by W. A. R.
It wasn’t long before he went searching at the Reiner Disease Control a month or two after the outbreak that he found Eva and Christopher. They were using the backup generators and whatever gas they could find, locked in and away from the world while they searched for some kind of answer. I will never forget the look in his eyes whenever he saw this. He took them in and ordered his people, us, to go out and find whatever it was that they would need as they looked for a cure. He thought that if he could help them find a cure, he would be a god to what was left of the human race.
He got more than he bargained for though, as they tried their experimental dosages on the dead with absolutely no reactions. My father got this idea, and the very next stray person he found he used. It wouldn’t have been the first time he tortured someone for his own twisted pleasure. He let them get the shot and then they were bitten…just as a trial. The people changed into something that surpassed the initial creatures and this brought a new goal to his mind. A cure, sure, but he felt he could become invincible. And from that point forward he searched for people. Some groups became part of the community after initial discussions, others part of the experiments. It all depends on what he thinks of you. Surprisingly, those he decides to let live in the community respect him; they don’t question him. They are terrified of him.
There is your idea of the man you are up against.
Amber swallowed thickly, the bowl no longer in hand; instead it was replaced with the notebook. Her hands trembled, with anger or with surprise or even fear, she wasn’t sure. Damien compared his own father to Hitler. How horrible could this man be? Was he really what Damien made him out to be? She felt…unsure, overwhelmed. He watched her as she read all of this and there was no sign of defiance, just determination, almost as if he wanted her to take down the man that had raised him. She shuddered at the thought of a man wanting to murder his own father. She was desperate, after reading this.
“Damien, what can I do to ensure that I beat him?” she asked, and he lifted a brow at her, curious and intrigued. She licked her dry lips. “I can’t lose my family to him. What do I do?” she asked, placing the notebook slowly back on his leg for him to reply. She wasn’t sure why she trusted him; hell, she had trusted him before he betrayed them. Still, after all that he had done to her, why should she? It didn’t make sense, not even to herself, and there were still a million questions that she wanted….no needed to ask. Questions that she felt she couldn’t ask in that moment. She would have to wait if she wanted more understanding. She felt tears prick the backs of her eyes and knew she was losing her composure. Her mind suddenly raced with images of Brian, Shelly, and Miles free and with them mixed with images of her failure and their deaths. It wasn’t fair, she thought, they had always been there in her life and now they were torn from it. She ached and the tears threatened to fall. Before he turned the notebook to her, he leveled his gaze to her, his eyes analyzing. He took in her tattered and sweat, blood, and dirt covered clothing that she had not had a chance to change within the past week, her filthy hair, and the diminishing swell of her temple. She felt as if she were on display and she tilted her head to the side, eyes wide with apprehension and her shoulders pulled back. Finally, he turned the parchment to her.
You have taken down some of his best men, taken his son as prisoner, and potentially killed other men of his while plotting to get inside. Look at yourself. You have control of yourself and those around you. It will be hard, and a very long road, but you can do it. He is an angry, twisted man, and you are an angry woman that can be just as twisted…should the situation call for it. You are both influential and persuasive. He will take a shine to you and in that way, you can outsmart him.
Amber gaped at his words, feeling a sharp stabbing in her chest. “Are…are you comparing me to this…monster?” she asked. Yes, she thought, she was indeed a monster. She was reminded that she hated herself for it. Who was this man before her? He was certainly not a friend. He was her enemy. He had killed her family; he had killed a part of her and replaced it with a bitter vengeance. He quickly scribbled something on the paper.
Not in the way that you took it. You are one end of the extreme while he is the other. He opened his mouth as if going to speak and then sighed in frustration before hastily writing once again. You can do this.
