Florescent lights show me that the stairwell, at least on this level, is clear. The light also highlights debris on the ground and stairs. Rabids have been here.
Sounds of stomping feet draw closer and I lean against the entry door to stop any inquisitive creatures coming through it. A shadow flickers past the glass panel in the door, then another. More flickers follow, building up to a crescendo. The door vibrates as the horde runs past the stairwell. I apply more pressure against the door as they pass, sounding like a herd of elephants.
My pressure against the door eases as the noise dissipates and they move on, to who knows where? Tightly holding the door handle, I move up to peer out of the glass panel. There is no sign that any creatures have been left behind, all I can see is empty corridor.
Turning my back to the door, I look at the stairs, up or down, which way do I go? Gunshots echo in the stairwell and they come from above. There is no guarantee that it is either Josh or Alice firing, but it’s the only clue I’ve got. I move for the flight of steps that go up. I turn once, as I climb to the two flights on my way up to the next floor’s door, which I approach cautiously. There is only empty corridor again as I peer out of the glass panel in the door. I then crack the door open slightly and listen.
The sound of Rabids is immediately audible through the crack; they are definitely on this floor too. Gradually, I pull the door open wider to be met with the blast of more gunfire, automatic gunfire, coming from my right. The coast is clear, and I step out of the stairwell and into the corridor, turning right as I do.
Moving swiftly along, behind my raised M4, I stalk down the corridor following the sound of Rabids and sporadic gunfire. I don’t have to go far to find the fighting. Another corridor splits off from the main one, on my left, and I stop short of it. Screeches mixed with gunfire are now loud as the sound is carried down the smaller corridor that is branching off left. I approach the corner of the two corridors and look around it.
Trampled dead bodies are a short distance up from me, ten or twenty of them. Some of them still twitch but there no active Rabids in sight. This corridor is also curving left, so I can’t see what is happening farther up. I turn the corner and head up the corridor, adrenaline fizzing in my limbs as I prepare for the inevitable battle.
Stalking to the right of the corridor to get a better view of the way ahead, I reach the trampled twitching bodies. Stepping around and over them, gradually Rabids come into my view as more of the corridor and then an open space presents itself. Rabids are thronged at the far end of what looks like a foyer with rooms off it, thirty or forty of them, more even. Above the heads of the Rabids, I spot a sign attached to the wall that reads, COMMAND ROOM.
My hope rises; if I am going to find Lieutenant Winters anywhere, surely it is at the command room. I’m banking on him knowing where my children are if he isn’t with them, and if Colonel Reed has anything to say about it my rifle will be breaking his jaw.
Another volley of gunfire explodes as I assess my tactics. The blast comes from the left of the command room, where another door is situated. The door is partially open and that is where the Rabids are concentrated. Somebody must be in there, fighting to keep the mass of Rabids at bay, Winters?
I hear the scream above the screech of Rabids and through the gunfire. EMILY, EMILY IS IN THAT ROOM!
My body is overtaken by panic and desperation to get to her and to kill every one of the fucking Rabids that stand between us. I twist off the silencer from the front of the M4, discarding it, unclip it from my front, raise the rifle and pull the trigger without a second thought. If the throng of beasts is attacking me, then at least they aren’t attacking Emily. The M4 blazes into life, spraying bullets into the back of the Rabids. Heads explode and bodies fall as my first volley catches them by surprise. The new blast of noise gets their attention immediately and Rabids turn in my direction. My first magazine empties and I swiftly switch it out, opening fire again. More Rabids fall, but my element of surprise is gone. Beasts scatter from the back of the pack in too many directions for me to shoot at. They come for me, screeching their battle cry to alert others to my threat.
No longer invisible to the Rabids, my camouflage has evaporated. Just as happened in the Orion building, I am drawing them to me and that is the reason the M4’s silencer is lost on the floor. Changing my tactics, I fire shorter bursts at specific targets as I fall back to the more confined space of the corridor behind me. Rabids follow my retreat, some falling from my fire as they are forced to group together, the narrower corridor closing in on them.
