Plagued

by Barnett, Nicola

  Sarah turned her attention back to Mark, finally managing to get his jeans open. He climbed out of them, revealing his tight, dark grey boxer shorts and an impressive erection. Sarah clawed at him to come back to her and pulled him back on top, relishing the feeling of his hardness against her skin. He pulled her red lace underwear off and she bit her lower lip as she slid his underpants down, seeing his body for the first time.

  He stopped for a second to take in her beauty as she lay beneath him, breathing fast and pleading for him with her eyes.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” he panted.

  Instead of answering, she bit her lip again, smiled, and pulled him by the waist on top of her. He kissed her and with one hand grasped her inner thigh and squeezed it — she shook with anticipation. She wrapped her legs around his buttocks and pulled him towards her. They gasped in unison as his erection found its way into her, a slight resistance making her grit her teeth.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, tentatively.

  “Don’t stop.”

  They made love then, trying to hold in their screams as Mark thrusted into her, gentle at first but becoming harder as their passion intensified. Sarah cried in pleasure beneath him and scratched lightly down his back, trying in vain not to make too much noise.

  They stared into each other’s eyes and Mark became entranced with her as she cried in pleasure beneath him, beads of sweat falling down her forehead and into her hair. He couldn’t believe what was happening. He’d wanted her since he first saw her and now he was here, making love to her — her eyes beckoning him to continue and seeing only him. He’d never expected her to return his feelings — he knew the score — but he now was with her and it was better than anything he could have imagined. Even if it was just for the night, he wasn’t going to waste it.

  He thrust harder and faster, biting into the pillow below her. She clawed into his back harder now, drawing a small amount of blood as she shook beneath him, coming close to her climax. She bit into his shoulder then, unable to stop her cry as they both reached their long, euphoric climax. He groaned on top of her, his body shaking and sweat dripping onto her breasts.

  They lay there then, Mark still resting on top of her, panting heavily. Sarah reached up and moved the damp hair from his eyes, smiling at him affectionately. They looked deep into each other’s eyes, warm in the afterglow and kissed, softly this time.

  “We have to go soon, you know,” he whispered, stroking her hair.

  She nodded. “Let’s lie here for a while longer.”

  Mark climbed off of her and lay beside her on the bed, pulling her into his chest. She rested her head on him, completely relaxed — listening to the slowing, rhythmic beat of his heart as they drifted off to sleep.

  They stayed that way as dawn finally broke and the sun started its ascent into the sky, happily unaware of what was to come in the following days.

  Chapter 9

  A few hours later, Sarah and Mark sat at a small table in the kitchen while Annie used a small portable hob to cook some dried pasta packets. Sarah’s was cheese and broccoli flavoured — the kind you buy in sachets for a pound and probably have never seen real cheese. But under the circumstances, it tasted like heaven.

  They talked idly for most of the afternoon, the sun high in the sky outside the cottage. Annie told them about her trips with Harold and how they met, and Mark told her about his father and his work in the hospital. Sarah smiled quietly, listening to them talk about families whilst thinking of her own.

  Annie caught Sarah’s gaze. “What about your family, sweetie? You have any brothers or sisters?”

  “No,” Sarah said, roused from her daydreams, “it’s just my parents and I.” Her eyes fell then, “Well it was.”

  “Now don’t think like that. I managed to survive out here all by myself. There’s no reason they couldn’t too,” Annie said, staring hard at Sarah.

  “Yeah, I suppose so,” Sarah said, staring at the table.

  “Tell me about them. You haven’t mentioned them much,” Annie said, grabbing Sarah’s hand over the table and giving it a loving squeeze.

  “It’s hard to think back to those times, it’s like remembering a dream that you’ve long forgotten about. But I keep thinking about one day in particular — think it was a Sunday because both of them were at home. We’re just sitting together on the couch, watching a horror movie on TV. Mum is watching the film with her hands over her eyes, through the whole film. And whenever a scary part comes on, she asks us what’s happening,” Sarah laughed. “She told everyone what a great film it was, even though she hadn’t watched most of it.”

  Annie and Mark laughed at this and they watched her with mirrored expressions of affection and sympathy.

  “Sounds like my Harold,” Annie said, stroking her hand gently. “He was never the bravest man in the world. Think I wore the trousers through most of our marriage. Though people used to say he was brave enough to marry me.” Annie cackled, “They were probably right.”

  Sarah smiled and squeezed Annie’s hand.

  “How old are they, honey?” Annie asked.

  “Dad is fifty five this year, and Mum is fifty two. God, I hope they’re okay. I dread coming all this way to find out they didn’t make it. I don’t think I would survive that.” Tears formed in her eyes.

  “Listen, honey, I used to think I would never survive if anythin’ happened to my husband. But I did. And so will you. You’re a strong young lady and no matter what happens from here on out, you’ll cope. You’ll have to. But for now, don’t think like that. Don’t think of them dyin’, don’t think of your fella dyin’, because we just don’t know. That’s the problem with this modern world — too many people worryin’ about things that haven’t happened yet.”

