The Last Legacy (Season 1): Episodes 1-10 (29 page)

I narrowed my eyes on him. “Fine,” I muttered even though I didn’t really want to sleep with him every night. While I enjoyed the safety and comfort Jim brought, his moods and erratic behavior were too much sometimes. I wasn’t sure I could handle him twenty-four-seven. Sleeping was the one time in the day that I could decompress and calm down.
 

But I wanted this group to tag along. They deserved to be protected. I wanted to save the children, before they saw too much. Although, I was sure by the way they held themselves with a confidence that could only be crafted by killing that they’d seen plenty.

Scarlet nodded and broke off from our mini huddle. She walked over to Kev and wrapped her arm around his slender waist. Jim shot me a half-smile and then walked toward where Gabriel conversed with Mike. I trailed behind wanting to listen in.

“My tent is just up just over there.” Jim pointed between two large pine trees where he had set up shop. “You’re welcome to use it. We don’t have extra food, but we try to stop as frequently as we see something with possibility.”

“You’d let us use your tent?” Margaret asked. She didn’t ask in a hopeful way. From the inflection in her tone, it was almost like she expected there to be a catch. Like
she
didn’t trust
us.
 

“Don’t worry. I get the better end of the deal.” He cut a glance my way, and I averted my eyes to the ground, my face heating. “We have one person keep watch at night in shifts. Not women.”

“I can take a first shift,” Mike immediately offered, stepping forward.

“We can go together,” Jim said. “We’ll talk. Just give me a second. You all get settled, and we can meet back here in a few minutes.” Jim never asked, just told. I holstered my knife in my back pocket now that there was no threat.

Everyone dispersed in separate directions. Scarlet and Kev walked over to their tent, the quick zipper squeaking. I didn’t see where Gabriel went—too dark to see much more than a few feet in front of me. Jim followed me to my tent, climbing in behind me.
 

“Aren’t you keeping watch?” I asked as I scooted back so my head hit the roof. I twisted the knob on my lantern, illuminating the small orange tent. His body took up most of the space in the small one-person tent I had taken. It was like fitting a grown man into one of those play houses children had in their backyards. He’d have to sleep in the fetal position to conform to the space.

“I wanted to make sure you were good with this first.”

“You mean with you commandeering my tent?” I lifted my eyebrow as I rummaged through my bag, searching for a long-sleeved shirt that was softer than the one I was wearing.
 

“I can sleep outside if you’d rather—”

“Stop.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Obviously I wasn’t going to do that. “I’m not going to make you stay outside. It’s fine. I feel safer with you here, anyway. Do you think they’re good people?” I asked him.
 

“Hopefully. I can get a better gauge when I talk to Mike during watch.”

“How’d you get so good at judging people?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m good at it. Jury’s still out on them.” He pointed his thumb back towards the group as he crouched down. “We all know your judgment is piss poor.”

“Hey!” I leaned forward and smacked his chest. “I’m alive, aren’t I?”
 

“That’s because of me?”

“You help.”

“I won’t always be here, Lana. You have to learn to take care of yourself. I’m not just a weapon for you to use.” His dark blue eyes bore into me through the orange-tinted light in the tent like knives.

“You think I’m using you?” My chest ached as he nodded, his eyes falling to the sleeping bag. “Who fucked you up so bad?”

He didn’t respond.

“Listen, I don’t know what happened to you, but not everyone is out to get you. Trust me, I’ve seen enough shit in one lifetime, but if you focus on the bad, it kills you.”

“You’re naive.”

“You don’t know me,” I shot right back.

“And you don’t know me.”
 

“So give me something!” I wanted to throw my hands in the air but refrained, sitting on them instead as I pursed my lips. “Truth for truth. I give you something, you give it back.”
 

He shook his head and shut his eyes. “You want to know something?” he asked with sharpness in his tone. I nodded, my eyes widening, eager for his secrets. “I have more purpose in this fucked-up world than I did in my real life. I feel
right
in this state of chaos,” Jim said.
 