My mag goes. I was expecting it and again I reload the M4, so rapidly it surprises me. Ferocious creatures fly at me, but I make my stand near to the junction with the main corridor. Rabids go down, the M4 whipping through the air in multiple directions, picking out targets and firing. My aim is astonishing, it’s holding the tide back. Bullets hit heads, shattering skulls and exploding brains.
As the next mag goes, I know exactly where to reach for the next one with my left hand as my right ejects the spent one. The delay, as quick as the switch is, gives my enemy vital seconds to breach the gap to me and I’m now playing catchup. The Rabids are too close now though, I can’t keep up. The angle has changed, and the rifle has to move too far, through the air to each side of the corridor to be effective.
I spray the whole magazine into the legs of the oncoming Rabids. Many have their legs taken from under them. Others behind fall over the ones that go down but not enough of them. There is no time to change the mag again as a Rabid launches at me. Its eyes are filled with hatred and determination, not to feed but to kill the betrayer.
I am no zombie, I think to myself as I bring the butt of the M4 swinging around and smash it into the back of the Rabid’s head. The beast’s skull cracks from the force of the blow and it crashes to the ground at my feet, headfirst. I release the empty M4 to drop to the floor.
Most of the Rabids are dead or down but more still come and are on me. One slams into me as I reach for the Sig in my shoulder holster. Hit backwards, my hand comes away empty as my arms flail backwards to try and break my fall. Managing to save myself from the brunt of the fall, I recover enough to bring my arms back up to defend myself from the vicious Rabid snarling inches away from my face. My arms push, trying to force the determined creature away. The fucker has gripped hold of my shoulders though, and is pulling itself down; no matter how hard I push, it is too strong, it is winning.
Gunfire erupts from back in the foyer. I hope I have given Josh enough of a chance to kill the rest of the Rabids and protect Emily, I think to myself as my arms weaken and the Rabid nears its victory.
Wretched Rabid blood splatters across my face as the sound of cracking bone fills my ears. The attacking Rabid is sent rolling sideways off me as its head is whacked sideways. My head is spinning as I try to recover myself from the attack, unsure what has happened. Blood is in my eyes and my hand comes to my face so that my fingers can wipe it out.
My senses start to return, and my eyes focus. A figure is standing over me, holding their rifle like a baseball bat. They are talking to me and finally, I hear what the female American voice is saying. “Are you okay, buddy?”
“I wipe my eyes again, “Alice, is that you?”
“Captain Richards, it can’t be, you’re alive?” she replies as another figure comes and stands over me. “Yes, it’s me, Alice,” she tells me as she drops her rifle and bends down to me.
Her hand comes across my face and she starts to wipe it, mopping up the Rabid blood.
“How did, erm—I didn’t recognise you with that blood over your face. I can’t believe it; can you sit up?”
I push myself up with Alice’s help and sit up. Alice stays next to me and there are two other sets of legs in my view. My head rises to see Winters and Dixon standing over me with looks of disbelief etched across their faces.
“Josh and,” Alice cuts me off.
“They are safe, back there in a conference room with
Stacey,” she tells me.
“We need to get out of here, now!” I tell them all. “Ask your questions later.”
“I have an evac, we need to get down to the loading bay on the ground floor,” Winters says, immediately getting on point.
I go to stand up and again Alice helps me. Back on my feet, I look around the floor.
“Looking for this?” Dixon says as he bends down to pick up my rifle.
“Thanks,” I say as he passes it to me. “Alice, Winters, go and get the others while we secure the route to the lifts. We haven’t got time for Josh and Emily to see me now. More Rabids are one floor down and they could be here any second, especially after all that noise.” I don’t mention the possible impending nuclear bomb that could arrive at any moment.
