Evey only fell into pockets of sleep throughout the night. Every time the house would creak, her eyes would fly open and her heart would pound. She kept the dagger clutched to her chest all night. There was no way that she would let Ford kill Josie or Joey.

She yawned as pushed herself up so that she was sitting. The twins were still asleep in the bed. She slipped the knife back into the sheath and stood. She listened as Ford walked down the hall and then the creaky stairs.

Evey slipped into the hallway and shut the bedroom door behind her. Ford was in the kitchen looking through the cupboards. She stayed at the bottom of the steps and watched him. His weapons were lying on the kitchen counter. In jeans and a T-shirt, it was the most casual she had ever seen him. He was reaching up as he searched through the cupboard and all she could see were the dark tattoos on his toned arms.

Evey furrowed her brows and tilted her head to the side as she tried to make out the shapes. She took a few steps forward, but when Ford heard her he slammed the door shut. He narrowed his eyes in an intense stare. Evey froze.

"Where were you last night?" he asked.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"You weren't in that bedroom," he said. "Where were you? I saw you go up the stairs."

Ford's eyes went wide when the realization hit him. Evey crossed her arms over her chest.

"You were with the kids, weren't you?" he asked.

"I told you I am not going to let you kill them," she said.

Ford shook his head. He ran his fingers through his dark hair.

"I am not going to kill the twins," he said.

"That's not what you said last night," Evey said.

"My God, Everett. I was talking about a worst-case scenario. I was only thinking of the group."

"Which is why we're going to go with Gomez or Harrington, not you."

Not Johnson either, Evey thought. He killed Lila.

"That's not happening," Ford said.

"We're not safe with you," she said.

"Everett, I don't want to kill children."

"But you're going to."

Ford let out a cry. He balled up his hand and swung. Evey flinched as his fist collided with the cupboard. The wood cracked and split. He was seething as he pulled open a drawer and searched through it. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He shoved them into his pocket. He stormed across the kitchen and pushed past Evey.

"I need a smoke," he mumbled.

Evey watched as he walked out the back door and slammed it shut. She sighed and the tension from being around Ford was gone. She looked up the steps. Should she grab the children and bring them to Harrington or Gomez before Ford comes back in?

The weapons on the table grabbed Evey's attention. She could not rely on the soldiers for long to keep her and the twins safe. She needed to learn how to fight.

She walked up to the table and ran her fingers across the gun lying on the table. She thought about picking it up but knew nothing about safeties. The last thing she wanted was for the gun to go off and for Ford to run into the house. He would never let her near one again.

Evey looked out the window to see Ford standing in the middle of the yard. His back was to the house. A trail of cigarette smoke blew into the air. He kept running his fingers through his hair. Had she stressed him out? She could hear him muttering swear words.

Evey grabbed the knife next to the gun. She pulled it out of the sheath. It was bigger than the one that Ford had given to her and was strapped to her thigh. She could see her reflection in the blade. It was never in the brain of an Infected or Ford had scrubbed it clean.

Taking another look out the window, Evey could see something coming around the house. An Infected had his hands outstretched as he walked toward Ford. The Infected was chomping at the air and let out a growl. This caught Ford's attention, and he turned. His eyes went wide before he sprinted for the porch.

The Infected took off running. He blocked Ford's access to the house. Ford's hands went to his thigh, but his weapons were all in the house. The Infected screeched before lunging forward. Ford grabbed the Infected's wrists, but he was knocked backward. The Infected landed on top of him. He tried clawing at Ford's face and Ford struggled to hold back his attack.

This is my chance, Evey thought.

Part of her wanted Ford to die in an effort to keep the kids safe, but she knew that she would never have another opportunity like this to kill an Infected. She pulled the knife out of the sheath on her leg and ran for the door.

The Infected was foaming at the mouth. Blood dripped from his eyes and landed on Ford's face. His fingers got closer and closer to Ford's face. Ford gritted his teeth as he tried to fight him off.

Evey ran outside and jumped off of the porch, landing in the grass. She rushed over to the Infected. She wrapped her arm around the Infected's neck and pulled the man away from Ford. The Infected growled and grabbed Evey's arm. She used all of her strength to keep the Infected's head against her chest. Ford scrambled to get out from under the man.

"What are you doing?" Ford asked.

The Infected screeched. He chomped at the air and Evey's heart was pounding. She was inches away from being bitten by this blood-hungry man. Evey tightened her grip on the dagger.

In the head, Evey thought. Do it quickly.

"Everett, get back inside," Ford said.

The Infected had him pinned to the grass. Ford was trying to push himself out from underneath the man.

"I'm saving your ass," Evey said.

The Infected threw his shoulders to the side and She struggled to hold onto the man. She swung the blade down and buried it into the man's skull. She gritted her teeth as she forced the knife through the bone. The man let out a final cry as the blood gushed from the top of his head. The warm crimson coated her hand. She let go of the Infected and pushed him down onto the grass. The handle of the knife sticking out from the top of his head.

Evey smiled as she stood. She wiped the grass off of her knees. Ford pushed himself up and grabbed her shoulders. He furrowed his brows and shook his head.

"Are you crazy?" Ford asked.

"What are you talking about?" Evey asked.

"You could have gotten hurt."

"I just saved your life."

Ford let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. He curled his fingers into her shoulder.

"I had it taken care of," he said.

"It didn't look like it," she said. "You would have been his breakfast if I didn't kill him."

"I wouldn't have died."

Evey scoffed and Ford scowled. Evey smiled and pushed his hands off her.

"You have to show me how to use a gun now," she said.

Ford's eyes went wide.

"No," he said. "Absolutely not."

"We had a deal," she said.

"It's too dangerous."

"That's not fair!"

Ford crossed his arms over his chest. He narrowed his eyes and tapped his foot. Evey straightened her shoulders and stood taller. There was no way that she was going to back down. Evey lifted her chin when Ford tilted his head to the side.

He has to, she thought. He has to teach me.

"Fine," he said.

A smile grew across Evey's lips. She clasped her hands in front of her chest. Ford stormed past Evey and headed for the porch.

"I'm talking to Johnson first," he said, without looking at Evey.

She watched as he went back into the house. Evey ran her fingers through her curls and turned around. She squinted to see a pile of bodies lying next to the pool. It must be the family that owned the home.

A shiver ran up Evey's spine and she walked up the creaky porch and went back into the house.