As the shelling continued Josh organized the others. The four factions combined took the total well over one hundred people, all of whom were now taking refuge in the gas station and adjoining restaurant. Women, children and those who were older or unarmed were sent to the back, where they cowered behind counters and tables. Weapons and ammunition were checked, guns reloaded and minor injuries tended to.
A sense of order amongst the chaos had been restored. Despite having lost eight of Billy’s travelers on the road, his group was still very much intact. They joined the others in readying themselves for the next phase in this fight against the tyrannical Martin and the 4Horsemen.
Leaning forward Martin placed his lips on his dead wife’s forehead, kissed her softly and said a short prayer. Placed her gently to the ground then slowly got to his feet. He was visibly seething, his yes bulged with hatred.
Carnage lay everywhere around him. Grotesque, twisted corpses of his fallen men were scattered everywhere on the rooftop. It became clear to Martin that the balance of power in this offensive had shifted. He had lost the ascendency in this battle, but the war however, was far from over. Raising both his arms he stepped out into the line of fire. His gesture of surrender had his remaining troops bemused. Little did they know, Martin had a plan.
Gunfire ceased.
Echoes trailed off in the distance.
Silence.
“What the hell?” Tyler turned to Aleisha, who was also looking on with a furrowed brow in dismay. She shrugged.
Josh and Siobhan joined them at the window. They gazed across the street to the rooftop where Martin cut a lonely figure, standing with his hands aloft.
Siobhan, like the others was puzzled. “What the fuck is he doing?”
“I have no idea,” replied Josh. “He’s up to something. There’s no way he would just give up like that. Bro,” he said, placing his hand on Tyler’s shoulder, “keep a bead on him. Just in case.”
“You got it.” Tyler peered down the scope of his rifle, locking in on his target. He followed Martin’s every step as he moved forward.
“Congratulations!” Martin’s voice bellowed across the street, reverberating through the Docklands. Lowering his arms he slapped his hands together and started to clap. “So… I see you brought a big gun with you. Well done.” His voice was laced with sarcasm.
“What do you want with us you freak?” Josh yelled back.
Abruptly the hand clapping ceased.
“You have caused me and my people much angst. We have suffered greatly because of the actions of your group. None more so than the one amongst you known as Siobhan. You have taken many lives here today, including that of my wife.” Martin paused and glanced down at Holly’s body, sighed deeply. With a mixture of sadness and vengeful anger he issued his ultimatum. “I now offer you one final opportunity… that of repentance!”
“What a fucking tool,” Siobhan said, with a laugh.
“The Lord saith, repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly. You must repent for your sins. Repent and you will be saved. Join us and you shall live.”
“Listen you self-righteous prick,” Josh yelled. “What makes you think for one second that we would bow down to you and your fundamentalist beliefs?”
“Look around you boy. Death is everywhere. You think you are so brave don’t you. There is no escaping God’s wrath. Join us,” he said, as an evil smirk devoured his face, “or perish.”
Billy joined those already at the window. “So this is the religious nutter yer warned me about.”
“Yeah. Same one.”
“He certainly is... well, committed isn’t he.”
“That he is.”
“What do yer propose we do then laddie?”
Josh stroked his chin. Thought for a moment. “Hmmm…,” he said, gazing out onto the street. “I think the simplest solution to all of this would be to just hand Siobhan over.”
“What the fuck?” Siobhan exclaimed. Stared daggers at Josh.
Smiling, Josh put her at ease. “Not a chance girlfriend.”
Siobhan scowled, slapped him hard across the face. “Don’t even joke.”
Laughter broke out, releasing some of the tension inside the gas station.
“We need to get to the docks,” Josh rubbed his burning cheek as he spoke. “That’s still our goal. In order to get there, we have to get through this shit first.”
Billy coughed. “Well, let’s send these bastards packing then.”
Heads nodded in unanimous agreement.
“Well?” Martin’s voice belched once again from across the street. “What will it be? Repentance, or death?”
