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yourself!” I screamed louder.
    “Stop it,” he said firmly. “Stop!”
    He forced me against his chest, wrapping his strong arms around me tightly. The best I could do to fight back was to weakly hit at his back. He kept a firm hold on me until I finally began to calm down.
    “How are you alive, Gus?” I finally squeaked out. “I heard the gun. I felt you leave me.”
    He didn’t answer.
    “Answer me. You owe me that much,” I groaned. “I can’t hear any of them, or you.”
    “I can still hear you, Zoe.” He stroked my hair back from my face. “It’s how I found you. I can feel you both.”
    He leaned forward and kissed me passionately. I didn’t want to, but couldn’t keep myself from kissing him back. Even though he was no longer inside my head, he was still a part of my soul.
    He ended the kiss slowly. “Where are the others?” he asked quietly.
    “They went ashore for supplies,” I said. “Emmett’s here with me.”
    “The dead are coming. We have to go. We’ll talk later, but right now we have to go.”
    “Go where?”
    “Back to Neah Bay.”
    “How?” I asked.
    “Just trust me.”
    “I can’t just leave. The others are coming back.”
    “We can leave a note. I’ll leave instructions on where to meet us. We don’t have much time, darlin’. Get the baby, ok?”
    While I couldn’t feel him inside of my head anymore, his eyes held desperation and deep love for me. I leaned forward and allowed my forehead to rest against his chest. I inhaled his familiar scent, which I had thought I’d never get to experience again.
    “I know, baby. I know,” he soothed as he kissed the top of my head. “Let’s get the baby and get out of here. They’re not far behind.”
    “How do you know?” I asked.
    “There’s no time to discuss it now. Well talk about it after we leave.”
    He took hold of one of my hands and began to run to the little stone house with me. Once we entered the kitchen, he stared at the blood on the floor.
    “How’d they die?” he asked. “Susan and Nathan?”
    I looked at him and he nodded, apparently picking up my basic thoughts on who had died.
    “She got attacked by a Roamer and bled out during the night. Nate decided to end his own life.”
    “Fucking A,” said Gus as he stroked his chin with one hand. “I know Boggs is still alive. What about Abs and Dan?”
    “Alive.”
    “Ok, let’s pack what we can in the next five minutes.”
    I let go of his hand, reluctantly. “I have to leave a note."
    “I’ll do it. Just pack what you need. Be quick.”
    I reluctantly left the room to pack a bag with supplies for Emmett. I left any food and water behind for the others. Within minutes we were ready to leave.
    I read Gus’ note on my way out.
     
    B, D, and A - We’ll be at the Dollar Tree north of the Tribal Center every day at noon waiting for you.
     
    He had written it in pen on an old piece of newspaper. It wasn’t pretty but would do the trick. He had set it on the stove and I weighted it down using a stone from just outside the door.
    Gus escorted me down the cliff face. I allowed him to carry Emmett. The air was still heavy with fog and the air around us stunk like feces. It was high tide and Gus’ rowboat was beached very near the bottom of the rickety steps. I climbed in first and took Emmett as he was handed to me. The waves were unusually calm as Gus shoved off and jumped into the small craft to join us. He took a seat and took hold of the oars.
    “I can help row,” I said as Emmett began fussing.
    “I’m fine. We don’t have far to go,” he said.
    I settled the baby and watched as Gus’ strong arms paddled us out to sea. My head was reeling as I began to understand that he was still alive.
     

CHAPTER 4
     
    I assumed that Gus intended to row all the way to shore. Our canoe was designed for use on the ocean, but I doubted the small row boat had been. The smallness of our current vessel in the vastness of the ocean set me on