Alice and Winters move without question, going back up the corridor. I reload and then Dixon and I move out to secure the lifts. The route is clear and halfway to the lifts, I speak to Dixon.
“Opinion on Winters’ evac?” I ask.
“It’s the only one we have,” he answers bluntly.
“Fair enough, any details?”
“We need to get the lower ground floor, which is separated from the main building, so it should be clear. I’ll fill you in with the rest of the details when we are off this floor, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll go down first as soon as we hear them coming to save any drama,” I tell him.
“Yes, they are going to be elated, when they see you, especially one little girl I know. I’m quite pleased to see you myself,” Dixon informs me with a grin across his rugged face.
“Thanks, mate. They aren’t the only ones who are going to be excited, I can’t wait to see them. It has been a very long road,” I tell him, exhausted.
“I can imagine and I’m looking forward to hearing all about it, with a cold beer in my hand. Here take these, I think you’ll need them before you see your children.” Dixon delves deep into a pouch in his body armour. His hand reappears holding a small packet of wet wipes, a soldier's best friend.
“Ideal, thanks,” I say as I take them from him.
“Here they come, see you down there,” Dixon says.
“Okay, watch that stairwell, that’s where they will come from,” I tell him as I go.
“You got it,” he replies.
The lift door pings open just as the rest of the group turn the corner, back down the corridor. As tempting as it is to steal a look at them, I don’t take the risk. The last thing we need right now is noise and confusion. I step into the lift and look for the button for the lower ground floor. Funnily enough, it has the letters LG printed on it and that’s the one I press.
Thankfully, the lift’s buttons have a mirrored panel above them, and I take a look at myself in it. I’m not surprised Alice didn’t recognise me straight away, what with my new wounds down the side of my cheek and the blood on my face, which is still considerable even after Alice has wiped it. I rip open the packet of wet wipes and quickly go about trying to clean myself up. The small packet of wipes manages to last long enough to clean off the blood from my face and around my neck. I can still feel blood in my hair, and it is still splattered across my body armour. There isn’t much I can do about that now; I doubt Emily will notice when she sees me and hopefully Catherine won’t notice how haggard I look.
I am poised behind my reloaded M4 as the lift door pings open onto a confined, narrower corridor than the ones on the floors above. All is quiet as I move to the lift door and aim the M4 up and down the corridor. There is no sign of any Rabids and no Rabid noises. I exit the lift, covering the corridor while I wait for the other lift to arrive.
Butterflies dance around in my stomach as I anticipate the lift opening and my children seeing me. I find myself trembling nervously. There was a point when I thought I would never see them again; in fact, there were several points and I tell myself it is only to be expected.
Eventually, the second lift pings and I step back from it. To give everyone room to get off, but also out of trepidation, my trembling increases rapidly.
Dixon and Collins disembark the lift first. Collins looks so surprised to see me, for a second I think he might actually shoot me with his raised rifle. He gathers himself quickly, gives me a nod and moves past me to cover the corridor beyond, like the consummate professional he is.
In quick succession, Emily and Stacey appear, closely followed by Catherine and Josh. Emily has her head down and doesn’t even notice me to start with, and Stacey’s concentration is taken up with Emily. Catherine and Josh behind them come to a sudden stop as soon as they see me, with looks of disbelief and bewilderment on their faces. Stunned, neither of them says a word; they stand there like statues, eyes wide, their brains trying to process who is standing in front of them.
“Dad?” Josh finally manages to utter.
Emily’s eyes come up to my face, her small face appears frightened and afraid. She cannot understand that it is me; she looks like she has seen a ghost and she even takes a step back towards Josh.
I move down to her level, onto my haunches. “It’s okay Emily, it’s me, it’s Dad.”
Her eyes start to well up, as she begins to understand that it is her Dad in front of her and not an apparition.
“Dad?” She takes a small step forward. “Dad?”
“Yes Emily, I’m here. I am not dead, I survived.” My eyes well up too and tears start to roll down my cheeks as I hold my arms out to her.
