Free Survival Ties (The Outbreak Chronicles Book 1) by Trisha Leazier

Sydney?”
Sawyer asked.
    “He’s a lawyer but not the bull
shit ones you see on TV that don’t really care about their clients. He loves
his job and really believes in making sure everyone has the fairness they
deserve. He trusts people, makes him a great lawyer.” She said, “We were
planning a spring wedding followed by a honeymoon in Europe. Now I guess we’ll
see if we find each other again.”
    She spun her ring around her
finger again.
    “Thomas!” Angela’s voice was
shrill as she called for her little brother. The panic in her voice made my
heart pound. All of us moved at once to where she was standing, crying.
    “Angela what happened?” Axel
asked her before anyone had a chance to speak.
    “I can’t find Thomas. I just
went to use the bathroom and when I came back he was gone.” She cried, “Did
anyone see where he went?”
    “Don’t worry hon, we’ll find
him.” Sydney said as she took Angela’s hand.
    “Okay we’re doing this in
groups.” Sam said.
    “Sounds good what do you want
us to do, boss?” Tone asked.
    “Sydney, take Angela back on
the bus. Axel, you’re with me, Tone you’ve got Sawyer and Micah, and Aaron you
have Ashlyn and Daisy. Spread out but stay within shouting distance and let’s
find Thomas.” Sam commanded everyone, taking charge of the situation.
    “I want to help.” Angela cried.
“He’s my brother.”
    “Sam I’ve got her, we’ll look
too. I don’t think she’ll be able to sit on the bus until we find Thomas.”
Sydney told him.
    Sam gave her a look that I
couldn’t read but I think he was worried how Angela would react.
    “Okay, keep her close.” Sam
said looking hard at Sydney. She nodded at the look Sam was giving her.
    We spread out, all of us
combing through the tall grass close to the water to see if he was hiding
there. Aaron was even scanning the water to see if he had fallen in.
    “He can swim.” Angela told him
when she saw where he was looking. She was still holding Sydney’s hand.
    “Just making sure we’re not
worrying and all he did was take a swim.” Aaron responded to her without
missing a beat.
    We were looking under the bus
when I noticed a path on the other side of the road that went into the trees. I
didn’t think he could have made it there without us noticing but we went down
it anyway.
    We were all calling out his
name when we heard the screaming. Sydney couldn’t keep hold of Angela as she
broke free and ran towards the noise. We all followed, running. Tone and Sydney
had their guns drawn; I couldn’t see Sam to see if he did as well.
    We broke through to a clearing
and there was Thomas. A Red Eye had his foot and he was trying to kick himself
free but the creature was too strong. Before anyone could get a clear shot on
the Red Eye, it took a bite out of his calf.
    There was a lot of blood followed
by the sound of a gun going off. I don’t know who shot it, all I saw was Angela
screaming and grabbing Thomas.
    “We have to get him to the bus;
maybe we can stop the infection.” Sam called out and Aaron scooped Thomas up as
he ran for the bus, all of us were on his heels.
    I didn’t realize I was crying
till we were all back on the bus and a tear fell on my hand.
    “Aaron I need you to hold him
on your lap we’re going to clean the bite with alcohol than I’m going to
cauterize it. Sydney get something heated up that will cover the whole bite at
once I don’t want to have to do this to him more than once.” Sam told us.
      Sydney grabbed a metal spatula
and an oven mitt as Sam opened a bottle of Vodka and poured onto the bite.
    Thomas screamed and tried to
get away.
    Aaron held on to him until he
exhausted himself and couldn’t fight.
    Sydney came back holding the
spatula that was hot enough for the metal to be red. She handed it to Sam
careful not to burn him in the process.
    Sam immediately pressed the
metal to Thomas’s leg and it did cover the whole bite on his small leg.
    The scream that came out of