“Not much of a choice really is it.”
“It is all God will allow you.” Martin’s inflection changed. “Fear God! Fear me!”
“You’re so full of shit!” yelled Siobhan, defiantly. “It’s over for you Martin.”
“Ahh… it speaks.”
Siobhan let loose a verbal tirade. It had been a long time coming. “You’re nothing more than a raving fucking nutcase and a control freak. This is not God’s doing. Man created this hell on earth, not God. There is no apocalypse, not as you see it anyway. There are no horsemen, no angels and no demons. That is except for you.”
Siobhan had the floor. No-one else dared to speak or interrupt her, not even Martin.
“Every one of us is doing what we can to survive. We don’t need you and your kind persecuting us with your twisted fundamentalist beliefs. It’s all bullshit anyway.” She took a deep breath before continuing on. “You killed my best friend. I will never forgive you for that. Not now. Not ever!”
Josh stared in disbelief. He had not seen her this angry before. She was not quite done yet.
“If there is a hell, then I will make sure with my dying breath that I send you to that pit you evil fuck! I will send you there to join your wife!”
Martin clenched his fists, he was now inconsolable. That was the last straw, sending him over the edge and an uncontrollable rage consumed him. Quivering with fury he screamed a command through gritted teeth. “Unleash the wrath of God upon them!”
Gunfire erupted once again from the rooftop. Martin’s madness was let loose in a hail of bullets that pelted those whom he believed to be heathens at the gas station, causing those under attack to dive for cover. Windows shattered, showering the interior with broken glass. Wooden splinters tore off door frames and were sent flying in all directions.
“Fuck this!” said Tyler, squeezing the trigger of his rifle. The silenced coughed yet again, belching forth a deadly round in Martin’s direction. The shot was slightly off target, which caused Tyler to grunt in annoyance. It still wreaked havoc. The projectile shattered Martin’s right hand, shredding skin and smashing bones.
Screaming, the leader of the 4Horsemen fell to his knees grasping his arm. The pain was intense as blood pulsated and spurted from the stump on the end of his wrist. Numbed by shock, he turned and stared in the direction of the gas station.
“Clap now mother-fucker!” yelled Tyler.
“You want fire and brimstone?” Aleisha cried out, “I’m gonna make it rain!”
Click!
Woomph!
Martin ducked for cover. Wrapped his shattered limb in his robe, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. He crawled away to safety, dragging the body of his dead wife behind him with his other hand.
Click!
Woomph!
Aleisha led the fight back with a vengeance. Those who were able to, took up arms and joined in the counter-offensive. Fierce fighting continued as the two forces exchanged fire across the street.
Eventually the tables turned. The rooftop was decimated by wave after wave of heavy fire. The 4Horsemen succumbed to the onslaught and without Martin’s leadership they fell quickly. Turning tail they retreated, carrying their wounded, and leaving behind their dead.
“You haven’t seen the last of me!” screamed Martin. As he was carried away by his disciples his parting
words echoed loudly. “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord. Vengeance shall be mine!”
As the thunder of gunfire subsided a lull came over the Docklands. A hush descended, save for the sounds of the few wounded, groaning in agony. No-one seemed to want to break it and for a time the survivors at the gas station simply sat amidst the haunting silence.
Johanna, who had been training as a nurse when the world turned was tending to the injured. For the most part her task was manageable as most wounds were superficial and minor. Shrapnel lacerations accounted for the majority of the trauma. Glass cuts and splinters. Miraculously, no-one had been shot during the conflict.
Aleisha exchanged glances with Tyler. “Nice shootin’ Tex,” she said in jest.
Tyler hung his head. Reflected. “I hate this shit,” he said, with a sigh. “All this senseless killing.”
“Opposing evil is always difficult son,” came Jon’s comforting fatherly words. “Using violence is sometimes the only answer, especially against people like Martin and his cult. We have to stand up for what we believe in and to do that, we have to have strength son. You have done us all proud.”
