tiptoed through the lower level of the home toward the huge staircase at its center. She kept her ears trained for any noise as she took the flight one stair at a time—pausing between each step to listen. A slow process but it felt necessary. She might get in Reed’s way, but she couldn’t leave him alone, not when she knew for sure where to find the undead. And she hated feeling the coward. She’d never been much of a fighter, that’d always been her twin’s avenue of defense. Max preferred negotiation. She’d gotten beat up a few times in grade school, but always felt the better person for not throwing punches. Even at a young age.
At the top of the stairs she listened again, straining her ears for any giveaway of movement, holding tight to the crowbar. She needed to go left, and pressed her back to the wall, sidling sideways. Something rustled, much like a curtain, in the first room. She reached for the doorknob and twisted. It clicked and she paused, holding her breath, running an attack strategy through her mind. Smash the undead in the head with the crowbar, then call Reed for help. A weak offense, but what else did she have? All was still, so she inched the door open, trying to see inside. The heavy brocade curtains kept light from seeping in, and it took several seconds for her eyes to adjust.
She gasped, but the thing was on her before she could back away. It knocked her back onto her butt, the crowbar flying away, its teeth gnashing for her throat. She couldn’t find enough air to breath; the thing’s stench robbed her of oxygen, a combination of rotted flesh and human waste. She shoved at its chest, and its attention snapped up. It bolted down the hall and leapt through the window. It took several seconds to realize what’d scared it away.
“Christ, Max, what the hell are you doing?” Reed knelt next to her. “I told you to stay in the dining room.”
Max looked over her hands and arms. Outside of being scared out of her wits she remained unscathed. “I heard it from downstairs, and I didn’t know if you were aware of its location.”
His face was drawn in a mix of anger and concern. “There are only so many rooms up here. I would’ve found it eventually.”
Feeling both foolish and defensive, she lifted her chin, refusing his help to get to her feet. “I’m not incapable, Preacher. I can handle myself.”
“I could see that about thirty seconds ago.”
“You know what, go to hell.” She stomped toward the staircase.
“I think we’re already there, sweetheart.”
She spun on him and marched over to jab a finger into his chest. “Okay, Mr. High and Mighty. You think you’re so superior to everyone, but let me tell you a thing or two. I took care of myself after you left. Sure, I made a horrendous mistake, but I didn’t run from it. I’ve been fighting it since I left the project. If you hadn’t come along I’m sure I would’ve eventually found what I needed, with Damian’s help.”
He sneered. “Damian Gonsalves? You two looked pretty damn chummy in the barn, you have a thing going with him?”
Her mouth fell open. “W-what…were you spying on us?”
“I wanted to know what I was walking into. And stay away from Gonsalves.”
“You can’t control who I associate with, Preacher. Damian’s certainly a head above you. He’s actually in love with someone. Laura, the immune woman. I don’t believe you’ve ever been capable of love.”
“Oh yeah? You think so? Well you know a piss load about me, ’cause I was in love with you.”
The words were a blow to her gut, and she stumbled back from him. He cursed and turned away from her.
“You…you were in love with me?”
He didn’t answer.
“But you left me.”
“You were in love with your work. I couldn’t compete.”
She felt numb. “You should’ve told me. Things might’ve been different.”
He spun on her, his eyes burning. “Tell me you could’ve put me first, beyond the twisted science
At the top of the stairs she listened again, straining her ears for any giveaway of movement, holding tight to the crowbar. She needed to go left, and pressed her back to the wall, sidling sideways. Something rustled, much like a curtain, in the first room. She reached for the doorknob and twisted. It clicked and she paused, holding her breath, running an attack strategy through her mind. Smash the undead in the head with the crowbar, then call Reed for help. A weak offense, but what else did she have? All was still, so she inched the door open, trying to see inside. The heavy brocade curtains kept light from seeping in, and it took several seconds for her eyes to adjust.
She gasped, but the thing was on her before she could back away. It knocked her back onto her butt, the crowbar flying away, its teeth gnashing for her throat. She couldn’t find enough air to breath; the thing’s stench robbed her of oxygen, a combination of rotted flesh and human waste. She shoved at its chest, and its attention snapped up. It bolted down the hall and leapt through the window. It took several seconds to realize what’d scared it away.
“Christ, Max, what the hell are you doing?” Reed knelt next to her. “I told you to stay in the dining room.”
Max looked over her hands and arms. Outside of being scared out of her wits she remained unscathed. “I heard it from downstairs, and I didn’t know if you were aware of its location.”
His face was drawn in a mix of anger and concern. “There are only so many rooms up here. I would’ve found it eventually.”
Feeling both foolish and defensive, she lifted her chin, refusing his help to get to her feet. “I’m not incapable, Preacher. I can handle myself.”
“I could see that about thirty seconds ago.”
“You know what, go to hell.” She stomped toward the staircase.
“I think we’re already there, sweetheart.”
She spun on him and marched over to jab a finger into his chest. “Okay, Mr. High and Mighty. You think you’re so superior to everyone, but let me tell you a thing or two. I took care of myself after you left. Sure, I made a horrendous mistake, but I didn’t run from it. I’ve been fighting it since I left the project. If you hadn’t come along I’m sure I would’ve eventually found what I needed, with Damian’s help.”
He sneered. “Damian Gonsalves? You two looked pretty damn chummy in the barn, you have a thing going with him?”
Her mouth fell open. “W-what…were you spying on us?”
“I wanted to know what I was walking into. And stay away from Gonsalves.”
“You can’t control who I associate with, Preacher. Damian’s certainly a head above you. He’s actually in love with someone. Laura, the immune woman. I don’t believe you’ve ever been capable of love.”
“Oh yeah? You think so? Well you know a piss load about me, ’cause I was in love with you.”
The words were a blow to her gut, and she stumbled back from him. He cursed and turned away from her.
“You…you were in love with me?”
He didn’t answer.
“But you left me.”
“You were in love with your work. I couldn’t compete.”
She felt numb. “You should’ve told me. Things might’ve been different.”
He spun on her, his eyes burning. “Tell me you could’ve put me first, beyond the twisted science
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