“Do you think we can win?”
“No, Roger, but I’m not going to sit down and die!” shouted Dave.
The horde was now just in range, the first bolts and arrows flew towards their targets.
“There must have been hundreds of people on that ship,” said Roger.
“Yeah, the poor bastards.”
By the time the horde was ten yards from the house it barely felt that their initial attempts had done anything to cull the masses.
“This is it, people, give them everything you’ve got!” shouted Dave.
The guns rang out from the house like cannon from an old ship, blood flowing as the horde was pelted with metal, but it made little difference. They were at the walls within minutes. The shotguns rang out for a further minute, until they went silent, dry of ammunition. The only firearm left with ammunition was Dave’s .45, which he was hanging onto.
Roger drew his sabre and thrust its tip into his closest target’s head. Dave took his axe in two hands and swung the back edge of it into the next, fracturing its skull. Each of the survivors was bashing away with blunt and blade instruments with all the energy and will they had left in the world. Glass smashed as the horde’s numbers kept increasing and the sheer weight of the creatures was forcing them through the gaps.
“It’s no good, we have to fall back!” Dave shouted.
“To where?” Roger shouted back to him.
“Upstairs, all of you. Now!” Dave yelled.
They quickly abandoned their positions, but as Steve turned a creature took hold of his jacket and pulled him through the window, the horde wrenching him into the mass of creatures and beyond sight. There was nothing any of the survivors could do for him. The four islanders that were left reached the staircase as the first zombies were already tumbling through the windows.
“What do we do?” cried Katy.
“Into that room!” shouted Roger.
It was the upstairs lounge, with a large lockable door. They ran inside, shutting it behind them, Roger turned the key. They could already hear the sound of the creatures’ dirty footsteps coming up the stairs.
“What the fuck do we do now, Dave?” asked Tommy.
“Seriously? You’re asking me to know, like I have any fucking clue!”
The horde began beating on the door, it was a sturdy door, but with enough creatures and time, it would fall.
“What options do we have?” asked Roger.
“Get fucked, that seems about it!” said Dave.
“That’s bullshit! I refuse to accept that and to just lie down and die!” cried Katy.
Dave threw a chair across the room in anger. Roger instead sat down, in thought about what they could do with their final time and energy.
“We will not survive the night in this room, so we either die here, or try and make a break for it.”
“And go where? I’ve lost everyone, there’s nothing left,” said Tommy.
“We have our boats at the jetty, and that yacht too,” said Roger.
“And where would we go, Roger?” Tommy asked again.
“Surely anywhere is better than dying here?”
“Is this going to be our lives until the day we die? Running until we are either killed by those monsters or die of starvation?”
“Those indeed sound like the options, Tommy.”
“Well I would rather live as many days as I can and not die by those bastards!” shouted Katy.
“Right, sounds like we’re making a break for it then,” said Dave.
“All agreed?” asked Roger.
“Yes!” Katy shouted.
“Yeah,” said Tommy.
“So, got any wise ideas on how to do that?” asked Dave.
“Anyone got any ammo left?” asked Roger.
Dave slammed the .45 down on the table. “Just this, seven rounds.”
“Right, then that’s our ticket,” said Roger.
“How so?” asked Dave.
“Can you get onto the roof from here?” Roger asked him.
Dave suddenly thought, he went to the window and pulled the curtains across, he turned back with a grin.
“The ladder’s still up from earlier, just outside the window.”
“Right, then we need a volunteer to use the gun, they climb up onto the roof and draw as many creatures to the other side of the building as possible with that gun and harsh words, the rest of us make a dash down the ladder once it’s as clear as it can be,” said Roger.
“You think that’ll work?” asked Tommy.
“Well unless you have got any better ideas, it’s about our only chance.”
“Alright, I’ll go onto the roof, you just be ready,” said Dave.
“Good luck,” said Roger.
Dave opened the window and looked down below. There were a few creatures towards the bottom of the ladder, but most were around the front and other side of the house. Fortunately, they’d been paying so much attention to the ground floor that they hadn’t noticed him yet. He hauled himself onto the ladder and scurried up onto the roof, the Colt in his belt and axe slung on his back with a rope. He crept carefully along the inwardly sloping roof until he reached the other side, being careful not to attract any attention until he was in position. He leapt up onto the edge of the roof and stood up in plain view.
“Hey, motherfuckers! That’s right, you, you ugly bastards!” he shouted.
The horde immediately looked up to the source of the new noise, unable to avoid the sight and sounds of living flesh. Some of them began reaching for him, a full thirty feet below. He pulled the Colt from his belt and held it up, kissing the sight.
“Hello, my friend, guess this’ll be your last fight.”
He cocked the handgun and took careful aim with two hands, he needed to attract attention, but that was no reason to waste the ammunition. The first shot rang out and the creature’s head snapped back as the powerful .45 round struck its head and killed it instantly.
“That’s right, bitches! Time for one last party!”
He took aim with his second shot, killing another instantly.
