"Ellie!" I shouted as the auburn-haired girl fell to her knees, clutching her right arm. Blood oozed from between her fingers, and we both snapped our heads up as something big crashed through the trees. It made snorting noises and was coloured like a penguin.

"I found her, Taylor! Got her right in the shoulder, too!" The rider yelled triumphantly as he gave a jovial whoop, hopping off his black and white horse. He stumbled through the undergrowth with a maniacal grin on his face, which spread impossibly wider when his dull brown eyes landed on me.

"Well, so Taylor was right! You did bring her to the rendezvous point, Aaron!" The Firefly clapped me on the shoulder, a little too roughly for my liking. I shoved him off of me as Ellie gave me a questioning glance.

I pulled out Ellie's gun, cocking it. "Leave her alone, man. She's not the one you want." I attempted to say it as a threat, but it came out as more of a whine. Damn adolescence.

To my surprise, the Firefly nodded. "I know, but lil' Ellie here is going to help us get him. Aren't you, Ellie?" He ruffled her hair, and she viciously yanked his wrist so that he was the one on the ground. The orange-haired man stumbled and landed on the pine needles with a grunt, vigorously shaking his head. I didn't need the cue twice.

Grabbing Ellie under her arm, I slammed my boot into the man's skull as she scrambled onto the horse. I got on behind her, clamping my thighs around the horse's flanks to keep from falling off as we ascended the hill at a lope.

"Nice job back there. We make a good team." I smiled in Ellie's ear as we broke through the dim trees and onto the bumpy blacktop.

Right into Taylor's clutches.

He had a few ugly, purple bruises on his scruffy face, probably courtesy of Joel. I wanted to know where he went as much as Taylor did, but not for the same reasons. If they were still looking, that meant they knew Joel had survived the battle on the bridge. How, I had absolutely no idea, but I've learned not to underestimate him. Unfortunately, so had Taylor and his cronies.

"You saved Ellie. Good work, boy. Did you kill Harvey?" Taylor nodded in approval at me, and I bared my teeth in reply.

"That had nothing to do with you, old man. Harvey's unconscious." I spat, jerking a thumb over my shoulder.

"I'll forgive your earlier betrayal because you kept our bait safe. Of course, I'll punish you for that later, but now we have more important things to do. Come on, let's get back to town." Taylor waved me on as he urged his horse into a walk. I recognized the ebony coat of the animal. It was Joel's horse. I had no idea where the spotted one went, but I assumed it had perished in the fight. Taylor gestured to the forest, and one of his goons went and retrieved Harvey.

Ellie shot me a covert glance over her shoulder, silently asking what I wanted to do. I straightened up, squaring my shoulders as the other two Fireflies gave me wary looks. I wasn't Taylor's pawn anymore. I wasn't his dog to beat as he pleased.

"No. I'm not going with you." I stated firmly, staring Taylor in the eye as he turned in his saddle, his bushy eyebrow raised in surprise.

"Don't be stupid, Aaron. It's three against two, and Ellie looks too pale to hold a gun. Those arrows on her back are useless with only one arm." Taylor clucked like he expected a better threat from me. I glanced at Ellie again. Her whole arm was streaked with red; dripping banners that announced her life slipping away with every drop. She sagged against me, reins held loosely in her hands as if they were about to slip from her fingers.

I grit my teeth, looking from Ellie's drooping eyes to Taylor's alert, malicious ones. "Fine, but I'll only come if you let me take care of Ellie. Live bait's better than dead, right?"

Taylor shrugged, motioning for one of the other Fireflies to take the reins of my black and white horse. We ambled down the paved road, spreading out as if to create a moving barricade. I hastily treated and bound Ellie's wound as well as I could, much to her hushed insults and obscenities amid the chatter of Taylor and his men. It brought me relief to know she was alert enough to call me a "motherfucking traitor", but her words cut me deeper with every insult.

She thinks you were in on it the whole time. A voice groaned with dread in my mind. I guess now you are, but…I doubt she'll trust you after this.

