Chapter 44

Macy peeked through the door, her heart in her throat. Her hands shook as she waited for a good time to strike.

The windows had been blacked out, and the only light in the room was once again a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. She tried not to focus on the blood spatters on the walls.

Alaina proved to be a fierce fighter, but she couldn't last forever, regardless of Macy's healings. She needed food and water, something they hadn't had in hours. The sweat rolled down Alaina's face, and as it mixed with the blood, it looked as if she cried crimson tears.

Her plan had been for Alaina to deal the final deathblow, because she didn’t know if she could do it. Even the thought of taking another life made her stomach twist and sent a shudder through her body. However, dire circumstances required action, and if she did nothing, both she and Alaina would die.

She hoped the Saviors would somehow come through the door and save the day, but they wouldn't know how to find them. Daniel had taken their phones and smashed them, leaving the GPS on both of them out of order.

No, they were definitely on their own.

Alaina feigned right, then caught Daniel in the stomach with a roundhouse kick. He countered with a hit to her bare chest, and Alaina stepped back, gasping for air.

She obviously couldn't catch her breath, and Macy panicked as he hit her again square in the face, sending her to the ground.

Daniel stood over her, his breath sawing in and out of his body.

"Get up!" he screamed.

Alaina didn't move, and Macy wasn't sure if she had fallen unconscious or just couldn't take anymore.

It was now or never. She needed to act because she felt certain Alaina would die in minutes.

She opened the door and strode toward Daniel, her bare feet silent on the cold, cement floor. As she approached him, she lifted the pipe above her head, ready to bury the jagged end in his back and hoping she possessed the physical strength to do so.

Plunging the pipe into his back produced an animal-like scream from him.

He stumbled away from her, tripping over Alaina and falling to the floor. Macy kept a firm grasp on the pipe, her adrenaline the only thing overriding her terror.

He tried to crawl away from her, and she attacked him again, this time burying it in his side.

As he turned to her, she looked into the eyes of Evil, and something overcame her. Her whole body calmed, her mind focused. She could do what needed to be done.

He lunged at her, and she buried the pipe in his midsection.

She stood over him and blood pooled at the corners of his mouth.

"I have to end this. I have to stop your reign of terror."

A high-pitched guffaw emanated from him, one that confused her, as if he found her words terribly funny.

"You stupid female," he whispered, catching his breath as he held the wound on his stomach. "You think this is going to stop? I’m merely a small working part in a much larger machine. Killing me won’t stop it."

He grabbed her ankle, bringing her to the floor. They struggled for a moment as he tried to pull her closer to him, but she fought. She kicked at him as she held on to her weapon for dear life, and he finally let go. Getting to her feet, she raised the pipe and slammed it into his heart.

His eyes widened and his breath caught. A second later, he quickly disintegrated into a pile of black ash.

Stepping away from him, she leaned up against the wall and dropped the pipe. As the sound echoed off the concrete, sweat poured off her brow as she took in the room before her. Alaina still didn't move, but at least her chest indicated she breathed. She half expected the pile of ash to reform again and come after them.

They needed to get out of this place.

She walked over to Alaina. "I need you to get up."

Alaina groaned. "I can't. No more."

"It's done. He's dead. We have to get out of here in case someone else shows up.”

Alaina opened her eyes and pushed herself up on all fours.

She knew Alaina needed a healing, but between the healings she'd already done, the adrenaline she'd used to kill Daniel, and her lack of food, water, and rest, she didn't have the energy.

"Can you stand?" she asked.

Alaina nodded and got to her feet.

Macy lodged herself under Alaina's armpit, hoping she'd use her as a crutch, which she did. Macy had to drag her out of the house as Alaina stumbled next to her.

The crisp night air sent a shiver down her spine, and Alaina began to tremble as goose bumps formed on her skin. Out in the middle of the desert, they had nowhere to go, but Macy knew they couldn't stay in the house. She gazed up at the moon and wondered about the time. It had to be late into the night.

As she began to sway, she knew she couldn't do any more; she couldn’t go any further. She didn't have the physical strength—it had been completely depleted.

She eyed the car, then looked back at the house. Both stood as reminders of all the death that had taken place out here, but they needed to rest. Perhaps if she got a few hours of sleep, she could heal Alaina, and they could find civilization or a highway and get some help. Right now, even though exhausted, finding a human to assist them was out of the question as her eyes glowed light yellow.

Yes, when the sun came up and they had rested, they could discuss their next steps.

But where should they go?

The house seemed to be filled with ghosts who had experienced the horror of its owner, so she opted for the car.

She got Alaina settled in the passenger seat, then she slid into the driver’s. Alaina still trembled, and Macy's teeth began to chatter from the cold.

Scooting over, she pulled Alaina close, thankful the old car only had a bench seat. Putting her arms around her friend, she leaned back against the ancient, cracked leather seat and shut her eyes.

Just before sleep overtook her, she wondered if she would live to see Titus again. If she did, she would tell him exactly how she felt about him and let the chips fall where they may.

Even a long life like hers could be cut short in an instant.