Ravage: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel(29)

“No way are we joining up with you guys,” said Nick. “We don’t know anything about you.”

Jan sighed. “What if I said, please? I promise to keep Dash on a tight leash. To tell you the truth, I’m beat, and pretty darn terrified. I just want to be around other people, you know? If you allow us to come with you and your group, then I promise we won’t be a burden. We’ll pull our weight.”

Nick didn’t know what to do. Was it really a good idea to team up with bunch of criminals? Could he turn his back on somebody asking for help?

“What were you in for?” Eve asked.

“I tried to rob a bank,” Jan replied bluntly.

Nick cleared his throat. “And what about your friends?”

“I’m innocent,” said Dash.

“Sure you are,” Jan said, frowning at his companion. “Dash, here, was done for dealing. As for Renee, I don’t honestly know. Fella doesn’t talk none. Only reason I know his name is because I heard the guards use it before they bit the dust. He’s a bit of a strange one, to be honest; but no harm that I can tell.”

Nick stared at Renee and found himself agreeing. The man was a picture of gentle calmness. He was almost smiling, but not quite. The blinking of his eyes was a slow and careful affair, like that of a dozing cat. For some reason Nick felt no sense of danger from the man – it was his two colleagues that were the bigger worry.

But what could he do? It was a free country and he couldn’t exactly stop the prisoners from following him. It would be better to extend the hand of friendship than to make an enemy. Nick didn’t like the thought of a bunch of angry criminals hunting them through the woods.

“Okay,” he said finally. “But you keep yourselves to yourselves and don’t upset anyone. These people have been through a lot.”

Jan smiled. “I understand. Lead the way, brother.”

***

Nick emerged back into the clearing. Everybody was standing around waiting for him. Eve had told them to stay put when she’d followed after him. When they saw the three newcomers they grew immediately apprehensive.

“Who are they?” Dave demanded.

Nick introduced the three men. “This is Jan, Renee, and Dash. They’ve had a similar day to the rest of us.”

“Why are they all wearing matching tracksuits?” Cassie asked.

Nick decided that honesty was the best policy. “Because they’re prisoners,” he said. “They’re going to tag along with us for a while.”

“Are you shitting me?” said Dave. “They’re supposed to be locked up, not roaming free. No way are they coming with us.”

Dash sucked at his teeth and tugged at his long beard, but didn’t say anything.

Perhaps he really is going to behave himself.

Jan, as was becoming the pattern, was the one to speak on behalf of the prisoners. “Look,” he said. “We are indeed supposed to be locked up, but right now there isn’t really a lot in the way of authority. We were sprung free by pure accident, and ever since then we’ve just been trying to survive. We didn’t escape by force; it was just a fluke of circumstance. What would you have us do?”

Dave sighed. “You better not be rapists or murderers.”

Cassie let out a whimper.

Jan waved a hand. “We’re not, I promise you. We may not be angels, by any lengths of the imagination, but we’re just lost souls right at the moment, same as you. We don’t want to become one of those things.”

“Do you know what those things are?” asked Kathryn. She sounded worried and was chewing at her fingernails.

Jan shrugged. “I don’t know what they are. I probably don’t know any more than you folks do. Your man, Nick, thinks a virus did this; I’m inclined to agree. What I can say for sure is that I’ve seen dead bodies walking around and eating people. As for what could cause such a thing, I have no idea. I’m not a praying man, usually, but I would suggest asking the old man up there to take mercy on us, because it seems like he’s pretty pissed off at the moment.”

Carl scoffed. “You think it’s the end of days?”

Jan shrugged. “Isn’t it? You think this isn’t the end of the world as we know it? Whether it was God, terrorists, or something else entirely, things have just taken one hell of a turn for the worse.”

Cassie whimpered again. “We’re all going to die. Eventually they’ll get us.”

Pauline went over and comforted the girl while the rest of the group exchanged nervous glances.

The silence was broken by Kathryn as she began to cough and splutter into her hands.

“You okay there?” Nick asked her.

She caught her breath and nodded. “I’m fine. Just got a frog in my throat.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Jan asked. “Do you folks have a destination in mind?”

“Does anywhere count?” said Nick.

“Better than nowhere, I guess.” Jan turned on the spot and pointed. “Me and the boys came from the main roads in that direction. Things are pretty bad back in the towns, so I would suggest we keep heading this way and stay in the woods.”

“This whole area is a country park apparently,” Nick said. “Maybe we’ll find help somewhere up the hill. There might be a craft centre or a farm or something.”