“Come, Mistress, wake up. The Master is waiting,” Joan said, shaking Cat awake.
Cat moaned. “Do I have to?”
“You know you do. Here. Drink these.” Joan handed her the anti-inflammatories which Cat swallowed before pulling on her dinner outfit, a pair of black pants and a silk top with sequined sandals.
Instead of the dining room, Sanjay led Cat back to the terrace where they’d eaten lunch. It appeared Jay also preferred the more intimate setting. He greeted her with a smile and kissed her hand before pulling out her chair. “Beautiful as ever, Kitten. How was your day?”
“It was hard. Petra is one tough lady!” Cat replied.
“That she is. It’s why I chose her for you.”
As always when she was in his company, a nervous tingle ran up her spine. It was hard for her to pretend to feelings she didn’t have. Lying did not come naturally to her, and she was always worried she’d blow it. Tonight, however, was different, and she detected a slight change in her sentiment toward Jay. Was it possible that she was warming to him? No, it can’t be.
She pushed the thought aside and focused on keeping a straight face. “She’s a good teacher. Brutal, but good.”
“I’m glad you feel that way because you only have a few more days to prepare,” Jay said. “In three days time, I’m hosting a festival to open the ring. On day one, candidate Ravagers can fight for their place among us, and on day two, I’m giving certain traitors a chance to redeem themselves.”
“Traitors?” Cat asked.
“Yes, Lisa among them,” Jay replied with a smooth countenance.
“Lisa’s not a traitor,” Cat said, feeling as if she’d been slapped.
“Oh, but she is,” Jay said, leaning back in his chair. “So is Trevor. You’ve been lying to me all along haven’t you?”
“What? No!” Cat reeled with shock, horror flooding her veins.
“Neil told me all about it. He’s desperate to have his old position back. Why do you think I let Lisa and Trevor go on that raid today. They weren’t supposed to make it back alive, and all my problems would’ve been solved.”
“You ordered them killed?” Cat asked, frozen in her seat.
“Yes, but fate intervened. The squad ran into trouble with a number of the undead, and they were swarmed. I lost a lot of good people today, including one of my best, Red.” Jay sighed. “It seems that your precious Lisa saved the entire group from being annihilated and led them back here, which is the only reason she’s still alive.”
“Is she okay?” Cat asked in a whisper.
“She’s fine. Question is, for how long.” Jay stared at her.
“Please don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything,” Cat begged.
“I’ve heard those words before, and what did you do? You lied to me in my face, conspired behind my back, and failed to mention a certain community you knew would interest me. St. Francis.”
Cat gaped at Jay. No. Not St. Francis. He can’t know! “I…I don’t believe you. Neil?”
“Yes, he’s quite the sniveling little weasel. He spilled his guts the moment I offered him a place at my side.”
“St. Francis is nothing. They don’t have anything you’d want,” Cat said in a last ditch effort to divert his interest even though she knew it was pointless.
“Stop lying!” Jay bellowed, his face turning purple as he switched from calm to enraged in a matter of seconds. He stood up so fast his chair clattered to the ground, and he loomed over her, his hands pinning her to her seat. “You conniving little bitch. I offered you the world, and this is how you repay me.”
He straightened up, and his right hand lashed out, hitting her a stunning blow across the cheek. Cat flew off the chair and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor. Bloody spit drooled from her mouth, and her face was on fire. A fist grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to her feet like a puppet on a string. Helpless to do anything, she whimpered. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Are you really?” he whispered, his face mere inches from hers. “Now listen closely, Kitten, for this is your last chance. Understand?”
“Yes,” she said in a broken voice, terror robbing her of her courage.
“Despite your lies, I still want you and am willing to forgive you, for that’s the kind of man I am whether you want to see that or not.” He paused for a second to take a breath. “I’ll give you another chance, but only if you swear on your life and that of your mother’s to love and obey me.”
“I…I…”
“If not, I will kill everyone you hold dear, and toss you to a swarm of zombies in the ring, naked, and watch while they tear you to pieces.”
