The BIG Horror Pack 2

by Iain Rob Wright

  “And right now, we’re all safe from that,” said Ethan. “But your daughter is a threat to us staying here.”

  “I agree…” said Brett.

  Ethan grinned. “Thank you!”

  “But we’re not going to turn on each other. Steve, you need to take your daughter away from everybody else. I’ll help you take her up to the Press Box. Nobody goes there and it’s away from everybody else. You can look after her there until…well, until it’s over.”

  “I also think that is for the best, Steven,” Reverend Long added. “I will come and check on you as much as I can.”

  “This is bullshit,” said Ethan. “If this thing is airborne then we need her completely out of the stadium. We can’t risk breathing within a hundred meters of her.”

  “Be quiet,” the Reverend ordered, more forcefully then his usual manner would allow. “Don’t you ever get tired of conflict?”

  “Conflict is the world we live in, padre. If you don’t all start waking up to reality then there’s no hope for any of us.”

  “It’s been decided,” said Brett. “Steve is going to take his daughter upstairs and keep her there. There’s no danger.”

  “Fine, but I swear you’re only going to get more of us killed.” Ethan stomped out of the kitchen.

  “Thank you,” said Steve. “It doesn’t really matter, I suppose, but at least now I can make sure my daughter dies with some dignity.”

  Brett took Reverend Long to one side and spoke quietly, so that only he could hear. “We need to do something about Ethan. He wants to be in charge of everything like this is one of his businesses.”

  “If that’s what people want then they will follow him. If not then they won’t. It is not my place to influence people’s opinions.”

  Brett sighed. “But he’s going to make bad decisions. I can feel it.”

  “Maybe so, but I am not in charge of anybody here. What would you have me do, young Brett?”

  “You need to make sure people are busy. Get everyone working together and focused on something. Then people will be too busy to listen to Ethan and will feel too secure to take stupid risks.”

  “Perhaps you’re right. There are lots of things we could be doing. We need to ration food and search for blankets.”

  “We also need to set up a barricade. I’m not sure I trust Captain Lewis and I don’t want to make it easy for his men to get in here.”

  “I’m not sure I like the sound of that, but if you think it will make everyone feel better…”

  “Okay,” said Brett. “I’ll help Steve get upstairs and then I’ll get to work.”

  ***

  Despite having been in the stadium for three days, no one had fully searched the grounds. The first thing Brett did was to gather up volunteers and split them into several groups. He made a point to avoid Ethan and the small contingent that followed him around like lost children. He knew the man would just try to take over things.

  There was now a group that would search for food, blankets, and first aid kits, and another group that was to look into starting a fire on the centre spot of the pitch. Brett’s group was in charge of constructing barricades at all of the exits.

  The stadium had four main exits, one for each of the stands. There were also a couple of small staff entrances leading outside from the kitchen and also from the club offices. They blocked those off first – the one in the kitchen was now blocked by a heavy freezer unit. The office exits were blocked with chairs and tables that had not been used for the centre-pitch fire. The group were now in the middle of manoeuvring a ride-on floor buffer to the turnstile entrances in the Clark Stand. The Clark stand was where the Away supporters were usually located and it backed onto an enclosed car park. It was here that the military and a small police force had positioned the majority of their vehicles. Several tents had also been erected, which Brett assumed housed the soldiers while not on duty. It was crazy, but he felt like he was holed up in the middle of Helmand Province, not a rundown district of Birmingham.

  Of all people, Emily was the one riding the big floor buffer. She had once been employed as a part-time cleaner at a leisure centre and had driven one of the machines daily. Truth be told, the teenaged girl seemed to know what she was doing and had impressed everybody.

  Brett pointed at the turnstiles. “Okay, if you just pull it around here and park it in front of the hatch doors at the centre. They open inwards so the weight of the machine should be enough to stop anyone coming through.”

  “What about the turnstiles?” someone asked.

  “I don’t think there’s any way to reverse them. Maybe gather up some broom from the Janitor’s closets and trap them in the mechanism as a precaution.”

  The people in the group did as they were told and Brett suddenly realised that he was giving orders to a bunch of strangers. This time three weeks ago, he’d been unemployed, an embarrassment to his parents and hoping to get noticed on Clipshare for playing his guitar. Now he didn’t even have a guitar, both his parents were dead, and he had found himself in a position of assumed responsibility – as modest as it was. Brett had always felt like he had talent to offer the world, but it turned out that everything had to turn to shit before he actually got off his arse to try and do anything. He felt pretty ashamed of himself now. He’d done nothing with the last twenty years of his life, and his parents had both died of infection without ever having been proud of him. Of all the millions who had died over the last fortnight, Brett didn’t feel like he deserved to be one of the ones still healthy.

  “Hold it right there! What’s going on?”

  Brett turned around to see that one of the soldiers outside had walked up to the turnstiles and was looking through at them. He did not look happy and his rifle was slightly raised.

  “We’re making the place secure,” Brett replied matter-of-factly.

  “Why? You’re perfectly safe.”

  Brett huffed and took the few strides necessary to take him face to face with the soldier. “Nobody is safe anymore. The rules have changed and you know it. The world has gone fruitloops; you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t trust you just because you’re wearing a uniform.”

