Death comes for all (TNN)

Behind bars

Marjorie was the last to be pushed into the prison cell. She fell to the floor. As the barred door was pulled shut behind her.

They were taken to a prison outside London. The building appeared to be the Ratcatchers' headquarters.

Marjorie pulled herself to her feet. The cell was big enough for everyone. There were two bunk beds against one wall, a sink and a toilet.

Reece was next to her and helped her to stand up completely. But before anyone could get a clear thought. Mia let out a loud scream.

"THAT WHORE MUDERED HER!"

Mia kicked the bars with all her might.

"I'LL KILL HER!"

Winter stood himself protective infornt of Carly and took her to the other side of the cell.

Mia hit the wall.

"Mia!" shouted Reece.

But his cries fell on deaf ears, the redhead continued to go an a rampage. She hit the mirror above the washbasin, shattering it.

"Mia, that's enough!" shouted Marjorie, daring to approach Mia and put her hand on her shoulder.

But Mia spun round and smashed her elbow into her face.

Marjorie fell backwards into Reece's arms. Now Autumn intervened. She stormed towards Mia, who was still caught up in her rage.

Mia swung at Autumn, who duck and then punched her directly in the face. The redhead fell to the ground.

"Mia, stop it!" Autumn screamed.

Her anger turned to pain. Mia straightened up and sat against the wall. She looked up at Autumn. "She's dead Aut..." tears formed in her eyes. "I loved her."

Autumn knelt down next to her and hugged her tightly.

"Are you all right?" Reece asked Marjorie. Who held her hand in front of her Face, blood running out of her nose.

" I'm fine..."

"Why did Sorscha do that?" asked Carly. Winter was still standing in front of her.

"I don't know..." muttered Winter.

The adrenaline slowly subsided in everyone and the shock set in.

Charlotte was dead.

Bewilderment reigned in the cell. No one spoke. The only sound that filled the room was the painful weeping of Mia in Autumn's arms.

Footsteps approached the cell and two armed men were now standing in front of the bars.

"You all look like shit," said one of them. "I'll get someone to have a look at you."

The other man scanned the room. "The boss wants to talk to one of you. The most level headed one. Winter."

Winter's eyes shot up and he quickly looked at Autumn. He could read the fear in her face.

"I'll talk to her!" said Reece.

But the man shook his head. "She wants to talk to Winter."

As he walked through the prison, the armed man beside him. Winter took a good look around. The cells had been converted into sleeping quarters.

He saw some of the ratcatchers filling cartridges with gunpowder. Others were mending holes in torn clothing.

He didn't want to admit it, but this building was like a small village.

Finally, they arrived in front of the prison ward's office.

"Winter!" shouted Sorscha, sitting on an office chair with her feet up on the desk.

Behind her on the wall was a map of London. On there were neighbourhoods circles with red ink.

Winter was pushed into the office by the man and the door closed behind him.

"Sit down."

Winter sat down opposite her.

He no longer recognised Sorscha. The woman he once called a good friend no longer existed and had now been replaced by this psychopath.

"Why?" asked Winter, scowling at the person in front of him.

Sorscha raised her eyebrows questioningly. " Isn't it clear?"

" Sorscha! Charlotte was a friend! Why did you do that?"

The irish woman took her feet off the table. " Winter. How long has the apocalypse been going on?... Eight months. And in all that time you haven't learnt the most important lesson? The most dangerous thing out there isn't the zombies, walkers, dead ones, biters or whatever you call them. No. It's other survivors and the most dangerous thing in a group. Is a weak link. Charlie was weak. Not made for this life. I did her a favour. Because sooner or later she would have cost the live of one of you, trying to protect her. That's the reality! I've seen it too many times."

"So you just killed her! You kill anyone you see as weak?"

Sorscha nodded.

"That's sick!" exclaimed Winter, stunned.

"No. It's necessary."

"Then why didn't you kill Carly too, according to your logic? She's just a girl!"

Sorscha laughed lightly. " Oh no. She hasn't been for a long time. When I looked into her eyes last night. A darkness stared back. The same darkness that slumbers in Reece, Autumn and Mia. And in you, too."

Winter furrowed his eyebrows and looked at her, stunned. "You're sick..."

" No, I'll survive this." She stood up and turned to the map behind her.
" Unfortunately, I need capable people to do it. To make sure that humanity survives. My organisation will take all of London and make it a safe zone." She turned back to Winter." And that's where you all come in. Killers are always needed. And you can't fool me Winter. We both know that your wife, Reece and Mia are born killers. Marjorie has the mind of a leader, which also makes her extremely important. And you and Carly can still be moulded into something useful."

"You're crazy!"

"Winter, you've seen what I'm willing to do when it comes down to it. Don't make me angry. Go back to the others. Make them realise that if they obey me, I can give them a good life."

The cell door opened and a woman entered the room. She had a first aid kit in her hand.

Marjorie looked at her in surprise.
" Vivian?"

The black-haired woman first looked at Autumn, who was still holding Mia in her arms. Autumn shook her head and made it clear to Vivian not to come any closer.

Then she approached Marjorie and Reece, who were sitting on the bed. Carly was sitting above them on the top bunk of the loft bed.

"Hey." Vivian spoke. "Let me see Marjorie."

"You're alive," said Reece.

Vivian nodded weakly and opened the kit. " More or less."

"How did you end up here.", asked Marjorie.

" I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was abducted..." She took a compress in her hand and gently pressed it to Marjorie's bloody nose.

"Your son?" Reece asked.

Vivian breathed heavily and shook her head.

"What about Siobhan? Do you know what happened to her?" Vivian wanted to quickly distract from the subject of her son.

"I'm sorry Viv. She didn't make it. She was bitten and killed herself."

" Good. Better dead than becoming one of those things."

" Is there a cure?" Carly asked.

"No. It's hopeless. We're all infected already."

"What?" shouted Autumn.

" You don't know?" asked Vivian in amazement." It's not just the bite that turns you into a zombie. It doesn't matter how you die, you always come back."