by Ian Woodhead
"Listen, Mark. The Manchester group is only fifty miles away." His eyes were shining again. "Oliver feels that they are in need of a new administrator."
"Wait, won’t they already have one of those? What about this place?" Mark's stomach dropped when realization washed over him.
"What about this shit hole?" Nigel simply shrugged. "Let it rot for all I care."
"Let it rot? We have a duty to help here. What about the people?" Mark was aghast at the callousness of his partner.
"Look mate, get your head out of your arse. There is one, count them, one viable female here. Let us face the facts about her. She is more than a bit of a flaming bitch on wheels. Do you think that she would take one of us? It’s not fucking likely, is it?"
"But Nigel…" Mark began, not really knowing what he was planning to say. He then noticed the man’s erection and wanted to throw up. “Oh my god.”
"Manchester has twenty-fucking-three females. Oliver is going to go there, and he is taking me with him. He said he needs me." Nigel was gradually puffing his chest out as he continued talking. "Oliver needs me."
Bub2 began to stir inside of his cage again, rattling the door and moaning quietly.
"Fuck off, you monster." Nigel yelled without turning away from his computer screen. “I’m going to push a knife through your head before I leave.”
"Nigel, don't." Mark warned, keeping his eye on Bub2.
Nigel paid no attention to Mark. He was lost in his own thoughts, staring at the screen with wide wet eyes.
"I'll have my pick of women, for sure," he said almost vacantly. "Oliver needs me."
Chapter Twelve
Aliza walked to the makeshift café set up on the floor above her apartment in a bit of a daze. She was still confused over her last encounter with the two men. Every cell in her body screamed in utter revulsion when they showed up at her door, even before she answered the knocking. The arrogant stance they took, the veil of superiority, that look of hunger she saw in their eyes, and the ridiculous look of mock shame on the one man's face all signalled something was horribly amiss.
Nothing made sense to her now. Since when did hunters apologise?
“Since when did hunters hide amongst humans? Wolf in sheep’s clothing,” she said, taken aback by the ominous tone in her own voice.
Aliza had made a firm resolve as soon as the men left her apartment. She could not take any chances with Diane's safety. She would leave this place and take her chances on finding somewhere safe. There was no way that she and Diane could do well staying here. The fact that she was the only female was the least of her problems. There was also the issue of the hunters infiltrating the group, and then there was Tim.
Aliza made her way towards the canteen just a few doors away where Andy was looking after Diane. Another resolve that she had come to was that she would ask Andy to come with her. She had taken a shine to Andy recently. Seeing how much he cared for Diane, and knowing that he would take care of the two of them made him even more attractive to her. Besides, Diane really needed a father figure and Andy was a damn sight better than any of the other so-called men that she had encountered. It definitely would not hurt to have a man travelling with her, either.
While Aliza was figuring out what the future might hold for her new little family, she was caught by surprise as Tim suddenly stepped out from the hallway to her left. She recoiled from him and took a step back. Tim raised his hands in the air, attempting to let her know that he meant no harm.
"Aliza, just listen to me, please. I swear, I'm not a bad bloke, honestly. I just want to talk."
She took another step back, staring at the freak standing in front of her. She was aware that Tim was human, but he fit into the same mould as the hunters. The only difference was that hunters were usually straightforward about their intentions. Tim was nothing but a slimy tosser that hid behind muscle and false authority. He made her stomach turn.
Without warning, Tim suddenly lunged and grabbed her arms, digging his fingers into her flesh. He moved his face within inches of hers, his hot breath stinging her face.
“Don’t you look at me like I’m shit. You and your fucking 'I'm better than you' looks, shaking your arse at me all the time. Nothing but a goddamn tease is what you are. Time for teasing is over now, lass." He moved in until his nose was all but touching hers. "You will belong to me. That's just how it is, so you had better just accept the fact.”