“Please…”
He shook her until her teeth rattled. “Swear!”
“I swear,” she whispered.
“As for Lisa and Trevor, I will grant them a chance in the Ring to redeem themselves if they agree to follow and obey me without question from now on. No more silly little plans behind my back.”
Cat bobbed her head. “What about St. Francis?”
“St. Francis will bow to me, and you will be there at my side when I take it. If you give me any trouble, any trouble at all, I will burn it to ashes with everyone inside it. Got that?”
“Yes.”
Jay flung Cat back into her chair. “You can go hungry tonight, and I suggest you decide once and for all whose side you’re on. The winning side, or the losing side.” He turned away from her and shouted, “Sanjay, take her back to her room and make sure she stays put.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Cat followed the guard, Sanjay on trembling legs, unable to believe what had just happened. All she did know, was that Jay was a monster, and any feelings of sympathy she might have had toward him were gone. There was no saving him. He truly was a Beast.
Chapter 16 - Lisa
Upon returning from the disastrous raid, Lisa stuck to Trevor’s side like a bur to a wool blanket. Not once, did she let him out of her sight. Not even when Dr. Heinz attempted to force her out of the room.
“I’m staying, and that’s that, so unless you want him to die right here on your operating table, you’ll go ahead and fix whatever’s wrong with him,” she said.
Trevor managed a weak smile at her show of rebellion. “Ever the fighter.”
“Well, if you’re going to stay, you might as well make yourself useful,” Dr. Heinz ordered.
“Of course. I’d be happy to assist,” Lisa said.
“You can start by putting on a set of clean scrubs and washing your hands. You stink of gasoline, and you know the drill,” the doctor commanded. “I can’t risk infection.”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” she muttered, following his orders to the letter. She’d seen enough during her time in the infirmary to know what to do.
She donned the fresh clothes in the room adjacent, discarding her torn and bloodied outfit in the corner. Next, she scrubbed and disinfected every bare inch of her skin and tied up her hair into a net which she covered with a cap. Finally, she pulled on a pair of gloves and booties, and she was ready.
The entire time, fear pumped through her veins. Fear that Jay would send someone to finish the job. Fear that she and Trevor were living on borrowed time. We shouldn’t be here. We should be half-way to St. Francis by now. Yet, here we are, drawn like flies into the spider’s web. Question is, when will the spider strike?
The operation itself went smoothly. Dr. Heinz, anti-social miserable Dr. Heinz, was nonetheless a brilliant surgeon, and he repaired the damage to Trevor’s leg with supreme skill.
“With a course of antibiotics and plenty of rest, he’ll be just fine, though he might walk with a slight limp in the future,” Dr. Heinz pronounced. “Now, I have other patients to see to. Good evening.”
Lisa watched him go with a frown, but it was with relief that she sat down in the chair next to Trevor’s bed and allowed herself to relax for the first time throughout that long dreadful day.
She watched him sleep, the anesthetic
yet to wear off, his face as innocent and open as a lamb’s. Because that’s who he was. Kind, funny, honest Trevor. A better man than Neil could ever hope to be.
It wasn’t long before she dozed off herself to be awoken by Trevor’s deep voice a while later. “Lisa? Lisa, are you there?”
She jerked upright in her chair. “I’m here. I’m right here, sweetie.” Lisa jumped up and hurried to his side, grabbing his hand and clutching it in both hers. “How do you feel?”
“I feel fine, thanks for asking. A little sore, but fine.” He smiled. “Sweetie, is it? When did that happen?”
Lisa blushed. “Um, I… When did what happen?”
“You might as well say it,” Trevor said. “I mean, I’m practically on my death-bed here. There’ll never be a better time.”
Lisa gritted her teeth and forced a smile. “Fine. If you insist. When you were injured, I thought for sure you were a goner. There was so much blood. I never dreamed I’d get you back in time.”
“You could’ve left me behind, you know. You blew you’re only chance to escape,” Trevor said.
