They Walk (32 page)

And I know we’ll be okay.

Everything that happens next, all happens in a blur, and I have to ask Gabe in the morning if it was real. Noah had found my parents along with six others, three guys and three girls, hiding at the theater, and came after us after finding them. He didn’t know what Hunter was planning to do he had said that Hunter made up some excuse to get away. Not that it matters now anyway. Since it was dark, we didn’t want to get caught outside any longer than we had to, so Gabe suggested we all stay in the Library for the night. Somehow I managed to walk into the library and not fall on my face, it helped though that my parents never let go of me.

At some point the others are introduced, and we are met with an unusual crowd.

There are two girls that are polar opposites one light and the other dark. There is a woman that was a professor here, and she is middle aged with greying hair. Two of the guys are regular looking with light hair and eyes, but the other guy is rather bulky with dark features. They all pretty much kept to themselves and I ended up sitting against a bookshelf with my mom and dad with Gabe.

He and I together, told them everything that happened to us and where Dan is.

I find out that shortly after they left an art exhibit in the city, things were already bad out. The came back home though, but ended getting caught here at the school. At some point between the tears and the hugs, I end up falling asleep in Gabe’s arms.

Chapter Fifty Five

“
Maggie, wake up sweetie.” A woman’s voice whispers softly, that sounds strangely like my mothers.

My mother, and that thought alone pulls me from a dreamless sleep.

I open my eyes to see her leaning over me, and everything that happened the night before comes crashing onto me so fast, that I sit up gasping for breath. I wish that I didn’t though, because my entire body is alive with pain from my head to my toes. When my mom takes me in her arms and holds onto me, I can feel tears blurring my still swollen and puffy eyes, but I lean into all the same and let myself feel the illusion of safety.

“
Am I interrupting anything ladies?” My dad Mark says, as he sits beside us.

I pull back from my mom so that I can get a good look at him, and he makes me smile right away. You have to love a man that can be an accountant but still look like the guy from the Die Hard movies.

“
Hi dad, I’m just glad I didn’t dream getting you guys back.” I say, and I have to clear my throat as it feels all scratchy and achy.

When I place my hand to my throat and it hurts, that’s when I remember other events from last night.

Events evolving Hunter and him chocking me, and that would explain the sore throat. That’s not all that hurts this morning either, my head feels like I got hit by a semi going full throttle. Here is me, wishing I remembered to pack those pill packets I got from a doctor the other day.

“
We’re glad to back together too honey.” My mom Karen says, as she lightly slides a lock of my hair back over my shoulders.

I try to give them both a reassuring smile, but here’s the kicker, I don’t know how to be myself around them anymore. I’m not sure they would like the girl I’ve become, and I’ve left out some things that have happened such as me killing to guys outright. I’m sure they would understand, but I don’t even know how to keep up with the changes, and I don’t know if I’m ready for them to yet.

“
Those are some very interesting guys you’re traveling with Maggie.” My dad says as he stares beyond me.

I follow his eyes, and sure enough there are Gabe and Noah deep in conversation, no doubt about what the next move is. They are discussing things with the other people we met last night, and they look pretty shell shocked, if that’s possible. That makes me wonder how long I was asleep, but by the dim morning light in the Library, it must have been all night.

“
If it wasn’t for Noah we wouldn’t even be here, he not only drove us but also got us weapons to use. You know Gabe already, Dan’s friend?” I say to my parents, whom are watching me questioningly.

“
That’s Gabriel?” My mom asks, actually shocked by my admission.

My dad however leans forward and pears at Gabe in deep thought, before glancing back to me, with a proud expression.

“
I honestly didn’t think he was the same boy, he has come a long way.”

“
You have no idea dad.” I say softly, as Gabe and Noah both walk over to us leaving the others to themselves.

“
Glad to have you awake Maggie.” Noah says to me as he actually smiles like he’s happy to see me.

I give him a smile in return, and I think he’s only being so friendly because of the whole Hunter thing. It’s not his fault that guy was a total lunatic. If I have the time, I’ll have to let him know that, and thank him for finding my parents. I lose my train of thought though, when Gabe comes over and sits right beside me and places his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a quick hug.

“
I second that Mag pie. How are you feeling?” He says softly into my hair, which causes my face to heat up with a blush.

Feeling awkward with the pda around my parents, I shift to the side so that his arm falls off my shoulders and I even more awkwardly pat him on the arm. This gets me a confused look from him, and an even funnier one from my parents and Noah. Kill me now please?

“
Feel like I got hit by a truck, but other than that still alive I guess.” I tell him and try to avoid looking at him, as my face flames.

“
All right, let’s get to the point then shall we? We won’t all fit in my car, and we have to leave as soon as possible.” Noah interrupts the awkward silence, thank goodness.

“
We were talking with some of the others, and they think that some of the cars that are parked on the other side of this building might have the keys still in them.” Gabe tells us.

“
Right and we concluded that we should split up. One group head to my car and take off, while the other group goes after another one to use.” Noah finishes while gazing at my parents and I, as if waiting for something.

Split up the group?

That didn’t work so well the last time, and I don’t know if I could do it again. From the way Gabe is watching me so intently now; I wonder whose group he and I will be in.

“
How are we going to divvy up?” My dad asks the question, I am too afraid too.

Gabe and Noah share a look, before fixing my dad with one.

“
We three, plus two of the other guys should head for the parked cars too check them. We could use the muscle in case of trouble.” Noah says hesitantly.

“
Okay…what about the rest of us?” My mom asks.

“
Maggie will be taking you to Noah’s car, and get you to the Collisee.” Gabe says while he watches me.