Easily, cautiously, she stared into his swollen face as he dropped the notebook onto his lap and reached forward, his hand dropping to her knee. His eyes were pleading with her to believe him and for some reason, she did, whether she wanted to or not. “You want me to kill your father?” she asked and for a moment he didn’t move. She almost wondered if she had even asked the question aloud when he nodded in answer to her question. She bit her bottom lip, deciding that questions were no longer going to be asked in their time that day. Turning and gripping the water, she held it to him, offering it to him one last time. He took the drink gratefully before releasing it and releasing his hold on her knee. He placed his hand dutifully on the armrest and she strapped him back in. She easily stood then, grabbing both the water and the now empty bowl of food.
She looked back at him as she was reaching the barn door. The commotion of Rick, Buddy, and George met her ears and she knew they were near, coming to check on her…or to check on Damien. She sighed. “I’ll bring you more food and water later.” She told him and he only nodded graciously at her before watching as she made her way out. She easily closed the door behind her, her head lowered, listening as the voices stopped. She looked up then, shifting the bowl and the glass so she could carry them more comfortably, and locked eyes with the three men, Cassie coming from the house towards them as well. They had stopped in their walk and were now staring at her. Their looks ranged from angry to hurt and Amber cleared her throat, turning to avoid them. She told herself again that it was for their own good that they not know. They couldn’t.
Miles pulled against his binds, the plastic having rubbed his wrists raw and bleeding. It had been five days since Brian woke, and there had still been no word from Amber. Ryder had not been kidding whenever he had said that they would not hear from them again. Still, he had held out hope for it. His mind had rested with her and her faring, how they were and if they were surviving. If he were honest with himself he was scared; he was scared that Brian and Shelly wouldn’t make it out, and he was scared that Amber would get caught up in the middle of all of this to save them…. or try to save them.
For the past five days, Ryder had not come to their room. Instead, Cory kept up his appearances, as well as Justin occasionally. Miles hadn’t seen Lenny since he had gone to the other room and witnessed the man asleep on the couch. It disappointed Miles to not have seen Ryder. He wanted to apologize to him for not believing him, and he suspected that that was the reason he hadn’t come back. Still, he knew that Ryder was the one that had sent Cory to ensure that they were treated well. All he could do was wait on the man to come in. He didn’t necessarily trust the man, but he could read Ryder enough to know that he felt guilty for what had happened and that he didn’t agree with what was going on. He figured he would use that to his advantage should he ever return. He had considered asking Cory for assistance but he didn’t. He wanted Ryder to know, for some reason, and it almost felt as if he had a point to prove; he felt as if he needed to show the man that there was at least a small bit of trust between the two of them. Ryder had said that he was an ally…so was it true or was he just fucking with their heads? Miles wasn’t sure, but something deep within him told him that he needed to speak to him, to request his help and he wasn’t going to ignore it again. The last time he had gotten this feeling, he had left with Brian, against his better judgment, and the three of them had been taken as hostage to some twisted dictator.
“Is she asleep?” he suddenly heard Brian ask and he jerked his head to his friend, instantly stopping his futile attempts of pulling his hands free. He knew the glass was still there in the corner, but he refused to go near it or draw any attention towards that are
a until he was ready, until they were ready.
Miles swallowed thickly and nodded. “Yeah; fell asleep about an hour ago.” He replied calmly to Brian, who only in turn sighed, pursed his lips, and turned away. He was hurting and Miles knew he was. It was bad enough, Miles thought, that he had been taken from Amber, but if they were like this, like Brian and Shelly, bound and separated and yet in the same room…he wasn’t sure he could handle that. He wasn’t sure how Brian watched as Shelly slowly withered away, lost in the depression that was common company in their lives. The both of them wanted comfort from one another, Miles saw it and he was sure that the newcomers had seen it as well, but they couldn’t. They had to sit across the room from the other, watching as the other shrunk into nothingness, wasted away. He shuddered. “How are you feeling?” he asked casually, trying to appear more confident than he really was.
