Jonah Powell's Story

Rebecca wanted to be back in the city. She had been growing restless in the country and the weather had been turning unfavourable. Her father had already returned a week prior. A steady stream of messages had been arriving at their country home, brought by red faced boys who looked as if they had been riding harder than was needed. Rebecca had watched her father grow quiet and contemplative, then headed off to the city telling her mother that they would hear from him soon.

They had not and so her mother had packed them up and ordered the country home closed up. She was happy. The city meant dinners and parties, suitors and conversation. Rebecca loved the busyness of the city.

Rebecca stifled a yawn as the large carriage passed down the street. She would be home soon and her clothes would be unpacked. Her chin rested in her hand as she leaned the small window’s edge. Eyelids rimmed with dainty lashes began to grow heavy and slowly closed.

The carriage came to halt. There was noise and screams. Rebecca was sleeping and did not notice.

“What in the world is going on?” Her mother moved around in her seat, kicking Rebecca.

“Ow! Mother, do be careful please.” Rebecca rubbed her leg through her dress. “Whatever in the world are you doing? Why are we stopped?”

Her mother’s rather round body moved upward and towards the door. She opened it and the sound of screams were carried into the carriage and to Rebecca’s ears. The woman paled and pressed a handkerchief to her nose.

“Why are we stopped? Driver, answer me.”

“Ma’am there was an accident I cannot go anywhere at the moment.” He made a noise that sounded as if he had swallowed his tongue. “The good lord what is that?”

“I do not care what is going on find a way to get us around!”

“Ma’am for the sake of all you hold dear please close the door.”

Rebecca could hear that something was wrong with the driver, something in his voice sent chills down her spine. “Mother, mother do what he asks something is not right.” She could not see anything out the window.

Her mother’s bulk shifted, she huffed and closed the door. “This is absurd.”

Rebecca raised her handkerchief once again to her nose. “Everything will be fine I am sure mother.” Her tone was not at all convincing.

On the street, Jonah had been out and about running some errands for the ladies. He had been sent to retrieve some perishables and of course, their ‘tonic’. He smiled and stuck his hands into his pockets. He did not mind their eccentricities and found them slightly endearing.

He rounded a corner as the chaos was in full swing. An omnibus was being moved away, people were screaming and others were scrambling. There was blood and bodies, carriages stuck and unable to move and things that were...things. They looked like people but something was wrong.

Jonah was of course aware of the disease and the walled off area. It was the talk on the docks. Whatever was going on had effected ships coming and going. There was talk of monsters and walking sickness but Jonah found it all hard to believe. Sure, people got sick but the things that some of the men were talking about could not be true.

The sight before him made his stomach turn. He looked about quickly. Many were running and taking refuge indoors. A small group seemed the most vulnerable. His eyes spotted a larger personal carriage.

“Here! Over here! Run this way! Quickly get in that carriage!” Jonah waved at them. A few women and a couple of men it appeared at a quick glance. “Come on!”

He ran towards the horses and grabbed the reins near the one horses mouth. “Get turned around we got to get out of here.”

The driver shook his head, “What are you doing?”

Jonah gave the man a confused look, “Helping to save their and your lives.” He pulled the horses, make them begin to turn.

Rebecca felt the carriage lurch. Her mother grunted, “Good. Enough of this nonsense.”

Rebecca could hear the driver arguing with someone though both her mother and her chaperone seemed oblivious. She frowned, her heart pounding in her chest and her rapid breathing constrained by her corset. Pale hands shook.

Jonah looked back as he urged the horses to turn. “Come on! Don’t stand there not moving! Can’t you see they are coming closer.” He didn’t pause to think too hard on what or who ‘they’ were. The horses moved and slowly the carriage began to turn. The doors would be more accessible now to the fleeing people.

Jonah yelled once more “Run!”

All around them the streets were in chaos. People were trying to flee from the grey-faced, almost human monsters that had flooded the area. Sam stared at one of the monsters in shock, his eyes darting over the sagging flesh, the rotting, dirt encrusted garments. The man’s complexion was dull, pale and bloodless, and though the mouth and eyes moved, the animation seemed to lack any thought. It was as if he was being motivated only by some sort of primal urge, not brain activity.

