by Barone, Cenz
Kenny shaking his head in amazement stated "I cannot believe they are trying to down play this. This is the second night, it is all a mixture of information Grant, and nobody knows what the fuck is going on". Grant though started to try and rationalise why this was so, as Grant said "Maybe that is what they have been told to do. Not to elicit total panic, more so than there is now. There must be a reason why the information is being passed to us like this". Kenny did not like this explanation as he answered "I just find it odd Grant. We have been on the road all night and day, and since yesterday this shit was happening. The information is contradictory and every broadcast comes across as different. The only certainty is people are being murdered out there and people are coming back to..." he was about to say coming back to life but he just shook his head and slammed his fist into the van inner wall.
Strangely the radio host had an upbeat tone in his voice, one of excitement as he said “So get on the phone and tell me...well more importantly tell the nation what is happening outside your home. If you are in your home or someone else is home within the Oxfordshire area let us know. You could be helping out your fellow listeners, just to give you a heads up when the national emergency broadcast occurs they will interrupt us automatically, we are unsure when they will be taking over the air permanently. I really am operating on third party information but believe me when I say it is as confusing for us as it is for you. Only we will be staying on air for as long as possible and when the emergency networks take over, we are determined to continue and go to another frequency. Yes these are truly unprecedented times but..."
The insides of Kenny felt light and he had butterflies like he was going to go sick. He could not believe the tone of the radio host, and still being stranded in this van was too much for him to accept. Grant turned to the side to see Kenny resting up against the van inner wall, even though it was so dark he could hardly see Kenny's face from this angle. Grant just sensed Kenny was disillusioned because so was Grant.
Grant turned down the radio volume via the button as the radio host voice went on "Quite a few people have texted in as well as phoning in who have said they are hiding out in strangers’ homes. Regardless of wherever you are, be it a rescue station, a car or even a train, we know some people are on trains stuck on the tracks. What I want is a frontal view of this thing, as I am in an envious position to most of you I’d imagine and a position you all aspire to be in. That is being coped up in the office and watching the news, we are all secure down here and there are many places similar to this. So please do not be shy, I do not know if any of you out there still have access again I will just tell you once more if you do, use the internet. Social media is providing so much information that I do not know how to report it until I get some higher up confirmation. But check out our own website to because we are posting up videos all the time which are sent to us by viewers. I do not need to tell you the link, I know my loyal listeners are working out ways to spread the message and let others know where the safe places are".
"Turn this lunatic off Grant, this is too embarrassing to listen to" Kenny complained but Grant did not heed his request as the radio host went on "This is your time to get famous by showing all of us throughout Oxfordshire as well as our listeners online and across the world what is happening outside on our streets, you could go viral. To put it another way, I want you to think of yourselves as Special Forces, you are all the spies my dear listeners behind enemy lines and your job is to pass on information to me so I can get it out there. So do not be shy, get onto the phone and tell me what is happening. Also get those questions flowing in for Mrs Graham and Dr Hunt because they will need to be kept on their toes to explain this crazy situation we have all found ourselves in. They are due to go on in air within 10 minutes or so, we also have various people from the scientific community coming in much later on but before we begin I want to just say...".
Grant turned the radio off, he himself had had enough. None of the information from the radio had been forthcoming or beneficial at all, and it obviously had not changed since they last listened in. "It is like they are treating it like a joke. I fucking hate regional radio stations" Grant said. Kenny echoed Grant and replied "The guy thinks this is some passing phase. It must really pay off to be living in such a bubble huh, what a deluded fruitcake. I bet their studio does not have those fucking things outside. Yeah his family are probably there with him, with tight security. Fuck this".
Kenny was unimpressed as he added "Why bother listening to the radio anymore Grant, we may as well just wait for something from the national grid. Then again what good will come from doing that? Just the same repetitive bullshit we have been exposed to already. Nobody really knows what’s up. To think they think this is some sort of gang or some kind of class based riot. Is that what that radio station is pumping, fuck sake. Now I wish we could access a television. I would say try the national radio stations but I dread to think what will be shared, why the hell is the frequency of the radio so bad, clinging to regional radio stations, all the time. It is bullshit".
Kenny finished his rant and then coughed violently, but he muffled his mouth with his hand to drown out the noise, he next cleared his throat and began to speak again. Kenny said "It is troubling because it tells me the authorities really have no idea what is happening. I mean come on. They mean to say this is like the London riots, so people are killing each other and eating each other because they want a 100 inch television. What the fuck kind of explanation is that. If it is the case why are entire cities and towns being blocked off. Why are so-called police and military rescue centres we have gone to been overrun, and how can they explain people suddenly snapping and turning on each other. It is not right, I have struck many of these things, with blunt objects which should bring any person down but they keep coming. It is nonsense".
