The Sixth Extinction: An Apocalyptic Tale of Survival. (Part Three: Infested.)

by Johnson, Glen

  As they passed a pizza restaurant on the left, a naked creature ran out of the open door and hurled itself at the truck’s bonnet.

  Bull never stopped; he continued on, running over the naked woman. The truck bounced as it crunched over her body.

  “Down there,” Noah said as they slowly drove up King Street.

  “That one,” Noah said while pointing.

  “Coco and Echo, take Noah in to retrieve his friends. Bull and I will stay with the truck.”

  The Captain was not sure why he was taking time to help the young man and his friends, especially when there was a whole town full of people that needed his help. However, he would do what he could. If he could save just a handful of people while making his way to the base, he would.

  Then again, he reasoned, with the amount of creatures charging us at the park, this man and his friends might be all that’s left in this dead town.

  As the truck rolled to a stop, Coco and Echo jumped from the vehicle, with their weapons up and ready at their shoulders.

  Noah climbed out slowly. He could not believe how fast, agile and alert the soldiers were.

  They must be just as tired and wet as I am, he thought.

  He knew something was wrong as soon as he saw the front of the house. When he had first spotted it, he had not registered the devastation. The front room window was blown out, with black scorch marks up the wall, with burnt, twisted curtains flapping against shards of glass. The front door was pushed in, with blood smeared everywhere.

  Please God do not let that be Red’s blood.

  Coco took the lead. Slowly, he climbed over the barricaded front porch area and stood motionless, listening in the hallway.

  Noah climbed in second, with Echo protecting their backs.

  “God!” Noah whispered as he stepped into the hallway next to the stairs. All the wallpaper was burnt off the walls. The carpet was still smoldering. There had been a quick, flash fire. Bodies littered the hall, all twisted and black, with sticky puddles of boiled body fluids gathering around each one – the flash fire had crisped the outside, leaving the inside to slowly drip out.

  It was impossible to tell if any of them were Red or Betty. However, Noah was confident none of them was Lennie; they were all simply too small. If Lennie was not here, then there was a good chance the other two were not either. In addition, he could not see any burnt clothing – all the corpses were naked.

  With the smoke rising from the charred bodies, they were all glad they had gasmasks on.

  Next, they moved into the kitchen.

  “There,” Echo pointed with the rifle’s barrel. They could see the gas lighter melted to the floor from the blast that had engulfed the house and had blown the kitchen wall into the backyard.

  “This was rigged,” Coco stated.

  It was good news. Someone had orchestrated the fire, so there had been planning, so they could have had time to escape. So hopefully the bodies in the hallway were not the people they were looking for.

  “Report,” the Captain said over the communications devices embedded inside Coco an Echo’s gasmasks.

  “We are still checking. It looks like they are gone after they set a trap for a bunch of eaters,” Echo said.

  “We are going to check upstairs,” Coco stated.

  Upstairs was deserted, apart from the three bodies in the bed. Smoke still lingered from the fire, but little was damaged, just mostly scorched. They found the bedrooms patio doors wide-open.

  “Here.” Echo pointed.

  Down over the side against the wall was a dog collar.

  “Charlie,” Noah said. “It belongs to a dog we found inside the house.”

  Noah looked down over the collapsed wall, over across the parking lot toward the old people’s housing.

  “They’re in there,” Noah stated.

  Just as he said that, an explosion shattered the windows on the second floor within the building closest to them.

  9

  Red, Betty, and Lennie

  Newton Abbot

  In a Stairwell at the Old Peoples Flats

  1:24 PM GMT

  “Quickly Lennie, go up!” Betty shouted.

  The screaming intensified. Bare feet could be heard slapping against the tiled stairwell.

  There were only two floors for the creatures to race up, which they seemed to be doing with the phenomenal speed of rabid wild animals.

  Lennie was in front, jogging up the stairs two at a time, with Betty close behind.

  “Bugger this,” Betty said, while shrugging Noah’s bag off her back. Whatever was in it was not worth dying for.

  The creature’s bodies could be heard slapping against the walls as they hurled themselves around the stairs, only one flight below.

  We will never make it in time; Betty thought. I’m too old and Lennie’s too slow. At least, we will be together at the end.

  Charlie though seemed to have realized the situation was different. He was no longer shaking with terror, or hiding; he was standing his ground, growling. Then in one bound, he was gone, shooting down the stairwell.

  The screaming intensified when the creatures spotted the four-legged meal.

  Lennie was breathing hard when he reached the fire exit to the roof, and with a mighty kick, he sent the door swinging open.

  Betty was close behind.

  Lennie stood in the pouring rain while holding Red in his arms.

  Betty was in the process of swinging the fire door closed, just as Charlie shot through like a bullet from a gun. He had only confused and distracted them for a few seconds, but that was all that was needed to allow them to reach the door.

  Betty checked the door. She held the metal shaft of the broken golf club, but here was nothing to force it into, to wedge the door shut. Her eyes scanned the roof; there was not a scrap of heavy furniture to barricade against the exit.

  “Put Red down,” Betty shouted.