“Hell, yeah, you like that?” he screamed.
Roger carefully crept up to the window that Dave had climbed out of to look down below. There were now just five zombies near the base of the ladder, he looked back at Katy and Tommy.
“Right, only a few left down there now, I suggest we get moving, it’s going to be a fight to get free, but it’s probably the best chance we’ll get.”
“Alright, I’ll go first,” said Tommy.
“Good lad, Katy, you’ll be second, I’ll go last, we’re going to have to fight our way out.”
“What about Dave?” asked Katy.
“He’ll be out of ammunition by the time you reach the ground, I’ll wait here until he’s down and be the last out,” said Roger.
Tommy climbed out of the window and got onto the ladder, the hatchet hanging from his belt. He climbed down to with a few feet of the ground, the first creature was just below, he kicked it in the head sending it tumbling down, before jumping to the ground. He pulled the hatchet from his belt.
“Right you scum, you’re getting some.”
Katy got onto the ladder as Tommy swung his hatchet at the first beast. The horde at the front of the building was still largely focused on Dave as he fired his last two shots.
“I’m coming, you bastards!” shouted Dave.
He stepped down from the ledge and out of view before stepping quietly across the roof to the ladder, peering over the edge he could see that Tommy was hacking away with his hatchet as Katy was just reaching the base of the ladder. He jumped on and began climbing down quickly, reaching the window where Roger was waiting.
“Good job, now get on down, I’ll be right with you,” said Roger.
The edge of the horde was already taking notice of Tommy’s exploits, enthusiastically fighting like a fanatic, spewing blood everywhere. Katy lifted her hammer and joined the fight as Dave reached the b
ottom of the ladder.
“Roger, get down here!” Dave barked.
Dave took his axe from his back and into his hand, picking out his first target as Roger climbed onto the ladder. Dave lifted his axe and smashed down the back edge on his first target, the skull fracturing and collapsing under the heavy weight of the weapon head.
Tommy spun around and smashed his hatchet into the face of a zombie, sending it flying into the base of the ladder. The ladder quickly gave way and Roger screamed out before he hit the ground hard, his head striking the stone wall on landing.
“Roger!” Katy shouted.
She ran over to his body, but blood was already pouring from the open wound in his skull.
“He’s gone, Katy!” Dave said.
The two turned around, to see Tommy hack another down. The three stood up and looked ahead. The entire hoard now surrounded them and was already stumbling closer, uncountable odds. Blood dripped from the survivors’ weapons and sweat from their brows. They were tired of fighting, tired of surviving, but never willing to give up. They all knew it was hopeless, but their bloodlust would at least be fulfilled in one last fight.
“Fuck these zombies, give them hell!” Dave bellowed.
The last three islanders lifted their weapons and stormed towards the mass, swinging with all the force and energy they had left in the world, until blood ran in rivers and they breathed their final breaths, content in the knowledge that they’d given it everything they had.
Another island fell, another triumph for the dead, and a crushing defeat for the living. With Dave’s last dying thought all he could think was perhaps this was inevitable, perhaps they always were on the losing side. But at least his life in the last ten years had contained more excitement and adventure than sitting in a miserable office doing pointless work. Though it was only a shame that no one would be left to record his life, to document the fact that he’d been more than just an office clerk.
He finally laid to rest in peace, knowing he would soon become one of them, thankful to have all the worries in his life finally over, but hating his enemy no less.
CHAPTER 10
English/Welsh border, United Kingdom
Nick had been resting for no more than an hour when the scream woke him. He sat up, instinctively grabbing for his machete that was always within arm’s reach. The room was still dark though a few low level lights provided a little illumination near the serving area. From the few windows still remaining, a very dull yellow was starting to enter as the first rays of the sun arrived. He could see the shapes of several people moving slowly. His first instinct told him this was trouble and he quickly moved towards the sign of danger, holding his weapon out in front, ready to strike. As he took another step closer a wail came from the surface of the unit and he immediately spotted one of the wounded passengers. Two of the others were holding the man down.
“What’s going on?” asked Nick.
“We think he’s been bitten,” said Jessica, whilst continuing to hold the man down.
Why do you think that?” asked a suspicious Nick.
“Well, for a start look at his skin. He has a fever, his skin is pale but worse than that, he won’t let us look at his wound.”
Nick stepped around the group, looking at the trapped man. She was correct, he did have the symptoms of either a nasty fever or a bite. Either way it needed to be decided and decided fast. He stepped up to the man.
“Listen. I’m taking a look, either you let us or we’ll do it by force, you know the risks we all take.”
He reached out and the man started to struggle, swinging his arms and managing to strike Jessica on the side of the head. She collapsed, stunned by the strike.
“Right, enough!” growled Nick as he delivered a quick punch to the man’s head.
As the man rolled about unconscious the two other passengers helped pull open his jacket to reveal the dark stain of blood.
“Come on, we need to get this off,” Nick ordered.
As they pulled off his clothes the injury told them all they needed to know. The blood was thicker than normal and the flesh around it was already looking dead.