"Tim, please." She refused to cry, even though the tears were waiting just below the surface. She had a suspicion that her tears may only serve as fuel for his fire.
"That’s right, sweetheart. Beg me. I like that." He smiled as he reached his hand up and began to stroke her hair back from her face. As quickly as he displayed this bit of tenderness, he switched gears and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her head back and forcing her against the wall. He used his body to hold her in place. Aliza could feel his erection pushing against her hip as he leaned in again.
“You really are a nice piece of flesh. I so want to fuck you. I promise you'll enjoy yourself.” He released her hair and placed his hand on her breast, squeezing as he let out a soft moan.
His other hand travelled down between her legs. He backed off from rubbing himself on her hip as he ran his hand along her crotch. She seized the opportunity without even taking the time to think about what she as doing. Aliza brought her knee up with as much force as she could muster and connected directly with his erection.
Tim's eyes bulged with surprise and pain as he stumbled backwards. Pushing against him with all of her strength, she bolted past him and ran towards the canteen. It was just right around the corner now.
As she rounded the corner, she ran directly into Oliver. The big man was unshaken by the collision.
"Oh thank God. Oliver, please help me. Tim is after me. The fucker just basically tried to rape me."
Before Oliver could answer, Tim rounded the corner and grabbed hold of her arm.
"Tim, would you be so kind as to release this young woman's arm?" Oliver said, giving Tim a look that could melt ice, but ever polite. "Now, Tim, is this the way that we treat women? I find it distasteful that you would engage in this sort of disgraceful behaviour. Let her go, immediately."
"Yes, Sir." Tim said through clenched teeth. He all but threw her forward, letting her go.
Aliza cried out as the packet of jerky fell out of her top pocket and dropped onto the floor directly in front of Oliver.
Oliver bent down and picked up the packet. He looked past Aliza and stared at Tim, waving the food in front of him like a fan on a hot day.
"It seems that we have a larger problem at hand, don't we?"
Aliza cringed as Andy emerged from the café, holding Diane in his arms. He looked from Aliza to Tim to Oliver, finally spotting the packet in the man's hand.
“No, Oliver,” Andy said in a panic. "Good God, you can’t. Please”
"It seems Andy, that you have a penchant for becoming enamoured with dirty little thieves." He finally looked at Aliza, but his gaze was steely.
"Please," Andy repeated, near tears.
“Oliver? The idiot is right. She has a kid.” Tim had begun wringing his hands and looking very regretful.
Oliver closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He seemed to be lost on what to do for a moment, until he reached behind his back and pulled a small black pistol from his waistband.
“Well, I could very well alter that equation by shooting the fucking brat right here and now,” he said as he pointed the pistol towards the child in Andy's arms.
"Oh Jesus, Oliver no!" Aliza shrieked, and started towards him. Oliver took a step back and pointed the gun at her.
“Tim, get hold of this banshee.”
She continued to try to get to her baby until she felt the thudding pain at the side of her head. She felt disoriented, but could definitely feel herself being hoisted up and restrained.
Her vision was blurred but she could clearly hear Oliver’s condescen
ding voice.
“Listen to me, Tim. You are allowing your hormones to take over for your better judgment. It is time to start thinking more with your brain and less with your cock. I promise that, if you want a piece of flesh that badly, I’ll see to it that you get it.”
Aliza could feel Tim shaking as he held her in his grip.
“But there are no others.”
“Not here, no. I agree with your painfully obvious assessment.”
Oliver turned and pointed the gun at Andy once more.
"You are not going to cause us any trouble are you, Andy?” He turned away without waiting for a reply. “Come on, Tim, let’s get this over with.”
Tim dragged her towards the doors that led outside. Aliza's strength was beginning to come back enough that she was able to turn and see that Andy had not moved. He looked at her, cringing. The expression on his face was asking her what he should do. Her daughter was oblivious, too busy playing with the lad’s buttons on his green shirt. She nodded her head slightly, hoping that he realized that she just wanted him to protect Diane.