These people are dead, realized Sam. He’d buried thousands of people, and these... things.... were nothing but rotting corpses.

"I do not wish to alarm anyone," said the older gentleman with the cane, his voice quaking. " but we need to move.”

Sam nodded in vague agreement, tearing his eyes away from the sight of a young boy’s intestines being ripped from his belly. He felt bile rising in his throat, but there was a cold numbness taking over him.

Hooves beat on the cobblestones loudly as a carriage drew closer, heading right into the chaos. A man was running with the reins of the horses in his hands, leading it closer to Sam and the people who had stopped to aid him. Sam turned and looked down the path the carriage was headed toward and the sight made his stomach lurch. The once clear path was filling with the hungry dead, blocking the way the man had surely been intending to take. More dead were closing in behind the man and the little coach, making it impossible to turn back.

Get out, you reckless fool, thought Sam, mute. Don’t be a hero. These corpses will turn that coach over as easily as they did the bus.

Jonah looked at the group but none of them seemed sure of where to go. The sounds of the creatures, the things that were moving towards them made him want to wretch. He knew if they stalled any longer they would be set upon and have no chance of escape.

“Come on! Get in the carriage and maybe we can make a break out of here!” Jonah called to them.

He noticed one of the women begin to fall sideways. She seemed on the verge of fainting. With a growl, Jonah turned to the paled driver. The man looked ready to bolt and lose the contents of his stomach all at once. “Take this and we are going to have to bolt as soon as I get these people to move!”

The driver nodded but looked over his shoulder. “I don’t know where you think we are going to go to...we seem to be...surrounded...”

Jonah turned and sneered, ‘I don’t bloody know but we can’t stay here!” He ran towards the woman. He approached her, “Sorry miss but we can’t have you fainting right now.”

Strong arms scooped her up in a tight basket carry. “I suggest you get in the carriage and we can see if we can’t take one of these side alleys or something.”

He looked at the group waiting to see if they would follow or had a better plan.

In the carriage, Rebecca’s mother was beyond flustered and annoyed. “Why have we stopped? This is ludacris!” She blotted at her face with a handkerchief that she produced from one sleeve.

Rebecca looked out the window. The carriage had turned enough that she had a view of the street and not just the fronts of buildings. “My but those people look unwell.” A slight frown wrinkled her pretty face.

“Yes, yes dear I am sure there are plenty of ill and poor to see out there but it is not polite to stare. Also they might come to the carriage asking for money or food or something. Do not encourage such behaviour in the lower classes.”

Rebecca nodded automatically but her eyes were fixed on the strange people moving on the road. Something about the way they moved, the odd colouring to some of them and she couldn’t be sure but some even appeared to be missing parts of their body. She blinked numerous times thinking her mind was playing trick but the sight never changed save for them growing closer little by little.

“Mother, I do not think they are simply beggars.”
“And what are they? Now is not the time for flights of fancy Rebecca. We must get home. There are things to attend to and suitors to discuss. I am sure we have numerous invitations to consider for things in the coming weeks.” Angrily she hit the side of the carriage. “Driver! What is the hold up?”

Rebecca swallowed as she continued to stare out the window. “If I did not know better mother I would say they were dead people walking the streets. It is well....” Her eyes went wide as one of the ‘people’ attacked a woman who had tried to flee from a shop.

Rebecca screamed as the thing began to tear into the woman.

Outside, standing in the street Jonah couldn’t see what was going on on the other side of the carriage but there was obviously a woman inside and something was wrong.

“Blast it! We need to go!” He hitched the woman up in his arms and headed toward the carriage.

The driver yelled down at the group, “They are getting closer we don’t have much time!” The horses stomped the road in nervousness.

Jonah was pleased to see one of the other women and a man follow him to the carriage. He hoped the others would be smart and follow along as well but there was no time to hold their hands.

Quickly he carried the woman to the carriage door and opened it. He deposited the fragile blonde woman from his arms on the floor. He ignored the screeches and exclamations of the others inside. There was no time to worry about their opinion. He climbed inside. Behind him the other woman climbed in.

