fail, self, for forgetting to track this scene >_<
Cozy, comfortable positions among his ranks? Elliot arched a brow at that. The guy really was fucking nuts if he thought any of them would ever want to join his side. And subjecting everyone to a bite test? That didn't bode well, either. He wouldn't ask for details, but if his assumption was correct, it meant that every person who was a member of this cult had either been forced or willingly submitted to allowing a zombie to bite them.
Attention went to the knife in the man's other hand, and he tensed, nervously dragging his thumb over the hilt of one of his own knives. Elliot had endured nightmares and flashbacks ever since that day in January when he'd almost died. While the memory of the nightmares lingered longer, the flashbacks were easier to recover from, likely because he was awake when they happened. Force of will kept the flashbacks at bay, whereas his subconscious, when he was dreaming, had free reign. Now, being taunted by the weapon that had almost ended his life, Elliot was able to keep the flashbacks from coming.
For whatever reason — as if the insane needed reason — the leader didn't seem intent on rushing the fight. Elliot suspected he was either waiting for him to make the first move, or else he just liked listening to the sound of his own voice. Probably both. While the other man's gaze was on the knife, Elliot spared Charlie and Evan a quick glance, just to assure himself that they were still standing.
The casual mention of Rae and her father's death sparked Elliot's anger, but he didn't rise to the bait this time. Letting his anger loose would guarantee he lost this fight, too, and that just wasn't going to fucking happen. All the training he'd been doing up to this point would make sure every move of his would be calculated and instinctual.
"Liberty's princess is safe and well, no thanks to you," he replied. With a deliberately casual shrug, he added, "And I seriously doubt you'll find her. From the looks and sounds of it, you don't have that many people left on your side." His eyebrows rose to form a smug expression.
"I'd like to know your name before I kill you," he said suddenly, pointing one of his kukri at the cult's leader.