Adrift

by Trimboli, TJ

  Morris stood up to see a group of Kendra’s followers shuffle into the room. They blocked every exit and outnumbered us five to one. Morris reached for the knife at his side.

  “Please don’t my friend.” Ahmed was watching his every move.

  Morris put his hand down knowing they had him beat.

  “Those of you that want to come with us are now under the protection of Kendra. Any who seek to oppose or stop you from leaving will in essence be opposing GOD and thus, the punishment will be death.”

  Morris couldn’t believe his ears. The friend he once shared a threesome with was gone and replaced with a brainwashed zealot. He’s worse than the zombies are. He made no move to interfere.

  Ahmed turned back to the crowd. “All who would like to join us, collect your things.”

  At first, no one moved. The fear still fresh in their hearts prevented them. Finally, a middle aged black woman scooped up her child heading to the exit door. That set the rest in motion. Of the eighty six people that had dined in this room, only forty would stay.

  Morris watched his people abandon him.

  He watched Pete collect his backpack, never even glancing back at him as he ditched.

  Morris never even saw Ahmed approach. “You’ll come around soon, my friend. The new world will forever be out of our grasp, so long as we are divided.” And with that, Ahmed left.

  Morris stood with what was left of his people.

  They all looked to him for an answer he could not give.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  BOBBI

  The sun reached its zenith baking the ship with its rays. Bobbi sat, drenched in sweat, with Richard in the Captain’s office. He looked as cool as a cucumber, not a drop of sweat permeated his face.

  How the fuck does he stay so cool all the time?

  She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket dabbing at her face. She hated sweating, she always associated it with guilt. To her, it was her body giving secrets away. Sitting at the oval table, she studied the room. It was all she could do until Morris arrived. At the head of the table sat Valentina. A stern woman Bobbi felt but she knew Valentina was the best candidate to lead this ship.

  She was a judge for Christ’s sake…In Russia. She’s a thousand times more capable.

  Valentina never looked up from whatever she was writing.

  Bobbi often wondered just what it was she was penning to paper. Valentina never showed them, not a single word.

  Next to her sat Xao. He did as he always did before these meetings, he sat upright, silent as could be, staring directly in front of him.

  What normally would be a cause for concern for Bobbi, she found herself strangely at ease with the odd nature Xao exhibited. After everything on this ship, it felt downright lunacy that someone could be this calm but there he sat.

  I guess after sixty something years, you tend to quickly adapt to the constant change of life.

  She still had yet to learn anything about Xao’s life before this ship. He kept to himself and rarely ever spoke except to impart some much needed wisdom and clarity to topics discussed. The only thing they were ever able to learn of the man was that he was a good friend of the Captain’s and the only reason she knew this was because the Captain was the one who put Xao on the council. As a matter of fact, it was the last thing that he did; put together this council.

  Then he disappeared or most likely, he was murdered.

  Instinctively, she checked her arm hoping to see the time. She wore no watch and instantly, her attitude soured. It was small moments like these that really clued her in emotionally to how fast the world had changed. The technological boom had imploded in the blink of an eye and set them back hundreds, maybe thousands of years.

  Maybe it will never rise again. The human race may die with us.

  Morris burst into the room. Furiously, he smashed his hand on the table gaining Valentina’s attention. “This has gone on long enough. Something needs to be done about Kendra and it needs to be done now!”

  “It’s about time you got here. We can begin,” Valentina said calmly folding up her papers.

  Bobbi often found herself excited by the way Valentina conducted herself. She was calculating but not cold and had such a way of saying exactly what needed to be said to gain her way and most people didn’t even know they had been played.

  Morris looked angry still. “Yes. Let’s begin. Kendra struck again. She took forty six of my people. At the rate she is going I will have no one left by the weekend.”

  Valentina seemed to think it over. “Let’s open it to discussion. What’re we to do about

  Kendra?”

  “How many bullets do you have left in that piece?” Morris chimed in immediately but he looked not at Kendra but at Bobbi.

  All eyes turned to her.

  Bobbi looked each one of them over. She wouldn’t divulge the biggest asset she had left.

  Half of my power resides in me holding this gun. “Enough.”

  Morris grinned. “All I would need is one.”

  “Are you to tell me that you want to kill Kendra?” Valentina interrupted.

  “Yes. By nightfall we could be rid of our zealot problem.”

  Valentina let out a hearty laugh. “Stupid man.”

  Morris did not take this lightly. He arched back from the table pulling out his knife.

  Bobbi reached for her gun.

  Valentina did not move a muscle and Xao seemed downright catatonic.

  Richard took over. “Let’s not do anything rash, Morris.”

  Valentina cut him off. “No. He came here with a purpose. Hear him out.” She rose from her seat inching towards Morris.

  He stood there, sweat pouring down his face as he held the knife at the ready.

  Valentina didn’t look phased at all. “A man makes a statement he better well have the balls to back it up.” She pressed up against the knife. “Are you prepared to do all you have to do to see

  Kendra dead? Are you prepared to kill each one of us here in your quest?” Morris seemed to think it over.

  Bobbi had her finger nestled on the trigger.

