Chapter 6 · Through the Ash

"Move, Evelyn!" Nolan grabbed the back of my coat and yanked me off my feet.

A rifle burst chewed through the brick where my head had been.

I hit the pavement hard, rolled through gray ash, and came up with my pistol aimed at Nolan's chest. He stood over me, breathing fast, one hand still locked in my coat.

"Touch me again and lose the fingers."

"You can threaten me after we stop the people shooting at us."

"You brought them here."

Another round slammed into the wall. Dust poured over us.

Nolan shoved me behind a collapsed delivery truck. His body covered mine for half a second, close enough that I felt the heat of him through two layers of clothing. His breath hit my cheek.

"Three hunters," he said. "Maybe four."

"You counted while they were firing?"

"I count everything."

"Then count how many bullets I have left."

His mouth tightened. "Not enough."

I checked the magazine anyway. Four rounds.

Four bullets. Two of us. A six-block run through the dead industrial district. And the water plant gate still had to open for us.

If we reached it.

A voice carried through the broken street. "Evelyn Hart!