Aaron stopped the Rover outside a house on a corner of the road. He watched as the brunette woman dragged her leg as she walked. The huge dead man behind her grabbed his attention. He nudged Ronnie.
Ronnie sat up and looked. ‘Poor bastard, he should have stayed with us.’
Aaron rolled down his window and shouted. ‘Hey Big Nev, who’s your lady friend.’
Big Nev looked towards them. ‘He recognises you,’ said Ronnie laughing.
‘He does fuck. The dead don’t recognise anybody, they just want flesh.’
‘Maybe,’ said Ronnie. ‘Let’s go.’
Aaron shifted the gears and they moved on.
*
Big Nev hadn’t recognised them, he had been drawn to the noise. He stood standing still like he had forgotten something. He looked in the direction of the Rover. He started walking in the same direction. A gap in the fence allowed him access to the road. The woman continued on her own. Big Nev set off on another path, he was heading home again.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Seaforth, The Lakeside Hotel.
The situation hadn’t improved for Claudia, she was still involved in a life and undead tug of war.
Ben grabbed Claudia’s other hand as it flapped past him. ‘Don’t you dare let me go,’ she screeched. Hagred was making it difficult. He had a good hold on her leg, pulling it towards him.
Tom and Billie-Jo executed a coordinated attack on the reaching dead. Hands, legs, ears, fingers and heads all flew in different directions. ‘I win six to five,’ he said to Billie-jo.
‘I didn’t know we were having a competition,’ she replied.
Claudia screamed as Hagred pulled her close, Ben’s grip was slipping.
Tom whipped the slime from his sword. He could see the struggle on the stairs. ‘Hey big fella, you with the beard, why don’t you let go of the nice lady’.
Hagred paid him no attention. Tom looked about the floor. He found a nice weighted pebble. Smoothed edges and blue. He arched his arm back and threw the stone like a pitcher releasing a high velocity baseball. The pebble whizzed through the air at high speed towards the head of Hagred. The stone flew past his nose like an annoying fly and shattered the glass of the window.
‘Ooops,’ he said…’Hey fat boy,’ he shouted in the direction of Hagred of the dead.
The dead who had toppled out of the window began to rise. Ben was losing his grip and Claudia’s leg was getting closer to the gaping maw of Hagred. Tom stuck his sword in the ground, it swayed gently. He took a run towards the stairs, leapt and grabbed hold of the outer bars. He got purchase with his foot and leapt to the next bar. He was eye level with Hagred who noticed him now.
‘You’re an ugly fucker,’ he said to the giant dead man. Tom reached for his smaller sword and severed the hand that held Claudia. Hagred didn’t flinch. Tom ducked down and reached through the bars with his sword and severed the tendons on the back of Hagred’s ankles. One of the dead who had fallen through the window popped up and nudged Hagred.
All four of the living including Lola watched as the colossal frame of the dead man teetered backwards. He lost his footing and crashed on to the stairs so hard that Tom and Claudia were almost shaken off. The giant bounced, slid and came to a shuddering halt amongst the pile of bodies at the bottom of the stairs. The first of the dead reached out for Tom, he did what he did best in this undead world, he killed it. Then he killed another four as they reached for him. Ben pulled Claudia to safety. Billie-Jo picked up Tom’s long sword, casually walked to the bottom of the stairs and split Hargred’s skull in two.
Tom leapt over the bars and dispatched the rest of the dead as they came through the window. Billie-Jo and Lola walked up towards him; it was like getting over a hill as she clambered past Hagred. She handed him his sword.
‘Nice hand movement and swing to split the big fuckers skull,’ he said.
‘Thanks, I’ve been watching you…you’re rather good yourself.’
‘Excuse me,’ said Ben. ‘Could you give me a hand.’ Claudia was still swinging in mid-air. Ben had both his hands clasped around her wrists.
