The Dead of Night

by Paul Jenkins

  Tom turned to see Josh standing on the wall looking into the distance,

  “The herd is on its way.” Said Josh as he jumped down from the wall

  The group quickly grabbed their rucksacks and set off walking again.

  An hour later and the group were walking down a long road it seemed to have gone on for miles Jackie stopped and grabbed some water from her bag,

  “Everyone ok?” asked Tom

  The group nodded and where too exhausted to speak, “You want to stop for a bit?”

  Josh turned around, “I want to but that herd back there was huge.”

  “We’ll see what’s over this hill and stop for a moment.” Said Ian

  The group set off again and stopped at the top of the hill, Jackie stopped

  “Shit.” She said

  Tom looked up and noticed four zombies trying to get into a truck, he removed his axe, Mark, Josh and Tim removed their weapons and the four ran down the hill with the last of their energy and disposed of the four zombies, Tom opened up the cab door and there was a man crouched in the foot well of the cab, “Thank you so much.” Said the man

  “Are you ok?” asked Josh

  “Yes.” Replied the man

  “Who are you?” asked Mark

  “My name is Tim.” He replied

  “Are you alone?” Asked Tom

  “Afraid so, I was with three others but the zombs got them.”

  “You want to join us?” asked Tom

  “Where are you guys heading?”

  “Up north.” Replied Tom

  “I could do with some company.”

  Jack, Alice and Ian arrived at the truck, “Does your truck work?” asked Jackie

  “It sure does.” Replied Tim

  “Where are the keys?” asked Ian

  Tim looked down at the zombie he reached into its pocket and pulled out the keys,

  “This was one of my friends.”

  “I’m sorry.” Replied Josh

  “Don’t worry, he was…dead if that’s how you put it?”

  “I’m Tom and these are my friends, Alice, Jackie, Ian, Mark and Josh.”

  “Well, nice to meet you and thanks for saving me.”

  Tim held out the keys, “So, who wants to drive?”

  Ian reached for the keys and grabbed them, “I’ll drive.”

  “Shotgun.” Shouted Josh

  The rest of the group jumped into the back of the truck and drove off into the distance.

  Chapter Three

  It was early evening when their arrived at the top of the hill that looked down at the mall, the weather had cooled down and it was just starting to rain. Tom pulled the truck over at the roadside, and the group climbed out, Tom made his way to the top of the hill with the rest of the group following,

  “Looks pretty empty.” He said

  “Just a few of those monsters down there.” Replied Tim

  Down in the car park four of the zombies where strolling around bumping into parked cars.

  “Shall we chance leaving the truck up here?” asked Mark

  “I was thinking of parking it down by the main doors do you want to come and clear out the zombies first?” Replied Tom

  Mark nodded, “Sure.”

  Tom turned to the rest of the group, “Ok, stay by the truck and we’ll give the signal when it’s clear.”

  Tom and Mark headed down the hill watching their steps on the way down trying not to slip on the wet grass, the first zombie was standing by a lamp post looking into the distance Tom slowly crept behind it and took it down, Mark quickly walked by and reached the second zombie who was walking between two cars Mark edged towards the zombie and took it down with a swift blow to the head. Tom caught up to Mark and their watched as the other two zombies where limping around outside of the doors to the mall, “Ready?” asked Tom

  “As ever.” Replied Mark

  Tom and Mark sprint to the last two zombies and dispose of them quickly and quietly. Tom turns to the doors and wipes the glass clean he looked through the window,

  “It looks empty in there.” He says

  “Shall we check it out first?”

  “We should get the others first.” Replied Tom

  Mark nodded and grabbed a torch from his bag, he flick it on and shorn it towards the others he flicked it on, off and then on again.

  At the top of the hill Alice started the engine, “There’s the signal.” She said

  She turned the truck around and drove into the car park she pulled up next to Tom and Mark,

  “Ian, take it around back and we’ll meet you back here.”

  “No problem.” He replied jumping into the cab

  Ian drives away and Josh nudges Tom, “How did it look in there?”

  “It looks empty to me.” Replied Tom

  A moment later Ian came running around the corner, “There is a pickup parked around the back.” He said catching his breath

  “Maybe a small group holding up in here.” Said Jackie

  “Stay alert.” Said Tom

  Tom tried the main door and it was unlocked, he opened the door and walked inside with the group following, “Torches off.” He whispered

  They made their way around the empty mall the shops doors wide open, the stock was littered around the floor, broken glass strewn across the floor as well as dead bodies. They stopped at the escalators and slowly walked up them once at the top they were met to a small man holding a rifle,

  “What are you lot doing in here?” he asked

  “We just came in search of a safe place to sleep.” Replied Tom

  The man lowered his gun, “You can stay the night but you have to leave tomorrow.”

  “No problem.” Replied Tom knowing that tomorrow the herd would be close by then

  “Feel free to look around.”

  “Are you alone?” asked Ian

  “No there are two more guys we are hiding out in the old record store and plan on moving out in a few days.”

  “How long have you been hiding in here?” asked Jackie?

  “About a week.” Replied the man

  Tom walked forward, “I’m Tom.” He said

  “Lucas.”