Rebecca had been staring out the window and she felt slightly sick to her stomach, completely unsure that was she was seeing was real. When the door burst open she was too startled to say anything at first. Her mother on the other hand had no such issue.

“What is the meaning of this! Why...what do you think you are doing? Young man who is this woman? WHY are you in my...” The round woman’s eyes went as large as saucers as more bodies pushed into the cramped space. “Young woman! How dare you!”

Rebecca stared as a man climbed in after placing a pale faced blonde inside and then another woman climbed over her to stare out the window. She had a cane in her hand. She began to yell for them to go.

Her mother’s face was so red, her anger so great that she could no longer find the words that Rebecca almost started laughing at the sight.

The carriage jerked as it set off. The woman with the cane bumped into her mother which made the elder woman even more enraged.

Jonah did his best to right himself and prop the blonde woman up. “Are you alright?” He gently asked her.

Everyone inside stopped and stared as a sound drew their attention. It was a sickening pop and slushing sound as the cane was jabbed into the eye of a ‘person’ that had tried to claw its way inside. The cane was pulled away and as the corpse hit the ground no one said anything.

The woman whimpered and Rebecca’s mother screamed and promptly passed out. Jonah was silent though his heart pounded in fear. What the hell is going on? He wanted to scream it at everyone but he knew that no one here would have answers for him. He looked at the brown haired woman she looked on the verge of tears or laughter, he couldn’t be sure. The blonde still looked pale and though she had just fought off that thing even the other woman looked in shock. He didn’t know who to help first.

Rebecca swallowed back her laughter and the scream that threatened. Her mother’s reaction was enough for everyone. She folded her hands into her lap and willed herself not to break down.

The driver looked at the man who climbed up with him. “I am going to the lady’s residence. You will just have to come along.”

The man seemed to be in shock and he urged the horses forward. They needed little prompting. He pushed them and turned them towards where the woman had yelled at him to go. Mechanically he drove and even plowed over a couple of the things as he drove onward.

The carriage rattled down the cobblestones. Places they passed seemed eerily quiet and one couldn’t be sure if the people were just hiding in their homes or victims.

The driver gave it no thought, in fact he thought of nothing but getting the carriage to its original destination. It was a short drive to a large home. Though not the size of the homes of royalty, clearly the owners had wealth. There was courtyard, complete with a gate. The driver stopped the horses and climbed down to open the gate. It creaked open and he grabbed the reins and walked them inside.

Once in he closed the gate and after searching the mostly deserted streets set the lock bolt in place. He quickly climbed aboard again and without a word drove the carriage to the front walk.

At the sound of the hooves the front door opened and a older man, with a middle aged man at his side came out and down the short set of stairs.

“Thank the lord you are home. Did you encounter tr...” The man paused as he stared at the driver’s companion.

Jonah heard the man’s greeting and threw open the door. He climbed out and began to help the women out.

“What in the Lord’s name is going on? Who are you people and why are you in ’my’ carriage?” Anger showed on his face.

Rebecca took the man’s hand and daintily disembarked from the carriage. “Mother has fainted father.” She was too startled and shaken to say anything else. Her eyes swept over the rest of the group as they climbed out, Jonah helping the women before climbing in to rouse the elder lady.

“You should all come inside.” Rebecca nodded and gestured, her tone the same as if she was asking them to tea.

The carriage was a God-send. Basil let Isabella climb on first as he stood guard with his cane pointed at the shuffling bodies. He was one of the last to climb him and just caught the terrified shriek and fainting of a woman. Basil made no move to help the woman but was now taking the opportunity of safety to look over the odd group that had accumulated.

A fainted old women, a pretty blonde, rough looking young lad, a serious young women, a short odd-looking ruffian ... He lost interest in them quickly and turned again to look out the window.

When they began to move the only sound Basil paid attention to was the slow clip-slop of the horses. He looked out at the streets, he recognized them all and felt a subtle melancholy wash over him. He had never seen the streets so deserted. There were blood stains, still dead bodies but other than that no life. He looked back at the passengers, the strong looking young man was now caring for the young blonde woman.