  Lennie lowered Red’s comatose body onto the wet roof, and then shrugged the packs and bow from his back.

  “Wedge your shoulder against the door Lennie,” Betty screamed, just as the first creature rammed the exit.

  Lennie ran and slammed against the door.

  The creature’s body had obviously hit the door bar, because it was swinging open, with a grasping arm thrashing around from the side.

  Lennie hit the door like a freight train, forcing the door closed so hard it severed the arm just above the elbow. The arm twitched on the ground, while Lennie used all his strength to hold them back. However, many creatures were flinging their bodies against the other side of the door.

  Betty looked around again. There was nothing on the roof, no covered areas, no large air-conditioning units, no air vents, and no small storage unit, nothing; the roof was completely exposed. They were trapped with nowhere to hide.

  10

  Doctor Lazaro

  6,000 Feet over Dartmoor

  1:27 PM GMT

  Melanie was confused. The woman said no more and had returned to simply sitting, waiting to arrive at their destination.

  The phrase, Adam and Eve sounded ominous. Whenever a biblical reference was given to something, it always took on a completely different meaning. To Melanie, the words invoked something new – a new beginning. With everything, that was happening throughout the world it sounded out of place and surreal, almost menacing.

  After a few minutes, she removed her gasmask. She felt stupid wearing it – it felt wrong sat wearing one when everyone else looked so normal. She placed it on her wet lap. Rainwater gathered around her trainers.

  Melanie looked around. These people seemed prepared for something. This was no thrown together group this was organized. They all looked content, not scared, and confused. These people knew exactly what was happening and where they were going and why; and that scared Melanie even more than if they were all crying and scared senseless.

  Melanie had no idea how long a helicopter flight would take from Newton Abbot to Dartmoor.
She knew the Moors were a vast four hundred square mile national park. She also knew that the Ministry of Defence owned large sections of the land, using it as training grounds for soldiers and weapons.

  Living in Exeter, she had been to Dartmoor on numerous occasions. The scenery was beautiful, rolling hills, rambling brooks, and waterfalls, vast tracks of woodland and spidery ferns, and massive outcrops of rocks on the peaks, pushed up by violent upheavals millions of years past.

  She went many times as a child during wintertime to play in the snow. The snow was only ever a dirty sprinkling in Exeter, but on the moors in was deep and pure white. Thousands invaded the moorland when it snowed. Parents stood in thick jackets watching their kids play on sledges. The sides of roads and car parks were wedged tight with vehicles.

  In the summer months, climbers converged on the large rocky outcrops, and the rolling scenic hills attracted walkers of all ages. The moors were a welcome break from the overcrowded cities and towns; a place people could go to unwind and relax.

  Melanie had many happy memories of the moors. Just two weeks before all the madness started; she had gone on a long drive over the moors just to relax and clear her mind. She parked in an area called Badgers Holt and walked down the riverbank. She had a picnic in the car, because it was too cold to eat outside.

  Melanie stared at the blurry grey clouds out the small window. Rain pelted against the hull.

  So much has changed since that day. So many have died and were dying. The world would never be the same again.

  Melanie realized something had changed. The helicopter had slowed down. It was no longer heading forward, but downward.

  They had reached Dartmoor Prison, England’s largest top-secret military base.

  11

  Red, Betty, and Lennie

  Newton Abbot

  On the Roof of the Old Peoples Flats

  1:36 PM GMT

  Betty did not know how much longer her grandson could hold the door against the onslaught. The creatures did not seem to be tiring. She had no idea how many were throwing themselves against the door. For all she knew, the stairwell could be full down all three flights of steps.

  Lennie’s large feet would slide backwards an inch or so, as he pushed back each time the bodies slammed against the exit. Lennie was big and strong, but even he could only last for so long. He was soaked through to the skin. Every ten seconds or so he would spit out a mouthful of rainwater. His eyes were squinted tight as he used every ounce of his strength to stop the door from opening.

  The little dog was at his side, barking continually, as if offering his support.

  Betty was knelt on the wet gravel that covered the flat roof, with Red’s head on her lap, while she held a corner of the blanket on her shoulders over Red’s face.

  Red had regained consciousness and was mumbling something. Her eyes flicked open, only to shut again due to the stabbing pain in her head.

  Betty could not hear what Red was saying because of the screaming creatures, the pouring rain hammering on the roof, the wet slapping sound of the bodies hitting the door, and Charlie’s constant barking.

  However, Betty would swear Red kept mumbling, “I’m sorry Jasmine.”

  Two explosions rocked the roof beneath them. The screaming intensified.

  The door was crashed into so hard an arm managed to poke through the gap. The owner of the arm seemed unconcerned when Lennie slammed the door back against it. The bloody arm franticly slapped against the door, searching for whatever was blocking the way.

  Betty’s head jerked up, she could hear an engine approaching.

  Lennie could hear it too, his head shot up, and his concentration lagged for just a split second. However, a second was all it took to give the creatures the edge they needed. The next slam jerked Lennie off his feet, sending him sprawling backwards to land next to his grandmother and Red.

