Sonia and Galen disappear from sight as they move around the mess. There were at least six cars and a van involved in this shit show, with a lorry turned on its side not far behind. Fischer stays with us as we melt back into the tree line, just in case we need cover.
After five minutes pass, I start to get antsy. There’s been no noise or signal from Galen, and that’s not like him. I start shifting my weight from one foot to the other, something is wrong.
“Go, I’ll stay here with the baby,” Fischer says with a tight smile. I can tell she’s just as concerned as me, but she’s still got that limp, and I’m faster.
I nod before crouching down so I’m eye level with Luke. “Stay with Fischer. I’m going to look over there.” There’s a glint in his eyes, and something about his expression makes me repeat myself. “Luke, stay here. Do not move from this spot.”
He sighs and leans against the tree with his arms crossed. I didn’t have time for childish pouts, I needed to get across the road and see what had happened to Sonia and Galen. I climb over the barrier and cautiously walk towards the car pileup blocking the road. I slide over the bonnet of the first car, edge my way around the second, and that’s when I hear a gunshot followed by shouts.
“Retreat!” Galen’s voice comes from the woods on the other side of the traffic accident.
I look around quickly and see zombies emerging from the shadows of the trees. A few more shuffles through some deserted vehicles behind me and to my left. Where the hell had they all come from? How did they sneak up on us? If I stayed here, I was going to be surrounded. I jump up onto the hood of a Peugeot and try to weigh up my options. I didn’t want to lead him back to Fischer and Luke, but I also didn’t want to go too far away from them.
As I peer across the road, I can see Fischer saying something and waving her arms, but I can’t see Luke. The look of panic on her face makes my chest constrict. I follow her gaze to my right, where Luke is trapped between two transit vans and a polo. He’s trying to make his way to me, but his view is restricted, so he doesn’t see the two zombies hovering right next to him. Stupid child. Why didn’t he stay put? His eyes lock with mine, and he smiles, as if he’s being brave coming after me instead of just foolish. I hold my hand up and signal for him to stop, which he does, and I can see the confusion followed by fear flooding his eyes as he hears the infected corpses next to him.
Jumping onto the head of a Land Rover, I quickly shove my knife into a zombie that’s gotten a little too close for comfort, and then I climb carefully up onto the vehicle roof. From my position, I can see that Galen and Sonia have got their backs against a lorry and are taking down the zombies that come directly at them. The noise they make with sporadic gunfire and shouts seems to draw some of the shuffling monsters away from me, but not all of them. And not the ones near Luke.
They sniff the air, trying to catch his scent because they know he’s nearby, but they can’t see him. I grab my bow from where I’d strapped it to my bag and line up the shot. I don’t have much time, and the soft moans and groans that are getting louder tell me that I only have minutes until I have to move. The first arrow hits its mark, and the monster drops to the ground. The second one doesn’t, only piercing the creature’s shoulder. Fuck. I can’t stay here. I spot a clear path and quickly dart through the wreckage past the decaying bodies. The zombie has spotted Luke, who has climbed into one of the vans and is trying to put something between him and the mangled mess of human remains. The thing gnashes its teeth at the passenger side window, trying to get to him, and I hope the glass doesn’t give out or anything stupid like that—it would be just my luck. Slinging my bow back over my backpack, I grab my knife and run at the creature.
It’s so focused on Luke it doesn’t even notice me as I sprint up behind, place my arm around its throat, and drag it backwards. Luke uses the opportunity I’ve created to open the door of the van and runs back towards where Fischer is waiting without saying a word to me. He knows I’m pissed at what he’s done. My knife slides into the skull of the zombie with ease, and the stench tells me this one has been rotting for a while.
I take out two more of the undead fuckers before it’s safe enough to pull my bow back out. From my position, I help Sonia and Galen, picking off the flesh bags from behind while they tackle them head on. It feels like forever, but in reality, it’s probably been less that fifteen minutes when we’re finally surrounded by nothing more than remnants of bloodthirsty creatures.