Kenny could not help but feebly laugh, his laughter though one of despair as he ranted on "Bullshit this is a passing phase and the government has nothing under control. The more likely explanations I heard on the radio Grant was from this guy who phoned in on the radio before I met you. I was holed up in someone’s allotment and listening to their small radio and this man said it was a fucking alien invasion, an invasion driven by possession to overrule us from above. Now I am do not know much about aliens or U.F.Os but what I have seen is some unworldly shit. I would believe that over riots motivated by looting".
He laughed did Kenny reciting some of the earlier explanations he heard, in retrospect they made him laugh because no matter how outlandish they were to Kenny none could explain truly what was happening. Kenny continued his rant "Another guy though blamed it on some kind of terrorist attack, made to turn people crazy like chemical warfare. He said it was a government operation designed to control the population. You should check out the internet mate, I lost my fucking phone though didn't I. My phone was my lifeline to what was happening, I was checking out all these weird and wonderful explanations I was hearing on the radio".
Kenny shook his head and held his face as he muttered "I cannot even phone my family". He sounded upset as he then went on speaking "The internet though Grant, that is where you want to see what is really going on because people are saying exactly what is happening just like you said they are. There are weird demonic looking people attacking others and I do not know why or who they are, or what is making them snap but it is not what the radio is saying. Honestly though every explanation I hear is as outlandish and as crazy as the next. All we need to do is keep on waiting. I mean this is an attack from within the country right, so we must have 100,000s of soldiers stationed and ready to go, or am I being too hopeful for that many. I don’t know how many soldiers there are, oh what the hell am I talking about”.
He paused for a second, allowing his thoughts to clatter up then Kenny continued “I mean the army has to do something right. This has gone on too long, and these rescue stations though, maybe we should just wait where we are or send a signal from here". Kenny getting panic stricke
n and he sounded incoherent to Grant, because Kenny was jumping all over the place in his thought disclosure about what to do. "Perhaps a rescue station will spring up near us, the longer we go chasing these phantom stations and not knowing if it’s worse or better down there or wherever they are then there is more chance of us getting killed or dare I say becoming like them, crazy!" Kenny said referring to an incident he saw whereby someone was murdered by one of those things and soon after stood up and motioned away to attack someone else, he could not explain it bar a zombie explanation but he was still fighting against accepting the irrational as factual.
He next stated "I do like the idea of finding a secure spot and just waiting on the cavalry to come to us, I am running out of ideas Grant and we are running out of petrol" Kenny raised his voice in frustration exclaiming "Where the fuck are the authorities. Police, military anyone! Why is it so hopeless out there" As Kenny was sounding off, Grant was pouring himself another bit of coffee from the flask he earlier drank from, he then began to try his best to enjoy the sensation of the sugariness hitting his mouth. Grant was calmingly listening as Kenny was saying more words, frantically and full of contradiction but the boy was so scared.
Once Kenny had seemingly finished Grant felt a little more relaxed and spoke with some authority "You are right Kenny. We do need to find a place I am glad we agree on that. Anyplace we can hold up in. It does not matter what it is. Just as long as we can board it up and make ourselves safe and we can sit it out just like the advice dictates. Ideally we find someplace with a signal or better still a landline so we can get through to the police, and I have to try and get through to my wife" Grant paused, becoming emotional the more he thought about his wife, but he had to be strong to go on so he added "But also, it has to be a place with food because we do not know how long we will be stranded for". Kenny answered Grant "I agree about the food. I do though think the phone is the most important part of us finding any place. A landline like you said, considering the mobile signals are all fucked".
Grant turned around to look into the back of the van so he could now make eye contact with Kenny, and then Grant added "We have a weapon. Alright it is a hunting rifle which is not much but it is all we have. As for food and water" Grant surveyed the various bags around them, these bags were the personal belongings of those within the van but also bags found when the van was taken by Grant. Grant could just make out the outline of some of the bags. Kenny honestly told him "We are incredibly low. I know it has only been since yesterday, at least since you found me but we have to think beyond this moment. We do need to stock up and we cannot do it driving around aimlessly".
Grant knew how desperate they were and nodded, just like had been happening since he merged with the strangers he was falling into a leadership role as he said "Well that is not going to last us is it. I do not know what is worse being surrounded in this van without petrol or driving around in this van without food or water" Grant sounded angry. Kenny though was eager to put the dire situation into perspective told Grant bluntly "Try being without petrol and no food or water in this van Grant" Kenny managing to make Grants worst case scenario far worse. Grant without addressing Kenny asked him pensively "Do you have any other ideas, anything at all, I really want to know?”.
Kenny shook his head sorrowfully and replied “None mate, I am spent of ideas. The only one that looks appealing to me is to find a place, a house or a hotel like you suggested. Anything along those lines, so long as it is a building and we can rest up”. Kenny's tone one of devastation as the awareness their next decision might be their last reared its ugly head, which was reflecting the seriousness of the situation so it had to be the right choice.
