T/W: Violence, dead and vicious monster attacks. And minor sexual content.

****

"Stay behind me, Everly,” Rafferty ordered.

"O-Okay,” Everly replied shakily. She clutched Rafferty’s arm, wishing it hadn’t come to this.

The Grunds,” Jackson snarled. “I completely forgot about those things!”

"You have to go help the others!” The guard still inside, insisted.

Don’t be an idiot!” Jackson roared. "If we go out there, we’ll be next!”

"You’d just leave them to die?” The guard looked stunned.

"Those things are the size of a grizzly bear! If you wanna risk your neck, by all means go for it! I refuse!” Jackson snapped.

"I can't just leave them!” The guard rushed to the front door, flung it open and raced out into the darkness, gun drawn. He began firing blindly. Suddenly a...Grund came into sight and grabbed the guard. Everly screamed, burying her face against Rafferty’s back.

Jackson swiftly moved to slam the front door shut, leaned against it, shaking violently.

"Oh, come on!” Rafferty taunted. “Mr. Big Bad Commander can't possibly be scared of those!”

"Would you shut the hell up?" Jackson screamed, his face a deep red and the veins in his neck sticking out. He rushed to Rafferty, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulled him close so that their noses were practically touching.

"Are so stupid that you don't understand? We’re all going to die!”

"I understand perfectly," Rafferty growled. “One of those monsters nearly tore one of my legs clean off. But thanks to Everly, I survived. We can survive this!” Jackson shoved Rafferty backwards and he nearly stumbled.

"That was just one, you idiot! There’s a whole horde of them out there right now!” Jackson shouted.

"Whose fault is that?" Rafferty growled.

"Oh, shove it!” Jackson snapped.

"Hey!” Everly shouted. “Fighting won’t help us! Jackson, there are still rifles and ammo in here, along with the torches. We aren't completely defenseless.”

"Have you lost your mind?” Jackson shouted. “You think a few crappy rifles and torches will help us? No frickin' way!”

"Well, they’re our best chance to survive,” Rafferty snapped. “It’s either defend ourselves or just stand around, waiting to be beast bait!” He grabbed up a rifle and begin loading it. When Rafferty finished, he grabbed another rifle after passing the first one off to Everly.

"Where the heck is all your big, fancy weaponry?” Rafferty asked Jackson.

"
Out in the trucks.” Rafferty snorted.

"Whose brilliant idea was that?"

“Just shut it, would you?” Jackson snapped.

"Both of you need to stop." Everly snapped. Both Rafferty and Jackson scowled but did as they were told. Rafferty continued loading the rifles until each one was loaded. Everly pressed close to Rafferty. She could hear the Grund, prowling around, scratching at the house and trying to find a way inside.

"We’re gonna survive this,” Rafferty said softly. “You have my solemn word.”

****

Jackson wished he could just shoot Rafferty Greer in the head and be done with it. However, there were two major issues with that. The first issue was he’d never make it to the truck, dragging a dead body. The second issue was that Everly would flip and Jackson would probably end up killing her as well.

Though he wasn’t happy with Everly at the moment, but he was going to try not to kill her himself. However, should she get caught in the crossfire between him and Rafferty, Jackson wouldn’t mourn her. Or if a Grund caught her, Jackson wouldn’t care. (Much.) Frustration bubbled in his gut.

This was a real mess he’d found himself in. All he was supposed to do was locate Rafferty Greer and bring him back to the capital for imprisonment. Why should he be punished for some low life criminal? He should be rewarded. Instead, he was trapped inside his old house with his wife, whom he can’t hardly stomach and some piece of crap nobody. Talk about the ultimate screw you to him.

****

Two Grunds came crashing through the living room window, glass spraying the floor, growling and snapping, saliva dripping from their huge mouths. Everly screamed.

"Get to the bedroom! Now!” Rafferty ordered.

"No!” Everly cried. “I won’t leave you!”

"Do it!" Rafferty roared.

"Screw both of you!” Jackson hightailed it to the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Bathroom!” Rafferty shouted. He aimed the rifle, firing multiple rounds and actually managing to kill one of the Grunds. Everly raced to the bathroom, but didn’t shut the door.

"Rafferty!” she screamed. Rafferty came running and launched his body inside. Everly slammed the door shut.

"Are..are you..okay?” Everly asked breathlessly.

"For now,” Rafferty replied. There was the sound of wood cracking and splintering. Everly’s heart was fluttering so wildly in her chest that it felt like a hummingbird was trapped in there. Sweat poured off of her and her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn’t keep a grip on anything. She wanted to believe Rafferty and think they’d survive this. But the reality was they might not.

"Do-do you think they’ll give up if they can’t get to us?” Everly asked.

"That depends on how hungry they are,” Rafferty replied grimly. Everly wondered if all the other men that had come along with Jackson were...dead. If they weren’t, and that was a pretty big ‘if,’ maybe one of them might be able to get to the better guns and possibly kill the Grunds.