“They just came out of nowhere, we saw them before they noticed us. And we couldn’t shout to you. We didn’t want to draw them to us.” Sonia prattles off between gasping breaths. For a soldier, she was too flighty, too easily spooked.
Galen rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. “But then some dummy decided to shoot. And what happened then? They fucking heard us.”
There’s a tick in his jaw, and I know he hates having her on this mission, she’s inexperienced. The laboratory under the bunker had been her refuge for the last two years, and clearly, she wasn't ready for the new big, bad world we lived in. But she needed to learn fast or die. Those were the only two options.
“I panicked. I’m sorry.”
“You are a trained soldier, Sonia,” he barks. “You do not get to panic. You do as I say, you understand?”
She nods, and Galen’s bollocking reminded me of one I needed to give myself. I turn to Luke and grab him by the scruff of his jumper and drag him away from the others so I can tell him off with some sort of privacy. I didn’t want to humiliate the kid, just knock some sense into him.
“What did I tell you?!” I hiss, barely containing my anger.
“I’m sorry.” He wrings his hands together, looking at his feet.
I clench my teeth together to stop myself from shaking him. “I told you to stay put.”
“I know.” His bottom lip begins to stick out, just a little.
“I told you!” I shout, raking a hand through my hair and looking up to the sky. I needed to count to ten. Calm down. But I was so close to losing another kid.
“Sorry.” This one is whispered.
“Luke, you could have died. Died. Eaten by a fucking corpse with snapping turtle teeth.” All I can think about is that slimy twat, pressed up against the window, jaw going like a bastard wind-up toy.
“Donovan...I really am sorry…” Luke reaches out for the sleeve of my jacket and just holds on.
I sigh, my anger dissipating at the tear that slips down his cheek. “I know, kid. But you have to listen. I want to keep you safe, but if you aren’t going to listen, then I’ll take you back to the army base now and leave you there with the other kids.”
He tugs on my sleeve. “No, please. I want to stay with you.”
I move my arm and bring him into a hug, he’s still just a child. Whispering into his hair, I say, “You can’t pull that shit again. I won’t kill you, too.”
Chapter Fifteen
Anna
Everything hurts. I feel like there are a million pins sliding down my throat as I try to swallow. My eyes don’t want to open, it feels like they’re stuck together, and to be honest, I’m not sure I want to open them either. I don’t know where I am, but it isn’t the hidey hole in the woods I had squeezed myself into. It feels like I’m lying on a bed. An actual bed with a duvet and a sheet, and it doesn’t smell musty or filthy either. Was I a prisoner? Did those fucktards drag me back to their camp? Was I about to be chained to another Leo? Shared with another Sam? I tense. I don’t mean to, my fists clenching. But I know when I open my eyes, that’s it. I’ll have to face whatever is waiting for me, and I’m not ready.
“You’re okay,” a soft feminine voice coos as a hand is placed over mine. “You’re safe here.”
Safe? What does that even mean anymore? Slowly, I flutter my eyes open and sat on the edge of my bed is a young woman with a short blonde pixie cut, round rimmed glasses, and big blue eyes. She looks tired, with an edge of sadness, but she isn’t dirty or underfed. I can’t
spot any bruises or cuts, no branding or body paint. She looks...normal.
“Where am I?” I croak, and the pins have somehow grown into glass, slicing into my skin as each word tumbles from my lips.
She stands, and opens her arms. “Welcome to Redemption.”
I quirk my eyebrow at her, and she gives me a small chuckle. She takes my blood pressure and my temperature as she explains, “Our town is called Redemption, but two years ago, it would have been known as Garth.”
I know this place, it’s not far from the border between England and Wales. It’s a small village in the middle of farmland, if I’m recalling correctly.
“We’re not far from Shropshire,” I say softly. I was getting closer to Luke.
The woman considers it for a moment before saying, “No, but we’re not all that close either.”
