Behind each of them was an alley to provide a quick escape should they need it, and two blocks further down, they’d prepped a small shop to serve as a safe house. With nervous tension coiled in her gut, Nadia ran over the plan in her head again, hoping they hadn’t forgotten something crucial. They planned these encounters with as much care as possible, but she knew from experience how quickly things could go wrong.
Low voices reached her ears at that moment, and she looked to the left, noting the usual patrol of three people walking their way. It was a trend she’d quickly discerned among the survivors. Each morning, they walked this route looking for wandering undead, and each night they repeated the pattern in the opposite direction.
Today, the trio consisted of two women and a man, a good sign. Women were easier to talk to and negotiate with than men. In general, that was. There were exceptions to every rule.
Like me, she thought with a sardonic smile. Between the three of them, Cat and Lisa were by far the more reasonable, which was why she was never chosen to talk at the first encounter. It was always one of the other two. Not that it bothered her. In fact, it suited her suspicious nature.
As the trio of strangers drew neared, Lisa stepped out into the open with her hands empty and raised to shoulder height. “Hello, there.”
It was a gutsy move, and a risky one, but also the most likely to succeed. The group of survivors froze, the barrels of their guns raising automatically. Nadia swallowed, hoping that none of them were dumb enough to pull the trigger.
“I don’t mean any harm,” Lisa said, not moving a muscle. This seemed to reassure them, and they relaxed a bit, though their guns stayed up.
“Who are you?” one of the women asked, stepping forward.
“My name is Lisa, and I’m here to talk to you. Only talk, I promise.”
“Talk about what?” The woman’s tone was wary, though Nadia thought she had an open and honest face.
“You look like nice people, and my group is looking for that.”
“Your group?”
“Yes. We’re searching for others like us. Decent people who don’t murder and steal. You don’t look like that kind. At least, I hope so,” Lisa replied.
The woman studied her thoughtfully. “We’re not. Now, tell me. How many of you are there?”
“Only a few,” Lisa said. “If you’re willing, we’d like to go back with you, maybe spend the night and talk.”
“They’re here?” The woman’s head swiveled, looking around her. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a sudden step back. “This had better not be a trap.”
Lisa shook her head. “It’s not, I promise.”
“Then tell them to show themselves.”
Lisa hesitated, but they’d known it would come to this. It always did. “Come on out, guys.”
Cat and Nadia left their perches and moved out into the open, holding their guns across their bodies but not lowering them. “Here we are.”
“Is that all of you?” the woman asked.
“Yes,” Lisa said. “This is it, I promise.”
“And you only want to talk?”
“Nothing more,” Lisa assured her.
The woman nodded. “All right. Follow us.”
As they walked, the woman introduced herself as Tess. “This is Mel,” she said, pointing to the other woman, “and this is Dan. Say hello.”
Lisa returned the favor by introducing each of them as well. Nadia nodded at everyone but hung at the back of the group, not trusting anybody yet. She studied the three strangers along the road, storing away their details for later. Tess was older, maybe mid-forties with strong features enhanced by her coffee colored skin. Mel looked like a younger version of Tess. Sisters, maybe? Dan was the youngest of the lot. Tall and skinny, he had a way of ducking his head that made him look shy.
They reached the strangers camp which was already familiar to Nadia in most ways. Tess introduced them to the rest of the group, but it was mostly a blur of names and faces, quickly forgotten. She wasn’t planning on making friends anyway.
The survivors were quite excited at the thought of visitors, and an impromptu party was arranged for the night. Lisa and Cat joined in the preparations with gusto while Nadia skulked in the corners, watching from a distance.
That evening, after the final patrol came in, the mall was locked up, two guards put on watch and the rest convened in the camping section of a large shop. An area had been cleared and a fire built inside a metal drum on a rubber mat.
Danny had taken it upon himself to provide fresh meat and was now barbecuing the tiny carcasses of plucked and cleaned pigeons shot with a pellet gun. Though she’d never eaten pigeon, Nadia was looking forward to it. Anything to get fresh meat for a change.
