A/N: The evil genius tells Tim the master plan here, in true James Bond style. Gets very dark again too though, as the depth of Sarah's vileness is revealed. Hang in there, believe me it's necessary for the (admittedly crazy) plot! Poor Tim :/

Chapter 11

Tim's Second Sacrifice

"Hello, Tim, darling." Sarah was smiling sweetly at him. It was disconcerting to say the least. Tim squinted in the darkened room. There were blinds over the windows and a bedside lamp provided only dim illumination.

"What the fuck is going on?" Tim's speech was slurred on account of being a zombie, but he was still understandable.

"Oh, well, I'd have thought that was obvious, Tim. Duane and I are building an empire here. Somewhere from which we can defend our sovereignty when we take over the country." Tim gasped, half in amusement, half in shock as he realised that she was serious.

"How the hell are you going to do that?"

"Easy. Zombie armies."

"And what makes you think they're going to fight for you?"

"They're simple beings, Tim. Remarkably easy to control."

"I think you'll be surprised." Tim muttered darkly.

"They all have the same fundamental motivations. It's really quite pathetic how readily they capitulate at the prospect of certain... threats."

There was a loaded pause. Tim knew her words had a significance that would no doubt become terrifyingly clear in due course, but he could not fathom what it was at present. Sarah continued, a malicious glint in her eyes.

"They make very effective weapons, actually. They cause mass panic, which is the main ingredient of a successful military campaign. And, every time they kill a human, we get the bonus of a new undead recruit! Double points!" Tim just looked at her in disbelief, stunned by how depraved she had become. How had he ever been in love with this creature?

"This isn't a fucking computer game, Sarah!"

"Oh I know! It's much better! I never could stand it that you spent so much of your time playing those stupid games instead of playing with me." She had moved around the bed towards him as she spoke, smiling seductively. Tim recoiled, stumbling backwards into the wall.

"Don't be shy, Timmy. You're my little pet zombie now."

"I'm not your pet anything." He growled.

"Oh I beg to differ." She spoke so coldly that Tim could swear he felt ice on the back of his neck. "Didn't you wonder why you haven't been hurt like all the others? Why you're allowed to wander around freely without chains?" She paused, and let the silence extend. She was exerting her authority over him, making it clear that Tim had to answer, had to respond to her.

"Why?" He spat, scowling at being controlled in this fashion.

"Because I didn't want your pretty face damaged, Sweetheart. I've missed you so much. Duane... well between you and me, it turns out he's a bit of a bastard. And he's not a patch on you in bed." Horrified, Tim tried to back away but he just crashed into the wall at his back. Sarah stepped up and laid her hand on his chest. "You're actually even more attractive as a zombie, Tim. We're getting back together you and I, isn't that wonderful?"

"No we're not, you're insane!" He blurted desperately.

"Don't talk to me like that, Timothy. You belong to me, now. You're going to do exactly what I want."

"No I'm fucking not!" He exclaimed, glancing towards the door. The guard still stood to attention between him and it, blocking his path. Sarah smiled again, it was the most chilling thing he had ever seen.

"Oh yes, Tim. Yes you will. You see I hold all the keys to freedom here." She waved her arm over to the far wall, where hundreds of numbered keys were just visible in the half light hanging on individual hooks. "And I also hold the fate of every one of those creatures in my hands. Every one. Including your beloved Mike." Tim swallowed nervously. Threatening Mike was the ultimate way to control him, the only way. He grimaced, knowing he was beaten but unwilling to accept it. He decided to attempt to call her bluff.

"So? What are you going to do? You've already kidnapped him, turned him into a zombie, and had him tortured!" Tim had to force himself to get out the last word without flinching and revealing how much it upset him that she had used Mike to get to him. Sarah looked surprised by his reaction, and disturbingly pleased.

"Ooooooooh! You want to play like this do you? How exciting!" She picked up a radio from the bedside table and pressed the button to speak.

"817, report, over." She released the button.

"817 reporting, over."

"Find number nineteen, please. It was brought in yesterday. Ugly, fat thing." Tim stepped forward and opened his mouth to attack her for talking about Mike like that. Almost before he moved, he was intercepted by the guard, who pinned his arms by his sides, and held him still. "I think it's time we had it branded." Tim shut his eyes tight, as if somehow by not seeing her, he would not hear her words either. "Oh and castrate it too, please. I don't want that breeding with the females." Vomit surged into Tim's throat.

