Two Alive, стр. 101
“And that makes it right!” Lance stood up from his half-wrapped wife and brushed the back of his hand against his face. “What happened to my wife--”
“Stop it Lance! Stop trying to blame everyone else for your wife’s death! Stop trying to blame someone for her making her own choice and it not being you! And stop blaming everyone because you hate yourself for not going with her! Or going instead… or trying to stop her…” Julia was gritting her teeth and stopped to choke back tears.
Lance hung his head and looked down at Nicole, still and serene.
Julia watched him and felt her heart break for him. “I know--”
Burrows opened fire when he saw two infected men stumble out into the open. The bangs were loud and echoed through the woods.
Torrez charged over to him and grabbed him, shoving him. “Would you cut that shit out man! Why the hell do you think these things keep coming?! Stop shooting your gun!” He cursed in Spanish and pushed Burrows again.
“Hey fuck you! I’m keeping us safe!” Burrows nearly tripped but kept his balance and his gun in hand. “They keep coming because y’all out here in the woods, yellin’ and it’s quiet as shit!”
“Shut the fuck up Burrows! You actually think It’s us yelling? Or could it be that we’re out here with an idiot like you!”
As the men continued arguing, Julia went to try talking them down, but saw more infected starting to come out from behind the trees. Many were still moving slow and lurking about, but others were jogging or starting to run and pick up speed.
“Infected! There! Shoot them! Shoot them!” Clint pulled out his revolver and fired, missing.
“Shit! You see! You see! Pinche pendejo!” Torrez got down and pumped his shotgun, opening fire on the infected running towards the group.
“Oh my god!” Alana tried to get up and run but Tommy held her down. She even tried to pick him up and get him to run with her, but he didn’t move.
“No! It’s over! They’re coming!” Tommy screamed and cried, clutching onto Alana and weighing her down.
Clint tried firing at the freaks but missed again and in his panic, just turned around and took off running back towards the van.
Burrows fired his M16A2 at the monsters as they came screaming from the trees. He stopped to reload and felt his skin burning hot. He threw down his gun and started tearing off his sweater trying to relieve the heat, but he was still burning up. He was breathing hard and started to retch, violently. Everyone watched him concerned but Manson watched him, mesmerized. Enthralled by the man’s erratic behavior as Burrows twitched and tweaked.
Burrows started biting at the air before throwing his head back and letting out an ear-splitting scream at the top of his lungs. The infected monsters in the woods were awakened with new appetite, and howled back at the screaming siren, beckoning to them. Those that were walking were quickening. Those that were running were at full sprint. The woods filled with marathon runners, charging for the beacon that was Burrows.
Off further in the woods in a different direction, Miles was jogging and sniffling, trying his best not to cry too loud. He could hear strikers screaming in the distance but they weren’t close. Still he wanted to keep quiet and not draw attention. He also didn’t want Ms. Julia or the others to find him or track him. He put enough distance between them and even doubled back when he felt he left enough markers to send someone in the wrong direction. He left no tracks. The old man would be proud of him. Or mad at him for letting these people get too close to the treehouse. Miles would get yelled at or even put on punishment, but it wouldn’t matter. He deserved to be punished for putting the family in danger and leaving Antonio behind at the store. Miles was the one who chose to go to the store. All of this was Miles’ fault.
Miles found a big redwood tree and sat down next to it. He put down his bag, stuck his knife in the ground and held his rifle against his chest. He took one of the ten round magazines and loaded the clip and did another count of twenty bullets on his fingers. He took a deep breath and exhaled. Then took another deep breath and exhaled. Then he started sobbing and had to bury his face in his sleeve to keep quiet. Never be found. Miles couldn’t let anyone find the treehouse and would have to scare them away if they got any closer. By scare, of course, that meant threatening to kill them if they kept following him in the woods. Miles hoped no one found him and believed he had lost anyone trying to follow him. But he wouldn’t let down the old man and let someone find the treehouse, even if that meant killing Ms. Julia or any of the others.
He liked Ms. Julia. She was nice and she tried to protect him. She tried to take up from him and Miles liked that. And she smelled pretty. Like flowers or cookies. Miles liked her hair too. And Mr. Toroz was nice too. He was a nice army man. Not like those other mean army men who don’t listen and say mean things. Mr. Toroz was nice and strong and brave. He was a good soldier. Miles still liked Alana too. Even if she had a boyfriend. She was still very pretty. Miles liked how her eyes sparkled. Her hair was