  Much to Brett’s surprise the soldier actually smiled and lowered his weapon. “I suppose I can understand that, but I can tell you right now that Captain Lewis is not going to be happy about this. He’s going to insist that you move all this stuff away from the doors.”

  “The captain can bite me. Where is he anyway?”

  “He’s off duty. I’m second in command. Lieutenant Bristow. Who’re you, lad?”

  Brett answered, despite himself. “Brett.”

  “Good to meet you, Brett. You’ve obviously got a decent melon on your shoulders to organise people like this.”

  “It would be much better if you and your men helped us. We can’t survive here forever.”

  “Have you asked Lewis for help?”

  Brett nodded. “For all the good it did. When are you going to let us go? We don’t even know what’s happening in the world anymore. Did you cut the power on us?”

  “No. The power’s out in most places. The stations are undermanned and it’s not safe to run them without adequate staff. Things are…pretty bad all over, lad.”

  “No kidding.”

  “No, Brett. I mean things are far worse than they were even a few days ago when you came here. There’s no order left anymore. Lewis hasn’t received commands in almost forty-eight hours now. The men are getting restless.”

  Brett raised his eyebrow. “Why the hell are you telling me this?”

  The Lieutenant shrugged. “I suppose because I don’t think there’s going to be much difference soon between you and I.”

  “Then why are you keeping us in here?”

  “Believe me, you wouldn’t be any happier out here. There’s nothing but death and panic on the streets. People with the infection have started wandering around like crazed lunatics. The pavements are red with blood. Way I see i
t you people have it better than anyone. This stadium is a paradise in comparison.”

  Just then, Emily returned with armfuls of broomsticks and mop handles. They were as tall as her and it was a comical sight.

  “You want some help there, Em?”

  “I’m fine, thank you. Did you say you wanted them jammed in the turnstiles?”

  Brett took a step back from Lieutenant Barstow and nodded. “Yeah, make sure you jam them up nice and tight. If this is going to be our home, then we’re damn well going to protect it. You can tell your captain I said that, Lieutenant.”

  The officer shrugged his shoulders. “Will do. You all take care of yourselves.”

  Brett reorganised everyone and prepared to leave. He was even more confused about what to think of the army outside now. Lieutenant Bristow seemed a lot more trustworthy than his superior. In fact it seemed like the man barely considered himself even much of a soldier anymore. The rules had apparently changed for them al.

  ***

  It was a couple of days later when Brett heard the shots.

  Ethan was the first on his feet and alert. Brett could hear the man shouting from somewhere in the grounds. Ethan and those close to him slept in the executive boxes at the top of the ground, while the other small groups of people were dotted around the various stands. Steven and his daughter were alone in the Press Box. The little girl would moan and cry long into the night. Once or twice, her father had joined her.

  Brett got up from his bed on the floor of the East Stand staffroom. Emily was lying nearby and quickly sat up. The girl had been bedding down next to him for a couple of days now and had been getting gradually closer each night.

  “Did you hear that?” Brett asked her.

  “It was gunfire,” she said. “Least I think so. Is something going on outside?”

  Brett got to his feet. “Those bastards best not be trying to get inside.”

  Brett ran out of the East Stand and onto the pitch. The cold night air hit him in the face like a slap and he suddenly realised he was without a t-shirt. Reverend Long also stood on the pitch and Brett headed over to him.

  “Ah, young Brett. It appears we have some sort of commotion outside. Guns, I believe.”

  “You’re sure it’s coming from outside? Are the army trying to get in?”

  “I don’t know. Ethan just ran off to find out.”

  “Which way? I’m going after him.” Brett headed off in the direction Reverend Long indicated: the Clark Stand.

  When he got there, Ethan was squeezed up against the turnstiles and peering through into the darkness. There were more gunshots coming from outside, but they sounded distant.

  “What’s happening?” Brett asked as he moved up beside Ethan.

  “They’re shooting at each other. Can you believe that?”

  “Who are? The Army?”

  Ethan turned around, his eyes wide and white in the dark. “The Army, the Police, I can’t even tell, but they’re definitely taking shots at one another. I told you they were all dangerous. Well done for putting up the barricades.”

  “Thanks. Let me have a look what’s going on.”

  Ethan moved aside and allowed Brett up to the turnstiles. It was hard to see anything outside, except the jagged flashes of muzzle fire. The sound of bullets hitting steel and masonry were mixed with the sounds of men dying. Whatever had happened outside had turned lethal, but there would be no way to see what was going on until the sun came back up. There was no way Brett was going to shout out and draw attention to himself.

  “I’m going to keep guard,” said Brett. “Ethan, can you get some people to watch the other exits? I can’t see a thing out there, but we have to be ready if anybody tries to get inside.

  “They won’t try to get in here. Not tonight.”

  “We don’t know that.”

  Ethan thought about it and then nodded. “Okay.”

  Ethan and a few others headed back into the stadium, while Brett remained behind. It was only a couple minutes before Emily arrived to keep him company.

