Dark of Dawn 4Horsemen: Book one in the Dark of Dawn Series

by Sebastien Woolf

  “Trouble?”

  “What you need to know is that there are indeed other survivors out there,” continued Siobhan, “others who are nothing like you. These are bad people, evil and wicked. Honestly, they are the types who are not to be messed with.”

  “How do you know them?” asked Zoe.

  “Sadly, I lived with them at the bar. I have no idea how many of them there are now and I have no clue where they are either. They left the bar quite a while ago and I wasn’t even sure that they were still in the city.”

  Siobhan spent the rest of the afternoon divulging the details of what she knew of the others. She shared what she had previously told Josh about how the original survivors at the bar had been overwhelmed when the first wave had hit. It all happened so fast it was brutal and devastating, they had no idea what hit them.

  She spoke of their running battles with the undead and how they protected themselves by turning the bar into a fortress. None of them knew what they were doing in the early days, their inexperience costing the group many lives. She showed no emotion when sharing how the manager of the establishment had fallen.

  He had been taken one day in a battle with creatures whilst out on an expedition, but as he was a tyrant and an arsehole to boot, she never shed a tear for him when he died.

  Things changed at the 4Horsemen Bar & Grill when a man named Martin took over leadership of the group. He and his wife Holly had been dining with friends the night the world turned and had been stranded at the establishment along with the other survivors ever since. The couple had strong religious beliefs and they delved deep into their faith for answers as to why the world they once knew had turned to custard. Their only answer – the Apocalypse.

  Fueled by their fundamentalist beliefs Martin and Holly claimed to have been chosen by God to do his bidding in the wake of the world’s end. They took a radical approach establishing a hierarchy, appointing officers with rank and recruiting all survivors they came across.

  Everyone in the lounge room was captivated with her story and how she told it.

  Siobhan continued on, speaking about how the couple forced their beliefs, which were loosely based on the Book of Revelations on their newfound followers. They were unwavering in their beliefs and were relentless in the way they went about enforcing ‘God’s will’.

  In order to separate themselves from the others, Martin and Holly converted the manager’s office on the second floor into their own luxurious private quarters. The rest of the group took shelter on the first level above the bar and as their numbers began to swell, many of them were forced to take up residence in office buildings across the road.

  When Holly found the promotional and staff t-shirts, it was decided that their group would call themselves the 4Horsemen, it just felt right. A shirt was issued to each member, which they were required to wear at all times. It was said this was for identification and unification.

  Siobhan sighed. She could see that everyone seated before her at the Armstrong compound was waiting with baited breath for the answer as to why she said this group were trouble. She also knew they were all dreading what she was about to share with them.

  “Guys,” she said, again tugging at her shirt, this is what we were all made to wear.

  Pennies dropped.

  “Are you serious?” Tyler was stunned.

  Eric wasn’t surprised at all.

  “It was a horrible time you have no idea, but honestly, we had no choice. The bar became a sanctuary, somewhere we all felt safe, it offered us protection from the hundreds of creatures that hunted us every day.”

  Josh chewed his lip. Tyler too.

  “This Martin fella,” inquired Stuart, “he sounds like a right loony.”

  “Oh, you have no idea. He was so controlling and manipulative, he preyed on the weak of mind and forced those of us who weren’t. In no time at all he had an army of followers, ready to do his bidding.”

  “Why didn’t you just leave?” asked Zoe.

  “The rules were so strict, no-one dared break them.”

  “And yet here you are.” Eric remained skeptical.

  Siobhan gave him a glare before continuing. “Sergeants had been appointed to administer Martin’s new laws. Punishments for breaking these laws were incredibly harsh. Sometimes...,” she swallowed hard, “... sometimes, even death.”

  “Are you serious?” Zoe placed her hands to her mouth in shock.

  Overcome by emotion, Siobhan took her seat again. Buried her face in her hands and fought back the tears. She would avoid anything that could make her appear fragile or weak, so she gritted her teeth and took a moment.

