by David Whaley
Natalie was first to turn and make way towards where they had parked their vehicle but as they got around the corner they noticed that this direction was also blocked off by a large number of the undead.
They were all walking in their direction, none running and none jumping.
“I’d estimate over two hundred of them,” said Leon.
“We haven’t got that amount of bullets, have we?” asked Natalie.
“Not too far off but the only way to survive is if none miss and then switch to smashing their faces in. If every bullet hits its target, that should leave about thirty or so to kill hand to hand.”
Their realism was not unrealistic. They knew the probable outcome, including an untrained Devlin. They wouldn’t make it out alive or at best would be severely injured and infected unlikely to make it back for the cure to be administered.
Despite the fact that they were walking, they were fast approaching.
Leon started the shooting first and proceeded in taking out the leaders off the pack advising the others to do the same, shouting his instruction.
At that moment a handful of zombies started running and bullets started flying in retaliation many of them missing their targets. Adrenaline can also be an inconvenience at times.
Natalie thumbed for her radio to transmit only to be interrupted by another Zombie charging directly for her.
“Your welcome,” shouted Leon killing her predator dead.
Natalie nodded and successfully pressed the button to transmit.
“Heather, I’m sorry. We are surrounded. We will not be coming back anytime soon.” The crack of her weapon echoed through the airwaves that must have partially deafened the recipient on the other end and anyone else who cared to listen in. “I wish you the best with your remaining time. Who knows how long it will take but try and make the best use of it. Use the radio to contact anyone who responds and maybe you will find another group as awesome as us. Take care.”
Natalie’s attempt at a joke was a poor effort, her knowing that no one in that situation would ever laugh at it.
“Shut up!” came the reply from Heathers voice over the PR. “Aren’t they there yet?”
“Who?” said Natalie stunned.
Before a reply was made a number of load bangs came from all around causing Natalie to look at Devlin and Leon. They were not firing their weapons, blank looks on their faces as they wondered where the unmistakable gun shots were coming from also.
One by one, zombies fell to the floor, their heads exploding immediately prior.
This left Natalie with a few questions to be asked. Who are the people firing? How many of them are there? Why are they here? Are they friend or foe?
Chapter 23
Whoever the source of the extra firepower were, they were focused on shooting the zombies. The three that experienced the near death hopeless dysphoria used that to their advantage.
The bullets continued to eliminate their targets and Leon didn’t dwell on where the owners were. As soon as he realised none of the bullets were headed in his direction he too opened fire with a perfectly placed shot into the eye socket of the closest zombie, the rate of fire giving them restored breathing space and room to move.
Devlin and Natalie followed suit and the zombies were dropping like flies. However, as the numbers reduced more of the undead sprinted from the corners not immediately available in their peripheral vision.
Devlin had spent all the cartridges in the MP5 switching to the Glock pistol, him being the least accurate of all including the invisible shooters. Leon and Natalie were not far off using up their own MP5 cartridges also but with considerable more accuracy.
Despite the ever increasing numbers, there did come a point where it stopped and only walkers remained.
Apparently, the anonymous helpers decided to stop shooting and allowed Leon and Natalie to clear the remainder, Devlin having run out of ammunition altogether. It didn’t take long to finish them off.
Devlin picked up a stray bit of wood broken from a crate that had a sharp point and rammed it into the final zombies’ throat severely damaging its health. It was still alive and to rid it of its final moment of ‘life,’ he pulled the wood back out and forced it through the hungry mouth that was open and aimed for Devlin’s face. It fell to the floor.
They were safe from the undead, but what about the living?
People armed with firearms began to appear, some from the direction that the zombies had approached, presumably having shot at them from behind at ground level, whilst others stood up from their prone position on top the warehouses.
The group had a momentary surge in adrenaline and fear as Leon began to assess the situation; they had barely any ammo left and were outnumbered therefore their best chance of survival would be to surrender.
Leon’s trail of thought was interrupted by Natalie saying, “isn’t that public order uniform?”
Leon examined the black overalls a little closer as they approached.
“Fuck. You’re right. It’s slightly different though,” he said, relieved that they looked to be friendly and on the same team.
“I think they’re counties.”
“Are they good guys then?” asked a weary Devlin.
“We’ll soon find out,” said an unreassuringly calming Leon.
One of the officers soon made first contact and extended a hand specifically for Natalie to receive.
He was a fairly handsome thirty something year old with two day shadow stubble that embellished his chiselled jaw. His hair was messy and overgrown; yet, Natalie considered the likelihood of finding a barber in post apocalyptic Britain and forgave him for his appearance of unkempt. His nose had been broken, and untreated, that looked like a recent infliction which none of the group wished to comment on.
“You must be Natalie. Looks like we got here just in time.”
“You did,” said Natalie shaking the officer’s hand. “And you are?”
“Forgive me. I’m PC John Richards. Hertfordshire Police. Umm, we spoke on the radio a few days back.”
