And it’s right beside the only way out.

I quickly push Maci back down the tunnel. “Don’t move,” I whisper. I shut my eyes, counting under my breath. Then I hurl myself over the railing. My feet slam against the floor, knocking the wind out of me. The vampire turns and snarls, sharp teeth stained with blood. I cough as I stumble to my feet. It challenges me, standing up and walking for me like a predator. I start to worry that somehow my immunity has vanished, when it falls back, pressing its back against the dirt wall. I could just run, up the stairs and out into the greyness of the outside. But something inside me snaps into place, like all my wheels have locked into place.

The perfect soldier.

I bound forward, springing on my toes as I jump for the creature that fears me.  Its fangs bite out and I flinch back, fearing it might nick my skin. But then it sidesteps, trying to escape up the stairs, moving swiftly toward …

Maci.

The little girl stands at the top of the stairs, frozen, but not afraid.

“Maci, run!” I yell.

When she doesn’t budge, my feet hammer up the stairs. The vampire speeds up.  But so do I and with a dive, I snatch it by the legs. Our bodies ram to the floor, rotting flesh pressing in my face, knees scraping, open wounds. Just because they fear me, doesn’t mean I’m immune to the virus. And I have open wounds. I jump to my feet and it reels, bleeding, lips parted.

With a fleeting swipe, I sink the knife into its chest, straight into its unbeating heart. The scream of the dying creature vibrates through the tunnels. Maci flings her hands over her ears as she and I back away from it. We watch as the vampire shrivels up until there is nothing left but bones. My first vampire kill while being human. I should be thrilled, but it feels like something inside me has died.

Maci’s all eyes, mouth parted, as she stares at the vampire bones.

“It’s okay,” I tell her, keeping my voice soft. “It’s dead.”

She looks up at me and smiles. “I know.”

Her happy state gives me the chills, but I nod my head. “Let’s get out of here.”

We start for the tunnel, but Aiden and Ryder come rushing inside. Aiden marches straight for me with a scowl on his face. “What the hell was that about?” he asks.

I point over my shoulder. “I was thinking there might be someone inside who needs my help.”

He calms a little, but shakes his head. “But there could have been anything in here. You don’t know what did this.”

“There was only a vampire,” Maci chimes in. “But Kayla killed it with her bare hands.”

“Not with my bare hands.” I hold up Cedrix’s knife and shrug.