The voice was right. I had just surrendered both myself and Ellie to Taylor, and she was probably going to end up dead anyway after we lured Joel into whatever trap the bastards riding beside me had concocted. I still harboured bitterness towards Joel, and I doubted that would go away anytime soon, but Ellie needed him. That meant I had to keep him alive.

"How are you holding up, Ellie?" I asked the redhead after we had rode about half a mile in silence. I could see the town beyond the valley now, and I was a bit disappointed that we had washed up only a couple of miles from it. The buildings wavered and melded with the simmering blacktop in the blazing afternoon heat.

"Don't talk to me." She growled, her grip on the reins tightening. At least she didn't look so pale anymore.

I clamped my mouth shut after that, since I didn't want to converse with Taylor or his buddies like I was trying to be civil towards them. I resumed plotting mine and Ellie's escape, but I had to know more about Taylor's plan if I was going to figure out the best way to get us out of this mess.

When we passed by a faded, green overhead sign that designated the town as being called "Alpine", I expected to hear the fear-inducing moans of Infected, but this side of town was completely silent. I assumed the Fireflies that had taken up residence here cleared this half out better than the other. The eerie silence didn't stop the hairs on the back of my neck from prickling, though.

We turned into an empty gas station, and beyond it was a small cluster of lodge-like buildings. Balconies rimmed the top floor, but the wood had fallen away in some places, like missing teeth in a person's smile. Without the peeling white siding, smashed windows, and weathered wood, it would have been a nice place back in the day. I didn't have much time to admire it, though, because Ellie and I were forced to dismount our horse at gunpoint. A large elk head leered down at me from its place mounted above the door, and I shivered as I passed under it, like I was afraid it was going to bite me. One antler was missing, and the peeling paint underneath claimed the place was called the "Alpen Haus Resort".

We entered some sort of lobby, where a long wooden counter occupied one side of the room. There was a set of stairs on the opposite wall, but no elevators. Hole-riddled, black sofas and armchairs were arranged in a half-circle around an elaborate fireplace, which had a wrought iron grate that mimicked the mountains seen through the large bay windows. A low table stood between the chairs.

Taylor shoved me towards the chairs while another Firefly prodded Ellie towards another door marked, "Staff Only". Beside it was another corridor that claimed to lead to the "Dining Hall". I tried to follow her, but Taylor dug his nails into my gunshot wound. With a pathetic whimper, I let him push me into one of the leather armchairs.

"She'll be fine. Gale will take good care of her until we can get Joel in here for a nice chat. Once Harvey wakes up, he and Nick will go out and search for that bastard again." Taylor reassured me in a casual tone. I noted the underlying growl of warning in his rasp, telling me not to try anything stupid in the meantime. I glanced to my right as I noticed Nick, a blond, burly man of about thirty, hauling the orange-haired Harvey up the stairs, presumably to one of the upstairs rooms.

I almost got up again as I heard the excited screech of a Clicker, coming from behind the metal "Staff Only" door. I threw a terrified look at Taylor. "You have fucking Infected roaming around in this place? Why didn't you kill the things?"

To my utter disbelief, Taylor chuckled. "We only have one Clicker. And it's used purely for scare tactics. I'd put you in there too, but I need you out here where I can make sure you can't screw shit up." He rolled his eyes as we heard a female scream, followed by a string of obscenities.

"Excuse me for a minute, son. I think Gale needs some help incarcerating Ellie." Taylor held up a finger, disappearing into the room beyond the counter. I knew this used to be some place where people stayed when they were on vacation, and I imagined what the upstairs rooms might be like. I had seen pictures of hotels in the odd intact subway brochure or poster, but this one was a lot smaller than the towering buildings I had seen on the road to Salt Lake, and even within Salt Lake itself.

I considered sneaking in to see where they were holding Ellie, but then I decided against it since Taylor or Gale would probably shoot me. So I sat in the cushy armchair, digging my fingernails into the armrests until there were ten half-inch holes shaped like semi-circles. It was torture listening to Ellie's constant screams, along with the Clicker's voracious, rattling hisses.