  Tom began to speak again, “So…”

  He was interrupted by a scream coming from the record store,

  “What the hell was that?” asked Tom

  The man raised the gun again, “Just leave and nobody will get hurt.”

  “Come on there is seven of us.” Replied Tom

  “Stay back.”

  Tom, Mark and Tim withdrew their pistols Lucas sighed and then lowered his rifle, “Shit.”

  “Drop it.” Said Tom

  Lucas drops the gun and raises his hands, “On your knees.” Said Tim

  Lucas dropped to his knees and Tim stood over him with the gun to his head,

  Tom turned to the group, “Mark, Ian, come with me everyone else keep a look out.”

  Tom, Mark and Ian headed to the old record store, once again a scream came from the back room, “What the fuck is going on in there.” Asked Ian

  “I dread to think.” Replied Mark

  Tom stopped at the door, “Pistols at the ready.” He said

  He stepped back and kicked open the door, once inside the two men jumped up, one of them buttoned up his trousers, behind them was a girl tied to a desk,

  Tom’s expression changed from shocked to anger he charged at the man and hit him with the butt of the pistol knocking him to the floor. The other man stepped back with his hands in the air, “Please.” He said

  Ian raised the gun and without hesitation he squeezed the trigger, shooting the man right between the eyes, the girl screamed again Mark and Ian ran towards her and untied her, they turned to Tom who was sat on the man’s chest he was punching him in the face over and over again, “You sick bastard.” He said

  Tom picked the man up from the floor and dragged him out of the store room and out into the mall he threw him down beside, Lucas.


  “So this is why you wanted us to leave.” Said Tom

  “What’s happened?” Asked Alice

  “They had this girl tied up in the back room.” Replied Ian

  “Having their way with her.” Added Tom

  “I didn’t do anything I promise.” Said Lucas

  Tim looked towards Tom, Mark and Ian, Tom nodded and Tim squeezed the trigger Lucas fell to the floor the blood pooled around his head, the girl tapped Tom on the shoulder,

  “Let me kill him.”

  Tom handed the girl the gun and she kneeled down beside the man who Tom had just beaten within an inch of his life, “Get up fucker.” She said

  The man tried to speak but his jaw was broken, Tom grabbed hold of the man’s shirt and dragged him to his knees, “Why would you do this?”

  “F…Fuck…Y…You.” He replied

  The girl pressed the gun to the man’s head and after a moment she pulled the trigger they all watched as the blood sprayed from the back of his head and he slumped to the floor. The girl turned to the group as tears fell down her face, “I’m sorry.” She cried

  She quickly raised the gun to her head and pulled the trigger,

  “No.” shouted Tom

  The shot echoed through the mall the group looked on in shock,

  “Oh my god.” Said Alice as she dropped to her knees

  Suddenly the sound of glass breaking distracted the group, Tim ran to the top of the stairs and watched on as the herd had made it to the mall, “There here.” He shouted

  Tom helped Alice up and they made a run to an emergency exit the group ran in and Tom turned around, “Tim hurry.” He shouted

  “I’ll catch up we need to get them all inside.”

  “Damn it.” Tom ran to help Tim

  They both got the attention of the herd as the zombies filled the mall the two then ran to the exit door and slammed it behind them. At the bottom of the stairs Alice was waiting,

  “Ian took the pick up to block the main doors.”

  “Shit I hope he’s ok.” Said Tom

  Around the front of the mall Ian was speeding towards the last of the herd he ran a few down as blood splattered over the windscreen, he made a quick U-turn and blocked off the main doors he quickly escaped the cab and sprinted back around to meet with the group.

  “There all inside only around twenty or so left outside.” He said

  “Let’s get the fuck out of here.” Said Josh

  They all got into the truck and made a quick getaway about a mile down the road Tom speaks,

  “Listen up, I was looking at the map earlier and there is an army base about a hundred mile to the west it would take us about two and a half hours off course but it may be worth a check. What do you all think?”

  “Sounds ok to me.” Replied Ian

  “I’m in.” shouted Josh

  “Worth a look.” Replied Mark

  Tom looked over to Alice, “Are you alright?”

  Alice wiped away a tear from her face, “I’ll be ok.” She said

  “I’m sorry you had to see that back there.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” She said

  Tom took a turning and headed to the west.

  Chapter Four

  A day later the group arrived at the army base three hours later before sun set, they stopped to take a drink and made their way towards the gates. Once at the gates they discover that the gate was slightly open,

  “This doesn’t look good.” Said Tom removing his axe

  “How do you want to this?” Asked Ian

  “Stick together until we know what’s happened in there and keep your guns holstered weapons only.”

  Tom moved slowly to the gate and slid it across the group then entered the base with their weapons at the ready. It was eerily silent in the base they walked past the guard tower and made their way towards the first building which was the medic centre.

