We hear the Devils leader talking to some of the others “I hope those maggots found my little surprise in the office, Hahahaha get a move get inside that church”. Holden walks against a glass picture filled with water and it tips over and breaks, one of the Devils says, “Hey who’s there?” The other one replies, “It’s probably just the wind, best stay where our Lordship told us to stand and watch”. I replied, “Hey, Holden are you trying to get us caught, look where you going”. We went through the hole in the fence into a field, more Devils are standing, Holden says, “Quickly guys, I see a house up there” we ran towards the house. Jenny says, “It feels if someone is following us”. We open the door and went in just to take a few moments to rest, I said, “Guys, we can't stay here for long once they notice we are gone this is most probably the first place they will come look”. Kai replies, “Yes, we should be moving on there is an old abandoned building a mile from here, we should go there and rest until the morning when then we can see where we going”. I replied, “We should did you hear what he said about a little surprise in the office”. Kai says, “He was talking about the priest”. Holden asks, “What kind of man would do a thing like that to servants of God?” Kai replies, “A mad man, can you guys believe he was once a priest at the same church”. Jenny asks, “Really”. Holden replies, “We have to go someone is coming I see a light approaching”. Kai says, “Let’s run, I will tell you about the Devil leader story once we are further away from them”. We grab our bags and run through the tall part of the grass so that we can't be seen by the devils and disappear into the bushes.
13 day six: surviving three predators
We walking on a path in the forest across from the field and behind the church but we moving further away, we want to put as much distance between ourselves and the Devils. Holden says, “Jenny, it's true what you said earlier it feels like someone or something is following us”. Jenny asks, “Why do you say that, Holden”. He replies, “Because I saw some bushes moving earlier and I just saw it again”. Kai says, “That's odd I just felt a raindrop but it's in the middle of summer, at least we a half a mile away from where we going”. Eric says, “Kai, you told us you going to tell us the story of the Devil leader”. I replied, “Not now, Eric”. Kai says, “It’s okay, let me tell him the story”.
Kai begins to tell the story of the Devil leader, that some of the Reapers were members of the same church and he once was a priest at the very church we were hiding in, he was a well-respected priest in their parish. He fell in love with one of the members and he wanted to marry her and give up his priesthood, then one day he got the news that she was in love with someone else and begin to snap, he began to stalk her and threaten her, then he found out that it was one of the other priests she was in love with and he felt that they betrayed his trust to go behind his back and do what they did, he wanted to kill them. He lost his license to practice his faith and it all when downhill from there and he began to hear voices instructing him to do certain things, he got locked away in a mental facility and he began to get worse and worse. He was in the mental facility for almost ten years I guess when the outbreak happened he escaped and brought with him his faithful followers, it was only a rumor that he killed the priests that were at the church after that people begin to call him the devil.
Holden said, “Kai, why did you never tell me that story”. He replied, “Because there never was a need to and I never thought that we would cross paths with him,”. Eric says, “So he got mad because of love”. Kai laughed and says, “Yes you can say that”. We hear a sound something is running towards us in the bushes and then a growl of a dog everyone is running to climb a tree or to hide behind one, we run and Eric turns around and shouts with you and excitement saying, “Thor”. I run to Eric and say, “Wait, he looks a bit sick, I can see it's him but he looks different”. I walk to Thor to check him out, Kai says, “He must have bitten some of the dead that's why he looks sick”. Thor walks to Eric licks his hand and Eric says, “Where have you been, boy how did you manage to get the rope off that Pete tied to keep you quiet”. Raindrops begin to fall and we starting to get soaked by the strong wind pushing the rain harder on to us, Kai says, “We almost there let’s run it's not far now”. We run to the abandoned building and we saw some Reapers lurking about, the cover of night and hard rain cloaks us from the Reapers as we enter the building and Kai says, “Don’t worry they will never find us here because they don’t know that we could be hiding here”. Kai took us to a warm place in the building away from the windows and doors to keep dry. Eric says, “Come on boy drink some water”. Thor drinks the water but I can see he has been bitten because there is black kind of blood oozing and dripping from the side of his head, “But why did not turn” I ask myself, maybe dogs don’t turn like us or maybe they stay loyal even after they have turned because I can see Thor's eyes looks different it is red filled with blood.