His confession didn’t surprised me because the truth was, he did fit into this. He thrived protecting people. I didn’t know how to respond, though. I bit the inside of my cheek, readying myself to open up.
 

“I don’t know who I am in this world.” I laughed to myself at how true that was. I’d never said it aloud, voiced my doubts, but there it was, out in the open. “I used to pride myself on my independence and the fact that I emancipated myself at sixteen. Now, I feel weak and lonely and inadequate. So, you’re right.” I stared down at my trembling fingers. “I rely too much on you, and I hate it, but I can’t change it because I suck at being strong.”

“Nobody
should
be good at it, Lana. That’s my point. I’m the fucked up person for thriving in such a shit world.”
 

I turned my face to the side so I could compose myself before he saw. I pulled in a ragged breath. “Go talk to Mike. Figure him out. Make sure we’re safe, Jim.” Despite the fact that I had lost myself along the way, Jim had a job to do, and my insecurity kept him from it.
 

I didn’t realize that Jim inched closer to me until his arms tugged me against his chest. The sentiment only made it harder to hold back my defeated tears. He pulled back, his hands still on either one of my shoulders.

“I’m sorry you’re so sad.” His words stumbled out so awkwardly that I actually laughed. His brows furrowed as he looked down at me. “What?” he questioned.

“Have you ever said the words ‘I’m sorry’ before?” I covered my mouth with my palm as I quelled my laughter.

“Sure. I said ‘em to you just last night.” His voice trailed off. He shrugged, the corner of his mouth tugging up. “I’m glad that my uncomfortableness with your emotions makes you smile, Lana,” he drawled, narrowing his eyes.

“Thank you.” I pursed my lips and winked. I closed the space between us and pressed my lips against his. His body tightened, his lips squeezing together. As my tongue swiped against his lower lip, he relaxed and let me explore him, both with my hands and my mouth.
 

His hands gripped my shoulders hard as he matched my pace with his tongue. My skin shivered as his tongue expertly maneuvered with each kiss. My passion began to build in my gut and I lost myself. I scooted closer to him without breaking our contact, moaning as his hands squeezed my ass.
 

I pushed onto my knees, trying to get closer and closer to him. Even as our chests touched, both of us panting and kissing, it just wasn’t enough. He tore his mouth away from me and immediately, my body felt the loss. I shivered at the coldness and reached for him.
 

“You’re killing me, Lana.”

“More,” I begged him, shutting my eyes and pulling him close.
 

“I don’t do this.” His dropped his forehead against mine, sighing as we caught our breath together. I didn’t know what he meant by
this,
but I didn’t want to pry. He could kiss the shit out of me anytime.
 

“Go help Mike,” I said as we broke apart.

“See you in the morning?”
 

I nodded as he crawled out of the tent, zipping it behind him with finality.
 

Two days ago, Kev had gotten a fever. We hadn’t left our camp in the woods since, extending our stay and hunkering down in the relatively safe cover of the trees.
 

In the early morning light, Scarlet sat by the low fire with Kev’s head resting on her lap. His face was white as a sheet, his skin glistening with the sheen of sweat. Yet he shook as if he was shivering. Scarlet soaked the bottom of a tee-shirt in an old waste bin of dirty water and placed it on his forehead.
 

“How is he today?” I mumbled through my morning haze. The day began quiet and bright, but a chill hovered in the air. I sat down across from them and let the heat from the fire wake me up.

“He’s being brave,” Scarlet said, but from the tremble in her words, I knew she was on the edge of breaking down.
 

“Why don’t you find Jim and Mike and get some breakfast? I’ll sit with Kev.” Scarlet looked up at me as I wrapped my arms around myself, pulling my camouflage jacket around my shoulders. I nodded towards the road, where the guys looted cars.
 

She glanced down at Kev, then back up at me. She was careful with his head as she moved him as she stood. Kev mumbled at the intrusion but remained asleep.

