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Juan and Jenni eyed each other for a moment and both shook their heads vehemently

"I’d rather date you, Travis," Juan said firer at both theher arms playfully around Katie’s neck as she sat on her lap

"And I have a woled and missed Travis’ stricken expression

If Jenni had seen, she would realized her kidding had hit a nerve, but she an to joke around

Travis and Juan slipped away

"Told you," Juan said silumly

"Want to hold my hand?"

Travis snorted "Ha, ha"

"What? I’

3 What Have I Become

Katie felt trapped within the fort now that others were venturing out into the town It was three days since the great battle and she was a walking bruise Her jaw ached and her eye looked worse than ever She was healing, but her bruises were still rising to the surface and revealing theo out of the fort had returned with truckloads of food frorocery and survivors from the convenience store she and Travis had stopped on the way to Nerit and Ralph’s Unfortunately, they had becoed down one of the fort’ser still existed even though the zombies were not crowded outside their walls It was a bitter irony to add ten new people to their co another

Travis had called off any other sojourns out of the fort for another day

He enlisted Mike to oncehim out with demonstrations They couldn’t afford to lose anyone else

As her body struggled to heal, she sat in on planning sessions for the new entrance and the taking of the hotel Though she didn’t understand all the logistics and the tery, it became apparent that Juan and Travis were clever and resourceful If she ell enough, she would be joining the tea in to clear out the hotel Meanwhile, Jenni had volunteered to go into town to the library with Juan and had also volunteered to stand guard at night

Katie suspected Jenni was interested in standing guard due to Travis taking the late shift It was pretty clear to her that Jenni was interested in Travis Whether the attraction went both ways, she wasn’t sure

Unable to sleep, Jack and Jason snoring loudly on the nearby cot, she slid off her bed and wandered up to the roof The as cool and soft on her skin and she hugged herself to keep war down on a plastic chair soht stars and sighed

It was hard to feel peace when you no you could kill without ree of that , and how he had not even realized her finger was pulling back the trigger He had been so relieved that she had saved hiether, she leaned forward and sighed Staring at the rooftop between her feet, she took a deep breath of cool, fresh air With the zoone, she felt liberated to take deep breaths The air was fresh once more

"We do e have to do," Lydia’s voice whispered

She looked up to see Lydia sitting in the chair next to her "Baby?"

Lydia shtly down her cheek

"I’m here, sweetie"

Katie fell to her knees and wrapped her ar to her Her cheek pressed to Lydia’s lap, she began to weep "I’h, isn’t it?" Lydia’s long cool fingers stroked her hair gently

"Yes, oh, yes I was afraid I wouldn’t dream of you anymore Not after what I did"

Lydia carefully lifted Katie’s chin to gaze down at her "And what did you do?"

"I killed that man I just killed him"

"But you killed Jason’s friend and his friend’s father at the camp"

"They wanted me to They were infected!" Katie face ith tears

Lydia lovingly traced the contours of her face with the tips of her fingers

"And hoas this different?"

"I just…did…it" Katie’s voice caught and she shivered "And I don’t…feel bad"

Lydia nodded "I know, baby And you shouldn’t You shouldn’t feel bad

You saved him from my fate You liberated hile" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>