"Are you all right?"

Basil rearranged his grip on his cane and his attention drifted once again.

The carriage came to a stop and the driver climbed out. He had reached a rather elaborate gate and in a contained-panic left the safety of the carriage to open and close the gate. They drove up a rather fancy drive to the front a reasonably large residence. The owners looked to have some wealth.

As they came to a stop a man had spoken from the house but Basil did not here him. The carriage had now stopped and Basil moved to the side letting the rough looking man who was still helping the young blonde women out the carriage. Basil waited again for other's to leave the carriage before leaving the carriage.

"What in the Lord’s name is going on? Who are you people and why are you in ’my’ carriage?" the man was fuming but was promptly ignored as another women spoke up inviting them all in.

Basil straightened out his suit and looked back to Isabella, she looked to be in perfectly good health apart from her horror-stricken expression and the black stains on her dress. He nodded to her and began to make his way towards the house.

"It would be a pleasure to get inside," Basil smiled up at the house, it looked smart and the inhabits very rich, "Have you any tea? Maybe some scones too."

Basil turned back to the rest of the group, "And of course get that poor old women somewhere to recuperate."

Lena closed her eyes, ready to die right there and then instead of suffering this madness. She knew what her parents had gone through when Ryan died, having experienced it for a shorter amount of time than they did, and now she sympathised with them, knowing well the feeling of having everything she knew ripped away in mere moments.

Screams echoed around her, and Lena wondered if this would be the last memory she had of life. Screams of terror, the world crumbling to ruin, overtaken by creatures that were neither living nor dead. Warm breath descended on her face, and she thought it might be one of them, ready to devour her.

She was proven wrong. A male voice spoke somewhere above her, "Sorry miss, but we can't have you fainting right now." She was lifted off the ground, strong arms supporting her carefully. Lena still felt weak, so she kept her eyes shut, though she made a small sound of protest. "I suggest you get in the carriage and we can see if we can't take one of these side alleys or something."

She felt herself moving, and a minute later she was placed on the floor of something that appeared to be trundling along the roads, a carriage perhaps? Carefully, she eased her eyes open. A young man, not very much older than her, it seemed, was propping her up. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern clear in his eyes. Lena managed a small smile. "I will be, in a few more minutes," she whispered.

A sound that made Lena's skin crawl rang through the carriage. A cane had been pushed into the eye of the - something that had been trying to get into the carriage. Lena's eyes widened, and she jerked backward, instinct telling her to get away from it.

Once it was gone, Lena buried her face in her hands, trying to forget the image. She managed fine for a few minutes, then another memory wormed its way into her mind. A child being torn apart as he cried desperately for help, blood spattering... Lena clapped a hand over her mouth tightly, willing herself not to throw up.

Finally, the carriage stopped. Lena got to her feet, still swaying slightly, and descended carefully from the carriage. She took the hand of the man who had been worried about her earlier. "Thank you," she told him quietly. Staring up at the house which loomed before them, she entered, one of the last.

Throughout their eerily silent journey, Eliza gripped the cane so hard her knuckles were white as she stared out of the window at every alleyway, every townhouse they passed, expecting monsters to erupt from each of them at any moment. Until they reached their destination, she paid little attention to her travelling companions instead transfixed by that square frame of the outside world.

When the carriage did come to a halt, she jumped as she suddenly noticed their lack of movement and was immediately on her guard. But looking out she realised they had passed through the gates of a large townhouse in the heart of Bloomsbury; obviously the home of the original inhabitants of the carriage they had commandeered.

Once there was room, she clambered out of the carriage, ignoring the waiting hand of the man who had swept her rescuer up and carried her to safety; after the events of the last half-hour such etiquette seemed absurd, especially whilst she still gripped the cane she'd used to gouge out the frontal lobe of their would-be attacker.