It took too long for Taylor and Gale to return to the lobby, and Gale headed upstairs while Taylor sat down across from me like he hadn't just locked an innocent girl in the same room with a Clicker that wanted to rip her throat out.

"What did you do to Ellie?" I demanded as Taylor put his boots up on the couch.

He waved a hand as if it shouldn't concern me. But I was very concerned. "She won't die in there. The Clicker's chained up real well and so is she. Neither of them will be going anywhere unless I have a say in it." Taylor smirked, and I caught the silvery glimmer of something around his neck.

I knew it was the key to whatever room or lock they had imprisoned Ellie with, but I didn't let it show on my face. I would only have to be Taylor's bitch for a little longer, until I could figure out a way to get that key.

"So what now?" I queried after a moment of silence. Ellie's obscenities had died down a little, but I still heard something banging against metal behind that door. I didn't know if it was her or the Clicker, but I hoped Ellie wouldn't exhaust herself before I could get her out of there.

"You hungry? We have food here. We found a few cans of pop in the basement, too. Ever had Cola?" It was the first time since noon that Taylor had talked to me without using a condescending tone.

I cocked my head. "Like…that white stuff that creepy guy Ronny used to sell back in Boston?"

"No, not cocaine, Special Cola. Kids used to love the stuff back before CBI hit. Wanna try some?" Taylor genuinely smiled, and for a moment he wasn't my ex-guardian hell-bent on revenge. It was tempting, but…he was just trying to get me on his side again. After the beating at the barn, there was no fucking way I would trust him again. He severed that tie when he had punched me in the face.

I shook my head, even though my throat felt like sandpaper from the heat. "You can't win me over with shit, old man. We ain't nothing no more." I snapped bitterly, picking at the holes I made in the armrests.

Taylor sighed as if he were actually hurt by the comment, but I refused to play along. The man could act as nice as he wanted, but it was only that. An act. I would never believe him, and I think he was starting to see that.

Taylor leaned forward, propping his elbows on his thighs. "I know you're angry about what happened in the barn, but you have to realize that there are some things you just can't do. Disobeying authority is one of them." He sighed, pausing for a second. I said nothing so he resumed, "We were on thin ice with Joel and Ellie as it was, and you decided to crack it by screwing with Ellie? You jeopardized our mission, and I had to set you straight the only way I've seen work."

"You didn't have to crack my ribs and give me a fucking concussion. And I didn't screw with Ellie. I just tried to kiss her." I grumbled, crossing my arms like the moody teenager I was supposed to be.

"I know I went a little overboard," Taylor nodded, "and I'm sorry, son. You had to get the message, though. That girl is not your friend, and neither is Joel. They're enemies, and they will be killed for murdering your mother. They'll be brought to justice."

It was my turn to sigh. I wanted to believe the man, but that spike of distrust and contempt pierced me every time I heard his voice. I didn't want to go back to Salt Lake with him, like he wanted me to. I had no place there among the Fireflies, invisible and treated like I was just some dumb kid tagging along with the big dogs. Being next-in-line for leader didn't change that, not that I wanted the role, either.

"How? By getting their throats ripped out by your pet Clicker? That's a sort of mundane way to die." I snorted.

Taylor smirked again, stretching the gruesome cut on his split lower lip. I wanted to gag, but I didn't have the strength to. I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare. I wanted Ellie to be safe, and for us to be far away from Taylor, so he couldn't hurt us anymore.

"You're right. That's why I'm not going to feed them to the Clicker. I haven't decided yet, but hanging them from the topmost balcony, drowning them in the river, or gasoline poisoning are options. Something to make them suffer before they die, you know?" Taylor shrugged casually.

I wanted to punch him out, rip that key off his neck, and free Ellie right then and there. But I was outnumbered and not in the best condition to fight. I would have to wait until nightfall, when everyone was asleep.

"You're sick bastards, all of you." I hissed, glaring viciously at my ex-guardian.

The corner of Taylor's mouth twitched downward. He stood up from the couch, his ancient joints cracking as they straightened. "I'll get you that Special Cola and some decent food, too. Gale?" Taylor called up the stairs, and I heard someone's echo answer from the top landing. "Watch Aaron for a little bit, will ya? I'm going to get us some grub!"

