Chapter Text
“Oh, fuck,” Ashlyn mumbled softly under her breath, her head throbbing nonstop. Aiden groaned in Ben’s arms, his entire weight dead and heavy. Ben’s heart hammered against his ribs. Seeing his cousin like this made his chest ache with panic.
“Quick, get him to the…” Ashlyn passed out before she could finish her sentence, her limp body slipping right off the roof ledge.
“Ashlyn!” Taylor screamed, sprinting out the front door just in time to catch her before she hit the ground.
“What do we do?! We need a change of plans!” Taylor cried, her voice cracking with worry as she struggled to hold her friend.
“We don’t. We just need to take them to the school. Now,” Tyler insisted, his face pale but determined. “Tay, try to contact Logan. I’m gonna start the car!”
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“Logan? Logan, do you copy?!” Taylor shouted into her walkie-talkie as they ran for the vehicle. There was no reply—nothing but harsh static and the distant sound of muffled, ragged breathing. “He’s not answering!”
Ben yanked the car door open, scrambling inside to lay Aiden across the backseat. Tyler threw himself behind the wheel, while Taylor slid into the passenger side, pulling the unconscious Ashlyn onto her lap.
“Is Ashlyn okay?” Tyler asked, slamming his door shut and cranking the engine.
“Yeah, she’s alive, but completely out,” Taylor replied, keeping a tight grip on her.
Suddenly, the back door flew open. “I’m here!” Logan panted, throwing himself into the seat next to Ben.
“Logan! How did you find us?” Taylor asked, looking back in shock as Tyler stepped on the gas, the tires screeching against the asphalt.
“Seatbelts,” Tyler barked, throwing the car into drive.
“I heard the engine roar and just ran for it,” Logan explained, clicking his seatbelt into place.
In the back, Ben desperately ripped a thick strip of cloth from his own shirt. He pressed it hard against the wound in Aiden’s neck, wrapping it tightly to stem the heavy flow of blood. Just as he secured it, a piercing, inhuman screech tore through the silent night, echoing from the darkness behind them.
“What the fuck was that?” Tyler swore, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror.
“Do I shoot it? Do I take the shot?!” Logan asked, his hands flying to his weapon.
“No! Don't!” Tyler yelled. “You'll only attract more of them!”
Trying to navigate the ruined streets only fueled Tyler's rising panic. “These goddamn roots and abandoned cars,” he growled, swerving wildly. The car slammed hard into a metallic obstacle—likely the bumper of a dead vehicle. Before he could recover, another wreck loomed directly ahead. Tyler violently yanked the steering wheel to the left.
The car tilted sharply. The brutal force threw Ben sideways, slamming his weight directly against the passenger door. With a sickening crack, the latch gave way, and the door swung wide open into the rushing wind.
“Ben!” Logan screamed, lunging forward.