“How did I get here? How long have I been here?” Redemption isn’t directly off the motorway. In fact, you couldn’t even see it from the road. I rub my neck, I’m sore all over, but I’m especially tender there—I must have landed awkwardly when I fell.
“Kaleb found you in the woods three days ago. You were passed out.” She looks at me carefully as she helps me sit up. “There was a dead Invictus asshole near you.”
“Invictus?”
“Yeah, Invictus patrol the motorway. They take what they want and shit on everyone else. Kaleb barely keeps them at bay, and it’s only because we trade food for supplies with them.”
Ah, I guess the gang must have headed back when Idiot One shot Idiot Two. They never even noticed me, they were so tied up in their own squabble over power. Pathetic.
“You trade with them?” I narrow my eyes at her.
“Look around you, do you think I could have treated you if we didn’t?”
She’s got a point. I’m in what used to be a small school hall, given the dinner hatch and posters, but there are six beds and various pieces of medical equipment around us. I also notice a tall cupboard filled with various pills, bottles, and needles. They were well equipped for such a small village.
“Do you think you’re safe here?” I ask. I don’t ask to offend her, I just don’t understand how a life that’s a balancing act between zombies and a gang can be safe. How she can just stay here and wait to be killed by one or the other.
She stands and crosses her arms. “It’s safer than a lot of other places. Like I said, Invictus need us...and when they don’t anymore, I’m sure Kaleb will think of something.” She scoffs softly, and I almost miss the disdain in her voice. There’s something off about the way she says his name.
I take her hand in mine and stare into her eyes. “What’s Kaleb like?”
I can see her mouth tighten, and she clearly struggles before she leans in closer. She smells like antibacterial soap and lemons, it reminds me of the cleaning products we used to use in the hotel. “Like a snake charmer,” she whispers. “Be careful...he—”
A booming, cheerful voice interrupts us. “Dr. Douglas, I see our guest has woken up! Why didn’t you come and get me?”
A tall, slim man with dirty dark hair, a sharp nose, and stormy grey eyes stands in the doorway. He looks to be in his mid-forties, but his laughter lines and creases seem to add to the air of authority that surrounds him. His handsome face breaks out into a large smile as he enters the room.
The doctor bows her head. “I’m sorry, Brother Haines.”
Brother Haines? Was he a priest? Some sort of religious figure?
“Avery, come now. I’ve told you, call me Kaleb.” He places his hand on her arm, and this time, it’s her who tenses up. They stare at each other for a moment, and I can’t read what’s going on. Something is off.
“I’ve only just woken, it isn’t her fault.” I try to break the tension, and it works.
He turns and offers me a dazzling smile as he takes a seat on my bed. On the surface, he looks friendly and welcoming, but there’s something I don’t like. He places a hand on my leg as he asks how I’m feeling, and I realise Avery was right—he gives off greasy charmer vibes in waves.
I move my leg away subtly. “I’m better. Thank you for the care you’ve provided, but I’d like to know when I can leave?”
He takes my hand in his and with his thumb rubs circles over my skin. “When your wounds are properly healed, you are free to leave. But I can’t in all good conscience send you back out while you’re still wounded. Those broken ribs and the infected leg need to significantly improve or you’ll die out there.”
I say nothing, but cast a glance at Avery, who refuses to meet my eyes as she looks away and begins to get some fresh bandages from a drawer.
Tilting his head at me, his grey eyes burning into my flesh, he muses, “I just realised, we don’t even know your name?”
“Anna. My name is Anna.”
“Beautiful,” he whispers as his free hand creeps back onto my leg.
“Pardon?”
“Anna, it means beautiful.” He grins at me. “Some here call me Brother Haines, but you must call me Kaleb.”
‘Call me Kaleb’ needed to get his hands off me before I bit him. I count to ten slowly and gently remove my hand from his, and thankfully, he seems to get the hint as he stands once again.
