A second was all she could manage. A second of incredible mind-blowing pain the likes of which she’d never experienced before. It was a second that lasted an eternity until she flung the poker to the ground with a final muffled groan that shuddered through her ribs.
Nadia pulled the cloth from her mouth, saliva drooling from her lips as she gulped in a lungful of air. Tears streaked down her cheeks and dripped from her chin. Her vision darkened, and for several seconds, she could do nothing more than shudder in time to the throbbing heat that had taken up residence in her midriff.
“Sh…sh…shit, that hurt,” she moaned when she could speak at last, a string of expletives that would’ve made a sailor blush following the feeble words.
When she was done cursing the world, Nadia dared a look at her wound, grimacing at the ugly sight of the cauterized flesh. At least, it had stopped bleeding, and the heat should have killed any budding bacteria in the cut. “Let’s hope it’s enough.”
With the last of her waning strength, she slathered on antiseptic cream and slapped gauze and plasters over it. Pulling her shirt back down, she swallowed a couple of paracetamols with the glass of water before toppling over.
With her body curled into a protective ball, Nadia allowed her consciousness to fade into darkness. The last thing she thought of before fading away was Jay’s last words before he flung her into the river, the memory seared into her brain.
She’d whimpered, “Please.”
“Save it for the zombie that finds you as you bleed out slowly, little rabbit,” he’d said, his face and tone as cold as ice.
I can’t let him win. I can’t let him destroy Cat and Lisa as he surely will. I won’t. She gritted her teeth and sent him a silent thought. Enjoy your victory, for now, Beast, because it won’t last. We’ll see who’s the little rabbit in the end.
Chapter 5 - Lisa
After Trevor averted disaster at breakfast, Lisa’s day quickly took a turn for the better. They spent the larger part of the morning delivering breakfast to the children in the kid’s ward and helping out the overworked nurses, a job she much enjoyed. Not only did she get the opportunity to nab a few treats; the kids got better food than the adults did, but she could spend all day making them smile and count it time well spent.
She loved children, always had, and the one thing she regretted most was her inability to have any of her own. Sadly, her womb was too damaged to support the development of a fetus. It was a fact that never ceased to sadden her, but looking at those happy little faces was enough for the time being.
After lunch, they went to the lounge where Neil waited, his arm in a sling. The night Jay’s men took over he refused to give up and tried to fight. This earned him a bullet through the shoulder and confinement to the infirmary. Like her and Cat’s mom, he was a hostage, kept prisoner to ensure the good behavior of others.
“Lisa, I’m so glad you made it,” Neil said the moment he spotted her, hurrying over. His smile was warm, and as ever, it awoke a tingling feeling in the pit of Lisa’s stomach she found hard to ignore.
“Of course, Neil. I’m happy to help,” she replied, her cheeks reddening beneath his gaze.
He gripped her fingers. “I know you’re very busy helping the others confined here, unlike me who does nothing but lounge around and eat his head off.”
“Nonsense. Here you are, doing something nice to cheer people up,” she said, aware of the fact that he still had hold of her hand.
“That’s not nearly as much as you do. Don’t think your efforts go unnoticed. I’ve seen how hard you work, and I’m convinced you’ve got a halo hidden beneath your hair,” Neil said, edging closer.
“H…hardly,” Lisa said, choking the words out as goosebumps covered her skin at his nearness. His smile deepened, drawing her in, and Lisa swore she was going to drown in those blue depths.
Trevor cleared his throat right next to her, and asked, “So what do you need our help with, Neil?”
Lisa blinked, the spell broken, and gently withdrew her hand from Neil’s. “Yes, what can we do for you?”
A look of disappointment flashed across Neil’s face, but it was quickly hidden beneath a smooth exterior. “I was thinking of having a little party for the grown-ups, especially our seniors. I’ve managed to scrounge up a few bottles of wine and beer from the storage rooms, though Dr, Heinz was loath to give it up.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dr. Heinz. Isn’t he a pleasure?”
