Damned Are We

by Durman, Jason

  was sucked under the rear fan with a sickening flurry of slicing. The dark water churned red.

  Samantha, Corvo, Jacob and Markus stood alert in the middle of the deck behind the superstructure,

  waiting for the hands of attackers to begin appearing over the sides of the boat. None did, and they

  slowly al owed themselves to relax. Samantha abruptly giggled, giddy with raw relief.

  "I can't believe… we got out of that mess…" Markus panted.

  "It sure was a shit-swarm of Infected we held off back there," Corvo grunted in agreement. He

  started forward toward the superstructure of the Saint Lidia II. "Let's go thank the Slaters, shal we?"

  Samantha and Markus fol owed him, eager to meet their rescuers in person. Jacob cast one last

  look back at the lighthouse, its lamp stil shining like a beacon in the darkness, and the howls of the

  Infected now swarming it stil audible in the distance.

  The fishing vessel sped southwest along the river, leaving the doomed town of Riverside behind it.

  Chapter 37

  The fishing vessel motored southward down the river, surrounded by darkness. The four survivors of

  the Riverside ordeal wearily entered the small superstructure near the bow of the boat and made

  their way to the front cabin, where they found a couple who must have been in their mid-thirties.

  Jacob gravitated toward the back, his dour posture and manner in stiff contrast to the youngest two

  members of his group, who were eager to meet these new survivors.

  The woman, a plain blonde dressed in jeans and a tattered jacket, smiled at them. "Glad you folks

  made it. I'm Amanda Slater."

  Corvo shook her hand as he introduced himself and the others. "Thanks for coming to get us."

  "We owe you our lives," Samantha chipped in grateful y.

  The older woman simply nodded, while the man at the controls final y turned away from the window

  to face them. He had tousled black hair, an average build, rugged features, and wore a fishing vest

  over a bloodstained shirt.

  "The name's John Slater," he said, shaking everyone's hands. "I'm happy you al made it out of that mess in one piece. It sure sounded like there were a lot of Infected up there at the lighthouse."

  "You have no idea," Markus replied.

  "I'm glad I don't," he chuckled.

  "Where you folks headed?" Corvo asked crisply as he pulled out a cigarette from the breast pocket

  of his jacket. Amanda scowled, and John looked as though he might comment on the older man's

  smoking. Whatever he saw in those steely grey eyes, however, seemed to change his mind.

  "There's a smal military stronghold down the river. As far as we know, it provides armed support for

  several minor settlements in the area, where survivors are stil trickling in."

  "That's good news," Markus said.

  "Where did you two come from?" Samantha asked, very interested to learn their stories.

  "Harrisburg, a town further down the river," Amanda replied. "It was overrun a few days ago, and we heard about the army being up in Riverside, so we figured we'd try our luck. But they were gone by

  the time we got there."

  "Looks like you're in the same boat as us."

  No one laughed at Markus' lame joke. His voice, however, reminded Samantha of the injuries he had

  sustained back at the lighthouse.

  "Markus took some shrapnel to his arm just before," she said, motioning to him, and then turning

  back to face John. "You wouldn't happen to have any sterilised tweezers, would you?"

  "Sure. We have some gear below deck. Come with me and I'll show you." He looked over at

  Amanda. "Would you take the controls, dear, while I show this lovely young lady where our medical

  supplies are?"

  The older woman's expression flickered to something tight and drawn for a moment, before

  resuming its passive and mild state. "Of course," she replied, turning to take the throttle.

  "Make yourselves comfortable," John said to the others of the group, who were staying in the cabin

  with Amanda. "Fol ow me," he said lightly to Samantha.

  He led her outside, and then down some stairs into the sub-deck hold. It was a dark space with

  sparse light, courtesy of a number of lamps swinging overhead. Miscel aneous supplies could be

  seen shelved al around the room.

  "It's a nice boat you have here," Samantha said conversationally as she gazed around.

  "Why, thank you," John replied pleasantly. He pointed to a box sitting on the floor at the far end of the room. "That's where we keep the medical stuff."

  "Have you run into any other survivors?" Markus asked Amanda as she steered the boat down the

  river.

  "We encountered a small group a while back, but they weren't armed wel enough." She sounded

  sorrowful. "Didn't even have guns. The poor things didn't stand a chance."

  "What happened to them?"

  "They didn't make it."

  An uncomfortable silence fel over the cabin, and Corvo could not help feeling slightly uneasy.

  Amanda glanced at her watch to see that it had been over five minutes since her husband had taken

  the young woman downstairs. Final y, she let out a nervous chuckle. "I don't know what's taking

  them so long. John wouldn't be able to find his own head if it wasn't screwed on."

  Markus shot her a smile, and Corvo nodded.

  "I'l go downstairs and help them find those tweezers," she continued, turning to face him. "Do you mind taking the controls for a minute?"

  He hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. "Sure."

  After rummaging through the box, Samantha final y procured out a pair of medical tweezers.

  "Thanks," she said, straightening up and putting the tweezers in the pocket of her jeans. "These are exactly what I need."

  "No problem," John replied, standing aside and gesturing toward the exit from the hold. "Shall we?"