Tessa had concocted a three bean salad, while Mel made flatbreads on a griddle to be served with canned tomato and onion mix. Bottled beetroot rounded out the selection, and Nadia was pleasantly surprised to find that she quite enjoyed the meal and even went back for seconds.
Afterward, Nadia found herself sitting on a bench between Cat and another guy called Stan, sipping warm beer from a can. Quiet conversation flowed around the flames as everyone waited for Tess to open the formal discussions.
At last, Tess rose to her feet and cleared her throat. “As you all know, we have visitors among us tonight, and they have something to say. “Lisa? Why don’t you go ahead?”
Lisa smiled at the group before starting. “It’s quite simple really. We three travel around looking for survivors. When we find them, we wait until we’re sure they are good people before we tell them about St. Francis.”
“St. Francis?” Tess asked.
“Yes, the town called St. Francis Bay has been taken over by a former military man called Martin and turned into a refuge for all survivors. It’s big, it’s safe, and it’s well-supplied. A place you can raise your children. If you want, we can tell you how to get there.”
An excited buzz rose around the fire, and numerous questions were fired at Lisa who answered with quiet conviction. Nadia didn’t even bother to listen, grabbing another beer, instead. Each time they found people, it was the same. They asked the same questions, tossed around the same inane objections, and argued about the same shitty stuff, before giving in and agreeing to go.
Two hours later, it happened just as she’d thought it would with Tess convincing the rest to take up the offer and leave the mall. What she didn’t expect was the warning given to them seconds later.
“Thank you for giving us a shot at a real life again, Lisa, Nadia, and Cat. One where our children can grow up and have a future,” Tess said. “Now I’d like to return the favor by passing on this warning.”
Lisa frowned. “Warning?”
“Yes, and trust me when I say, this is no joke, but deadly serious,” Tess continued. “To the North, there’s a band of people who call themselves the Ravagers.”
“Ravagers?” Nadia mumbled, blinking rapidly to clear the beer-induced fog from her mind.
“They occupy a cluster of towns to the North of us, and they are the worst of the worst. Down to a man, they are depraved, violent, and cannibalistic.”
“What?” Lisa cried. “They eat people?”
“They do,” Tess replied. “You’d be well-advised to avoid them at all costs.”
“Can you show me where they are on a map, please? It’d be easier that way,” Lisa asked.
“Of course,” Tess agreed.
“How many of them are there?”
“More than we can fight. At the last count, there were about fifty of the monsters, but it’s hard to say. They add to their numbers every time they overrun survivors.”
Nadia, Lisa, and Cat exchanged serious looks.
“We’ll have to do our best to avoid these Ravagers then,” Lisa said.
“You’ll recognize them by the red bandannas they all wear,” Tessa said. “So, if you see something like that, run.”
“Thanks for the warning, Tess. We appreciat
e it.”
“It’s only the right thing to do. We survivors have to look out for each other,” Tess said before raising her glass. “But let’s not allow this to spoil our evening. Cheers to all of us!”
Everyone echoed her with smiles and laughter. “Cheers!”
Nadia shifted in her seat. “What next? Cannibals?”
“Can you believe that?’ Cat asked. “Who’d do something like that?
“Nobody I want to meet,” Nadia said with a shudder.
Next to her, Stan said, “Yeah, it’s crazy, isn’t it? And it’s true. I’ve seen what they do. The aftermath. It’s not pretty. You girls better stay far away from those people.”
Nadia nodded. “Noted.”
Her mind drifted off while Stan and Cat spoke further about the Ravagers, and she wondered what it took to turn like that. They’re worse than the zombies. The undead don’t know what they’re doing, at least.
Chapter 12 - Lisa
The next day, Lisa watched with a sense of satisfaction as Tess, and her group packed up their stuff in a flurry of activity. This was now the third group they’d saved, and once more, she wished them a safe trip.
