Dark Grace by M. Lauryl Lewis Page A

seconds they finally came into view. Gus was struggling even more than before. I waved to get their attention. Boggs and Nate became desperate, each taking one of Gus’ legs while he held onto their shoulders, and they carried him the rest of the way. We ducked into the building before the Roamers came into view but we could hear their cries of hunger and moans of desperation.
    “We have to cover the door,” whispered Nathan. “Now.”
    “There’s a vending machine back here,” whispered Susan.
    Boggs and Nathan were already rushing to the back of the store to move the heavy machine. Gus was slumped on the floor, his back against a wall. Susan was in the back of the store hunkered behind the purchase counter with Jane and Abbey.
    “Zoe, get down below the windows,” whispered Gus.
    I walked to him and sat down beside him. Nate and Boggs hustled past, dragging the vending machine. I could tell they were both straining to move the heavy machine. As soon as they wedged it into the hole of the door, they dropped to the floor on either side of it, huffing from all of the exertion of getting to safety. Boggs looked over at me and Gus and held a finger up to his lips. The dead were walking by. We could head their moans, smell their stench, and see their shadows as they walked near the barred front windows. I found Gus’ hand and held it tight. I clenched my eyes shut for several seconds before daring to look again. I heard Jane whimper once and I froze, waiting for the dead to force their way inside. I looked at Gus and locked my eyes with his to keep myself from losing control. It seemed an eternity before the sounds of the dead passed.
     
     
     

CHAPTER 9
     
    We stayed in our hiding spots, if you could call them that, for several minutes before daring to move. Gus’ grip on my hand had relaxed. I looked over at him. His eyes were closed.
    “Gus,” I whispered worriedly. “Gus.”
    He didn’t answer, but I could see him breathing. His face and neck were coated in sweat. I could feel heat radiating from him and he looked as red as the crabs that we had boiled had turned. I noticed movement in my peripheral vision and looked forward to see Boggs crawling along the floor to check on us. As he reached my side, I heard a lone Roamer passing by the storefront, moaning loudly.
    “He’s burning up,” I whispered to Boggs so quietly I could barely hear myself.
    “We need to get him into the vet’s office. I’m going to grab Nate and see if we can find a way to get in without going outside. Stay here with him?”
    I nodded. Boggs crawled back and filled Nathan in on Gus’ worsening state. The two of them walked to the back of the store, half crouched. I watched as they ducked behind the sales counter, where I assumed they were talking to the girls. I cringed every time I heard a straggling Roamer pass. They were like waves of abrasive fluff in my brain. My hip was aching from all of the activity. I unzipped my backpack and sorted through it, producing a bottle of water and one of my spare tank tops. I wet the cloth and held it to Gus’ forehead. He stirred slightly, but kept his eyes closed. I placed the back of my hand against his brow and was shocked by how hot he felt, as if his temperature had spiked in just the past few minutes. I poured more cool water onto the cloth and set it on his neck in hopes of cooling him. He kept his eyes closed but started to mutter something.
    “Adelaide, don’t go. Please don’t go.”
    “Shhh,” I soothed. “Shhh.”
    He didn’t say anything more, but left me wondering who Adelaide was. I looked at his bandages, which had soaked through, leaving areas of pink-tinged fluid that were browning on the edges as they dried. I was starting to really worry about him, wondering if he’d live through this. My baby kicked inside of me, as if echoing my own thoughts. I knew I should save my worries for the life within me and felt guilty as I realized that I could bear the loss of my