Knowing did Grant that he had to make the final decision as he was driving whispered to Kenny "I am very tired and there is no more point of us driving around to find this secure place we do not even know is out there. Even though we have enough petrol to last another 20 miles I estimate by the time the yellow light kicks in which will be very soon. It is best we conserve it and for the time being it’s wise for us to saddle up here and for me to get some rest. Nothing can come in by the sides of the van and we can see what’s going to come up at the front. We are bolted in pretty tight. I just need a rest, it is sensible for whatever we decide. But yes Kenny, a house to locate, any house and we have to just pray that we pick a house that has everything we need. I just need a rest though and will think about places we have been. I just need a nap. Can you accept that mate?”.
Chapter 3 - Nightmarish Daydream
Kenny comfortably sat back up against the van inner wall and closed his eyes as he replied to Grant “Whatever mate. Just keep your eyes peeled. In case…”. Grant interrupted Kenny and said “I know why. You do not have to remind me what to look out for”. Grant now faced the front and rested his head on the headrest of his driver's seat, his eyes fixed on the junction of the alleyway up ahead. It was dead silent out there at this point, and the tranquillity of the view he had did not display what was on either side of the junction of the alleyway, which was mini fires, smashed windows and body parts lying in the street.
The view Grant had at this present moment conveyed a false sense of security about what was happening, and this view provided him with the comfort he needed to begin to close his eyes and obtain a little peace of mind in slumber. Grant was determined to have a nap, even if it was just for a few minutes. Kenny adjusted up against the wall of the van, still trying to get as comfortable as he could in the back of the hard van up against the aluminium wall. He had some worn cushion which appeared to be sown into the large van under his back. But they were dirt riddled from whoever owned it and Kenny did not use them for his own comfort. Instead he pressed his knees together, and forced his back to rest at a slight angle. His sitting position might have looked awkward to an outside observer but to him it was as comfortable as he hoped to be, unless he wished to lay down which he did not.
Kenny felt his eyes opening and shutting in long intervals, his gaze directed towards the awkward angle up above, that allowed him to just barely see the front window of the van through the passenger and driver's seat. His gaze remained rooted on this scene, and he was watching the rain spluttering on the front window screen. He found he became hypnotised by the sight, but more impacting for him, was hearing the rain smash harder on top of the van. That clanging metallic sound of gentle thuds echoing within the van, as it had been for hours at this point that was serenading for him.
Kenny told himself the rain and dark is not something to hate anymore, it is a safety blanket he reasoned. Instead he had to embrace this little moment because he was still alive so it was something to celebrate and be thankful for when he had witnessed and seen evidence that so many more other people were dead, and had died horrifically before his eyes, long before he reached this van.
His mind now teased on all those problems concerning the days before this madness happened, how minor was his life before this mass murder took place he thought. Kenny himself he had travelled all the way from Bristol to go to Oxford to sit an exam in an examination centre via a car he rented, travelling down via the motorway and occasional rural roads, usually when he got lost. He also was considering moving down to Oxford but the prices for the houses in these parts were out of his league and as a student he had no full-time job. Kenny remembered complaining to himself about the outrageous house prices and how his job, which was as a part-time shop assistant on a paltry wage, that could never ever satisfy the criteria of paying for such an expensive house in this area. Almost £500,000 for a house on average and for renting it was around £2000 a month, and with other living expenses he was looking at around £3500 a month.
This amused Kenny somewhat because his wage as a part-time shop assistant was pittance by comparison and would not even satisfy the criteria for something even more humble, but in truth the shopping assistant job he had was just to get pocket money in a way as he continued his full-time studies in university, working through a
degree. Yet it was nice to dream about being wealthy and living in a beautiful expensive house.
Kenny did contemplate moving to another country after he completed his degree but to where he did not know, not like any of those things mattered anymore because here he was plunged headlong out of that life and was in this nightmare with these strangers in this van. In what could only be described as a nightmare dreamt up by a psychopath. But what was more terrifying for Kenny than the murderous people outside was the lack of knowledge about what was happening elsewhere in the country, most significantly to him, to his family in and around Bristol, and also the fact the authorities seemed to have no real control. None that he could see and those factors were far worse for him to think about. He tried to push it out of his mind, but it always crept back to him.
All information he had come across before he lost internet access had come from the crackpots on the regional radio, or the occasional television he would come across when he was negotiating the streets after escaping from his hotel, which he had been in since he arrived down Oxford to sit his exams, which were stretched across one week and a half. Kenny in his sleepiness adjust against the van all and the hypnotic sound of the rain started to lose his battle with staying awake, just like the three other passengers in the van had been sleeping, Kenny was about to doze off. Grant in the front was on the verge of passing out also. The sudden stop in this lane between houses, this remote alleyway had just brought a sense of calm to them both.
Kenny though started to remember how all of this started for him, when he realised for the first time that something was not right with the world and something was happening that had no logical explanation. And from there events just escalated to become stranger and stranger until he was in this moment, in this van. Kenny could not believe it was just yesterday morning when he had his first encounter with the dead things, but he knew this thing had likely been going on for two or so days. It just seem to spread quicker the more time went on.