Of course he wouldn't leave me by myself… I mentally groaned, banishing the idea of going to see Ellie. Gale, a man who looked about ten years younger than Taylor, thudded down the stairs in jeans and a ratty military-issued t-shirt. His dark hair was cropped short so it was easier to manage, and the amount of muscle on his arms suggested he could crack my spine in two if he fancied it.

I could hardly believe it took him and Taylor to chain Ellie up. I was impressed. Gale sat down in Taylor's spot, his inquisitive gray eyes watching me like a sparrow observed a tasty worm. My ex-guardian thumped up the creaking stairs, and I was left alone with the Firefly.

A full minute of silence passed, and Gale was still staring at me. My upper lip twitched in irritation. "You can stop staring at me like that. I won't do anything." I snapped at him.

"I saw you fight on the bridge earlier. You're a sneaky little bastard, aren't you? I know better than to let my guard down." Gale ran a hand through his greasy hair. He smelled like horse shit and body odour. Even Taylor didn't smell that bad, and the river was down the street.

I rolled my eyes, waiting in silence until Taylor came back. When he did, I was spared Gale's unceasing leer. Taylor set down a red can with a flourish of white cursive on it, a spoon, and a can of beef stew on the table between us, as if it were a peace offering.

I didn't want to eat anything given to me by somebody I strongly disliked, but I doubted I would get the chance again today, so I popped open the can of soda and took a sip. Despite Taylor watching me, I smiled as the sweet, bubbly liquid danced over my taste buds. Man, this stuff was good!

"Told you you'd like it." Taylor reclined into the leather, propping his arm behind his head as he stretched himself out on the sofa. He closed his eyes, letting out a long breath.

I took a few greedy chugs of the soda, feeling some of my energy come back. I moved on to the beef stew, peeling the lid back. When the pop can was emptied of the last drop and I licked the remainder of the stew from my finger, Taylor was snoring.

I cocked my head, staring at him unwaveringly like Gale did to ensure he was actually asleep, and not faking it. Taylor rolled over, turning his back to me. I smirked, seizing the opportunity to silently tip-toe towards the "Staff Only" door, glancing behind me every few steps to make sure Taylor was still asleep.

My hand curled around the silver doorknob, turning it. I winced as the hinges groaned in the peaceful silence of the lobby, and whipped my head to check on Taylor. His snoring was only interrupted for a second, but he didn't wake up. Door's no good… I thought as I released the knob, heading for the dining hall.

I passed gilded, chipped frames on the wall depicting various stages of this resort's construction, along with picturesque paintings of the mountains outside the lobby's windows, but I had no time to admire them. I hurried down the hallway, only to come to a cavernous room twice the size of the lobby. A few lengthy tables, as long as the counter, had been shoved against the wall, and the scent of straw filled my nose.

Callus II, Ellie's gray pony, and Joel's horse munched on hay on the middle of the dining hall. I grinned, walking up to the copper horse and wrapping my arms around his neck. I didn't think I would be so glad to see a horse again, but I was. Now I had my transportation for tonight's escape.

"Hey, buddy. Where's Ellie, huh?" I quietly asked Callus II, as if he would answer me. He only cocked an ear at me, and resumed nibbling at the hay. "Pfft. Have it your way, you spoiled ass."

I heard something bang against metal again, and both the horses and I snapped our heads toward the large double doors to our left. Again, the black words "Staff Only" had been painted on the metal. The sign "Kitchen" had been bolted to the wood above it. This whole place seemed to be made of logs.

I crept cautiously to the door, pushing it open. Silver tables and appliances sat against the brick walls, and they were all either partially destroyed or severely dented beyond repair. I began to wonder what could have damaged them so much, when the answer almost grabbed me by the neck.