  “Josh, are you ready?” asked Tom nodding towards the door

  “Ready when you are.” He replied

  Tom and Josh stood at either side of the door to the medic centre whilst the rest of the group stood back with weapons ready, Tom nodded and the two opened the door the shelves where still stocked with medical supplies, “Grab what you need and we’ll move on.” Said Tom

  The group entered the building and grabbed the supplied they needed and where now standing outside,

  “This doesn’t seem right.” Spoke Jackie as she zipped up her bag

  “What do you mean?” Asked Alice

  “There’s got to be someone here, why would those shelves be stocked to the rafters with supplies.”

  “Well, we best get moving on in case these people come back.” Replied Ian

  “We need food and water and if we can find the ammo that’d be a bonus.” Replied Tom

  “Shall we split up?” piped up Mark

  Tom nodded, “Ok, I’ll go with you and Alice to find the ammo, Ian you take Josh, Tim and Jackie to find food and water.”

  They all agreed and split into two groups, Tom’s group headed to the left and made their way towards the ammunition building and Ian took his group towards the canteen.

  “I hope we find some food.” Said Josh

  “I hope these people don’t come back while we are here.”

  “Jackie I don’t think they would leave this place unmanned especially when it’s stocked like it is.” Replied Ian

  “That’s just it though why would they leave all this behind?”

  “Maybe they were told to leave it in case people like us came looking for supplies.”

  “You two just shut up.” Interrupted Josh

  Ian and Jackie looked at each other and laughed,

  “How much are we planning on taking?” asked Tim?

  “Only what we can fit into our rucksacks.” Replied Ian

  Tim turned around whilst walking to face the others,

  “Sorry to bring this back up but what if Jackie is right, what if they come back?”

  “We’ll deal with that if it comes to it, but what harm can it do if we just take a small amount?” replied Ian

  Tim sighed and turned back around the four reached the canteen and stopped at the doors,

  “I’ll go first stay alert.” Said Ian

  Ian slowly opened the door and peered around it, Josh, Tim and Jackie waited for the signal Ian raised his hand and give the order to follow. The canteen was empty Ian and Josh made their way towards the kitchen Ian pushed the door open and he looked around the kitchen was empty too. Tim and Jackie followed them into the kitchen Ian opened up the fridge expecting it to be packed but it was at least half full, “Not bad I suppose.” He said

  “Take what you need, remember to get supplies for the others.” Said Josh as he stuffed canned food into his bag

  Meanwhile across the base Tom, Mark and Alice where inside of the ammunition depot they came to a door, Tom and Mark where standing at either side and Alice was standing behind Tom, “On three.” He said to Mark

  Tom counted first, “One.”

  Then Mark, “Two.”

  “Three.”

  “Three.”

  They both burst through the door two of the zombies where strolling around the room the noise distracted them and they were now heading towards Tom and Mark, Tom quickly stuck his axe into the first ones head, Mark got the second with his knife to the temple.

  “I wonder how the others are getting on?” asked Alice

  “I’m sure they’ll be ok.” Replied Mark

  “Ok, fill up two bags it’s a shame we can’t take one of the trucks.” Said Tom

  “What’s stopping us?” asked Alice

  “We could try taking one hopefully there is enough gas we passed the fuel pumps just before this building.” Replied Tom

  They filled up the two bags and made their way back out of the ammo depot and arrived back at the medical centre.

  “Here they come.” Said Alice as she spotted Josh, Tim, Ian and Jackie walk
ing towards them

  “We hit the jackpot in the ammo depot.” Said Mark

  “How did you guys do?” asked Tom

  “The fridge was half full only took what we needed.” Replied Ian

  “We were thinking of taking a truck so we could stock up on more supplies.” Alice added

  “Make a lot of noise.” Replied Tim

  “But we could cover more ground.” Relied Jackie

  Suddenly a loud bang echoed though the base, they looked around and Tim fell down at Tom’s feet.

  “Fuck.” He said

  The group looked down at Tim, who had just been shot in the back of the head

  “Get inside.” Shouted Tom

  The group quickly made their way into the medical centre and hid behind the door.

  “I knew something was wrong.” Spoke Jackie

  “Keep an eye out I’m going outside.” Said Tom

  “Wait up, I’ll come with you.” Replied Josh

  Jake and Tom headed to the door but where stopped by Alice

  “Wait.” she whispered pointing to the window

  Tom looked to the window as a shadow slowly crept by the window,

  Tom removed his axe and edged toward the door, he peered through the gap and noticed a man kneeling beside Tim‘s dead body he tightened his grip on the handle and burst through the doors,

  “Tom, no.” shouted Alice

  Tom ran to the man and kicked him to the floor, he put his knee on the man’s chest and raised the axe, “Where are the rest of your group?” demanded Tom

  “There all gone.” Replied the man

  “What?”

  “There all dead.”

  “Why did you shoot our guy?”

  “You stole from the army.”

  “The army is gone.”

  Tom stood up and grabbed hold of the man, “Get up.”

  The rest of the group emerged from the building and surrounded the man,

  “How did you survive?” asked Josh

  “I hid.” Replied the man

  “What happened?” asked Alice

  “A horde of those things stormed the base took out the entire base except for me and a few men.”

  “Where are they now?” asked Jackie

  “They didn’t make it.”

  “How long have you been alone?” asked Mark?

  “Two weeks, please just let me go.”

  “Why should we?” replied Tom