"So how does this work? We just ambush them while they're all asleep? I have a feeling that somehow it is nowhere near as cut and dry as that."

"And your feelings would be right. Walkers don't sleep. Well, not in the way we would think of. They go into something called dormancy. The closest thing I can compare it to is that small window of time just before you fall asleep. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

"Yes..?" My answer slowly changes from a statement to a question, and Domnik rolls his eyes.

"You know how when you're almost asleep, you still know what's going on around you, but it feels distant, like you're underwater or far away? Imagine every second of when you're asleep being like that. That's basically dormancy in a nutshell."

I try to imagine never really sleeping. Never dreaming. "That would almost be more exhausting than just never sleeping. It would be like the biggest tease ever." Just thinking about never sleeping tires me, and I sink back into the seat of Domnik's Jeep.

After the situation with Lett, Adrian drove us to Domnik's house and we picked up his car. He refused to go without it. Why, I don't know.

"Yes. That's part of what makes the walkers so savage. The hunger added to the exhaustion unhinges their minds. It drives them mad."

"But weren't zombies always...well, savage?"

His thumbs tap rapidly on the steering wheel, almost too fast for me to see. "Yes and no. Until a few years ago, walkers would only attack the dead. Now, they attack anything that can see them, anything that's sick, and the dying. They'll even attack other, weaker walkers."

"I get it. It's a walking dead-eat-walking dead kind of world. But that still doesn't answer my question. How is this entire thing going to play out?"

He quickly glances at me, then returns his attention to the road. "Perfect world scenario or the likely one."

"Both would be best."

"Best case scenario; we get there, kill them all before they get a chance to become active, then leave. Simple as that. Probable scenario; we get there, kill a few before the others are active, then get a full-out hot mess to deal with. Hence the reason we need every person we can get." He hesitates a moment before he continues, weighing his words. "Even if they don't know jack about what to do."

I smile sarcastically, but his words feel like someone has made my heart bench press a ton. "Gosh, I'll make sure I call him and make sure he shows up."

"I'm serious. I didn't want you to have to get involved so soon, but we're fighting a losing battle. How do you kill something that never dies, and makes more and more of its kind?" His question is rhetorical, but if it wasn't, I still wouldn't have an answer for him.

"Thank you for agreeing to come and help. You're the only new hunter in almost two years, and two people have died in that time. I was getting worried."

I fiddle with my hands anxiously. He's making me run out of things to say. "No problem. I serve my community however I can. Above and beyond the call of duty, yeah?"

He nods his head in response, almost reluctantly, and his face is grim under the orange light of the setting sun. "Yeah. I guess so."

I sigh and look at him. "If you don't want me to go, I won't be offended. I just want to be able to help in some way. Please."

He pulls over and stops the car, and I realize weve reached our destination. In the tree's cover from the highway, boys my age and older are weighing guns and knives and strapping canisters of something to their belt.

"What are they-"

"Greek fire. We torch the plavpce if we're outnumbered too heavily. And I do want you to fight with us. I think you could hold your own with most of the boys. And I am an equal opportunity employer, you just don't get paid."

I roll my eyes and get out of the car, shutting the door behind me. "Gee...risk my life hunting zombies, or get a job at a fast food place and risk salmonella? I'm bored, so how 'bout zombies!" He snickers quietly, and I feel my lips turn up in a smile.

"There's my little sweetie. How about a kiss?" My facial expression screws up in annoyance as I hear Lett's voice behind me.

I turn and find him holding out a neon pink pistol with matching magazine and narrow my eyes at him.

"You know I'd rather die than be caught wearing pink voluntarily."

He smirks arrogantly. "I remember something a little different. Should I share?"

I growl and punch him in the jaw, and the pink gun clatters to the ground. "You need to learn to shut your freakin' mouth, you jerk. And there, you got your kiss. My fist, your face. Happy?"

He rubs his jaw, where a bright red welt is already forming. "If you were like this when we were dating, I would have never cheated on you. Even Lily wasn't that hot."

"Yeah, and she had a loud mouth just like you. If she hasn't bragged to Destnie, I never would have known you were cheating. By the way, make sure you say hi for me the next time you see her."

I practically skip away, leaving a slack-jawed Lett in my wake. I run back to Domnik's Jeep, where he's grinning and holds out a regular black gun.

"Nice job."

"What, the punch or the snarky comments?"

"Both. Duh."

I stage-bow and flutter my eyelashes as haughtily as I can manage, earning another laugh.

He pulls something out of his jacket and slides it across the hood to me. The knives. I tuck them in my back pocket, praying they won't cut through the fabric and shred my jeans. Hey, we all know Aero-Postale ain't exactly cheap.

Maddix walks over, toting a semi-automatic assault slung across one shoulder. He picks up the knives off of the hood and hands them to me, then pulls a map out of his pants pocket, unfolding it and laying it across the now-empty hood.

