Devoured World: Volume One
Page 27
“How long until we’re overrun?”
“At current estimates, around four weeks. If they’ve truly evolved to the point where they can hit us at our weakest points, half that. They’ll pick us apart, piece by piece.”
“How did it come to this? How did I miss it?”
“You can’t blame yourself, Empress. You gave us a shot when all was already lost.”
“It still didn’t help, though.”
“Look at it this way; the aliens are going to be so pissed when they arrive. We’ve managed to teach the rotten bastards to think, to plot. It might prove to be a fight they can’t win.”
“That’s a comforting thought, if only a wild fantasy. Would you care for a drink?”
“One final toast with an old friend. I’d be honoured.”
As the empress poured brandy from a crystal decanter retrieved from the White House, she broached the most difficult subject of her life. “Shall we ask the Initiative to distribute the pills?”
Ashdown stared out of the window, hand squeezing the glass until her knuckles whitened. “I’ll never take one.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to. I know you’ll go down fighting. I was thinking for the civilians, and especially the children. I don’t want them to suffer.”
The pill in question had been designed as a painless form of euthanasia. It took five minutes for the person to fall into a euphoric sleep, with dreams of purest joy. The heart slowed soon after, then stopped beating completely. Death followed swiftly.
“I’ll give the order.”
“Thank you.”
Nothing was left to be said. Lost in their own thoughts, they sipped at the Cognac and started to plan their swansong.
The intercom chirped to life, startling them. “Empress Verena, I know you didn’t want to be disturbed, but I have a lady that insists on seeing you.”
“Now’s not a good time.”
“I understand, Empress. She says she won’t take no for an answer.”
“Has she been through security?” demanded Ashdown, thinking the worst.
“She’s been fully cleared. She’s unarmed except for a computer chip.”
“Send her in.”
The doors opened, and Tamsin stumbled over the threshold into the room. A bemused look passed between the two leaders at her bizarre demeanour. She stared at them, started to talk, then fell silent, wondering how to proceed. The bags under her eyes had their own bags. She looked exhausted.
“Hello, Tamsin. What can we do for you on this most unfortunate day?”
“You… you remember my name,” she whispered, a perplexed look passing over her face.
“Of course, I remember everyone. Especially the most valuable people in our struggle. How can I help you?”
“It’s not how you can help me, but how I can help you. Maybe. Possibly. Please don’t banish or execute me for treason,” she rambled.
“Don’t be silly, child. Please, go ahead.”
Moving over to the bank of computers, she traced the cables until she found the network link. Turning to Verena, she asked, “May I?”
“Be my guest.”
Pulling it from the socket, she stood up and plugged in the chip. Fingers pummelled the keys mercilessly like a rattle of hail on glass. In her state of nervous breathlessness, she looked manic, frightful. Finishing her task, she pressed enter and turned to them.
“I know you forbade me to do this, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m sorry, Empress.”
“What on earth are you…” Verena begun, mind returning to the conversation all those years ago. “You haven’t.”
“I have. Say hello,” Tamsin said meekly to the computer.
From the intercom came another voice. A strong, male voice. General Ashdown found it frustratingly familiar.
“Hello, Empress Verena. It’s an honour to meet you.”
Hesitating, she looked at Tamsin who nodded and smiled. “The honour is mine. To whom am I speaking?”
“My name’s G, Tamsin created me and I’m here to help. We’ve got a lot of things to discuss and not much time. Shall I begin?”
The End
AUTHOR BIO
Ricky Fleet has been a lifelong horror fan. One dark night, many years ago, he ‘borrowed’ a copy of Salem’s Lot from his mum’s bedside table. Sneaking it into his room, the terrifying visage of Barlow gazed out from the cover. Doomed townsfolk stretched into the distance, and in bold, silver font was a name - Stephen King. The story contained within those pages spawned an appetite for horror that has yet to be sated. Masterton, Lumley, Koontz, Laws, Herbert, Hutson, Laymon, Barker, and many more have influenced both his life and his writing.
His career took him into the plumbing and heating sector, keeping Britain’s homes warm and watered.
Born and raised in the UK, cups of tea are a non-negotiable staple of the English life and serve as brain fuel for his first love - writing.
With the Hellspawn series being enjoyed across the world, the growing saga has a dark edge that begins to explore the true horror of a world without rules. A nod to the master, George A. Romero. The only thing running on his zombies are the fluids of decay. What they lack in velocity, they more than make up for with utter remorselessness and insatiable hunger.
Infernal – Emergence is the first in his new demon series. A tale of conspiracy, untapped powers and the vast armies of Hell who yearn to tear our world apart. Only one man stands in their way; he just doesn’t know it yet.
His latest release – Devoured World – takes a new and terrifying look at the question ‘Are we alone in the universe.’ It appeared to be a gift; it was, in fact, a terrible curse. Nuclear Armageddon. A dead world. Billions of mutants roaming the darkened wasteland. These are the least of the survivor’s problems. The aliens are coming, and then the true war will begin.
You can find Ricky at the following places:
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ricky-Fleet/e/B072C2GX6X
Author page
https://www.facebook.com/Author-Ricky-Fleet-751475768315453/
Hellspawn fan group page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/175304226349208/
And at my publisher: http://optimusmaximuspublishing.com
Hellspawn
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellspawn-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B01A2LLELA/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Hellspawn-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B01A2LLELA/
Hellspawn Odyssey
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellspawn-Odyssey-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B01EJ0OQ5G/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Hellspawn-Odyssey-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B01EJ0OQ5G/
Hellspawn Sentinel
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellspawn-Sentinel-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B01LYST98B/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Hellspawn-Sentinel-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B01LYST98B/
Hellspawn Requiem
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellspawn-Requiem-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B071YB2MLS/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Hellspawn-Requiem-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B071YB2MLS/
Hellspawn Dominion
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellspawn-Dominion-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B076CS8Y75/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Hellspawn-Dominion-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B076CS8Y75/
Infernal Emergence
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Infernal-Emergence-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B01N78QYE0/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Infernal-Emergence-Ricky-Fleet-ebook/dp/B01N78QYE0/
Maximus Shock
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maximus-Shock-Collected-Madness-Terror-ebook/dp/B01N9W6Q6J/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Maximus-Shock-Collected-Madness-Terror-ebook/dp/B01N9W6Q6J/
Tales from the Zombie Road – The Long Haul Anthology
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Zombie-Road-Long-Anthology-ebook/dp/B077CD7VBJ/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Zombie-Road-Long-Anthology-ebook/dp/B077CD7VBJ/
Treasured Chests �
� Breast Cancer Charity Anthology
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Treasured-Chests-Anthology-registered-Charity-ebook/dp/B075DGW3PZ/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Treasured-Chests-Anthology-registered-Charity-ebook/dp/B075DGW3PZ/