“Me too,” another gruff voice said. It was Trevor. “Sorry about my outburst earlier. I didn’t mean it.”
Lisa looked around them. “Crap, can everyone hear what we’re talking about?”
“Not everyone. Now, listen up and gather around, I’ve got an idea,” Neil said. “Cat, instead of asking Jay to send you out, tell him Lisa wants to become a Ravager. Have him send her out for training. She escapes, runs back to this fort of yours…”
“It’s not a fort, it’s a town, St. Francis Bay,” Lisa said, ignoring the look Cat shot her at revealing their home’s location. She was sure Neil could be trusted.
“All right, town. So, Lisa escapes, goes there, and gets help.” Neil looked at Lisa. “Are you a hundred percent certain they can and will help us?”
“Yes, I am,” Lisa replied.
“Good. The rest of us stay here and wait it out. When Lisa escapes, Jay will be mad, but he’ll still have his precious Cat and her mom as insurance. It shouldn’t be too hard to pacify him.”
Cat nodded. “It could work.”
“I’m in if that’s what you’re asking,” Lisa said.
“It’s dangerous,” Trevor protested. “What if something happens to you?”
“I can handle myself, I promise,” Lisa said.
“I can vouch for her,” Cat agreed. “She’s a badass fighter.”
“Then it’s settled. You all know what to do, and it goes without saying that we keep our mouths shut about this,” Neil said, looking around until everyone agreed. “Cat, you’d better say your goodbyes. Jay looks impatient.”
With those final words, Neil wandered away, moving from group to group in a casual fashion. Trevor followed his example while Cat hugged her mother and Lisa once more. “Be careful you two. Look after yourselves. Lisa, I’ll see if I can convince him.”
“All right,” Lisa said. “I’ll miss you.”
“Love you, guys,” Cat said, pulling away with reluctance before making her way to Jay’s side. He took her hand in his and led her away from the party without further ado, leaving both Lisa and Matilda behind in tears.
Lisa put a comforting arm around Matilda who quietly sobbed on her shoulder while staring after her friend. Farewell, Cat. Keep safe.
Chapter 10 - Nadia
Run, little rabbit. Run. The taunting voice followed her through the long grass. She panicked and darted in the opposite direction only to stop when the same words mocked her from the front. Her heart banged a rapid beat in her chest, and her lungs ached for more air. Run, little rabbit. Run. I’m coming for you.
Trapped inside the same nightmare again, Nadia whimpered in her sleep, unable to tear loose from its terrifying grip. Her hands curled into fists, and salty tears streaked down her cheeks until Dexter decided to wake her up with a warm tongue in the face.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she sputtered a laugh. “Dexter, no!”
He ignored her protests, jumping up onto the bed instead and shoving his cold nose underneath the blanket.
Nadia shrieked. “Shit, that thing’s like ice. What did you do? Stash it in a freezer?”
He licked her again.
She ruffled her fingers through his fur, relishing the soft silky feel of it. He was dirty, of course. Clumps of mud stuck to his paws, stomach, and chin, leaving a trail of dirt all over the sheets, but Nadia didn’t let it bother her. They were moving that day, anyway. As weak as she was, she couldn’t afford to stay any longer. Her friends needed help, and she still had a long way to go to reach St. Francis. “Besides, if a bunch of zombies finds and traps us here we’re done for, and I could still develop an infection in this horrible cut in my stomach.”
Dexter nuzzled against her side, his body wriggling like a worm on a hook until he found a comfortable spot to lie in. Nadia allowed herself to relax for a bit while she contemplated the coming day, one hand idly stroking the dog’s head.
“We’ve got a busy day ahead, Dexter. I’ll have to see what I can scrounge up here in the cabin and outfit myself for the road.” Dexter didn’t move, though his eyes rested on her face as she spoke. “As I’m sure you already know, zombies are a problem, plus I’m pretty sure I’m lost too. Which is awesome, by the way.”