  Morris lowered the knife.

  Valentina smirked and walked back to her seat.

  “What she means to say is that we can’t kill Kendra,” Richard spoke. “She has gained too much traction with the people. If we were to kill her tonight, we would have another night riot on our hands. We would make a martyr out of her and you would lose all of your people…Us included.”

  Morris put the knife away. He took a seat at the table. He now looked more nervous than antagonistic like a lost puppy lashing out because it as in an unknown environment.

  He didn’t know how to lead a group of people. He was only a follower. “We need to come up with something. I can’t just sit here and watch as she takes everyone I care about.”

  Bobbi could feel his pain but more than that, she agreed with him. This whore had to be taken care of. “I agree. While we can’t kill her, maybe we can discredit her. Find a way to show she is a fraud.”

  Valentina shook her head. “That takes time and resources we don’t have. There are larger tasks at hand. We don’t have to kill her or discredit her, we have to work with her.” “WHAT!” Morris shouted.

  “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer Morris. This is saying in America, right? She is an enemy, but by forging an alliance with her, we have unity, we have balance and most of all, you can keep a watch over her.”

  “No. She has brainwashed, manipulated, and hurt hundreds of people and we’re just going to let her get away with it?”

  “This isn’t about your feelings Morris. This is about the safety and unity of these people. You think for more than just yourself by sitting on this council. Going against her means violence and the deaths of more innocent people, for what? As far as we know, we are the last living humans on this planet and it’s our responsibility to make sure we survive. So yes, we will forgive her…for now.”

  Morris rem
ained silent.

  “Let’s put it to a vote,” Valentina suggested. “Xao?”

  Xao looked as if he pondered it for a moment. He never said a word but he nodded his head.

  Valentina looked to Richard.

  “I disagree,” Richard spoke. “If we were to make peace with Kendra, it would not stop her mission from purging all of our sins. It would just show us, as backing her and everyone would look to her. We need everyone to look to us.”

  “And they will,” Valentina remarked. “Believe me Richard, her alliance will be the backing of us. Not the other way around.”

  Morris stared at Bobbi. She was his last hope.

  “I agree with Valentina. We’ve buried enough bodies at sea.” “It’s done then.” Valentina knocked on the table.

  Morris jumped up from his seat. “I can’t be around this. I don’t know what I’ll do if I see her.”

  “Then don’t,” Valentina replied.

  Morris stared at her confused.

  “We lost our last fishing pole today. I need a crew to go out with a net, some line, and spears and find us a food supply.”

  “What happened to the rod?” Morris asked.

  Valentina looked over at Bobbi. It was the first time she’d ever paused when asked a question. “A fish was caught on a line and pulled the pole out into the sea. The two on duty were neglecting their post. They were having sex.”

  Bobbi’s heart sank. Trent was the afternoon fisherman. Their relationship had been strained ever since the night riot but she never thought in a million years, Trent would be having sex. She tried to mask her sorrow.

  Thankfully, Morris took back control of the conversation, “I’ll do it, but I want to assemble the crew.”

  Valentina nodded her head.

  Morris turned and left.

  “Now onto more pressing matters.” She turned to Xao. “Any update on the Captain’s keys?”

  “We have scoured the ship but have been unsuccessful in locating it whereabouts. It is extremely likely that the keys will never be found.” Xao replied.

  “This is unacceptable. Ten days we’ve been without power thanks to that fucking storm and each day grows more perilous. We need to get into that room, it’s the only way we’re going to figure out how to get the ship going again. As long as there is breath in our bodies, we will search for those keys. So get them back out there.”

  “As you wish.” Xao arose from his seat slowly exiting the room.

  Valentina waited until he and Richard left to continue.

  Bobbi beat her to the punch, “We should use an escape boat to check out land,” Bobbi uttered. She’d waited until they were all alone to bring this up. Richard had heavily advised her against it but she always was bad at following directions.

  “Not this again. We’ve been over this Bobbi. It’s not going to happen.”

  “But we don’t even know for certain what’s going on…on land.”

  “We know what’s going on. Zombies roam the Earth. You were right there with me when we saw it on TV. All corners of the globe and then‒POOF‒no more TV. The only thing waiting for us there is death.”

  “We don’t know. We could have fought and won.”

  Valentina laughed. “Is that so? Then where is everybody? If they won, why aren’t there any planes flying overhead anymore or any ships passing us in the distance? Why hasn’t anyone spotted us on the radar and come and gotten us? It’s because there’s no one left to man the stations. We are all that’s left. Us and the birds. Now bring me up to speed on the murder.”

  It took her a moment but Bobbi filled in all the details. She felt the slightest hesitation to reveal Trent’s hand in all of this but the moment passed and she spoke of his involvement.

  Valentina nodded. “Given the evidence, it’s a good thing we already have him locked up.”

  “But look at the facts Valentina, there was no blood on him, he had drank a lot of booze, there’s no way he could have done this.”

  “Is this your expert opinion or just emotion talking?”

  She paused. In all honesty, she wasn’t sure. “Expert opinion. Let’s not forget we found the man shaved head to toe. That would be someone else’s M.O.”

