by Riva, Aline
“That world we used to know? Forget it, that world is gone.”
“If everyone thought like that, nothing would ever be achieved,” he replied, turning for the path. Marc turned back too, walking beside him and saying nothing as he kept his doubts to himself and they left the shore, heading inland once more.
Antonio Parsons stood on the balcony of his bedroom and watched the skyline through binoculars, yet again waiting for sight of the returning chopper, but only seagulls dipped and weaved in a blue sky. There wasn't a boat to break the sun sparkled flat of the calm sea and the skies were empty too. He lowered the binoculars and turned to his wife.
“Nothing. It's been three weeks now.”
Serena frowned, creasing her third eye tattoo as she stood beside him sharing his concerns.
“If this goes on much longer people will panic.”
Parsons turned away from the view and looked to Serena, feeling sure that worry was the only thing that could mar her beauty. The breeze rippled the delicate fabric of her long pale dress as worry reflected in her eyes. He folded the binoculars and pushed them deep into the pocket of his combat trousers. His cleaver was sheathed at his side and hidden by the white flowing shirt he wore, but his clothing did nothing to prevent his skin from beading with sweat at the thought of what the lateness of the chopper could mean.
“I say we give it a few more days...they may have had to travel much further this time, gone deep into the mainland. Perhaps they lost a couple of men. I don't doubt they will make it back if they can. Medical supplies are not low yet. We have our own food supply and our own power. We can afford to wait a while longer before announcing a crisis is looming.”
“And what then?”Serena asked, “What do we do?”
“Assemble another team,” he replied, “Take a boat and go to shore, try and find supplies... this is a fair sized community. We need antibiotics. If any kind of sickness broke out, or there was a mass scale accident here, we would need those medications. It's a necessary risk to take if the chopper doesn't return. I keep my people covered from all angles at all times. We can't afford to fall down on any of the standards here.”
Worry still reflected in her eyes as she considered the gravity of the situation.
“And if you have to make the announcement, we could have panic on this island.”
“I'm confident I can maintain order.” He had spoken truthfully, and she nodded, sharing his belief, as they both silently considered the alternative – in a world as unpredictable as this had become, nothing could ever be a certainty, there was always room for doubt to cast its shadow – that shadow was yet to loom and it was something neither wanted to consider as a real possibility yet...
“Hey, what's going on? I saw that thing they took into the infirmary – why isn't it dead? We shoot corpses, we always shoot them!”
As she asked that question, Vicki stood there in the sunshine, the breeze whipping up the ends of her fair hair as fear shone plain in her eyes. The five years that had passed had not changed her. Vicki had eventually accepted she was not to blame for Stacy's death. It had taken a lot of time and patience, and Marc had been the one to reach her and convince her of the truth. But what she had just seen - that corpse still moving as it was carried away to the lab, was too much - old memories had been disturbed.
“It's okay,” Marc began as he stood outside the infirmary and looked to Vicki, hating to see that haunted look return to her eyes, “Parsons has approved this – Christian needs a freshly infected corpse to work on understanding the virus. It's going to be kept in secure isolation. It won't be able to move, let alone escape.”
His words left her unconvinced as she shivered, then rubbed at goosebumps that had raised on her flesh as she stood there in a white vest and cut off jeans as the warm sun shone down. In that moment Marc recalled the frightened girl on the rig, then the hell she had gone through blaming herself for the night Stacy was ripped apart by the escaped creature. He also remembered grabbing Vicki's hand, telling her to stop as she tugged at her hair, then he had pulled her close and held her as she wept. The words he had spoken still ran clear in his mind:
“You can't blame yourself. Even Parsons was convinced the corpse wasn't aggressive. We all were. And you didn't set it free – it happened because some kids heard rumours of a friendly monster... It was a tragic set of circumstances, it will never happen again... no one on this island will ever be at risk again...”
The two of them had become closer over the years, their friendship had deepened considerably – so much that Greg often teased him about it, but he and Vicki had not crossed the line into anything more – yet. He was sure if they did, Greg would say he had seen it coming, and then add that he felt sorry for him taking her on, because she was hard work, but it wouldn't be said maliciously. He observed a lot more than he cared to voice aloud, and he was still his best friend.
But this time Marc's words had done nothing to ease Vicki's fears.
“Since Stacy died we've all been so careful. We shoot the ones that wash in from the sea, we always take them out!”
“This one isn't being kept in a pit outside, Vicki! It's going to be locked in a secure room. If Parsons has faith so should we – Christian has been planning this for a long time. Please don't worry.”
“Just remember plans can go wrong,”Vicki replied, then she walked away, as Marc stood there on the path wishing he had not caught that haunted look return to her eyes.
He turned back and headed for the entrance to the infirmary. While he didn't doubt any plan approved by Parsons would be secure, as his personal head of security, he had to see the creature be sure it was locked away safely. Marc entered the infirmary feeling apprehensive at the idea of another live corpse held captive, as his thoughts remained with Vicki and he suddenly realised her fears could well be justified :
Perhaps she had a very real reason to worry about this, maybe they all did after what had happened last time, maybe there was no level of security that could substitute the use of a bullet to keep the dead from breaking free and tearing the living apart...
