The Infected

by Gemma Ritchie

  “Welcome friends” he grins, arms wide. “Please come in.”

  I share a glance with Sam, hesitating as the gate swings inwards. With my hand wrapped firmly around Kyle’s wrist I follow Sam and Drew inside, Natalie bringing up the rear. The red-haired man grins, taking in each of our faces as we file inside the barricade.

  “My name is Jared Humes and this is Eden.” He swings his arms wide, encompassing the small village, blue eyes sparkling. “Your names are?”

  Drew steps forward. “I’m Andrew and this is Sam, Louisa, Kyle and Natalie.” Dog barks at his feet. “Oh, and this is Dog.”

  Jared bends down to stroke him. Dog snaps at his fingers, growling as he backs up onto Sam’s feet. I frown as Jared straightens, his smile faltering for just a second before its plastered back in place. “What a charming animal.”

  “We think so” Sam smiles though it doesn’t reach his eyes as he bends and scoops Dog up from the floor, cradling him against his chest. “We were hoping to just pass through.”

  “Nonsense” Jared spins away from us, “Mi casa es su casa. You must be exhausted and in desperate need of a hot meal.” He’s very flamboyant, winking over his shoulder as if we’re old friends. My skin crawls and I move closer to Sam, my fingers brushing the back of his hand. He squeezes them briefly, reassuring me of his presence. “I insist that you stay the night and re-energise.”

  “Really, we wouldn’t want to impose.” Jared stops and turns at the sound of my voice, blue eyes piercing right through me until I shudder. Arms held wide he sweeps towards me until my personal space is well and truly invaded.

  “My dear, there is no such thing as imposition in the eyes of the Lord. As a loyal servant of the almighty it is my duty to take care of his flock as best I can.” My goose bumps grow goose bumps the longer he stands in front of me. Sam clears his throat, drawing Jared’s attention away from me and I release the breath I didn’t realise I was holding. “I won’t take no for an answer. Please, follow me.”

  He sweeps away, guards flanking us on either side. I exchange a worried glance with Sam, my fingers still wrapped tight around Kyle’s wrist. He tries to pull free but I throw him a warning look. As we troop further into the village, the population grows. It’s mostly women, the few men that are present watching us with growing distrust. Eyes follow us as we walk and I can’t shake the feeling that we’re walking into the belly of the beast.

  Jared pushes open the door to a large building in the centre of the village that I’m guessing once upon a time was the heart of the community. Inside everything is made from a rich mahogany, surfaces covered with every religious symbol I can think of, from bibles to crucifixes, paintings adorning the walls of Jesus Christ on the cross and the virgin Mary. At the head of the room stands an altar. Jared places himself behind it, smiling down at us with love and affection.

  “You may leave your bags here and I will have to ask you to surrender any weaponry on your person. Don’t worry,” he adds at the alarm in our faces, “it will be given back to you if you leave.” I don’t miss the ‘if’, the hairs on the back of my neck standing to rigid attention. A slight frown mars Drew’s brow and he hesitates before lifting the rifle from his shoulder and handing it over to a guard beside him. Swallowing I unhook the sheath from my belt, handing over my blade.

  Jared maintains his smile though his eyes narrow on Sam when he doesn’t move. “Please. In Eden, we do not allow our citizens to carry weapons. They are a creation of the devil himself sent to tempt us.”

  Sam holds his gaze, throat bobbing and jaw twitching before he finally hands over his rifle, pulling a handgun from his belt. Pleased, Jared sweeps back down from the altar, resting his hand briefly on my shoulder as he passes. Internally I squirm. We turn and follow him back out the door and into the village square. More people have come out of their homes to watch us, curious gazes following our movements as they fiddle with the crucifixes around their necks. Some as young as four or five play on the grass verges, pausing as we pass with wide eyes and open mouths. I get the feeling they don’t get many outsiders here.