  Valentina stared at her. “Regardless, Trent stays where he is. At best, the killings stop and we find out he’s our guy. At worst, they continue and he is released. Either or, will show his innocence.”

  Bobbi went to retort but Valentina cut her off. “But, much of the evidence is circumstantial. I will allow you to continue your investigation. Though, if no killer turns up, he will be put to trial.

  Understood?”

  Bobbi nodded her head. She rose from her chair heading for the exit.

  “Bobbi.”

  She paused turning back towards Valentina.

  “Don’t even think about going to visit him. Do I make myself clear?”

  Bobbi nodded. She turned around and left. I’m coming for you Kendra.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  KENDRA

  “No luck,” Ahmed muttered as he snatched a withered robe from the table.

  Kendra walked the length of the hallway trailed by her droves of newcomers. There were a dozen in total, as young as seven, and as old as seventy five.

  Ahmed marched beside her.

  She stopped at each door assigning two newbies to the room. Adorning them with their new robe, she left them to become familiar with their new environment. Kendra kept a sharp eye on Ahmed throughout the proceedings. “As I have stated in the past, there are some worthy of salvation and those who condemn themselves in spite of it.”

  Ahmed handed her a robe. “He just needs a little more reasoning with. He’ll see the light. I promise you.”

  “Promises are like babies: easy to make, hard to deliver.”

  “But I can deliver.”

  Kendra handed robes to the last group of followers and left them to their machinations.

  Ahmed followed her as she made her way to the stairs.

  “I care not for the delivery of one man, Ahmed. When I made you my right hand, I made a promise of you. You remember the promise, yes? The bottoms are all but mine, yet you blindly waste your time on a cause already won. If you are so desperate to deliver then do as you promised me and win me this ship.”

  Ahmed said nothing. He stared down at the floor seeming to be afraid to make eye contact.

  “There are dozens of gifted left to be swayed by your wisdom. Every day, the council backs itself further into a corner and our words of light are all we need to snuff them out for good. The lord is on our side Ahmed, but he can’t do the heavy lifting for us. That, I need you for. Don’t be blinded by familiar friends, no matter how comforting the thought of nostalgia may be.”

  Ahmed nodded. “As you command, my queen.”

  She kissed him on the forehead and sent him on his way. He disappeared up the stairs to spread the word of light.

  How fickle a mind is when placed under such duress.

  Kendra lifted her robe walking down the steps. She descended three floors to the entertainment level, all the while, basking in the fearful gazes of passerby’s.

  Look at them. How fearful they are of me. Oh, how grand do overs can be.

  As she made her way towards the lobby, she couldn’t help but think of how quickly one’s station could change. She remembered walking these hallowed halls not three weeks prior, as a completely different person. A ghost, as far as the world was concerned.

  How many days had I sat in the hot tub with not so much as a cursory glance, from anyone?

  She stopped at the entrance to the night club. Dozens of sick and dying lay at her feet coughing and wheezing themselves along the ground. Kendra strode past the rows of sick, making the sign of the cross. The doctor attended to one of the old women up ahead. She never bothered to learn his name. Names meant nothing to her anymore, they were all just pawns now, to be used in her schemes. “It’s such a shock to one’s system when you are finally confro
nted with the harsh reality of death. More so for the purveyor than for the afflicted, wouldn’t you say Doctor?”

  The Doc made no move to acknowledge her. He was one of the few on the ship to not cower in fear at the sight of her.

  He should sit amongst the council. They were fools to neglect him. Their slight will be my gain.

  Kendra stopped just short of the doctor. She knelt to a young child beside her. The little girl was meek as could be. Her skin looked worn out, bones protruding through just begging to break free. She had bags under her eyes and her cough sounded like it belonged on a ninety year old habitual smoker, rather than an innocent little girl. Kendra brushed her hand against the girl’s cheeks.

  “Don’t touch her!” the doctor yelled. He turned from the old woman grabbing Kendra’s arm.

  Before she could react, a knife touched the doctor’s throat.

  Kendra grinned. I have followers everywhere, good Doctor.

  The doctor eased up, releasing her.

  She motioned with her head for the follower to leave them.

  He put away the knife, disappearing into the darkness of the coffee shop.

  A drop of blood dripped off the Doctor’s neck.

  Kendra pulled out a handkerchief. “You’re bleeding.” She dabbed at his neck.

  The doctor pushed himself away from her. He stood up returning his attention to his patients.

  Kendra followed him. “I am sorry for that but my people are very protective of me. At whatever cost, they do not wish to lose their voice to GOD.”

  “I hear it’s a little late for that. The priest died this morning.”

  “The priest was not true to his design. If he was a true apostle then he would have been spared GOD’s fury but he was not to be. I am to be. He spoke of it to me on the eve of the night riots. I am to be his voice. I am the one to lead these sick into death’s warm embrace, yet here you stand denying their right to GOD.”

  “I don’t deny their right to anything. If they wanted last rites, then they would have it. We no longer have a priest and no amount of venom you spew will make you one either. I don’t trust you kid, and as long as they’re under my care, they will hear no words of comfort from you.”