Neil chuckled. “Indeed. Anyway, I need help setting up a music system. I’m no good with electronics, and I’ve no idea what music to play. All I know is there’s a whole stack of Cd’s over there.”
“Okay. I’m sure Trevor can sort out the music while I work through the Cd’s. How does that sound?” Lisa asked.
“Perfect. Meanwhile, I’ll spread the word and arrange for more chairs. Do you think Cook would consent to make some snacks for us?”
Lisa snorted. “Maybe. If we offered to help, she might.”
“I suppose we could all pitch in. I mean, how hard could it be?” Neil said.
“Have you ever set foot inside a kitchen before?” Lisa asked. “No offense, but you’ve been living inside a mansion with a cook and a housekeeper.”
“No offense taken. I’ve had it good as the leader of Queenstown, I’ll be the first to admit. But those days are over, and now we have to look out for others,” Neil said. “I never wanted all the trappings that people assumed I should have as the leader. Living all alone in that huge house…let’s just say that I’d rather be here. With you.”
Lisa blushed and turned away to hide the evidence, reaching for a stack of Cd’s. “Well, we’d better get started.”
“Yes, of course,” Neil said, hurrying away.
As she settled down to sort out the music, she became aware of Trevor’s gaze resting on her face, his dark eyes unfathomable. At first, she felt uncomfortable, but the moment passed, and she became engrossed in her task. The highlight of her day arrived soon after in the form of a mewling Cecelia and Tamara who walked past with a trolley full of overflowing bedpans.
The stench was awful, as were the nasty looks they threw at her as they passed by, and she grinned despite herself. “Now, that’s a sweet moment right there.”
“Indeed. You got your revenge, it seems,” Trevor laughed.
She grinned up at him from her spot on the carpet. “And it tastes like honey.”
Trevor finished setting up the music console not long after and wandered over. “How’s our resident DJ doing?”
“All right, I guess. There’s not much here, to be honest. I mean…Abba? Come on.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Trevor exclaimed. “Abba is a classic. That has to go on the pile.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Ugh.”
In this fashion, the afternoon passed merrily enough, and they soon found themselves in the kitchen ready to make snacks for the party. Neil joined them, determined to prove he could produce something edible, and the three presented themselves to the mistress of the house, Cook.
Cook’s real name was Paula, but nobody dared to call her that and it was rumored even the zombies were afraid of her. She was loud and large, her girth covered by a massive white apron, and her voice was akin to the horn on a ship. She was free with her insults, and her slaps, but underneath it all, she was a kind woman, and Lisa didn’t mind working under her. It beat bedpan duties, for sure.
“Chop, chop! Those potatoes won’t peel themselves,” Cook said, clapping Neil on his wounded shoulder. He hissed but didn’t say a word, speeding up his efforts. Trevor sliced up the potatoes while Lisa fried them into crisps.
A tray of finger sandwiches stood waiting already, courtesy of Cook, and several pitchers of lemonade and homemade ginger beer were ready to serve. Along with the crisps and sandwiches, there was also a tray of chocolate chip cookies, and Lisa was sure the food would be a hit. Nobody was overly fussy anymore. You were just grateful that you had food to eat at
all.
Once they were finished in the kitchen, Neil set off to make the final arrangements and make sure the seniors could attend. Trevor paused in the corridor and shot Lisa a questioning look. “So what now?”
“I’m going to grab a quick shower and put on something other than hospital scrubs. You?” she asked.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll meet you at your room in say…twenty minutes?” Trevor replied.
“Perfect. See you then.” Lisa rushed off, glad that for once the showers were empty. They didn’t have hot water, of course, but that was okay. Just washing off the sweat of the day was enough for her.
Afterward, she let her hair hang loose, pulled on a pair of skinny jeans, pumps, and a strappy top in red silk, also courtesy of Cat’s mom, then she was ready. A knock on the door announced Trevor, and she greeted him with a broad smile. “Ready to party?”