  “Now, I’m afraid we do not allow men and women to sleep in the same room.” Now I’m freaking out. “Andrew, if you and your male friends could please follow me, Rebecca here will show the ladies to their room.” He motions towards a timid girl and she steps forwards. She doesn’t look much younger than Kyle, fifteen or sixteen maybe, long golden hair curling to her hips, pale blue eyes wide and downcast. Sam hands me Dog, gaze heavy with meaning as we share one last look with the guys. With Dog wriggling in my arms, Natalie and I follow the shy girl into a small stone house as the guys follow Jared to the adjoining building. The décor inside is plain, the rooms sparse as she leads us up rickety wooden stairs, faded blue dress swinging around her ankles.

  She doesn’t speak as she shows us inside a small bedroom with faded yellow walls, a crumbling dresser and two single beds. Closing the door behind me I set Dog on the floor. He bounds up to the window, leaping onto the sill and pressing his nose to the window, tail wagging as he anxiously searches for the boys.

  “Dinner will be served in half an hour” her voice is so quiet I have to strain to hear her. “If you would like to get cleaned up there is a bathroom across the hall. The water is cold but clean.” Her gaze never lifts from the floor, her shoes shuffling across the bare floorboards as she flees from the room.

  I exchange a look with Natalie, seeing the same concern reflected in her smoky grey eyes. Neither of us speaks for a whole minute as we try to wrap our heads around our current situation. When I finally do speak, my voice is barely above a whisper.

  “This place… something isn’t right.”

  “No fucking kidding” Natalie flops onto the bed. Dog jumps down from the sill and leaps up beside her, licking at her fingers with wide eyes. “Let’s just get tonight out of the way and then tomorrow we can get the hell out of this freak show.”

  If they let us leave. Gulping down my worries I walk to the window. The street below is bustling with people, Jared in the centre, his hands resting on the shoulders of a small child. The girl stares at him with unrestrained admiration, smiling up at him like he’s the saviour. He looks down, strokes her hair affectionately. I shudder, turning from the window.

  “Let’s go get washed up.” Trapping Dog inside the room we head for the bathroom. Inside is spotless, towels folded neatly on the counter. We take turns to bathe, cringing at the frigidity of the water that runs from the faucet. When we return to the room, two Victorian style dresses in pale pink and green are laid out on the beds. Dog jumps down from the bed, tail wagging as he licks at my ankles. “I’m guessing they’re for dinner.”

  Natalie wrinkles her nose, plucking up the green dress as her lip curls in disgust. Regardless of her aversion, I have a feeling the dresses are an order, not a request. Dropping my towel, I pick up the pale pink gown, the material stiff and coarse under my fingers. Between the two of us we manage to get the dresses on, Natalie at my back as she laces up the corset. I return the favour, huffing at the tightness around my waist. Trussed up we survey our reflections in the mirror above the tiny dresser. I feel like a doll. A plaything.

  The notion is unsettling.

  “This dress goes against my whole image” Natalie grimaces, twisting back and forth as the skirts flutter around her legs, tattooed arms protruding from the puffed-up sleeves. “I mean seriously, what is this?” She wafts her arms through the material, the underskirts floating upwards.

  “Did you notice how pretty much everyone here is female?” I ask, pulling my damp hair into a bun at the nape of my neck. “I think I counted five men on the way in. The rest are women.”

  Natalie sighs. “Let just get this over with.”

  We slip out into the hall, locking a barking and whimpering Dog inside. Outside Rebecca stands waiting, lifting her head as we emerge. Tight lipped she studies our appearance, nodding stiffly before leading the way back outside. The guys are nowhere to be se
en as we cross the square and worry gnaws at my inside. Candles illuminate the windows of every house we pass, families kneeling in prayer inside.

  Stopping in front of a large house she knocks on the red door, hands clenched in front of her as she waits. A tall woman with dry dark hair opens the door, a maroon gown cinched painfully tight at the waist. Pursing her lips, her dove grey eyes scan our faces before she steps aside, eyes tightening with something resembling jealousy as Rebecca passes.