The Clicker I had heard clawed at me, its putrid, filthy arms stopped only by the metal bars. I stumbled backwards, banging my head against some pots hanging over a sink. "Ow! Shit…" I moaned as my skull throbbed. I leaned against the bar above the sink that held the pots, rubbing my head. The rusty thing suddenly came loose, and the bar, pots and all, crashed to the floor, loud enough to make the Clicker screech and the horses whinny in fear. A chain rattled dangerously, and I spied a two silver choke collars around its neck, like those used to restrain attack dogs back in Boston.

It was certainly enough to wake Taylor.

"What the fuck is going on in here?" I heard Taylor boom as he burst through the door at the other end of the hallway. I cowered, backing away, but he already had me by the collar. As he dragged me out of the kitchen, I caught a glimpse of red hair huddled in the corner of the Clicker's holding cell.

After Taylor had beat me in one of the resort's bedrooms enough that I couldn't stand, he left me alone to make sure my little stunt hadn't scared off any of the horses. So I crawled up onto one of the queen-sized mattresses, curling up to ease the pain in my ribs. It didn't help much, and my exhaustion pulled me down into a deep sleep, allowing my battered body to recuperate for once.

It was dark when I woke up again. It embraced me, serene, obscuring the events of the day through the absence of light. My entire body ached something awful in time with my heart beat, sending pain spiking through every limb at so much as a twitch of my muscles.

I slowly turned over, wincing and gasping quietly in agony as I put pressure on the tender spots on my back and ribs. A large lump was snoring in the bed next to mine, and in the on-and-off moonlight filtering through the cracked window on the opposite wall, I caught a tuft of silver-white hair poking out from underneath the blanket.

I had no idea what time of night it was, or if Nick and Harvey had caught Joel, but I knew one thing for sure: if Ellie was still alive, I would have to get her out of here. I gingerly sat up, allowing a dizzy spell to run its course as I silently stood up. I crept over to Taylor, peeling the blanket back enough to reveal the key tied by a string around his neck.

As I deliberated on how to get the key without waking up Taylor, I spotted mine and Ellie's packs sitting on a three-legged table by the tiny bathroom. I slipped mine on, hoisting Ellie's over one shoulder as I moved back over to Taylor.

If I just grab it, he would wake up. If I cut it, he could take my hand and stab me. I listed my options, and there weren't many. I would have to either kill him or knock him out. The first one was tempting, but then Taylor's goons would hear the scream and scuffle. I had to do it without waking them up, or they would definitely kill me, whether Taylor was alive or not.

I eyed the lamp sitting on the nightstand between our beds, but I decided against it. Too loud. Then I remembered Ellie's switchblade. An uneasy feeling twisted in my stomach. Would I really pick her over Taylor? I mean I liked her, but it wasn't like she was always my first or only priority. On the other hand, I didn't want to watch her die by being forced to swallow gasoline.

The silver key glimmered tantalizingly in the moonlight. Maybe I could choke him until he passes out? I don't have to kill him. I reasoned, and besides, it wasn't like I had the strength to beat Taylor up. Strangling would have to do.

I bit my lip, clenching and unclenching my hands. If I didn't do this, Ellie and Joel would die. If we didn't escape, Taylor would continue abusing me until I probably died from a punctured lung or too many kicks to the head. Tommy would never see his brother again. I would never be with Ellie. Joel would never see her again. I would never see her again.

I could do this.

I had to do this.

I needed to do this.

I slipped my arm underneath Taylor's head, and clamped my elbow as tight as I could around his neck. Taylor gasped in surprise and grabbed at my arm, his eyes bleary and bleached of colour in the moonlight. I let out a determined snarl, tightening my grip until I felt like my shoulder would pop out of its socket. Taylor gradually stopped struggling, and I ripped the key from his limp neck.

Adrenaline heightened my senses, and I listened hard for any shouting as I rushed down the hall as quietly as the balls of my feet would allow. It wasn't difficult to find the stairwell; each floor was essentially a square with identical rooms. I crept down four flights of stairs until I reached the lobby, still convinced someone could wake up at any minute and come after me.

