by D, Hannah
“That fucking hurt! You are one psycho do you know that!” Sarah yelled between her sobs.
“Can somebody please tell me why Sophia is getting the blame for Chris getting bit?” Jeff asked them.
“Because she left me alone and ran away” Alex voice came from behind them.
Alex was standing behind them, hands twiddling and looking at the floor of the campervan.
“Is this true Sophia? Did you leave our little brother alone to get eaten and die?” Jeff asked his sister, his voice scarily calm.
Sophia didn’t answer him. She still sat on the ground, her sobs getting louder.
“Sophia, you better answer me right this second!” Jeff said as he moved toward her.
Zoe grabbed his arm, keeping him back away from Sophia. Zoe didn’t want Jeff to end up hitting her because even though she deserved it Zoe knew that Jeff would never forgive himself for hitting her.
After a very long salience from Sophia she finally looked up at Jeff and answered him.
“Yes, I left him alone. I got scared Jeff, I wasn’t thinking!”
‘That is no excuse for leaving our little brother to die! I left him in your hands thinking that you would put him first for once!” Jeff yelled.
“Jeff, I’m sorry! Please forgive me! Sophia pleaded with him.
“I can’t even look at you right now. You’re lucky you’re still my sister or I would’ve throw you to the kerb. Get away from me” Jeff said as he turned to look away from his sister.
“Jeff..” Sophia whimpered.
“Come one Sophia, he just needs to cool down, lets go sit under this lamppost so that I can have a look at your nose” Arthur said to her.
As Arthur led Sophia over to the lamppost he turned around to give the rest of them a small smile. Zoe knew that Arthur knew that Sophia had done wrong. Zoe also knew that Arthur part blamed himself. If Arthur had turned around that bit quicker to see the skin eater coming toward Sophia and Alex. If Arthur hadn’t ran after Sophia when he seen her running leaving Alex on his own, then maybe Chris wouldn’t have been bitten.
Zoe thought that everyone here was blaming themselves. If Zoe hadn’t had fallen and the others weren’t caught up killing the skin eaters that were beginning to surround them then someone maybe could’ve gotten to Alex sooner than Chris and they would all be okay with no one bitten right now.
However, not everything could work out to be that perfect.
Zoe looked round as she realised that Mike and Sue were nowhere to be seen.
“Guys, where are Mike and Sue?’ Zoe asked Jeff and Sarah.
Jeff and Sarah looked around themselves as well.
“Sarah, you stay and watch over Chris and Alex, me and Jeff will go see if we can find Mike and Sue” Zoe said to Sarah.
Sarah nodded and went into the campervan, closing the door behind her. Zoe and Jeff walked off to find Mike and Sue. Jeff didn’t even register Sophia sitting on the kerb as he walked past her. Arthur gave them a weak smile as they walked past.
“I can’t believe that she left Alex on his own” Jeff said.
“I know, I can’t believe that either and she’ll be dealt with about that but first we need to get inside this bus depot lot and look after Chris” Zoe told him.
It was almost like Mike and Sue had disappeared into thin air. Zoe and Jeff couldn’t even see them. There was no other sounds around apart from Jeff and Zoe footsteps.
“This is strange. Where could they have went to?” Zoe said aloud.
“I have no idea, they have to be around here somewhere” Jeff answered.
“Look in the bus depot lot, I think I can see figures moving” Jeff spoke out.
Sure enough, Zoe turned and saw the figures that Jeff was speaking about. They were walking like normal, living people and not like the skin eaters. They were also walking toward the the main gates where the campervan was sitting just outside of.
“Come on, lets head back” Zoe said to Jeff.
They both turned and walked back towards the campervan.
Arthur was already speaking to the people who were no standing at the main gates.
“Guys, this is Alice and John, they’re hiding out here with another girl called Simone” Arthur told Zoe and Jeff.
“Nice to meet you both” Zoe said.
“Hmm, yes. Your friends, Mike and Sue are inside with us. We saw them walking around the depot and let them in through a side door. We actually saw you fight off those things that are now lying at your feet” Alice said to them.
