Contagion: The Rising by John Carter

that mission went down, he thought you would rat him
out to the rest and say it was his idea.”
    “Figures,”
Trevor said as he bit into the leader’s neck. He waited until the leader
stopped thrashing and let go of his neck.
    Chloe
shook her head and attempted to process what the bandit leader had said. “What
mission? The supply run with Jeremy?”
    Trevor
sighed and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Yes, the supply run.” He rushed
over to her and held her shoulders, “We killed your Jeremy. Not Emma or Sarah.
We did.” He let go of her shoulders and she fell to her knees. “You’ve been
blaming the wrong people. I can’t believe you nearly killed Sarah.”
    Chloe
covered her head, “That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?”
    “Not
really. That part was Brady’s idea. Sick, twisted bullshit of an idea,” Trevor
looked down at his arm, which throbbed as the wound looked angry with
infection. There were more purple veins and some were protruding. He slid his
sleeve over it and collected his rage.  He looked down at Chloe and back
at the bandit Riser behind him. “Go secure the area. Make sure there aren’t any
stragglers behind.” The bandit Riser ran out of the tent and searched the area.
    “You
killed Jeremy,” she stuttered and sobbed.
    He
rolled his eyes, “Not directly no. If he didn’t push Emma out of the way, he’d
be fine.” He crouched down and looked at her, “It’s still her fault.”
    She
glared at him with red eyes and wiped her face with her sleeve. “Now what?”
    ‘What
do you mean ‘now what’? We’re going to get them.” He stood up and walked over
to the entrance. The first two bandits jumped up and stared at Trevor. “Well, I
suppose it’s time to get you guys in order.” They shifted their feet and looked
at each other. The taller bandit snarled at Chloe, who was still crying. “She’s
fine, just go and eat someone else.” The two bandit Risers ran out of the tent
in search for food.
    “Fine?
I’m nowhere near fine,” she stood up and faced Trevor. He looked at her and
smirked. He walked over and stood in front of her as she started to shake. She
finally realized what kind of monster he was turning into, and there was no way
to fight him without dying first. Chloe sighed and attempted to gain her
composure as Trevor walked around her to the tent entrance.
    He
stood at the entrance, and said without turning around to face her, “You can
stay in here until you’re done. I wouldn’t want one of them to catch you off
guard as you’re having a pity party of one.” He walked out and joined the rest
as they fed on field mice, weasels and other Risers. Chloe sulked over the
decisions she had made and can’t undo. She looked over at the other bandits who
began twitching. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and pulled her black hair
back into a ponytail. The bandit Risers stood and watched as she fixed her
shirt.
    Chloe
looked over to them, “Outside. They’re all waiting for you outside.” They
stared at her with puzzled looks and walked over to the tent entrance. One
looked back as the other continued walking. “Let him know, I’ll be out there in
a few minutes.” The bandit nodded and proceeded to follow the others. She
rolled her eyes and said aloud, “I guess I deserve this. Whatever this thing
is.” She wasn’t afraid of being overheard and didn’t care if they killed her.
She was sure they’d take their time on her, pulling her apart and she had no
problem with that.
    She
walked out as Trevor was making a speech to the bandit Risers that gathered
around him. They gnawed on bones and tore from the Riser bodies they picked
apart. Chloe instantly felt queasy at their bloody feast as Trevor joined in
with a few bites here and there.
    “Chloe,”
Trevor turned to her. “I’m glad to see you’re ready to join us.” He smiled and
motioned to her arm. She stopped and looked down at her arm to find a scratch.
The skin was slightly raised and had a