  The room went deathly quiet.

  “There was this girl,” Siobhan spoke softly and slowly, with pain in her voice. “Her name was Lisette. We were best friends long before all this shit happened, long before Martin and Holly took control. We remained close, even when we were trapped in this cult.”

  “Martin was so fanatical, he believed so much in what he was doing, but he was totally nuts. When we came across survivors Martin’s henchmen would give them a choice, a deadly ultimatum – join the 4Horsemen, or die. Every one of those poor souls who refused to join were put to death.”

  “What?” Zoe could not believe her ears.

  “It was all so ruthless and bloodthirsty. As for those who joined us, they were quickly brainwashed.”

  Heads sank as Siobhan continued with her revelations of the 4Horsemen.

  “Lisette and I hated it there, hated everything about it. We hated the people, hated the rules, everything. We spoke about leaving often, but even just talking about it was dangerous. For Martin it was seen as treason and it also came with the price tag of death, a violent death, one you would not wish upon your worst enemy. We had to be so careful.”

  Zoe clasped her hands in front of her, gnawed at her knuckles. “You two managed to escape though right?”

  “No. We planned it in secret, careful not to let on to anyone. We would always try to get on the same work detail or be put on the same watch so we could talk over the details in private. We found a place where we could stash food and supplies we were going to take with us, we just wanted out so desperately. The plan was to run and keep on running until we were free.”

  “Others before us had tried to run and we knew full well how dangerous it was. You have no idea what this man and this cult was capable of.” Turning to Colin she added, “If it indeed was them, then none of us are safe here.”

  “Chilling words,” said Eric, “but you’re still here, still alive. How is it that we found you right in the middle of what you describe as a hornet’s nest? Something just doesn’t add up.”

  “Ignore him,” Tyler said, giving Eric a vicious glare.

  Siobhan frowned. “Listen, I have come from a place where I have had to bow down to draconian rules and I have seen things that would make most of your stomach’s churn. There is nothing any of you can do or say that can affect me. You are, most of you anyway, good people. Please don’t change.”

  Outside the sun dipped behind the city skyline quickly vanishing from view within minutes. Twilight came and with it a chill filled the room. Zoe lit the fire to warm the house. Kindling crackled.

  “You are very kind with your compliments young lady,” came a deep voice from the hallway.

  “Dad!” Rebecca ran to her father.

  Warm smiles greeted Jon, who was leaning against the doorframe. His hair was disheveled and a thin covering of silvery whiskers lined his jaw.

  “What are you doing out of bed, you should be resting. How are you feeling?”

  Clearing his throat, Jon rubbed his wounded shoulder. “Battered and bruised, but I’m ok.” A weary look spread across his face as he spoke. “This discussion is important for all of us. I could hear you all from my room and just needed to put my five cents worth in.” He shuffled forward, taking his spot in front of the fire in his favorite seat.

  “You must be Jon,” the Irish newcomer sai
d, acknowledging him with a slight bow of the head. “I’m ...”

  “Siobhan, yes, I know. Welcome.”

  Jon coughed. Rebecca placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. “I’m intrigued, like everyone. How did all this end for you and your friend. Oh, and what happened to this Martin character.” He cast his eye on Siobhan waiting for the rest of her story.

  Closing her eyes tight she swallowed hard, continued. “What those animals did to Lisette, I will never forget.” Squinted her eyes with contempt. “Nor will I ever forgive them for it!”

  She inhaled deeply, allowed her full lips to flutter as she released the air from her lungs.

  “We were only days away from escaping, all set to run away when Lisette was caught stashing supplies and was immediately tried for treason. As she was not the first to face this kind of trial we knew what was coming, there was nothing we could do to stop them.”

  Logs shifted as they burned through on the fire.

  “Martin was ruthless, sentencing her to death. It was without question a fate worse than death in fact.”