Tess walked over at the end and shook her hand in the chilly pre-dawn air. “Thanks for everything, Lisa, and God be with you and yours.”
“Same here, Tess. Have a safe trip.” Lisa handed over the letter she’d written. “When you get there, ask for Martin, and give him this.”
“Thanks.”
Tess left her then, and not long after, Cat and Nadia joined her. Together, they watched as the convoy pulled out. In the distance, the shambling figures of zombies appeared, drawn by the activity and noise.
Lisa turned toward their own vehicle, already packed with supplies and sporting a full tank. “Ready to go, girls?”
“Yup,” Nadia said, jumping into the back while Cat grabbed the shotgun position. She’d long since surrendered the reins to Lisa and now let them choose where they were going, spending most of her time staring out of the window.
Lisa pulled away from the mall as the first of the undead reached the lot and left them behind with a sigh relief. Not today.
“Where to now?” Cat asked, unfolding their worn map.
“Anywhere that isn’t close to those Ravagers Tess spoke of,” Lisa said, pointing to the three red circles in the North that screamed danger at them.
Cat perused the map. “How about here? This little town is to the South-East, plus it looks small and cozy.”
“Sounds good to me. Nadia?”
Nadia grunted something before pulling her hoodie over her face and sinking deeper into her seat.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Lisa directed their truck onto the correct highway, and they soon settled into the rhythm of traveling.
The place they were heading to wasn’t far, and they only stopped once at a small gas station to top up their tank and empty their bladders. The little shop was empty, the racks full of dust.
“Looks like the owner packed up and left,” Lisa remarked, bending down to pick up a lone forgotten packet of chewing gum.
Cat nodded, but her gaze was distant. “Seems like it.”
“Is something wrong?” Lisa asked.
“I…it’s Nadia. She’s drinking tranquilizers.”
“What?”
“I spoke to her about it, and she said she needs them for the nightmares and also to manage her anger.” Cat hesitated. “Do you think she’s right? Should I just let her be?”
Lisa shook her head. “No. Not with her family history. She’ll get hooked on the stuff, and then what?”
“So, what do we do? Nothing I say seems to help.” Cat turned a despairing face toward Lisa. “She’s my friend, but I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Lisa sighed. “I’ll talk to her tonight. See if I can’t get through to her.”
“All right. Thanks.”
Once they were back on the road, Lisa mulled it over in her mind. If she was honest, she too was at a loss. She understood Nadia’s pain. They’d all lost loved ones in the past. The fact that Nadia had lost both the most important people to her at once, made it worse, but she should be moving through the pain by now. Instead, it looked like she was stuck in the anger phase, and her natural inclinations toward addiction and self-destructive behavior were making it worse. I’m not sure anyone can help her at this point, but I’ve got to try.
They reached their destination not long after, and out of habit, Lisa looked for an old abandoned building on the edge of town. These places were ordinarily clean of both the undead and the living, so proved to be good places to hole up in. She found a place in an old double story butcher shop, and after checking the place was clear, they camped out on the second floor. A removable barricade blocked the stairs, and a rope ladder provided the second exit.
After a quick meal, Cat volunteered to do a patrol of the area. “I’ll be quick, I just want to have a quick look around.”
“Are you sure you should go alone?” Lisa asked.
“It’s still light out, and I won’t go far.” She flashed a meaningful look at Nadia who was brooding by one of the broken windows, and Lisa caught on.
“Be careful, and don’t take too long,” Lisa said.
“Will do.”
Lisa saw Cat off. Turning, she walked over and leaned against the sill opposite Nadia, rubbing her arms to ward off the cool breeze that swirled through the barren room. Outside, it looked like a rubbish dump. Probably had been long before the apocalypse, but it afforded a certain kind of security all its own. Nobody would expect survivors in such a place.
A block over, the town really began. The buildings were neater, the roads better, and no graffiti or rubbish littered the street. There was only the natural deterioration associated with an apocalypse to take note of.
