we’ll find is a crapload of highly explosive chemicals. Ain’t you heard of meth labs blowing up?”
“Sure, but couldn’t we move the chemicals outside or something?”
“Half the stuff in there’ll kill you by just inhaling it.”
“Listen, we’re not even sure it’s a meth lab. Let’s peek in the window. Just check for supplies.”
Cole’s gaze pierces me. “You gotta trust me on this—a ton of these shacks popped up in the last five years. I know what I’m talking about. Crankheads set ’em deep in the forest where the law don’t come. Only find out when they blow themselves to smithereens.” His jaw sets in a hard line. “I ain’t going in there.”
My exasperation level rises. “I don’t think it’s quite that simple to blow yourself up in a meth lab.”
Cole mirrors my anger. “You’re a smart girl. You tell me. Phosphorus, ethyl alcohol, lithium metal.” He ticks them off on his fingers. “One strike of a match and we’d be toast.”
I smirk. “If only we had some matches.”
He swears and stomps farther up the creek. If I’m going in the meth shack, it’s pretty obvious I’m going alone. Still barefoot and clutching my sneakers, I carefully pick my way up the bank into the dead grass. I’ve made it about ten steps before Cole grabs the hood of my jacket, jerking me backward.
“Do not go in there. Are you that stupid?”
And then, he actually slings me over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold.
Every ounce of blood in my body is replaced by boiling oil. “Let me go!” I wriggle in his arms like a child having a tantrum.
No response. I struggle, but he’s simply stronger than I am.
He finally sets me back down, feet-first in the water. I try to step away, but his hands clamp on my shoulders. We stand, inches apart, glaring into each other’s eyes. I fight the urge to smack him with my sneakers.
“You ain’t going in that shed,” he orders.
“You’re such a douchebag sometimes.”
He grits his teeth. “You get pissed every time I try to save your life. Pretty soon I’m gonna stop trying.”
“Go for it.”
Fury clouds his face, turning his silver-blue eyes to ice. “I oughta do myself a favor. I oughta march you back to Bethany and let the two of you kill each other. It’d make my life a hell of a lot simpler.”
I throw his hands off my shoulders. “Guess what, you tool , it’s not my fault your girlfriend’s been drinking crazysauce and has to act like a total bitch. Why the hell would you date someone like that?”
His eyes widen a fraction. And then a slight smile tilts his lips. “Are you mad because I have a girlfriend?”
My mouth drops open.
Is some small, teeny-tiny fraction of my brain upset because Cole is dating someone?
“No!” I scream, not caring if every bear and zombie in the forest hears me. “I’m mad about the lack of food, about the cold, about endless walking, about going the wrong direction—yes, I know we’re going in the wrong direction! I’m not stupid! But mostly I’m mad about not knowing for sure if my parents are okay! I’m mad because all my friends, my relatives, everyone I know has turned into a creepy corpse-creature!”
His smile dissolves. He glances at the trees nervously. “Stop yelling. Yelling is a bad idea.”
I fight the urge to shove him again. “You can sing your fool head off, but I can’t yell?”
“I’m tired of you not listening to me.”
“And I’m tired of you bossing me around. And I’m tired of your know-it-all attitude. But mostly I’m tired of your stupid ex putting us in danger. Forcing me to walk in the wrong direction. I need to get to my parents—before they come looking for me. I think it’s time we split up.”
His face goes white. I’ve obviously shocked the hell out of him.
“I’m going in that shed,” I tell him. “I’m going to look for food and warmer clothes. And then I’m going south—which is that direction,” I point over my shoulder, “and on to
“Sure, but couldn’t we move the chemicals outside or something?”
“Half the stuff in there’ll kill you by just inhaling it.”
“Listen, we’re not even sure it’s a meth lab. Let’s peek in the window. Just check for supplies.”
Cole’s gaze pierces me. “You gotta trust me on this—a ton of these shacks popped up in the last five years. I know what I’m talking about. Crankheads set ’em deep in the forest where the law don’t come. Only find out when they blow themselves to smithereens.” His jaw sets in a hard line. “I ain’t going in there.”
My exasperation level rises. “I don’t think it’s quite that simple to blow yourself up in a meth lab.”
Cole mirrors my anger. “You’re a smart girl. You tell me. Phosphorus, ethyl alcohol, lithium metal.” He ticks them off on his fingers. “One strike of a match and we’d be toast.”
I smirk. “If only we had some matches.”
He swears and stomps farther up the creek. If I’m going in the meth shack, it’s pretty obvious I’m going alone. Still barefoot and clutching my sneakers, I carefully pick my way up the bank into the dead grass. I’ve made it about ten steps before Cole grabs the hood of my jacket, jerking me backward.
“Do not go in there. Are you that stupid?”
And then, he actually slings me over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold.
Every ounce of blood in my body is replaced by boiling oil. “Let me go!” I wriggle in his arms like a child having a tantrum.
No response. I struggle, but he’s simply stronger than I am.
He finally sets me back down, feet-first in the water. I try to step away, but his hands clamp on my shoulders. We stand, inches apart, glaring into each other’s eyes. I fight the urge to smack him with my sneakers.
“You ain’t going in that shed,” he orders.
“You’re such a douchebag sometimes.”
He grits his teeth. “You get pissed every time I try to save your life. Pretty soon I’m gonna stop trying.”
“Go for it.”
Fury clouds his face, turning his silver-blue eyes to ice. “I oughta do myself a favor. I oughta march you back to Bethany and let the two of you kill each other. It’d make my life a hell of a lot simpler.”
I throw his hands off my shoulders. “Guess what, you tool , it’s not my fault your girlfriend’s been drinking crazysauce and has to act like a total bitch. Why the hell would you date someone like that?”
His eyes widen a fraction. And then a slight smile tilts his lips. “Are you mad because I have a girlfriend?”
My mouth drops open.
Is some small, teeny-tiny fraction of my brain upset because Cole is dating someone?
“No!” I scream, not caring if every bear and zombie in the forest hears me. “I’m mad about the lack of food, about the cold, about endless walking, about going the wrong direction—yes, I know we’re going in the wrong direction! I’m not stupid! But mostly I’m mad about not knowing for sure if my parents are okay! I’m mad because all my friends, my relatives, everyone I know has turned into a creepy corpse-creature!”
His smile dissolves. He glances at the trees nervously. “Stop yelling. Yelling is a bad idea.”
I fight the urge to shove him again. “You can sing your fool head off, but I can’t yell?”
“I’m tired of you not listening to me.”
“And I’m tired of you bossing me around. And I’m tired of your know-it-all attitude. But mostly I’m tired of your stupid ex putting us in danger. Forcing me to walk in the wrong direction. I need to get to my parents—before they come looking for me. I think it’s time we split up.”
His face goes white. I’ve obviously shocked the hell out of him.
“I’m going in that shed,” I tell him. “I’m going to look for food and warmer clothes. And then I’m going south—which is that direction,” I point over my shoulder, “and on to
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