Killer ↠ 10K | Z Nation

30. The New Killer

We stop to rest for a moment. Red, 10K, 5K, and I ride in the same vehicle. The tension is awkward and I know she has a crush on him. I don't say anything but 10K knows I'm stewing.

"You okay?" I ask him when he leans against the car, sighing.

"Yeah, just tired."

"It's nice to have most of you back so far."

He nods. "My head still feels a mess."

"Sure it isn't her?" I ask, feeling jealous and nodding over at Red.

"Bexley." He tucks a curl behind my ear. "You're the only one I'd go through all of that for, do you understand?"

I stare into his eyes, looking for a hint of dishonesty. When I see none, I nod. "Okay, Killer."

"Alright, back on the road, everyone!" Warren calls out.

"I'll drive. You rest," Red tells 10K.

"I can do it," we both reply. I stare over at him. "No," we say in unison again.

"Stop that," I tell him.

"I'm driving. Get in the car." Clearly my bite has worn off. We all hop in the car, this time Red trying to claim the front seat. I stare her down before she begrudgingly hops into the back. We start on the road, things going smoothly as we cruise through the mountains.

"Bex, take the wheel," 10K mutters before his head hits the steering wheel. I grab it, grabbing him as well.

"Red, get him to the back!" I yell. She does so, and I hop fully into the driver's seat, honking and flashing the headlights. I finally pull over, watching as Warren and Murphy do as well.

"Bex! He's seizing!" Red yells. I hop out, running to the back.

"Get him onto his side!"

Sun Mei runs to our aid. "His heart's racing. High fever. Given all the chemicals pumped into his bloodstream, this could be anything."

"Check his shoulder!" Red yells. Sun Mei pulls back his clothing, revealing a bite mark. I gasp, upset that I didn't even notice he was infected.

"What if he turns?" Red asks.

"He's a blend. He can't turn," Sun Mei says, relieving some anxiety for myself.

"We've gotta keep moving," Warren says. Sun Mei shakes her head. "Alright, Red, you drive. Bex, stay with 10K." As if I wouldn't anyway.

Sun Mei stays with us in the back of the car as 10K lays in my lap, his eyes staring straight into my soul.

"I'm sorry," he groans out.

"Shh, it's okay." I wipe away a rogue tear. "You'll be fine, I promise." Inside, I'm struggling with the possibility that I may lose the only partner I've had since losing my mom.

When we arrive, the others clear out the soldier Zees before having Red and I help 10K. He seems a bit better but not by much.

"Doc!" I mutter, walking us a little faster.

"Jesus, kids, what did you do to yourselves?" he asks us, looking between the two of us.

"Oh, right, the red thing. I'm a Murphy. Fun stuff."

Doc shakes his head. "You need a blunt after this, tell me all about it."

"I'll take you up on some Z weed."

"You guys look after 10K when we head in," Warren says to us. We nod and head into the mountain, a bit slower behind the others. Suddenly, I'm dragged down to the wall, 10K collapsing.

"Murphy, Warren!" I whisper yell.

Sun Mei puts a finger to his neck. "He's dying."

"Wait, no!" I yell for real this time.

Murphy puts a hand on me. "I saved him once. I can do it again."

"No," I mutter, my resolve shaking.

"You know there's no other way. Unless you want to do the honors, niece?"

"Don't bite him," Red says this time.

"Hey, nobody is biting anybody. We'll get him somewhere safe and deal with him after. Lucy is our priority."

"Wait, you can't just leave him until after," I reply, panicking.

"Bexley–"

"He's not going to make it. I can feel him slipping."

"Me too," Murphy mutters, staring down almost with pity at me.

"Follow Doc," Warren says with finality. I put 10K's arm around me again and we lift him quickly, bringing him down the hall to a tiny space where light is filtering in. It's not so dreary here.

"Keep holding on, Tommy, for me," I say desperately as I lower him onto his back, taking his hand into me. "There's supposed to be many more nights with you. A future. This has to end eventually, right?" I bring his knuckles to my lips and kiss them.

"Can you help him?" Warren asks Sun Mei.

"Best guess is we will have to kill 10K to save him." She looks up at Murphy and then at me. "Records indicate that you flatlined on the table at the prison, and probably you as well after you were bit, in order to become immune. You both died."

"I've been dead this whole time?" Murphy asks, disbelieving.

"Technically, yes, both of you. And if we are going to save 10K, he needs to die too."

"What do you need us to do?" Warren asks.

"Someone needs to kill 10K."

"I'll do it," I mutter. "This time, I'll be the killer."