“Gosh! You scared us!” Finn says, rubbing his chest.
“Riley. I’m glad you’re okay,” I smile widely and hug her. I pull away seconds later, cupping the sides of her head with my hands. I notice how big my hands are compared to her head. “Do you feel better? Does your stomach still hurt? Are you hurt anywhere? Are you hungry?”
She only stares at me with her soulless expression.
“What?”
Alia clears her throat. “She doesn’t like being hugged by surprise.”
I immediately remove my hands from her, taking a few steps back. “Oh, I’m sorry.
“Where are we?” Riley asks again.
“We’re in a not-so-safe abandoned building, Riles, and now we’re stuck,” Nathalie replies to her. “We can’t get out tonight.”
“Well, you took us here,” Dan says.
Nath rolls her eyes. “Says the one who agreed with me.”
“Who’s alive?” Riley asks, seemingly ignoring their debate.
“We are,” Edward replies.
“Yeah, I need a headcount.”
I reply to her instead, clearing my throat as I begin. “We have Claude, Kirby, Stephen, Gwen, Katy, Lenore, Alia, Adam, Ysa, Mark, Josh, Brahm, Finn, Edward, Andrew, Nathalie, Jay, and Dan.”
“Don’t forget the dog,” Andrew says behind me.
“And the dog.”
“His name’s Luke.”
“And his name’s Luke.”
“Cool name, Andy.” Riley comments.
“Wait, wait, wait.” Dan comes to my front as he mutters. “Did you just say ‘Dan’?”
I nod at him. “Yeah, weren’t you alive this whole time?”
He furrows his eyebrows tightly.” How did you know my name?”
My eyes bulge as I knew I just got caught out by myself. My heart pounces and more sweat beads form on my neck and forehead. I always reminded myself not to say his name out loud or else Riley and Dan himself would find out I was actually on the rooftop, eavesdropping on their conversation. Damn this slipping tongue.
“Uh, what?” I chuckle, faking a smile.
“You know my name, and I never even told anyone of it.” He scrutinizes.
“Oh, uh… Riley told me.”
No! That’s a stupid lie! I know she won’t cover it up for me, I swear!
“No, I didn’t.”
I knew it!
Dan’s focus draws onto her, cocking his head. She rolls her eyes as she says, “I said I didn’t, and I do not lie.”
I clear my throat as both of them are glaring at me. “I swear she told me.”
“You know I didn’t.”
“Right, she didn’t.” I chuckle again. “I’m not the only one who knows about it, Danny.”
He squeezes his eyes shut. “Don’t!” His thundering voice makes me flinch back, holding out one finger up firmly. He takes a deep sigh before saying something more. “Don’t call me that. Just Dan.”
His voice is calmer and yet the way he told me that sounds a bit threatening. “Oooo-kay? I’m sorry?”
“Guys, please don’t get sidetracked,” Nathalie says behind me.
“No, wait.” Riley holds her palm up. “How did you find out? Because I swear on my life, I didn’t tell anybody.”
I drop my head down as I decide to give in. “I was on the rooftop with you. But I wasn’t alone. Stephen and Ivan were with me.”
“Please stop saying his name.” Gwen whispers, sounding like catching her breath.
“Take a seat, Gwen.” Ysa guides her to the couch.
“I’m sorry, Gwen.”
“Yeah, she’s right.” Dan nods as he looks at his shoes. “Nobody should mention anyone dead from now on. And that’s a law.
Now how does that even go with calling him ‘Danny’? Is Danny dead or something?
“So, what are we gonna do now?” Brahm asks. “We can’t just stay here.”
“We’re not going to,” Dan responds to him. “I have a plan.”
The Protectors and the Fighters made a plan to go outside to create traps for the bloodies. They go outside by the windows of this room, walking on the terrace. The others left with me and Riley is eating their snacks for dinner. Riley is, too. There’s light in the room now. Mark lit some candles that the others brought. It just makes me smile that they have remembered even the smallest important things that could be handy in the future—just like candles. Some even brought pillows with them—or plushies as an alternative to pillows.
I sit on the floor, my back leaning against the wall. I grow bored, so I fiddle with my wristwatch. Then Riley comes to sit next to me. Her hand weighs on my shoulder as she helps herself down. “Sorry,” she mutters.
I grin. “It’s okay.”
“No, I’m sorry for being a burden to you. You had to carry me up all the way here.”
“I didn’t mind at all. So it’s fine.”
“Your back must hurt from all the weight I have.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “What hurts me more is seeing you sick. By the way, are you feeling alright?”
She nods as she sighs, hugging her knees with both arms. “The pain comes and goes, but I can handle it. How about you?”
“How about me? I’m alright. I think I can carry you for a few more hours.”
She lets out a chuckle, her white, perfect teeth showing under the dark light that comes from the flames of the candles. Her hazel eyes pierce into my blue ones, and for the first time, I can hear my heart beating together with hers. My hand lifts itself, unbeknownst to me, where it goes. It strokes her hair, tucking it behind her ear. Then it brushes on her soft cheek, which glows red right before my eyes. My thumb wanders itself to her pink-flushed lips, too smooth and bouncy. It’s driven me badly to make the move.
I slowly lean onto her, now our faces inches away, diminishing every second until…
“We didn’t even find out how long the bloodie would rise again.” She wonders, pinching her chin.
I clear my throat as I pull away. I chuckle. “Yeah.”
She cocks her head, looking up to the black ceiling. “We didn’t find a bloodie with a halved head along with the horde in the mall, did we?”
My mouth forms an arch, dismay aches in my chest, and the hair on my skin rises. I swing myself forth and back, rubbing my arms. “Yeah, we didn’t.”
“Well, maybe it didn’t break out of the room. Or it could still be dead until now.”
“Yeah, I think so.” I chuckle again.
She yawns before I can say anything else. She leans her head against the wall and closes her eyes. “I should just take a nap.”
I grin, moving her hair off of her shoulder subconsciously. “Sure, you should. Sleep tight.”
She closes her eyes, probably drifting off at this moment. I watch her for what feels like hours until I tire my eyes, and then I don’t hear or see anything else but her.