Chapter 11

Myka froze, as if just realizing exactly what she had been doing—making out with Helena. Her eyes grew wide as she tried to push herself away. Helena, on the other hand, hadn't heard the knock and tried to kiss Myka again.

Another knock. "Mykes, you in there?" It was Pete.

Myka shot up off of Helena. "Uhhh, just a second!" She pushed the woman off her bed on the other side, hidden from sight. "If you make a sound I will cut off your limbs and feed them to the zombies," she whispered to Helena. "Are we clear?" Helena nodded silently. Myka pushed her head down and walked over to the door, opening it. "What is it, Pete?"

"Whoa, someone's grouchy," Pete said, stepping inside the room. "And what up with the sex hair? I mean, if that's what you're going for it doesn't look bad, I'm just curious."

"I, uhh, took a nap," Myka stuttered, nervously fixing her curls.

Pete raised an eyebrow. "It's ten in the morning."

"I was tired," Myka shrugged.

"Anway," Pete continued. "The chopper's leaving in half an hour, so be ready by then." Myka nodded. Pete turned and left, but stepped back through the door a moment later. "Oh, have you seen HG anywhere?"

Myka tried to fight the blush she felt creeping onto her cheeks, and replied with a quick, "No, I haven't." Helena snorted from behind the bed.

Thankfully, Pete didn't hear. "If you see her, tell her we're leaving soon."

"Will do," Myka replied, ushering Pete out of her room and closing the door behind him.

As soon as Pete was gone, Myka put a hand to her face and sighed in relief. Helena, on the other hand, got up from behind the bed, snaked her arms around Myka's waist from behind, and moved her hair to kiss her neck. "I thought he'd never leave."

"Hey, whoa, stop!" Myka said, and pushed Helena off of her.

Helena didn't try to hide the hurt and confused look on her face. "But we were just—"

"It doesn't matter what we were just doing," Myka snapped. "It shouldn't have happened and it won't happen again."

"For a moment I thought we were actually getting somewhere," Helena said.

"No, we're not getting anywhere," Myka said harshly. "That was a mistake. I don't care about you, so you should just leave."

"But Myka, I—"

"Get. Out." The vice in Myka's voice is what caused Helena to obey without question.

Myka finished her diligent packing and went out to pick up her bag of ammunition before they left. She was the first one ready to go, closely followed by Pete. Helena trailed behind, as she had been a bit preoccupied earlier.

Myka kept to herself the whole morning, except to say goodbye to Leena, before she, Pete, Helena, Steve, and Claudia were all crammed into a helicopter to be dropped off somewhere in the country and left to kill zombies. It was a long, awkward ride, crammed on a seat between Steve and Helena. Steve was trying to make polite conversation, but Myka would only respond harshly.

"You ok, Myka?" Steve asked after she swore under her breath about wanting everyone to leave her alone.

"I'm fine," Myka snapped. It didn't take Steve's special skill for everyone to know she was lying.

The next time she spoke that day was when the helicopter landed just outside of Portland so Myka could say goodbye to Steve and Claudia. She gave them both a hug. "Be safe," she whispered to Claudia. As much as she hated to admit it, the girl was like a little sister to her.

"You too," Claudia muttered back and squeezed her tighter for just a second.

"See you in a month," Myka said. She, Pete, and Helena stood outside on the dirt ground and waved as the helicopter took off again, leaving them alone. They stood in tense silence for a few minutes; no one wanted to make the first move, and frankly, Pete was just a little terrified of them right now.

"Well then," Helena said, finally breaking the silence. "Let's go this way, shall we?"

"That's south," Myka stated.

"Yes, I'm well aware of that," Helena said, trying to stay calm.

"Well, we should be heading east."

"Righty ho, then. You're the boss," Helena said sarcastically.

Myka rolled her eyes. "Let's go," she said, and walked off without making sure anyone followed her. Helena stayed behind for a moment, but when Pete followed due to merely intimidation, she figured she didn't want to be left alone, and reluctantly trudged along after them.

It was still only early afternoon when they came across the first group of zombies. Pete drew his gun and Helena unsheathed her sword, but before they could do anything, Myka attacked. She quickly stabbed one in the eye, kicked another one down and stomped on its skull, then threw her dagger straight through the head of the last one. All within the span of a few seconds.

"Whoa, Mykes, impressive!" Pete gushed excitedly.

"Thanks," Myka replied with a smirk.

"Whatever happened to careful planning?" Helena questioned boldly.

Myka turned around sharply. "What?"

"I'm just saying, a few weeks ago, you reprimanded me for acting just as you did now."

"I reprimanded you for not following orders and straying from the plan. This is an entirely different situation and you know it." Helena said nothing, so Myka continued. "I planned it in my head because I knew I could take those—"

"Oh, get off your high horse!" Helena snapped.

"Excuse me?" Myka glared and crossed her arms, daring Helena to keep going.

"You didn't know you could take them, because you're no better than either of us," Helena said, gesturing to herself and Pete. "You were just being reckless!"

Myka scoffed. "I was not being reckless. You shouldn't just accuse me with nothing to back you up!"

"I wasn't accusing, I was—"

"ENOUGH!"

The two bickering women fell silent and turned to Pete who was getting real tired of all their shit.

"I don't know what's going on with you two," he said, "but you both need to stop. Need I remind you it's life or death out here? I seem to be the only one who remembers that!" Both girls looked down at their feet. "I don't really want to die out here, do you?" They shook their heads. "Good. Now, stop your fighting. If you can't work your shit out, then just don't talk. But remember, we have to work together."

Myka and Helena nodded in silent agreement.

"Let's go then." Pete continued walking in the direction they were headed. Myka kept her head down and followed. Helena stole a glance at the other woman before following as well.

They walked for hours in complete silence . They walked through marketplaces and neighborhoods and shopping centers and schools, and they didn't come across anymore zombies. The sun was beginning to set.

"Let's find a place to stay for the night," Pete suggested. They turned into the nearest neighborhood and found the only house with the front door still closed, and apparently locked. "Should be safe in there, if we can get in."

"Step aside, friends," Helena smirked. "I've got this." Pete and Myka moved out of the way. Helena took a step back, a deep breath, and then kicked down the door. "Oh, I always enjoy doing that!" she said excitedly, and rushed inside the house. "I don't know about you two, but I am feeling a bit…"

Helena trailed off as three zombies appeared out of nowhere, blocking the exit, separating her from Pete and Myka. Pete saw another coming from behind Helena and tried to warn her. "HG, behind you!"

She turned around and jumped out of the way a moment too late. The flesh eating creature grabbed Helena by the wrist, and she struggled to break free.

"HELENA!" Myka shouted.

The creature's grip tightened on her arm as she tried to escape and its nails dug into her skin. Flesh tore away, blood spilled, and Helena screamed in pain.