by RR Haywood
All the infection knows is what happens when it sends the hosts against them. The hosts feel fear. No matter what chemicals are pumped through the host systems. Regardless of how violent or deranged it makes those hosts they still have fear.
Why?
What does Howie and his kind have that makes the hosts react like this? Where does that power come from?
It isn’t something born from gender or race. The infection knows that those few are men and women of all races.
Without being inside them, without examining the cell structure, the DNA, the gene pool, without surging through the brain it cannot comprehend why they are different.
Force failed, but now there is another way and one of those special few is about to be taken. No violence will be used. No damage will be inflicted on the body or brain, because it will be done willingly.
The infection grew in cunning and stealth, allowing Marcy to act as she wished with barely a hint of control. The infection had learnt what chemicals to pump into the host body to drive it faster and heighten their levels of aggression and violence. But there are other chemicals. Chemicals that work just as strong but in different ways.
Pheromones. The scent secreted by the body so subtly they are not noticed but the effect can be far stronger than anything else. The infection knows organisms such as Ants use trails of pheromones to communicate. Female animals produce scent when in season which drives the male animal crazy with lust.
Ultimately the human is just another animal, a far more complex being but still an animal. And the male of the species will react the same as the rest.
Howie and his group will be taken. Without injury. Without pain. They will be taken and examined.
Tonight.
One
Day Thirteen
Wednesday
My head spins with a dull ache that pounds through my skull. I can’t think straight. Words become meaningless. Lust so powerful I want to tear her clothes off right now.
My thumb in the corner of her mouth slides in. She licks the end, flicking her hot wet tongue over the end of my digit. Low groans escape from my throat as I start to swell. Her hand grips my thigh, kneading and rubbing, slowly getting higher.
So beautiful, so perfectly beautiful. She is the one for me. Above all else she is the one I have to be with. I’m drawn to her stronger than anything else in my entire life. Nothing in my head apart from right now and feeling her so close.
Our cheeks rub, gently she nuzzles and nips my ear lobe, sending electric currents rippling down my spine.
Never in my life have I felt so turned on. The charged hot air, the sultry night, waves gently lapping at the shore, moonlight framing her perfect face. Lips so full and ready to be kissed. The sweep of her neck, long and elegant. The shape of her slender shoulders. My hands move down her face, feeling the majesty of her body. Down her arms I brush my fingertips lightly. She shivers with pleasure, a low quavering sound that excites me.
My breathing increases, heart hammering in my chest. Mouth dry with desire. I push into her, a rough movement that takes her from the sitting to lying position. On top of her I let my hands run all over her body. Moaning she starts to writhe, wrapping her arms round my back to pull me in closer. Face to face and staring down, her legs open and I move into position. Still fully clothed but the pain of denial just increases the tension.
Grinding against each other, groins connected. If we were naked I would be inside her right now and I know that will happen. I want that to happen more than anything. To take her would be certain death but I don’t care. It doesn't matter. We’ll be together and that’s all that counts.
She grabs one of my hands and forces it to her breasts, pushing my grip so I knead and rub the soft mound. I start to lift her top, sliding my hand under the thin material of her t-shirt and pushing it up over her tanned stomach.
Arching her back she moans again as my hands touch her naked skin. She lifts slightly and helps me pull the top off. I drop down, our lips so close. We writhe and grind. Passion building with every passing second. We roll across the narrow beach, limbs entwining, hands grasping and holding each other. Her mouth finds my neck and starts kissing, licking and gently nipping. I am helpless. Unable to stop. The force of my lust is so incredible. I would kill to be with her. I would kill anything to be able to keep going.
April watches Cookey through half closed eyes. The heavy hoods hanging low as she watches the young man take a swig from his bottle of beer. Slowly she crosses the ground towards him, swaying her hips suggestively. He watches her closely, half drunk and full of lust. He takes in her form, watching the coy smile spread across her face. Never has he seen such a beautiful woman. Never before has someone so perfect shown an interest in him.
