his weapon. “Evelyn.”

I stared at him through my tears.

It was Damien Cross.