The last view of her daughter was gone as Tim pulled her through the door. He dragged her down the stairs, following Oliver. She saw two men on the landing standing to her side.
“Help me, please.” She cried out to them. They looked at Oliver and turned away, avoiding eye contact.
“This madman is going to kill me!” She screamed again, this time to their backs. She watched them hurry up the stairs and disappear through the door.
Tim jerked her back to his side. As Oliver disappeared around the corner, Tim leaned closer to her.
“You’re a survivor, Aliza,” he whispered in her ear. “I told you, I'm really not that bad.”
“Tim, is she struggling again?” Oliver called out.
“Look, I’ll make sure he doesn’t disable you like he did with the other girl. Listen carefully. There is a beat up van two streets north, opposite a florist. Our roamers use it for supply.”
He pushed her down the last of the stairs.
“Can’t you just let me go?”
“Not a chance. Oliver will shoot me. Besides, I need to know what his plans are.” He spun her around and looked directly into her eyes. She thought that she saw regret in his stare.
“I keep telling you that I ain’t a bad bloke, and I’m trying to prove that by giving you a chance to live. If you don’t get eaten, and you happen to find someone else, don’t be so picky, lass. The selection ain't so great these days.”
They entered the darkened lobby where Oliver stood, fiddling with the padlock on the front door. Aliza surveyed the boarded up windows, trying to find any possible way out of this situation.
“You knew the rules, Aliza." Oliver sighed as he pulled the padlock off the outside door. "You also knew the consequences for breaking them, yet you still stole from the group.”
Oliver walked to her and took her chin gently in his monstrous hand.
"I thought that you were better than that, my dear."
“You’re fucking insane!” She spat the words at him.
He placed the muzzle of the gun against her thigh.
“Breaking of rules is what put us in this situation, Aliza.”
“No, Oliver, let her walk out of here,” Tim interjected.
Oliver shook his head. "No Tim. This is what must happen. Rules are to be respected and followed. Dues must be paid for not doing so."
Aliza was frightened by the fact that for the first time, Oliver raised his voice slightly.
She felt Tim purposefully loosen his grip on her shoulders, and she took the opportunity to jerk away. Aliza balled her fist and punched Oliver square in the throat. The man was more surprised than hurt, but Aliza would take whatever she could get. She bounded towards the door, pushing through it and right into the waiting arms of a dead girl.
Aliza screamed and pushed the thing off her. She ran down the stairs and into the street without looking back to see if the dead girl was following. She was too preoccupied with the dozens of corpses standing in the street and on the pavement in front of her.
The dead started to shuffle towards her. She tried to determine the safest route through them. Suddenly, they began changing direction as a single shot rang out.
Aliza cried out and covered her head, searching for a place to hide.
Why the fuck was Oliver shooting at her?
She glanced back to the door of the Tower block and saw the reason for the single shot. The dead girl was struggling with Oliver. Her hungry mouth was trying to connect with Oliver's throat. Aliza watched for a moment, hoping to see the girl rip his throat open so she could go back and gather Diane and Andy.
She did a double take as she noticed the huge hole in the dead girl's leg. It was an older wound positioned in the same spot on her thigh that Oliver had pressed the pistol into Aliza's leg.
"Oh my God. It's Caroline," Aliza whispered. This woman had been Andy's fiancée.
Another shot broke the silence, and the girl fell. This was the second time that she had died at Oliver's hand. Aliza watched the door that separated her from her baby slam shut.
Aliza raced through the street. Her vision blurred by the hot tears stinging her eyes. All she wanted to do was to run back and make them let her back in so she could be reunited with Diane. She knew that would never happen. The only thing that would accomplish was her death, and probably Diane's as well.
She knew her only chance was to get to the van. She continued to dodge the walking corpses and made her way to where she hoped to fuck the van was where Tim said it was.
She knew that Andy would take care of her daughter, at least for as long as he was able.