Tom reached across and supported Claudia’s legs as she swung back to the platform next to Billie-Jo. ‘Nice dog,’ she said about to stroke Lola’s head. Lola snapped and Claudia pulled her hand away. ‘Maybe not,’ she replied.
‘She has trust issues, I’m Billie-Jo,’ she said extending her hand.
‘Claudia,’ she replied. That’s Ben,’ she said as he landed back on their side.
‘Thanks for your help,’ he said thrusting a hand in Tom’s direction.
‘You’re welcome, I’m Tom,’ he replied flatly.
Claudia looked them both up and down. ‘Are you two related,’ she asked Billie-Jo.
‘Me and Lola are but he’s adopted,’ she smirked at Tom.
‘What does that mean?’ asked Ben.
Tom smirked back, ‘We were neighbours…but now we are friends.’
‘Thanks dad,’ replied Billie-Jo with a beaming smile.
Ben and Claudia looked at each with an expression of confusion.
*
The five of them made their way back into the hotel. They cleared the last remaining dead, found the roller shutters and lowered them. Ben couldn’t help thinking why Bernie hadn’t done this, probably fear and forgetfulness first, followed by stupidity the moment he clapped eyes on Claudia.
‘We’re like the famous five,’ said Ben.
‘Who?’ asked Billie-jo.
‘Who?’ asked Claudia at the same time.
‘A watered-down version of Scooby Doo,’ Tom chipped in.
‘I’m a fourteen-year-old girl,’ said Billie-Jo. ‘’I’ve no idea of what you are both talking about.’
‘The famous five, a series of books by Enid Blyton…four kids and a dog out and about on adventures,’ said Ben.
‘Were they fun adventures?’ Asked Billie-Jo.
‘They were,’ he replied with a smile.
‘You didn’t look like you were having fun when me and Tom came around the corner,’ countered Billie-Jo.
‘Fair point,’ replied Ben.
Claudia laughed loudly, ‘I like her, she has a sharp side to her.’
‘Give it an hour,’ said Tom.
‘I heard that,’ said Billie-Jo,’ feigning hurt.
Ben had regained his composure after the put down. ‘We need a plan to get out of here.’
‘Agreed,’ said Tom. ‘We were on our way to the lighthouse, I figured that would be a safe haven plus it has the advantage of looking over into the docks. Maybe we could reclaim them from the dead. I imagine there will be a lot of supplies we could use.’
Ben mused with himself for a few seconds. ‘I think the infection, the madness, whatever you want to call it may be a terrorist attack that started at the docks.’
‘It’s the first you’re telling me,’ said Claudia.
‘No offense but if it’s national security we are talking about…that’ll be a need to know basis,’ he replied.
‘A teenager and her dog chaperoned by the neighbour, qualifies as need to know?’ Her arched eyebrow confirmed it was a question with more than a hint of sarcasm.
Before the disagreement grew, Tom interrupted. ‘He’s telling us now, let’s hear all the story.’
They sat and listened to Ben’s narrow escape and the loss of his colleagues. Claudia picked up on his pause when he mentioned Jill’s name. Tom listened intently; he wasn’t convinced it was a terrorist attack but he left it alone for now.
‘Drugs,’ said Billie-Jo.
‘I’ve not got any,’ replied Tom.
‘No, I don’t mean that. How do we know it wasn’t drugs on the boat and the infection was just a coincidence,’ said Billie-Jo.
Tom was certain she could read his mind. ‘She can’t but I can,’ said the voice of his mother. He did an internal eye roll and tried to ignore her. He thought she had gone the further from home he got.
‘The
kid has a point,’ said Claudia.
‘Less of the kid, I helped save you from…did you really name him Hagred by the way?’ Said Billie-Jo.
‘He did have a look of him,’ replied Ben.
‘I’m sorry to interrupt your reading class,’ said Tom. ‘It doesn’t really matter what’s going on in the country or the world. We are stuck in the middle of it attempting to survive and I will emphasise the word survive because society was already shit, it just happens to be shit and completely lawless now.’
