Read Online Writing on the Wall by Tracey Ward - Free Book Online Page B

big this thing is going to get.”
    “Alright.” Ryan says warily. “Let’s get back.”
    Ryan flexes his hand and drops his knife into the soft grass beside me. I glance at it, then back up at him, wondering what the hell he’s doing but he’s already walking away. I watch and listen as their footsteps recede and he disappears from sight. I start counting, waiting it out, wondering how long I should give them to be out of sight entirely.
    “What are you doing?!” I hear Bray call from far off.
    “My knife!” Ryan calls back. He’s close and getting closer. “I dropped it. Wait there, give me a minute!”
    “Hurry up!”
    Ryan runs back and drops down on his knees in front of me. His face is pinched in concern.
    “You heard Bray?” he whispers.
    I nod, my mouth pulled in a grim line.
    “I should walk you back. It’s not good to be out alone right now.”
    “You’ll never shake this guy. Besides, I can make it. I’ve survived worse with less experience.”
    “I feel like a jerk just leaving you.”
    “You’re not a jerk.”
    He grins. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
    “Don’t let it go to your head.”
    His face falls serious, his eyes searching mine.
    “I’m gonna find you again.” he says softly.
    I smirk. “You can try.”
    I hope he understands, that he takes that statement for what it is. Permission, or at least as much as I can give. I want him to find me and, foolish as it may be, I know I’m going to make it easy.
    “Ryan!” Bray shouts, sounding closer than before.
    “Screw it.” Ryan murmurs.
    He crushes his lips to mine. A surprised whimper escapes the back of my throat, urging him on, and suddenly his hands are on my face and in my hair. I grab his shoulders for support as he pulls me forward and off balance but then I’m pulling him to me. His chest presses against me as his lips soften and move slowly over mine. This is dangerous. His friend is close by, zombies are in high numbers again but I can’t begin to care. It’s my first kiss, quite possibly the only one I’ll ever have, and I let myself melt into him. I give up, I give in. I hold on and I enjoy the moment as the comet crash lands onto the earth and razes the entire world.
    When he pulls away, his hands still in my hair and on my skin, his breathing is ragged. I, on the other hand, have stopped breathing entirely.
    “Watch for me.” he says roughly.
    “What?”
    He holds my face firmly in front of his, so close I can feel his breath on my skin. He locks eyes with me and repeats, “Watch for me. Keep your eyes open.”
    “I will.” I whisper.
    “Good.” He lets go of my face and squeezes my hand briefly. “Be safe.”
    “You too.”
    He smiles at me one last time before he goes.
    Then I’m alone again.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    “Crenshaw!” I whisper loudly into the wilderness.
    I’m standing in the thickest section of trees in the park turned forest, scanning the brush. I have to be careful because Crenshaw is a shifty old man who loves setting traps. Traps for food, traps for zombies, traps for people. I think the people traps are his favorite. Yep, there’s a makeshift rope running up the inside of a tree. I’d bet my last sip of water that it’s connected to a loop in the underbrush. I am not taking another step.
    “Crenshaw!”
    “I’m here.” a disembodied voice calls from within the trees. He emerges from the shadows looking like Merlin if he’d fallen on hard times and got really into pot. He even has a staff, for God’s sake. “What do you need of me, Athena?”
    Yeah, he calls me Athena, like the goddess of war. Years ago he said Joss was too mousey, that I was a survivor and deserved a survivor’s name. He toyed with calling me Xena for a bit but I refused to respond to it. By the time we got to Athena, I just didn’t care anymore.
    “Nothing, I’m fine. I came to warn you that there’s been an outbreak in the Colonies. I’ve seen a lot more wraiths