Erin M. Leaf Read Free Page A

with one horrible swipe. Olivia’s body flared white-hot, then vanished with a crackle of electricity that had Lark choking. She staggered up, barely making it to the bathroom before she vomited all the chocolate she’d just eaten into the toilet.

Chapter Two
     
    Olivia rinsed her mouth out and looked at herself in the mirror. The bathroom was dim because the only light was from a small, high window above the shower. The electricity had gone out a week ago.
    “ You look like shit,” she told her reflection, grimacing. She didn’t want to go back out there. Ben hadn’t broken down at all, not a single tear, even after he’d used the machete on Olivia. She shuddered, thinking about it. She didn’t understand how he could be so strong. She knew she couldn’t have done what was necessary.
    “ Lark? You okay?” Dillon called, just outside the door.
    She forced down another wave of nausea. “Yeah. Sure.” Not letting herself think about it too much, she walked over and opened the door. Across the room, they’d upended the bed and shoved it against the broken glass of the window. The zombie must have come through the damn window, she thought, angry with herself. Why hadn’t she double-checked, triple-checked the wall outside? She’d been so sure they’d got them all earlier.
    D illon glanced down at her hand.
    She still held her toothbrush. Her fingers ached from holding on.
    “We need to go,” he said quietly.
    Lark ’s heart gave a sick double-thump. “You sure you want me to go with you?” She couldn’t imagine why they would. She’d just slow them down. She knew she was strong, but she was small, too, and there was only so much she could do against zombies who were twice her size and three times her weight. Dillon stared at her, as if he couldn’t believe she had to ask. His dark brown eyes were steady. She uncurled her fingers from her toothbrush uncomfortably. She glanced at his hair, dark brown and shot through in places with silver. With a sudden lurch of her gut, she realized he was incredibly handsome. Like, movie-star good-looking. She tore her eyes away and her gaze landed on Olivia’s father.
    Across the room Ben stared at them, all six feet two of him muscled and tense. She forced herself not to stare. Both of them were ridiculously gorgeous and way too old for her. And now is very much not the time to be thinking like that, she told herself. What the fuck is wrong with you? Especially after what just happened? But it was as if her brain couldn’t comprehend the loss. She kept glancing at the two men, so solid and warm and alive.
    “I’d just slow you down,” she said.
    Ben frowned, his entire face shutting down. “Of course, you’re coming with us. Even if Olivia hadn’t asked—” He broke off, visibly steeling himself against what he’d just had to do.
    Thankfully, Dillon interrupted before Ben could continue. “Yeah. You’re coming with us.” His voice left no room for doubt.
    Lark took a deep breath, secretly relieved. She didn’t want to be alone. “Let me get my bag,” she said, heading to her bed. She carefully did not look at the floor where Olivia had died. Seemed wrong that there was no proof that her best friend had ever lived. Instead, she grabbed her already packed backpack and jammed her toothbrush down the front pocket. She shrugged it on. “I’m ready.”
    Ben stared at her. “That’s it?”
    She nodded, then shook her head. “No, wait.” She strode over to Olivia’s desk. She pushed aside some books and pulled out a little painted tin box. When she opened it, she breathed a sigh of relief. She’d hoped the locket hadn’t been lost. She pulled it out and clicked open the slim, silver oval. Inside were two pictures: one of Ben and one of Dillon. “Here,” she said, holding it out to Olivia’s father.
    He looked down at her hand, then slowly reached for the necklace. He popped it open. “I remember when we took these pictures,” he said, voice