Note from author- Hey guys! I hope you love this chapter as much as I did writing it! Just a quick note on the Z drawing I created. I definitely felt inspired by the arena and Captain on this piece! Also, please be respectful of my artwork and don't take my art and state it's yours without my permission. Let's all be nice to one another. Happy readings. 😊❤️

2 Months Earlier

The taunting crowd outside gave me an unsettling feeling. I waited in the locked cell that the Captain had placed me in. My claustrophobia wasn't helping either with the room not having any windows for light or fresh air to breathe.

The flickering of a candle that hung on the small crusted wall outside the bars was the only light illuminating the room. I didn't even know if it was night or day to be honest.

Chants of Death! Death! Death! came from the arena. I knew that someone out there had lost, which meant they would soon meet their demise. That always made the Captain happy—watching someone cower in submission, pleading for their life. I've seen his eyes widen like a kid in a candy store at the sight of blood. It was as if he too was part zombie.

The arena that the Captain had created was your typical gladiator type. Trapped around a barbed wire fence were the fighters who battled until there was only one who would survive. The only difference was that there was no armor to wear and the leader would choose the weapon they would fight with. He got great amusement from adding zombies to the mix.

Sometimes the Z's were chained against the wall but if you got too close, you were a goner. Other times, he would let them loose just to spice things up a bit. His would-be throne resembled a lifeguard tower. With a snarky smile on his face, he always had the best seat in the house.

He was by far the worst human I had met on this retched planet. Kayden was right below him on my list.

When they found me, I thought I would be able to start my life over somehow, and I did in a way. Finding my place in this gated community buried deep in the mountains was taking my mind off the past.

Hawk, the Captain's right-hand man, helped me the most in overcoming those demons. It was only possible by healing from within. He even gave me his son's hatchet; he had kept it as a remembrance of him. I didn't want to take it at first because I knew how much it meant to him. Nevertheless, he said it was meant for me now so I took it gracefully.

I remembered his eyes as he told me about his dream. They gleamed so bright as if he had received a sign from God himself. There was a massive tree with branches that reached the stars, connecting heaven and Earth. The head of the hatchet was wedged inside its thick mossy trunk. Hawk said that in his dream I reached for the strong wooden staff of his son's hatchet and pulled it out of the tree.

I didn't know what any of it meant, but knowing his native ways it was very important to him that it be fulfilled somehow. Soon after that, he taught me how to throw the hatchet just as he did with his son. He told me to give it a new name now that I was its new owner. I named her Lucy, the names of my father and mother intertwined together, Luke and Macy.

"You're up next, sweet cheeks!" shouted the man with the greasy hair. His heavy voice snapped me from my thoughts. He had been guarding my cell nearly the entire time I was held and all I knew about him was that his name was Mark. I didn't care to know anything more.

I fidgeted with the sleeve of my shirt before I finally stood up, waiting for him to open the door. He placed that familiar sleazy smile on his face as his greasy hair shined from the candle light. "This is gonna be a real good battle between you and Kayden, let me tell yah." He wiped his runny nose against his hairy arm. He was so disgusting. "I got about five squirrels on him."

He unlocked the gate and placed his hand on the grip of his gun, as if to tell me not to try anything stupid. I couldn't get out of this place even if I tried. If there was one thing the Captain was good at, it was keeping his sanctuary locked down. No way in, no way out—without him knowing about it first.

"You know, you should have just let him have you. It's easy women shit. All's you gotta do is lay on your back and open them pretty legs of yours." He snickered as he licked his lips.

I walked up to him, placing a gentle smile on my face, as it masked all evidence of what was coming for the sleazeball. Without any hesitation, I shot my head forward connecting my forehead to his fat nose. The sound of the crack told me I had made perfect contact.

He fell to the ground screaming in agony, "You bitch!"

Before I could get a few kicks in, a couple of hands grabbed a hold of my arms and carried me out of there.

My eyes squinted at the sight of daylight. They had shoved me to the floor, locked inside another cage. The smell of rot and iron filled my nostrils. Pools of blood gleamed dark red against the dirt floor, vacant of whomever it had belonged too.

