Chapter Seven

Standing back in the lobby, machete firmly in her hand, Selena exhaled. She could see the soldiers returning, they were laughing, whooping and jostling.

They looked almost exuberant.

"Oi oi" Mitchel laughed, coming into the lobby with bright eyes and a heaving chest. Everything about him exuded exhilaration. He caught sight of Selena, eyes dancing, clutching her machete, ready to defend herself against the infected, "you don't need that little penknife no more princess. Not when I'm here to protect you-"

Selena scoffed, shaking her head. She'd survived herself, by herself. She didn't need this cocky soldier to protect her. To mock her.

Jim shifted in the shadows, Hannah holding his shirt behind him. He felt a guilty pit in his stomach. It had been Selena, brave Selena who had lunged for her weapon and prepared to defend their small group. He felt a little sick, watching Selena stand in front of the soldiers. He'd already fallen into the comforts of the manor, of the stability and luxuries the soldier's had provided. Elizabeth was still in the dining room, she was like him.

Was Selena really the sole strength of their group?

It was only Selena who was resolutely retaining her independence. The guilty feeling grew.

Licking her lips, Selena looked at Mitchell. Did killing thrill him? Thrill them?

"...but, I mean..if you really wanna hold a big stick..." Mitchell chortled, grinning at her machete, "you should just hold this" before he clutched his crotch firmly, giving in a shake.

"Mitchell" Farrell barked, but the lack of respect from the dining room clearly spilled into the soldier's daily lives too, because he went ignored.

At her disgusted snarl, he laughed with the other soldiers before snatching the machete from her grip. Immediately, with almost snake like reflexes, her hand shot out and she slapped him hard across the face, before she snatched the machete back.

Mitchell and the other soldiers laughed even harder, "wow! Like it feisty, eh?" he chortled, slapping her on the bum.

"Hey, cut it out-" Jim shouted.

"Fuck you" Selena hissed, shaking her head in disgust. She turned to walk away before one of the soldiers jeered something about an invitation and then, as Jim exclaimed in disgust and fear, Mitchell asked, "yeah? How about right now?" as he grabbed Selena in a tight bear hug, her weapon clattering to the ground, barely heard amidst the cheering and shouting.

Jim lunged forward, unthinkingly darting to help her. He shoved past a lunging soldier and, as Selena kicked out her legs while emitting a scream, he shoved Jones hard to the floor-

"Corporeal!" Sergeant Farrell raged, dashing into the fray. He was reaching angrily for a baton strapped to his belt - something that looked out of place in his uniform, looking like it belonged with a police officer rather than a soldier - and he brought it down hard into Mitchell's back. The soldier fell with a pained grunt to the floor, releasing Selena as he went.

"Ohhh you cunt" he groaned, clutching the side of his stomach.

Sergeant Farrell must have caught him on the side.

A crack of lightening illuminated the hall further for a brief moment, the Major seeming to appear with it, Elizabeth leading, running towards Selena.

"Sergeant!" he commanding, his voice hardly a shout, stilling all the soldiers.

With a mutinous face, Sergeant Farrell slowly replaced his baton.

Immediately at his words, the soldiers stepped back. Elizabeth ran to her friend, clutching her arms, "Selena? Selena are you OK? What-"

But she shook her head angrily, jerking herself free from Elizabeth's hands. She looked down at Mitchell, stepping away from him, from her friends with bright, fierce eyes, chest heaving with each desperate breath.

Silence permeated the grand lobby.

"There will be no more incidents such as this" the Major spoke "am I clear?"

A chorus of "Yes sir" ran out among the men.

"Mitchell, first action after an attack?"

"Secure the perimeter, sir" Mitchell groaned, righting himself slowly.

"Right. Get to it then. Bedford, Jones. Go with him"

Mitchell turned and walked away, the other two following him quickly.

"Sergeant. Clear the bodies off the lawn"

Silently, the Sergeant moved to follow his orders.

"The rest of you go with him. Not you, Clifton"

The other soldiers quickly left the scene.

As the Major silently held Selena's machete out to her, a rueful look on his face he addressed her, "I'm sorry. He meant no harm, it's just his style. It won't happen again-"

"Boys will be boys, right? Well, fuck you, too-" Selena hissed at his apology, his excuse before forcefully grabbing the machete from the his extended hand and stalking away, stamping angrily up the stairs.

"Clifton" the Major said, the order clear in his voice. Clifton nodded, his hat moving with the motion of his head, and moved to follow Selena, to make sure she found her to her room no doubt.

Civilians couldn't wander the manor, after all.

"I apologize. Adrenaline, excitement...it won't happen again" the Major said, looking towards Jim and Elizabeth, "perhaps it would be best to retire for the night? I'm sure everyone would appreciate some space."

He said it so politely but the order was obvious. It wasn't a suggestion.

Hannah nodded and immediately moved to the stairs.

"Hannah?" Elizabeth moved to follow her, but Hannah simply shook her head in a wonderful if not intentional imitation of Selena, folded her arms and left the scene.

Elizabeth looked to Jim in confusion.

"I imagine she's tired" the Major offered, nodding his head at the stairs. Indicating that Elizabeth should follow the young woman.

"Jim?" she asked quietly, unsure what to do.

He was looking pale.

He felt sick. Something was off, wrong. He understood the locked door policy at first, to an extent...but now...now it felt ominous. Selena had been harassed, severely so. These men, these soldiers...if they were to stay, it couldn't happen again.

"It's alright. I think everyone would benefit from time away. Time to think. Go up to bed" the Major replied, not letting Jim speak.

She nodded lightly at his words, looking at Jim once more.

Jim frowned. Think about what? What was the threat he heard? The underlying coldness in his tone?

Had it been a mistake to come here?

He nodded at Elizabeth and, with his input, she slowly went up stairs.

When she was out of sight, the Major addressed Jim, "night cap?"

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked into the library. Dutifully, Jim followed.

"Look, Major-"

"Henry will do at the moment" The Major offered, already pouring two glasses of whisky.

"Fine, Henry. We're grateful, very grateful for your protection and just...just to have found people but if we stay here, your men have to control-"

"Who have you killed?" The Major interrupted.

"I..what?"

"Who have you killed. Selena can't have carried your group the whole time. So. Who have you killed?"

Jim blinked.

"It was a boy"

"A child?"

Jim nodded, feeling shame for a moment. Hadn't he hunted, rather than killed?

"You killed a child. You had to, correct? Otherwise he would have killed you?"

Jim nodded.

"It's survival. The rules have changed. I understand that," the Major took a sip of his whisky, "and if you've killed a child to protect yourself, you understand it too, however unpleasant you may find it"

There was a small knock on the door before it was opened by Clifton.

"It won't happen again, Jim. Selena, Hannah. Elizabeth. They're all quite safe"

Jim shook his head.

Safe.

That word again.

That meaningless word.

"You can take the drink, if you wish" the Major said, opening the door to the study, his office.

Understanding his dismissal, Jim left the drink untouched and followed Clifton up the stairs.