Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited (20 page)

“Damn,” He groans.

“This looks like fun,” Hope says taking the bow from him, “what do I do?”

“Well first you need an arrow,” He says sliding another one out of the quiver and loading it for her. He lights the cloth for her before standing behind her. “Now just load the arrow onto the string, pull it back, aim and let it fly.”

“Ok sounds easy enough,” Hope says as she tries to follow Brad’s instruction.

The arrow flies out of her bow, missing the stray Zombie wildly. The arrow sticks inside a tree, the fire slowly starts to consume it.

“That’s the problem with fire,” Fanny says disapprovingly, “it consumes everything it touches.”

“What’s it matter?” Brad asks with a smug look on his face, “it’s all the way down there and it will burn out before it ever reaches us.”

“If you underestimate fire, you are going to get burned,” Fanny remarks.

“You’re one to talk about underestimating your opponent,” Brad mocks, “or don’t you remember what that Zombie did to you?”

Fanny’s face scrunches up in rage before she seizes the bow from Hope’s hand and whips out an arrow, “light it up.”

Brad does as he’s told, stepping back as she draws it back an unnerving look on her face as she aims. She lets the arrow go watching with an intense gaze as the arrow pierces through the Zombie’s gut. The fire catches the dry rotted skin and slowly envelopes its body before finally covering it from head to toe with fire.

“Nice shot,” Brad admits somewhat stunned.

“Told you I knew what I was doing,” She replies pushing the bow into him, knocking the air out of his lungs as he fumbles to reach for it.

She walks away, to the backside of the roof watching the river flow. Brad, Hope and Amanda watch her almost sympathetically.

“Is she going to be ok?” Amanda asks looking at Hope.

“Yeah,” Hope smiles, “She’s just like fire, wild and untamed. But no one should ever underestimate her.”

Chapter 16

              The sun starts to set before the group agrees that they should get back inside. Small fires off in the distance dance, their lights getting brighter as the sky gets darker. They shimmy down the ladder one at a time before heading back for the door.

              “Thanks,” Hope says to Brad before he knocks on the door. “Today was just what I needed after… you know, this morning.”

              “Hey, if there is one thing I know, it’s how to have fun,” Brad laughs before knocking on the door again.

              The door creaks softly before sliding partway open. Brad grabs the door and opens it the rest of the way. Darkness comes from the inside, not even the flicker of a candle as they enter the gym one at a time.

              “Something doesn’t seem right,” Amanda says as a chill runs down her spine.

              “You’re right,” Brad says as he reaches down and grabs the wooden block barricading the door.

              “Then why are you locking us in?” Fanny asks.

              “I’m not,” Brad replies, “I’m keeping everything else out.”

              “And if something is already in here?” Hope asks.

              “Then it stays in here with us until we can dispose of it,” Brad laughs as he pulls his lighter out and lights the hallway with the dim glow of the flame. The flame flutters briefly before going out. Brad shakes his lighter rigorously. “Well, I’m out of fluid.”

              “And we have no flashlights, or light of any kind,” Hope says matter-of-factly.

              “There are emergency matches somewhere here,” Brad mutters feeling blindly.

              “They are in here Brad,” Cynthia’s voice calls from the main room.

              “Miss Cynthia?” Brad calls.

              “Yes Brad, it’s me,” Cynthia assures.

              “What are you doing sitting in the dark?” He asks, the girls linked behind him as they walk blindly into the next room.

              “Just enjoying the silence,” Cynthia replies, “there is something about the dark that has always excited me.”

              “Where are Mika and The Major?” Fanny asks.

              “They’re around, somewhere,” Cynthia says, the tone of her voice colder with each syllable.

              “If you did anything to them I swear to God!” Amanda growls

              “Relax, they’re fine,” Cynthia says, the sound of a match scratching the back of the box lighting up her evil face. She moves the match downward, the flame connecting with the wick of three white pillar candles. Their light almost brightens up the huge room including the two men lying unconscious against the back wall. “You can think of it as them sleeping. Which is more than I can say about my son.”

              “He deserved what happened to him,” Fanny barks.

              “He tried to take advantage of me,” Hope cries.

              “He tried to share his love with you,” Cynthia snipes back. “Don’t you realize that he had a lot of love to give? And how do you repay that? You cut off his manhood and let him bleed to death. I never even got to say goodbye to him.”

              “That was too good for him,” Fanny says.

              “You are the real monster, not my boy!” Cynthia roars as she steps forward and grabs Amanda by her hair. Her free hand pulls out a hunting knife and presses the blade up against her neck, “now drop all your weapons or I filet the skin off her body.”

              They look at each other for a quick moment; Fanny raises her hands showing she has nothing on her. Brad pulls out his two handguns and places them on the floor.

              “Good, now you,” Cynthia says pulling Amanda’s hair back and pointing the knife at Hope, “drop the sword and kick them all to the side.”

              Hope grits her teeth, her hands clenched tightly around the sheath and handle. Fanny puts her hand over Hope’s and shakes her head. Hope drops the sword on top of the guns and slides them off to the side with her foot.

              “Smart move,” Cynthia grins, “now this is what we are going to do,” Cynthia trails off, the razor sharp blade slicing across Amanda’s neck spilling blood all down her body, “you took my son, and I took your friend.”

She releases Amanda’s body from her grip. Amanda drops to her knees, her hands wrapped around her neck covered in blood as she looks up at Brad before collapsing on the floor.

“You’re insane,” Brad says dropping to his knees.