"We're coming in here," he says, pointing to an opening in the dark blue border, "and we think the walkers are somewhere in here." He circles a large room with his pinkie and runs a hand through his hair, ruffling it.

Memories flash through my mind of my father and mother, holding my hand as we walk through a concrete hallway with harsh fluorescent lights hanging overhead, a novelty Army helmet bobbing on my seven-year-old head.

"Wait, let me see that map." Maddix scoots it over, and I smooth it out before turning it around. I've been here before. It's an old World War Two bunker that they turned into a war memorial. My second grade class went on a field trip here, and my parents took me again for my father's birthday.

I didn't recognize the building because we came through the service entrance driveway. Or what used to be the service entrance driveway. This place looks like it shut down right after my family walked out the door.

"What is it, April?" Domnik moves to stand behind me, looking over myt shoulder. My body buzzes with excitement, and I have to consciously calm myself down.

"I've been here before. Twice. It's an old WWII bunker turned museum turned dilapidated building, from the looks of it. Anyway, there's a secret room they never put on any maps. Not even the ones they have in city records. I think it's about...here." I point to a spot just before where Maddix said they thought the zombies were, but still on the same path as her mentioned.

"So you think the zombies are in there?"

I shrug and push hair out of my face. "I would hide there if I was being hunted. No maps have it included, it's been abandoned longer than the rest of the building..." A memory works its way to the surface, demanding my attention.

"And it used to be a torture chamber. It probably still reeks of blood."

Domnik turns to Maddix. "Go tell them about the change of plan s. And that April's going to lead this one."
*****
"You're crazy. When you were little, the proximity to Chernobyl must have fried your brain cells."

"Very funny. I'm serious. You know this place better than any of the boys. You have to lead. Even if I do it, I'm leading blind. Please help. Please."

"You don't understand, Domnik. I've never even used a gun. My dad was a Marine, and he never let me touch one because of what he'd seen them do."

"What if you tell us where to go, but I lead?" His voice sounds authoritative, but I can see desperation in his eyes.

"Fine."

He smiles and kisses me lightly on the forehead, then bounds away toward Maddix, leaving me stunned and feeling like a deer in someone's highbeams.

"Someone's got the luvvv bug." I turn around and see Tarra standing leisurely behind me, wearing full gear. She presses her lips together to hold back a laugh as I swat her on the arm. "Hey, I call it as I see it."

"Can't you try to call it a little quieter?" I glare at her, but she happily shrugs.

"Probably not. But what's going on with you and Lentil?"

"What? Lentil?"

She rolls her eyes. "Lett. I call him Lentil since he has a brain the size of a bean."

I let out a small laugh and adjust the canvas rolled up in my back pocket. "Oh. He's my dumb ex. And I'd say he has a brain more the size of a sesame seed. But I still like the nickname."

"Thanks. So what are you doing here?"

"Domnik wanted me to help. You?"

"I'm the girlfriend of a hunter, and I know how to hunt. Whaddya think?"

I blush slightly as I realize how stupid my question was. "Touché. Sorry."

She pats me on the shoulder, almost pitifully. "Oh, dear dear April. You are so wonderful, but so slow at times."

"Ha ha." I glare at her and search for Domnik in the crowd of hunters milling around. "Where did our boys go?"

She stands next to me, leaning on the hood of the car, her black hair turning almost mahogany in the fading light. "Possessive. I like it. They're probably putting the finishing touches on their death march." She sighs happily and nods to herself. "I love our boyfriends. So much better than general stock."

"Hey! We are not dating! Stop saying that!" My voice begins to become slightly whiny, and I shake her as she laughs and pokes me in the side.

"April loves Domnik! April loves Domnik! April loves-"

"She loves who now?" I shudder involuntarily as Lett's voice sounds behind me, the warm gust tickling the back of my neck.

"None of your business, Lentil Bean." Tarra's voice sounds aggressive and low, like she's speaking through gritted teeth.

"And I wasn't talking to you. This is an A-B conversation. See your way out of it."

Tarra rolls her eyes and nonchalantly flips him off as she walks away. "Weak comeback, Beenie Weenie. You learned that in, what, fourth grade?" She waves behind her as she walks away, and I hear her laugh quietly to herself before Maddix joins up with her. He throws a concerned look over his shoulder at me, then turns away.

Lett turns me around to face him, and I step back a half-step. "What is it?"

"I wanted some time alone with you before the hunt."

"Why? So that you can tell me how 'sorry' you are?"

"Yes and no. I've already apologized. Now, I want to show you the way I should have acted when we were together. The way I wanted to act."

"You know what they say. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, but can't."

"Just...just listen to me. I love you. I wanted to marry you, and I still would. But I know you need me to prove myself." He steps forward, cupping my chin in his palm. His head starts to dip down, but I shove him away.

"No."

"What do you mean, 'no'?"