  Sarah smiled as tears trailed down her cheeks. “That’s the thing — I’m not strong. Not like you two. Every single memory I have now tells me that I spent most of my life depending on my parents and now I feel like I spent the last few years depending on Jack. I can’t even remember our time together apart from bits and pieces but the feeling that I needed him remained strong, even when I first woke up. I just don’t think I can cope with this on my own.”

  Mark’s eyes widened. “Is that really what you think?”

  “Yes,” Sarah said, sincerely. “Look at how I reacted back in Adrianne’s house. I was a total wreck, Mark. I just can’t handle stress the same way you do. I couldn’t do what you did.”

  “I don’t believe that for a second and I can’t believe that is how you see yourself,” Mark replied, clearly frustrated with her. “It wasn’t me that decided to go looking for your family on a whim, a day after finding out that most of the people around you are most likely dead. That was you, Sarah. You got this far because of your determination. You didn’t need me here, you were going to do it alone!”

  “Hell, I wouldn’t have walked all that way with those bastards out there, that’s crazy. But you did it, because you had to.” Annie joined in.

  Sarah looked at them both and smiled, their earnest faces made her heart swell, she felt close to tears. The only people who’d ever said anything so kind to her before — and meant it — were her parents. She didn’t believe them back then and she wasn’t sure if she believed it now. But it was nice to hear. “Thank you, both of you. It means a lot to me.”

  She swore to herself then, as she studied their smiling faces, that she would make sure these two make it out alive. She knew would protect them with her life. The affection she had for them felt alien to her, as did the knowledge that it was returned. Now that she had made some friends, she would do whatever it took to keep them.

  “Right,” Mark said, slapping his hands on his knees. “I guess we better start thinking about what our next move is.”

  “Always ruining the moment,” Sarah smiled coyly at him, he blushed a little in reply. She turned to Annie, “Will we be able to get to Solitude from here?”

  “Oh yes. You can go right
out of the back gate and walk pretty much a straight line down the road. There’s a back entrance in to Solitude for farm deliveries and such, that road will take you right there. Just don’t miss the turn in or you’ll go straight past and you don’t wanna do that,” she said, emphasising the word ‘don’t’.

  “Yeah, I remember the road. I played there as a child,” Sarah absently nodded. “Have you been that way recently?”

  “Only once, and that was once too many. Those infected were walking straight down there from Barnmouth, so be careful.”

  “How did you know they were walking from Barnmouth and not Solitude?” Sarah asked.

  “Well, one was Pete, the milkman who lives in Barnmouth and the other was his 'bit' on the side,” she cackled. “I guess people get their ‘just desserts’ in the end.”

  Mark snorted with laughter. “If that’s true, my ex-girlfriend has already been infected.”

  Sarah shook her head, trying to hide her amusement.

  “Comin’ to think about it, you better take my Land Rover if you’re plannin’ on going that way,” said Annie. “There’s nothin’ but fields so it’s nice and smooth, bit muddy. It’ll only take an hour to walk but you’ll be on foot the whole way and in your conditions, I don’t think you’ll make it far. Much too dangerous.”

  “Hmm, I think you’re probably right. I barely have enough energy to stand up, let alone walk. But we won’t take your only transport, that’s not an option,” Sarah said, deep in thought.

  “She’s right. And what about you? If something happens out here you’ll be stuck. We wouldn’t feel right leaving you here, especially without a vehicle,” Mark added.

  “Why don’t you come with us, Annie?” Sarah said, pleading her. “Even with that jeep, you’re still alone.”

  Annie looked sceptical. “I dunno kids, I can’t leave the farm — it’s all I have left. Plus I’d only slow you down and you don’t need that. It’s better this way.”

  “I don’t believe that for a second, Annie,” Mark said. “You’re all alone and if they come for you, you’ll be a sitting duck. Please come with us.” He reached over to the old woman’s hand and gripped it gently, feeling her bones beneath her delicate skin.

  Annie frowned. She looked around the kitchen slowly, examining each item, her face downcast as a thousand memories ran through her mind. She thought of her husband and her grandchildren throwing food at each other at the kitchen table, her two border collies stealing food from out of the rubbish bin and all the happy moments they had spent together in that kitchen.

  Then she looked back at the two people sat at the table now as they watched her curiously and with genuine affection, the darkness of the room casting shadows on their faces. The world is different now, old girl, time to move on, her husband’s voice said to her, somewhere inside her head. She smiled, holding back tears. My old coot.

  She smiled then with a one-sided grin. “Alright, alright,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “I suppose someone needs to look out for the two of you. Plus Harold ain’t comin’ back for me any time soon, when he gets settled, there’s no shiftin’ him.”

  Sarah smiled and clapped her hands together, feeling as if things are finally starting to fit together.

  Mark shook his head with a grin, “You had me worried for a second there, lady.”