“Yes, of course I remember you.” Natalie was extremely surprised to finally meet him. “How did you know we were here?”
“We tried raising you on the radio and you weren’t responding. A female did answer but obviously not a member of the ‘extended police family.’”
The ‘extended police family’ was a term used by the Metropolitan police, and apparently used by other police services, thought up during the introduction of police community support officers to incorporate both staff and officers under one umbrella. This was the definition as Natalie understood it but senior officers may have described it slightly differently.
“That would be Heather,” said Devlin. “We managed to get ourselves a scientist.”
“Okay. You don’t appear to be a part of the ‘family’ either. Are you?”
“Well, I suppose I am now by default. Still acting as a civilian but assisting police.”
“Fair enough and I like your answer,” smiled PC Richards then turning back to Natalie. “Anyway, Heather told us where you were and we made way. She said you had a last meal and everything. I thought you may need some help and it turns out you did.”
“And we appreciate your arrival,” said Leon taking the opportunity to introduce himself shaking his hand. “I’m Leon and I am a police officer.”
“Good to meet you. I’m not sure whether to bring this up but I thought there were four of you? And I’m guessing Heather doesn’t count as one of the four.”
“We will explain back at the police station. You are coming back with us, aren’t you?” said Natalie.
“We are but we won’t be staying. We will need to get back. We have been gathering survivors. By the way, good modified wagon round there,” said PC Richards throwing his head back indicating a direction. “A lot of evidence of zombie road-kill though.”
Natalie and Leon looked around counting the number of officers finishing at a total of eigh
t.
“I’m assuming you have your own transport? And, I didn’t think there was this many of you?” Natalie enquired.
“We do and I found some more officers the other side of Hertfordshire. You guys been in there yet or you done?” He motioned towards the warehouse.
“We’re done and I suggest we make a move before more of those undead things head our way.”
“Agreed.”
PC Richards walked with Devlin, Leon and Natalie with another three officers whilst the remaining four walked in the opposite direction. Thirty seconds later and they had reached their vehicles; the BMW with the obvious signs of road-kill having been pointed out by John and a very clean Ford Focus estate, as used by many of the county forces, that was surprisingly clean.
Their Focus bore no evidence of burning fires with the ash cinders floating in the air and regardless of whether they had them in Hertfordshire, they would have had to pass through roads with them to get to the warehouse. The Focus was also unmodified and completely vulnerable to zombies, the shell and glass windows offering their only protection. Normal police markings decorated the vehicle prompting Natalie to think that a group would no longer starburst upon seeing it, the group likely to consist of the infected.
Leon had a bit of fun with the Hertfordshire officer driving, who didn’t happen to be John, and Natalie noticed how similar they were in their appearance, their mannerisms and personality.
Leon started it by revving his engine to over six thousand revelations whilst the unidentified Hertfordshire officer quickly noticed and responded in turn by mimicking the sound of the engine, his boot finding the friction point.
It was the Hertfordshire officer that released the handbrake first followed closely by Leon and a short while later they entered the dual carriageway they had used to arrive at industrial park.
The abandoned cars, as many as there were, were light on the fast road which enabled easy manoeuvrability around them, a plus considering the speeds they were doing.
All being police officers, they were used to high speeds and didn’t complain. That is, except for Devlin. He just sat low in the back of the BMW and remained silent knowing his mouth would one day, if it hadn’t already, piss people off.
The BMW took the lead by a cars length as the Focus had to manoeuvre around another car but they soon discovered another Focus, with the remaining Hertfordshire police officers in. They were unknowingly in the lead of the race being conducted behind them. They soon realised, however, and joined in.
Herts two were leading by half a mile whilst Herts one had, again, nosed in front of Met one.
“Two against one. Unfair odds don’t you think,” said Leon asking rhetorically. “Hold on to your seatbelts and your country pile.” Leon’s last statement didn’t make much sense but the excitement rose within him hence his choice of phrase.
He floored the accelerator pedal giving him a boost of extra power whilst steering straight and true careful to make the least amount of turns, minute or not, as possible retaining the lead over Herts one.
Herts two had approached a flurry of stationary cars and slowed right down to steer through the smallest gap whilst Leon, seeing their advantage, had elected for the hard shoulder at full speed enabling him to take overall lead.
Herts one had, by all means, lost the race trying their hardest to catch up but not succeeding, their determination and focus solely on the Metropolitan police vehicle becoming evident as they struggled to get through the gaps their colleagues had been able to squeeze through.
It had become a two horse race and Leon had the advantage as they came off the dual carriageway and took to cornering. He knew ‘the blip’ technique, the ability to change into a lower gear preventing the all-to-familiar roar of the engine most learners experienced when downshifting.
This gave him a second of extra torque and either the Hertfordshire driver was never taught it, had forgotten it or couldn’t figure out how to perfect it. Done wrong and the advantage that is trying to be gained quickly becomes the opposite.
