Into Darkness novel Chapter 3

"Wha-what are you talking about? How many Zombies are there?" I felt my chest tighten and I started to feel dizzy again.

"The news were only broadcasting for about 10 minutes until they had to run. They said that there were approximately 10 000 in England right know but that they were increasing in numbers quickly"

10 000? Holy shit.

"What do you mean? Increasing?" Lucas questioned, confusedly.

"It's a virus and it's contagious by blood. If they come in contact with an open wound, you become one of them... If they don't eat you before that"

I looked around the room and saw that everyone was listening to out conversation, most people shared my nervous expression.

"A virus? But there must be a cure then? Mustn't it? How do we stop them?" Peter practically begged his aunt, taking her shoulders in his hands.

"They said that people were working on it, but until then; they said that the only safe way was to separate the head from its body" She clamped her eyes shut, probably trying to the awful picture she's given all of us, out of her head.

"Oh god, we're basically screwed" I muttered, earning myself a few glares.

"How are we supposed to get food?"

"What about protection?"

"Do you even have any weapons?"

People were talking, trying to drown out each others and I just felt myself getting harder and harder to breath.

I tried to get out of the crowd around me, but there were to many people in the way.

My eyes turned dizzy and the last thing I saw before it all turned black, was Lucas' worried eyes.

•••

"Raven? Are you alright?" I felt someone shake my shoulders and when I opened my eyes, I saw big brown eyes only a few centimeters from my face.

Startled, I tried to get away, but I soon calmed down when I realized that it was Harry.

"God damn it Harry, you can't scare her like that" I snapped my head in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Lucas.

"Sorry..." The little boy muttered, climbing of my chest.

Lucas shook his head, but I could see that he was smiling.

"Are you alright?" He asked me, his voice now soft.

"My head hurts...?" I said, a little unsure. My head was hurting, but I wasn't sure why.

"You passed out and hit your head, that's probably why" He explained and I sighed.

God damn my claustrophobia.

Luckily it wasn't a very serious case of it, but when I was in crowds with too many people or in small rooms, I usually freaked.

"Where am I?" My voice was hoarse and I coughed a few times.

"You're in the guest room, I carried you here after you'd past out" He calmly explained, he was sat at the end of the bed I was laid down in and next to him, Harry also sat.

"Thanks... How is everything working out? What are we going to do about food? Are there any news?" I asked him, for a moment I forgot about everything, I almost thought it was a dream.

"Well, we've made different groups and shifts. There's always going to be 5 people outside the house and 10 people hunting for food. The rest of us are going to help inside of the house and they're refurnishing the living room to a work out and fighting room"

"How many are we even?" I guessed that we were around 35 people, but I hadn't had the time to properly count.

"36, we're in groups of five that change tasks after every three hours... The only one that isn't in a group, is little Harry over here" Lucas patted Harry's head and Harry pouted.

"They say I'm not big enough" He looked really mad, but he was too cute to be taken seriously so I ended up laughing.

Lucas smiled and offered me a hand.

"You, me, Peter, Oliver and James are in one group" He explained, while helping me stand.

I felt a little bit lightheaded and had to grab Lucas shoulder, to keep in balance.

"You alright?" He looked down at me and I nodded.

He really towered over me, I wasn't even that short, but comparing to him I was the size of a freaking ant.

When I felt a small hand grab mine I looked down to my left in surprise.

Harry had grabbed my hand and looked at me with big eyes.

"So you'll feel safe" He said, with his innocent voice and my heart broke.

I glanced to my right and saw Lucas smiling down to him.

What a softie.

When we walked down the stairs, I slowly peeked down, making sure it wasn't too crowded so I wouldn't get a panic attack or faint.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, when he saw me leaning down and looking down the stairs.

"Just making sure there isn't too many people down there" I said, squeezing his hand tight.

"Why?" He raised his eyebrows and looked up at me.

"So I won't faint or get a panic attack" I decided that it was best to answer honestly, since I'd spend a lot of time with them both.

"I have claustrophobia you see" I explained when still looked at me with the same wondering face.

"It means you feel bad when you're in a small space" Lucas told Harry, when he still didn't get it.

"Ooohhh" He said, nodding and looking up at me with a smile.

I chuckled and walked the last steps down the stairs.

There was a few people in the living room, moving furniture and Rosa and a girl I think was called Cassie stood in the kitchen, preparing some sandwiches.

"Oh... I guess that can come in handy"

He just nodded and I looked down at my feet, as I always did when things got uncomfortable or awkward.

"We should probably head back in" I said after a few moments of silence. He agreed and we nodded as we passed the guards outside.

When we got back inside, the first thing I saw, was Harry attempting to hit Oliver.

"You'll never be able to punch the master of... Stuff" Oliver creatively said, while "dodging" Harry's hits. I said dodging but it was more like grabbing him under his arms and holding Harry as far as possible away from his face.

I laughed, catching Oliver's attention. He gave me a small smile but soon frowned.

"Ouch! God damn it" He cussed, glaring at the little boy, Harry now wore a smug smile and crossed his arms proudly.

"Riiight in the face" He said, sticking out his tongue.

I heard Lucas snicker besides me and I joined him.

"You up for a fight?" I asked, shooting him a challenging smirk.

He stretched his arms cockily and returned the smirk.

"Game's on bitch" I muttered, as we stood in position.

"Rules?" Lucas asked and I looked over at Oliver for ideas.

"First punch wins? Three rounds?" He suggested and I looked over at Lucas to see if he agreed, he nodded and I gulped.

"Go!" Oliver yelled and that's when I realized, I didn't know how to fight for shit.

Bloody hell.

Apparently Lucas did though, because before I could say 'bloody f*ck' I felt a stinging pain on my cheek.

"God damn it!" I yelled, rubbing the spot he hit.

"Shit, sorry! I thought that you would dodge it!" Lucas apologized and I pouted.

"Are you alright?" He asked and I nodded stubbornly.

"Now you know I'm about as good as a toad when it comes to fighting" I muttered and I saw Lucas looking down at me with an amused smile.

"Oh go to hell" I flipped him off and sat down at a chair.

"Maybe I can teach you? Just the basics."

I looked up at him and shrugged, it couldn't hurt.

"Great then that's settled, but I think it's time that we get ready" He clasped his hands and I looked over at Oliver with an questioning look.

"We're hunting for food and necessities next shift"