Dexter huffed a breath through his nostrils, and Nadia imagined he agreed. His presence was enough to lift her spirits, allowing her to joke about her circumstances, but her smile faltered when she considered the implications. She was lost, she was hurt, and she was alone. A recipe for disaster.
Nadia closed her eyes as she considered the possibility that this was one sticky situation she might not make it out of for real. Living in the zombie apocalypse was hard. It made one used to death and the prospect of dying, but being human, there was always hope. Hope that she realized was wasted on her, hovering over the edge of a cliff as she did. I could die today, or tomorrow, or the day after.
As if he sensed her despair, Dexter whined and licked her face. She opened her eyes and stared at his open face with its chocolate brown eyes and button nose, and a feeling of determination replaced the growing panic within her breast. “Yeah, I know. You’re scared, and I’m all you’ve got, so I have to be strong for you, little guy. For Lisa and Cat too.”
With newfound courage, Nadia tossed back the covers on the bed and got up. “Right, let’s see what we can find. We’ve got a long day ahead of us, boy.”
Dexter’s tail wagged, and she set about ransacking the cabin, looking for anything she could use to get to St. Francis. Beneath the bed, covered in dust bunnies, she found a backpack with a sleeping bag tied to the bottom, and a canteen in a side pocket.
“Woohoo! Now, this is what I’m talking about.” After dusting the items off, she topped up the canteen with water and proceeded to fill the pack. From the kitchen, she took a few basics. A cup, bowl, spoon, fork, knife, and a small pot. An extra bowl for Dexter also went into the mix along with the box of matches.
She loaded all the available food and added an extra bottle of water, as well as what remained of the first aid kit. Her wound was healing. The cut was slowly scabbing over, and so far, no infection had set in. Though still weak, she could walk. Fighting zombies was a different matter, but she hoped to avoid the buggers if she could.
Her clothes were clean and dry, so she dressed with care, making sure to reinforce the plaster over her injury with a thick bandage. Her shirt was a goner, of course. Instead, she wore the man’s shirt she’d found in the footlocker, tying the excess material into a knot at her waist like they used to in the eighties.
Going back to the locker at the foot of the bed, Nadia rummaged some more. Way at the bottom, she struck gold in the shape of a .38 Rossi Special. The gun was small and lightweight, perfect for her to handle, and it was fully loaded. “No extra bullets, but it’s better than nothing.”
She didn’t bother with any of the old clothes. None of it fit. She only took an old shirt to use as a rag along the way. The small table in the corner boasted a single drawer, and inside, she found a short book of poetry and a pocket knife. She took both, sending up a silent prayer of thanks to the previous owner. “Whoever you were, wherever you are, thank you.”
Before leaving, she gave Dexter water to drink and opened up a can of beans for him. He wolfed the food down, while she sipped on a cup of extra strong coffee and munched a biscuit. A couple of painkillers rounded off her breakfast, and she was ready to go. “You done, boy? Ready to go?”
Dexter’s ears perked, and his tail wagged when she moved toward the door. She guessed the poor thing must need a pee rather badly after being cooped up inside the cabin all night. She checked that the coast was clear before opening the door, both hands gripping the ax.
Dexter dashed through the opening and down the stairs of the porch before squatting with a look of intense relief on his face. With a laugh, Nadia followed, her eyes searching the clearing for signs of danger. It looked clear, and she took the chance to relieve herself in a patch of grass as well.
When she’d finished, she nodded at Dexter. “Ready, boy?”
He barked.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Trusting that the dog would follow, Nadia set out once more, following the river and picking out the easiest route possible.
She had no idea where she was, nor did she know where she was going, but she had to trust that civilization was around there somewhere. “Just give me a sign. A trail, a road, something, please.”
Nadia set a steady pace at first, trying to cover as much ground as possible, but she soon tired and had to stop. Dexter ran around her in circles while she caught her breath, his nose to the ground and his tail wagging. She took it as a good sign, hoping he’d be able to sniff out any zombies before she could.
After a short break, she continued, and the hours passed by slowly as morning gave way to early afternoon. She stopped again around noon to eat and drink something. Dexter too. Then she continued, pushing beyond her exhaustion. She had to get somewhere safe before nightfall. It would not do to camp out in the open.