  Inside the house is grand and decadent, a far cry from the house we are staying in. Every surface houses bejewelled ornaments, the walls adorned with more religious images, hundreds of candles illuminating the passageway Rebecca leads us down. Pushing open a door at the end of the long hall she reveals a large dining room with a roaring fireplace. Relief sweeps through me when I see the guys sat around the table, postures stiff and faces tight with a worry that slips away at the sight of us. Sam scowls as he takes in the dresses, gaze shifting between me and Rebecca. The resemblance isn’t lost on him.

  “Ladies, please sit.” Jared rises from his seat, eyes alight with pleasure as they roam up and down our bodies. I hold back a shudder. I move towards Sam but Jared shakes his head. “Please, your seats are here.” He pats the chairs either side of him as he sits. Gritting my teeth, I step past the guys until I reach the head of the table. Jared smiles at me as if I’ve pleased him greatly. Natalie takes the seat opposite as instructed, hands wringing atop the wooden table.

  Once he’s satisfied, Jared turns to Rebecca, clicking his fingers. She scurries from the room, returning moments later with three other women. Food I never thought I’d see again is piled high on platters, their arms straining beneath the weight as they place them in the centre of the table. Jared looks pleased with himself as he stands to carve the meat. Actual meat, steam rising as the knife he holds plunges into the flesh.

  “You keep animals?” I ask and he turns, those piercing blue eyes boring into my face.

  “Yes. We raise sheep and pigs and we also have goats that provide us with milk.” He deposits a large slice of meat onto my plate, the aroma making my mouth water. I lift my glass of water to my lips, sipping gently as I wait for the others to be served. “My wives are quite the farmhands.”

  I almost choke on my water, lowering the glass slowly to gape at him. “Wives? As in plural?”

  He nods with a beaming smile as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. “Seven actually. Isaiah, 4:1 - And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, we will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.”

  I don’t point out that the women aren’t wearing their own clothing. He would probably twist my words, claim that they wish to wear them. That it’s God’s will or some other bullshit. Jared finishes carving the meat, retaking his place at the head of the table.

  “Let us say grace” he clasps my hand in his so tightly he crushes my fingers. The women around the room drop their heads in prayer. I take Kyle’s hand in mine, feel the sweat that coats his palms. I squeeze his fingers, trying my best to reassure him as the prayer begins. “Bless us, oh Lord, and the food we are about to receive from your plentiful bounty. Through Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.”

  “Amen” I mutter dropping Kyle’s hand. Jared holds on a little longer, thumb brushing gently against my wrist before placing my hand delicately on the table. I force a smile, swallowing as I tuck my hands in my lap.

  “Let us eat” he picks up his knife and fork and digs in, eyebrows raised as he waits for us to do the same. The women around the table disappear, returning with jugs of wine to fill our glasses. Jared turns to Drew, making pleasant conversation. Rebecca stops at my side and I lift my head from my meal. The fear in her eyes stops the smile I offer her. Swallowing the lump of meat in my throat I watch her hands tremble as she fills my glass, eyes twitching to my face.

  “So, Louisa, which of these fine men is your partner in life?” Jared asks, drawing my attention. I blink, not daring to look at any of them for fear they will become a target.

  “None of them.” I keep my voice even. Kyle’s hand slips into mine beneath the table to still the shaking, clutching tight, offering me the same comfort I gave him. I draw strength from his presence. “We’re just friends.”

  Jared guffaws, throwing his arms into the air. “A delicate woman such as yourself should not be left unattached. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” He quotes more scripture, gripping my hand so tightly my fingers go numb. I hold my composure, grasping at Kyle as my palms grow heavy with perspiration.

  “Jared, I have to say, this meal is beyond anything I could have imagined” Drew lifts his glass and Jared releases my hand. Flexing my fingers, I wait for the feeling to return, shooting Drew a grateful look. “To you.”

  Jared smiles, gaze sliding back to me as he lifts his glass. “To new friends.”

  Painting a smile on my face I lift my glass, clink it against his and take a sip. Its sour, like vinegar. I swallow a grimace, setting my glass back on the table and releasing Kyle’s hand to retrieve my knife and fork.

  Once the food has been cleared from the table Natalie and I make our excuses. Sam is stiff, tension bunching beneath his shirt as I hurry past, his hand twitching against the table as if he means to reach for me. I’ve never been so eager to leave a room in my life. Rebecca bows her head as we pass but the desperation in her expression haunts me all the way back to our room.

