Chapter 10: Death comes unexpected
Smoker smelt them before he even saw them.
Jockey and Spitter. But his blood chilled as he sensed their hatred, their venom towards him.
"Stay back," Smoker whispered. He pushed the Survivors, Witch and Hunter back with his tongue, before advancing slowly towards the door. Two snarling things burst through hit him full on, all three pummelling backwards and smashing through everything.
Smoker jumped backwards and faced Spitter and Jockey.
"Why are you-" he began. Spitter slapped him hard. "-doing this?" he finished weakly, rubbing the slap mark. Spitter's eyes travelled to Witch and Hunter.
"So this is the kiddy grown up," she said spitefully, walking over to Hunter and tightly gripping his chin, squashing his cheeks. Her grip was like a vice, and Hunter found that his jaw throbbed even after she had let go. Spitter turned to Rochelle and Witch, then to Smoker. She pointed a finger at the two females.
"So, who is this kid's mom?" she asked abruptly. "Which is the one you had the kid with, the Witch ... or the bitch."
The two men Survivors fought to get to Spitter, to destroy her for what she had called Rochelle. An arm stopped them. They turned to see Hunter.
"Leave this to Smoker," he said, although everything about him was worried.
Jockey giggled and cracked his knuckles in anticipation, and Spitter gave a sly smile as she tossed her thin bunches back.
"You're the bitch!" Smoker roared, running forwards and throttling Spitter with his bare hands. "She is not a hag like you!"
Spitter coughed and a small spurt of acid spattered onto Smoker's wrists. Grunting with pain, he reeled backwards into Jockey. The deranged little Special Infected gave a maniacal guffaw and sprang upwards, latching onto the head and shoulders of the older Special Infected.
"Spitter, here!" Jockey cried, flinging himself towards the female and thus dragging Smoker along with him. Spitter gave a crazed smile, a smile full of malice, which yearned for Smoker's torment.
"Smokey, you know what I want?" she asked, voice gentle but eyes full of malevolent intent, like a cat readying to pounce. "I want to hear your pained screams as I carve through your flesh; I want to acknowledge the fear in your eye as my acid burns your tongue; but, mostly, I want you to know that the only person that truly loved you is going to torture your little pet, and all of these Survivors once their protector is gone."
And Smoker's eye bulged as she slowly advanced towards him ...
"Leave him alone!" The voice of Hunter rang out clear and sharp, but Spitter detected a quaver of fear. She turned a disdainful eye upon the young Special Infected.
"Listen, boy," she sneered. "This revenge I have towards Smoker is more complex than your simple brain could ever comprehend. So stay out if this!"
And her hands flashed out, shoving Hunter, making him fall backwards into Witch's arms, who hastily pulled him up.
"Now, where were we?" Spitter said huskily, seeing that Jockey had successfully tied up Smoker and taken all the Survivors' weapons.
"Good Jockey!" she smiled, tickling his chin as he purred. "I might even give you a reward for all you've done." Spitter's eyes flickered over to Witch, obviously contemplating whether the girl should die or be handed to Jockey for his own ways of hurting her. Which consisted of slowly breaking her neck.
Spitter mused awhile before turning back to Smoker, who was roped by his elbows and thighs to the bed. He was kneeling, but his head lolled downwards, arms limp, shins and feet firmly wedged under the metal. A tight piece of cord kept his mouth shut, therefore obscuring the room for his tongue to come out.
Spitter crouched and faced the dejected person she had once loved. He lifted his head and his one visible eye stared mournfully into her merciless two. She gave a cruel smile and shook her head.
"Oh, there will be no pity for you, Smokey. Are you so consumed by your lost love for me you are speechless?" Her eyes creased into slits as she mocked him. His head slowly shook from side to side. "What's that, Smokey? Didn't quite catch that," she continued, letting out a harsh, humourless laugh. "Doesn't seem like you to ignore a girl, let alone one who loved you before you had a child with an unknown woman."
Smoker shook his head vigorously. Spitter's pretence of a smile vanished and a look of disgust came over her face. Her hand seized Smoker's face, tugging him to face her, squashing his cheeks and tumours.
"Don't you dare keep denying it is your child, you unscrupulous deserter! The Smoker I knew would not leave someone he was devoted to for another's child," she spat. Then she gave a small smile, venomous and evil. "Now it is time for torture," she sang.