"Rachel? You awake yet?" Tobias asked and I groaned, cracking open my eyes to find him kneeling beside me. "Good I was wondering if you'd wake up. I have some good news." He added when I blew out a breath and helped me to a sitting position with Tobias' help.
"What's so important you couldn't let me sleep in?" I complained and he chuckled, smoothing my hair before he set a hand down on my left shoulder. Seeing the smile on his lips I frowned, scratching at my bandaged arm before I finally sighed. "Okay, what's making you so happy?"
"I may have found a way out of the city," Tobias explained, waiting patiently for my reaction. It took me longer than I care to think about but once I blinked, frowning slightly he couldn't help a laugh. "Wait did you say we can get out? Out of the city?"
Seeing me staring at him Tobias smirked at me, pushing me back onto the couch when I tried to stand. "Whoa there, Rach. Right now I need you to stay put while I get our new friends." He told me, patting my shoulder before he rose to his feet disappearing out the door before I had a chance to ask where he was going. To my disbelief Tobias returned a few minutes later with two men and a woman who I didn't know, making me pull my legs up onto the couch. I'd barely snatched up the knife lying on the table when Tobias shook his head at me, moving quickly to my side.
"Easy there, Rach. They're friendly." Tobias soothed as I narrowed my eyes, looking between him and his 'friends' and back. "Come on, where are your manners?"
"Up my ass, Tobias." I shot back, eyeing the strangers warily until Tobias bit back what sounded suspiciously like a laugh. "Hey, you didn't get shot by strangers I did," I grumbled, still not convinced that I could trust anyone but Tobias who gently took the knife away dropping it onto the table as I stared ahead.
"Yeah like you keep saying, Rach. Now just relax okay? This is Kate, Andrew, and Lucas. They're triplets if you couldn't already guess." He pointed out and I rolled my eyes at him, already having noticed that all three had matching blue eyes and brown hair, Kate's hair tied back in a braid while the men sported goatees.
"So this is the woman you saved?" Lucas, or maybe Andrew, asked and I just shrugged still very wary as he extended his hand. I felt a light pat on my back and I looked up to find Tobias staring at me, nodding towards his new friend. Somewhat reluctantly I returned the handshake, still wondering why Tobias would instantly trust someone he'd barely even spoken to until it slowly dawned on me. Once he saw me grinding my teeth together Tobias laid a hand on my shoulder, sighing as I tilted my head back to glare at him.
"I'm guessing you never mentioned that you found other survivors. Wow, she's not too happy about us, Tobias." Kate commented, holding what look like a baseball bat with multiple nails driven into it. Despite how angry I am right now I can't help but admire how impressive that weapon is but when Kate and her other brother head closer to me I shift back hurriedly. "Rachel, we're here to help." She insists but I ignore her, moving as close to Tobias as I can get not caring how weak I look to them.
"She's just a little warily about you three. No offense but someone tried to murder Rachel and I'm the only one who protected her from a zombie horde." Tobias explained, kneeling before he draped an arm around my shoulders feeling my shoulders tremble. "I promise that these people are friends, Rach. While you were sleeping I ventured outside. I'd only been out an hour or so when I found Kate surrounded by a horde. If I hadn't climbed a roof and pulled her up…." He trailed off and Kate sighed, giving her brothers a grin which they echoed.
"So you saved her and left me alone? Thanks a lot." I grumbled, immediately feeling guilty when Tobias moved close enough to rest his head against mine. "Alright fine. I'm sorry but it hasn't exactly been easy since that bastard shot me."
"Well after what Tobias told us we can forgive you for being nervous around new people," Kate answered and I nodded, helped to my feet by Tobias. With his arm wrapped around me, he led me carefully over to the office chair. After I settled into it he set about grabbing as much food and water, plus medical supplies as he could fit into his backpack.
"Better make sure you don't pass out on me while we're leaving," Tobias said, pushing a granola bar into my hands along with a glass of water. "Just eat slowly okay?"
Rolling my eyes I took my time eating and drinking, taking small bites of the bar, and as I chewed I watched Lucas, Kate, and Andrew whispering among themselves. When they kept glancing at me I frowned, finishing the last mouthful of my bar before I narrowed my eyes.
"Okay, what are you three whispering about? Me I'm guessing since you keep looking at me all weird." I pointed out and Tobias blinked, looking towards the trio with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, we were talking about you, Rachel. Are you sure you can keep up with us?" Andrew, or Lucas, answered and my eyes widened at how casual he was. Even Kate elbowed him as his brother pinched the bridge of his nose. "What it's an honest question isn't it?"
"I'll be the one responsible for Rachel. We're not leaving her behind." Tobias answered, his arm now resting on my shoulder and I glanced up at him shocked that he'd risk his life yet again when a possible escape was so close. "Don't worry, Rach. I'm not that sick of your attitude that I'd leave you here." He teased though I could see a faint smile on his lips as he looked at me, making me forget all about being angry that he'd brought strangers into our makeshift shelter.