  Zoe’s mouth hung open, as did others in the room.

  “Dragged out onto the street, she was chained to a pole, cut open and left to the mercy of the night.” Fighting back the tears Siobhan told of how her friend’s screams rang out when the undead took her. It was the most horrific way for anyone to die. The silence that followed she found deafening.

  Josh blinked. His cheek was warm from the blaze of the fire.

  “What of this guy Martin?” Jon asked. “Is he still around?”

  Siobhan sniffed, composed herself. “The cult grew too big too quickly and the bar was no longer suitable. There were far too many of us. When they moved I stayed behind with a couple of others to manage the bar, which they classified as an outpost. Martin was hell-bent on growing the 4Horsemen as big as he could, but I never saw that prick again.”

  “Do you know where they moved to?”

  “I never found out. I will say this though, if you saw them on the streets yesterday then that means they are back in the city and none of us are safe.”

  Worried looks hung everywhere in the room.

  Raj suddenly burst through the front door.

  Everyone jumped.

  “Good evening everybody. My shift is over, it is all very quiet out there.”

  The fire crackled loudly.

  “What did I miss?”

  10

  Hashtag Dead

  The next five days passed without incident. Each watch had been uneventful, all was quiet and nothing at all had stirred in this sector of the city.

  Plans had been made and executed.

  The Armstrong compound had become a hive of activity. With their survival now threatened by a new scourge, the group had bolstered their defenses. Within days the house had been totally transformed taking on the sinister foreboding look of a prison. Solid sheets of metal had been affixed to the front walls, bars now covered windows and long stretches of barbed wire lined the top of outer fences.

  Huge heavy barricades had been placed in strategic positions across the intersection with long sharp objects protruding in all directions from each of the blockades. Any incoming force would surely either be slowed, or skewered before even reaching the front gate. Trip wires connected to alarms that warned of any incoming danger ran from the street back into the house. A minefield of traps and explosives were strategically planted in locations where they would most likely inflict maximum damage.

  A large wooden structure in the front corner of the compound creaked as Tyler shifted his weight on the platform. Closing an eye he peered down the scope of his rifle, crosshairs skimmed across the intersection. In his sight in the distance he panned past a barricade before zeroing in on Raj’s abandoned taxi.

  Finally he found what he was looking for. “Got you Eric!” he whispered to himself. Releasing the safety he took aim, relaxed his body, breathed in and held it.

  Click.

  Exhale.

  Inside the recently erected guard tower, Tyler leaned back against a wall. Adrenaline gushed through his veins hairs stood on end, he panted then caught his breath. Not for the first time had he fictitiously fired upon his brother-in-law in what had developed into a sinister cat-and-mouse game between them. One of these days he swore his rifle would be loaded. Sliding a magazine into place he resumed his guard duties.

  Ammunition, weapons, medical kits, food, water and other supplies were strewn throughout the house. Jon had insisted that a full inventory be undertaken. As it turned out they were in good shape, but these were tough times and most of what they had accumulated could quite easily be depleted in no time. Several encounters with the undead such as their recent one, or a number of injuries like Jon’s could potentially leave them vulnerable.

  Jon sat at the dining room table overseeing proceedings. He was recovering well, but was still not quite up to much in the way of strenuous physical activity. Consumed by thought in the days since the shooting the Jon had been using his down-time constructively, planning and strategizing.

  Laid flat in front of him on the table was a large street map of the city its tattered edges pinned down by four salt and pepper shakers. A large red circle covered a ten block radius from the compound. Bold black hashtags were scribbled over the map in many spots highlighting the locations of each of their hidden caches.

  Jon fiddled with the Sharpie in his fingers, lost himself in a daze as he contemplated his audacious strategy. He had decided that they needed to retrieve everything they could from as many of their caches as possible, which would kill several birds with one stone. It would consolidate and bolster their own stocks as well as reducing the chance of losing any more of their supplies to those on the streets searching for it. Sound rationale, not really a hard sell to rest of the group.

