World of Decay: Escape Artists (Book 1)

chapter 52

"Did you see Daniel?" Jack asked Isaac.
He looked down and gave a face of grief. "Yea."
"Where is he?" Then there was no response. It just hit him that Daniel died. "No. He can't be dead. Your lieing." He sounded broken.
"Im sorry Jack. I...I saw him die. There was nothing I could've done." Isaac said with the rifle at his leg.
He stood there for a moment. A tear rolled down his cheek. Marcy grabbed his should and escorted him to a truck. Once inside he just sat there. Looking off in the distance. He was shattered inside.

"Hey? Hailey? Wake up silly it is time to practice some more. There's a group of monsters at the fence out front." Xian whispered in her ear.
Hailey rolled over in her bed. "I don't wanna go to school." She mumbled.
"You at school, girl." She replied taking the cover away. "Get up it is your turn."
"Fine but I wanna sleep afterwards." Hailey rolled onto the cold tiled floor and began to push herself up.
Xian stood there unimpressed. Disappointed at the most part. She decided to leave the room.
"She up yet?" Gibber asked leaning against the wall. The moonlight half lit his face.
"Yea. She is sluggish though. Don't know why you even bother with her." She leaned in the windowsill staring at the people outside the fence.
"She needs our help. I don't want to help her, but who will. Im doing this for Daniel. He is a sad sack." He slumped down. "Shhh. Someone's coming."
Down the end of the hall is a guard walking around with his flashlight. He comes to a turn don their hall. The light on them both. "What are ya little boogers doing up this late?"
Take a walk around. Can't sleep tonight because we don't have our elite watching us." Gibber replied drowsily. What a silver tongued devil.
"Alright, just stay away from the fence. Bastards are wanting a midnight lunch." He laughed quietly trying not to disturb anyone trying to sleep. "Like the bloody bastards do every night." Saying it under his breath.
"Don't worry Ricardo we wont go near the fence." Xian said looking at him as he walked by.
Terrible guards I tell ya. It is supposed to be lock down for all kids under thirteen. Well Ricardo is a lousy one. He doesn't take this seriously.
Hailey came out in her day time clothes and looked quite alert. "Shall we start a riot out front."
They both nodded with a grin. On the roof they could see the grownups clearly. Even the feeble at the back.
"Stand like a soldier. Eyes closed. Focus on the weakminded. Tell them something and they will do it. You are the leader, not them." Gibber said reaching a hand out at them.
Hailey did as she was told. The voices of the grownups flooded into her mind. They were asking her questions. Scared and confused. Driven by hunger. "I am your new leader. Do as I say?" She said in her mind strong and firm. They stood like soldier's. Their minds quiet waiting for a command. An evil grimace grew on her face. "Kill the person next to you."
They did as they were told. Each and everyone of them went into a frenzy at the gate. The guards are patrolling the inside so they won't see them. It was a terrible sight to watch but it felt good to Hailey. All the people they have killed and now they are punished for it.
"I didn't expect you to get it on the first try. Good job. Now break the connotation." Gibber said watching the fight.
She broke the signal and took a knee. Her mind buzzing and tingling. Her vision fuzzy and it made it hard to see. It was like watching TV for an hour straight focused on it. Then the headache came in. It didn't hurt as bad though.
"You ok? Thought you were going to sleep on the roof." Xian smiled at her. "You can go to bed now. Enjoy your rest."