She also ignored the older man who was loudly objecting to their presence and swept past him up to the steps at the front of the house, following the young woman inside. Although she'd never been inside a private house so lavish, Eliza felt unable to take in much of the grandeur of their surroundings. It was as if she had already reached capacity for the amount of new sensations she was able to take in in one day and everything else was simply spilling out over the sides unheeded. Most of the fear had gone too. Instead, an uncomfortable unsettled tension had replaced it, making her mind race as she considered every unguarded door, window or crevice that might permit entrance into the townhouse.

"Is this place safe?" she said suddenly. "There are walls all around?"

Rebecca said nothing at first as the group began to follow her inside. Her mind was too busy trying to understand what was going on and the things she had seen. She felt flushed and ill but there were now guests in her home and she would play the part of hostess before all else.

In the courtyard her father was trying to deal with the arrival of the rag tag group of people. He was flustered and red cheeked with anger.

Jonah was helping the elderly woman as she slowly recovered and tried to disembark. Mr Huntington and his man servant rushed to where Lady Huntington was shakily stepping onto the cobblestones.

“What is the meaning of this?” The Lord and Lady conversed in hush whispers.

Jonah turned to the blonde woman. He offered her his arm and escorted the clearly fragile woman inside. She thanked him and Jonah shook his head. “I could not in good conscious leave a woman out there. It was nothing and I am glad to see you are recovering.”

Rebecca walked the length of the entrance hall. There were plush throw rugs under their feet and a maid came to take Rebecca’s shawl. Rebecca waved a hand to indicate the others. “See to our guests coats as well please.”

The young woman turned and faced the group. Her eyes scanned them all, taking in their appearance fully for the first time.



Rebecca looked over the young woman who questioned her about the walls of the manor. She was not much older than Rebecca though they clearly came from two very different worlds. The woman’s features were somewhat severe. Her hair was pinned up and it would have been quite neat and pretty if they had not just gone through such chaos. Now, a few strands had come loose.

Just down the hall two men were arguing. The older gentleman was well dressed. The younger was quite grey and it was difficult on a first look to tell that he was in fact younger. Rebecca had to look closely at his face to see his true age.

The door was closed as a final pair and her parents entered the house. The pretty blonde was being escorted and watched by the man who had burst into their carriage. He was responsible for these people now being in her parent’s home.

Rebecca’s hands folded in front of her as she stood straight backed. Her eyes went to the first woman. “Yes there are stone walls surrounding the whole manor house. There is the front gate for guests and a small side gate for the servants.”

Rebecca took a deep breath and tried to stifle the bile that was rising in her throat.

“Perhaps we should retire to the parlour and sit.” Her eyes fell on the two arguing men. She was doing her best to stay calm and not panic. Panic was unbecoming in a young lady and in a hostess.

Her father was flustered still, her mother pale and complaining. One maid was joined by another as they stared wide eyed at the group, unsure if they should try and take coats or canes. One maid was eyeing the implements in disgust. Rebecca realized there was blood and other fluids on the canes. Her hand went to her mouth, her stomach lurching momentarily.

“I think it best if we sit. Tea to calm our stomachs and some conversation about what is occurring.”

She turned and walked down the rest of the hall. She entered a room on her right. Rebecca paused just inside the doorway and waited for her guests. The parlour contained plush chairs and settee. Paintings and bookcases lined the walls. She gestured to them to enter and waited patiently.

What she wanted to do was run and hide in her room but she could not leave her parents to handle the group.

Jonah stayed quiet. He watched the pair of men argue, understanding the fear and frustration. He kept his focus on the blonde. With a gesture towards the parlour he waited for her to pass by him. He approached the men.

“We should try and calm down. I don’t know what is going on but we must be strong for the women, we must protect them.”

Jonah moved to the parlour. “I have heard stories but I didn’t imagine that...”

Rebecca shook her head. “I have been away I do not know anything that is going on. Do you know what those things are? I would welcome someone to explain what has been going on if that is possible.”

"Break what?" the man began pulling on Basil's lapels.
"Perhaps we should retire to the parlour and sit," spoke a women in a clear voice, at that the man let go of Basil and backed away. His eyes bore into Basil - seething with rage before he turned to follow the young lady.

