From Despair to Where

by Oliver Smith

  “I’ve twisted my knee, but other than that and a few bruises I’m okay.” She said wincing.

  Jack put his arms around her, and she let him hold her weight as they embraced in silence. She whispered, “I thought you were him.”

  “Who? What happened?” Jack asked looking concerned.

  James sensed this as a time to intervene the lovers’ embrace and said, “Let’s talk about this inside, we’re not safe here.”

  Moving back into the abandoned building, James closed the door, and darkness engulphed them, “I think we’re going to have to stay here tonight. I don’t think you should be on a bike with that knee of yours. I’ll go at first light and get a car.”

  “He knows we’re here.” Lucy said clearly opposed to James’ plan.

  “Who? What happened Lucy?” Jack repeated his earlier question.

  “Where’s Scott?” James added as Jack felt worry and guilt in equal measures, he hadn’t thought about his friend, finding Lucy had consumed him.

  “Okay, let me get this straight in my head. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind.” Lucy began trying to put the different fragments of a long day together, “We left you to take Eddie back, we crossed the river, Eddie wasn’t doing very well, he was in and out of consciousness, so John was driving fast. We turned a corner and someone stepped out into the road, John swerved and lost control, I remember careening through the hedge and the van flipping on to its side. It must have been a minute or so until the dust settled and my senses returned. I hurt my knee in the crash. I undid my seatbelt and clambered into the back. Scott was unconscious, he’d been thrown about in the back and had knocked his head. Eddie was dead. I tried for a pulse, but it was no good, that last trauma was one too many for his body to handle.

  “John joined me in the back of the van and Scott began to come around. He was groggy, but seemed okay. John suggested we should get out of the van quickly as Eddie could turn at any moment.

  “We didn’t even think about the cause of the crash, we were concerned about being locked in a van that was smeared with a lot of infected blood and a body that could reanimate at any moment. Scott got the doors open and we got out as fast as we could. He stayed behind and did what he needed to do.” Lucy looked thoughtful for a moment.

  Lucy continued, “Scott knew about this place as he’d come across it a couple of times during his wonderings. We were walking at a slow pace due to my leg, trying to figure out what had happened. We weren’t paying attention; we were trying to take stock of the situation. From nowhere somebody ambushed us; it was one of the gang Jack! The one who chased me, the one who broke into your house and the one who was one step away from gutting you. He’s here!”

  Jack took a little time to comprehend and when understanding struck him he felt it like a lightning bolt, “How? - Are you sure? - How can that be?” Jack was rambling and firing questions as his mind whirled.

  “I just don’t know, but I’ve had some time to think locked up in this house; I think he’s been following us.” Lucy said.

  James, growing impatient with the half-told story, said, “We can talk about what ifs later, what happened to Scott and this fucking gangster?”

  “Sorry, it was a big shock, but you’re right. Anyway, this guy jumped us and it was too late for poor John, he was stabbed before any of us knew what was happening. Scott charged him and pushed him off John. Scott faced the attacker with his axe and threw me his rifle, his words still ring in my head, ‘shoot the fucker’.

  “I hesitated, and he saw the intent in Scott’s eyes. By the time I’d cocked the rifle and took my shot he was too far, and I missed. We tried to help with John, but it was too late. He died quickly.

  “The sound of the rifle attracted the dead and they were zoning in on us. Scott said he was going to find the murderer and took the rifle and left me with the axe. He told me to bunker down in the house and he’d send help. I told him not to go, but he was determined, he obviously isn’t a man of words, but I could see the pain in his face as he looked down on John’s body. It looked as though a small part of Scott died.

  “Anyway, I managed to get inside, but I attracted quite a few of the dead and they surrounded the house. They are very patient. I was silent, but they didn’t stop trying to get in. I heard you guys outside, but couldn’t see out, I thought it was him so waited until it was clear to make a break for it.”

  “Holy shit. That’s fucked. Who is this twat?” James asked as he clenched his fists with ferocity.

  Lucy explained to James how she had first met the gang on her escape from Manchester and how they’d followed her to Jack’s house and that it appeared that at least one of them was still in pursuit.

  “I think we’ve led them here Jack. They broke into your home when we had our journey mapped out on the living room table, they must have known where we were going. We then left notes at your parent’s house for your mum and dad and Chloe’s parents. With. An. Address.” Lucy shook her head, feeling the responsibility of a needless death.

  Jack realising the same thing said, “Oh Christ, I’m so sorry James, this is all my fault. My plan to come back to Yorkshire, to track you down and all I’ve done is bring back a psychotic maniac. I’m so sorry.”

  James laughed, not really the response the other two were expecting, “I can’t believe you didn’t think of making sure you weren’t being followed by a gang, who you didn’t really know about during the rise of the dead, with civilisation falling around you. That is schoolboy stuff, rule 101, you two are nothing but fucking rookies. I check for following gangs as part of my morning routine, everybody does.”

  Lucy and Jack looked on in confusion. James continued still bitterly laughing, “You are not responsible for someone else’s actions. How on earth could you predict to be entangled in some halfwit’s cross-country vengeance mission?

