Page 142 of Remnants
Shit. Shit. Shit.
The others don’t have time for me to sit here and get my shit together. It looked like Royce turned everyone’s gifts off, including Rae and Kell who are now vulnerable to the zombies or darts. And Aiden’s closer to the ground. Has the gas risen at all, or is he close enough that it might get in his lungs?
Peeking around the bar, I quickly calculate my route. There are plenty of overturned tables, benches, and chairs I can use for coverwith the help of the remaining fog. I just have to get close enough to take the shot where I know I won’t miss.
Deep breath.
Go!
Keeping myself hunched and low, I race to the first table. Then the next. Another one. Fuck, this room never felt so big before as it does now. I make it to the next one, then freeze when a zombie catches me, moaning and stumbling in my direction. A quick glance around the table tells me I’m not close enough yet.
At least the thing moves slowly, but how long until someone notices it’s following someone?
Gritting my teeth, I push on to the next two. The first zombie picks up a following of others staggering toward me. When I check on Royce, he’s frowning at them.
I can’t sit here and wait for him to discover me, but if I move, I’m sure he’ll notice me. My palms are sweaty, even as cold as I fucking feel, and I take turns wiping them on my jeans as I catch my breath, chest tight. After several gasping breaths, I dart to the next table then stumble when Royce looks directly at me. His brows pinch with confusion.
Fuck, it’s now or never.
I’m not as close as I’d hoped to be, but I can already see Thorne and Jackson flying toward me in my periphery. It strikes me as I raise my gun that I might kill my sister with this, and I hesitate. Fuck. I knew we were going to take down Royce. I’ve known all this time, but now that the moment is here and it’s up to me, I don’t know if I can pull the trigger.
Get it together. They’re all counting on you.Raeis counting on you.
The zombies were getting closer to her and Kellan. I would never forgive myself if she got hurt again because of me. I swore to protect her from now on.
I’m sorry, Vera.
I take a deep breath. Then fire twice on my exhale, the gun clicking empty on the third trigger.
Royce somehow dodges my headshot, but the second bullet catches his shoulder. He grabs at it with a scream and drops to his knees.
Jackson immediately attacks Thorne, interrupting his strike on me. Thank fuck. The zombies all trip and falter, and the Guild members start fighting the GE agents. Vera lowers her gun, her expression pleading as she looks at me. No…pastme.
I follow her gaze to Raegan, whose hand is already planted on the floor. Red cracks split the hardwood. But it’s not the zombies around her that she’s aiming for. She sends it past them across the length of the main hall. I track it to Royce, and realize I have seconds to make it to Vera.
I race to her. Vera smiles, and this time, I’m close enough to read her lips.“Goodbye.”
“Wait!” I shout, my heart pounding in my chest.
Royce screams.
Vera shudders, her eyes closing and face tight as if she’s in pain. Her knees bend, and I dive to catch her.
“Vera! I’ve got you. I’m here.” I pull her onto my lap, fear shaking my hands and voice.
“Dane.” Her eyes slowly open. She reaches for my cheek, and I grab her hand, pressing it to my face. “I’m sorry I wasn’t a better sister to you.”
“It’s not your fault,” I rush out, squeezing her hand. “I should’ve protected you on the island. I should have noticed—should have been there for you more—” My throat clogs, all the words I want to say choking me until I can hardly breathe.
Vera shudders again, her face pinching, and I whip my gaze to Royce. He’s still screaming on his knees, his skin split and bleeding as he clutches his body. The zombies are all twitching on the floor. And Thorne…Jackson’s taking care of Thorne no matter how this ends.
“Don’t cry,” Vera whispers, and I realize my face is soaked. “You’re always so emotional,” she chastises, her voice weakening. “This is what I want. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
I hold her to my chest as thick tears fall uninhibited.Thisis my sister. The one I’d been fighting to find. Did she break through only for us to kill her?
She grips my shirt as I hold her. As I sob over her. My body shakes as I gasp for air, my lungs squeezed in an angry fist. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to save you. I’m so fucking sorry.” Her hand slumps between us. “No!” I choke, rocking her in my arms. “Vera!”
I bury my face into her and let the tears fall as all the memories of the first time she’d died come rushing back in a flood. That same hole in my chest aches and burns. It knocks the air from my lungs as the world spins around me.