“Skin eaters, we call them skin eaters” Arthur said to them.
“Skin eaters? Ah yes, your friends did say that name to us inside” Alice said.
“We’ve been hiding out here since we saw our friend get eaten by one of them. The girl inside, Simone let us in. She’s very nice. Nurse would you believe it” John spoke up.
“A nurse? Can you let us in and help us? He if our friends has uh, well, been bitten. We need to get him some help” Jeff asked them.
“He hasn’t turned yet?” Alice asked.
“Not yet” Zoe answered.
“We don’t want to put ourselves in danger but ultimately it’s not our decision. It was Simone and she has said to let you all in’ Alice told them.
“I’ll go and drive the campervan in, you all go I ahead” Jeff said to Zoe, Arthur and Sophia.
John took out a key and unlocked the paddock on the gates. These gates and fence were a lot more sturdy and looked a lot more difficult to come caving in than the fence at the school. John stayed back to lock the gates after Jeff pulled the campervan in.
“How long have you all been here?” Zoe asked Alice.
“We’ve been here three days and Simone has been here since it all started four or five days ago, her family owned this place and she knew it was empty so she came here. Her family are all in America on holiday. She hasn’t heard from them yet since this all started” Alice replied.
“She sounds very kind to have let us in. We’re complete strangers” Zoe said to them.
“Yes, well, aren’t all nurses very kind people?” Alice asked Zoe.
“Yeah, very true” Zoe replied.
Pretty soon they were up at the main doors to the small building at the bus depot.
“Were there no skin eaters in here at all?” Zoe asked.
“According to Simone, none at all’ Alice replied.
“That’s amazing” Zoe answered.
Jeff pulled up beside them in the campervan with John not far behind them. Jeff stopped the campervan and walked round to the door and helped Sarah bring out Chris. He looked a lot more pale since Zoe had last looked at him. This did not look good. Alex came out behind them and walked over beside Zoe.
‘Maybe he feels more comfortable around me now that I helped him’ Zoe thought as she held onto Alex’s hand.
“We should get the man inside” John said.
“Follow me” Alice told them.
They all walked inside and followed John and Alice into what used to be an office. Mike and Sue were sitting speaking with the woman who must be Simone.
“Oh there you all are, I see you’ve all met John and Alice. This is Simone. She’s letting us stay here as long as we need” Sue said.
“Nice to meet you all” Simone said.
“Nice to meet you too. Thank you for this” Zoe said.
“Not at all” Simone replied.
“We hate to be pests as soon as we have walked in but we have two favours to ask of you since you’re a nurse and know a lot more about the medical side of things than we do” Zoe said to Simone.
“Sure, go ahead. Happy to help” Simone said.
“Sophia here has a broken nose, long story and our friend Chris behind me, he’s been bitten” Zoe said to her.
“If you can lie Chris on the couch there. Sophia can you come over here please” Simone asked.
Sarah ad Jeff walked over and put Chris on the couch whilst Sophia walked over to Simone.
/>
“This is going to hurt a little, hold still” Simone said to Sophia.
Simone grabbed Sophias nose with her fingers and felt around it and the in the next three seconds everyone heard a loud crack, snap and Sophia cried out.
“There, all sorted. There’s ice in the freezer in the next room, you should turn that on your nose and then take some paracetamol, here” Simone said as she handed Sophia some paracetamol.
“Thanks” Sophia said as she took a seat whilst Arthur went to go grab her some ice.
Simone then walked over to where Chris was lying and Sarah showed her where the bite mark was. Chris was relaxing his head back, saying that he was feeling a little sleepy. Simone went into her packet and pulled out some gloves you find in the hospital and felt around the bite mark. Simone lifted his jeans a little higher to show more of his leg. It wasn’t good. Chris leg was beginning to look grey in colour. Simone rolled down his jeans and then went to feel his head.
“So what’s the verdict?” Chris asked her.