Tyler chewed his lip.
“What you did was right. That is all any of us can hope to do in order to maintain some semblance of humanity about us.”
“Okay,” said Josh, taking a swig from his water bottle. “If no-one is badly injured, then we should get ourselves together and head off. Check your ammo. We’ll leave in five if everyone is ready.”
Outside a burst of wind swirled. Amy jerked her head up. She had heard something in the breeze, a noise that did not belong.
“What’s up Squirrel?” asked Raven.
Amy raised a finger to her lips. Listened to the wind.
In the distance, a shivering moan.
Heads spun around in fright. They all heard it.
Josh bolted to the window. Stared down the road towards the docks. Suddenly, a face appeared, pressing up against an intact pane of glass. A man. What was once a man, he was now a grotesque undead reanimated creature whose lips peeled over his teeth in a vicious snarl.
Screams rang out inside the gas station. They had been so focused on Martin and the 4Horsemen on the rooftop, they had ignored any other potential threat. The ground attack that Martin had launched earlier, had finally arrived. The horde came upon them swiftly and without warning, swarming onto the forecourt.
“Barricade the front door!”
Colin and Billy used all their strength to hoist a large refrigerator, slamming it down across the entrance. Two more refrigeration units were slid and piled into place, just in time to halt the incoming mass of creatures.
“Is there a way out the back?”
“I checked before,” said Amy, “it’s blocked.”
“Fuck!”
“We’re doomed,” came a voice from the crowd.
“Leave it to me,” said Veronica. Sliding her backpack in front of her, she unzipped the flap. Peeled it back to reveal a collection of explosives. Carefully she withdrew a small parcel which contained C4, along with wires and a detonator. “Buy me some time,” she said to Josh, before disappearing into a back room.
“She’s a very dangerous woman,” Josh said out loud.
“Oh, you have no idea,” came Raven’s reply.
Numbers swelled outside the front entrance. Driven by a ravenous appetite the living corpses surged forward, pressing against the barricade. The refrigerators budged slightly under the mounting pressure, scraping against the floor as they started to inch backwards.
“Give me a hand!” yelled Billy. Several burly men joined the big Scotsman, pressing their weight against the barrier in an attempt to keep the creatures at bay.
Suddenly, a large explosion rocked the foundations. Dust bellowed from the back hallway. Those close to the doorway coughed, waving their hands in front of their faces. As the dust settled Victoria stepped out, a broad smile stretched across her face. “Let’s go,” she said, ushering people into the rear.
Raven handed her the backpack. “Nice work Cougar,” she said, with a wink.
One by one they hastily made their way through the hole in the wall, assembling in the carpark at the rear of the building. Outside the warm afternoon sun hung in a clear blue sky. A gentle breeze cut through neighboring trees.
“Come on. Let’s go guys.” Josh waved his arms at the men holding up the barricade, beckoning for them to leave. Everyone, with the exception of Billy rose and darted for the back room. As the horde surged once more the refrigerators scraped further backwards on the floor. Billy’s back strained.
“Yer save yerself laddie,” bellowed the big man. “I won’t make it.” He heaved once again.
“Not fricken likely.” Josh swung his rifle around. “I’ll cover you. Now come on man.”
“Arrghhh!” Billy pushed one last time. The heavy refrigerators moved forward against the creatures, jamming a head against the doorframe. Taking a deep breath he scraped himself off the ground, then bounded for the rear door. Such were the length of his strides he reached Josh in three bounds. Behind him the barricade fell and the living dead poured inside.
Josh opened fire. The first of the creatures were cut down mid-stride, falling in a heap on top of each other. As he continued firing, the mountain of flesh grew higher as more and more bodies collapsed on the heap. He had bought himself just enough time to escape. Timing his run, he too bolted for the back room. Sunlight burned his eyes as he staggered outside.
“They’re coming!”
