The Girl in the Middle

A run in with Zombie

*Amber*

"Get up now". She don't look at me, but hands the knife back towards me. Without knowing what to do with it, my hand closes around the handle.

I look in the same direction at Kattie. Four muscular young men is coming towards us. The all wear the same loose pants with the pockets down the legs that everyone seem to wear. It seem to be the standard clothes here. They also has visible tattoos and I know from my lessons with Michael, that it is Zombie's mark.

The one in front has to be Zombie, he look a lot like Clay, same high cheekbones, same perfectly drawn lips, almost same green/blue galaxies for eyes. But his hair is longer and stark white and his skin much paler. He is taller than the others and carries himself with a stature like a king.

The three others is as different as can be. One has long dark hair in a ponytail, another is totally bald and not taller than me, maybe even a bit smaller. They are both hard putting an age to, but twenty something is my best guess. Both has a gun in their hand.

The last one is younger, maybe around KC's age. He has darker skin and a slight cover of pitch black hair, like he has recently been shaven bald. He has a knife in his hand and his eyes is resting on me.

"Zombie !" Kattie's voice is a barely audible hissing.

"Well, good afternoon Kat". Zombie say. He sound like he is actually happy to see her. Like it has made his entire day to meet her here. "And I am guessing that this is the princess herself, finally let out of Tom's castle". He smile at me in a way that makes all the hairs on my body stand on ends.

I has heard so much about this man, mostly about how evil and gruesome he is. And now he is standing here in front of me, talking like we were old friends and he has just told me a joke.

"Has Clay really allowed you to leave Tom's safe fortress ?" He don't look evil or malicious, but something about him still gives me bad vibes.

"What do you want Zombie ?" Every muscle in Katties body is tense as a bowstring and ready to attack. She look like a prey that has been run into a corner and is only waiting for the right moment to strike at the enemy. It is a big contrast to Zombie's relaxed stance.

"I just wanted to see the princess". His eyes burn into mine. "Amber". He say the name like he is tasting it. "I can see why he gave you that name". His eyes run over my body. "Lacking a bit of muscles and a bit to skinny for my taste, but we can do something about that".

He reaches out with one hand, like he wants to caress my cheek, but at that moment Kattie attacks.

It all happens so fast and I can't take my eyes of Zombie's. That is why I never see how Kattie ends up between two of Zombies men with a gash over one eyebrow and a gun pressed against the back of her head.

"So you are not going to try and run ?" Zombie looks at me like he is having a fun time. I refuse to look him in the eyes. I am not a good runner and I know that any one of these men would catch me in no time. So I choose to slowly back away, while thinking of a sharp comeback.

"Alec, could you ?" Zombie say casually. With no further explanation the dark guy steps up behind me. I can't make my body resist as he takes the knife from me. He holds both my hands on my back with one of his and presses the knife against my throat. "You see princess. Amber isn't a name Clay kan just give to anyone.. Actually he can't give it to anyone.."

"Zombie !" Kattie's voice is a bit high pitched. "Don't let her pay for Ben's stupidity and your grief".

"Shut up Kat". Zombie whips around and slap Kattie so hard her head lolls forward and her body goes limp. She would have collapsed if it wasn't for the two men holding her up. The panic grows like a ball in my chest. A ball that makes it hard to breathe and makes my chest hurt. The sobs is stuck in my throat, right underneath the knife pressed to it.

"You had a knife in your hand, you were armed". Zombie say totally calm. "I can claim there was a fight, I thought you were better trained, so I accidentally killed you". He shrug with one shoulder, like it doesn't really matter, as he steps closer. "It will spare you a lot of pain in the end".

"Please don't, please leave me be ?" My voice is meek as I beg for my life.

Zombie step closer and in a single, all to well rehearsed motion he takes the place behind me. These two has done this before. No doubt about it.

My hands are no longer locked on my back and in an act of desperation I grab for the arm that is placed around my neck. His other arm is around my waist, pressing me into him in an almost sensual way.

"I don't even need a weapon. It would just be a single hard twist and a snap. You wouldn't even feel it". His tone is like a soft cares, which is in stark contrast to the words he is saying. "It would be like wringing the neck on an unwanted kitten, it would be over and done so fast".

I am crying. I can't stop the tears and even if both my hands is gripping his arm and I am digging in my nails, I am nowhere close to making him let go, it is like trying to remove a three or a steel beam.

"Let her go".