He gave it a few seconds to sink in. ‘Me and the kid,’ he continued with a wink. ‘Have only travelled a couple of miles. We have seen dead things eating people. Living things attempting to attack us. Buildings on fire, overturned vehicles and mass hysteria on every corner…I don’t know the full state of what is going on but I’m willing to bet there is no help coming. So either we help ourselves to what is left, or we will end up like the things we are fighting…alive and dead.’
‘Ok, I’m in,’ said Ben. ‘I have a good knowledge of the docks. I know where all the useful stuff is.’
‘I’m definitely in,’ said Claudia. ‘I could do with some more appropriate clothing though.’
‘I think I may be able to help you with that,’ said Tom.
‘We’re a team,’ said Billie-Jo as she patted Tom on the back.
He was busy rummaging in his backpack. ‘There you go,’ he said handing Claudia a bundle.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ she said.
‘It’s all I’ve got.’
Claudia returned a few minutes later. Tom had to concede…she looked much better in the canary yellow catsuit; he was also minus another sword.
Chapter Sixty
Leeds. UK
Amy, Adam and Jack sat quietly, they had barely spoken since the phone call from her dad and Jack revealing his mum had been eaten by his stepfather. They occasionally glanced up at each and gave that awkward smile that said nothing and meant less.
Amy checked her phone every few minutes, the signal bars low. ‘The reception is really bad in this area,’ said Adam finally breaking the silence.
‘I know,’ she said.
‘We’ll know when he arrives,’ said Jack. ‘The dead will start migrating out of his way.’
Amy laughed, Adam smiled unsure why. ‘I’m really sorry about your mum and stepdad,’ she said.
‘Me too,’ he replied. ‘If I get out of this alive, I’m going to put an axe through his skull.’
‘I’ll drive you,’ she smiled.
The sound of the horn snapped them upright. Adam reached the window first. He gawped as two men repeatedly stabbed the dead through the bars of the gate. As they fell more of the dead replaced them.
The taller of the two men was dressed in combat gear looked like a person who wasn’t taking any prisoners…Amy’s dad he thought. He was shearing his way through the dead with a mean looking machete. His friend was giving it good go with a long sharp battle knife that penetrated shull and flesh with ease.
Amy reached the window, her hand smearing the glass. She didn’t recognise the smaller man but the other she knew was her dad. She scrambled for the handle and opened the window.
‘Dad, dad, dad,’ she screamed.
Frank heard her the first time, she certainly took after her mother when it came to vocal direction. He stopped the killing of the dead, wiped away the rain and looked towards her. The rest of the dead didn’t stand a chance.
It didn’t take him and Miles too long to draw the dead towards them. Once they had thinned Frank climbed over the fence and finished the stragglers off. He stood directly under the window where Amy appeared.
‘Hello trouble,’ he said.
‘Hi dad,’ she said beaming. ‘You took your time.’
He smiled up at her, ‘Yeah, stopped off had some food, took in the sites…all the usual stuff,’ he smiled. ‘Nothing was going to stop me getting here.’
‘Yeah, I know,’ she beamed.
‘I’ll be back in a minute, I’m just going to open the gates for Miles,’ he said.
Frank knew where the security office was from previous visits. He pushed the door open cautiously. He recognised the student that limped towards him even though the left side of his face was hanging around his neck. It was the same kid who always let him in with a friendly smile, not this time though…the smile was all snarl and far from friendly. Frank felt sorry for the kid, mindless and vulnerable. He hid the kid hard in the head with the machete. He fell to the floor, finally out of his misery. Frank reached over the counter and pressed the gate button. The gates opened slowly and Miles eased the rover through, crunching bodies as he went. He closed the gate.
The door to the block was electronically controlled, Adam had tossed his device from the window. Frank and Miles stood at the entrance, at least twenty of the undead mingled around each other in the foyer. Some pressed their hungry mouths against the glass.