“I’m afraid the infection from the bite mark has began to spread. I’m sorry but there’s no stopping it” Simone told Chris.
“How long before I.. turn into one of them?” Chris asked her.
“I’m not sure, this is all still new to me. It’s your decision what you would like to do. I’m so sorry Chris” Simone told him.
Chris nodded and grabbed Sarahs hand who was now sobbing. Zoe stood up and walked out of the room. She couldn’t watch this. Zoe walked into the room opposite the office and went and stood at the window. The sun was beginning to rise again. It looked like it was going to be another sunny, roasting hot day.
“Such a nice sight that is, the sun rising” Jeff said coming up beside her.
Zoe didn’t answer, she jut continued to stare at the rising sun.
“Chris hasn’t decided yet but Simone has said we’ve to make him comfortable” Jeff said to her.
“Then we shall do that for him” Zoe said.
“Thank you” Jeff said to her.
Jeff reached out and grabbed Zoe’s hand and Zoe let him. Together they stood watching the sun rising.
Chapter 6
Last night had been one of the worst nights they’d all had.
Two nights had now passed since they had all been staying in the bus depot. Chris condition had been getting worse and worse. Simone was great with him, watching over him and checking on him every hour. Even at night Simone was up to see how Chris was doing.
Sarah hadn’t left Chris side, she had barely even slept. It was like she didn’t want to close her eyes and when her eyes opened again Chris would be a skin eater.
Chris had asked if someone could kill him once he took his last breath. He didn’t want to become a skin eater and he didn’t want anyone to see and remember him like that. Arthur had volunteered to do it.
“We’re best friends, it’s up to me or Jeff and I’ll do it” Arthurs had told Chris.
Zoe knew Jeff wouldn’t be able to do it as Jeff had struggled to kill the skin eater in the school who was once his friend.
Jeff hadn’t really spoken much the past few days, in fact he was barely seen inside the bus depot building. Jeff had taken on a lot of the watches outside. Zoe knew he was distracting himself and didn’t want to watch Chris deteriorating.
Zoe had split herself into two, doing some of the watches and helping Sarah and Simone look after Chris.
Mike and Sue had taken Alex into one of the other rooms to keep him away from Chris as this was’t something he should see was Chris turning into the things that Alex feared the most. Alex did keep asking about Chris and why he couldn’t see him.
“He’s not very well at the moment, he doesn’t want a lot of people to see him unwell” Sue had told Alex.
They all knew Alex would need to be told the truth about what was happening to Chris as Chris would soon no longer be with them but nobody was prepared for that talk right now.
Alice and John were doing some of the watches and making sure everyone was fed. They popped their heads into Chris room a couple of times to see if Simone or Sarah needed any help and to see how Chris was doing. They seemed like nice enough people.
They all thought it was the end for Chris last night. His breathing had stopped for several minutes. Arthur had been sent for to come and do his duty of killing Chris but as soon as he had arrived Chris started breathing again. They thought he was going to open his eyes and be a skin eater but Simone went and shone a light in his eyes and they were still human, just the whites of his eyes were turning red.
Chris was no longer able to speak. His last words had been “I sure am going to miss a big, cheesy, meaty pizza when I’m gone”.
This had made Sarah laugh. It was only her in the room when he said this.
“I’m glad those were his last words, nothing corny, he knew I hated corny” Sarah said to Zoe.
Zoe was proud of how string Sarah had been through this. This was her boyfriend. They had loved each other. Zoe knew the heartbreak, sadness and anger would come after they buried Chris.
Sophia wasn’t allowed in the room with Chris or anywhere near Sarah. Sophia knew she had caused enough trouble. Jeff still hadn’t spoken to her after he found out she almost let their little brother be killed. Alex hadn’t really spoken to her either, in fact no one was speaking to her apart from Arthur.
Zoe had heard Arthur begging Jeff to speak to Sophia the other night.
“Come on man, shes really sorry for what she done and for what’s happening to Chris. She needs you , no one is speaking to her and she’s feeling lonely” Arthur had said to Jeff.