Basil's hands shook slightly as he smoothed his jacket and took a deep breath. His older body could not deal with rage like he used to. Basil followed the rag-tag group into the parlour where he waited briefly for the women to find their seats before sitting himself on a plump armchair just off in the corner. The angry, short man stood on the edges of the room with a mean expression as his eyes passed over the rest of the group. He lingered on a moment at the young women who had spoken earlier and Basil made his own assessment of her - she appeared fine and upstanding but with an alarmingly fierce expression for a young women.

"“I’d ‘eard stories about some virus and the people going crazy," spoke the man in a harsh, ugly accent “But those people back there, they didn’t look sick. They looked dead.”

Silence fell on the group for a moment and Basil tried to think of what to say. He pushes away his first thoughts and tried to find something more reasonable to say; perhaps he should insult the man's obvious lack of education, maybe his dirtiness ... No. Basil had taken an instant dislike to the man but he could never make such idiotic comments to simply hide his fear. No sick - or even living for that matter - man could survive being torn in half. He returned to his invasive thoughts. He could personally see no further explanation. Basil stopped his panicking thoughts as a young servant wandered in holding a silver tray with a beautiful china tea set. The smell of freshly brewed Early Grey was enough to distract Basil's thoughts from the eerie silence that now took over the group.

Basil leant forwards and poured himself some tea in an attempt to calm his stomach. His hand began to shake ferociously but he quickly held it still, hoping no-one would notice and begin pity him for his age. He quickly wiped the splash of tea and took a long drink of the piping hot drink. He cleared is throat and set down the tea cup this time he managed to control his shaking long enough to set it down. He could feel his nerves and stomach begin to calm and the hot drink worked it's way through his body.

"I do belief our little gamin here is correct and," Basil began," The sick we could easily heal but this ..."
He cleared his throat then spoke in a clear voice as though he were dictating:
"Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life," he pauses, "some to everlasting contempt."

He leant back with a sigh, he closed his eyes and let that sink in mainly for his benefit rather than the other's. This is it. We are facing the end times. The fact he was still here gave Basil a moment to pause, he had spent his life believing he was one of those who God Himself would choose to save. He never thought he would see this. Hell on earth.

In the moment of clarity (to Basil's mind atleast) he saw nothing to look forward to but a quiet death and some tea.

Jonah watched as the others entered and found seats. He moved to a window, glancing out at the neatly kept back garden and sitting area. I need to get home, to check on Miss Liza and Miss Helen. What if those things have gotten to them? His eyes scanned the room, stopping on the women. I can’t leave them though. He was torn.

Rebecca waited until all of her ‘guests’ had entered the parlour. She took a seat on a settee. Her back was straight, hands in her lap. She looked over at the man who was leaning on the pillar in the doorway. Her head nodded slightly. She understood what he was saying and it made sense yet she was having a hard time coming to terms with the idea of dead people who had been in the streets and attacking those they came across.

No one said anything, not another soul uttered a thought about the idea of walking corpses. Rebecca maintained her composure, her face a mask of civility and grace though inside she was a cauldron of fear and panic.

“Thank you Cecile.” Rebecca nodded to the maid as she placed a tray with tea down for all the guests.

Jonah scoffed at first. Tea? This doesn’t seem like the time for tea. As the aroma filled the room however he found himself thinking that a cup might go far to calm the women and perhaps the tempers of some of the men. His eyes moved between the pair who had been arguing.

Rebecca blinked away her surprise as the elder gentlemen openly insulted another of the group. She had assumed they were together considering their climb into her carriage. However, as she sat now and gave them a more thorough look she realized that they were certainly not travelling companions.

Her throat was cleared with a small noise. “So you believe..”

Rebecca was cut off by the leaning man. Her eyes went wide as he accused of the older man of knowing something. She grew pale as he talked of graveyards and experiments. A delicate hand went to her mouth, stifling a rather unladylike noise of horror.

Jonah took three strides towards the main body of the group. “Gentlemen! Please, think of the ladies. There is no need to be so...grotesque. Perhaps we should step outside and discuss this?” He watched the brunette, their unwitting host pale where she sat.