“Dad!” Emily shouts and runs into my arms.
I pull her to me, tears streaming down my face and savour having my little girl in my arms again. Emily sobs as I lift her up, her legs moving around my body as she grips hold of me tightly. I look over to Josh whose eyes are red and wet. He looks unsure, guilty, I hold my arm out to him. Josh comes over and I put my arm around him, pulling him in.
“I’m sorry dad.” He says, quietly to me.
“Don’t say that. You did what you had to do. You did what I wanted. You couldn’t have known,” I tell my son.
“But.”
“No Josh,” I cut him off. “There is no way, I’m proud of you for the decision you had to make.”
Josh pulls away and looks at me as if to double-check he isn’t dreaming.
“Forget it, son, it had to be done,” I tell him earnestly, gripping his shoulder.
He gives a small nod of acknowledgement as Catherine comes over. She puts one arm around Josh and one around me.
“You are full of surprises,” Catherine jokes, which breaks the tension slightly.
“I like to keep you on your toes,” I retort and kiss her on her forehead.
“Sorry to break up the party, but we need to move,” Dixon says.
He is right and he doesn’t know the half of it.
“Come on Stacey,” I say as we all follow Winters down the corridor. I feel a pang of guilt that I haven’t time for her now, but I will when we reach safety.
Dixon catches up to Winters and I see them talking as we go. Something tells me the evac isn’t going to be straightforward. I need to get in on that conversation and that isn’t going to be easy, what with Emily clinging onto me.
“Emily, I’m going to have to give you to Josh. I have to talk to Sergeant Dixon.” Emily makes a long grunting protest. “Josh, take your sister please.”
“Let them handle it, Dad, you’ve done enough,” Josh replies.
“Now, Josh,” I order him sternly. He has no idea and I haven’t the time to explain.
Josh relents and goes to take Emily off me as we go. Emily won’t release her grip and I have to prize her off me. She protests again but I have no choice but to ignore her.
Free of Emily, I break into a jog to catch up with the two men ahead. Skirting around Alice and Collins, I reach the backs of Winters and Dixon. They turn to look at me but don’t break their stride or stop their conversation, thinking they have the situation under control, without my input.
Unfortunately, on this occasion, they don’t k
now all the facts, so I have to barge my way into the situation. I put my left arm out and push my way between the two men, taking them by surprise.
“Steady on, Captain, we have things under control. You can’t keep out of it, can you?” Dixon half-jokes.
“I’m sorry, Sergeant but things are happening you aren’t aware of.”
“Like what?” Winter asks as the two men walk on either side of me.
“It looks like they are planning to stem the outbreak at Heathrow with a tactical nuclear device. It could be inbound as we speak,” I inform the two men, who both go quiet. “What is the evac plan?”
“l have cars in the loading bay, ready to go. Unfortunately, there are approximately twenty Rabids also trapped in the loading bay, which we will have to clear. One of them is Colonel Reed,” Winters says, and I look at him shocked. “I’ll tell you later,” he says.
“I will clear the loading bay,” I tell the two men.
“No fucking way, you wouldn’t stand a chance against that many,” Dixon insists.
Telling these two wily operators just to trust me isn’t going to cut it. There is no way they are going to let me go into that loading bay alone unless I tell them, so I tell them straight.
“Since I got scratched, the Rabids think I am one of them, I don’t know why but they do. I can get into the loading bay and set them up,” I tell them.
“What do you mean?” Dixon asks.
“I’m invisible to them, like camouflaged.”
“It didn’t look like that when one was about to bite your face off before Alice intervened,” Dixon points out.
“That was because I was attacking them and making a lot of noise. Believe me, they walk right past me unless I threaten them. I’ve just walked out of the city surrounded by them for god’s sake.”
“Are you infected, then?” Winters asks.
Capital Falling Trilogy Box Set [Books 1-3] Page 68