I ask, Kai to try to pet Thor on the head because I know usually he is a very friendly dog and loves to meet new people. Kai reaches to pet Thor but he starts to growls at Kai’s hand, he wants to bite, Kai and almost grabbed his hand but I said, “No! boy” and he stopped but he does not tuck his tail between his legs like he normally does. We hear noises and I went to go take a look I see some of the Reapers laughing and standing around a fire at the entrance of the building, Jenny comes up behind and looks down at the fire and says, “What I would not give to feel the warmth of that fire”. I replied, “Yes, me too”, she looks around and asks, “Where did Thor go”. I replied, “I don’t know”. I went to Eric and ask where Thor went he replies, “I don’t know, Pete, he was just here and walked out”.
We went to go look over an opening in the wall where we stood before and watch the Reapers around the fire, two of them is laying on the floor ripped apart one is missing an arm and the other one a leg, one tries to crawl to the exit but Thor jumps on to him and breaks his neck from the back and pulls him back in near the fire in the middle of the floor we hear another Reaper approaching the entrance, he sees Thor and says, “Perro del Infierno”. He takes out a machete and swings it at Thor he misses and hits the metal drum and it tips over straight to Thor the blazing coals his him, Thor jumps towards him and runs out the exit of the building.
Some of the hot blazing coals that lay next to the dead bodies of the Reapers causes it to light up and burn, We hear cars approaching the headlights flashes into the broken windows and reflect on the walls inside the building we almost get seen. The Reaper walks out a voice says, “Where are the men that were keeping a lookout here and why is it burning inside the building”. The Reaper replies, “That stupid dog that caused us problems near the fire department killed them”. Kai walks to us and says, “That's the Mistress we have to go now”. I ask, “Kai, that Reaper called Thor a Perro del Infierno, what does it mean?” Kai replies, “It’s some kind of demon dog or hellhound, but guys we need to go now they could come in and search the whole building”. We slip out the way we came in by a window on the side of the building and we hide behind some bushes and watching the Reapers and more cars are approaching the building.
Holden says, “Guys look it’s the cannibal leader are they having some kind of meeting here”. Kai says, “The Mistress must be desperate to call a meeting with them the Devils must be giving them problems”. Holden says, “We should go take a closer look and listen in on what they talking about, information is the power we could use it against them”. I replied, “How do you mean we use it against them and tell who”. Kai replies, “Peter, think about it if we could find out why they meeting we can use the Devils to kill them because the Mistress is not going to give up on hunting us”. Jenny says, “We cant talk to them did you see how crazy the Devil leader is he will let us be killed on sight”. “Then we don’t go talk to him we try to get one of his right-hand man to deliver the message” Kai replies. Jenny says, “And how are we going to do that”. I replied, “They do have a point, Kai you and I will go and find out what they talk
ing about”. We sneak up to the building to take a closer look some of the cannibal and reapers are patrolling around the building, we sneak in the building through the open window we hear talking and stand behind a wall near to where the meeting is held, a few rats are running past our feet and over some bags laying on the ground. Someone says, “Who is there? Come out now!” a Guard approaches, looks around, and says, “It’s only rats Mistress”. The Mistress asks, “Are you sure it’s just rats?” The guard looks again and replies, “Yes, Mistress”. Kai opens the bags and says softly, “Look, Peter, it’s guns”, we take out a few handguns and rifles and start to listen to what their plans are.