It was around mid-afternoon when she spotted the trail. It was faint and overgrown, but clearly a track made by humans. Nadia blew out a relieved breath. “Thank, God. Let’s hope it takes us out of these woods.
Following the track was easier than slogging over the uneven terrain of the woods, and she managed to set a good pace for a while. Even so, her worry grew the closer the sun got to the horizon. Being stuck outside at night was her worst nightmare.
Finally, when worry began to turn to despair, she pushed through a couple of overgrown branches and found herself standing next to a tarred road. “Dexter, look here. It’s a road. A real road!”
Dexter wagged his tail, as excited as she was it seemed. She decided to take a short break again, aware that she might have to push on through the night. At least following the open road would be a little bit safer than camping out in the woods, especially if the moon was full and she kept quiet.
Nadia emptied her canteen, giving both herself and Dexter a solid helping. A few biscuits stilled the gnawing hunger in her stomach, and even the dog appeared to enjoy them. She finished off with a couple of painkillers to keep her going and pushed to her feet. On a whim, she turned left and started walking.
With her ears perked and her eyes wide open, Nadia followed the road, walking down the middle and staying away from the wooded sides. Dexter trotted beside her, and in total silence, they walked until the last of day faded, and dusk fell.
Despite the short break earlier, she was already growing tired again, and Nadia cursed under her breath when she realized just how weak she was. “It doesn’t matter. I have to keep going. There’s no stopping here.”
Despite these words, carrying on became more difficult with every step she took. Her limbs grew heavy, and her breathing labored. Her mouth dried up and more than once she stumbled, her eyelids drooping. Still, she kept moving, too scared to stop. If she did, she’d collapse, and that meant death.
With dogged determination, she put one foot in front of the other. She filled her thoughts with images of Lisa and Cat. They counted on her. They needed her to keep going, to bring back help. “I’ve got to save them. I’ve got to.”
Her knees buckled, and Nadia fell to the ground with a grunt of pain as the impact jolted her torso. Her wound burned as she bit her lip and forced herself back to her feet. One step, two steps, three steps, four…five…six… It became a matter of will, counting each stride as a minor victory.
The moon rose ever higher in the sky, its glowing orb painting the landscape with a silver brush. She was glad for it meant she could see, but as time passed, she focused more and more on her feet, willing them to keep moving.
Dexter whined, a note of fear in his voice that snapped her back to the present. Nadia raised her head and looked around, a hint of terror sharpening her senses. Up ahead she spotted a bulky object, its outline identifying it as a car. Despite the hope the sight of the vehicle raised, she waited, scanning the perimeter.
Then she saw it. A moving figure. Its lurching shamble and rasping moans meant it was a zombie, and Nadia gulped as she gripped her ax with both hands. On the ground next to it was another body, this one immobile and silent.
For a moment, she considered turning back. The thought of tackling a zom in her current state filled her with trepidation. Yet, where would she go? Was the other direction any better? No, she needed that car, or she would die.
“Dexter, stay here, boy. I’ll take care of this,” she said in commanding tones, hoping he’d listen. He whined but stayed put when she moved forward. The zom saw her within seconds and charged, closing the distance with shocking speed. “Oh, shit, it’s a fresh one.”
Adrenalin spurted through her veins as horror filled her breast. A fast one. The worst kind. Nadia raised the ax to shoulder height and swung at the infected’s head. She caught it a glancing blow, shaving off a piece of scalp and bone. Blood sprayed in an arch, splattering across her jacket.
The zombie stumbled but kept coming, and she stepped to the side and tried again. The sweeping cut caught it in the neck, lodging in the meaty flesh above the shoulder. It was not deterred, however. Even as she wrenched the ax free, it reached out and grabbed her with clawed fingers.
Nadia screamed as the digits dug into her tender flesh with bruising force. The infected man leaned in for her exposed throat, aiming for the jugular. She pushed against his chest, but her strength was waning, and she felt her arms tremble with weakness. Her eyes focused on the zom’s mouth, its snapping teeth exposed by the bright moonlight.
