End of the Line (Book 2): Stuck in the Middle by Lara Frater Page A

Northport?”
                  “I told two people there a zombie bite couldn’t kill me. I needed to tell someone. Felicia, she was the leader, and one of the soldiers kept it secret until the man came asking about carriers. The soldier, Manny, thought this guy might be trouble. He said I should split, so I did.” I remembered Felicia’s story about someone like Rachel who had left the camp. Anyone from that camp might be able to identify Keith. That meant if we went looking for Aisha, he had to stay behind.
                  “I met Manny. He seemed like a good guy.” I said, remembering the Hispanic man who showed us around the camp.
    “He didn’t want me to go but that guy unnerved him.”
                  “Keith, we are good people. We’re a family, good, bad and ugly but we don’t turn our back on each other.”
                  “I’ve only been here for three weeks. I’m not part of your family.”
    “We don’t let a good person get murdered.”
                  “How do you know I’m a good person?”
                  He got me there. I didn’t know if Keith was joking. “You haven’t hurt us.”
                  “Not yet. Tanya would kill me if I did.”
                  “She won’t.”
                  “I figured Mike would leader, not Tanya—she seems—“
                  “Tanya is new at leading. If you can believe she used to deal drugs and steal cars. But she knows what’s best for us.”
                  “Are you sure?” he asked. He smiled. The first time since I met him. “Your face scrunched up when you said that.”
                  “She is new and I don’t know—“ My voice trailed off. I thought of the long winter and wondered I could cope.
                  “Why doesn’t Mike take over? Tanya’s cool and all—and a bit scary but Mike’s older.”
                  “We are only his extended family. Hannah and his kids come first. For Tanya, we all come first. It isn’t perfect, Keith, no family is—“ I paused, realizing that family shouldn’t keep secrets from each other.
                  “What?”
                  “We have to tell Tanya about you and the hunters.” Despite being angry at Tanya for not stopping, I knew I couldn’t keep lying to her.
    Keith lost his smile and became the scared cat again. “I wish I never told you.”
                  “It’s too late. You did. I think you wanted someone to know. I have to tell Tanya, Keith—I’m sorry. She won’t be angry except that we didn’t tell her right way.”
     
                  We met in Tanya’s room. Since Grace had the bridge and Dave was in the salon, the crew quarters area were empty and we could have privacy. Still we kept our voices down. She was silent for a long time after we told her. Keith did most of the talking. I added small details and that I was sorry for not telling her sooner.
              She didn’t look happy. Possibly because this was another burden she didn’t want or she was mad at me for not telling her right away, or both.
                  “Keith,” she finally said, her voice steady, no hint of anger but I knew she was. “You seem like a good kid and this ain’t your fault. My issue is the rest of my people. I don’t like them in danger. You understand? And I don’t like keeping secrets—“
                  “Tanya, we can’t toss him out.” She gave me an annoyed look for interrupting her, so I didn’t say anything else.             
                  “Didn’t say that. You want to stay, Keith, you gotta be careful. You needs a new identity ‘cluding a new past. That means everything, parents names, age, where you from--”
                  “I appreciate this,” his