The Mistress says, “Look, Yarra, I know we don’t see eye to eye but we have to come together and eliminate the Devils once and for all, they are killing off men from bought our groups”. Yarra replies, “And after that is done what keeps you from not stabbing me in the back? as far as I’m concerned the Devils never came into my territory and start any trouble if we going to do this I will need guns”. The Mistress replies, “Of cause, hey you bring those bags of guns in here”. Kai says, “Quick, Peter, we need to get out of here”. We sneak out the building and into the bushes, I ask, “Kai, how did you know the Mistress would panic and make a deal with the cannibals”. He replies, “I did not, but I do know what dirty games she can play”. I replied, “With any luck, they will destroy each other”. Kai says, “That’s the point they can't stand each other”. I replied, “Plus the Devils are nearby looking for us, who are we going to use to make contact with them?” Kai says, “Why don’t you do it, they not looking for you and you are good with words”. I replied, “Let’s talk about it once we all together”.
We walk up to where Eric, Jenny, and Holden are hiding, we hear Holden shouting with a shaking scared voice, “Who is there?” I replied, “It’s only us, Holden”. We see Holden looking ruffed up full of bruises and cuts like he was kicked around and punched. Kai asks, “What happened to you dude?” I ask, “Where are Eric and Jenny?” I can see his scared like he has seen the Devil it’s self, he wants to answer us and starts stuttering and says, “They got taken by the Devils and they said if Kai doesn’t come they will kill Eric and Jenny we have to go get them guys, the bastards even took the last of our food and the weapons bag”. “Where did they take them, Holden,” I ask. He replies, “The Devil leader said by the place we escaped”. Kai says, “They at the church, we should go now I can't let them die for me”. I ask, “Holden, how well can you shoot?” He replies, “I’m not the best but I can hit a target”.
I give a sniper rifle to Holden and say, “You going to be our lookout guy and if you see me bend down to tie my shoe lashes you shoot the Devil leader, but if go over the fields it will mean he believes us and you have to stay behind and get my brother and Jenny out of there”. Kai says, “You can't go in there alone, I must come with and show myself that will give you time to talk to them”. I give Kai a handgun and he asks, “Why are you giving me a handgun and Holden the rifle? I’m a better shot than both of you”. I replied, “Because we going to hand over our guns when we get to the Devil leader to show him that he can trust us, plus we can't give them all our firepower and the handguns is easier to hide”. Kai says, “Oh, well tell me your plans next time, but I must admit it is a good plan”. We buried the rest of the handguns and rifles under a tree and made a mark on the tree to know where to dig and begin to walk past the house in the field by the tall grass with the church insight and some of the Devils is standing and waiting, we duck down in the grass. I said, “Okay, Holden you find a good spot where you can shoot from but try not to hit us, go that way by the side of the church and stay hidden”. Holden crawls off to the side of the church, Kai and I begin to walk to the Devil guards they standing by the hole in the fence one of them shouts, “Your Lordship they are here”. The Devil leader yells, “Don’t harm them, let them come to me”. We walk through the fence with the guards walking behind us and I see Eric and Jenny tied up and sitting by the feet of the Devil leader with his hands on their heads, tears are running down there cheeks but they don’t appear to be hurt.
The Devil leader says, “So you have come to save your brother and Jenny is that correct”. I replied, “Yes, I believe this is the man that you are after as you can see he has come on his own free will”. The Devil leader laughs and says, “None of you are walking out of here alive, you walking out of here dead take these three and kill them leave the Reaper here he is going to tell me everything about the Mistress”. I replied, “Wait! What if we have information that you can use to kill the Mistress and the cannibals did you know they coming here and planning to wipe you out all of you”? He replies, “Take them away, you not going to trick me”. One of the cannibals says, “Your Lordship cant we listen to what he has to say if it is true then it would explain why they dealing with each other and you had a suspicion that they working together this could be our chance to strike back at them”.
