Citizen Z

Chapter 8

476 days since the virus spread

Later that evening

Ray holds his hands up and his head low as we follow the guards into the compound. All of their guns are on us, making me extremely nervous.

"We've got what you want." Ray calls out and sighs as we walk inside the compound.

I want to stop him from doing this, but I just put my hands up as well. Mikey puts his hand reassuringly on Ray's shoulder. As soon as Mikey does that, they cock a gun behind his head. He growls under his breath and keep his hands up.

"Well, look who decided to show up. An hour late." Bert growls as he opens the rusted door and stands before us.

He whistles and someone else opens a gate inside the rusted door to lead us to the center of the compound. The guards push us forward and we walk through the gate.

I can feel the tension.

It's a lot bigger than I thought, there are people peaking from windows all around us. There are metal bars around it. The ground is covered in dried blood and bones. It's a huge cage, almost like a battle arena from the time of the Roman Empire.

There are men standing in the middle, all buff and tattooed guys. They watch us like a hawk stalking it's prey. I look at the others for reassurance, but they're pretty much as freaked out as I am.

I can see someone struggling at the back of the group of men, I can't see who or what it is.

Frank gets pushed into the ground from behind the group of tough men, right in front of them. He rolls up into a little ball from the pain. He breaths heavily as he lays on the ground.

I almost want to start crying.

His mouth is tied with a dark cloth so that he can't scream. Inside the silence, I could hear his soul screaming for help.

His hands are tied extremely tight together with a very thick rope, so that he can't manage to get himself free.

He whimpers as he lays on the ground.

The one kicks him a bit forward and he whimpers loudly, he just closes his eyes awaiting the next blow. Frank lays defeated on his back.

"Please, don't hurt him." I cry, holding my hand out towards him.

The man looks up at me and spits next to Frank. I could see Frank shaking from fear as he silently cries.

They walk straight past us, out of the cage.

He looks so scared and helpless. I could see his tears running down his cheeks glimmering in the moonlight.

I couldn't just stand and watch him, I have to help him.

"Frank." I whimper under my breath, trying to run towards him without bursting into tears.

"Not so fast," Bert says, holding a gun to my head as I want to kneel down next to Frank, "We have business to attend to first before you can collect your prize."

I continued to kneel down next to him, stroking his head.

"Gerard." Ray says under his breath as I sit down next to Frank, but I completely ignore him.

I hold Frank's head as tightly and as gently as I could, resting it in my lap. I wish I didn't ever have to let him go again.

"If you don't mind?" Bert says coldly, glaring down at me.

I nod as Bert and the others walk off towards the truck. I kiss Frank's forehead.

"I'll be right back, I promise, okay? I love you." I whisper and get up.