Rise & Walk (Book 2): Pathogen by Gregory Solis Page A

reinforced ankles absorbed some of the force but not quietly.  Mason accepted his sword from Tony through the fence without a word and proceeded in a crouch up the long stone driveway.  
    Climbing down from the bumper, Tony found Nikki sitting with her back against the far corner of the truck-bed.  She was very quiet and still.  He couldn’t see her face in the dark, only her outline.  He didn’t want to invade her privacy but he also didn’t want to abandon her.  He took a position at the rear of the vehicle next to her but facing the opposite direction down the road.
    “I gotta keep a look-out” he explained. 
    “Uh-huh” she sniffled.
    Tony lifted his left hand over the tailgate.
    “Hey, does my hand feel cold to you?” he asked.
    “What?”
    “My hand, does it feel cold to you?” He said while offering it to her.  Confused, she took his hand.  It was warm and firm.
    “No, feels fine.”  She said and noticed that he wasn’t letting go.  He squeezed her hand gently and whispered.
    “Everything’s gonna be okay.” Tony drew in close and gave her a half-hug, leaning his cheek on the top of her head.
    For a moment she smiled and hoped that he was right. 
     
    Margaret watched the heroic young man disappear up the driveway.  His big friend hopped of the bumper and she felt a tickle in her stomach as the truck bounced back up on its shocks.
    “Whoops-a-daisy,” The old woman said with surprise.  She watched Tony move to the back of the vehicle.  “Where do you suppose he’s going?” Margaret whispered.
    “He’s just going to keep en eye out for us.” Veronica said.
    “I see.”  Margaret said and then pointed towards where Jack had vanished into the night. “Is he your boyfriend, the one who found me?” She asked.
    “Who, Jack?” Veronica said, “No, we just met a couple of days ago.”
    “I’m sorry, I just thought ...” Margaret said.
    “No, we’re not involved.” Veronica said with a smile and looked up towards the driveway. 
    “A girl could do a lot worse then a man like that.” Margaret said nudging Veronica. “I owe him my life.”
    “I suppose so.” Veronica nodded.
    Margaret suddenly had a vision of the ghoulish figure that Jack had saved her from.  What if he hadn’t been there?  What fate would she have met at the bloody claws of that monster?  Or if she had gotten away from the thing and perhaps made it back to her house, would she still be trapped there alone with it banging on her door?  The possibilities swarmed about her and she realized just how lucky she had been.
    “The television said that they were biting people, making them sick too.  Is that true?” Margaret asked.
    “It’s true.”  Veronica nodded with a frown, “The bites infect the victims.  They die very quickly from the infection, then they come back to bite others.”
    “They’re dead?” Margaret gasped.
    “Afraid so.  I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
    “The television didn’t mention anything about that,” Margaret whispered, “Just that the people were sick.  There must be some mistake.”
    “No, we’re pretty sure.” Veronica said, “We’ll know more in time, but right now we have to stay away from the sick people.”
    “I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t found me.” Margaret said, her voice wavering, “Thank you for not leaving me back there.”
    “Of course Ma’am,” Veronica said, “Who could do a thing like that?”
    “You’d be surprised.  One of my own neighbors drove past me as if I wasn’t there.” Margaret said and looked at her lap, “I kept waving and waving but they just ignored me.  It was horrible.” The woman’s voice wavered.
    “You’re with us now,” Veronica said taking the old woman’s hand, “and let me tell you, those men outside; they could never abandon anyone.  I’ve seen it.  It’s not in their character to leave anyone in trouble.”  Margaret looked up and nodded.
    “They don’t seem