I could hear my name mixed with chants of Death! The words escalated as I rose up on my feet. Looking around the dome, I could see that the Captain had added a few extra touches to the arena. Metal spikes and razor blade wires ran all along the inside of the fence and at least eight or nine Z's were spread out, chained by the throat like dogs.

My eyes narrowed on Kayden as he marched to the center where I stood. "Did you have a nice nap in the cellar, love?" Arching his brow, he glided his hand through his short blonde hair the same as he always had.

Memories flashed of his unwelcomed rough lips, rubbing along my neck and mouth. "I'd choose that place over being next to you any day, asshole!" I spat in fury.

He laughed in amusement. "My little Ren, you'll be sleeping six feet under when I'm through with you." It boiled my blood to hear him call me by the same nickname Jax used to call me. My cheeks burned with hatred. I wanted to kill him right then and there, but I knew it wasn't time just yet. We had to wait for his father.

The crowed died down and only moans and snarls from the Z's filled the arena. The Captain finally made his way to the top of his towered throne. The metal patches that rested on his chest caught the reflection of the sun. He wore his usual attire, an old military jacket with all the ranks he got from serving.

I soon found Hawk's eyes on me. His brows pulled together and he nodded towards me, as if to signal that he was on my side, which gave me comfort.

"It gives me the greatest pleasure to have my son be a part of this arena today, my people!" He raised his hands up, gesturing to Kayden. "You see, Kayden has been so kind as to volunteer in today's match with the lovely Evren!" The words coming from his toothy smile sent an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

The crowd cheered him on as the Captain continued. "The rules still follow! You will fight until there is only one who stands!"

My adrenaline kicked in as the Captain reached for the weapons chosen for us. I prayed it was Lucy. "For my son!" He threw down the first weapon as it skidded across the floor in a cloud of dirt. I couldn't make out what it was. Kayden bent over to pick it up and I could see the name Lucy. He had my hatchet. Kayden gave a kiss on the blade. That had my feet moving his direction.

"And for Evren!" the Captain shouted, taking me off my tracks. I looked up to see what he had chosen for me. "My rusty old pocket knife." His bellowed laugh filled the air and everyone joined his madness. I looked to Hawk who had not taken his frowned eyes off me. He and I both knew how this was going to end. Kayden's dad would do everything in his power to make sure his son was the last one standing. I would soon join my parents.

He threw the small knife at my feet. I picked it up and opened it to see what the blade looked like. It truly did live up to the Captain's word rusty.

The blade had crusted mildew that looked like it had been underwater for a long time. The tip of the blade bent sideways a bit. I gripped hard on the small handle and positioned myself towards Kayden. He gestured a tipped hat off to me with my Lucy snug in his filthy hands. He readied his position. The rumbles of the people hitting at the cages sent the arena into pure frantic chaos. I waited for the Captain's last words to signal the action to start.

"One will walk out alive! The other, a Z! If there ain't blood! There sure as hell better be! Now let's get this fucken party started!"

Kayden wasted no time in closing the gap between us. He took three giant steps and swung Lucy right at my head. I maneuvered away before it could make contact. A cloud of dirt trailed behind me.

Kneeling in a crouched position, I waited for him to make his next move. I held on to the knife with one hand and cupped a handful of dirt in the other behind my back. He had his height and his strength going for him, but he was easy to read. I could guess which tactic he tried next, as his skills weren't as fast as mine.

He charged at me again and I waited for the right moment. I took a few deep breaths the way Hawk had once showed me. I had to calm my nerves and focus.

Without further hesitation, I threw the dirt at his face. He dropped the hatchet and immediately went to his eyes. This was my chance to take him down. I attacked him from behind, sending the small rusty dagger toward his neck, but I missed as he blindly slapped it out of my hand.

Clenching my jaw, I threw a hard right hook that made contact with his cheek. The pain shot through my knuckles, but the satisfaction of hitting him made the pain go away. As the adrenaline surged, I kept trying to punch him repeatedly.

He quickly found his footing and hammered his shoulder at my stomach, leaving me winded, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't give up. I locked my hands together and forced them down on his back, over and over, until I couldn't do any more. I was physically exhausted.

