Hope II

Vertuga II

* This is the longest chapter in the book, and also the most brutal one that was the toughest for me to write! Sorry for the length of it! *

Forcibly pushed by the weapons pressed to my back, Dylan and I were violently forced through the hallway in one of the upper decks, escorted by four heavily armed men through a narrow corridor, boxed in metal plates, behind them were dim lights that added a dark contrast to the corridor. The man who addressed me earlier, Abraham, he left. God knows where, but these men were just as intimidating even though they didn't speak a single word, just pushed us with their weapons whenever we slowed down.

'We're going to get through this' I assured Dylan who appeared worried, constantly looking forward, his arms shaking by his side.

'Shut up' ordered one of the guards 'Keep moving' he poked me with the nose of the weapon again, firmly pressing it into the back of my neck.

We kept moving up further and further into the ship before coming out a steel door into another corridor of complete contrast. It looked like a five star hotel, with beautiful mosaics lining the walls and a cream coloured carpet leading up to the distorted glass double doors at the end of the corridor surrounded by marble walls. I slowed down to look around at the hallway, it looked amazing. But then something caught my eye, what hung from the walls were the decapitated heads of infected stuck to a plaque, displaying them with pride inside the walls of their sick home.

We kept moving side by side down the hall, the severed heads knurling at us as we passed, crunching their teeth together and staring at us through their black eyes and decaying face that looked like a woven blanket with all the veins sticking out from the transparent flesh.

The doors opened as we approached, revealing inside the very man sitting at the top of a dining table, behind him was a wall sized window rounded around the back wall, revealing the dark seas outside. This must be the back of the ship, facing the sea.

I immediately stopped in shock and horror as the room and table came into full sight, looking at who else sat at the table with Abraham. Kate and Bryan... he's alive...the traitors... but then it dawned on me that if Kate is here, Aaron must be here somewhere. And Ash... god help us.

Fury filled me to the top of my chest, I unleashed a cry of vengeance and I went to attack Bryan, but I was quickly tazed in the neck by one of the guards. Before I could even hit the floor he forced me back to my feet to stand on the marble floor again and look at the dining table, to look the man I thought to be my friend, and the woman I thought to be our only hope in this world.

I looked at them, gasping for breath, the tazer had me inebriate of air.

'You bastards' I whispered, standing straight as tears began to develop in my eyes, looking at my friends sitting before me...the ones who led us to death.

'You fucking bastards' I said calmly as I was escorted over to be seated on the red cushioned chairs.

Kate seemed pleased by the words and Bryan sat with a look that almost suggested regret.

'Sit down Jerry' Abraham said, inviting me to sit alongside Bryan. I was pushed along the clear marble floor that went hand in hand with the walls. Only three of the walls were marble, the one at the back was complete glass to reveal the sea outside and the waves crashing up against the ship.

I was pushed over to the seat next to Bryan and strapped into the chair like a man ready to meet execution. My arms and legs secured tight into the chair's wooden frame so I could not attack the son of a bitch beside me, and Dylan the same who sat alongside Kate across the table...

I looked at the oak table with a vase of flowers in the centre sitting on a long piece of glass that gave the table a transparent look in the centre. My mind having finally processed what had happened. Ever since we left the village... our entire journey has been a plan. A lie. A ruthless operation to get us here... but why?