Rebecca regained herself enough to wave Jonah’s suggestion away. “There is no need I assure you. Now please, everyone sit. Perhaps introductions are necessary before we go wildly accusing each other or insulting each other. Neither are needed in a civilized group.”

Just need to settle everyone down. Turn talk from dead things for a moment until we are a bit more level headed.

“Since you have all found yourselves in my family’s carriage I shall go first. I am Miss Rebecca Huntington. It is a pleasure to meet you all despite what seems to be rather vulgar and unpleasant circumstances.”

She offered them all a polite smile. “Can I offer anyone else a cup of tea?”

Jonah bowed slightly to their now named hostess. “A pleasure Miss Huntington. I am Jonah Powell. No one of any importance. Humble dock worker and at the risk of offending the ladies, amateur boxer. I am fortunate to have stumble onto the omnibus’ unfortunate accident and was able to lend aid to the men. Your carriage dear lady happened to be our best chance to get away from the um...afflicted.”

Rebecca’s smile strained a little at the term afflicted. Afflicted with death and yet walking around the streets. A shiver ran through her body.

Upon hearing the man, Jonah, say he was an amateur boxer Basil immediately perked up. As Jonah finished speaking Basil found himself rushing to finish his tea just to speak,
"And I am Basil Howard, " he set down his empty cup,"I was an amateur boxer in my day - if you'd believe it. pleasure to meet you Jonah. And you too, Miss Rebecca."

Basil quickly went to pouring himself another cup of tea and made the conscious effort to ignore the gamin. He scooped in generous amounts of sugar before stirring. He smiled at Jonah before leaning back, he wandered idly if he'd ever seen Jonah box and made a note to ask him, he could owe him for winning or losing a few games. For now their were more pressing matters:
"I am not as our 'friend' suggested involved with the Afflicted roaming our home, I do have to agree with him that they did look very dead," Basil paused for a moment as his thoughts traveled but he quickly snapped out of it, "Do any of you know anything at all about the Afflicted apart from the fact they seem to be cannibals?"

As Basil watched everyone for a reply he quickly realized that thought may have been best left to himself.

Jonah gave Basil a friendly nod. Under different circumstances the men might have engaged in a few stories about their respective matches or various opponents. Right at this moment however it did not seem appropriate.

“Nice to meet you Mr Howard.” Jonah felt ill at ease with the pleasantries.

We need to figure out a plan. Figure out what is going on and what we are going to do. This isn’t tea time.

His hand ran through his hair and he turned to look at the other man. “Do any of you know what is going on exactly or is it all speculation and accusations?” Jonah looked back at Basil. “Do you have any actual knowledge of what was going on? Because anything that could help us make a plan would be helpful.”

Jonah crossed his arms, he looked to the men knowing that they would have to lead the women to safety. “And I do not think talk of..” He cleared his throat. “Cannibals is a subject to discuss in present company.”

Rebecca smiled politely. She watched the men converse. While she understood her place in society this was still her house and they were all guests despite the circumstances she found this whole thing frustrating.

Basil Howard, as the man introduced himself did not seem to know anything more than the rest despite the other man’s accusation that doctor’s were behind it. She stared at the lean man for a moment. He seemed to know things.

“May I suggest that perhaps we sit, relax and enjoy some tea? Dinner shall be along presently.”

Rebecca stood and crossed the room. “We seem to be dealing with something beyond our comprehension. I will speak to my father. He is sure to know more than any of us. He was called to the city to deal with something. I would hazard a guess that they are connected.”

She rang a bell. A maid appeared promptly. “Dinner and room set for our guests please. Also could you ask my father to join us for a few moments?”

The maid gave her a small curtsey and left the room.

Rebecca smiled and looked at the rest. “See all shall be sorted soon. Would anyone like to wash up or take a stroll on the grounds before dinner. I assure you it is quite safe.”

The days excitement and morbid talk was fading from her memory as she focused on her duties as hostess.
Jonah frowned. “Yes a stroll. Gentlemen should we stepped outside?” He looked to Basil and the man who had yet to introduce himself.