Apparently, it takes another ten minutes to convince Zarius to get into the RV because 1) he doesn't trust my driving skills and 2) he thinks we can get to our destination quicker on foot because I don't look like I know where we're heading towards. Not that he's wrong.

Now, he comes back with another question.

"What's a 'hottie'?"

I swerve to the side, narrowly missing a fire hydrant on the side of the street. "What did you just say?!"

"A hottie," he repeats, grimacing when the RV runs over something and his head bumps against the roof. Not just once, but several times. Oops. "You keep calling me either that or 'hot'. What are they?"

"Err, about that..."

Words die on my tongue while my befuddled brain tries to come up with something creative. I can't tell him straight in the face that I find him sexually attractive. My pride won't allow that.

"It's a human way of describing someone that they're very warm-hearted," I explain with an awkward laugh. "Right! Even though you're a merfolk, you, Zarius, are a very warm-hearted person. Way better than some humans out there."

He tilts his head at me, his lips curving into a hint of a smile. "Is that really your impression of me?"

"I'm telling the truth! At first, I thought you were scary but now, I know better! It's true when people always say never to judge a book by its cover—"

Half-staring at him, I don't realize that the RV is edging off the road, but Zarius grabs the steering wheel to steady it. Has he already figured out how to drive this?

"Keep your eyes on the pathway, please," he tells me. "Do not crash us into a tree."

The vehicle rattles so violently that I can hear things falling behind me. "For my first passenger, you're unbelievably calm," I say in a bubbly tone. "If it were others, they might have already jumped out and puked all over themselves."

Amusement flickers across his face. "I'm moments away from tearing this...crate apart. It is my fault when I brought you here. It didn't occur to me before that not all humans can navigate this human invention."

"Hey! Are you insulting me?! My driving skills are commendable, considering that I'm a novice!"

"If you say so."

I huff in protest, but I'm actually biting back a smile. "Why don't you drive instead? Show me how it's done then."

His smile broadens, his expression relaxed. Clearly, he's enjoying our petty squabble. "Let me propose something else — I will steer this wheel while you keep your foot on...whatever that Human-Thing is...to keep us moving."

"This Human-Thing is a pedal," I correct him. "I can't believe you've trust issues with me after everything we've been through. Fine! Show me what you can do, Big Guy."

I keep my hands on the steering wheel, but allow Zarius to have complete control over it while I give him directions to my school. He looks almost excited, like a teen who was just given a new car by his parents for his birthday.

And it blows my mind how he's actually driving us safely through town, being extra careful to avoid the debris and fallen trees on the road. He's already better at this than I am. But then again, boys will be boys. Most guys I used to know play racing cars and RPG games. They just enjoy the thrill and being in control.

The RV suddenly swerves to the side and Zarius exclaims loudly.

"Delia, stop!"

The way his voice panics rattle me. I slam my foot on the brake pedal and the RV stops before we almost hit a high wooden fence in the backyard of somebody's home.

"That was a close shave!" I exclaim. I've grown a habit of teasing him because of his wacky reactions, and now I see my chance. "You're no better than me! Next time I'm driving–"

However, his hand pushes my head down in my seat so that I'm out of people's sight. "Wait. There is someone out there."

"A creature or a human?"

"Human."

Human? "And why am I the only one hiding?"

I glance at Zarius as he's still sitting upright and glaring out of the window. "He is armed with a weapon," he explains. "Something hit our forefront earlier, and that is why I swerved to avoid it."

"Holy crap. Really?!"

Zarius's implying that he's taking precautions for my safety. But I fear for him as well. "Is it a gun? You should hide too. I don't want him to shoot you in the head."

"Do not worry." I can almost hear the cool, confident smile in his voice. "If he attempts to attack me, he will not live to see another day. Here he comes."

A fraught silence hangs over our heads as we wait. My heart pounds harder, overwhelmed by that sense of approaching danger and uncertainty of what to do next.

"If he turns aggressive and shoots again, let's just drive off. Okay?"

"That is fine with me," Zarius agrees. A frown flits across his face. "But this human...his actions are rather peculiar. He just threw away his weapon and is now raising his hands. Would you understand why?"

Curious, I peer over the RV's dashboard and out of the windshield, watching as an awfully familiar man approaches our vehicle slowly. He looks in his late thirties, with disheveled hair and clothes that are covered in grime and dried blood. His chin is sporting a five o'clock shadow. His hands raise high in the air to show that he's disarmed, while his archery bow is lying on the ground right behind him.

I gasp aloud and sit straight up immediately. "That is not just any human, Zarius. That is my gym teacher! He trains the archery club."

"What?"

Before Zarius can stop me, I hurriedly remove my seat belt and am already running out of the RV. "Mr. Daniels!" I yell. "You're alive!"

Recognition flashes in the said man's eyes. He gasps in relief. "Cordelia Walters? My goodness, you're alive! You drove that van? When I saw it coming down the road, I almost couldn't believe my eyes."

I grin. "And that's why you shot at us?"

He throws me a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that. I wasn't trying to shoot you. I just wanted to grab your attention. We haven't run into any humans except you." His gaze flickers to Zarius curiously, who has joined us and is standing close to me. "Who is this? A friend?"

My eyes flicker between Zarius and Mr. Daniels. "Yes, I bumped into him a couple of days ago and we were hiding out ever since then until the storm stopped. What about you?"

"I came from school," Mr. Daniels answers promptly. His face looks a lot more fatigued as compared to the last time I saw him. "But I'm not alone. The others are gathering supplies at Beach Paradise Supermarket right now. I'm just on lookout duty–"

Anxiety rises within me, and I can feel the blood draining from my face. "Where is my cousin?!" I grasp at his arm with a pleading look. "Please tell me she's still alive!"

"She is." He jabs a thumb behind him, in the direction towards the supermarket's entrance. "Go on. I'll stay watch here."

"Thanks, Mr. Daniels." Zarius is staring at Mr. Daniels with unblinking, distrustful eyes as I grab his hand and pull him away quickly. "I'll catch up with you later!"

"Same here. It's great to see you alive and kicking, Walters!"

We dart into the supermarket and stumble upon a couple of students who are pushing around shopping carts and grabbing items off the shelves. Our sudden appearance has them confused, but we disregard their reactions and scour deeper into the place.

And that's when I finally spot her loitering in the First Aid section.

Releasing Zarius's hand, I launch myself at my cousin whom I have not seen for a long time. Although Jace has already informed me she isn't dead, that was days ago. Ever since then, a part of me has continued to fear that she might have run into trouble afterwards.

But my cousin has proven that she is one tough woman to kill.

Seeing her safe and sound, I feel a surge of relief and joy. I jump and throw my arms around her, catching her off guard.

"Maddie!"