Apocalypse: After Reanimation, I Became The Queen-Chapter 66: _ Give Us Back What’s Ours!

"You killed two of ours. And she took everything. Food. Ammo. Medicine. You think we’re just gonna let that go?"

"Self-defense," I say, straightening. My axe is still in my hand, though they’re all pretending it’s not. "Your men were scum. They tried to..."

"We found what was left of them," the man cuts in. "You didn’t just kill them. You shredded them. We’ve seen zombie attacks before, girl, and that wasn’t it."

Shit.

I can feel my face twisting. How do I explain that I ate the motheruckers without blowing my cover? Oh, I know. By denying what I AM.

I keep my voice calm. "I stabbed one. The other probably screamed loud enough to bring in the rotters. You think they stopped to ask questions before taking a bite?"

They’re not buying it. Not even a little.

The man leans in. I can see a scar across his lip, see the black speck of rot on his tooth.

"You’re not normal. You’re something else. What are you?" He strokes his chin.

"I’m tired," I mutter. "And pissed. And apparently surrounded by morons."

Before I know it, slams the butt of the gun into my stomach. I drop down like a sack of meat. Of course, what do I expect from provoking sons of bitches?

My knees hit the floor and my axe clatters away. I can’t breathe. The world flashes in black and white.

Then I hear Yara screaming.

"Don’t hurt her! She’s not what you think—Bea, please, tell them!"

"Don’t interfere, Yara. Let her deal with it." Bea shakes, wiggling her fingers in guilt.

My head snaps up. "What. Did. You. Say?"

Bea looks like she’s going to be sick. "I had to say something," she says. "They said they’d kill her, Renata. I had to..."

"Didn’t seem that hard for you," I growl. "You sold me out in under ten minutes. Must be a new record."

"I told them you weren’t..."

"You told them I’m a monster!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"No!"

"STOP FIGHTING!" Yara shouts.

Everyone turns.

Yara is bleeding from her mouth now, but she’s forcing herself upright in the chair. She’s glaring at Bea like she wants to flay her alive with her teeth.

"You weren’t supposed to say anything, Bea. You weren’t supposed to betray her. I told you... she’s the only reason we’re still breathing. The only one who fights when she’s broken. And you—you coward, you gave her up!" She weeps, shaking her head melancholically.

The tall woman strides over and punches Yara in the ribs for speaking and I flinch. She gasps and slumps. My hands curl into fists.

"Leave her alone," I say, rising slowly. "She’s sick. She’s weak. What’s the point?"

"The point," the man says, stepping in again, "is that we’re not letting you walk out of here until you return what you stole."

I throw my hands in the air. "Fine. Let me go, and I’ll bring it back."

He smiles, all teeth and no warmth. "No. We’re not that dumb."

"You clearly are if you think I keep all my shit on me. You think I carry a Costco on my back?"

"We’ll take what you’ve got. And then, you’ll lead us to the rest."

"You know what?" I say, laughing, but tasting blood. "You can go screw yourselves with a rusty pipe. I’d rather torch it all than give you even a stick of gum."

The woman steps forward. "Wrong answer."

She pulls a knife.

I raise my chin. "Do it."

Her lip curls. "Gladly if you don’t start walking."

I don’t even flinch when she draws the knife. Let her swing. Let her stab. Those can’t do shit on me. I’m only scared for the girls and as of now, I’m past the point of begging. The frustration is starting to grate on me and I’ve had enough.

But then, I get an idea.

I let my shoulders droop, flick my gaze downward, and sigh like I’ve just accepted my death sentence.

"Okay," I say quietly.

The woman pauses. Her blade inches is from my chest, glittering under the light above. Everyone freezes, even Bea, who still looks like she’s trying not to puke.

"I’ll give it back," I continue, letting my voice tremble just enough to sound believable. "The food. The ammo. The medicine. Everything."

Yara’s head jerks up like she’s been electrocuted. "No," she croaks. "Renata, no. They’re going to kill us anyway. They don’t just want your supplies. They want to make an example. They want revenge."

Oh, babe, I know.

I meet her bloodshot, panicked, and furious eyes. She’s trying to protect me. No... not me. Pretty Boy. She thinks we are all dead meat and she’s trying to protect the one person who doesn’t seem to be in this mess.

Well, I’m already dead and don’t have the intention of being anymore dead.

I give her the smallest of nods, then paste on a blank face. "It’s fine, Yara."

Her mouth opens. "But..."

"It’s fine." I look at the man with the scarred lip. "You want your supplies? Come get them. But we do it my way. Follow me."

He looks me over like he’s still waiting for me to sprout horns. "You’ll take us to your stash."

"Yup. No tricks. No traps. Just the apocalypse’s friendliest loot drop." I smile. "Scout’s honor."

He doesn’t buy it. Not really. But the promise of getting back their food and meds? That sings louder than common sense.

"Fine. Torres, Jules, go with her." He jerks his chin. "Rest of you stay. If she tries anything, kill the girl."

They shove me forward. Torres is the woman with the knife and a buzzcut sharp enough to peel an orange. Jules is a sweaty, barrel-chested guy who looks like he hasn’t stopped eating since the outbreak. He smells like sour socks.

Charming.

They grab my arms like I’m gonna bolt at any second and shove me through the hallway. My axe? Still on the floor. I glance back at it once before they drag me toward the stairwell.

"Where is it?" Jules grunts as we descend.

And here we go...