Maya's eyes burned from staring into the darkness for so long. She blinked hard, trying to stay alert.
The small store they had taken shelter in remained quiet.
Except for Vell's steady breathing as he slept on the break room couch.
She checked his bandages again. The bleeding had stopped, but his face looked pale. Fighting all those infected had taken a toll on him. He needed rest, needed time to heal.
A soft noise from outside made her freeze. She held her breath, listening. There it was again—a scraping sound, like something being dragged across pavement.
She moved to the window, peering through the crack in the blinds. The street outside was dark, lit only by the strange reddish glow that had filled the sky since the towers fell.
At first, she saw nothing. Then a shadow moved between two abandoned cars.
Not infected. The movement was too deliberate, too careful. Human.
Her heart beat faster. Other survivors could be good news—or very bad news. Vell had warned her that in this new world, people might be just as dangerous as the infected.
The shadow moved again, joined by another. Two people, moving slowly toward the store.
She should wake Vell. That was the smart thing to do. But he looked so exhausted, his face lined with pain even in sleep. He had protected her so many times. Maybe this once, she could handle things herself.
She grabbed the box cutter they had found earlier and slipped it into her pocket. Just in case. Then she moved silently to the front of the store, staying low and out of sight.
Through the front windows, she could see them more clearly now—two men, one tall and thin, the other shorter but muscular. They carried bags over their shoulders and what looked like weapons in their hands.
They stopped in front of the store, examining the broken door.
"Someone's been here," the taller one said, his voice carrying through the quiet night.
"Recently too," the other replied. "Might still be inside."
Maya ducked down behind the counter. She should go back, wake Vell now. But if these men were hostile, any noise might alert them. Better to stay hidden, to listen and learn what they wanted.
The door creaked as they pushed it open. Footsteps moved across broken glass.
"Hello?" the taller one called out. "Anyone here? We are not looking for trouble."
Maya remained silent, her hand closing around the box cutter in her pocket.
"Check the back," the taller one said. "I will look around here."
Footsteps moved toward the counter where she hid. Maya pressed herself against the wall, trying to make herself smaller. The footsteps stopped on the other side of the counter.
"Find anything?" the man called to his partner.
"Not yet," came the reply from deeper in the store. Too close to the break room. Too close to Vell.
Maya's mind raced.
If the second man found Vell while he was injured and sleeping, Vell would be at a disadvantage. She needed to draw them away.
Before she could think better of it, she knocked over a display of candy bars, then darted to a new hiding spot behind a shelf.
"What was that?" the taller man said, moving quickly around the counter.
"Found something?" his partner called, footsteps returning from the back.
"Something moved. Over here."
Both men converged on the fallen candy display. Maya slipped around the edge of the shelf, trying to circle back toward the break room. If she could reach Vell, wake him quietly...
Her foot caught on a fallen can. It rolled across the floor with a sound that seemed deafening in the quiet store.
Both men turned toward her. For a moment, no one moved.
"Well, hello there," the taller man said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Look what we found, Dren."
Dren moved to block the path to the back room. "A girl. All alone?"
Maya straightened up, trying to look confident despite the fear building in her chest. "I am not alone."
"Oh?" the taller man took a step toward her. "Where are your friends then?"
"Close by," she lied. "They will be back any minute."
The men exchanged glances, and something in their eyes made Maya's skin crawl.
"I don't think so," the taller man said. "I think you are all alone. My name is Krev, by the way. Since we are getting acquainted."
Maya took a step back. "I don't want any trouble. Just take what you want and leave."
Krev laughed. "What we want? Well, that is a generous offer."
Dren moved closer, his eyes never leaving her face. "How old are you, girl?"
"Old enough to defend myself," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Feisty," Krev said. "I like that."
Maya's hand tightened around the box cutter in her pocket. She pulled it out, holding it in front of her.
"Stay back."
Both men laughed.
"Look at that. She has a little knife."
"Cute," Dren said, taking another step toward her. "But you should put that down before you hurt yourself."
Maya kept the box cutter pointed at them, her hand shaking slightly. "I said stay back."
Krev's smile disappeared. "Enough games. Put that down, girl. Now."
"No." The word came out stronger than she expected. She thought of all the times she had been afraid, all the times she had hidden in closets and under beds. Not anymore. "Leave me alone."
"Wrong answer," Krev said.
He lunged forward suddenly, grabbing for her wrist. Maya slashed with the box cutter, catching him across the forearm. He jerked back with a curse, blood welling from the cut.
"You little bitch!" he snarled, all pretense of friendliness gone.
Dren circled to her left, trying to get behind her. "Hold her down, Krev. I will go first."
Cold fear washed through her, but with it came something else—rage. The same rage she had felt toward her parents, toward the relatives who had abandoned her, toward a world that had never been kind.
"I am not afraid of you," she said, and was surprised to find it was partly true.
Krev rushed her again. This time he was more careful, avoiding the box cutter and grabbing her arm. His fingers dug into her flesh, the same way her father's had all those years ago.
She fought back, slashing wildly with the box cutter. She caught him across the cheek, opening a thin red line. He howled and slapped her hard across the face, sending her stumbling backward.
Her head hit the shelf behind her, making her vision blur. The box cutter fell from her hand, clattering to the floor.
"You will pay for that," Krev growled, touching the cut on his face.
Dren grabbed her from behind, his arm wrapping around her throat. "Got her."
Maya struggled, kicking and clawing, but Dren was too strong. He dragged her toward the center of the store, away from any shelves she might use to fight back.
"Let me go!" she shouted, hoping against hope that Vell might hear, might wake up.
"Shut her up," Krev said, picking up her box cutter from the floor.
Dren's hand clamped over her mouth. She bit down hard on his fingers.
He yelled and loosened his grip just enough for her to twist free.
She ran for the back room, for Vell, but Krev caught her hair, yanking her backward. Pain exploded across her scalp as she fell to the floor.
"No more running," Krev said, standing over her. "Dren, hold her arms."
He grabbed her wrists, pinning them to the floor above her head. His fingers were bleeding where she had bitten him, and his face was twisted with anger.
"Hurry up," he said to Krev. "I want my turn before someone comes."
Maya fought with everything she had, bucking and twisting, but Dren's weight held her down. Krev knelt beside her, the box cutter in one hand. He traced the blade lightly down her cheek.
"Such a pretty face," he said. "It would be a shame to cut it. But I might have to if you do not behave."
"Go to hell," she spat.
He slapped her again, harder this time. "Wrong answer."
Maya's head rang from the blow, but she refused to cry. She would not give them that satisfaction.
She thought of Vell, of all he had done to protect her. Now she had failed him by getting caught, by putting them both in danger.
Krev's hand moved to her shirt, gripping the fabric. "Let us see what we have here."
A sudden crash from the back of the store made both men freeze. Heavy footsteps approached, and then Vell was there, his face a mask of fury, a metal pipe gripped in his hand.