A dull ache pounds through his head, heart rate increasing. Flushing from intention he waits for her to get to him and wraps an arm round her waist, marvelling at her slender body and feeling the push of her breasts against his chest. She sways to the side, a slow dance starts. Legs become close, hips swing slowly. Groins pushing against each other. Everything else ceases to exist. Something about her is driving him wild with passion. His normally jovial face becomes serious, his cheeks flush, eyes narrowed and pupils dilated. She runs a hand up his arm, feeling the tight muscles across his shoulders. Gently raking her fingernails across the skin. He shivers with excitement, feeling himself grow. April feels it too and pushes harder against him.
Blowers and Nick watch the girls moving towards them. The most beautiful, devastatingly attractive women they have ever seen. The joking banter has ended. The atmosphere becomes charged with eroticism. The girls move slowly, swinging their hips, lips parting gently to lick at their full lips.
Both of them become flushed in the face. Not noticing as their breathing becomes faster. Eyes fixed on the women. Overwhelming lust building in both of them. The girls move slowly round the lads, draping hands across the defined chests of the young men. Fingers brush against buttocks. Nick and Blowers stand stock still. Letting themselves be touched by many hands.
Slender and voluptuous bodies move in close. Nick widens his stance, feeling the dull ache in his head as soft lips find his neck and start kissing gently. Another hand moves to his groin, rubbing as he grows.
Panting from the build-up of tension, Blowers feels the hands move across his wide shoulders and down to his narrow waist. Fingers running up the muscles of his stomach. The girls guide him away, gently drawing him from Nick. They coax and tease, touch and squeeze. He shakes his head at the fog descending. Something in him telling him this isn’t right. This shouldn’t be happening but powerless to stop it. They are so beautiful and so perfect. They want him. They all want him. Nothing can stop this happening.
Clarence sits with his back slumped against the wall, his long legs stretched out in front of him. Reggie was here a minute ago. Where did he go?
‘Reggie?’ Clarence bawls. He must have gone to get more booze. Yeah, that was it. But this bottle is still full. Clarence holds the bottle up to the soft flickering lights and looks at the level of liquid inside. Soon be gone so yeah, we need more booze.
That Reggie is a great bloke and funny. Clarence smiles broadly as he thinks fondly of his new friend.
‘Took your time,’ Clarence feels the body drop down next to him, turning to chastise Reggie for taking so long.
‘Oh…sorry…’ Clarence blanches at the beautiful young woman sitting next to him. He can’t help but look down at the cleavage presented on display. Grimacing from the ache starting in the back of his skull he widens his eyes and tries to focus. She smiles at him, perfectly even white teeth and she looks gentle and loving too. She tilts her head to one side with a sad look. That look says it all. She knows. She is a woman and she knows the pain in his heart from losing Chris. She can understand the way only a woman can. Sarah too. Howie’s sister so lovely and…
A thick tear rolls down his cheek. She reaches out and touches his shoulder. A caring gestur
e that he understands. She can give comfort where no other can. The huge warrior feels broken inside and at times like this it’s only that soft womanly, maternal love that can heal.
She shuffles in closer, moving her hand up to stroke his bald head. Another tear falls as he wraps a muscled arm round her waist drawing her closer. She comes willingly, letting him rest his big head on her chest as he cries. But being so close to her invokes a different response within him.
He senses his passion growing. Drunk and full of pain he looks up at the girl who moves to straddle his lap. She smiles softly. He blinks hard, feeling the fug coming over him. Lust builds. His hands move to her thighs, she rises gently from the touch, giving a low moan and letting him know the pleasure she feels.
Gently she shifts her weight on him, giving him space to grow. She feels the pressure beneath her and starts to move back and forth. Tiny movements that make him close his eyes. His cheeks become flushed, his breathing harder. Her hands reach up to feel his thick neck, rubbing her thumbs across his ears.