  Jon had discussed tactics for he was a master strategist and task he undertook he did so with meticulous precision. It was decided that two parties would work in tandem to recover as many of their supplies as they could. One group would be on foot and the other group would be driving behind providing cover and transporting the goods. It was risky, daring and fraught with danger, equally essential. They would leave at the dark of dawn.

  Josh, Colin and Siobhan made up the first group. Tasked with scouting and securing each location they were responsible for the safety of everyone on the road. Excitedly they sat together in the lounge room preparing for their expedition and going over the plan.

  Siobhan lounged back in a recliner, running a sharpening stone along the edge of her massive sword on her lap with the utmost precision. Over the course of the week she had shared everything she knew about the 4Horsemen, with the group, providing details of the hierarchy and structure of the cult, its key personnel and ideals. She left nothing out.

  Everyone was captivated when she shared how she had managed to escape from the bar by abandoning her post one night and running for her life. Taking shelter in an adjacent building she laid low for weeks, avoiding capture. Eventually the others at the outpost left for good presumably to join the rest of the 4Horsemen at another location on the outskirts of the city. Whilst she had no idea precisely where they went, she was simply glad they were gone. Returning to the bar Siobhan remained there until found by Josh and the others.

  This was her first human contact for months.

  Josh sat in the lounge studiously cleaning his weapon, it too was a labor of love for he respected the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in his possession. It had been responsible for keeping him and many others alive. Once he was done he reassembled it piece by piece then set about loading the steel magazines.

  “You were right about her being different,” whispered Colin, gesturing with his head in Siobhan’s direction. “She’s headstrong and totally independent. Pretty too. I get the feeling you’d like to go there.” The butcher was not one to mince his words. Gave a wink.

  Josh raised an eyebrow. Siobhan was wearing the tight-fitting 4Hors
emen t-shirt, which accentuated her perfect figure and he could not help but stare. Lifting his head he allowed his eyes to course over the Irish girl’s sexy body. She was full chested and he followed the contour of her breasts under her shirt. He indeed felt an attraction, lost himself momentarily in a daydream.

  “Sexy aren’t they,” Colin whispered in his ear. He sported a cheesy grin as he gestured with his bald head in the direction of Siobhan’s bosom.

  Josh blushed. His thoughts were his own but the redness in his cheeks had now revealed them to the world.

  Colin’s large hand patted Josh on the shoulder. “Just make sure when you are out there tomorrow that you are focused mate. Or you might not ever get to see them perky little things in the flesh.”

  Severely embarrassed Josh lowered his head to his chest. Colin was right on both counts, he simply could not argue with him. Everything he said made sense, so he didn’t bother. With a loud click he loaded a magazine to his rifle.

  Siobhan glanced up. Locked eyes with Josh across the room and smiled coyly. She had heard every word.

  Burn.

  Jon put down his notebook and pen, with callused fingers he rubbed his weary eyes. There was more work to be done but he was too tired to think now, he needed to rest. Olivia entered the room with her his medication, laid neatly and orderly out on a small plastic tray.

  “It’s time for your drugs darling,” she said. “Then I’ll get dinner on. I’m thinking a nice hearty broth tonight.”

  “Sounds delicious,” Jon said, kissing Olivia’s hand.

  Despite everything Jon knew things would never be the same as they once were, the end of the world and the endless fight for survival had put paid to that. He was still thankful for so many things in his life with his family topping the list.

  Silence descended for miles as the sun broke through the crisp morning air. Everything in the city was still, dead quiet. Eerily so.

  Standing with their backs to the wall of a large brick building with weapons drawn the three members of the lead group froze. Shadows darted across the street in front of them, creeping up the facade. Each of them shivered in the shade, their hearts beating loudly in time like a trio of human metronomes.