  “Okay, stop feeling sorry for yourselves; I guess we need to go then. This fucking murderer is obviously deranged and dangerous. We’ll need to find a car and get out of here. You two wait here and I’ll go and get us a vehicle. We could do with getting back and getting the security guys together for a briefing. We need to find and eradicate this scum.”

  “Agreed.” Lucy said with purpose.

  Chapter 42 - Favours

  It was past midnight when James managed to get the full security detail together, the exception being Scott who was still missing and the permanent removal of Eddie and John. The men knew it was serious as everyone, including those on watch and off duty were summoned. They would have a meeting with everyone in the village the following morning at 10:00am.

  James sombrely explained to the awaiting men what had happened and gave the bad news about Eddie and John. There was visible anger in the group as James talked about the killer roaming the area who had indiscriminately taken John’s life. He expressed the urgency of the situation and the importance of finding and taking this man down. For the moment he had left out the part of the gang following Lucy and Jack, it didn’t seem important right now.

  “Are you saying we should kill him?” One of the men asked.

  “Yes.” James said without hesitation.

  The man responded, “We’re not killers, how can we kill a living human being? Anyway, why would this man come here and kill again?”

  “What do you suggest? This man is a killer and from Lucy’s account he targeted them and is likely to kill again. We have enough fear and worry in our current existence; we don’t need this shit hunting us. It’s our only option. There is no other way.”

  “We could lock him up.” The man said limply.

  “Where? How? Who’s going to make sure he doesn’t escape, who’s going to feed him, who’s going to change his shit bucket? We can’t take prisoners, people would die because of it, people will die, people have died because of this man.” James was insistent.

  “He’s right Gil, we need to kill him, he’s already killed John. It’s the only way.” A burly man named Harold backed James up and Gil
didn’t raise any more objections, but his face didn’t appear happy with the decision.

  “Thanks H.” James said patting him on his back, “We’re all going out tonight. We need to do a sweep around the village. We’ll go in pairs and sweep in a circular motion expanding our area as we go. Lucy will describe him as she’s been up close to this fucker. Lucy, please describe as much as possible so the boys here know who they are looking for.”

  Lucy described the short stocky man with a big nose and pock marks. He was short but powerful and wore a dark hoodie and dark trousers. He had a knife. It was a short description, but all Lucy had, there was no use in emotional scorn in her description, it wouldn’t help.

  She added, “This guy is dangerous and will not hesitate to kill you. Don’t take the chance in reasoning with him. I want to come out with you, but my leg would slow me down and put you in danger.

  “I know this is a big ask, but if you can; end this tonight.”

  “I plan to.” Everybody turned to see Scott who had walked into the meeting. He was caked in mud, but looked unfazed.

  “I tried to catch him, but I lost track. I’m coming too, if I find him. He is dead.”

  -

  Each pair was assembled, outside and armed with guns. There would be no chances taken when it came to fighting the living. Guns were to be used as a preference, noise a secondary concern.

  They had four handheld radios between them, they needed more, but they hadn’t been a priority in supply runs so it’s all the group had between them. Communication would be difficult, but they were scouring the perimeter in a circle so each group would turn around when they encountered the group to their left and right. The theory meant that they could relay information around the whole circle as they expanded their search.

  Jack was feeling dead on his feet. It had been a long day and with each step he could feel a dull ache in his arches, he turned to Scott who he had been paired up with and asked, “How are you bearing up?”

  “I’m fine.” Scott said, typically not letting much out.

  “Come on mate.” Jack said.

  “It’s one thing after another fucking thing. It’s tiring constantly having to face some sort of battle. I sometimes just want to take a bottle of whiskey and go and sit in merry ignorance, but I can’t, I always have to fight.” Scott expanded on his feelings.

  “Mate, it’s never ending is it? Surely it’s going to get better though, we’re in the early struggles, we’ll get better, more self-sufficient and stronger. We’ve got to keep trying and fighting, I believe it’ll get easier.” Jack was surprised with the veracity of his own response.

  “Yeah. It’s just tiring is all.” Scott muttered.

  The search was long and arduous. There was no boredom however, the constant tension saw to that; sometimes animals in the bushes startled the men, other times they came across the dead who had to be dealt with. Many nerve shredding encounters kept blood pressure high, but there was no sign of the man they were looking for.

  After about three hours, James radioed that it was time to stop the search and make it back to base. Those who didn’t have radios were contacted through sight and sound and eventually everybody got the message.

  There was still no sign of Richie. The group were told to try and spiral their return journey to ensure that each square inch of terrain was covered on the way back to the village. Harold and Gil were paired together and were walking silently. Gil veered off directly for the village, Harold called to his friend, “Where you going Gil? We need to spiral, remember!”

  “We’ve checked it once, he’s not here. I need my bed so I’m going straight home.” Gil said.

  “Suit yourself Gil, I’m doing as told.” Harold said as he walked further away from Gil, leaving the smaller man alone, immediately missing his larger friend by his side. Just go straight home, nice and quick.