A sudden growl filled her ears, and the infected jerked backward as if pulled by an invisible force. Its hold on her shoulders broke, and Nadia wrenched away in time to see Dexter tugging at the thing’s trouser with all his might. His quivering body was puffed up with rage, and vicious snarls sawed through his throat.
The zombie swiped at the dog, eager for its flesh, and Nadia screamed, “No! Not Dexter. Look at me, you piece of shit.”
She raised the ax above her head and brought it down on the dead man’s skull with a thunk, ignoring the searing pain in her side. The blade sunk in all the way, and the zom stiffened before collapsing at her feet. Dexter danced away, his button eyes racing from her to the corpse while he continued to bark.
Nadia heaved for breath, but she knew better than to relax. With one foot planted on the infected’s body, she wrenched the ax free and whirled around to look for more. Her eyes fell on the prone figure lying next to the car, and she moved closer.
It was the mangled corpse of a woman with a knife sticking out of her temple. A blackened and rotting bite mark on her arm and her gray complexion marked her as an infected.
With a sigh of relief, Nadia inspected the car. Its doors stood open and in the backseat lay a bunch of luggage. It was parked haphazardly, and Nadia figured out what had happened fairly quickly.
The couple must have been driving when the woman turned. Either they had less time than they thought they did or the woman hid her injury from the man. Either way, she changed and attacked him, bringing them to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road. The man managed to kill her but got infected in the process. “He couldn’t have turned long ago. He was fresh, and that means the car must run. Yes!”
Dexter trotted over at the sound of her voice and stuck close to her side while she searched the bodies for anything useful. While she felt sorry for the couple, their loss was her gain. She motioned to the dog to climb in on the passenger side and closed the door before sliding in behind the wheel, locking them in.
Once safely inside the car, Nadia allowed herself to relax. Her side was warm and sticky, and her wound was on fire, but exhaustion dragged at her eyelids. She lay her head back with a groan, aware she needed to sleep first. “I’m sorry, buddy, but I need to rest. I’m pooped.”
Dexter whined before licking her face with a warm tongue. Too tired to object, Nadia managed a feeble smile. “Good boy. Good b…”
Just like that, she was gone, falling into a deep dreamless sleep while the moon passed overhead on its nightly journey.
Chapter 11 - Cat
The morning after the party, Cat woke in her bed with a sense of contentment. Though there was much to be sad about, she was a naturally positive person, and she now knew that both her mother and Lisa were safe. Not only that, but they had an actual plan to escape, and the future looked a little bit brighter.
A knock on the door announced Joan who entered with a tray containing breakfast and a single red rose. Cat sat upright and allowed Joan to serve her while eyeing the scarlet flower. A note was attached to it, and she picked it up to read the spidery scrawl.
It said: Cat, my love. I hope you slept well and will do me the honor of having lunch with me this afternoon. We have a lot to talk about. J.
“Mm, much to talk about. I wonder what it’s about,” she mused. “Do you know anything about this, Joan?”
Joan shook her head. “No, Mistress. He does seem to be in an awfully good mood this morning. Whatever you did must be working.”
“Maybe. We’ll see. He did promise to improve your circumstances, though. More rations, and so on.”
“He did?” Joan’s face brightened. “The others will be so grateful, Mistress.”
“Do you have to call me that?” Cat moaned. “It makes me feel so old.”
“The Master’s orders, I’m afraid. All servants are to address you two as Master and Mistress, or Sir and Milady,” Joan replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “Milady just sounds stupid to me, so I settled on Mistress.”
“It all sounds stupid to me. The Ravagers call him Boss, or Sir. Next, he’ll have everyone call me Her Majesty. Can you imagine anything more silly?”
Joan smothered a smile. “Not really.”
“Oh, so you do smile. That’s good to know,” Cat teased before continuing in pompous tones. “In any case, inform your Master that his Mistress shall be happy to oblige, and will attend him at luncheon.”
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