He looked her up and down, his eyes wide, and whistled. “My God, but you look gorgeous.”
Lisa was tempted to laugh off his compliment, but something warned her he was serious, and she nodded instead. “Why, thank you, Trevor.”
He stuck out his arm. “Shall we?”
Lisa lifted her head a notch and placed her hand on his sleeve. “Let’s go.”
As they left the room, Trevor leaned down to whisper. “You really do look lovely, Lisa. Happy birthday.”
Chapter 6 - Cat
Cat followed the guard on wobbly knees, nerves causing butterflies to dance in her stomach until she wanted to hurl. She was not looking forward to the night but knew she had no choice. Nor could she continue to bewail her situation and cry about things. It was over, it was done. Now, she had to look to the future.
As she walked down the long corridor, Cat got glimpses of the rooms that ran off it, bedrooms much like her own. Each appeared to have an en-suite bathroom, and none were occupied. She counted six including her own before they reached the stairs.
She committed the layout to memory, sure she might need it in the near future. The night she’d arrived had been so traumatizing, she could remember very little of the big mansion that used to serve as Neil’s seat of power. She wondered in passing why he’d stayed in such an opulent setting so far above the rest of the community and assumed it had to do with appearances. Maybe it reassured the citizens to know that they had a proper leader in charge, one who was willing to assume the mantle of power along with its trappings.
The stairs were one of a set of two, the other set curving away from her in the opposite direction, and she guessed it led to another wing. At the bottom was an open foyer, and from there, the guard led her past two spacious lounge areas into a dining room fit for a king.
A table long enough to seat twelve people gleamed with silver cutlery and sparkling glassware. From a discreet entrance came the aroma of food, and she guessed it led to the kitchen.
Jay was there already, seated at the head of the table. He rose to his feet when she entered and walked over with swift strides, dismissing the guard along the way. He gripped her hand and raised it to his mouth in the guise of a true gentleman, his eyes never leaving her face for a second.
Cat squirmed inside when he pressed his lips to her hand, but her expression was one of mild surprise. It appeared to do the job, for he smiled when he straightened up, a flash of real warmth and ivory teeth. “Good evening, Catherine.”
She nodded and managed a strained, “Hello, Jay.”
“You weren’t expecting this, were you?” he asked, gesturing all around him. “I bet you didn’t think a Ravager was capable of being civilized.”
She looked at the table with its rich settings and shook her head. “No, I didn’t, to be honest.”
“Honesty. That’s good. I want us to be straight with each other for tonight,” he said, squeezing her fingers just a little too hard. “No secrets, Cat.”
She stared at him for a second, aware of the underlying warning implicit in his gesture. “All right. I promise to be true this evening if you will do me the courtesy of acting the same way. No lies.”
He laughed. “Clever as always. Agreed, my adorable little kitty cat. Now come. Sit. And may I say you look truly ravishing tonight.”
She allowed her gaze to roam over the form-fitting evening suit he wore and said, “Thank you, and you’re looking rather dashing yourself.”
He beamed as he led her to her seat, the one to the right of his, and even pulled the chair out for her. She was grateful that her act of mild confusion mixed with pleasant surprise appeared to fool him, for it was the exact opposite of how she really felt. Seething, bitter anger and hatred. When she looked at his hands, she imagined them covered in Nadia’s blood, and bile pushed up her throat at the thought. Joan’s words came back to her then, her plea for Cat to help them and her advice to focus on his good points.
Cat sucked in a deep breath and pushed aside all thoughts of murder. Instead, she looked up as he took his seat and asked, “What is the occasion for this marvelous dinner?”
He shrugged. “No occasion. I just wanted to show you what life at my side could be like. Living here in this beautiful house…it could be your home if you wanted it to be. A sanctuary from all the ugliness outside. Imagine being my partner, picture leading this community of people into a future of greatness. One where the zombies are no longer a threat, simply a nuisance.”
“A nuisance, huh? That would be nice,” Cat admitted, fiddling with her napkin. “I don’t see how it’s possible though. There are millions of them.”