“Fuck!” swore Nick. “How many times have we been through this?”
Gary appeared, the sound having woken him and on seeing the trouble he pulled out his machete. He looked at Nick, giving him a look that told him exactly what he intended to do. Nick nodded and then moved away, feeling exhausted and just a little let down by the single biggest problem they ever faced, hidden infection.
“It’s okay, get some more rest, it’s being taken care of,” he said as he slumped back down to rest.
There were murmurs as the wounded person was taken out of the room, but after all they had faced there were no voices of dissent. Nick lay down and allowed himself to close his eyes for a while.
* * *
It was slightly less dark now and the sun was about to cast its rays across the old service station.
He’d been awake for only a few minutes but Nick already stood at the front of the group, in one hand he held the map and in the other the detailed list of supplies. He paused whilst looking at the haggard survivors.
“I’ll give you the facts and we’ll vote on the plan, right?” he asked as though they had a choice. A low murmur was the only reply.
“Adam, what’s our status?”
Adam stepped forwards though he looked a little nervous addressing the group.
“Right. The bus has had it. It might go another mile but it’s basically trashed. The other four vehicles have enough space for us, but only just. We have enough fuel for maybe thirty miles if we take them all or we can get about one hundred and fifty miles with just one, but only a small group can do that. We have enough food and water for four or five days. From what we’ve picked up here we have a decent amount of ammunition and weapons,” he said, before returning to his position.
“That isn’t so great. Options wise we are limited. The way I see it we have three options and I don’t like any of them,” said Nick.
“Let me guess, one is to stay here and party?” asked Max with a sarcastic expression.
“Not quite,” answered an irritated Nick.
“The first option is we load up the vehicles and head further in country. We can’t travel far and there is no guarantee we’ll find anywhere better. The second option is to head to the coast. We’re about twenty miles from the sea. If we can find a boat we can try and go somewhere else.”
A boat? To where?” shouted one of the group. They were followed by murmurs of complaint from some of the others.
“As I said, I don’t like any of these options but we have to do something. The third option is to dig in here and send out one vehicle to scout for something better. We could send them to one town or city at a time or even to the coast to find a boat,” he continued.
“What about option four?” asked Zack.
“That’s it I’m afraid, unless any of you have got any better ideas,” answered Nick.
The group broke out into almost simultaneous discussion and argument as they debated the different options or lamented on the lack of them. Zack, Adam, Gary, Jessica and Max approached Nick.
“I’m for the coast plan. This whole area is fucked and I mean fucked. Does anybody seriously think we can find somewhere safe here when we couldn’t hold on to the Green Zone?” asked Zack.
“He’s got a point for a change,” said Gary.
“If we get there and can’t find a boat though, we’ll be well and truly screwed,” said Max.
“Yeah, but if we send one truck we only risk part of the group and can still try something else,” said Jessica.
“In theory I agree, but we are so few. I’m inclined to go for a plan that will maximise our chances. Surely we should decide on a single, strong plan with at least a chance of success. Otherwise, if we are timid we’ll get worn down and picked off till there are none of us left,” said Nick.
“Thanks for the vote of con
fidence, Nick,” said Jessica.
“Look, nothing personal, Jessica, it’s just my opinion. In my experience we’ve been fighting in this area for years and what have we achieved?”
“Well, after ten years there are still some of us left, that has to mean something.”
Nick nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, very true, we can’t be completely wrong,” said Zack.
“Any other ideas?” asked Nick.
A loud crash came from the back of the building, against the far wall and the single sound quickly stopped all conversation. The sound was almost immediately followed by the noise of glass breaking and screaming coming from the toilet side of the building.
“Get ready!” shouted Nick, as he pulled out his machete and rushed to the window and the direction of the first noise. As he reached within a few feet he could make out shapes moving near the glass.
“They’re here! Watch the windows. Gary, take a group and check the vehicles out front,” he ordered.
As Gary and a group of four rushed to the front entrance the rest of the survivors drew a variety of weapons. Every single person in the group carried something dangerous, it was a simple fact of life after ten years of being on the run. A creature pulled itself through the shattered window only to receive two swift strikes from the women nearby. As the zombie collapsed it was finished off with a mace to the head by Max. Another window crashed and three more of the undead tried to enter the eating area. Again they were quickly halted by the defenders.
“Max, you manage the defence here, I need to check the back,” said Nick, as he signalled to Zack and Adam.
As the little group made to move they were joined by Jessica who was carrying a dull, pitted looking katana. It had been a present years before and though it looked rough it was one of those rare modern reproduction swords that was actually designed for cutting as opposed to hanging on the wall and looking pretty.
“I’m coming with you,” she explained, as she tagged along to the rear of the small party.
Nick moved to the centre of the building where a number of weapons and supplies had been piled up ready to be loaded onto the vehicles. He looked to his left in the direction of the toilet area. There was a dark trail of blood along the floor that had definitely not been there when they arrived just hours before.
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