Chapter 2
The days passed by.
Each morning brought sunshine and clear skies but no sign of the returning chopper. Parsons had said nothing to the islanders, in the time he had waited, two choices had come to mind – and exploring both avenues seemed like the best options to take. He kept his decision quiet until nightfall, when he was beside Serena and they were together in cool sheets as the breeze sighed in through the open window. Beyond it they saw a sky full of stars, it was hard to believe such a sight above looked down on such horror below, on to a world over taken by the living dead...
“The neighbouring isle of Raven is thirty miles out from here,” he said, turning on his side and sliding his arm around her, “We know people established a community there two years back, we can only guess at what it's like because they shun contact. There were old houses out there, fallen into disrepair. As they've never tried to make contact with us, maybe it's time we reached out to them.”
In the night glow, Serena looked unearthly as her third eye tattoo looked dark against her pale flesh in the silver light.
“They have fences all around their island,” she reminded him, “It's hardly a welcoming gesture.”
“And their island is small – our community is much larger. I've seen boats come and go from that place by night. If they have meds they are willing to share, I'm sure we have supplies to share in return. We could work out a trade deal. Perhaps even bring them over here where they can enjoy a better way of life.”
“And if they're hostile?” she asked as concern reflected in her gaze.
Parsons smiled, his dark eyes shining with warmth as he pulled her closer.
“I shall lead a small party to the island, and we will be armed and ready for hostility. I doubt those people have anything resembling our weaponry or home comforts. They will probably be glad of the offer of help.”
“You're
rarely wrong,” she admitted, “If you think it's the right thing to do, I'll support that.”
He paused, knowing she would not support his next decision...
“I also plan to send a party to the mainland to seek supplies. They can take the other boat and find transport on land and hopefully find the supplies the other team failed to bring in.”
“Or die like the other team!”
Serena sat up abruptly and then Parsons sat up too as he gave a sigh, meeting her gaze with patience as he understood her reason for alarm – she had already mentioned more than once during the passing days, that to lose four people without a trace was four too many...
“We have to do this,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder as his gaze locked with hers, “The neighbouring island is small. They won't be well stocked whatever they have there. We still need a main supply run and there are plenty of vehicles for the taking. It would be a straight run to a town pharmacy or even a local hospital or clinic. I'll send some of my best people and they will be heavily armed.”
“And if we lose them, what then? And what about everyone left here on the island, with both boats gone?”
“There has never been an incident requiring a mass evacuation, not in the five years since all this started. Even before the undead took over, this place was up and running for several years and we never had to leave at short notice. You don't have to worry about the boats. I'll tell you what, Serena – if it makes you feel better, I'll ask that on the return run they try and grab an extra boat, would that add to your peace of mind for future reference?”
“Not if it means more risk to life!”
“It won't.”
He laid back down, gently pulling her with him, then embracing her as they settled down once more.
“I have it all planned out. There won't be any unnecessary risks,” he said softly, but as he closed his eyes his words had done nothing to kill her fears. Serena stayed awake, looking to the starlit sky as she thought of Antonio's plans and worried for the two teams being sent in opposite directions, the greatest risk was to the mainland group – they could well turn out to be another supply run team to add to the list of the missing...
Next morning, Vicki was up early. She stopped off at the textile centre and said she wouldn't be in today – but she would look in on the school in the afternoon and see if Helen needed any help. Then she walked away, passing the allotments and the tall grass and the view of the main building, working her way around the main path, sticking to the long way around that took her close to the forest as she made her way quickly, her long sleeveless top almost skimmed the frayed ends of her cut down denim shorts, and it lent her much needed confidence as she hurried in her flat summer shoes...
This afternoon, she would be busy helping at the school. No one would know what she had done this morning, sneaking into the infirmary with the knife concealed by her long top, no one would think that she would have gone in there and killed that corpse Christian was keeping alive for his experiments.
She didn't suppose it was really a crime – Parsons wouldn't be too pleased if she was found out, but her priority was saving the community. She could never forget her role in bringing the oil stained corpse to the island. Ultimately, she had been the first to say the creature was harmless. That wrong assumption had cost Stacy her life and Zodiac his mother and Greg had lost the woman who had given birth to his child. That hurt the most, for Vicki to know the man she loved had lost Stacy because of her. Vicki was very sure that she loved Greg, over the years her feelings had not changed. One look at him and her heart ached for all that could never be. She didn't doubt as kind as he was towards her, he still blamed her for her part in Stacy's death. But there would be no more corpse related deaths on this island, she would make sure of it.
“Never again...” she muttered as she headed towards the infirmary based at the end of the largest building, where wide glass windows caught the sunlight brightly.