“That’s true, but they’re slow and stupid. With enough determined hands, we could retake this country, bit by bit. They wouldn’t stand a chance.”
A woman wearing a full-length dress and an apron entered bearing a silver tray with a bottle of wine in an ice bucket. She placed it on the table next to Jay. “Thank you, Mary.”
Cat stared at him. Mary? He bothered to learn her name? Isn’t she just a slave to him?
“My pleasure, Sir.”
“You can bring the first course in ten minutes time,” he ordered.
“Yes, Sir.” The woman dipped her head and walked away with the tray while Jay took the opportunity to pour each of them a glass of wine.
“I hope you drink wine. It’s a dry red from the early eighties. A good year, if I remember correctly,” he said, breathing it in before taking a small sip which he swished around in his mouth like a true connoisseur.
She followed his lead and tipped her glass to her lips, allowing the dark red to wash over her tongue in an explosion of earthy notes. It was strong and too dry for her taste. “Since we agreed on honesty, I’ll confess. I’ve never been much of a wine drinker, and my wine usually comes out of a box. The cheaper, the better.”
Jay burst out laughing. “To be honest, I’m not an expert either. That was more my brother’s style. I was just trying to impress you. I even had Mary pick out the bottle.”
“Impress me?” Cat frowned at Jay, surprised at his candor.
“Yes, you look like the kind of girl who appreciates the finer things in life. Good food, good wine, good style…manners, and education.” He shrugged. “I guess I wanted to show you I was more than just a brute and a Ravager.”
Cat sighed. “Look Jay. I think you’ve got me all wrong. I’m not some snobbish chick with hoity-toity airs who likes to wear fancy clothes and dance at balls.”
“No,” he asked, eyebrows raised. “Then who are you? Tell me.”
“You really want to know?” she said.
“Of course. That’s what this dinner is all about. The chance to get to know one another without outside interference.”
“All right. Be prepared to be underwhelmed,” she said with a small laugh.
He smirked. “Well, at least you’ve got a sense of humor. How bad can the rest be?”
“You’d be surprised.” Her mouth quirked in an involuntary smile. “I had a very normal upbringing. My dad abandoned us when I was young, and I haven’t seen or heard from him since.�
�
Jay frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It doesn’t bother me anymore. My mother more than made up for his absence by loving me more than life itself. We were a team. Me and her against the world.” Cat twirled the butter knife between her fingers, a sad smile hovering on her lips. “We never had much, and sometimes my mom struggled to put food on the table, but it didn’t matter because we had each other. That’s why I had to find her again, no matter what.”
“I see. You have a strong bond,” Jay said.
“Yes, we do,” Cat replied. “She taught me everything I know. Love, honesty, and family. It was important to her that I had good schooling and a proper upbringing. She’d ground me if I were disrespectful to my elders.”
“See? What did I tell you? Manners and education. I got that part right, at least,” Jay said.
“Yes, but when it comes to fancy clothes and wine, I’m more of a yoga pants and beer kind of girl. Don’t get me wrong, I can enjoy the occasional dress-up party. Wearing a pretty dress such as this feels nice. I’m a girl after all, but it doesn’t feel quite real, you know?”
“I get it. Paul and I came from a broken home. My dad was a deadbeat and an alcoholic. My mom was too scared to defy him. He’d beat her to a pulp over a cold plate of food. He’d beat us too if we showed weakness. We had to be tough all the time,” Jay said, swallowing the rest of his wine in one gulp before refilling his glass.
Cat dropped her gaze. She didn’t want to get to know him. She didn’t want to feel even a shred of sympathy or pity for him, but Joan’s advice still rang in her head. It reminded her of her mission. Soften the Beast and bring out his humanity.
“I’m sorry. That must’ve been hard for you,” Cat said.
“Maybe, but it prepared us for the apocalypse. When the zombies rose, we were ready unlike so many others who’d had it easy,” Jay replied. “You know what I mean. The soft ones died first.”
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