  Harold was now lost from view as Gil walked through trees silently, a noise behind him quickened his pace.

  The noise was a gasp, a loud expulsion of air, the last breath. Richie appeared from a hiding place and stabbed once, twice, three times, four; quick, powerful, and deadly. Looking down at the blood flowing from puncture wounds, Harold spat blood and fell to the floor; Richie turned him over, crouched and drove the blade under Harold’s jaw and into his skull, leaving the big man completely lifeless.

  The noise Gil heard as he scurried away frightened, was the sound of his friend being killed.

  -

  The pairs had planned to meet back together when they returned from the search for a short debrief and sort the watch for the rest of the night. When Gil and Harold didn’t return, worry spread. Jack and Scott had seen them on the way back, but hadn’t seen either of them for the last 40 minutes of the return walk.

  “Do you think they’ll have gone straight home?” Jack asked.

  “Gil probably would, H wouldn’t though. Scott, can you go to Gil’s and see if he’s there please?” James said.

  Scott returned about 10 minutes later, Gil followed sheepishly.

  “Gilbert, what the fuck?” James questioned.

  “We searched the area, I just wanted to get back and go to sleep. I did my job, ask Harold.” Gil said defensively.

  “Harold isn’t here.” James said.

  The colour in Gil’s face vanished, “He’s not back yet?”

  “No. He is not.” James said with anger clearly simmering under the surface. “Come on, we’re going out again to look for him. You know the route, so you lead.”

  They found the body about 20 minutes’ walk from the village. The group of six who had gone out almost tripped on the body that was slumped in the exposed roots of a tree. James saw Harold first and looked at the body is dismay. He inspected further and saw that the gentle giant Harold had been brutally murdered.

  He stood up and felt dizzy, Gil walked closer and saw the body, James couldn’t hold his anger any longer and struck Gil fiercely with right hook, knocking him to the floor, James spat his words angrily, “You little fucking weasel. You shouldn’t have left him.”

  He walked off, ashamed of his outburst and feeling pain in his knuckles. Walking back to the group, he said, “We need to get Harold back. We need to set up a proper watch on the village. We’ll let him come to us.”

  Walking together silently carrying Harold’s large frame home, the group were mourning the fourth loss of the day. James was low, but he was worried, he knew that Harold was in possession of a rifle which was no longer with his body. That meant the intruder was now armed with a gun capable of picking off long distant targets.

  -

  That night James barely slept, there was nothing more they could do for the time being. They set up a perimeter and could only hope that they wouldn’t be surprised through the night. He got up around 6am the following morning, groggy and achy from the previous day. He went to the radio that Arthur had set up a few days ago and dialled to channel 11 and spoke into the microphone, “This is James at the Greyholt community, I’d like to speak to whoever’s in charge there. This is an emergency. Over.”

  Chapter 43 - Meeting of Minds

  James had left Roger, who was now looking quite sick, and Scott, to conduct the emergency meeting and go through the previous day’s events and the threat to the community. He instructed Roger and Scott to be honest and laydown the brutal facts that there was an unknown person who had killed two of the village’s own and was still at large. Everybody needed to remain vigilant. James wanted chores to be at an absolute minimum and for people to stay inside for the next day or two.

  The reason James didn’t attend the community meeting was because he had a meeting with the Colonel arranged and wanted to go alone. The Colonel spoke to James over radio and was eager to speak with James in person and made himself available at 9am at a place of James’ choosing. James decided to go to the barracks, away from the village.

  James arrived early and was let in via armed guards through a set of double gates. T
his was the first time he’d been to the base and was impressed with its security. He was escorted to a large grey, undistinctive building, where he got out of the car and was greeted by the Colonel himself.

  “It’s nice to meet you James. Please call me Daniel.” The Colonel said amiably offering a hand as James got out of the car.

  Shaking his hand, James said, “Nice to meet you too Daniel, I don’t mean to be rude, but time is of importance so could we start the meeting ASAP?”

  “No problem, I like your efficiency; follow me.”

  The guards left the two men at the building entrance. James followed Daniel to a small room with a table and two chairs. Daniel sat down and gestured for James to do the same.

  “How can I help?” Daniel asked.

  James was out of his depth, so decided to plunge straight in, “We have a deranged lunatic who has already killed two good men. We’ve searched for him, but don’t have the skills or resources to flush him out. We need to eliminate him before more innocent lives are lost.” James tried to focus his speech to patterns that military people might appreciate in the hope that the Colonel would help, but he feared the cost of the assistance.

  “Goodness, I knew there would be some bad apples showing up now and then, but this person sounds dangerous.” Daniel paused in thought as James sat and waited, “We’ll help you, we will need a full description, locations seen and any other intel you might have. We’ll also need your security details to fall back so there are no friendly fire incidents.”

  James let the words sink in, it all seemed a little too easy, “Thank you, it’s appreciated. Are there any conditions? Catches?”

  Daniel laughed, “Maybe one catch, I’d like to begin discussions with yourself and any other of your, how should I put this, leaders; to talk about working together with us, the army, these people.” Daniel gestured with his arm to indicate the soldiers and families under his watch