“I don’t give a shit. She can suffer for what she’s done. I will speak to her when I’m ready. For once, it isn’t all about Sophia” Jeff told Arthur before walking out for his watch.
Zoe knew how torn Jeff was feeling. He had obviously always protected Sophia and was always there for her but now that he knew what she could do and how selfish she was he didn’t know what to make of her. She was still his family though and Zoe knew that if push came to shove he would still protect her.
Zoe was standing outside, beside the main door to the building on watch. She enjoyed doing the early morning watches when the sun was rising and it wasn’t far too hot yet. She enjoyed having this time to herself to think. Sometimes Jeff was with her but he was quiet and wasn’t really speaking. They both enjoyed the comfortable silence between them both. There wasn’t much activity happening around here with the skin eaters. One or two had been spotted around the fence and they had been killed quietly by putting a knife into their heads through the fence. It was surprisingly peaceful here. It seemed like a good place they could actually stay in and get comfortable in. Zoe was going to speak to Simone about letting them stay long term once Chris was well not here any longer.
“Hey Zoe, I made up a pot of coffee and brought you a cup. Black coffee for you right?” Alice asked her.
“Oh yeah that’s perfect, thank you” Zoe said to her as she took the mug gratefully.
‘A safe place with a coffee machine, how lucky did we get!’ Zoe thought to herself.
“Quiet out here, it’s bliss” Alice commented.
“Sure is. Can imagine it won’t be like this in many other places” Zoe said to her.
“Very true, would hate to be out there wandering around”
“Me too, seems like it is only going to get worse”
“I don’t know if it will ever get any better, you see the horrible outcome of these things in the movies and on TV programmes, it never gets solved” Alice said with a sigh.
“We can only hope this is different from the movies and the TV” Zoe said.
Alice just looked at Zoe like what Zoe had just said was only made up and completely insane. Zoe refused to be completely pessimistic, she had been pessimistic her whole life, she wouldn’t be pessimistic that the world would be stuck like this, crawling with skin eaters that used to be human now wanting to eat any li
ving thing in sight. It just couldn’t be like that forever.
“I’m going to head back in, want anything brought out to you?” Alice asked her.
“No thanks” Zoe told her.
As Alice made her way back into the building Zoe turned back to watching the sun rising. Her eyes catching the campervan sitting not too far away from her. Zoe thought about how close they had been to being eaten when she was hot wiring the campervan. This made Zoe’s mind jump back to the memory of when she first learned how to hot wire cars.
Zoe had been eighteen and had just gotten away from her horrible foster family. She was free from them at last! They’d only used her for the child support money they got for looking after her. They didn’t actually give two shits about her, they wouldn’t have noticed if she disappeared, just so long as that money came in.
Zoe had packed a bag and bounced out that door. There was no painful goodbye or any crying coming from either Zoe or her foster parents. Zoe knew she didn’t have anywhere to go but she knew she had to go to her local council office and ask for somewhere to stay. They would give her somewhere, even if it was a shitty B&B, Zoe didn’t care which was lucky as that was what she had been given. Zoe had went there and this guy started to speak to her. She was only eighteen and vulnerable and this guy knew that, he was taking advantage of her, like he did every young person that came through the door.
“Want a chance to make easy money?” The guys had asked Zoe.
“Sure, okay” Zoe answered him.
She hadn’t been thinking what this ‘easy money’ would involve her doing, all Zoe had been thinking about was getting extra cash so she could at least eat. Her foster parents had refused her getting a job as it meant less money for them.
Zoe soon found out that she would be stealing cars for some big hot shot who stayed in a fancy house in the ‘posh side’ of Edinburgh. This was where she learned how to hot wire a car. She had only managed to steal two cars and was on her third when she got caught by police. The guy, who roped her into doing this, ran away from her and left her there to get arrested. The police tried getting it out of her who set her up to do this but she didn’t tell them. One because she actually had no idea who this big hot shot was and two she didn’t want to be hunted down and killed for telling.
