Among Monsters: A Red Hill Novella by Jamie McGuire Page A

more people. If I were older—”
    “There are a lot of adults around. None of them have stopped this. Don’t carry that around with you.”
    “I’m not carrying anything. The only things I have are my clothes.”
    “Where do you live? Maybe we could go get some of your things?”
    He shook his head. “What does any of that stuff matter now?”
    I shrugged. His way of thinking made me miss Chloe. I wondered where she was, if her mom had picked her up in time. I would hope. That was all I had left. “I wish I could have brought something from my old room. Makes it feel more like home.” When Connor didn’t respond, I continued, “It’s not as loud as I thought it would be. Not a lot of screaming or hysterics. People get quiet when they’re afraid.”
    “It’s only been two days,” Connor said without emotion. “Give them time.”
    “Halle used to talk all the time. She’s barely said a word. She hasn’t even really cried.”
    “Good. Loud kids get eaten.”
    “You’re creepy,” I said, crossing my arms.
    He leaned back and looked at me, the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. “You’re weird.”
    “Yeah? Well, I’m not the one staring at a cemetery when dead people are walking around.”
    “I’m not staring at the cemetery. I’m watching Skeeter.”
    “Who’s Skeeter?” I asked.
    “The guy who saved me.”
    “I thought you said your teacher saved you?”
    “He saved me from my teacher.”
    My eyebrows shot up. “Oh.”
    “He’s burying his wife.”
    I furrowed my brows. “Oh.”
    “She was pretty. April said she said she was pregnant. I’m pretty sure he had to shoot her. It was…sad, I guess—if that’s the right word.”
    “Sad is the right word.”
    “It doesn’t seem like enough.”
    “May I?” I asked, pointing to the hole.
    Connor wasn’t imagining things. A man was standing in the cemetery with a shovel, and a body covered in plastic was lying on the ground next to him. “I see him,” I said.
    “Yep.”
    The man was filthy, covered in sweat, and once in a while, he would pause to aim and fire his gun.
    So, that’s where the gunshots were coming from.
    He was fearless, his shaggy sandy-blond hair sticking out of his ball cap. He was too far from me, so I couldn’t make out his face, but his body would shake periodically, and I knew that he was crying.
    “Should we tell him we’re here? He seems like a good person to have around. Good with a gun,” I asked.
    “April already tried. He’s going to find his brother and niece when he’s done.”
    I looked at Connor. “I’m sorry about your parents and your teacher. That sucks—a lot.”
    “Yep,” he said before walking away.

“ WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WE’RE NOT GOING? ” I said, balling my hands into fists.
    Dad and Tavia had pulled me into one of the bedrooms minutes after I’d woken up. A candle was the only light. The sun hadn’t risen far enough from the horizon to light the cracks around the boarded windows. By their body language, I could tell this was a secret meeting, one that they were keeping from the younger kids.
    Dad held up his hands, palms out. “Yet. I said, we’re not going yet.”
    “Then, when?” I asked.
    Tavia gestured for Dad to let her take over. “I understand that you want to get to your mom as soon as possible. I want you to, too. But we’ve had a long couple of days. We need to rest, eat, and make a plan. Then, we can decide from there.”
    “Decide what?” I asked.
    Tavia reached out for me, but I pulled away.
    “If we’re going to try to walk the rest of the way.”
    “If?” I said, my voice getting louder. “Try?”
    “Jenna,” Dad said, “don’t upset the kids.”
    “How many times do I have to say it?” I asked. “Mom is waiting on us. Every day we don’t show up there, the more she worries. What if she’s hurt? What if she needs our help? What if she’s alone? She’s only a few miles away!” I pointed at Dad. “You didn’t let me catch