Brian sighed and swallowed thickly. “I’m just…tired. Worried.” He told Miles and Miles nodded in understanding. He was worried too and though they couldn’t move about, sleep was not a friend of his and not of Brian’s either since he had woken from unconsciousness. The two men had spent the days and nights awake and watching, waiting for any opening or even for abuse from Justin. Miles clenched his jaw at the thought of the man. Where was Ryder? “Hey Miles?” Brian asked, catching Miles by surprise once again. Miles jerked his gaze to his friend, his brother, realizing that he had been staring at the floor. Exhaustion was making his mind blur together. He could feel his muscles weakening the longer they sat bound in that room. They were restless and unable to work their bodies and overall, whenever they decided to make a run for it, it was going to cost them…he just knew it.
“Yeah? What’s up?” he asked nonchalantly. There was a tremor in his voice as these thoughts surrounded him and again, he hoped Brian didn’t catch it. As he watched Brian stare at him, he knew that he hadn’t noticed; he was too lost in his own head, his own thoughts and emotions.
“I need you to promise me something.” He said and Miles’s eyes widened and he swallowed thickly.
“Sure. Anything.” Miles replied, trying desperately to ease the obvious heaviness of the situation at hand. He felt his sore and aching shoulders tense. Brian’s eyes were saddened and his eyelids heavy. His skin was sallow and clammy, blood still there. The swelling had gone down substantially, but still, he sagged against the wall, his jaw dropped. He was in so much pain, the chains heavy and his heart torn to shreds. Miles understood this all too well. Brian wanted to fight; it was obvious every time someone entered the room. He would tense and grind his teeth together, but he would always oblige whenever Cory offered him reprieve, food, or water. Still, he tried to prove he remained strong and determined against these people that tore them from the lives. But in that moment, Brian looked defeated, and Miles didn’t like how his stomach twisted in response to this.
His tongue darted out between cracked and bleeding lips. “I need you to promise me that if I don’t make it out of here…if I can’t…that you will take Shelly and find Amber.”
“Brian...” Miles began, protesting his request. He felt his chest tighten. “No need to get so dark, bud. We are all going to get out of here and Shelly will be fine, and we will go find Amber.”
Brian leveled his gaze at Miles and Miles shuddered at the intensity, the begging look in his eyes. “Miles please. I need you to promise me this. Protect Shelly, find Amber, and protect her and Cassie…and tell them…tell them all how much I love them and how brave I was.” His heart felt as if it was sliced open and he bit back his outburst. He wanted to scream at the man that he wasn’t going to die here, nor at the compound; he wanted to force him to believe that they would all make it and he wasn’t going to give up until they did.
“I don’t even know where to begin looking for her, Brian. You would know better than me, which means you are coming with us.” Mils again protested. “You’re the bravest man I have ever met; you are going to make it out of here. Don’t give up on us just yet.
Brian chuckled at this. “Miles, you have always been able to find her. And I’m not giving up on us, on getting out of here…I am just trying to cover my bases given the circumstances. Now, stop beating around the bush and promise me this.”
Miles swallowed, feeling the dread take a hold of him and he sighed. “Bri…was there ever any doubt that I would?” Brian nodded at Miles silent promise.
“No, there never was…I just wanted to make sure that you knew it would be alright to leave me. If there is a chance you can make it out with Shells, take it and go find the rest of our family.” Our family. The words hit Miles like a punch in the gut and he felt his emotions get the better of him. It infuriated him because they shouldn’t be in there, held captive…no, they should be with the rest of their family, surviving, laughing, and loving one another with all that they had. Instead, they were held hostage while the others were struggling with pain and searching for them. Miles nodded slowly.
“Only if you know that it is alright to do the same with me. Like you said, if there is a chance, take it, get Shelly out of here and go to the others.” Miles replied and Brian studied him for a long moment before speaking.
“If Shelly and I do make it out…is there anything you would like for us to tell the others?” he asked and again, Miles felt his heart slice open. The pain was fresh and raw, bleeding and profusely wounded over something he could not control. He cleared his throat, trying desperately to rid it of the emotion that blocked his voice.