“Oh I’m far from insane. I’m just trying to keep the balance,” Cynthia chuckles. Fanny rushes toward her in a fit of rage only stopping when Cynthia points the knife directly at her, shaking her head with the grin still on her face. “I wouldn’t be so rash if I were you. You see your friends over there are still alive, for now. You see I gave them each a slow acting poison. Right now they are merely sleeping as the poison continues to make its way through their veins. But within the hour if they aren’t giving the antidote then they will never wake up.”

“What do you want from us?” Fanny asks backing away.

“I want what any sane and rational mother would want, revenge against the cold hearted bitch who killed my son,” Cynthia says wiping Amanda’s blood off the knife before driving the tip into the seat of the plastic chair.

“Then take it out on me,” Fanny says holding her hands up in the air, “you can do whatever you want to me, just give our friends the antidote.”

“Fanny no,” Hope cries.

“Its ok kiddo,” Fanny says, “I knew my actions would have consequences, now I have to face them.”

“How noble,” Cynthia scoffs, “but there is nothing worse I can do to you then to let you watch your friends die a slow horrible death. The same as my son.”

“That’s not a smart thing to do,” Fanny says upset.

“You’re wrong. This is the smartest thing I’ve ever done,” Cynthia says walking back and forth behind the chair, her hand hovering over the knife with each step. “The stupidest thing I’ve ever done was to let you into my home, to take care of you and to save your life!”

“Look, I get that you’re upset,” Fanny says trying to remain calm as she speaks, “but you don’t have to involve the others. This should be between you and me. I’m willing to overlook you killing Amanda if you give the others the antidote.”

“The Hell we will overlook anything,” Brad growls.

“No,” Fanny says, “we need her to help us save Mika and The Major.”

“See her blood lust knows no bounds,” Cynthia says grabbing the knife out of the chair and taking a few steps toward Fanny. “She is willing to sacrifice others just to make herself happy.”

“I wasn’t the one holding the knife to Amanda’s throat,” Fanny remarks.

“YES YOU WERE!” Cynthia screams, “the second you killed my son you slit her throat. Maybe you didn’t know it then, but you are going to learn that now, one way or another.”

“Look, you want me; you can have me, but first save my friends,” Fanny yet again.

“You’re a brave little thing aren’t you,” Cynthia says pulling out two small syringes, each with a clear, light green liquid sitting inside. “This is the antidote, another of my own creations. And I’m so impressed by your courage that I’m willing to let you have it.” She puts one syringe on the table and backs away, her boney hand still clenching the second syringe. “But I want to know, which of your friends will you choose?”

“You’re insane,” Fanny protests. “You can’t honestly expect me to choose between them.”

“Well then lets up the odds,” Cynthia crushes the syringe in her hand, the green liquid running down her hand, “now you have to choose.”

Fanny looks back at Hope, “what do I do?”

“I have no idea,” Hope whispers back.

“You’d better decide soon,” Cynthia chuckles, “who knows how much longer they have.”

Fanny walks over to her friends, both breathing heavily as she crouches down beside them the syringe shaking visibly in her hand.

“Pick one, pick one NOW,” Cynthia demands.

Brad takes a step towards Cynthia but she bends over quickly, picking up one of his guns and pointing it in his direction.

“Come on Cynthia, we both know you don’t know how to use that thing,” Brad says.

“Maybe not, but I’m a fast learner,” She replies firing a shot into the roof. “What a rush. Now, pick someone, just drive the needle deep into one of them. It’s as simple as that.”

“Just do it Fanny,” Hope says, “please.”

Anxiety builds in Fanny’s chest, her heart feeling like it could pound out at any moment. Sweat builds up inside her palm as she holds the syringe up above the pair. She grunts loudly as she drives the needle down into Mika’s gut. She pushes the plunger releasing the liquid into his body.

“There,” Fanny says tossing the empty vial into the corner, “I played your silly game. Now what?”

“Now I settle the score,” Cynthia says turning the gun towards her and firing off a shot.

Fanny drops to her knees before taking one last breath and falling face first.

“You are insane!” Hope cries.

“Maybe so, but a debt is repaid. A life for a life, I have no quarrels with either of you anymore,” Cynthia says as she walks over to Fanny’s body. “Now get out of my house.”

She stands smugly over Fanny’s body, her foot nudging her shoulder several times before Fanny reaches out her hands, grabbing Cynthia by the ankle and dropping her to the ground.

“Missed me, bitch,” Fanny says dragging her backward.

“Maybe so,” Cynthia remarks angrily, lifting up the gun and pointing it right in Fanny’s face. “But I won’t miss this time.”

Fanny knocks her hand out of the way just before the gun goes off. Cynthia swings the knife at her, catching her shoulder, spilling blood onto Cynthia’s cheek. Fanny holds down both of her arms and squeezes her wrist holding her still the best she can. Cynthia wriggles, screaming before she drives her head against Fanny’s. Fanny pulls her arms off and Cynthia takes advantage knocking her onto the ground. She swings the knife again and just misses Fanny’s face. Fanny grabs her hand, covering the handle of the knife as she fights to free it of the old woman’s grasp.

“You’re going to die for what you did to my son!” Cynthia says.

“He deserved it,” Fanny shouts back, “he was a monster. Just like you!”

She finishes by sinking her teeth into Cynthia’s arm, forcing her to drop the knife. Cynthia swings her other arm cold cocking the side of her face with the gun.

“That’s fine, I have the knife,” Fanny says brandishing the weapon.

“But I have the gun,” Cynthia reminds her.

“Yeah because that’s worked out well for you so far,” Fanny taunts.