I replied, “We even know where they are now they having a meeting right now, if we hurry you can kill bought the Mistress and the cannibal leader Yarra”. He replies in shock, “Yarra! is working with her but we never had a problem with the cannibal group those snakes, speak up and tell me everything”. I replied, “Kai and I overheard Yarra and the Mistress plotting to kill all of you, and they coming here today the Mistress gave them guys and bombs for there help, they in an old abandon building across the field a mile from here”. Kai says, “Did you know that the Mistress gives the cannibal group a fresh supply of bodies every week to keep the peace between them, I did the deliveries myself and I know where the cannibal groups camp is”. The Devil leader says, “Okay, it makes sense men get ready we going after them now”. I replied, “Here is my gun you can use it against them and put a bullet in both of there brains, we have to go through the fields it will be much faster to the old building”. Kai says, “Here is my gun to just to show you what I said in the church is true, I’m no longer a Reaper”. The Devil leader says, “You fools! You did not even search them what if they were sent to kill me, you four idiots stay with the boy and the girl and don’t harm them, men let’s go and finish this”.
All of the devils are shouting yeah and we go through the hole in the fence and walk over the fields into the bushes. We walk up the dirt road near the building we hear four shots being fired the Devil leader asks, “Where is that coming from, is it coming from the church?” One of his men says, “No it is not coming from the church its coming from the direction ahead of us”. Kai looks at me and I know that it was Holden shooting the other Devils at the church, I just hope that Eric and Jenny were out of harm's way when he fired on the Devils. We are behind the building the sun is about to come out all of the cars are still their Reapers and cannibals are patrolling the area. The Devil leader says, “Well done Peter and Kai you have proven to be men of your word but I don’t fully get why you gave me all this information, I know you saving your brother and that girl but I still don’t trust you”. I replied, “You right trust should be earned”. He replies, “Exactly, men tie them up against that tree and check if they have any knives to cut them loose, I don’t want them to escape they still useful”. Kai whispers to me as we get tied up, “Peter what you doing, why are you getting us tied up for?” I replied as the Devils walk away, “We don’t want to be in the firing line when they rush the place, that’s why we tied up and this way we can escape and be long gone”. Kai replies, “Yes, you right Peter”.
We watch as the Devils rush towards the building throwing spears and shooting killing every Reaper and cannibal they see, the Mistress and Yarra come out guns blazing heading to the cars, the giant Reaper appears from behind the building with two AK47’s just chopping through the Devils a door of a truck swings open the Butcher steps out slashing and chopping up Devils left to right, a group of the dead comes around a corner and starts to attack some of the Reapers, Devils, and cannibals. Kai says, “Oh no, let us get out of here before he sees us, both of
them are crazy”. I slide my hands that’s tied to the tree and try to reach my sock where hide my small pocket knife. Kai yells, “Hurry up before he sees us”. I reach the pocket knife and pinch it between my to fingers and slide it out of my sock slowly so that it does not slip out of my hand and fall to the ground, then we will be in trouble. Kai says, “Peter he is looking over here”. I replied, “I’m almost done, Kai”.
I look up and the Butcher is approaching cutting away at the Devils to reach us, three of them try to wrestle him down he goes to his knees and stands back up throwing them against the cars like the rag dolls. I got the pocket knife firmly in my hand and cut away at the rope, he is still coming and I get myself free from the rope and run over to Kai, I’m busy cutting him loose then we heard a voice shouting, “Get that traitor, Kai and kill the other one”. Kai says, “It’s the Mistress! We need to go now”. I get Kai free and we run into the woods towards the marked tree where we buried the rest of the weapons, Kai looks back and says, “They still coming”. We reach the tree and quickly dug up the weapons and we see the giant Reaper and the Butcher still approaching, Kai shoots at the hits the Butcher in his leg the Reaper dives behind some bushes, Kai shouts, “Stay back”. We turn and run into the tall grass and we hear two voices shouting, “Over here” it’s Jenny and Eric standing near the house in the field. I ask “Where is Holden?” I see the sadness in Eric's eyes then Jenny says, “He did not make it, he came to rescue us and shoot the Devils but the last one threw him with a knife straight in his chest we had to run cause the dead was approaching the church”. Kai says, “Guys we better go”.
No Hope (Book 1): Seven Days Alone Page 8