At least until we packed up and with a knife pushed into the waistband of my jeans I stumbled along as fast as I could, keeping pace with Tobias mostly because he refused to leave my side even for a moment.
"Tobias, you don't have to watch me every second of the day. I'm perfectly fine." I protested the second time he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Getting a raised eyebrow I snorted at him, allowing Tobias to help me a few feet before he relaxed his grip. I stumbled along a little faster, keeping pace with Tobias and our new companions even though it left me out of breath once we reached our objective.
"Rachel, this is it," Tobias explained as I leaned against his, catching my breath. "All we have to do is scale this building and that 'copter will pick us up."
Even out of breath right now I couldn't help staring at him and he finally smiled at me, taking out a walkie-talkie. Seeing the confusion on my face Tobias' smile grew bigger. "Before you get angry at me for keeping secrets I managed to make contact with some….outside forces. If we can get up there," He started, pointing to a rooftop a few feet away, "We can get airlifted out of this dump."
"How exactly did you...no, never mind. Right now I want to concentrate on escaping Harran. After that, you have a whole lot of explaining to do, Tobias." I whispered, not wanting anyone but us to hear.
"Of course, Rach. I'll explain everything but right now we should focus on escaping." Tobias agreed, handing something to me and when I raised an eyebrow he chuckled. "We'll need you to set off that flare as soon as we reach the top." As I peered up at the building I swallowed, not trusting my legs but Tobias, seeing the look on my face gently pulled me into a hug. "Don't worry okay? I'll be right next to you every step of the way." He promised, making my eyes well. Quickly wiping at them once he had me at arm's length I followed Tobias and once we reached the triplets they stared at me taking in my sweaty face.
"I'll be good okay? Just going up there to light a flare. Easy." I told them, giving a few odd looks as Tobias knelt giving me a boost up to the first flight. I scrambled at the roof, barely clinging to it and after Tobias climbed up he reached for my hands. I took a few seconds to catch my breath as the rest of our group scaled the building easily leaving me red-faced and not just because I was momentarily out of breath.
"Hey, it's okay, Rach. They're not injured like you are." Tobias pointed out when I turned my head away so he couldn't see my lower lip quivering. "Come on, we're nearly there." He encouraged me, helping me up the last flight of stairs and as we reached the very top I managed a weak smile. Without any help I lit the flare holding it as high as I could though it didn't take long for my arm to get tired, my earlier injuries making me feel woozy. Before my arms gave out and I dropped the flare Tobias wrapped his fingers around mine helping me stand and as I leaned on him he nodded at me.
Time seemed to stand still as a helicopter came into view and I sighed with relief, Tobias keeping his arm wrapped around my waist now as we waited for the helicopter to land nearby. My heart beat faster once it landed but the noise attacked four infected and I groaned, causing the triplets to stare at me. "Damn it. Never that easy." I complained and Tobias just tightened his grip on me, nodding to our companions who pulled out their weapons.
"We'll beat a path to the 'copter. Just get aboard and we'll catch up." Kate told us, dashing off with her brothers before I had a chance to protest. Shaking my head, and secretly grateful to them, I managed the short climb with Tobias' help. Using what little strength I had left Tobias and I managed to reach the helicopter, looking back in time to see the triplets taking out the last remaining zombie. As soon as we climbed aboard they made a dash for us, just reaching the 'copter as a roar sent chills down my spine.
Once we all saw the infected sprinting towards us I looked towards the pilot who scrambled at the controls, the 'copter just lifting off as the infected leaped at us. As soon as it leaped at the 'copter we lifted off clearing it and it roared once it landed on the other side. Roaring into the air it watched on as we flew away and after that close encounter, I collapsed against Tobias, his grip on me holding me up.
"Rachel? Rach, we're alright it didn't get us." Tobias soothed as I clung to him, my heart beating so fast I thought I'd pass out. "Let's get the hell out of this city." He told the pilot who nodded, concentrating on flying us out. Too busy clinging to Tobias I barely noticed how badly I was shaking until he rested a hand on my forehead, brushing my hair away from my face.
"Deep breaths, Rachel we're heading out of the city." He told me and I tried, I really did but I could see dark spots in my vision and when I sagged against him he frowned. "Hey, you need to wake up." He insisted when I blinked at him as he draped an arm around my shoulders giving me a squeeze. "That's better. Now just hold on tight to me okay?"
"How are we getting out? Won't the military fire on us if we try to leave?" I mumbled, rubbing at my eyes in an effort to keep myself awake.
"I'll explain everything once we're away from Harran," Tobias whispered, keeping a firm grip on me as I leaned against him. Frustrated he was being so evasive I also felt so woozy that I didn't bother arguing hoping that once I felt better I wouldn't hold back. But my interrogation would have to wait because as soon as we cleared the city's outskirts my vision began to blur.