Born 01 - Born

her hands. Rage fills me, but I know the bullet in my thigh is not going to allow me to jump up and fight for the gun. I will not be defeated by some kid. I look at Leo, who is on edge. He is hunting as if Anna is his partner. That hurts more than anything.
    "Em, I killed him, but there might be others."
    "What?" The words leave my mouth before I have a chance to check my volume.
    She puts a finger to her lips. "He probably isn’t alone."
    I look at my gun in her hands. "You never shot me?"
    She points to a bush beside me. "He shot you. Why would I shoot you? What? Where are you shot?"
    I ignore the shooting pain and get up on my knees. I almost cry out as I make it to my feet in a hunched position.
    I see the boots of the man on the ground.
    "Those are military issue." I speak softly, scanning the forest.
    "Great."
    I limp to him and bend over. My leg is pouring blood now. I take off my outer shirt and tie it around my thigh tightly. I fish his pockets. The warmth of my blood is seeping down my leg. He is older, forty maybe. He has brown hair and looks like he's been eating quite well. His butt is remarkably large. I take his gun and a knife I find in his boot. I take some beef jerky he had and throw it at Leo.
    "We could have eaten that."
    I look back at Anna and frown. "Never eat anything you take off another human. Could have the infection or be rotten."
    She points to Leo. "He could get the infection."
    I shake my head. "He's immune."
    "No one is immune."
    I smile sarcastically. "I have downed sick things before, and he has eaten them. He never gets sick."
    She makes a face as she unties his boots. "Oh God, so he ate his mother and lived?"
    I nod. "Yeah, probably. I try not to think about it."
    "You said he never ate her."
    I shrug and scan the forest speaking softly, "I didn’t want to gross you out or scare you while I was touching your brother's wounded leg. We just met. I was trying to be polite. Get the bird."
    She takes his boots, the bird, and walks to me. "You need a hand?"
    I lean on her. Leo comes up to my other side. He is less startled now.
    "He got all crazy and started scratching at the door. He tried to open the door himself. I knew something was wrong. He led me right to you."
    I brush a hand into his dense fur and stroke. It's not the first time he's saved me, and I know it won't be the last time.
    We walk back to the cabin. I feel sick and afraid. I have no doubts the army guy is not alone.
    My small defenseless cabin is under attack. My shirt around my leg is soaked red and I feel weak. I'm afraid the bullet is still in my thigh. I think about the fact that Anna is the only able-bodied person now, and we are going to be attacked any moment. My safety and comfort is gone. In my mind, I can hear the tearing and the screaming again.
    As I walk through the door, Anna helps me to the other chair. I sit on the edge and try not to get blood everywhere.Leo looks worried. His eyes are concerned and full of expression. He nudges me. I scratch his face and kiss the top of his head.
    "I can't believe you thought I shot you. That's really what you think I would do after you helped Jake?"
    I wobble slightly from blood loss and smile. "No, but I was scared. I'm glad it wasn’t you."
    I feel the chair against the back of my head as the ceiling starts to spin. I feel sick, but then everything goes black.

Chapter Four

    "Seriously? You both have to be hurt. I'm going to get Leo to bite me so someone else gets a turn at laundry and cooking."
    Pain shoots everywhere. The light in the cabin is too much. It feels as if I'm on a boat. The kind I went on when I was a kid. Everything feels thick, like I'm moving through mud.
    "Oh, you're awake."
    I bat my eyelashes at the fuzzy person in front of me.
    I feel hands on my face. "You're still hot. Anna, what did the book say about fevers?"
    "I never read that part. It takes me forever to read, okay?"
    I cough and sniffle. "I need fluids and salt. I need my body to get hydrated again."
    Jake brushes his hands over my face again. "You look really uncomfortable. Want me to take you to your bed?"
    I sit up as best as I can. I feel weak.
    "I'm okay here. Did my artery get shot?"
    Jake's face comes into view completely as my vision clears.
    He shakes his head. "We don’t think so, but you lost a lot of blood. I think you're anemic. Our mom was anemic."
    "I eat a lot of meat."
    "She always ate a lot of vegetables, though. Something found in radishes and purple cabbage and