Kayden was able to stand after a couple of minutes. I saw his clenched hand heading my way as he knocked me to the ground. My lip was on fire as I felt the swelling.

"You think you had any chance, love?" he said, still trying to catch his breath.

I tried getting back up as I spat blood onto the dirt. Grabbing a handful of my hair, he dragged me to one of the Z's. Its eager hands tried to claw at me. The bony raw features were dried and shriveled up just like the clothes it was wearing.

Kayden pulled my head back to his lips. "You should have let me have you. But now instead, he's going to." He giggled as he threw me to the Z's arms.

Its frail fingers ripped at my shirt while his mouth full of decaying teeth opened wide at my face. From the corner of my eye, I could see Kayden declaring victory with his hands in the air. The crowd, along with his father, cheered him on.

My sore and sweaty body was giving up as the Z's mouth was close to taking a bite of my neck. I'd never been bitten there before and I didn't know if I would survive another bite from one of them.

Seeing the spikes on the fence, I managed to push the Z's head at one, forcing its body to go limp. I dropped to my knees to gather what energy I had left in me. I could feel my heart beating through my chest as I tried to stand up.

Spotting my hatchet from a distance, I looked over to see that Kayden was still focused on his celebration. I sprinted towards Lucy as fast as my body could go. Inches away, I dove for it, only to be met by Kayden's hands as well. I gave him another blow to the face, connecting my fist to his right eye this time, but he continued to keep a tight hold on Lucy. Before I could get out of the way, he sent a hard flat kick to my chest that sent me sailing back. Landing hard on the floor, he had knocked the wind out of me. I felt the weight of his body as he climbed on top of me. His rough hands cloaked around my throat.

I felt myself slowly slipping away as the pressure of his grip didn't let up. My hands skimmed around, blindly searching for anything to help me. My eyes shot open when I found the small blade I had lost earlier.

Without hesitation, I sent it right through his arm.

Kayden released his hold on me to remove the pocketknife from his flesh. My lungs finally filled with cool air as I coughed.

"Now look at what you have done, my little Ren. Leaving me a scar to remember you?" he teased.

"That's not all I'm going to leave you with." I managed to say with my cracked voice.

His cheeky smile turned downward; his glare penetrated me. Holding on to the small dagger still in his hand, he sent it down towards my head. I dodged his aim, smacking his hand out of the way, as the blade sank into the dirt next to my ear.

When I was little, my mother had told me that it was never nice to bite other kids, but I was willing to make an exception with this one. I turned my head and sunk my teeth deep into his arm. His blood tasted just as bad as his ego did.

Kayden recoiled his hand, looking at the damage I had done.

"I can't wait to chain your ass up with these Z's here. You'll fit right in." He spat and held tight on the collar of my shirt, pulling back his fist for another blow to my face.

But nothing came. Almost immediately, Kayden started seizing up, convulsing right in front of me. His eyes rolled back showing nothing but white at first. I pushed him off of me and he fell to the side, but his grip held firm on my shirt.

Trying to pry myself away, his eyes finally shot back open. I stared into nothing but pure darkness as if I was staring directly at his soul. I quickly realized he had turned into a zombie. I had turned him into a Z with one bite. All the thoughts I had about me becoming immune had twisted my mind further into what I truly was.

In a frenzy, his stone-like body towered over me and he drove his teeth into my shoulder, biting hard.

This definitely put the saying "an eye for an eye" into play. More like, "a bite for a bite."

The sheer scream that came from my mouth silenced everyone. Footsteps thundered in my direction as the Captain's men grabbed Kayden with the leash pole. One of the men aimed a gun at his head.

A loud gunshot pierced the air. I waited for Kayden to drop to the floor, but instead it was the man with the gun who fell.

"Nobody fucken touches my son!" the Captain shouted as he approached. "Hold her down!" He pointed at me with blind fury.

My face was pushed into the floor mixing the dirt with my sweat, before finally pulling me to my feet. Two men held me up, one on each arm. My mouth gaped wide as I saw Kayden ripping apart the dead man.

"Let my son eat. He's hungry," the Captain demanded.