  She made her way past him and toward the stairs. However, just as she was about to reach them,

  she felt the man wrap his arm around her waist and violently pull her upward.

  "Hey, stop! What are you doing?" she exclaimed in shock.

  She received no response from him, aside from the tightening of his grip.

  "Let me go!" Samantha cried out.

  She struggled and yel ed, but her attacker clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling her cries. Her

  panic became extreme when she realised that her guns, along with her backpack, had al been left

  topside in the front cabin of the boat. John roughly pul ed her over to the edge of the room and

  placed a hand behind her head.

  "Please... don't..." she pleaded.

  But the man was past the point of reasoning. He pul ed her head back and then slammed her

  forehead into the wal , knocking her out. As her limp figure crumpled to the floor, he heard footsteps

  on the stairs behind him. He looked over to see Amanda entering the room, holding a pistol.

  "Did you hear anything up top?" he checked.

  "No," she replied, shaking her head and handing him a cable-tie.

  John nodded and rol ed Samantha over onto her stomach, pulling her hands behind her back.

  Moments later, her wrists were crossed and tightly bound together, restraining her hands behind her.

  "Wake her up," Amanda said, casting a wary eye to the stairs. "Let's get this done, before her friends catch onto what's happening. Now that we have a hostage, I'm sure they'll cooperate."

  Her husband sat Samantha up, propping her back up against the wall. Her head slumped forward,

  but he held her up with one hand, and slapped her across the face several times with the other.

  "Wake up
, sweetheart. It's show-time."

  Chapter 38

  "They sure are taking a while to find a pair of medical tweezers," Markus chuckled absently. "I feel bad for giving them so much trouble."

  Corvo, on the other hand, was frowning deeply. It had been ten minutes. Something was wrong. He

  could feel it. "Take the controls," he said to Markus, going over to the back wal of the cabin and picking up his pistol. "I'm going to find what is going on – "

  At that moment, a hoarse shout from outside on the deck caught everyone's attention. "We have

  your friend! Come out with your hands up!"

  "Aw, balls, " Jacob muttered, looking behind them. "I knew there was something about those two I didn't like."

  Markus immediately eased off the throttle, bringing the fishing vessel to a drifting stop in the middle

  of the river. The three of them grabbed their weapons and rushed out to the deck to find Samantha

  and their 'rescuers' standing near the edge of the boat.

  Samantha's hands were tied behind her back, and John was roughly pushing her along the deck. As

  soon as he saw the others emerge from the superstructure, he pul ed her back and pressed a pistol

  to her temple. Her eyes widened with fear. Amanda aimed her pistol at Corvo, while he, Markus and

  Jacob pointed their guns at the couple.

  "Don't move!" John yel ed at them. "Drop your weapons! Now!"

  They froze where they stood. After everything they had been through, they now had to deal with

  this?

  Corvo narrowed his eyes at the sight of Samantha being held hostage. "Let her go."

  John bit his lip nervously. "I don't want to do this. No one has to get hurt. Just lower your guns, and

  put them down on the deck."

  Jacob sneered at him. "That's what this is al about, huh? You're in desperate need of weapons, so

  you crafted this little hustle? Get us on board, wait until one of us is alone, and then take them

  hostage?"

  "Just do as he says," Amanda replied evenly.

  "I don't think so. We have the superior firepower here. And you're outnumbered. You two don't stand a chance."

  "That's true," John replied, pressing the muzzle of his pistol harder against Samantha's head. "But if you try anything, I will kil her."

  The tense standoff continued for a few more moments, with people on both sides exchanging

  nervous glances with each other more than once. Fingers were tensed on triggers.

  Samantha's ragged breath hitched in her throat. She could not believe they had trusted these people.

  Finally, Corvo scowled and threw his guns and knife to the deck at John, Amanda and Samantha's

  feet.

  John motioned with a wave of his gun. "The rest of you. Al of your weapons. All of them!"

  Jacob gripped his shotgun tighter, but Corvo shot him a stern look.

  "Do as he says."

  The stocky biker blanched. "But – "

  "Do as he says!"

  He and Markus slowly and reluctantly took out their various firearms and knives and placed them on

  the deck. John roughly pul ed Samantha toward the edge of the boat by the crook of her arm, while

  Amanda kept her pistol trained on Corvo.

  The war veteran never took his eyes off John. "A word of advice for you two. Never stop running."

  "Oh, I'm scared," he sneered. "It's the end of the world, mate. We've got enough problems. Just who the hel are you meant to be to stack up to that?"

  "I'l tel you who I am," the old man said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm the guy you never want to run into again. Because the next time you see me, I'll be there to kil you."

  A brief hint of fear flickered across John's face. Suddenly, Jacob used the momentary distraction and

  leapt into action, drawing a pistol he had managed to keep hidden. He pointed it at John –

  BANG!

  The biker cried out and recoiled as a bul et from Amanda's pistol slammed into him. The force from

  the impact sent him toppling over the railing of the boat and into the water.

  "Jacob!" Markus yel ed. He looked back to see Amanda realigning her aim at him. "Oh, shit..."