My heart almost stops beating, how could he even think of leaving me? I know he thinks he’ll be doing the rest of us a favor, in the off chance they don’t make it, but this plan sucks for sure.

“
Are you kidding me? You’re entrusting me to get everyone else out of here? Have you met me, all I know how to do is swing an ax here boys.” I say with a shaky laugh, surly they have to have a better plan to use.

When they both fix me with a serious look, I know they really mean for me to be the getaway driver.

Great.

Gabe sensing my confliction, scoots back closer to me, and places a hand on my cheek so lightly, I almost don’t feel it.

“
Maggie, you’re the strongest person I know, and you can do this. We’ll be putting a dent in the dead with the machine guns and grenades, so it won’t be a big fight for you guys. I know you can do this.” He says.

As he leans in and stares intently into my eyes, I ignore the fact that my parents are sitting right next to me.

“
What about you though? What if there isn’t a car for you guys to use, then what? You can’t just walk from here to the Collisee.”

“
I hope we find one, but if need be, we can walk if we have too.” He says softly.

“
That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard Gabriel. I don’t like it, and if you say it’s going to be alright, I’m so kicking your ass.” I say just as softly.

He smirks at me and leans back to say, “I love you Maggie, you know that?”

Feeling tears in my eyes again, I nod at him and turn away before they fall.

When I’m out of the safety of his arms, I realize that everyone else is now standing a ways from us giving us privacy. Taking a deep breath, I reach for Gabe’s hand and we get to our feet and join them. As we do, I try to ignore the way my parents give strange looks to me and Gabe being ‘together’.

“
So here it goes, I’m going to take lead with the grenades. Then Gabe and Mark are going to be firing with the machine guns. After us, Dean and Ian are going to trail us with handguns and we are all going to clear a decent path for us all.” Noah says in a commanding voice to everyone, and the faces me when Gabe and I get close to the group.

“
Maggie, you’re leading everyone else to my car. Don’t stop for anything no matter what, and just get out of here. Can you do that?” He asks.

I stare around at everyone, and for some reason this feels like the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I have to do it even if it scares me, and I can’t let anyone down. So I nod a yes to Noah, to mortified at the moment to use words.

“
Good, let’s get ready then, it’s now or never.”

Noah tosses me his keys that were clutched in his hands, and I catch them clumsily to myself.

I pray I don’t get anyone killed.

It takes us all at least twenty minutes to gear up with what we have, and when we do, I’m still not ready to go. Before the guys leave, my dad is saying goodbye to my mother on the other side of the room, so I see my chance to do the same with Gabe. I pull him to the side, and before he can question me I wrap my arms around the back of his neck and pull him down to me.

When his lips meet mine, I sigh into him and stand on my toes to push into him deeper.

His arms latch around my back and he squeezes me tightly, so much so that I let out a moan into his lips. We pull apart breathlessly at the same time, and I quickly lean in to just hug him now, and pray that this won’t be the last time we touch.

We all regroup then, and I swiftly unhook both knives that are still attached to my ankles and give them to the girls who are named Brooke and Rose. I noticed they are the only ones to not have weapons on my little team. My mom has a gun, and so does the guy in my group Mason. The other woman with is Eva, has a knife of her own. Stopping myself from being distracted, I watch nervously as Noah and Gabe start for the entrance of the Library.

I grip the ax in my hands as we follow close behind.

Chapter Fifty Six

From the closed doors, you can see out with small windows that it looks like a perfect sunny July morning. That is until you take a look at what is waiting in the courtyard for us. Noah walks out the front of the Library first, and the vast number of the dead waiting doesn’t alarm him, as he lets the first grenade fly as soon as he places his feet on the steps.

Like all the other times, the boom sounds off like fireworks.

It sends all the dead flying outwards in pieces.

Gabe and my dad step up then and follow Noah down the steps firing the machine guns into the mass of the dead still charging. As they get to the bottom of the steps, the other two guys flank them using their hand guns and they all start for the left of the building.

Raising the ax high in my arms, I head for the stairs and pray that the others can keep up with me.

When we reach the bottom and head for the left with guys, it’s comforting to see that more than half of the dead out here has already been eliminated. We round the side of the building and rather than going to the left and to a side street, I lead the others straight out to the main road where Noah’s car is parked. The guys are still shooting as they run, and a path is cleared for us to have a head start, but I don’t pay attention to what they are doing.

Instead, I run as if my life depended on it, and I guess it kind of does.

The others of my group keep up pace, and I make sure to keep my mom in my line of sight, I won’t lose her now that I just got her back. We almost make it the whole way without any problems, but are just breaking out between two small buildings and nearing the main road when we see another mass of at least twenty of the dead approaching us.

My mother and Mason start shooting at them instantly, and they take out about half before they run out of ammo. I call out to my mom, and toss her Noah’s car keys as I prepare to stand my ground to put a bigger dent in the dead in our path. I’m not the only one to think this as Brooke, Rose, and even Eva prepare to help me out thankfully. We take the first rush strikingly fast, and our blades slide through their soft flesh so easily. I’ve already sliced through two heads and am about to go for the third, when I hear a scream that causes me to hesitate, and in that moment I miss the body entirely.

The swing carries me around and causes me to lose my balance, and the dead crashes into me and sends us on the ground. I yell in frustration, and just manage to get the ax between us and hold his snapping jaw from me. It’s bloody and bent fingers claw at me, and I can feel my blood slide down my skin as I struggle to get him off me. My mind feels sluggish for some reason, and I’m having a hard time trying to figure out what to do next.