His lip curled as his icy stare was now on me. He pulled the side of my shirt down to witness the bite on my shoulder. The sensitive open flesh caused me to hiss through my teeth.

"I can't imagine how a small thing like you could do something like this." He gestured to his son whose face was now fully covered in red with an intestine dangling from his mouth. "And at the same time, be immune to it all." He arched his brow as he looked at my wound. "But here we are."

"What should we do with her Captain?" The man at my side intervened as I had the same thought.

The Captain tapped his finger at his lips. "Get my whip."

One of his men ran to get it. I knew what was coming for me as my back tensed at the thought. "We're not gonna kill her?" the man persisted.

"Are you fucking kidding? She has immunity. We can test some shit out, get a scientist or something like that and soon we can all be immune." He grabbed hold of my face, wrapping his entire hand from ear to ear over my mouth. "She also has a Z's ability to turn anyone." Narrowing his hand to my lips, he transitioned his expression into thought. "We'll need a muzzle too." He smirked before releasing my jaw from his grip.

The man soon came back with his black leather whip, placing it in the Captain's hands. "Get my son into one of the cellars with his snack. Nobody fucking better hurt my boy or you'll be his next snack! He pointed at the men who tried taking zombie Kayden.

The Captain had truly gone mad, keeping his own son alive who was never going to come back from the dead.

"Kneel her down, boys!"

My feet were kicked out from under me as they continued to hold my wrist, keeping me firmly in place.

"As you all have witnessed today! Evren turned my son into a Z!" The crowd sat silent. "Now I know you all are just as fucken confused as I am! But don't worry! She is immune to the virus! And you know what that fucking means, my good people!" The cheers slowly started rising. "It means that we're going to be fucking immune too!"

These people were brainwashed by him. He had no idea what I was or even if there could be a cure. I don't even know what I am anymore.

"Now! My dear Evren has done something unforgivable to my sweet boy! She must be punished!"

The sound of my flesh ripping apart was far worse to hear than the lashing of the whip itself. Each blow was worse than the prior. Tears streamed down my face as I bit my lip waiting for the next hit. My body was going limp as I saw a blurred image of Hawk run behind me toward the Captain.

A heavy breathy voice crawled next to my ear. "You're my weapon now, and weapons don't weep," whispered the Captain.

                                                ***

I had lain on my stomach for quite some time in the cellar next to Kayden as I adjusted the dog muzzle that had been placed on me. I could hear the chews and chomps he would make when the Captain fed him. It felt like I'd been down there for more than three days but I wasn't sure. My wounds had somewhat healed but it was still difficult to move at times. I contemplated ending my life somehow but I had to gain enough strength to do so.

Hearing the thundering sound of a bomb going off had the place shaking to its core. Trying to get up, I slowly made my way to the bars to see what was happening. Soon, another explosion went off that sent dust particles floating in the air.

A dark silhouette came rushing toward me. As he got closer, the candle lit up the features of his face. It was Hawk! He had a bag in his hand and a bow over his shoulders. He looked different with warrior paint on his face. "We need to go now!" he said, unlocking the barricaded door and broke off the lock of my mask.

"I can't move very fast. I'll only slow you down."

He hoisted me up and put my arm around his neck as we headed out.

Hawk had managed to set a few traps as decoys by creating bombs and releasing the Z's from the arena. He left the gate open for stray Z's to get in. The place was in pure zombie outbreak mode again, just as I had witnessed back at the stadium so long ago.

As we reached a hole in the barricade wall, Hawk handed me the bag that hung over his shoulder. "Lucy is in there." He smiled. "I need you to get as far away from here as possible."

"Wait, what about you?" I said, stopping in my tracks to meet his dark brown eyes.

"I have some business I need to finish with the Captain," he said as he retrieved the bow from over his head.

"I'll wait for you." The words came through my quivering lips.

"Don't wait for me. Walk your destined path, my dear friend." He wiped a single tear from my cheek. "You are meant to turn our world back to the way it was."

I knew he wasn't going to get out alive. He was going on a suicide mission.

"Go!" he said again. I left him, and on the other side of the wall, I ran, not looking back.