The Rotting Flesh Book 1: Escatology
Chapter 20: New to the gang

A day had passed since the time Tom and Theresa found Jane and they were slowly getting used to her. Tom was the one who was more comfortable around her however Theresa kept a close eye on Jane, she did not trust her one bit.

“We need more food supplies” Jane suggested

“True lets go” Theresa said feeling a rush of excitement in her body

It had been a while since they had gone on those. The store they stayed in had almost everything but now they were low on supplies. She would finally test out her new swinging technic that she had been practicing for some time now.

“Wait you are going?” Jane said surprised at how someone so young would be eager to embark on such dangerous quests

“Yes, i can take care of myself” she replied

“Tom it can get dangerous out there you know, she’s too young for this” Jane said looking his support

Thomas knew nit letting her go would break her heart but he had grown attached to her, losing her would devastate him so he did what any parent would.

“I agree with Jane Terry”

Theresa’s eyes widened , she felt betrayed

“No no I didn’t say you can’t go, we’ll go together but leave the dangerous stuff to us” he explained

She wanted to disagree but was not in the mood to do so, so she just agreed and they left. Jane rode on Tom’s bike clinging to him while she rode hers. Each time she looked at them her insides would boil.

We just met her yesterday and she already wants to make the decisions here damnit Tom she thought as they sped to a nearby abandoned shopping center

They arrived and hid their bikes in the nearby bushes. They did the regular counting of zombies and when it was time to attack Tom stopped Theresa

“What is it?” she asked irritably

“Leave this part to us, just look out for us okay” he said

She violently shook his hand off her shoulder “what you can’t do this Tom” she protested

“Theresa listen to your brother” Jane interfered

Theresa gave her a dark hateful look before obeying what Tom had said. Jane and Tom went on and took out the zombies while Theresa stayed watch. She was so angry her cheeks were flashing. She could not fight with Tom, she did not want to fight with him because he was the only person she loved who was left in this world. So having no where to let out that rage she shed tears. They returned with the supplies and went back to their hide out.

“Wow you are good with the baseball bat, do you play” Jane complimented Tom after she had seen him use it at the store

“I used to in my younger days but not anymore” he replied

“Okay, so you’re a racer i presume”

“Yes”

“Professional?,”

“Almost became one but this whole mess destroyed everything for me” he explained “I was devastated at first but thanks to Theresa I’m fine, ain’t that right” he said looking at her

“Im off to bed” she said in a low tone and walked away

Jane noticed but decided the less she interfered between them the better.

Blood drops fell from her swollen lips as blows continuously landed on her. Rugal had been torturing her since she came.

“Who were those people you came with ?” he asked sitting on a chair in the far corner “you can leave us Jamal” he instructed

Jamal saluted with his bloodied hands and left the poorly lit room.

“I shall ask again Merlyn who”

“You…wanna…know…who they..are?” she said gasping for air after every word

“Yes”

“Even if I” she coughed blood “tell you, how will you replace them?”

“That is none of your concern, just give me the information i want” he snapped

“They know nothing” she said

“Commander I did”

“Im not your commander you son of a bitch!” she snapped

“Ohw so you still got some fight left in you ey” he commented “well after I am done with you, you’d have joined your friends in hell”

“Don’t speak about them like you knew them” she said irritably

“Well but I do know them don’t I, they were my friends too” he mocked

“Rugal you so of a bitch” she threw a fit but the chains holding her to the chair kept her there “I’ll kill you” she wept remembering how her friends died

“Oh i’m scared, we will continue our conversation tomorrow” he stood up and walked to the door “you better speak while those lips still work because soon they won’t, Goodnight” he slammed the door behind him

Fuck how did i not see this coming she thought

Her whole body was on fire especially her face. She had been beat up mercilessly like some common criminal and yet she was a soldier just like them. They had tortured her in so many ways that would hurt to even imagine just to get her to snitch on Desmond and Praise. However she was not about to break one of the military’s iron clad rule ‘Never reveal information about your comrades even if it means dying’ . She was ready to die if it meant they would be safe from him and he would never be able to recognize them even if they were to later return to camp alone. Merlyn hoped and prayed that their faces not be seen by any if the soldiers because as ling as they aren’t seen no one will know they were the ones with her.

The door swung open and two soldiers walked in. They untied her, she fell to the ground too weak to even stand so they each held her by the shoulder and dragged her out of the room. As they dragged her things were slowly becoming blurry for her, she was losing consciousness.

Desmond and Praise please live, for us all