Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 128

ROWAN’S P.O.V

Nadine wouldn’t say a word regarding whatever happened between Camden and her in the bushes and it pissed me off.

I asked twice and each time she waved me off, telling me that it wasn’t a big deal. Each time I knew she was lying because she’d look away as she spoke. She was a better liar, but I knew her.

I could’ve asked Camden, but that would only create unnecessary tension between the two of us that I didn’t have the energy for. I had seventy individuals to think about in the back of the truck. My main focus was getting them back safe.

My shoulders burned, my entire body felt like it’d been run over by a truck, and yet, I kept driving. We had one night and a day left of driving and we’d be back at the community. I’d take a much needed rest and not go anywhere near another car for as long as I lived.

"The barn is just up ahead," Amy said through the walkie talkie.

Camden and the others drove behind us at a steady pace.

The sky was already darker than we’d expected, but we needed a safe space for everyone to rest. Amy said she remembered seeing a barn when we were driving. It was the only place big enough to take all seventy people.

I couldn’t imagine that they’d want to spend the rest of the night in the car.

We drove for fifteen minutes before we found the barn and by then, the sky was already pitch black and the night animals had begun their music.

Crickets chirped, birds flapped their wings and the leaves rustled in the wind. It was the noisiest night I’d heard in a while and I couldn’t help but silently bask in it.

A noisy night meant no creatures, and no creatures meant we were safe, at least for a little while.

We parked the cars behind the barn and helped the people out of the back.

"Be quiet," Nadine reminded them. "Just because we’re safe now doesn’t mean we will be if you’re noisy."

They clamped their lips shut and followed Amy and Jen towards the barn. It wasn’t a five star resort, but it’d be enough for now.

Once the last of them was safely inside, we threw the covers over the cars. My sides burned from exhaustion, but I gritted my teeth and kept going. Sleep was close... or at least, that’s what I told myself.

"We may find supplies in the main house," Joshua began slowly. "Caine will you go with me to check?"

I was surprised that he asked me of all people.

We were civil, but that didn’t make us friends. Moreover, I wanted nothing more than to lie down and call it a night.

I glanced over at Nadine. If I were to leave with him, I’d be leaving her alone with Camden and I didn’t trust the bastard after their interaction earlier.

"We have to go now, Caine," Joshua urged.

"Go," Nadine said, pushing me forward lightly. "I’ll be fine. I’ll go join the girls inside."

I wasn’t sure that inside was any safer.

A crowd was dangerous enough but a scared crowd more so. If anything were to happen and I wasn’t there....

"Go, Rowan." She pressed a kiss to my cheek. "I’ll wait for you inside."

She didn’t give me a chance to respond before turning on her heels and heading into the barn forcing me to go with Joshua who was tapping his foot impatiently.

He was silent as we headed to the main house.

The front door was thankfully open which saved me the time of having to pick the lock. I braced myself for the smell of rotting flesh but surprisingly, there was nothing. It smelled of dust and hay but nothing more.

Perhaps the owners left in a rush when the creatures first arrived.

"You can check the kitchen and I’ll go to the-"

"We’re not splitting up," Joshua cut me off.

Pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration, I sighed. "If you’re scared, there’s no need. There aren’t any creatures around and the house is empty. If it weren’t, we’d already be dead."

"I’m not scared."

"Then what is the problem? I’m exhausted and I still have a full day’s drive ahead of me. I’d like to get this fucking over-"

"How do you deal with it?" he asked, cutting me off. "People dying I mean. I know it happens but I’ve never been close enough. I didn’t know Ezekiel well but I spent the entire three days with him. He was a nice guy."

I exhaled deeply.

The exhaustion tore at me and I wasn’t sure how long I could remain standing and conscious, but I forced myself to slow long enough to look at him.

"The first time I saw a dead body I threw up," I told him. "The first week as a guard, I saw people drop dead like flies. You never get used to it."

He scoffed. "That’s not very comforting."

"Good, because it’s not supposed to be. It shouldn’t be normal. We should have to see people like that but we will. More people are going to die until we finish this... whatever it is."

He nodded.

I wasn’t sure that my words had helped at all, but it was all I had.

I’d lost count of how many dead bodied I’d seen, how many people had died since this began. I’d watched guards be replaced every day. I stopped learning their names after the first week, it made things easier for me.

We rummaged through the kitchen and found a few cans of food but nothing was salvageable. The basement proved to be better but there wasn’t nearly enough food to feed all of us so we put it in the cars to add to the rations for tomorrow.

"Camden is upset," Joshua said as we headed for the barn. "He doesn’t say much but he’s looking for someone to blame for what happened."

"Trent is right there."

Joshua sighed. "Yeah but Trent is in the wind. He needs someone he can blame now. I’m worried it’s going to be Nadine or me."

"You can switch cars with Amy, I’m sure she won’t-"

He shook his head. "He’s too honorable to kill me like that and I can handle myself. I don’t know what’s going on in his head but... keep an eye on Nadine."

"I always do."