"Ok! Ok! Stop! Don't! Don't hurt him, please!" Sarah looked triumphantly over at him, Tim glared murderously back. "I'll do whatever you want." He was practically gagging on the words. "Just please tell them not to hurt him."

The radio crackled into life.

"Understood. 817 collecting 19 for branding and castration right away. Out."

"Ooops. Too late." Sarah said, mock sympathetically.

"What! Call him back!" Tim dived forward trying to grab the radio from her, but the guard yanked him back.

"Stop him! I said I'd do what you wanted!" He struggled with every ounce of power his weakened body possessed but it was no match for the inhuman strength of the guard holding him. "You fucking lunatic!" He screamed at Sarah. "Stop him, or I swear I'm going to fucking kill you!"

"Now now, Tim. Calm down, what terrible language." Sarah admonished. She turned away and flicked on a screen on the wall which had hitherto also been hidden by the darkness. The picture showed a dark cell with chains on the wall. Tim watched helplessly as Mike was brought in and restrained in the chains. There was no sound, but he could see Mike's mouth moving, pleading, asking what he had done wrong. And he could see how terrified he was.

"Stop it! For fuck's sake! I said I'd do whatever you want, you fucking maniac! Stop it right now!" Tim was panicking, adrenaline pumping. His yelling summoned the attention of two further guards who entered the room to assist the one already holding him back. Sarah frowned at Tim.

"Don't speak to me like that, Tim. I can't bear that sort of language and aggression from you." She was chastising him like a child. On the screen someone was approaching Mike slowly with a glowing red metal poker. Two guards ripped open his shirt. Mike flattened himself to the wall, wide zombie eyes fixed on the advancing poker. Tim was desperate, utterly powerless. The guard was closing the gap to Mike, he was about to burn the number nineteen onto his skin. Adrenaline spiking, heart crashing, Tim could do nothing but watch. Then he thought about what Sarah had said. She didn't want him to be aggressive. He instantly switched tack, softening his voice, willing to try anything.

"Sarah, I'm sorry. I promise I'll never speak to you like that again. I'll do whatever you want. Please don't hurt Mike. Please. I'm begging you. You can do whatever you want to me, but please don't hurt him." She looked at him then, her eyes suddenly filled with joyful tears. She pressed the button on the radio as the man with the poker was leaning over Mike's chest.

"Change of plan, 817. Stand down immediately." The guard on the screen straightened and turned to look at his radio, which lay on a table. He moved away from Mike to retrieve it and reply. Tim let out a large breath.

"817 standing down. Shall I release it back to work?"

"No. Keep it there. I may reactivate your commands at any time." She ordered, with a pointed glance at Tim. The guards moved out of shot. Mike's body sagged on his bonds with relief. "Now you've learnt how to behave, Tim, we can talk. You see, I'm not a monster, I just know what I want and I'm prepared to do anything to get it." Tim remained silent, still recovering his breathing. "Gentlemen, leave us please. Take a spare radio and order the continuation of nineteen's treatment if this one disobeys me, or attempts to harm me in any way. Although I believe we have now come to an understanding." She looked expectantly at Tim, forcing him to nod his confirmation. He was trapped. Even if he killed her with his bare hands, which was tempting, Mike would be tortured or worse, and he would never be able to rescue him. There were hundreds of guards between this room and the one where Mike was being held. There was no way out, she was in control and he would have to give in to her demands. One be one, the guards released their hold on him and left the room.

Once they were alone, Tim did everything Sarah required of him. His brain found her revolting, but she easily manipulated his body. As a zombie, it was only ever half under his control, and she remembered what he used to respond to when they were together. When she first touched him and began to remove his clothes, the urge to push her away was almost unbearable. But he only had to glance at Mike's chained and battered body on the screen to restrain himself and allow her to do whatever she wanted to him. He closed his eyes at every opportunity to try to shut out what was really happening. He tried to conjure the image of Daisy's sweet smile, and imagine it was her body beneath him. His fragile hallucinations were not enough, and he simply had to endure the torment. He had never thought he could find sex so abhorrent that it made him feel physically sick. But he knew what he was going through was nothing compared to what Sarah would have those men do to Mike if he did not comply. No matter how humiliated and degraded he felt, Tim forced himself to perform for her, and dutifully obeyed her every command.