• I gasped as a vivid light blasted my vision, ripping from the nightmarish void of sleep. I was shivering from head to toe while the violet light pulsed violently. “You were crying in your sleep.” He whispered agony clear in his voice, “I could barely understand what you were talking about.”
    “The darkness was crushing me.” I whimpered into his chest.
    Zill’s arms shifted to where he could hold me to his chest comfortably. “I’ll always save you from the darkness.”
    His words didn’t help. Even when he stopped running to pull me into his lap and stroke my face with one hand and rub my back with the other. Soon his shirt was wet from my tears. “Don’t be afraid…” he whispered, humming Feru Jaca in my ear again.
    It didn’t calm me. “We have to keep going.” He whispered, scooping me up from the curled ball I was in.
    His movements didn’t jostle me as he ran with as much speed as he could with me in his arms. I could barely choke back the tears as he ran. Soon, faded streaks of light began to flash across my vision as we streaked across the landscape. I could only sense a driving hunger from them as we passed. I could sense Zill’s growing tension as well. We stopped abruptly, making my body slam against Zill’s arms harshly. “We’re in zombie country now...” He breathed, “Mother should have eradicated them a long time ago, but she’s too fond of their destruction to waste them.”
    I could only arch my eyebrow as Zill set me on my feet. My legs weren’t up to the task as they gave out from under me. Zill’s arms were welcoming as he snatched me upright before I hit the ground. He chuckled once before wrapping his cool fingers around my wrist and pulling me to my feet. My legs weren’t up to the task as they gave out under me. Zill’s arms were welcoming as he snatched me upright before I hit the ground. He chuckled once before his cool fingers wrapped around my hand and twisted into my fingers. He led me to something that smelled of wet rubber. He placed my hand on it so I could feel it. The indents in the rubber weren’t anything I recognized. “This is a tire swing.” He said.
    I could hear the smile in his voice as I remembered the tires on the body carts in the pits. “Tires have air in them.” I reminded him.
    “This is something you don’t need air for.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and drew me into him.
    I gasped when he picked me up with one arm to place me on the tire swing. “Hold on.” He warned, placing my hands on the rope between my legs as he pushed us forward.
    He leapt on behind me once we started moving. He wrapped his fingers around mine, keeping the both of us safely on the swing. I could feel every strike of his foot on the ground as he propelled us on the swing. I could feel the rope’s bristles under my skin as we swung. I loved the feeling of the air brushing my warm skin. Soon, lights began to form in the very back of my sight. They were the same dull lights I saw when we first got here… wherever here is… The swing stopped abruptly, making me slam against the rope harshly. “What’s wrong?” I asked, falling against Zill’s body.
    “Zombies are getting too close.” He murmured.
    “Are they the dull lights I keep seeing?” I asked.
    “Possibly.” Zill said absently, towing me behind him.
    I tugged my hand from him, sensing the irritation in his light. “Come on.” He growled, “Don’t be stubborn on this…”
    “I want to know her name.” I set my jaw, hoping my eyes were firm.
    “I can’t tell you!” He moaned.
    “I want to know.” I remained still.
    “Please!” He was almost begging now.
    “Tell me.” My words were stiff
    “I can’t!”He was fighting his emotions now…
    I could sense his pain and longing to give me what I wanted along with the rule to keep me safe in his now racing light. I knew he wouldn’t want to force me to do something… He was too thirsty. Vampires can’t resist not feeding for too long after a week or so. I could sense the numbing hunger coming from the zombies as I wrapped my light firmly around theirs. They would die if they should dare come too close. “Rauna.” He breathed, just barely audible above the zombies’ soft moans.
    I didn’t see how close they had gotten. Zill moaned slightly before grabbing me and running into someplace sheltered. I could smell the mold and mildew in the shelter. Once inside, Zill made the effort to dig something out of a seemingly crowded place. He took my hand to place my fingers on a small wind-up key. He then guided me in which way to turn it. I gasped when we let it go. It was playing Feru Jaca. He plucked the box from my hand. I couldn’t hear it where he placed it down, but I knew it was still playing. “Relax.” He said softly, placing his hands on my hips, “Dance with me?”
    A nervous giggle escaped me as I let him wrap one arm around my waist and the other take my hand. Soon we were dancing to the music box. It was slow moving with me on his feet. He didn’t noticeably care though. From what I could tell, he was enjoying himself. He moved us in small circles, only stopping to rewind the box. On the fourth rewind, he let the music die. We stood still the, cherishing what we had. I almost jumped when he kissed me. It was tender and soft, just enough to make my head spin. The second he pulled away, he left me wanting more. I stretched onto my toes, hoping he would kiss me again. He did. He pulled away enough just to say four words. “I love you, Akidanya.” He whispered.
    I snuggled into him, screaming when the sound of shattering glass reached my ears. “No!” Zill breathed.
    “Yes.” The cruel voice sneered.
    There was no denying who he was. “You never should have said her name, brother.” He taunted.
    “Zeek, touch her and I’ll kill you.” Zill’s soft voice was lethal.
    “You seem to have missed the memo.” Zeek glared, “I’ve gotten a new upgrade. Zombie.”
    I turned, trying to sense Zeek’s light. He was a deep crimson, perched a few feet off the ground. A soft growl built in Zill’s chest as his brother dropped to the ground. “You know where she’s going, right brother?” Zeek taunted, “The farms.”
    Zill snarled, yanking me behind his back. “You’ll have to get past me first.” Zill snarled, keeping one hand on my wrist.
    He twisted our bodies as Zeek moved to try and separate us. I could sense every move at the second the thought was made. I couldn’t see my unavoidable fall though. Zeek and Zill were both around me in the next second. I couldn’t hold back the scream that shredded my throat as Zeek’s fingers twisted into my hair. The unmistakable sound of teeth ripping flesh ripped my ears as I screamed. Zeek bellowed a fearsome battle cry as Zill threw Zeek’s dying hand out the window. “You will pay for that, Zill.” Zeek snarled.
    “Doubt it.” Zill retorted.
    Frenzied snarls soon followed, ending with an outraged hiss. I bit my lip as Zill lay on the floor, Zeek’s foot on his throat proving that he won. Zill spun under Zeek’s foot, spinning it off of his body. Zeek hit the ground as Zill leapt to his feet. They were fighting in the next second. I couldn’t tell who was winning or losing; the lights were too blurred. A sharp yelp signaled the break of the dueling pair. Zill was thrown to my feet as Zeek staggered back. Zill groaned with pain as Zeek pulled Zill’s head back, stretching him taut. I was forced to my knees as a hot hand gripped my shoulder. “Make sure she doesn’t do anything… stupid, Shay.” Zeek commanded.
    Zeek’s crimson-outlined fingers curled into Zill’s hair, forcing him to his feet. Tears streamed from my face as I realized what was going to happen. I would be sent to the human farms and never be able to see Zill again. I would be pawned like an animal…