Not a soul was in the lobby, and I headed through the kitchen door, not caring if it squeaked or not. I got into a crouch as I neared the cell where the Clicker and Ellie were locked up, so I wouldn't startle either of them. But as I neared the jail cell, I didn't see the telltale orange glow of the Clicker's fungal plates. Assuming they either killed it or moved it somewhere else for the night, I fitted the key into the cell's lock. I darted inside, spotting a dull head of auburn hair exactly where I had seen it during the day. Ellie hadn't moved an inch.

Ellie's brow was furrowed in her sleep, and she muttered incoherently to what I assumed were the demons in her nightmare. I gently shook her shoulder, murmuring, "Ellie? Wake up, we're getting out of here."

A moment of silence passed, and I shook her shoulder again. Ellie's emerald eyes shot open and she lunged for me, fingernails slashing the skin on my face. I let out a surprised yelp, shielding myself from her.

"Ellie! It's me, Aaron! Calm down!" I tried to keep my voice quiet in case any sentries were walking around, and I wrapped my sore arms around her to placate her. I murmured soothing words in her ear and she gradually stopped fighting as she recognized it, instead letting me hold her as she sobbed into my chest.

"I thought…I thought you were…that Clicker." Ellie whimpered, and I held her tighter in reply.

We sat like that for a while, until muffled thudding above me broke the silence. "We have to leave. They have the horses in the next room." I said, giving Ellie her pack.

"Do they have Joel here?" Ellie asked, her eyes momentarily widened as she focused on something behind me. "Look out!" She shouted as dreaded clicking sounded from somewhere by the cell's entrance. I whipped around, reaching for a gun I realized wasn't there. Taylor must have taken it.

The Clicker barreled into me, deformed jaws gnashing at my neck. I fell to the ground, trying feebly to keep the thing away. With a yell, I shoved it off of me just as Clicker blood splattered all over my face. The gunshots so close to my head made my ears ring, but I didn't have any time to recover as Ellie grabbed my hand and hauled me out of the jail cell.

We came out into the dining hall, and Callus II threw his head up as we clambered onto his back, Ellie first and me behind her. He still had his saddle on, which I was grateful for. We hunched low as we cleared the wide doorway, tearing out into the parking lot just as shouts echoed from the lobby.

We galloped until we were back in the valley, and the town of Alpine was obscured by the looming, shadowed mountains rising tall into the roiling, cloudy sky. I breathed in the fresh air like it was the first time I had inhaled oxygen, the scent of the wilderness surrounding me mixing with the scent of rain on the air. Thunder rumbled overhead, like the sky was angry I had escaped Alpine's clutches.

Ellie slowed Callus II to a walk when he started getting tired, which gave us a chance to talk without the wind carrying our words away. "What happened in that cell back there? Did Taylor hurt you?" I was surprised at the amount of concern in my voice.

Ellie didn't answer for a moment, and I thought she was refusing the question until she said, "No, he didn't hurt me. They…stuck me in that cell with the Clicker, but it was chained up. The dumbasses made the handcuffs too loose for me, so it was easy for me to slip out, but…" She trailed off, and I could fill in the rest. It must have been terrifying, being stuck in a confined space with a nasty Clicker for God knows how long.

"They didn't let you out at all?"

The auburn-haired girl shook her head.

I fell silent, not wanting to pry and make Ellie relive the nightmare of the past day.

"So you were never planning on surrendering me to Taylor, were you?" Ellie's tone was wary, but curious.

"I honestly thought Joel had killed him. I had no idea he was alive, really." I answered, but in the back of my mind I knew Taylor wasn't brought down that easily.

"Did you kill Taylor back there?"

I wasn't sure, but part of me hoped I did so that Ellie, Joel, and I could have some peace for once. "I don't know, but I doubt it. I knocked him out, though."

Ellie shrugged. "Good enough. What happened after they chained me up in the kitchen?"

I bit my lip, not wanting her to pity me. I hated pity. "Taylor fed me, and then I tried to see you, but that Clicker made me knock all those pots down. Then Taylor beat me and I slept until I busted you out."

She was quiet for a minute, and then, "I hope you did kill him. He's a nasty motherfucker."

