Read Running Wild for Free Online Page B

some little wallflower that can’t take care of myself. If I was, do you think I’d have made it this far?”
    He grinned. “I know darlin’, but it’s really not in my nature to put anyone in danger, let alone a beautiful girl like yourself.”
    My cheeks turned pink at the way he was looking at me. “Um, let’s get going before my dad finds out we’re missing.”
    We started walking again and I noticed that Austin’s face was getting paler.
    “Are you okay?” I asked.
    He nodded and touched his shoulder. “I reckon I’ll be much better once I have something stronger for the pain.”
    “Be careful,” I whispered as we approached the vehicles. “There could be some zombies crawling around in one of the trucks, especially if you’ve left any food.”
    There were three camouflaged military vehicles parked parallel to each other, one of them a large cargo truck.  I followed him to that one and he began rummaging through several duffel bags that were lying in the back while I watched for zombies.
    “Score,” he said walking towards me with a huge grin. He was holding a bottle of prescription drugs and the keys to the truck. “Get in; I’ll drive us back to your house.”
    I got into the passenger side while he opened the bottle and swallowed a couple of the pills.
    “I don’t think you’re supposed to be driving anything when you take those pills,” I said as he hopped in next to me.
    He stared at me, his pale face looking almost feverish and glossy from perspiration.
    I touched his arm. “Austin? Are you okay?”
    He nodded slowly and looked around as if in a daze. Then he licked his lips. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
    I grabbed the door handle. “I think it might be better if we walked back or I drive.”
    “Do you know how to drive a stick?”
    I sighed. “No.”
    He sat back in his seat and put the keys in the ignition. “Seriously Cassie, I don’t think I can walk all the way back to the house. I’ll probably pass out and then you’ll be vulnerable against any zombies, especially if you’re trying to drag me back with you.”
    “Maybe I should go back and get Bryce. I just really think it’s too dangerous for you to be driving.”
    He stared at me again, his expression was unreadable.
    “What?” I asked. The intensity of his gaze was disconcerting.
    “I’ll be right back,” he murmured, jumping out of the truck. He walked to the back and I could hear him digging around again.
    “We’d really better get going soon!” I yelled. “My dad is going to flip.”
    My door opened and he stood watching me as if in a daze, swaying slightly. Something about the way he looked at me this time made the sirens go off in my head. “Austin?” I asked backing away from him.
    His eyebrows furrowed as he came towards me and the last thing I remember is his hand covering my face with a funny smelling rag.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    I was in Bryce’s arms and he was about to kiss me passionately when a bump in the road jolted me from the fantasy. When I opened my eyes, the walls were spinning and it felt like someone was hammering me in the head with a tire iron.
    “Oh man,” I mumbled, the pain almost unbearable. I tried to lift my hands to rub my temples but noticed they were bound together with a piece of rope.
    What the heck?
    As my eyes finally adjusted to the surroundings, I found myself in the back of the same cargo truck I’d helped Austin find, and we were moving very quickly.
    “Austin!” I shouted, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my skull. I called for him several times then began kicking the walls of the truck, trying desperately to get his attention. Eventually, he pulled over and came back to check on me.
    “Sorry about this Cassie,” he said softly.
    I scowled. “Why am I tied up and where in the hell are you taking me?”
    He cleared his throat. “I told you before; I’m going to take care of you.”
    Austin’s blond hair was sticking up all crazy, his face was