That was a long shot, though. They could all be dead, too. Several ear-piercing shrieks ripped through the air and Everly squeezed her eyes shut. She then heard Jackson shouting. He’s being...attacked. Everly thought. But Jackson wasn’t being torn apart by the Grunds. He was on the roof, tearing it apart.

"You can get out through the roof!” Jackson shouted. Rafferty fired the rifle three times, straight up at the ceiling.

"Watch where you're firing, you idiot!” Jackson screamed.

"Well, excuse me," Rafferty muttered. A Grund was now at the bathroom door, clawing and roaring, trying to break the door down.

"Everly, come on!” Rafferty urged. “I’ll give you a boost.” Jackson pulled away some more of the roof tiles. Everly had a clear view of him now. He leaned down, extending a hand.

"Everly, take my hand!” Everly wasn’t sure she wanted to. She thought she’d stand a better chance against the Grund than...Jackson.

"Come on!" Jackson snapped impatiently. Rafferty helped Everly get a grip on Jackson’s hand. He lifted Everly up and she sank down to the roof, sweating and shaking. Everly felt queasy and thought she might pass out or throw up. Possibly both. Rafferty handed the rifles up.

"Give me a hand!” he shouted. Jackson just smiled.

"Not a chance, pal.”

"Jackson!" Everly screamed.

"He doesn't deserve to live,” Jackson growled.
"Yes, he does!” Everly yelled. She leaned down, reaching for Rafferty’s hand. But she wasn’t strong enough. The Grund was almost through the bathroom door.

"Help me, Jackson! Please!" Everly screamed as tears streamed down her face. Jackson sighed loudly. He reluctantly leaned down, grasped Rafferty’s hand and yanked him up so fast, Rafferty’s arm nearly popped out of the socket. Everly knelt down beside Rafferty and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"It’s okay,” Rafferty soothed, stroking Everly’s tousled hair. Everly moved and tried to smile.

"We aren’t out of this mess yet,” Jackson snapped. “We still need to try and make a break for the trucks.”

"And how do you propose we do that?" Rafferty asked, scowling.

"Let me think,” Jackson said. Then he grinned nastily. “Oh, I know! Let’s feed you to the Grund while Everly and I make a run for it.” Everly stood, turned to Jackson, raised her hand and slapped him, hard across the face. Rafferty snickered.

"Maybe Rafferty and I should feed you to the Grund while he and I escape?” Jackson grabbed Everly by the wrist, squeezing tightly until she gasped in pain. Rafferty jumped up, rushed over to Jackson and punched him in the face. He released his hold on Everly and stumbled backwards, nearly losing his footing on the roof and plunging to the ground.

He glared at Rafferty and came charging back to punch him. Rafferty sidestepped Jackson, who this time did lose his footing. He tumbled backwards, falling down, down until he hit the ground with a sickening thud. Jackson lay still. Everly wasn’t sure if he was-dead or merely had the wind knocked out of him. It didn’t matter, however. Two Grunds discovered him and...attacked.

***
Rafferty and Everly were forced to stay on top of the roof until dawn broke when the Grund finally took off. They didn’t care for the brightness of the day. Rafferty slowly climbed back down into the bathroom and then helped Everly down. They carefully made their way out. The house was completely destroyed. There were several....dead bodies lying scattered around. None of those who'd accompanied Jackson had survived.

Rafferty covered them all up, dragging all the corpses to the house. Everly retrieved what she wanted from the house, which wasn’t much. Then they set fire to the house. Rafferty and Everly stood back at a safe distance, watching as the flames engulfed everything. Everly felt mixed emotions. Sadness, anger, loss, denial, but most importantly, relief.

Now she could have closure about Jackson. She could move on with Rafferty. They could have a good life together. Maybe Rafferty might even be able to reconnect with his son. But if not, Everly would have no problem with providing Rafferty with some children of their own.

***

Rafferty and Everly took some of the provisions in the militia vehicles, and Rafferty was able to rewire the car. They took off, driving away from the now burned down house.

Rafferty kept glancing over at Everly. He knew she must be somewhat in shock after everything.

"You doing all right?" He asked quietly. Everly turned, trying to smile.

"As well as I can be, I suppose. At least now, I have closure."

Rafferty nodded, gripping the steering wheel. "I know he was your husband, but you deserved so much more than that asshole."

"I agree." Everly sighed. "I realize now that I was better off without him. And now, I've found someone better."

Rafferty grinned. "That you have."

****
Rafferty drove until noon. They stopped in a small, wooded area to rest, relieve themselves and have some of the provisions they'd taken. Afterwards, Everly made it quite clear that she wanted to have a family with him. Rafferty looked somewhat surprised, but agreed.

And later that night, as the car was tucked neatly away, hidden in some bushes, the two sealed their love for one another, in the back seat.

Afterwards, Rafferty held Everly close, tenderly caressing her bare back. She smiled lazily at him. "I hope that I get to make you a father."

Rafferty smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'd love nothing more."