I chuckled, but then winced as my aching ribs agreed with her. "Yeah…I kind of figured that out too late."

"Sorry I marked up your face…You really shouldn't sneak up on people having nightmares." Ellie tried to laugh to lighten the mood, but for some reason it just annoyed me.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll keep that in mind." I answered dryly.

A comfortable silence settled between us, broken only by the rumbling thunder and Callus II's worried whinnies. Soon fat raindrops fell on my face, and they quickly turned into sheeting rain. "We should find a place to camp for the night." Ellie informed me over her shoulder. I tapped her shoulder and pointed to a narrower road that disappeared among the trees. She nodded, urging the horse into the safety of the tall pines.

I was soaked to the bone by now, shivering in nothing but my t-shirt and pants. At least Ellie had her hoodie, not that it did much better to keep the cold out. She was shivering, too. We came up onto a low hill overlooking the river, and Ellie pointed to a promising RV. It even had a tarp extending from the side for Callus II, but it was ripped and looked like it had seen better days. Still, it was better than nothing.

There were a few other husks of cars lying miserably in the rain, but the RV was the most intact thing there was. Since I barely had the strength to hold up a gun without my arms shaking violently, I let Ellie scout the RV. She listened at the door as I tied Callus II to the pole holding up one side of the tarp, and I loosened his cinch as she ducked inside. A few seconds later, her dripping auburn head popped out and she gave me a thumbs-up.

I patted the horse on his hindquarters, squeezing past Ellie in the cramped RV. There wasn't much-just overhead cupboards that had been picked clean ages ago and the odd pieces of cutlery in the drawers. The roof didn't leak and the carpet underneath us didn't stink of mildew, which was a bonus. Overall, it wasn't in too shabby condition.

I plopped myself on the small bed at one end of the RV, kicking off my boots. I hung my backpack and soaked shirt to dry on the kitchen table jutting out from the wall, before carefully stretching myself out on the bed. I glanced at Ellie, smiling and patting the space beside me. She looked at me like I had gone crazy, and I snickered.

"What? Never shared a bed with a boy before? And Joel doesn't count." I smirked playfully, and I could tell she was blushing even though it was completely dark inside the RV. She always blushed when she twisted her foot on the floor.

"No…have you ever been in bed with a girl?" Ellie shot back, but without her usual sass. It was an honest question. I shook my head.

"Where else are you going to sleep? You're too big to sleep at the table, and there isn't anywhere else." I expertly pointed out, and I wasn't about to let her sleep on the floor, mildew or no mildew.

Ellie looked down at her feet. "I'll take the floor, then."

"I am not letting a girl sleep on the floor. It's not proper." Despite being brought up in the Boston QZ, I had been taught manners. And boys didn't let girls take the floor, not matter how much they may act like boys.

Ellie giggled, setting her pack down at the kitchen table beside mine. "I don't mind, really. And since when do you know anything about what's proper and what's not? Nobody does that chivalry shit anymore."

"Why are you so afraid of sharing a bed with me? I won't try anything with you, I've just been beaten unconscious twice in one day! Not to mention chewed up by a river and relentlessly kicked by a panicky girl in said river." I huffed in irritation, propping my hands behind my head. I put on the sarcasm a little thick, and Ellie noticed.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Who gave you permission to act like a dick? You're usually not this much of an asshole." Ellie grabbed her flashlight, switching it on. The light temporarily blinded me, and I held a hand up to shield my burning eyes.

"Ah, what the fuck? You want Taylor's goons to see us? Turn that fucking thing off!" I hissed, but Ellie didn't comply. She stepped closer, but she didn't shine it in my eyes anymore.

Ellie frowned as she sat on the edge of the bed, gently tugging my arm so I was lying on my stomach. I tried to crane my neck so I could see what had her so concerned, but she pushed my head down. As soon as she had sat down, she was up again, backing away from me like I was Death itself.

"What? What is it?" I asked urgently, but I answered my own question as I bent my right shoulder forward.

Blood trickled from a ring of teeth marks on my shoulder, shaped like the arrangement of chairs around the fireplace in the Alpen Haus Resort.