“They already know.” Miles said thickly, not liking where his mind was going. He had tried his best not to visit these dark recesses in the back of his mind, but now he could no longer avoid them. He was there, trapped and lost, searching for a way out, a light at the end of the tunnel. They needed to find a way out of there, quick. The only hiccups were the keys to Brian’s chains and an estimation of how many people they were up against. They could run and find out where they are…hopefully.
“There isn’t anything you want Amber to know?” Brian asked and Miles leveled his gaze at him, a determined glint in his brown depths.
“There is, and I will be sure to tell her whenever we get out of here.” He said and Brian couldn’t hide the smile that was plastered on his face. Miles grinned back, feeling the darkness of the situation lighten, even if only a little.
“Hey lover-boy.” A soft, and yet harsh voice spoke from Miles’s left. He and Brian both turned to look at the girls that were leaned against the wall, the sisters. Over the past five days, they had all grown accustomed with one another and their stories, their pasts. After Miles, Brian, and Shelly had shared each of their stories, their experiences up until they came together and met, they then began the events that happened after that. It was a long story, but they had time as Miles waited for Ryder. After this, the girls had shared their past, Chloe had lived with their parents in Baton Rouge and Lacy lived alone in Delhi while she went to college in Takilma. When the outbreak occurred, someone had taken a gun and killed both of their parents just outside their home in order to take their car. Lacy had gone down to get them and after days of arduous work getting to their house, had finally found Chloe scared and hiding in an upstairs closet. After that, they traveled, surviving until they were snatched up from the side of the road by these demented people. After all of their shared experiences were discussed, Lacy had opened up more. She seemed bitter, had hardly any compassion. She was blunt to the point of rude and didn’t care that she was. She reminded him of the female version of Buddy.
Miles rolled his eyes at the nickname she had given him. “Can’t you see that we are having a discussion here?”
She shrugged as if uncaring, which he was sure that she was. “Well, I’m sorry if I’m interrupting your bromance bonding moment but I needed to ask you something too.” She stated bluntly, and he watched as Brian slowly banged his head against the wall behind him in exasperation. Miles sighed then, noting the hesitation in her eyes and the uneasiness with which she s
hifted her bound feet.
“We thought you were all asleep. Is it really so much to ask for that to be a possibility?” Brian asked on a groan and she screwed up her nose at him and made a disgusted face, though the look in her eyes was mocking.
“Well, I am so damn sorry for being on pins and needles while waiting for my imminent death, Grumpy.” She sneered at him and Miles rolled his eyes.
“Couldn’t it have been the other sister that woke up?” he asked, receiving a glare from Lacy. Brian chuckled at this and tilted his head forward, looking at Miles mischievously. They had given the girl a hard time ever since she began speaking openly to them.
“Yeah, that would have been preferable. At least she’s nice.” Brian told Miles, teasing her even though they weren’t talking to her. They grinned at one another as he said this, pretending like she wasn’t even tied and bound in the room with them.
She tossed daggers at them with her eyes. “Fine. Don’t listen to what I have to ask.” She said, and for a moment she seemed genuinely hurt. Brian and Miles both began laughing, and they turned their attention towards her, even as she refused to look at them.
“Oh, come on. What? What do you want?” Brian prodded, having seemingly gotten at least some spark of his old self back in the lightness of the situation. She remained quiet, refusing to acknowledge them for a few long moments, at least until Brian sighed in exasperation, clearly irritated, and leaned back against the wall. Only then did she turn and look at Miles, a grin on her face. Miles shook his head, watching as Brian noticed this and narrowed his eyes at her. “My God, you are irritating. I thought Shelly was irritating…I even thought my sister was irritating…but you…you take the cake.” He told her and she chuckled at this and bowed her head in a dramatic show of gratitude.
