Live Another Day by Baileigh Higgins (reading in the dark .txt) 📗

of frost that covered the ground. The air escaped his lips in puffs of mists, and moisture clung to his lashes. He climbed the ladder and found himself on top of the wall, surveying the area below.

“Max, you’re here.”

He turned to face Michael who’d crept closer on balled feet and acknowledged him with a nod. “Everything quiet?”

“So far.”

They stood shoulder to shoulder in silence, staring out into the night. Max thrust his hands into his pocket. “Do you think we can win?”

“Do we have a choice?”

Mike grinned. “No, I guess not.”

“Then we will win.”

Their voices died away, replaced by the song of crickets and the rustling of tiny animals in the grass. Max rolled his head on his shoulders to get rid of the stiffness that had lodged there and thought of the day ahead. So much to do. So little time.

His worry over the failure of Breytenbach to return burned in his chest like a ball of fire. Ever-present. Never far from his mind. He could think of no good reason they’d stay out overnight. Unless they ran into trouble.

His morbid thoughts were interrupted when Michael pointed a finger. “What’s that?”

“Where?”

Max craned his head but saw nothing. The area beyond the walls was a deep, dark hole barely lit by the faint gleam of a moon covered in shadow. The clouds were spiteful, drifting to and fro across the silver orb’s face as if it were a disco ball casting scattered glimmers across the earth’s crust.

“It’s a person,” Michael stated.

“I don’t see anything,” Max protested. But the next moment, he did spot movement. Frantic, desperate moves toward the gate. Breytenbach?

Convinced it was one of them, Max ran toward the gate. “Come on. It must be Breytenbach or one of the team. They could be in trouble.”

Michael followed but laid a restraining hand on his shoulder. “Wait. It’s a woman.”

Max squinted, and the clouds relented for a second. They parted to allow the moonlight to shine down, and he saw a feminine silhouette running at full speed.

“Kirstin?”

“It’s not her.”

Max balled his hands into fists. “How do you know? Are you a freaking vampire?”

“Just wait.”

Together, they stood as the person came flying down the road toward them. At last, she was close enough for the floodlights at the gate to illuminate her face.

Max’s heart sank. It wasn’t Kirstin. Who is it?

Michael gasped, surprising Max who’d never seen the man startled before in his life. “Mpho? Is that you?”

“It’s me. Let me in, please. I have news.” She fell to her knees, both hands wrapped around the hilt of a steak knife.

Michael jumped down and hurried to open the gate. “Help me, Max.”

“Who is it? Do you know her?”

“I know her.”

Max gripped Michael’s sleeve. “More importantly, can we trust her?”

Michael stared at him with fathomless eyes before saying, “I trust her with my life.”

Max let his hand fall and turned toward the barred entrance. “Let’s get her inside then. Pronto.”

Minutes later, Max was faced by a shivering slip of a girl dressed in a threadbare shirt that barely covered her bum, no underwear, no shoes, a mop of wild caramel curls and a crazy story to tell.

Max raised both hands to ward off her stuttered words. “Whoa, there. Calm down. Take a deep breath.”

She sucked in a few lungfuls of air and smoothed her hair away from her blood-spattered face with the knife still gripped in one hand. Max reached out a tentative hand. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“Um, uh, I don’t think so, I don’t know.” She looked at her bloody hands and stained shirt then back at him. “I killed a few sick ones on the way here.”

“Sick ones?”

She nodded.

“Like zombies?”

“Them, yes. I don’t like the word, though.”

“Oh, okay.”

Michael, who’d been occupied closing the gate, walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re sure you’re fine?”

She gulped. “I’m sure. Scared shitless.”

Michael grinned, once more surprising Max. “You scared? I wouldn’t bet on it.”

She smiled and sidled closer to Michael, letting him take the knife from her hand and drape his jacket over her shoulders. Max watched in growing confusion. What’s going on here?

“Did you grandmother send you?” Michael asked.

“Yes, I have important news.”

“So important you had to run here alone in the middle of the night armed with a steak knife? You could’ve died, Mpho.”

She ducked her head. “I know, but this is important.”

“Can it wait?” Max asked.

She looked at him with furrowed brows. “Wait?”

“I mean, can we get you inside and looked after first?” he added and pointed at her feet. “You’re hurt.”

She looked down at her naked legs and bleeding soles with seeming surprise. “Of course.”

“Why don’t you get her inside, Michael? The kitchen lights were on, so I think Elise is up. I’ll be along as soon as I get someone to take over the watch.”

Max watched Michael hustle the girl away while shaking his head in wonder. “I’ve never seen him so worked up about anyone.”

He got back onto the wall and stared in the direction of the outside gates. With the coming of dawn, the birds had awoken and called their morning song into the chill air. The first streaks of pink and yellow announced the rising sun. He sighed, wondering what the new day would bring. “Where are you, my love? What happened to you? Something’s wrong. I know it, and this girl...whatever it is, it can’t be good.”

He walked a short patrol while clearing his mind before getting down and going in search of a replacement. He was met by Liezel carrying her long range rifle and binoculars.

“Hi, Liezel. You ready to take over?”

“I am.” She smiled, and he was relieved to note she seemed fresh and bright-eyed.

“Got enough sleep? Had breakfast?” he asked.

“Yes, and yes.” She punched him on the arm.”Run along, Max. I’ll manage. If anyone needs more sleep, it’s you.”

“Yeah, okay.” He grinned in response.

“At least you clean up well,” she called over her shoulder as she ascended the ladder. “Keep it up.”

With a chuckle, Max made