"Sorry about that." he said, putting down the gun. He had fired the shot just inches away from my foot and I had felt the whoosh of the air of the bullet racing past me. I was trembling, still shaking from the shock. "Had to check if you were one of them."

"And that's how you were going to check?" I snapped at him. "By shooting off my freaking leg?"

"I wasn't going to shoot your leg. At least, I think so. I have a good aim ninety-five per cent of the time."

I stared at him. Was this guy for real?

"Careful Zeno." said the Asian woman, keeping a hand on her belt from which several knives hung. "She might be bitten. There's a lot of blood on her." She nodded towards my arm.

"I doubt that." he said cheerfully. "No zombie can scream like that."

"She might have just turned." she said, narrowing her eyes at me.

"I am not bitten." I burst out. "A guy I knew was one and he kidnapped me to feed on me when he turned. I managed to escape by overturning the car and I scraped my arm in the process."

I took in a deep breath.

"I am stuck here with a dead phone and no means to get to North Wellsington. So I need you to help me. Will you?" I asked, trying not to get my hopes up too much. I knew they might not agree.

The woman pursed her lips and nodded at Zeno.

"I think you are telling the truth. You may tag along with us if you wish to. We are headed the same way as you." she said. "I'm Cali, by the way. Cali Wang."

I didn't believe it for a second. I would finally be on my way to see Tess. For some strange reason, I felt like crying.

"Thank you so much." I said, swallowing a sob.

She smiled at me. "It's a time for helping others. Even Zeno and I met less than two days ago. We made a plan to stick together after our whole neighbourhood got infected."

"We never got your name." said Zeno, fiddling with his gun. "Her name is Bad Baby." He said, pointing towards it.

I felt myself smiling.

"Nell."

"Bad baby meet the newest member of our gang Nell."

Cali rolled her eyes at him.

"Stop making eyes at your gun and give the girl your jacket. Her undershirt is soaked through with blood."

He handed me his large grey jacket and I put it on. Murmuring my thanks, I leaned against the wall, still feeling a little faint. I had lost a lot of blood.

Zeno and Cali led me outside to a jeep very similar to Harry's. Just thinking of him made me anxious. I climbed in the backseat, while Zeno took the shotgun.

"We are heading to North Wellsington, right?" I asked, drawing the jacket closer around me. The night was cold.

"Eventually." said Zeno. "We are just going to make a little stop first."

"Where?"

"We have to loot a Target."