The plan was to open the door, allowing a handful of the dead out so they could end their miserable existence. Their concern was once the dead from the other floors heard the commotion they too would descend into the foyer. Frank didn’t like Amy’s plan but it was the best they had come up with. Amy’s plan was to attack the dead from both sides when they became distracted.
At first Frank had dismissed the idea and searched the area for a ladder, nothing. Then he thought about putting the rover directly underneath the window and using the rope he had to lower themselves down. They checked the room and there was nothing that had enough strength to support the rope. He didn’t want to risk a fall either and anyone especially Amy breaking a bone. He relented and respected that they had all got this far and that they were already battle hardened in fighting the dead. In truth he knew Amy was safe but amongst other things he was still a dad.
Amy, Jack and Adam tied some sheets together and lowered them towards Frank. He placed in a green handled tactical axe, a curved kukri machete and a sheath knife – all deadly in their own right.
Adam pulled the sheets back up. He looked at the weapons, ‘Did your dad have any advance notice on the end of the world because it looks like he came prepared.’
‘When it comes to his daughter Frank doesn’t leave anything to chance,’ said Jack.
‘He loves his daughter,’ said Amy smiling as she picked up the axe and turned it quickly in her hands. ‘This one’s mine.’
‘I’ll have the machete looking thing,’ said Adam.
‘Sounds about right,’ said Jack. ‘Leave me with the small knife.’
Amy thrust the handle of the axe towards Jack, ‘I’ll swap but you’ll have to take the lead.’
‘I like this knife,’ he said. ‘It’s just the right size for my hand.’
‘Then let’s get prepared, she said as she glanced at Adam and grinned.
Frank looked at Monroe, he sensed her eagerness. ‘I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘I’ll get Amy, you mind the truck. Don’t get into any trouble…unless you have too.’ She wagged her tail.
Miles looked at him, ‘Do you usually converse with your dog. It sounded like a negotiation.’
‘She’s not just a dog,’ he replied.
‘Ok, my mistake,’ said Miles. Monroe was wagging her tail, back and forth almost smiling.
*
Miles swiped the electronic key; he pulled the door open as three of the dead stumbled out. Frank waited, machete in one hand and a survival axe in the other. The dead crashed to the floor with split skulls.
‘Again,’ he demanded.
After a few minutes the moving dead from the foyer, lay in a heap at Frank’s feet. They could see a few others wandering about around the corridors.
*
Amy reached for the doorknob; Adam placed his hand across hers. ‘Me first,’ he said.
‘I’m capable of leading the charge,’ she said slightly annoyed.
‘I agree,’ he replied. ‘But just let me be certain we’re good. I wouldn’t like anything
to happen to you.’
‘Nice to see romance isn’t dead,’ interrupted Jack. He slapped Adam on the back. ‘You think the dead are your only problem. When Frank sees you making eyes at his baby, you’ll be wishing you were still locked in here.’
‘Take no notice to him,’ she said, not sure she believed her own words.
‘I don’t know your dad but I’ll guess he’ll be more annoyed if I was to let you go first.’
Amy moved her hand. Adam opened the door, they readied themselves. They moved along the corridor to the barricaded doors. Some of the dead had begun moving downstairs towards the commotion created by Frank and Miles. They attacked the dead like Vikings on a raid. Amy shattered skull bone with fierce swings of her axe. Adam cleaved through flesh and crushed bone with violent speed. Jack grabbed the dead and pushed his knife through flesh and into brain. The dead fell. The living moved forward.
They found it easier as they moved downstairs. Frank and Miles ascending towards them. At the second floor Amy rounded the corner, Adam and Jack followed. She watched as her father killed another of the dead. Miles gave him a nudge, he looked up to see his daughter surrounded by lifeless bodies, smiling towards him. He smiled back.
The Good, The Bad & The Dead | Book 1 | Once Upon A Time In An Undead World Page 32