‘Good girl,’ Dave fills the bowl with water and steps back, watching as Meredith starts lapping at the cool liquid. He watches the dog drinking. Taking satisfaction from the simplicity of her; eat, drink and protect the pack. That’s it. No confusion. No strange ways that he cannot understand. Riddled comments that confuse him, things said or not said, hidden meanings that make him feel stupid and dumb.
Using his torch he inspects the wounds on her flanks, nodding at the clean cuts. Healing quickly but then dogs always do. They have to heal quickly or they would die in the wild. He knows she has a natural antiseptic in her saliva that will keep the wounds clear. With good food and clean water she’ll be back to normal in no time.
Both of them tense at the movement behind. The dog turning round to stare into the shadows. Dave watches with a deadpan expression as a female undead walks towards him. She is very pretty with long hair but she is walking weirdly, moving her hips more than she needs to. Her top is pulled down too, showing the tops of her breasts off.
She keeps coming, her eyes fixed on Dave. He doesn't speak, he has nothing to say. Meredith watches her with interest, her head cocked to one side as though confused at something.
Dave watches the woman. She smiles at him, a big broad grin. Dave tries smiling back but it doesn't work and he stops doing it, reverting to his usual expressionless face instead.
The woman slows as she gets close, moving gracefully over the last few feet. Dave detects no threat so stands his ground, content to see what she wants. She keeps smiling which is weird as Dave hasn’t done anything to make her smile. She stops within arms-reach and stands there, staring deep into his eyes.
Dave stares back. Wondering what it is she wants. He doesn't blink or move. She sighs deeply and stretches her neck up, showing how slender it is as she pushes her chest out. Dave looks down at the dog and shrugs. The dog keeps her head cocked and sniffs the air in front of the woman. A scent. A distinct scent coming from her.
Meredith takes a step forward, sniffing harder. That scent is like the one she has when blood comes from her. The scent used to attract the males. This woman wants to mate with the man. The scent becomes stronger but the man doesn't react. He just stares at the woman.
The dog watches as the woman moves her hands over the front of her, the outer layer she wears falls away showing her naked body underneath.
Meredith looks up at Dave. Dave looks down at Meredith. The scent becomes stronger. This isn’t right. The scent is wrong. The scent is too much. Meredith understands this without knowing.
Dave stares at the woman, wishing Mr Howie was here to ask this woman to get dressed. The hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Danger close.
Danger close.
Danger close.
Something bad.
One hand already grips the handle of the knife at his back. He stares at the woman. She steps closer and smiles again. Meredith growls and shows teeth. The growl gets louder, fiercer.
Dave gets it. Realisation hits him.
Danger close.
With one step he has passed the woman, letting the blade of his knife whisper across her neck, opening her jugular and hears the slump of her body as he starts running.
A decision must be made. Go for the lads or go for Mr Howie. The lads are closer and there are more of them. But Mr Howie must survive above all else. So it has to be Mr Howie.
A furry black Exocet missile launches past him as Meredith opens her stride, galloping flat out towards the rear of the fort.
Trusting his instinct, Dave veers off, heading towards the lads. Meredith will get to Mr Howie faster than he can.
As he runs he pulls both knives and holds them flat against his forearms, he takes a deep breath, deeper than normal and roars his loudest yet, ‘TO ARMS…AMBUSH….STAND TO…’
Dave bellowing from somewhere in the fort. I hear the words but I don’t care about anything other than Marcy being on top of me, straddling my lap. Sitting up she pulls her t-shirt off and unclasps her bra. I groan audibly at the sight of her breasts. My greedy hands already kneading and squeezing. She grinds into me, moaning and rubbing. Gripping the bottom of my top she starts tugging it free. I try to help and lift my upper body free of the ground. The top becomes free and is cast aside. Soft hands rub and feel across my chest and stomach.
