The Virus Within: Third Wave (Book 2)

Chapter 9

Nina and Nicky enjoyed a simple dinner of fresh bread, fried slices of sausage, and a handful of wild greens. Daniel declined a plate, and they didn't bother offering me any, which suited me just fine. It smelled good, but I had no appetite for it.

A relaxing evening breeze picked up and brought smells from the forest behind us. I turned my head and took a deeper breath. This world is getting smaller and smaller all the time. Or else I'm traveling too much.

I silently got to my feet and walked toward the edge of the roof, gazing in the direction the wind was coming from, although he was much too far away for me to see him, especially with the forest. The others noticed my preoccupation.

"Is something wrong?" Daniel asked.

"No, I'll be back shortly."

I jumped off the roof before anyone had a chance to reply or ask more questions. I made my way to the forest at a leisurely walk, but as soon as I entered the trees, I sped up, still tracking his scent.

He had to know I was here. In fact, my presence was probably the only reason he was approaching. As always, he was polite enough to approach from upwind where I could pick up his scent well in advance.

In his previous life, he had probably been quite the chivalrous gentleman. Even though the virus had curtailed his actions and rational thoughts, he still tried to practice such manners. With the distance between us, his scent was weak, but that was a good thing since Daniel probably wouldn't notice it, even if he was trying to read the wind.

It took me almost fifteen minutes to get close. I let my footsteps crackle in the fallen leaves, and as I got closer, I slowed down so I didn't trigger the Runner's instincts too badly.

A low growl greeted me just before I stepped out of the trees. I growled a welcome in reply, the lower tone having no force behind it. The blonde-haired man waiting for me looked like a track runner with his tall and thin build. My instincts stirred a bit at the sight of the Runner, but since he wasn't challenging me, they subsided.

His red eyes flashed as he grinned. "I thought it was your scent I picked up. Good to see you again."

"This is a pleasant surprise," I said, also baring my teeth in a grin. "I didn't expect to see you around here. What have you been up to?"

He looked pleased to see me, although my sudden appearance would have set his instincts on edge. Even though he tried not to let it show, I could still see his muscles relax as his instincts slowly subsided with the lack of a direct challenge.

The rank tension was present, although the more sociable Runners were less affected by my presence than how my solitary and prideful Nightstalker instincts chafed against Daniel's rank. As far as Luke's instincts were concerned, as long as he didn't challenge me, I wouldn't threaten or harm him. It was one of the very few times zombie rules made things easier for sane zombies.

"I've been traveling pretty much nonstop and met a few sane zombies along the way," he said. "About a month ago, I encountered another sane Runner who was raising small animals. It was a really interesting setup. He had been a farmer before and figured out a way to raise rabbits and chickens without his daily work stressing them out. He even had goats and sheep."

This didn't overly surprise me. Runners weren't fast enough to catch rabbits with their hands, so a farm setting would be easier for them if they didn't mind the labor involved. Most sane Runners usually relied on live traps, which was something the traveling ones often lacked.

The way he unconsciously focused on the animals while talking was a subtle warning. I took a deep breath but didn't detect any hint of blood on his breath, so he likely hadn't had a successful hunt for several days. That was a concern I wanted to rectify as soon as possible.