“Thanks, Lana,” Scarlet said as she ran off to get some breakfast.
 

I sat beside Kev, letting him rest on my thigh. I dipped the already wet cloth in the water and rang it out, letting most of the brown water drip into the bucket. I dabbed it on his forehead.
 

“I’m dying, Lana,” Kev gulped. His voice was nothing more than a whisper, raspy like he had strep throat. His eyes opened and found me, their normal chocolate tone dulled to a near-gray.
 

“You’ll pull through. We’ve gotten some antibiotics in you. Once the chills are gone, you’ll feel better.” I rubbed the cloth over his head, trying to be soothing with my long strokes. Kev sweat profusely and felt hot to the touch. I preferred when he was asleep so I didn’t have to lie to his face.
 

“My body feels like glass. I’m seeing things I know aren’t there.”

“That’s just the fever,” I told him. My heart picked up at his words, my throat shrinking as I struggled to get air. I had to remain calm for him, but what he said broke me. I tried to control my breathing.

“No. You don’t understand. I’m infected. I’m an eater. I’m going to kill everyone if you don’t leave me here.” His eyes widened in alarm, erratic as they darted all around the sky, glossing right over me.
 

Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes. “Just relax. Fall back asleep. It will be better when you wake up.” I shook my head and turned away so he didn’t see my discomfort.

I continued rubbing his head with the cloth, dipping it in the water and then repeating. He needed to be as comfortable as possible. The fire kept him warm enough. I sweat just sitting there. I stared into the flames, my mind falling into silence.
 

A hand on my shoulder startled me. I didn’t know what time it was, although when did I ever really know? Scarlet smiled down at me and nodded for me to move. I guessed my shift was over. I looked down at my lap and saw Kev passed out completely. I sighed knowing that he couldn’t talk to Scarlet.
 

Jim was with Gabriel and Mike out by the highway, a few yards up from our camp, rummaging through a Corolla. I hiked up the small hill to the shoulder and called out so they knew I was coming. All their heads angled towards me.

“Do you need me to help find some food?” I asked, my hand on my knife, ready to help. I found that any time I walked, I had to have it ready. Call it a crutch or safety measure. It turned into second nature by now.
 

“Actually,” Jim said as he walked towards me, “can you hang at camp with the kids? Mike wants to show Margaret around and teach her some survival tricks. We were gonna take her looting.”

“Sure.” I nodded, acting excited even though I wanted nothing more than to tag along with the guys. I liked spending time with the kids, but I didn’t want to be a babysitter.
 

“Thanks.” Jim leaned forward and kissed my cheek. My entire body vibrated from just that one gesture. I lowered my head to hide my blush.

“Can I talk to you later?” I asked him, wanting to mention what Kev had said to me.

“Everything okay?” Jim’s face fell, transforming in an instant. His eyebrows pinched together, and he placed his hand on my shoulder, cocking his head to the side.
 

“Sure. Just later, okay?” I smiled and turned around. Jim slapped my butt, and I squeaked, glaring playfully over my shoulder. I shook my head and bit back my shit-eating grin.
 

I jogged back to camp and found Margaret with the kids now around the fire, each nibbling on a bag of Ruffles. Scarlet and Kev lay down side-by-side, but both looked asleep.

“Hey guys!” I waved as I walked over and sat beside Marcus. He smiled over at me while the two others continued to nibble, not even bothering to look up. “Um, Mike wants you to find him and loot with them.”
 

Margaret still didn’t make eye contact with me. She hadn’t said much in the day that we’d been here together, mostly keeping to herself and whispering with her husband. She held her head high, above the rest of us.

“You can tell him I don’t want to loot. I like being human.” She glared at me. I recoiled. Was this woman serious? I wasn’t forcing her to loot. Shit—I wanted to loot! She was taking my job, and I acted okay with it. Whatever held her back wasn’t my fault. Yet she took it out on the messenger. I didn’t do anything to her!