Level 4
132 Arthur Street
NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060
AUSTRALIA
My boyfriend.
And it’s my fault. I can blame no one else.
One mistake gave birth to a thousand others.
I knew there were monsters out there. Zombies. I knew they
weren’t the mindless beings movies and books portrayed them
to be. They exist in spirit form, unseen to the ungifted eye.
They’re fast, determined and, at times, smart. They hunger for
the source of life. Our spirits.
I know, I know. That’s laughable, right? Invisible creatures de-
termined to feast on humans from the inside out? Please. But
it’s true. I know, because I became an all-you-can-eat buffet—
and offered my friends as dessert.
Now I’m not just fighting the zombies. I’m fighting to save
the life I love.
I will succeed.
Tick, tock.
It’s time.
1
More and more I’d been dreaming about the crash that killed
my parents and younger sister. I relived the moments as our
car flipped end over end. The sounds of metal crunching into
pavement. The stillness when everything was over, and I was
the only one awake…maybe the only one alive.
I’d struggled to free myself from the seat belt, desperate
to help little Emma. Her head had been twisted at such an
odd angle. My mother’s cheek had been slashed open like a
Christmas ham, and my father’s body had been thrown out
of the car. Panic had made me stupid, and I’d hit my head on
a sharp piece of metal. Darkness had swallowed me whole.
But in my dreams, I watched my mother blink open her
eyes. She was disoriented at first, moaning in pain and try-
ing to make sense of the chaos around her.
Unlike me, she had no problem with her seat belt, freeing
12 GENA SHOWALTER
I stood and paced the room, cursing the injuries that kept
me tucked inside. So I’d been sliced from hip to hip a few
weeks ago. So what? My stitches had been removed and the
flesh was already scarring.
Maybe I should just arm up and head out. I’d rather save
someone I love and risk another life-threatening injury than
do nothing and stay out of harm’s way. But…I didn’t know
where the group had gone, and more than that, if I did man-
age to track them down, Cole would freak. He would be
distracted.
Distraction killed.
Dang it. I would do as I’d been told and wait.
Minutes stretched into hours as I continued to pace, a
sense of unease growing sharper with every second that
passed. Would everyone come back alive? We’d lost two
slayers in the past month alone. None of us were prepared
to lose another.
The hinges on my door squeaked.
Cole slipped inside the room and threw the lock, ensur-
ing that no one would bust in on us. Relief plucked the claws
right out of the unease, and I thrilled.
He was here. He was okay.
He was mine.
His gaze landed on me, and I shivered, waiting for a
vision…hoping for one.
Since the day we’d met, we’d experienced a small glimpse
of the future the first time our eyes locked on any given day.
We’d seen ourselves making out, fighting zombies and even
relaxing in a swing. Today, like almost every day since my
stabbing, I experienced nothing but crushing disappointment.
Why had the visions stopped?
14 GENA SHOWALTER
“You should have shared this info long before now. You
are such a pain, Coleslaw,” I said. Better, but that nickname
wasn’t the winner, either.
“I know, but I’m your pain.”
And just like that, my irritation drained away. How did
he do it?
“Does Mr. Ankh know you’re here?” Since my grandfather
had died and my grandparents’ house had been torched, Nana
and I had moved in with Mr. Ankh and his daughter, Reeve.
Mr. Ankh—Dr. Ankh to everyone outside his circle of
trust—knew about the zombies and did all the medical work
on the slayers. Reeve had no idea what was going on, and we
were supposed to keep her in the dark. Or else. Her father
wanted her to have as normal a life as possible.
What was normal, exactly?
“I gave Ankh’s security the finger,” Cole said with a
twinge of pride. “He would feel the need to tell your grand-
mother, and I don’t want to be kicked out and have to sneak
back in. I just want to be with you.”
“So you’re planning to stay here all night and hold me,
Coley Guacamole?” Ugh. I shouldn’t have gone there. That
one reeked.
He barked out a laugh. “I liked King Cole better.”
“That’s not actually a surprise.”
“It just fits me so well.”
“I’m sure you think so.” I gave a gentle tug on his nipple
ring.
“I doubt I’m the only one. And yes, I’m staying.” He curled
his fingers over mine, pried my grip loose and brought my
knuckles to his mouth for a kiss. A second later, there was
a flash of panic in his eyes. One I didn’t understand and
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