Deadland Rising (part 3 of the Deadland Saga)

Justice (Chapter 20)

Six days later

The bastard survived. He hadn't even caught a serious fever.

I was one of the four guards on duty at the lab, and tried not to look at him while he ate New Eden food. Hodge was still imprisoned in the small house's dank cellar. One of his ankles was handcuffed to a chain that looped around the stairs. Each wrist was handcuffed to a chain looped through a cinderblock. No one was taking any chances at him escaping, though he seemed quite content to be in captivity.

No surprise there. He was safe, well fed, and didn't have to do shit for any of it.

He scooped up rice with his fingers (we refused to give him a spoon) and examined it. "This could use some salt," he said and popped it into his mouth.

We ignored him. Zach and I were stuck in the basement with him, while Jase and Hali were upstairs. We rotated with them every hour during our shift to keep Hodge from grinding too deeply on our nerves. Though, he tended to grind on my nerves within five minutes of every hour I spent in that basement.

"You know, your timing at picking me up was perfect. I just finished the last can of food you guys so generously dropped off."

I started a mental count to ten, trying my best to ignore him. Zach walked slowly over to Hodge, lifted his foot, and shoved the prisoner onto his back. Then, he snatched the bowl of rice, dumped it in the pail that served as Hodge's latrine, and returned to his position.

I gave Zach a grin.

Hodge pulled himself back up. "That wasn't nice. I wasn't finished yet."

"Oh, sorry," I said, my words laced with sarcasm. "With the way you kept yammering on and on, we assumed you must've been full."

He watched me for a moment and cocked his head. "Have we met?"

When I didn't answer, he continued. "You seem awfully familiar. Every day, I try to remember where I've seen you before. Have we fucked?"

I shot him a quick glare and turned back away.

"Don't worry. I'll remember, eventually."

I turned to face him then. "I'm surprised you don't remember me. You could say I left a lasting impression." I said as I ran my finger along the side of my throat.

When the meaning of my words hit him, his face tightened in an expression of pure rage. "You. You were a part of the group that put a hurtin' on my Sheep. I got stranded after that little adventure and didn't make it back to my Sheep until they'd all been wiped out, no thanks to the dickless wonders at New Eden." He chuckled drily. "And, you guys say you're peaceful. How many people have you killed?"

"We kill only those who've attacked innocents," Zach said.

"Innocents? Bah. There are no innocents anymore. All the innocents are rotting away while they eat their own families."

"Too bad the vaccine worked on you," Zach said. "I was looking forward to seeing you turn into one of those things."

Hodge sneered. "Instead, I have free room and board, and my own personal security detail. I'd say things worked out pretty good."

Zach's brow rose. "Pretty good, huh? You think Justin is going to keep you here and feed you? You really think that? You don't know Justin very well then."

Hodge's lips thinned.

Zach continued. "I can guarantee that whatever Justin is planning for you involves pain. Lots and lots of pain."

"We'll see about that," Hodge said. "I heard the lab rat talking upstairs. My blood carries the cure now. I'm carrying precious cargo."

Zach spoke. "Didn't you hear? Bonnie's done with you. That last liter of blood she took was all they needed to finish their research. Now, you're baggage." With that, Zach sat on his chair and stared at Hodge.