The Key to My Hart

Bonus Chapter

I just want to give a quick shout out to Madison8002 for introducing me to the song "Find You" by Ruelle. I listened to it on repeat while writing this chapter.

Ryder's POV

I continued to stare at the spot Atalia had just stood at. She was gone now. The gun I used for one of the biters was lying somewhere on the ground near my feet.

Her eyes had turned red. She had turned. Was turning. I didn't even know anymore. I fell to my knees in the wet grass, as my heart ripped out of my chest. She was gone. It was my fault. She was gone.

Rowan was suddenly there in my face, grabbing me by the front of the shirt. I vaguely registered his anger. I didn't care. He could be mad.

The reason I fought to live and survive every day was gone. My head snapped back as Rowan threw a punch at me. Then I was tackling him to the ground. For every punch I got in, he clipped me with two. Damn marine.

Kaito and Azrael pulled us apart. Chogan was placed himself between us. "What the hell has gotten in to the two of you?"

Rowan shrugged Kaito off him. "Ryder seemed to need to let out some anger."

Damn marine. I turned away because while he wasn't wrong, I didn't want to admit he was right.

"What happened?" Azrael demanded. Carlos was the last to join us. Sam, Angel, Finn, and even Doc were still across the field standing by the inn's back door.

I hesitated, my heart sinking to my stomach, the ache prevalent all over again. The fight had done nothing but leave me with a black eye.

I could feel everyone's eyes on me. My knees gave out as I fell to the ground. I drew my legs to my chest and rested my arms on-top, head hanging between them.

Chogan squatted next to me. "Whatever you're thinking, stop. It wasn't your fault." His voice was low enough that only I could hear. And Azrael, of course. He turned to the others. "Hart was bitten by one of the biters over there."

Rowan swore. Kaito's hands flew too fast for me to translate. Rowan's back was to him so no one was able to translate. Azrael walked over to a tree and punched it. Carlos turned away as he started crying. He was probably the only one of us able to show the proper emotion.

I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to show weakness in front of Atalia's other men. In front of the men I now considered my brothers. Chogan's eyes were red, but no tears fell.

"There were two biters. I saw Atalia sneaking through the hallway when I went to bring Chogan the gun and decided to follow her instead. She met up with one of the biters back here. It was really strange." My voice sounded distant, as if coming from a stranger's mouth. "She was oblivious to my approach. Another biter shot out of the woods and attacked her. Bit a chunk out of her arm. The biter she had been trying to communicate with ripped the head off the one that attacked her. Then I shot it. I... got nervous."

"Maybe she's fine." Carlos choked. "She was immune to a scratch. Maybe she's immune to a bite, too."

"Her eyes were turning red, like a thinker." My voice cracked. Then there were several hands on my shoulders. I was hauled to my feet by Rowan.

He pressed his forehead to mine. "It's not your fault."

"She asked me to shoot her. I couldn't do it." My voice was hoarse.

"None of us would have been able to." Azrael admitted, still standing by the tree he punched.

Rowan patted my cheek with his hand. "It's not your fault, but now we need to figure out our next move."