  Dog bounds forwards and I kneel beside him, pulling a napkin of meat from the folds of my dress. I run my hands down his back as he wiggles, scarfing down the meat as quickly as he can, retching as he chokes.

  “Err… Lou…” I look up and Natalie sighs, gesturing to the chair. Our folded clothing that we left behind is gone, simple white nightdresses left in their place. I curse, patting Dog’s head as I stand. “They took our clothes? What kind of place is this?” She stamps her feet, flopping onto the bed with a deep scowl. The word cult bounces around inside my head but I don’t say it aloud. This situation is bad enough without giving it a name.

  “Help me out of this will ya?” I turn and Natalie stands, fingers moving swiftly. I breathe a sigh as the corset falls away and my restricted lungs fill with air. I do the same for Natalie and then shrug the dress from my shoulders, stepping out of the folds and pulling on one of the nightdresses. It falls to my knees; the material so sheer it’s practically see through. “We need to get to the guys and figure out a way out of here.” I say as Natalie pulls on her own nightdress, huffing a sigh as she drops down beside Dog.

  “Can’t we just leave?” she asks as yelling explodes outside. I rush to the window, Natalie close behind, in time to see a man running through the streets. Behind him, four men give chase, boots hammering the pavement as they catch up, tackling the man to the ground.

  “Let me go. You’ve taken everything. I just want to leave” he screams, kicking and thrashing beneath the weight of the men that hold him. Red hair and a handsome face, illuminated by a single flickering candle, looms from the darkness. He walks up to the man, pausing beside his head, tilting his own in consideration.

  “To question our ways is to question The Lord himself Lawrence.” He squats, placing his hand gently on the man’s forehead. “The Lord speaks to me and I, his loyal servant, must act on his words. To disbelieve, is to insult the Father in his creation and disbelievers must be punished.”

  The man screams as he is lifted from the ground, begging and pleading as he is carried away into the night. Jared stands watching him before his eyes swing up to our window, fixing upon my face. I’m frozen in place until he walks away, becoming nothing but a flickering light in the darkness.

  I turn to Natalie, see the shock and fear in her eyes and swallow.

  “I don’t think leaving is going to be that easy.”

  Fourteen

  - John 15:13 -


  The next morning, we step outside to find the guys already waiting for us, postures stiff and tension lining their jaws. When Drew spots me he rushes forwards. I shake my head and he pauses mid-step, outstretched arms falling at his sides. Sam and Kyle move towards us, searching our faces for signs of abuse. Dog hurries to greet the boys, each of them bending in turn to stroke his wiry fur, his tail wagging unrestrained at their attention.

  “Sleep well?” I ask, brow raised. The guys nods, their lids still heavy with sleep. I curse. “That’s because they drugged us.”

  “But he ate and drank everything we did.” Kyle says, rubbing at his tired eyes, his arms heavy. I pat his back briefly, making sure not to maintain contact too long in case we’re being watched.

  We each turn to watch Dog snuffle in the grass, cocking his leg to relieve himself against a redundant lamppost, nose in the air as he searches for his next spot.

  “It was probably already in the glasses when they poured the wine.” I mutter.

  “We need to get out of here” Sam growls.

  “I don’t think walking out the gate is an option.” I start to walk, the others falling into step around me. “Natalie and I saw a guy try to leave last night.”

  “We saw.” Drew sighs, his hand brushing against my arm. “There’s gotta be a way out. We definitely can’t stay here. Not unless you’re ready to become wife number eight.” My look of horror and abhorrence says it all.

  “Well we can’t just walk up to him and ask to leave. They have our weapons and while they might be ‘the work of the devil’ I wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll use them to keep us here.” Sam stops walking as we reach the centre of the village, sitting on the edge of a memorial and resting his elbows against his knees. “Look at them all…” I turn to look. Jared strides down the street and his people follow, eyes filled with admiration and awe, as if he himself is the saviour. “We can’t rely on anyone here to help us. They follow him blindly.”