  “Watch it with the lady, mister,” Annie said, pulling up a chair. “Now, we need to get down to business. I don’t know if you’ve seen them yet, but there are worse things out there than the infected and some of them carry guns.”

  “Yeah, we know. They killed a woman right in the street while we hid,” Sarah said, shuddering at the thought.

  “Ah, you’ve met Nick Dowsett and his boys then. Bad bunch of bastards, they are,” Annie said, lighting up a cigarette. “Little Nick grew up in a small village near Winding, I knew his mother well. Nice lady — had a bad run in life. Nick went to prison as a young lad, never found out why but it was bad. He was still inside when all this shit happened. Then I guess fortune favoured him. Him and some of the other reprobates got out and they’re back to their old tricks, except this time there’s no one around to stop ‘em. Only reason he’s left me be is because I knew his mother, but I’m pretty sure he’ll change his mind about that soon enough. Always was power hungry, that one.”

  “I don’t know about Nick, but they mentioned a Duke, like he was their boss or something.”

  Annie nodded. “Aye, that’s him. He’s had that nickname since he was a teenager. Don’t know why. They stay at the caravan site just passed Solitude I think. It was a month ago when I saw them, though I expect they’re still there. It’s just before the turn off for Ackington and Barnmouth. You might know the one I mean,” she said, looking at Sarah, who nodded in return.

  “Yeah, I know it. Pretty smart place to choose. It’s got a chain-link fence the whole way around.”

  Annie nodded. “It was awful there, passed it while I was out looking for fuel for the generator. They stopped me and searched my jeep, looking for something to steal. Thank God I left my gun at home. Won’t be doing that again — Duke may have a heart but I wouldn’t count on it lasting very long,” she laughed. “Bastards have their own slaves, you know. Do the cooking, cleaning... amongst other things.”

  Mark exchanged a worried look with Sarah, “Okay, avoid the main road. Sounds like a plan to me.”

  “I must admit though, gang, I do love an adventure!” Annie grinned, stubbing out her cigarette on her kitchen table.

  ~

  They were a little more prepared for travel this time around — Annie packed her last remaining food and they refilled Mark and Sarah’s water bottles with as much as they could, worryingly it wasn’t much. But they had an added advantage this time; they had a gun — a big one. Her husband had been a regular hunter so Annie had lots of ammunition and she was a keen gunwoman herself, thanks to his teachings. Little did she know at the time, she would one day use that gun on her husband. A cruel irony.

  Annie drove the Land Rover out of its hiding place in the barn and parked it next to the exit gate so they could pack their belongings in the back. “Now she might not look like much, but she’s the best thing in the world on dirt roads,” Annie smiled proudly, patting the dark green Land Rover on the hood.

  “It looks like a damn tank to me right now, Annie,” Mark joked.

  Sarah climbed unsteadily in the back and Mark opened the metal gate leading out of the farm for them. Then he sat up front at Annie’s request. The day was still light and the birds were out, singing their cheerful songs in the growing heat. Warmth hit their faces and comforted them, leaving them with the eerie feeling that all was well with the world. A bit of sunshine makes all the difference.

  “Better keep the pretty girls in the back, out of view,” Annie said, winking at Mark.

  He peeked at Sarah through the front mirror and grinned. She smiled back at him, rolling her eyes.

  Annie turned the ignition once and the Land Rover burst into life straight away. “Never once let me down,” Annie said with a pleased smile.

  She drove slowly out of the farm gate and waved goodbye to her land and the body of her husband as they set off down a long dirt road. It cut through the fields that were filled with tall grass. The sun shone brightly and the mid-day heat rose from the ground in shimmery waves. Sarah watched the trees in the distance pass by slowly, enjoying the sweet smell of the countryside.

  Annie picked up speed along the trail, the suspension bobbing them up and down on the rough road. Mud and stones flung up at the windows with a series of ‘pings’. In the near distance they saw a scattering of small trees and shrubbery, not dense enough to be considered as woodland. A rabbit emerged from one of the bushes, sniffing curiously until he saw the approaching vehicle. He looked up — his ears erect — to have a good look at the newcomers and then darted back into the undergrowth. He seems healthy enough, Sarah thought to herself.

  “Beyond these trees is the path
to Solitude. Should be there in half an hour, we’re gonna have to slow down, you see — the roads are uneven here, don’t want to get a flat,” Annie said, reducing her speed considerably.

  “Haven’t seen anyone alive or otherwise comin’ this side besides old Pete and his whore, so I reckon we’re gonna have a quiet ride.” She turned on the radio but heard nothing but hissing. She shrugged and pressed the ‘CD’ button — the King himself, Elvis Presley, began crooning about a famous crying dog as they drove onwards.

  Sarah leaned against her arm in the back, feeling the sun’s warmth on her face and listening to the hypnotic ‘hissing’ sound of the leaves blowing in the wind. If she closed her eyes, she could nearly imagine this day being perfectly normal. Just a trip out with friends on a beautiful day.