On reaching the infirmary, Vicki went inside and walked through the waiting area with confidence – one look through the glass doors had told her the place was deserted today. She walked up the corridor then turned a corner, taking another corridor, her head feeling light and her heart racing as fear took over at the thought of facing the creature. She wasn't exactly sure what secure meant : Was it chained up or wandering loose in an isolation room?
As she headed for the lab, following the signs, she felt slightly sick as she wondered if killing the creature would put an end to her, too. But she kept thoughts of Greg and Zodiac burning brightly in her mind. She was doing it for everyone on this island, but mainly for Greg and his son, it was the only way to make up for what had happened years before...
As she reached the closed door of the lab she glanced back, seeing no one about. The door was ajar, that meant Christian was around somewhere...but he could be anywhere in the building. Now was her chance. She pushed the door open and went into the lab, then looked about the room, seeing empty work benches and a computer desk. No one was at the desk and the screen was dark. Her gaze fell on the closed door that bore the sign Isolation Area, and she made her way across the polished floor quickly, at the same time drawing the hidden knife from her belt.
There was a small window in the heavy door. Vicki stepped closer, her knuckles turning white as she clutched the handle of the heavy blade. As she looked through the window she saw Christian in his white coat, standing beside a table as he adjusted a line that carried a red substance that she could only assume was blood. Vicki fumbled with the knife, sliding it back into her belt and covering it with her top as he looked up and saw her there.
“I'll be out in a minute!” he called to her, then he turned his back and went over to a table to check some bottled medications. But Vicki was still staring through the window, her eyes wide at the sight of the creature on the table:
It was a woman, she was freshly reanimated, but the pallor was slowly fading from her flawless skin as the blood transfusion took hold. Her hair flowed to her shoulders straight and dark, the rest of her body was hairless – what was left of her body:
Her arms had been amputated, left as short stumps and the wounds had been neatly stitched. Her legs had been taken off above the knee and the same neat stitching had pulled flesh over the wounds. And those wounds were healing...
The creature turned its head, dead white eyes looked at her and she could only carry on staring through the window at the sight of the naked corpse, limbs missing and held to the table with strong metal bonds that wrapped about its hips, waist and around its throat...
The corpse snarled weakly, then Christian walked back to the table, looked down at her, spoke softly and cautiously stroked her dark hair. On feeling his touch, the creature on the table closed her eyes and began to relax. Christian paused to pull up a sheet to cover her exposed groin, leaving the rest of her body uncovered and then left the room, unlocking the door, stepping out, and locking it again behind him.
“Vicki!” he said, smiling brightly as he took off latex gloves, “What can I do for you?” he went over to a disposal bin and dropped the gloves inside, then went to a sink to wash his hands. As the water ran he glanced at her.
“Well I.. I....” her gaze switched from his dark eyes framed by his rounded glasses to the window and the view of the mutilated corpse.
“What the fuck are you doing to her?” the words had to come out, because she could not say anything else after seeing such a sight.
“Removing the limbs was a precaution,” he explained, turning off the tap and drying his hands on a paper towel, “So you can rest easy, Vicki – and so can everyone else on this island – she's going nowhere! Her name is Lillith, by the way...”
She felt uneasy as she looked through the glass again, this time spotting the gold chain around the throat of the creature – the only thing she wore...
“What are you doing to her? Why doesn't she look dead white, or that gross grey colour they turn when they partially ro
t?”
“I'm experimenting with many things,” he replied as a sparkle came to his eyes, “Think about this for a moment – they partially rot, but not fully. This is why they're still outnumbering the living five years after it all started. This virus alters the body, restarts life – on a different level. I'm trying to find a way to reverse that. Just think, one day Lillith could be the first corpse to have the effects completely reversed!”
And I'm sure she'll have so much to thank you for now you've hacked off her limbs, Vicki thought silently, stepping back from Christian as she recognised yet again that familiar shine to his gaze, the one that appeared every time he saw her. Vicki's heart had always been with Greg even if he didn't love her in return – as for Christian, she had always thought there was something different about him... Now, seeing that naked, limbless corpse in the next room, she got it: He was enjoying this...
“Are you giving her blood?” she exclaimed, “Isn't the blood bank meant to be kept only for the living -”
“I'm authorised to experiment,” Christian replied quickly, “Have no fear, Vicki... I know what I'm doing!”
“I'm sure you do,” she replied, suddenly gripped by the need to get out of here and take a deep breath of fresh air, outside amongst the living and the sane once more.
“I've been testing her skin reactions,”he added, “The more blood I infuse, the more she seems to react to touch...I've been very thorough, touched her everywhere... How about I tell you more about it, perhaps over dinner... What are you doing tonight, Vicki? I could invite you over... I'll cook.”
An image had come to mind of his bloody hands as he cut off the creature's limbs. Then as she pictured his surgical gloves wandering over the undead woman's body, she felt a shiver run down her spine. Christian was an attractive guy, but seeing how much he was enjoying these experiments made her want to get as far away from him as possible...