“I could never abandon a friend,” Lisa protested.
Trevor’s eyes searched her face. “Just a friend?”
“All right. More than friends. I have feelings for you, okay?” Lisa admitted.
Trevor beamed. “That’s my girl. I knew you had it in you.”
“Don’t rub it in. I’m not used to this. It’s been awhile.”
“You and me both, love. The apocalypse isn’t exactly conducive to dating,” Trevor joked.
Lisa smiled. “At least, I picked a funny one. If nothing else, I can laugh myself to death before Jay comes for us.”
Trevor sobered at her words, and she nearly kicked herself for spoiling the mood. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No. You should, because you’re right. He hasn’t forgotten us,” Trevor said.
Lisa nodded. “What do we do?”
“I don’t know,” Trevor admitted. “We can’t exactly escape now.”
“No, that ship has sailed.”
“Then we’d better hope Cat can perform miracles,” Trevor said.
“Let’s hope so,” Lisa said, wondering how her friend was doing. “Despite Trevor’s words, she held out little hope for Cat being able to save them. If Neil had ratted them out, that meant Cat was in trouble too.
She sat with Trevor throughout the night, dozing on and off. The next morning, a grim-looking Dr. Heinz entered the room. “There’s someone here to see you, Lisa. Both of you, actually, but I convinced him Trevor was too sick to move.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s the Beast himself, and he’s in a bad mood. I’d hurry if I were you. It won’t do to keep him waiting.”
Lisa swallowed hard and nodded. “I’ll go right away.”
“Lisa, no. He’ll kill you,” Trevor protested.
She shot him a sad look, wondering if this was goodbye. “I don’t have a choice, Trevor.”
With his eyes following her every step, she exited the room and spotted Jay’s hulking form immediately. “You wanted to see me, Sir?”
“You can drop the act,” Jay said. “We both know you planned to escape.”
Lisa lowered her head. “I did, yes, but I came back, didn’t I?”
“Why did you? Don’t tell me it’s because you had a change of heart,” Jay prompted.
“It’s simple, really. I realized I was in love, and nothing mattered except saving him,” Lisa admitted.
“Trevor?” Jay asked.
“Yes.”
“Interesting. By all rights, I should have you killed on the spot, but you saved my Ravagers from total annihilation, and I owe you one,” Jay said.
Lisa glanced up at him, surprised. “What?”
“Don’t act so shocked. I’m human,” Jay grumbled. “If I can forgive Cat, I can forgive you and Trevor too.”
“You’re letting us live?”
“With conditions attached,” Jay said.
“What conditions?” Lisa asked.
“First off, you must swear your loyalty to me, now and forever. No more treachery. If you betray me, I’ll feed you to the pigs, but only after I kill Trevor. Understand?”
Lisa nodded. “I do.”
“Secondly, while Trevor is injured, you are not. So, you will fight for your right to live in the Ring against whatever opponent I deem worthy. Agreed?” Jay asked, raising an eyebrow as if to dare her to refuse.
“If I lose?”
“Death. If you win, a place among the Ravagers with full rights and privileges for both you and Trevor.”
Lisa knew she had no other option. “Agreed.”
“Excellent. The games will begin in two days time, a festival spanning three days, and your fight will occur on the second day. Report to the armory for your equipment and weapons any time before that. I suggest you use this period to prepare. Fights in the Ring are brutal,” Jay said.
“I will,” Lisa said before daring to ask. “Can I visit Cat, please?”
Jay’s face hardened. “No. Cat has her own problems to deal with, and chief among them is proving to me she can be trusted. Until then she will be confined to the Mansion indefinitely. She’ll have to earn her way back into my good graces.”
“I see.”
“You may visit her mother, though. I’m sure the old lady would welcome the company,” Jay offered.
Lisa nodded.
Jay turned to leave but paused. “One last thing.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t ever double cross me again. If you do, I’ll kill you and your precious Trevor. Slowly. Very, very slowly, until you beg for release from the pain.”
