Infected by V.A. Brandon Read Free Book Online

woods, on the lookout for any signs of movement. The woods were pitch-black, the silhouetted trees tall and menacing. Amy shivered and huddled closer to Justin as he turned his flashlight on.
    “You think he’s okay?” she asked.
    “Why wouldn’t he be?”
    “Gee, I don’t know . . . maybe because we just had a couple of Runners roaming these very grounds?”
    “The Runners came up the road from the highway,” he said, frowning down at her. “They didn’t even venture into the woods.”
    “That’s the theory, anyway.”
    Justin came to a standstill. “Okay, what’s going on? Why are you being so short with me?”
    “I’m not.” But she was. To be honest, it was the accumulation of everything – her close encounter with the Runner on the balcony, her blurry recollection of something waking her at night besides the nightmare, and to top it all off, Justin’s insistence that their breakup had solely been her doing. She hated that a small part of herself agreed with this assessment.
    Inadvertently influenced by her stepfather’s constant snide remarks, she’d come to believe that Justin truly was out of her league – that one day, he would dump her when someone better came along. To avoid getting hurt, she had halfheartedly suggested a break. And to add salt to her wounds, he had offered friendship on the spot.
    Maybe Justin was right; her hang-up had ruined a perfectly good relationship. But it was too late for regrets now.
    Amy tried to smile. “I’m not,” she repeated. “Really. Sorry, Justin . . . I guess I’m still a bit rattled about everything that’s happened.”
    His eyes softened in understanding. “C’mon. Let’s not keep Patrick waiting.” Pulling her closer to him, he swept the beam of the flashlight across the ground before they entered the woods.
    They immediately headed toward the area where they had last seen the older man – battered, bruised, and quite unrepentant of his deeds. Just as Amy was wondering if he was nearby, Justin called out, “Patrick? Are you there?”
    “Shhh!” she hissed fiercely, nudging him with her elbow. In the eerily quiet darkness, even his normal voice sounded like a shout.
    He sighed. “Guess we’ll have to search around. He can’t be too far off, though.”
    Amy turned on her own flashlight. “Maybe we should split up,” she said. “Let’s meet back here in ten minutes. If we still haven’t found him by then, we’ll just head back to the mansion.”
    Indecision flickered across Justin’s face. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
    “It’ll be faster that way,” she pointed out. “Besides, you said the Runners came from the highway. So the woods should be free of Runners, right?” When he delayed to respond, she headed toward the left. “See you in ten minutes, on the dot.”
    “All right, then. Holler if you see anything.” And he reluctantly made his way in the opposite direction.
    Amy scanned the flashlight across the trees, feeling a surge of irritation. Where had Patrick gone off to? She whispered his name, keeping her senses on high alert as she avoided stepping on fallen branches and slippery leaves. The sensible thing to do would have been to stay near the stream where fresh water was readily available, not venture deeper into the woods. Then again, was there ever a time when the older man displayed any common sense?
    Minutes later, Amy stumbled upon an empty stew can. She quickened her footsteps and found contents from Patrick’s first aid kit carelessly strewn across the dirt floor. A few paces away, his small backpack leaned against a rough tree trunk.
    “Patrick?” Amy whispered loudly, flicking her flashlight back and forth. “Are you here? Patrick?”
    But only the sounds of rustling leaves overhead greeted her.

Chapter 6
     
    When Amy and Justin returned to the mansion, Daniel and Marie were fast asleep, warmly buried underneath their blankets. Beside them, Walter gave a mighty yawn and pressed his cold