  ***

  “What do you think things will be like?” asked Emily, sitting on the floor beside him. “I mean, once this virus goes away and everything goes back to normal. So many people have died. Not just from the disease either.”

  Brett’s eyelids felt heavy, but he did his best to stay with the conversation. “I don’t know. I don’t think things will ever be normal again. For all we know, half the world could be dead right now. People have lost their families…lost everything.”

  “What have you lost, Brett?”

  “To be honest I had less to lose than most. I didn’t have many friends. My only family were my parents and we…we weren’t that close. I guess I’m lucky when I think about it.”

  “Nobody is lucky anymore. This has been hard on all of us. It’s not a contest for who has lost the most.”

  Brett nodded and smiled at her. Emily was annoying, but it seemed like her heart was in the right place. “So what happened to you before we all got together?”

  “I was at church with Reverend Long. I’d just lost my mom and I didn’t know what to do, so I went there. Couple days later a group of us decided to try and gather people up and come here.”

  “I reckon if you hadn’t done that most of us would be dead. I don’t think it’s safe out there anymore, not even at home.”

  “I don’t think so either. Still, I miss my bedroom, my bed…and I wish I’d taken my violin when I’d left. Or my piano if I had the strength of ten men to carry it. God I miss my piano.”

  Brett’s eyes widened. “You play music?”

  She nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, I’m…I was studying Music Theory at college. I can play violin, clarinet, piano, and a little bit of guitar. I was even in a little band me and some of the other girl’s had as a hobby.”

  “You’re shitting me?”

  “No, I’m not…pooping you!”

  Brett laughed. “I play guitar, too. Music is my life – at least my old life.”

  “Huh, maybe we can play together one day?”

  “Yeah,” said Brett. “I’d like that.”

  Emily smiled and leant her head on his shoulder. Brett was surprised to find out that he didn’t mind. In fact, within a few minutes they were both asleep, snoring besides the turnstiles while the gunfire outside continued.

  ***

  “Hey. Hey, Brett! Brett wake up, son. I need your help.”

  Brett opened his eyes slowly, not knowing if a dream had woken him, or something else entirely. When the steel turnstiles behind him rattled, he sat bolt upright with fright. So did Emily, who let out a girlish yelp as she scuttled away on her hands and knees.

  Lieutenant Bristow was at the gate. He was breathing in short stutters and bleeding from a wound in his shoulder.

  Bret headed over to the man to help him, but realised that the turnstiles were jammed up. “Shit, man. What the hell happened out there? Are you okay?”

  Bristow shook his head. “I took a bullet. Captain Lewis went and lost his damn mind. Started firing at the police officers who had set up with us when we got here. We haven’t had orders in almost a week, so the captain decided he was going it alone. He ordered the police to hand over their vehicles and supplies. When they refused, Lewis started firing on them. They were unarmed and…they didn’t stand a chance. That’s when I and some of the other men turned on the captain. Our detachment split in two: Captain Lewis versus me. Luckily I came out on top, but most of my men are dead, and I…I need help. You have to let me in. The fighting’s not completely over. I don’t want any more of my men to get shot. We need to rest.”

  “Let him in,” said Emily.

  Brett turned to her and shook his head, then nodded, then shook his head again. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

  “You can’t leave him out there to die.”

  “It’s not like we have any doctors in here that could even help him anyway.”

  “Brett,�
� it was the Lieutenant speaking. “I know that you’re all scared. I know that the Army has done nothing to make you people feel safe, but trust me when I say that the only chance any of us has is to stick together. I’m not following orders anymore. I’m just a man like you, and I’m asking for your help.”

  Brett’s gut had told him to trust the Lieutenant the last time they had spoken, and it was telling him the same thing now. The bullet wound in the man’s shoulder suggested that his story was true enough.

  Brett took a step toward the turnstile.

  “Don’t you dare let that man in,” said Ethan, hurrying to get in front of him. “We’re not letting a single one of those thugs in here. They were the ones keeping us trapped in here. They made their own bed; they can damn-well lie in it. We owe them nothing.”

  “The Lieutenant isn’t like that,” said Brett. “Captain Lewis is the one who wouldn’t let us leave.”

  “That’s right,” Bristow spoke weakly. “Lewis is dead now. You can all leave if you want to, but please help me first.”

  Ethan was unwavering. “You can die for all I care. The only people that matter are us in here. We don’t need to risk our lives helping you. You and your men are the reason this country has turned to shit as badly as it has. For every person lost to The Peeling, there’s been just as many shot by barbarians in the Army. I guarantee you that at the very least he stood by and watched it happen.”

  “You’re right,” said Bristow, his words thick with pain. “I did. I’ll never forgive myself for following orders so blindly, but that is behind me now. All I can do is try to make up for the past by helping to protect as many people as I can from now on. But I need to rest before I can do that.”

  Reverend Long appeared and seemed confused by the scene that met him. “What on earth is happening here?”

  “Captain Lewis lost control,” Brett said. “There’s people injured outside and they want in.”

  “Which isn’t going to happen,” Ethan added.

  Reverend Long looked across at Lieutenant Bristow lying bloody in the turnstiles. “If people need help, it’s our obligation as human beings to help them.”