Chapter 17 - Nadia
“Nadia, where’s my beer? I asked you ages ago to bring me one!” her stepfather bellowed for the umpteenth time.
“Can’t you get it yourself? I have to study for exams tomorrow,” Nadia shouted back from the dubious safety of her room.
“Do you want me to come over there and teach you a lesson?” he shouted. “Because you know I will.”
Loathing filled Nadia to the core, and she slammed her book shut with a bang. After fetching a beer from the fridge, she handed it to her stepfather with a mutinous expression. “Here.”
“About time, you lazy bitch,” he muttered, grabbing the beer from her hand and cracking it open.
Nadia shot her mother a look, hoping she’d defend her daughter, but the glassy look in her mom’s eyes confirmed she was already high. Shaking her head in disgust, Nadia turned to walk away, muttering to herself. “Next time you can get it yourself, lardass.”
“What did you say?” Her stepfather’s voice sounded ominous, and he rose from his chair to tower over her.
“Nothing…Dad,” she answered, using the term with the utmost reluctance. He wasn’t worthy of it.
The backhand blow caught her by surprise, and her bottom lip exploded in a shower of blood as the delicate skin split. Nadia gasped, pressing her shirt to her mouth to stem the flow.
Her stepfather smirked. “That will teach you some manners.”
“Mom?” Nadia pleaded.
“Listen to your father, Nadia,” her mother slurred, barely aware of her surroundings.
“That’s right. Don’t bother your mother. You know how delicate she is after your brother’s death,” he mocked, though they both knew full well it was her fault Bobby drowned in the first place. If she hadn’t left the safety gate open and passed out, he’d still be alive.
Shocked and betrayed, Nadia stumbled back to her room, tears burning hot runnels down her cheeks. She passed Bobby’s room and paused, the empty bed mocking her with his absence. Grief tore through her heart with iron claws. It never got any better.
***
Nadia tore away from the memory with an effort. Even as a dream, it hurt too much to remember. But the more she fought to gain consciousness, the more she became aware of other pain. Physical pain. Her skin
burned with fever, the heat a furnace upon which she lay, a sacrifice. Her limbs were heavy, and her eyes refused to open, no matter how hard she tried. She became aware of voices in the background. The first was older and feminine, and she recognized it after a second as Julianne’s.
“Is she going to be all right, Jonathan?” Julianne asked. “She looks awfully pale.”
“She’s lost a lot of blood, and the wound in her torso is infected. I’m giving her antibiotics intravenously, but it might be too little too late. By the looks of it, that injury is days old. The cut on her head is from the crash. It needed stitches, and she has a concussion as well.”
“There must be something you can do,” Julianne protested.
“I’ve done all I can. It’s up to her now,” Jonathan replied. “I’ll let Breytenbach in now, and you can sit with her for a while.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, and try talking to her. There’s a chance she can hear you, and it might give her the strength to fight.”
“I will, Jonathan.”
Nadia felt a hand touch hers, and it was a comfort to know she wasn’t alone. “Nadia, can you hear me? It’s me, Julianne. We’ve been so worried about you. First, you disappear along with Lisa and Cat, and then people started showing up at our gates. Survivors. Telling us you sent them!” Julianne chuckled. “You can imagine our surprise.”
A rustle of material announced Breytenbach who spoke next. “Yes, it was quite a shock. They all spoke so highly of you girls. You’re celebrities now. Real-life angels.”
“They’d all be here if they could, but Jonathan has forbidden it. He says infection is a concern, so for now, it’s just the Captain and me, dressed in scrubs and wearing masks. You’d laugh if you could see us, I’m sure.”
Julianne trailed off, and after a minute of silence, turned to Breytenbach. “I hope she’ll be okay, Christo. What if…”
“Don’t think like that, sweetheart. She’s strong. Always has been.” He paused. “Do you know what happened to her? Does Jonathan?”
Children of the Apocalypse: Mega Boxed Set Page 148