“Nadia, I wanted to talk to you when I got the chance, and now that we’re alone…” Lisa said, uncertain how to proceed.
Nadia shot her a look. “Let me guess. Cat told you about the pills.”
“She did, and―”
“And now you thought it was a good idea to lecture me on the do’s and don’ts of getting over my issues, and drinking tranquilizers is a don’t.”
Lisa’s sucked in a breath, taken aback by the raw hostility in Nadia’s voice. It bordered on hatred, and for the first time, Lisa wondered if Nadia might not be too far gone for help. “I don’t want to lecture you, Nadia.”
“Then mind your own damn business.”
“Nadia, please. I’m only trying to help.” Lisa reached out a pleading hand which Nadia slapped away. “So is Cat.”
“That’s just it. You can’t help me. Neither of you can. I’m a lost cause, Lisa.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Nadia whirled toward her, cheeks stained with the fresh blood that flushed her skin. “Do you think that because you got over your shit, it’s that easy for me?”
Lisa reeled backward. “You think it was easy? Getting over being raped and tortured for days on end? Easy?”
Nadia stared at her, mouth working, but no sound came out.
“Let me tell you something, little girl. There was nothing easy about it, but I chose to get over it. I chose not to be a victim anymore, and you can too. Just get over yourself, already!”
“I can’t. I can’t forget them, I…it’s my fault, I…” Tears leaked from Nadia’s eyes, running down her cheeks to drip down her chin.
“What’s your fault? Neither of them died because of you,” Lisa said.
“Yes, they did. Anybody who gets close to me dies. My brother Bobby, Brandon, Logan, and Caleb. I’m the problem, Lisa. Don’t you see? I’m poison. Hell, even my blood and saliva is a death sentence to anyone who gets near it.”
“That’s not true. You can’t think like that,” Lisa said, aghast at the sheer volume of agony radiating from the girl in front of her.
“Can’t I? Even Manny died because of me. Because I egged them on to play with
zombies and get our revenge.”
“What?” Lisa said. “Is that true?”
“Of course, it’s true. We lied, Steward and I. We lied to protect our own asses.” Nadia threw her hands in the air. “There. I said it. I admitted it. I killed Manny. He died because of me.”
Lisa stared at Nadia, shocked to silence. Never in a million years had she expected that. Good God, no wonder she’s such a wreck.
“Now you can hate me. Now you and Cat can see me for what I really am. A murderer,” Nadia said, her shoulders drooping as she turned away. “I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to get rid of me.”
Lisa stared at Nadia’s back as she took a tentative step closer, wondering how to approach her without further alienating the girl. “Nadia, I would nev―”
She paused as a distant roar rose in the distance, a rumbling that sounded akin to thunder, yet wasn’t. Vibrations rose from the earth, traveling through the concrete building and into her soles.
Nadia straightened up, her tears forgotten, and leaned forward. “What the hell is that?”
Lisa joined her at the window, craning her neck. The sound was growing by the second, rolling through the air until she realized what it was. “Motorcycles.”
Nadia looked at her. “What?”
In the next moment, Lisa spotted the first bike rolling down the street, followed by another and another. Their route would take them right past the old butcher shop, and Lisa grabbed Nadia’s arms, yanking her to the floor. “Get down.”
“Who are they?” Nadia asked.
“I don’t know, but…” Nadia’s terrified blue eyes met hers as Lisa hissed the one sentence that filled them both with horror. “They’re wearing red bandannas.”
Nadia gasped. “What about Cat? She’s still out there.”
“Hopefully, she has the common sense to hide. We can’t help her now,” Lisa said, praying with all her might that Cat was safely tucked away somewhere the Ravagers would never think to look. Be safe, my friend. Be safe.
Chapter 13 - Cat
Cat heard the approaching motorcycles and paused, confused as to the exact source of the puzzling noise. When she spotted the first bike in the distance, all glossy black paint and silver chrome, she gasped and dropped to the earth like a stone.
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