  Charlie sprinted over to protect them, barking at the open door.

  The door hung open on broken hinges as five eaters ran out onto the roof, directly toward the three warm lumps of meat.

  Betty instinctively used her body to protect the young injured woman, as the closest creature lunged like a wild animal, knocking Betty backwards away from Red. The crazed naked teenager then sunk its deformed teeth into Betty’s upraised forearm.

  12

  Noah and the Squad

  Newton Abbot

  In the Old Peoples Flats

  1:38 PM GMT

  Echo fired three bullets; each hit the back of a head, taking down three creatures. Coco’s shots stopped the two remaining eaters, one of which was crouched over an old woman. They both then fanned out to secure the area.

  Noah ran passed them out onto the roof; he jumped the naked, twisted bodies that were still twitching and raced to Red’s side.

  “Is she hurt?” Noah asked, thinking they had arrived too late, and Red had been bitten.

  “Am I glad to see you,” Betty said, wincing in pain as she rolled the dead body off herself. She used the blanket to wrap over her arm to hide the teeth marks.

  Lennie was slowly getting to his feet, while hugging Charlie. The dog was enjoying the attention.

  “Red was knocked unconscious in a flat downstairs. A couple of poppers exploded in a room she had just walked into,” Betty announced. No one had noticed she was bitten; they presumed the look of pain upon her face was due to arthritis and old age, or being soaking wet and cold.

  Noah and the two soldiers had just set a couple of poppers off themselves as they made their way up through the building, following the sound of the screaming creatures. They presumed the three had climbed down the demolished wall and went to hide in the closest building. The explosion on the second floor of the old people’s home had confirmed there was someone inside.

  Echo had updated the Captain and Bull, and stated they were heading down over the remains of the back wall to check the structure.

  Noah gave Echo directions to pass on to the Captain, so Bull could drive around to meet them.

  Once they entered the closest block of flats – where the explosion had occurred – they heard the animalistic screaming coming from the stairwell.

  “We have a vehicle outside; they are going to take us somewhere safe,” Noah explained.

  Noah saw Betty physically sag from relief as tears ran from her eyes. Noah noticed she was cradling her arm.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, just a little bruised nothing to worry about.” She kept her arm hidden beneath the thick blanket. It did not feel right. It was not aching, as a savage bite should; rather, it was tingling as if a small electrical current was passing through it and working its way along her arm. She knew she was infected. She did not know how long she could hide the bite or the effects for, but she needed to make sure Lennie was safe first; she knew her grandson would never leave her side, so she had to try to keep it together until they reached the safety of the prison.

  Echo was now knelt by Red. “Is she able to walk?”

  “Lennie had to carry her up here because she was unconscious. She seems a little better now though,” Betty stated.

  Red’s eyes seemed a little unfocused, but she smiled when she recognized Noah.

  “Let’s get them all downstairs before more eaters arrive,” Coco said.

  Noah picked Red up. It felt right having her body pressed up against his.

  I will never let her out of my sight again; he thought, as he carried her down the stairs following Echo, with Coco at the back.

  “Can someone grab that, it’s mine,” Noah said as they pushed passed his large rucksack.

  “Sorry, I tried to carry it, but it was just so damn heavy,” Betty stated. She did not feel like talking, but she had to keep up the pretence that she was fine.

  Coco picked it up and swung it over his muscular back.

  They reached the Husky without any incident. There was not enough room for everyone inside the vehicle. Lennie sat in the open flat bed with
the bags, with Coco and Echo stood next to him, leaning against the roll bars that wrapped around the flat bed. Red, Noah, and Betty sat in the back of the cab, with Bull driving and the Captain still in the command seat.

  A group of four naked creatures ran from around a corner. They did not bother wasting ammo. The Husky drove off leaving the creatures running behind. They soon lost them at the first corner.

  “Next stop, Dartmoor,” the Captain announced.

  13

  Doctor Lazaro

  Dartmoor National Park

  The Helipad at Dartmoor Prison

  1:44 PM GMT

  Melanie was unloaded in the pouring rain along with the rest of the passengers and hustled over to a squat building on the roof of the prison next to the helipad.

  She watched as Jimmy was placed on a stretcher and rushed to the prisons hospital by a hectic group of military doctors and nurses.

  The passengers moved in silence along the corridor, disappearing through some double doors following a group decked in military attire.

  After all the commotion, hustle, and bustle, the corridor seemed too quiet and abandoned now they had all gone.

  Melanie was left standing with an armed escort in the eerie silence, with a puddle of rainwater gathering around her.

  The tall soldier said nothing. He stood ramrod straight with his hands behind his back, with a pistol at his hip.

  She was left waiting in the corridor for half an hour. There were seats, but she was too pent-up to relax. She tried to engage the soldier twice in conversation. She was beginning to think he was a mute.

  “Am I at least allowed to use the toilet?”

  The soldier nodded once and pointed to a door three doors down the corridor. He followed her to the toilet, and waited outside.

  The toilet was eight feet by eight, with a toilet and a sink to one side. There was a large cabinet. Inside were green surgical scrubs.