The Cured

By Kris Ashton

Secrets can kill…

 

In a near-future society where those cured of a pernicious virus are shunned as an inferior underclass, a troubled, young man is forced to confront his bigotry, leading to a situation both tragic and unimaginably horrifying.

 

Forklift operator Dave Watson harbours a common prejudice against 'the cured'—those who recovered from a zombie virus but bear the scars of their ordeal. When he falls in love with sales rep Sandra, however, his outlook on life (and on those who discriminate against the cured) is challenged.

 

But just as he and Sandra are building a life together, the media delivers a stunning revelation about the cured—one that could jeopardise Dave's newfound happiness. Consumed with self-doubt and jealousy, Dave makes a rash decision that threatens to destroy his relationship with Sandra and plunge them both into a maelstrom of violence, bloodshed, and terror. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hell Hare House
• Release date: Jan 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215731352

Book preview

The Cured

Kris Ashton

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Black Hare Press

The Cured is Copyright © 2024 Kris Ashton

First published in Australia in January 2024 by Black Hare Press

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The author retains the copyright of the works featured in this publication.

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this production may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner.

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Edited by Jodi Christensen

Formatting by Ben Thomas

Cover design by Dawn Burdett

Connect: linktr.ee/blackharepress

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Contents

1.One

2.Two

3.Three

4.Four

5.Five

6.Six

7.Seven

8.Eight

9.Nine

10.Kris Ashton

11.Black Hare Press

12.Coming Soon from Black Hare Press

13.Acknowledgements

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One

The online picking system went down just before eleven. The factory foreman, Ossie Newhouse (known behind his back as Ossie Shithouse), made a show of fiddling with his computer before heading upstairs to consult with IT. Dave Watson, who had been pootling his forklift in aimless circles, now dropped all pretence at appearing busy and took his ease with Martin Cripps from the packing department. They leaned against the fork, arms folded, and stared at a teenager stacking boxes.

Why did Shithouse hire that slow fuck? Dave wondered aloud.

Cripps sniffed and shook his head. Beats me. Crazy grey-skinned bastard can’t even do his job properly.

What’s his name again?

Wouldn’t have a clue. Why don’t you ask him?

Hey, Dave called. Box boy.

The kid paused in his exertions and turned to look. His eyes, set against skin the colour of rain clouds, seemed to start from his face like white marbles. His right arm rippled with sinewy muscle, but its emaciated counterpart trembled under the box’s weight. Dave traced his gaze up that arm, and sure enough, a gnarl of scar tissue peeked out just beneath the sleeve of the kid’s T-shirt.

Yeah?

What’s your name?