She vowed that, no matter what, she would get her baby back.
Oliver would pay for the lives that he had destroyed. He would pay for separating her from her child. Somehow, he would pay with his life.
Chapter Thirteen
Tim turned away from the window and gazed at the pistol in his hand. Aliza had managed to avoid those zombies. She had just barely scraped by. If Oliver had not been shooting off that pistol she might not have gotten away so easily. He had just seen her climb out of the van’s back doors and disappear through a smashed plate glass window into a clothing shop.
He sat down and leaned back. Tim placed the gun on the table beside the chair. He should have removed that ugly table as soon as he had moved in here. He despised most of the furnishings in this grotty room. It reminded him of one of those layouts in the home furnishings magazines. Everything perfectly placed to convey style and taste, but to him it was all bullshit. He believed that the style of the room was called 'minimalist'. Tim thought that the room screamed snobbery and pompousness. He felt like a trespasser in this place.
He ran his fingers slowly along the soft green leather arm of the chair he occupied and sighed. The chair was the only reason he had chosen this vile room. There were five empty penthouse suites on the top floor. Oliver had looked at Tim as though he had gone soft when Tim said he wanted this apartment. He knew that he needed this room the moment he spotted this chair.
Oliver had chosen discretion and not commented on Tim's excitement at seeing the chair in the corner of the room. Tim had been so thankful for his lack of apparent curiosity. He did not think it would have taken the administrator long to squeeze Tim’s hidden reason for choosing this place. Oliver seemed to have the unnerving ability of extracting information out of anyone without them even being aware that they were spilling it. It was frightening to witness.
Tim continued to caress the arm of the chair lovingly. He closed his eyes and focused on the feel of the leather under his probing digits. It only took a couple of seconds for his mind to fly back to his one and only intimate encounter with a woman.
It had been a few days after Tim's eighteenth birthday. His brother was in the military, off on some ridiculous mission in the Middle East somewhere. He had been out for months, leaving his wife behind. He had asked Tim to ch
eck on her from time to time and make sure she was alright. Tim obliged, thinking only that it was a hassle for him to have to go out of his way to look after his sister-in-law. It took time out of his days of drinking with his mates and generally fucking about, as he was prone to do.
On this particular day, he went to her flat and knocked on the door. She answered only by yelling for him to come in. He opened the door and called her name. The voice called again for him to come into the living room. He was getting irritated, trying to figure out what type of game she was playing. When he entered the living room, he almost had an actual heart attack.
Sitting in his brother's favourite green leather chair was his sister-in-law Vickie, as naked as the day she was born. She held her hand out to Tim, and as she got up, she pulled him to sit down in the chair. After hastily unbuttoning his trousers, Vickie had orally pleasured him. Tim had thought that he was going to die from the heavenly feeling of her warm mouth all over his penis. That feeling was only amplified when she climbed onto his lap and guided him inside of her. He had only lasted a minute, but it was the best sixty seconds of his life, and he revisited that minute often. He would imagine that his hand was Vickie's hot mouth, or that it was her wet hole enveloping him.
Tim realized that the whole time he had been reminiscing, he had also been absently stroking the barrel of his gun. This was the first time he had held a real gun and he found that he rather enjoyed the feel of the weapon in his hands.
Tim remembered the look of terror on Andy’s face when Oliver had pointed the pistol at him and the look Aliza had as the gun was pressed against her thigh.
The erection that had begun to dissipate came back with a vengeance as he began thinking of what he would have been able to do to Aliza if he had had the gun in his hands.
Tim slowly moved his hands down to his trousers and began rubbing as he closed his eyes.
Oliver had told him a few home truths once they had managed to close the door on the deadies. He had been righteously livid and his words had stung Tim at the time. He did not like being chastised one bit, but thinking back, the administrator had been right on the ball. Oliver had every right to be angry. Tim brushed away that dressing down and concentrated on Oliver’s plan.