"I mean no! You can't just act like nothing happened between you and Lily, then try to kiss me! You hurt me. Really bad. I wouldn't let myself close to a boy until now. You can't seriously expect me to just happily get back together with you. That's not how it works." Before I begin to cry, I turn and walk away from him.

I hear him suck in a breath, and as he begins to speak, I think I hear a waver in his voice. "Domnik isn't good enough for you! He'll cheat on you with the first pretty face he sees. I'm willing to bet he'll ignore you, too. Just wait and see!"

I keep walking, but inside, his words strike like a heavy hammer. "Well, if he isn't good enough for me, neither are you." I don't know if he can even hear me, but it doesn't matter.

I'm talking to reassure myself, not argue with him.

"Domnik, where are you?" I hit a slope and crash through the young birch trees and old evergreens.

"Over here. What's wrong?" He appears from behind a massive pine tree with needles littered yards around the trunk.

"Lett is being a douche. He thinks I still want anything to do with him." Domnik walks forward and grabs my hand, then leads me to sit under the tree, the boughs of the tree forming a fragrant canopy above us, and the discarded needles cushioning the packed dirt and rocks.

Domnik gently pulls me closer, gathering me fondly into his arms. I breathe out, trying to hold onto the tears brimming my eyes.

"Why are you crying?"

I shake my head and wipe at my eyes.

"April, tell me. What did Lett do?"

"No. I hate to not tell you, but I won't let you beat him up."i

"Tell me now." His voice is deathly serious, and I feel him shaking angrily beside me, but somehow he manages to hold me as gently as a fragile kitten.

"He tried to kiss me." I keep my voice as quiet as I can, hoping he doesn't hear, but he tenses and begins to jump up. I grab onto his jacket just before he stands fully, and it pulls me almost up to my knees.

"Stop. Please just sit down. Please." He looks down at me, and the indecision in his eyes almost mirrors the sadness in mine. He rocks on his heels, trying to figure out what to do before he sighs and settles back down next to me.

He tucks my head against his collarbone, and begins to smooth my hair down softly. I curl up next to him, my legs leaning against his.

"I thought we were going to attached( while they were all in dormancy." I scoot as close as I can to him as a cold gust of air ruffles my hair and clothes.

He responds be wrapping his arm around my chest and upper leg, hooking his arm just under my knee. "We were, but we'll have to wait. Maddix looked up a picture of the hidden room off of the old museum website, and the place is huge. It would be better to just wait and prepare as much as we can, even if it eliminates the element of surprise."

"Okay. Either way, it's nice to just hang out, even if we only have a little while."

He takes away his arm, then replaces it around my waist and hugs me. "I agree. I told Maddix to find me once it was time, so we don't have to worry about rushing back to the bunker."

"Nice. What time is it now? Almost seven?" I fumble around Domnik's arm for my phone, but he just peeks at a watch on his wrist.

"6:25. It doesn't start till about seven. You're stuck with me for another thirty-five minutes." He grins and starts tickling me, making me thrash around, my jacket catching on the tree trunk.

"Stop! Stop it! Aah! Domnik!" I try to push him away, but he finds ways around my arms. I twist too far and fall onto my back, panting and out of breath.

"Is my little April okay?" Domnik crawls so that his face is over mine, but upside down.

"I guess. And it's all your fault. So mmm." I stick my tongue out at him, and he plays with my hair, swatting it back and forth like a cat. "Stop it! I don't have a brush at all!" I smooth back my hair as much as I can and sit up, with my back to Domnik. I hear the gravelly rock crunch as he shifts, then pulls me closer so that I lean against his chest.

I grab his hand and thread his fingers with mine. "Domnik, what do you think would have happened to us if zombies didn't exist? Or even if we just didn't know about them."

I feel his chest sink as he sighs, then rise and push my torso forward. "We probably never would have met. You and Tarra never would have become friends. So in a way, I'm glad that zombies exist. And that we both know they're there." He nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck, breathing softly and leaving tingles running down my spine.

"I just wish my parents were still here. I miss them. We were going to go to my sister's house and I was going to get a new puppy for my birthday." Oops. That was a mistake.

Domnik shifts behind me. "When's your birthday?"

Crap. "Sunday. Tomorrow."

Domnik leans back against the tree. "Happy early birthday. We can go out tomorrow if you want." He clears his throat. "I meant if you wanted to hang out, not if you wanted to go on a date. I mean, if you want to go on a date, then we can. Oh God, I sound like an idiot. Never mind."

Through the corner of my eye, I see Domnik blush and a small smile peeks onto my mouth. "A date sounds nice. Could we still go get my puppy?" I turn my head and pout at Domnik, stifling a laugh as his expression turns adoring.

"Of course. It's your birthday. And how could I say no to that pretty face?"

I feel my face heat up as he wraps his arms tighter around my waist and smiles.

"At this point, you can't even deny that you like me. Even I've given up."

I laugh quietly as Maddixcomws into view and crouches in front of us, his eyes flicking between me and Domnik.

"It's time."