The Last Colony

Part 21

Mark gathered the bowls together. He was going to dump them outside. Sean shivered, huddling against his backpack as he muttered out. "This people are sick..." Mari covered her mouth, straining out in a muffled voice. "I think I'm going to be sick." Her stomach let out a small gurgle, causing her to launch from her seat and out the door. Zero rushed after her, but he didn't go far. Just outside the sheet door, they all heard Mari tossing up her stomach contents. Zero lingered by the sheet door, peeking out to keep an eye on her. Mark picked up the two bowls, telling the others seriously. "We only eat what we brought in. Got it? I don't want them saying we need to work off what we've taken. Let alone ask where it came from..." Zero nodded in agreement. Mark stepped out of the hut to toss the soup in the grass, when his eyes caught the look of the man stationed on a bench nearby. The man grinned back at him, his glowing white skeleton face paint giving him a frightening look in the dark.

Turning away slowly, he made his way back into the hut with Mari. He even rubbed her back to comfort her a little. Zero put a hand on Mari's shoulder, then helped her set up her sleeping bag. Sean laid his out too, asking Mark with worry. "Who's keeping watch?" Zero looked to Mark, who glared back at him. Mark didn't trust Zero, but he answered firmly. "Zero and I will. The more eyes the better." Zero nodded, uttering out. "Good idea." Mark took the final two bowls out and tossed them. The second he did, he swallowed down his own urge to vomit. His suspicions were confirmed. From one of the bowls, a piece of meat came out with a part of the horsemen tattoo printed on it. Looking up toward the tree in the center of the square, he saw Death standing proudly with his scythe. Before him were four of his Death Stalkers and they were hanging a new skeleton up into the petrified branches. Another skeleton to swing in the windless night. The hairs on Mark's arm stood up and Death turned his shrouded face in his direction.

He didn't know why, but Death frightened him. His very presence was haunting. The lights illuminating the tree glinted off the steel blade of the scythe and Mark instinctively rose to his full height. He didn't have the urge to run. He felt like running would only give this person more power than he already had over people. He refused to be afraid of a man. Death tilted his head slightly, before turning to look back at his men. It was only after he looked away that Mark forced his feet to move. Walking back into the hut, Mark dropped to his knees and let himself breathe. How long had he been holding his breath? Zero scooted closer to sit across from him by the door, asking in a whisper. "Are ya ok?" Mark glanced at the others to see that they were now laying down for the night. Seeing that they looked rather peaceful, he relaxed enough to whisper back. "I don't know. This Death guy... He really unsettles me. How fucked up do you have to be to take on a persona like that?" Zero wrapped his arms around his raised knees with a light huff.

Mark eyed him seriously, until Zero told him in a fragile whisper. "Mark, none of these people were anything to admire in that old world. These people were outcasts. People that had seen the worst of humanity and were either beaten down or got locked up for it. Now that all hell has broken loose. These 'Crazy' people... They have all the answers. The insane becomes rational. Survival of the fittest. And who better to lead people than powerful murderers? Get enough people to believe something in a crisis and that becomes strength in numbers. Scared people will believe and do anything to survive. Fear is a powerful weapon and these leaders wield it like a loaded gun. People come to them scared and they welcome them with open arms. They give them hope for a future. In return... They get their undying loyalty and devotion." A chill went up Mark's spine. He wanted to believe that humans were better than that, but the evidence was all around him. Staring out between the sheet door and the support pole, he asked Zero cautiously. "The tattoo... Who is he?"

He expected Zero to deny it or lie. Instead, he openly answered discreetly. "His name is Conquest. And he's the most beautiful man I have ever seen. But he is ruthless. Behind his beauty is a man made of pure ice. Of all the Horsemen, Conquest is the most renowned. He doesn't hide behind a mask like the others. He's a silver-tongued devil. I used to joke that he could trick a nun into stripping." Mark chuckled despite himself. Zero even chuckled a little, before shuffling his feet and seriously adding out. "Mark, I put that life behind me... but if I have too... I will try to use it in order to get you three out of here. Just do me one favor?" Mark looked at Zero with neutral eyes. He didn't want to agree to anything until he heard what this 'Favor' was. Zero took a deep breath, answering nervously. "Promise me that if things go south... You'll get Mari out of here? Even if you have to leave me behind. Don't let her come back for me." Mark watched how Zero's hands shook against his legs. He was terrified and Mark could almost see him bracing himself for defeat.