Free Gods of the Dead (Rising Book 1) by Tracey Ward

rise?”
    “I don’t, so I won’t get sick.”
    “But if you do—“
    “I won’t,” I assure her, sitting up and searching for my pants. “Don’t worry about it.”
    “Vin.”
    “I don’t want to talk about this, alright? It’s not worth it and it’s depressing as shit.”
    She sits up sharply, glaring at me. “Sorry if the end of the world has me a little down.”
    “It’s not the end of the world and that’s not what’s bugging you.”
    “Oh really? You want to tell me what my problem is then, because I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what’s bugging me. I’m pretty sure I’m sad because everyone I knew and loved is gone.”
    I grunt as I stand, my legs feeling a little shaky underneath me. The girl is trim but carry her full weight around your hips for twenty minutes straight and she starts to take her toll. On everything. “You feel guilty because you’re alive.”
    “I feel guilty because my friends are out there and they’re dying !”
    “A lot of people are dying. Do you feel bad about all of them?”
    “Kind of. Don’t you?”
    “Nope.”
    She shakes her head in annoyance. “You’re a liar. Why are you putting on this act like none of this bothers you?””
    I shove my legs into my pants, searching for my shirt. “I’m not. I really don’t care.”
    “What about your boys, huh? Some of them are dead, aren’t they? Your boss is.”
    “I don’t have a boss anymore, remember?”
    “Are you for real?”
    “A lot of the guys from the gang are probably dead, is that what you want me to say?” I demand, burnt out on this. “I didn’t like them, I didn’t dislike them. It’s too bad they weren’t strong enough to survive this.”
    She scoffs, standing to gather her clothes. “That’s what this is for you, isn’t it? It’s a competition. If you survive it means you were stronger than all the people who died.”
    “Basically, yeah.”
    “You’re so freaking full of yourself!”
    “And you’re so lucky I came here.”
    “You came here because you knew you’d be able to hide out behind walls and gates while everything else went to hell outside. I would have survived just as well without you here, but you wouldn’t have lasted a second out there!”
    I chuckle. “Alright. Okay.” I spot my shirt hanging off a bar stool at the island. I snag it and yank it easily over my head. “I’ll see you later then.”
    “What?” she asks, her tone changing entirely. The strength and the anger is instantly gone. She’s panicked. “What do you mean?”
    “If you can make it so easy without me, then do it. I’ll see you later. Maybe. I mean, I’m probably gonna die out there, right? But you’ll be fine on your own. Especially now that the dust has started to settle and people are looking for places to live. I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that this is one of the first places they’ll come. One, because people like me assume people like you will die off easily and the place will be vacant. Two, even if you’re not dead they’ll have no problem killing you to take the place. And three, because it’s a dream come true for any poor bastard off the street. Guys with a lot of anger toward girls like you who have always had everything while they’ve had nothing. Girls who talked shit to them, turned them down, and laughed in their faces. They’ll be thrilled to see you, Sin.” I smirk, looking her half naked body up and down. “Trust me, even with me gone, you won’t be alone for long.”
    “Fuck you,” she replies angrily.
    “See ya.”
    “Wait!”
    I grab my jacket and throw it on. My gun is in the pocket and I transfer it quickly to my belt where it’s easier to get to. I double check the other side to make sure my knife is in place, then I reach for the door.
    Sin darts in front of me, pressing her body between me and the exit. “Wait,” she pleads.
    “Move.”
    “No. Don’t go.”
    “Move.”
    “I’ll go with you.”
    “No.”
    “Why