With this technique never missed by Leon and seemingly never used by his only competitor, Leon arrived at the back gates of Lakeford police station in first place where he waited outside for the Hertfordshire officers to arrive to allow them access.
“That was better than killing zombies. I’d have preferred sex and that’s the first time I’ve thought of that since all this began,” said Leon.
Herts two arrived in a distant second place with Herts one arriving in an even further third.
Leon swiped his warrant card causing the yard gates to open and looked over his shoulder for any straggling zombies that happened to lurk through after them. There were none and both Hertfordshire cars followed in.
Natalie got out of the X5 keeping her eyes fixated on the gates until they were fully closed feeling settled when they had done so whilst the vehicles parked.
Leon went over to congratulate, or rather gloat in a friendly manner, to his county colleagues where he, his doppelganger and the driver of the other car shared a laugh with a cigarette hanging from each of their mouths.
Devlin and Natalie led the rest into the main building of the police station, collecting Heather on the way, and headed up to the briefing room which was a door leading off from the canteen.
They all sat down, Natalie sitting at the front willing to take charge of the discussions, powering up the projection screen and plugging a USB lead into the computer ready to be plugged into Leon’s pointless but helpful, in this instance, mobile phone.
“I’m glad you’re okay but you guys could’ve at least called me back after we last spoke to say you were on your way back and were fine. I knew help was coming but had no idea if you had been successful with the extra firepower,” said Heather.
“Apologies Heather but we couldn’t transmit during and apparently it is mandatory to have a race after such a near death experience,” replied Natalie leaving Heather somewhat confused. “John, you said you were trying to raise us on the radio?”
“Yes I was,” PC Richards replied. “I’m not really sure what it means but I’ve heard of a few code names, I think, but not sure if or what it relates to. Well, it’s hard to understand.”
“Anything’s possible at the moment.”
“True. We located a ninth officer and later found out that she had a code name and had some involvement in the situation we currently find ourselves in-”
“Was it Delta by any chance?” said Natalie cutting John off.
“Umm… yeah but there’s more. She decided to fight us, although it seemed as though she panicked more than anything, and ended up being killed.”
“What happened?”
“She turned her gun on us, fired a round that fortunately missed and our ‘visitor’ just killed her there and then. Our ‘visitor’ appeared to be wearing a special type of suit. There were zombies around her that weren’t paying the blindest bit of notice to anyone. At least not until she left.”
“This woman? Did she have a code name too?”
“In fact she did,” said John astounded that Natalie appeared to know who he was talking about having already suggested the code name Delta. “She went by Bravo two.”
“We met her. She came here and it was exactly the same with the zombies. How did you find out the ninth officer was a Delta?”
“Bravo two told us clear as day. If the officer denied it we wouldn’t have questioned it which is why I think she panicked and pulled her gun on us.”
“Is there any more information you can tell us?”
“Unfortunately not. Our mission has been to seek out survivors and bring them back to safety where our ‘safe house’ is also a police station. We are holding out on hope that this age will rectify itself, we will be rescued or some other miracle will occur.”
“Miracle? You’ll be lucky. Hope? Why bother?” said Leon entering the room with the remaining two Hertfordshire officers.
“Why bother?” said John
taken aback. “Isn’t it obvious? Without hope we may as well turn our guns on ourselves or each other. Without hope what’s the point in living?”
“I actually can’t argue with that. I suppose it’s the same reason we keep ourselves alive here. I just didn’t think of it under the ‘hope’ title.”
Eleven of the group were sat whilst Leon remained stood at the open sliding doors leading to the same balcony he had observed London from previously allowing the air to circulate around the room whilst getting much of it himself.
Leon handed over his mobile phone in response to Natalie holding out her palm ready for his photography to be critiqued.
“Heather, we are hoping you will be able to shed some light on this. Just give us a sec while this loads,” said Natalie opening the folder containing pictures and waiting for the thumb nails to load.
A short while later and the pictures were up. Natalie clicked through them trying to find the one that was the clearest, showing all of the formula, and enlarged it providing the best view for everyone.
One of the Hertfordshire officers turned out the lights to increase visibility.
On the projection screen was the familiar whiteboard with the wipe mark where they’d assumed someone had fallen against it.
The title was easily seen and read out by Natalie. Underneath were what appeared to be two formulas, one on the left and the other on the right.
The formulas were in various hexagonal shapes with lines joining them in different directions, letters and numbers that, to the untrained eye, appeared to be plastered in random places throughout.
Heather immediately recognised some of the formula which became obvious to everyone else in the room by her leaning in to get a better view as well as the fact her eyes widened
“It’s almost like a list of ingredients and I only recognise some of them, others I have never heard of that have an unusual atomic structure. The one on the left appears as though it is some sort of coating or film. The one on the right is definitely some sort of recipe for an elixir, a liquid.”
“Is that the virus?” asked Natalie.