  He ran for his life to the edge of the boat and dove overboard as Amanda began firing at him. John

  looked back to see that Corvo had taken advantage of the commotion and was running straight at

  him. He panicked and did the only thing he could think of.

  He threw Samantha overboard. She cried out as she vanished into the dark waves.

  John looked back up, expecting to find Corvo about to unleash a world of hurt upon him. However,

  he was relieved to see that the older man readjusted his course and dove into the water after

  Samantha. With the threat from the other four survivors gone, John surveyed the pile of the guns

  that they had secured, and found himself questioning what they had come to.

  "Go! Go! Go!" Amanda cried, breaking him out of his reverie.

  He ran into the superstructure to the control panel and pushed forward on the throttle. The fishing vessel motored off and disappeared into the night.

  Samantha thrashed about in the dark, icy water, terrified out of her mind. She struggled to stay

  afloat, but with her hands tied behind her back, all she could do was kick with her legs.

  "Someone, help! I can't paddle – " Her panicked cries for help were cut off as she inadvertently

  swal owed a mouthful of water. She resurfaced, coughing and spluttering.

  Samantha had heard that drowning was one of the most horrific deaths imaginable. With the

  outbreak of the Green Flu, she had expected to meet her end by various terrible means. Drowning

  had never occurred to her.

  Her strength soon gave out, and she sank below the surface toward the blackness.

  The young woman realised that she could see light filtering through the surface of the water above

  her as dawn approached. The rays scattered and broke through the water in a dispersion of different

  colours. She was thankful to at least have the privilege of witnessing such a beautiful sight as her

  last view. Others were not so lucky.

  Spots were beginning to appear in her vision from lack of oxygen, and her world darkened as she

  began to lose consciousness.

  I'm coming home, Mum...

  In the back of her mind, Samantha thought that she could feel hands grabbing her and pulling her

  upward. Perhaps it was an angel...?

  Corvo grasped Samantha with all his strength and swam upward. He broke the surface with a loud,

  agonized scream.

  "I've got you, Samantha, I've got you," he babbled, shivering with the cold.

  He held onto her, bobbing about in the water for several moments. When she did not respond, he

  feared the worst. He looked around desperately and saw that he was floating near the west bank of

  the river.

  At least those bastards had the common courtesy to kick us out and leave us to die near the shore.

  Several minutes later, Corvo emerged from the water, carrying Samantha in his arms. He laid her

  down on the gravelly sand and examined her face in the scarce light as the sun approached on the

  horizon. Her eyes were closed, and her lips looked slightly blue. Hypothermia and water in her lungs.

  Great, just great.

  "D-D-Don't you give up on me now..." he whispered desperately, his teeth chattering from the cold.

  He placed his hands on Samantha's chest and pumped. The desperate CPR session on the dark

  beach would have looked pitiful to anyone passing by. A ful minute passed, but Samantha did not

  stir.

  "Damn it, Samantha!" Corvo shouted, tears in his eyes. "Don't you dare die on me!"


  Two minutes passed, but she still did not stir.

  "I promised myself that I w-w-wouldn't let anything happen to you!" the normally hardened man heaved, as he continued to pump her chest. "You have to survive, Samantha! Remember the p-promise that you made back in M-Jameson Hospital, to Joe and Roger, and Trev and Andy!"

  He pressed on with the CPR, stopping to pound Samantha's chest occasionally. He did not care

  about the fact that he was bitterly cold and wet; that Jacob and Markus were both missing; that they

  were all stranded in the cold, dark dawn in the middle of nowhere, with no supplies and no weapons.

  The Infected could al go straight to hel . Corvo would have continued to administer CPR to

  Samantha all night if he had to.

  Suddenly, her green eyes shot open as she coughed up water. She struggled to sit up, coughing and

  spluttering. Corvo sighed with relief and helped her to sit up.

  Samantha gasped for a few moments as she regained her breath, and then she looked at him

  grateful y. "Th-Th-Thank you..."

  "Don't mention it, k-kid," he said, his face crinkling slightly as he smiled.

  He pulled Samantha to her feet and embraced her in a crushing hug. She closed her eyes and

  rested her chin on the old man's shoulder, shivering. She was bitterly cold, wet and dripping.

  But wow, she was alive!

  The two of them stood like this for a while, listening to the soft crash of the river waves on the beach.

  Presently, Corvo let go of her and then bent over, seemingly searching for something in the sand.

  "Let's see if we can do something about that cable-tie..."

  Samantha shivered as she looked around, surveying the beach. "Where are L-Markus and Jacob?"

  "I don't know," Corvo sighed. He stood up a moment later holding a jagged-looking rock. "Turn

  around," he ordered.

  Samantha turned her back toward him and he started scraping the edges of the rock against the

  cable-tie binding her wrists. After a while, she felt the tough plastic bond break.

  "Ahhh, thanks," she sighed, bringing her hands back in front of her and rubbing her wrists. She

  looked around some more, wrapping her arms around herself as she shivered. "Where are we ? "

  "I don't know," Corvo said. He looked at her solemnly. "Kid, we've been left for dead."