Victoria reached into her backpack. “Get down!” she ordered. Two pins fell at her feet. The first of the ghastly creatures appeared in front of her. It snared, gnashing rotted teeth together menacingly. More creatures arrive behind it, quickly filling the back room.
The two explosions that followed tore through life and limb, dismembering and destroying every living thing inside the room. The creatures never knew what hit them as the two grenades went off. Foundations crumbled, then the roof collapsed leaving nothing but a mass of rubble and ruin.
“We have to move people,” Josh said with urgency.
People everywhere staggered to their feet.
Josh skirted around the side of the building, the rest of the group snaked behind him in a long line that stretched around the corner. Crouching low at a rubbish skip, he quickly called them to a halt. Ahead, the way out was teeming with creatures. The undead spilled right across the road in front of them, stretching from curb to curb.
“Shit!”
“What’s the go bro?” Tyler asked.
“Looks like we have no choice but to fight our way through.”
“Are you serious. Is there no other way?”
“Not if we’re going to get to the docks this afternoon.” Josh slung his rifle over his shoulder. Took his hockey sticks in both hands. “Tell everyone to switch to hand-to-hand weapons. And bro, warn them of what lies ahead.”
Tyler headed off down the line, readying the others.
44
Lands End
Moaning.
Josh had been careless. Out of nowhere a creature appeared from behind the rubbish skip. Before he could turn around he was quickly set upon. A thin bony hand grasped him by the shirt, tugging at him drawing itself in. Teeth grinding. Salivating.
“Josh!” screamed Siobhan, sensing his plight. Her body trembled with energy. She had to do something to protect her man. In a blaze of motion she acted decisively. Thrusting out a hand she shoved Josh backwards into the wall. He landed heavily, winding himself.
Her right hand went for her sword. Slicing though the air as she rolled forward she connected, sending body parts falling to the ground. With a sickening thud the large long handle sword landed a final blow, smashing through the creature’s skull.
Josh felt like he had been kicked by a horse. He struggled to draw breath. What little air he had left in his lungs caused him to wheeze.
“You okay?” Siobhan asked. She propped herself up
on one knee. Blood dripped from the tip of her sword.
Wincing, Josh raised his eyebrows in gratitude. He still needed a minute or two to recover. Signaled to Siobhan with an open palm and a nod.
Tyler stepped forward, pointing. His hand shook. “Guys!”
A deep moaning on the road quickly turned into a roar as the hundreds of creatures began to shuffle towards the group. The undead had picked up the scent of human flesh.
“Get ready everyone!” warned Tyler, twirling the two hatchets in his hands. “Just follow our lead. We need to cut through these things and make a dash for the docks. We are not standing our ground ok!” He looked to Josh for confirmation. Received a nod. “Look after each other. This shit is about to get real.”
Leaping to her feet Siobhan caught Zoe’s eye. Gave her a wink, then turned and went to work. She wasted no time hacking into the creatures with her heavy blade. Leading the charge she carved a way forward, shattering brittle bone and repelling the advancing horde. Combining catlike reflexes with faultless precision she displayed remarkable technique with her weapon that afternoon.
“Yer punch well above yer weight lassie,” complimented Billy, as he entered the fray.
Siobhan smiled. Thrust her sword forward once again, driving the blade through the head of an incoming attacker. It sunk right down to the hilt. Pushing the dead creature backwards she managed to skewer two more of the savage beasts, piercing their skulls also.
“Impressive,” Billy added, holstering his sawn-off shotgun into the pouch strapped to his thigh. “So, do you know what time it is?” he asked her, or anyone for that matter who might be listening. Reaching over his shoulder he produced a large sledgehammer which had been slung to his backpack all this time.
Siobhan shrugged. Pulled her sword from the corpses. Kicked them to the curb. “I give up, what time is it?”
“Ohhhh…. it’s hammer time!” he bellowed loudly. “Oh, oh, oh, oh…” Swung hard, laughing.
Dark of Dawn 4Horsemen: Book one in the Dark of Dawn Series Page 46