Marcy stands and fumbles with frantic movements to undo her belt and button of her jeans. Pulling them down she yanks one leg free and lowers herself back down. The jeans still attached to her leg.
Lowering herself down her hands start working on my belt and trousers. I try to help but we get in each-others way. She growls at me, animalistic and guttural, telling me to let her do it. Her face is inches from mine. I lay back and watch as she sinks closer and closer, lifting her naked arse up to start tugging my trousers down.
Still we haven’t kissed. But we will. We will kiss as I enter her. That almighty pleasure will be doubled by the sense of both intimate acts happening at once.
Her hand grips my erection as she starts lowering herself down. Her mouth coming closer and closer, inch by inch. Lips parting, tongue flicking out. The tension is so powerful. A dull roar behind my ears. I feel aggressive and angry. I want her now. No more fucking about and teasing.
‘Do it,’ I growl at her. She grips harder, squeezing me as she guides my member. Must be close now, so close. Her lips are right by mine. This is it. I want this woman more than anything.
Closing my eyes I feel an explosive shock as we are both ripped clean from the ground and tumbled over the edge into the water. The cold shocking my system, making me gasp and thrash about.
Water sucked into my lungs. Panic sets in as I start to try and retch the salty liquid out. Kicking out I break the surface. Hampered by my trousers round my ankles. Pumping my arms as instinct takes over. A stubborn refusal to die. Breaking the surface I try to take air in, and feel the water surging up from my stomach
My vision is blurred, hearing gone as I retch and lash out. Sinking back under I kick again and break the surface. Stretching out, I feel the bank and start trying to grip it. Sliding off but I kick and get closer, using both hands to grip and start levering myself up. Puking sea water as I clumsily get my upper body out and start rolling across the bank, retching over and again. Eyes burning as the water ejects from my stomach and lungs. Coughing, gasping for breath. Something hot touches my face, lashing out I feel the wet fur of Meredith as she licks at my cheeks and eyes. I try to push her away but she gets her head under mine and pushes up.
‘What?’ I gasp, my throat burns from acid. My head pounding with pain. She barks at me, a high pitched yelp that keeps coming.
Staggering to my feet I get to the edge and look out. The water is still again now, barely a ripple on the surface.
What happened? The lust has gone. Instantly gone. What the fuck was I doing? I was about the have sex with her. Did I enter her? I shake my head trying to remember. A thick cloudy fog in my head
. The whole thing like a dream. Did I kiss her? No, no I didn’t. I was about to though. I was about to penetrate and kiss her.
The dog. Looking down she spins round barking at me, running back and forth to the gate. Where’s Marcy? We both went into the water…
‘STAND TO…AMBUSH…’ Dave’s voice roars across the night air snapping my senses back.
‘Shit,’ I try to move across the beach to reach my assault rifle and trip from my trousers still wrapped round my ankles. Cursing foully I pull them up, no time for boots or a top. Assault rifle in hand I make towards the gate. Meredith gives one last bark and shoots off, bounding through and into the fort.
Is Marcy dead? Did Meredith kill her? Maybe she drowned. Either way with her gone the hold she had over the others will be finished.
A thousand undead rising up and the lads are drunk.
Not good.
Two
She stands at the end of the street waiting for night to fall. Ahead of her is the long wide road stretching off into the distance. High walls on both sides. Behind her is another high solid wall with a single door wedged open.
She sips from a bottle of water, forcing herself to keep drinking. The heat is intense. It would be energy sapping but she hasn’t allowed that to happen. She’s worked all day getting this ready and defied the heat, refusing to succumb to the humidity. Drinking sugary drinks, taking water on and eating whenever she could.
And now it’s ready. They’ll come for her soon. The same as the last few nights. They’ll gather whatever numbers they have left and come for her. They’ll see her stood at the end of the road and think they’ve got her trapped. A single gate leading into the building behind her. No other way out.