“When you’re ready, I will show you around Redemption. Trust me, you will never want to leave.” He offers me that shit-eating smile again, and my stomach churns. It’s like ants crawling under my skin every time he rakes his eyes over me. I bite the inside of my cheek as I nod. What the fuck have I gotten myself into now?
As soon as he leaves, Avery comes back to my side and re-dresses the wound on my leg. She won’t meet my eyes as she cleans out the cut and recovers.
“Where is Lily?” I ask quietly. Had Kaleb done something to her?
Avery looks up, confusion clear on her pretty face. “Who?”
“Lily?”
“I’m sorry, Anna, we only found you.” The words cut straight through me. Invictus. Invictus had found her. There was no other explanation. I sit back and say nothing, not that Avery wants to talk either. Since Kaleb left, her mouth has been sealed tighter than a long-forgotten jam jar buried in the back of the cupboard. Whatever she wanted to warn me about had disappeared the second she heard his voice.
It takes a day and a half before Avery lets me leave the school-turned-hospital and explore Redemption. It’s an idyllic little town, where the houses have hanging baskets and all free land has been used to grow food or build structures that collect rainwater. There aren’t a lot of people here, but they’re all so smiley and happy that it makes me want to relax. I want to be happy too. I just can’t help this niggling feeling, something doesn’t feel right in this little bubble of perfect harmony. I think it stems from Kaleb. From what I understand, Kaleb used to be the priest in this sleepy little town before the shit hit the fan. Now he’s the mayor, the prophet, the fucking saint who treads the earth to protect the people here. They worship him. And while I’ve never had an issue with organised religion, it doesn’t feel genuine, and I can’t put my finger on why yet.
I help Avery wash the hospital sheets down by the river that runs alongside the town when I notice two pregnant women sat on the embankment, chatting away as they tilt their faces up to the autumn sunshine.
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Sunbathing? I mean, are you worried about UV rays these days?” Avery chuckles.
I give her a small smile. “No, getting pregnant.”
It’s like a bucket of ice is poured over Avery as she clams up. Her fists clench the sheets she’s scrubbing so tightly, I’m surprised she doesn’t claw through the fabric.
“Avery…”
“Everything is risky these days. We can’t stop living, Anna.” Her words sound hollow. Flat. Have I touched a nerve?
I place a hand over hers. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you.”
She pauses and gives me a small smile as she shakes her head, indicating that’s the end of the matter. I don’t
push it any further, and for the rest of the afternoon, we get by on casual conversation.
In the evening, as dusk settles and the air turns cooler, I notice people starting to head back into the village square and in through the doors of the church.
“What’s happening?” I ask as we make our way back to the school building. I watch with open curiosity as everyone follows the soft glow of candles along the pathway and disappears inside the small stone building.
“Evening worship.” Again, there’s something wrong with Avery’s voice. “Are you religious?”
“No,” I reply. If there had been a God, how could he let all this destruction happen? How could he watch as the creatures he’d supposedly created tore each other apart? Any faith I had, had vanished with the outbreak, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand why others cling to their religion like a security blanket. It gives them hope, and who am I to begrudge that in these dark days?
We stand for a moment, watching as two men in black close the doors of the church behind everyone. Even in the shadows, I can see the guns they wear holstered at their hips.
“Who are they?”
Avery places her small hand on the bottom of my back and edges me back inside the school. “They’re Brother Kaleb’s disciples.”
“Since when did religious disciples need guns?” I ask as I put away the sheets. There hasn’t been a single zombie attack in the two days that I’ve been awake, and Avery told me there wasn’t any in the three I was unconscious for either. If there’s no monster threat, then why the guns? This was Britain, we didn’t have guns just laying around, easily accessible, so to see the armed disciples sent so many bells ringing.
Avery says nothing. I like the young doctor, but I also want to shake her. Why can’t she just tell me what’s going on? Why is she wound so tightly? She’s like a jack-in-the-box waiting to pop open, and it’s putting me on edge.
The Survival Games (Book 2): Hide & Seek Page 8