“So outside? Wouldn’t we be more vulnerable out there?”
“I don’t know, maybe”.
“That isn’t helping”.
“I’m nervous and I feel claustrophobic in that cabin, I don’t have the answers, I’m just telling you how I feel about the situation”.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong, maybe you have a point, but you don’t have a plan, we have no idea what’s going on, we don’t know if what my dad said was true or not, but what we do know is that something is happening and staff aren’t saying anything”.
“Regardless of what it is, I’d rather be outside than trapped in that cabin, sinking ship, fire, pirates or god forsaken whatever you want to call them, crazy people”.
“I’m just saying…” Rachel began, but she was interrupted by screams coming from one of the adjacent corridors. The spine chilling screams and wails were enough to silence the entirety of the rowdy impatient crowd and the security guard sprung to action, bracing himself for something or another.
Men, women and children poured down the corridors, fleeing from someone or something, a look of terror and desperation in their eyes. Some stumbled and fell trying to escape, only to be trampled on by those behind them and if for a second the young women thought that was horrific, the preceding events would top it with ease.
A man was slammed against a wall of the corridor and his throat quite literally ripped out, spraying blood everywhere, by another crazed man, just like the girls had seen in the video and a woman and her two sons were pounced upon and ripped apart by more crazed people. The security guard ran over to help, pushing past the fleeing crowds, but what he intended to do on his own was anyone’s guess. Very quickly, even he was overwhelmed as more crazed people surged down the corridor, pouncing on any stragglers and tearing them apart with their teeth and nails.
Rachel and Lori had never seen so much blood.
“It’s real…” Lori murmured, wide eyed staring and going pale with horror.
“Lori! We have to go!” Rachel screamed and grabbed Lori’s wrist, “We have to go now!”
1:50pm - 7 hours, 3 minutes since outbreak in London.
40 minutes since outbreak aboard MS HotS.
“Are you okay? Where are you now?” Lakshman asked his wife, Rohini. She was evidently shaken, he could hear the tremble in her voice.
“I’m okay… but those people”, she replied.
“They’re not well, they’ve been afflicted with something”.
“This ship isn’t safe, we need to get off, now! I want to be home with my son, not on this hellhole!”
“We’ll get off, I promise you. Where are you now?”
“I’m still in the auditorium, we’re in the dressing room and someone or something is trying to get through the door”.
“Is there another way out?”
“The emergency exit, but it’s locked, I don’t know which idiot locked it, but we’re trying to break it down before whatever is on the other side of that auditorium door breaks that down”.
“Have you barricaded the door?”
“We have. Laksh, I’m terrified. I don’t know if we’ll make it out alive, but I want you to know I love you, tell our son that mummy always loved him too”.
“Don’t talk like that! I’m coming for you! Just sit tight!”
“You’ll get yourself killed!”
“I’m not leaving you to your fate, I’d rather die trying!”
“I don’t know what I’d do if something happens to you”.
“As would I you, that’s why I’m coming for you”.
“Okay, but be careful, don’t take any unnecessary risks, do you hear? I’d rather you go back or save yourself than risk your life”.
“I’m not leaving you behind, our little trio is one for all and all for one”.
“I love you”.
“So do I, I’ll be there as soon as I can. If you manage to get out, text me, don’t call me, it might attract attention”.
“Okay, see you soon”.
Laksh hung up. He stood in the galley, bolted from the inside. Nothing was getting in or out.
“You’re not planning on going out there are you?” The sous chef Frederic asked.
“I am, the mother of my son awaits and I’m not planning to let her down, nor will my son hear tales of how his father did nothing to save his mother”.
“That’s crazy, you heard her, the rumours were true, those freaks are everywhere!”
“That isn’t going to stop me”.
“You’re nuts”, one of his other colleagues replied, “the fuck if you’re getting me out of those doors for anyone”.
Laksh started looking around the galley for makeshift weaponry, large knives, a butane torch, and oil-proof thick gloves. He grabbed pots and pans.
“Armour me up!” He ordered, looking at the galley full of bemused chefs and waiters. “What are you waiting for? Armour me up I said!”
“You’re nuts, but you’ve got some serious balls, I’ll give you that”, Frederic replied, “Come on guys, let’s armour up this homme fou”.
Grabbing anything they could find to tie pots to his body, they armoured him up and 10 minutes later he looked pretty indestructible, albeit ridiculous.
“Open the door!” He ordered, my wife’s knight is coming for her!”
They did so and cheered as he stepped out into the open.
“You go get your lady, you crazy love-struck fool, we’re here supporting you every step of the way!” Frederic proclaimed.
Lakshman pumped his fist, albeit awkwardly and set off to rescue Rohini.
CHAPTER 18 - MARTHA, PHOTIS & EDWARD
3:00pm - 8 hours, 13 minutes since outbreak in London.
1 hours, 50 minutes since outbreak aboard MS HotS.
. . .
. . .
An hour had passed and Martha had heard not a peep from anyone.
