The Collapse of Mankind

Chapter Nine

The now-three person group who were all distraught because of what happened to Leo. They got dragged into a room by three large men. The men shoved them into the back wall of the room. They were all terrified.

Man: Now stay put. If I come back and you're not here, I'll find you. Then what happens to you won't be pretty.

The man gave a serious look, nodded, walked out and slammed the door behind him as the other two men followed closely behind. The door made a loud noise, sending a vibration through the whole room. The room fell silent and dull. All they could see was the light from outside through the cracks of the door.

Cisco: Well, shit.

They stood there in silence for a few seconds, thinking about how screwed they were. Then Nick came up with an idea.

Nick: Hold on. Even though the men took our shit, I have a lighter.
Cisco: Wait, you're telling me that for the past few days I've been lighting fires by grinding two fucking sticks together and you had a lighter the whole time?
Nick: Mmm hmm.
Cisco: Fucking awesome.

Nick got the lighter from his back pocket and lit it. The two of them huddled around the single light. Nick noticed Jess, leaning against one of the walls. She was focused on the ground, clearly deep in thought. Nick gave Cisco a small nudge, he moved his eyes towards Jess and back at Cisco again. Cisco looked at her and frowned a little.

Cisco: Jessica?
Jess: Yeah?
Cisco: You alright?
Jess: Why wouldn't I be?
Cisco: Well, we're locked up like animals for a start. We don't know where Ellie is, Leo is dead and your brother is a dickhead.
Jess: I should have never come with you.
Cisco: What?
Jess: I shouldn't have come with you.
Cisco: You should have.
Jess: I wouldn't be locked up if I just kept my
shit together and stayed put.
Cisco: No but you could have been on your own. Or worse... dead.

Jessica sighed to herself.

Jess: I guess.

Cisco walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Cisco: Listen, I know it's shit. But it's gonna be okay. I promise. We'll get out of here and find Ellie... Then it'll be a little less shit. Alright?
Jess: Hopefully.
Cisco: I care. Okay?
Jess: Okay.
Cisco: Good. Now come and crowd round our only warmth and light.

Jessica smiled and slowly walked over to the flame with Cisco.

Jess: Thanks.
Cisco: Don't mention it.

Meanwhile, Ellie got taken away too. But to a different room. This room was a rectangular shape and entirely made of metal. A large man had her upper arm in a tight grip. He was dragging her away and she couldn't do anything about it. The man pushed her down onto a chair that was next to a table in the centre of the room. Her back slammed against the chair, causing agony to shiver through her body. Ellie got tied down by excessive amounts of duct tape. She tried to slip her arms out of the tape, but they weren't budging. The man walked towards another chair, picked it up and placed it about half a metre in front of her. The man leaned forward. He opened his mouth slightly. His warm breath touched Ellie's cheek. She began to feel more uncomfortable every second. She struggled in the chair, wanting to get free. The man laughed at her.

Man: Damien told me that there was more people at your camp than this. A girl with fair hair? Does that ring a bell? I think it does.
Ellie: Who the fuck is Damien?
Man: The guy that bought you here. Carter.
Ellie: Oh. Him.
Man: Where is your camp?

Ellie stayed silent. She didn't say a word. She just stared into his dark eyes.

Man: I said, where is your camp?