Surviving

by Kady Monroe

  Most of the other zombies were roughly in the same position as she’d last seen them, they were heading towards the drive where they last saw her. But several were shambling towards the van from the other end of the street. They were late to the party and would pose no problem to her. She drew out of the drive and turned left, heading towards them, they never even got within touching distance of the camper.

  At the end of the street Jenny did another left-turn and tried to find a country road heading out of the top end of Harrow Bay. The older boy kept quiet. Jenny decided she could find out more about him later when she felt they were safer. But Amar chirped a hello and told the boy their names.

  He answered,

  “I’m very pleased to meet you, I’m Hayden.”

  Jenny found a quiet route out of town, and the first chance she got she brought the van to a standstill. She did one more check around the area, then went to join the youngsters.

  Hayden didn’t make eye contact with her. She saw that besides the black eye, he had other smaller bruises and scratches on his face and neck. He didn’t have a coat either so he must have been freezing. Instead he wore a black sweatshirt decorated with a school logo on the chest. Having completed a quick visual examination of him, she said,

  “Don’t worry Hayden, we’re good people. Now let’s get you cleaned up and sorted out.” She paused, then asked,

  “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”

  His gaze stayed on the floor as he nodded. Jenny got the impression he was waiting for verbal abuse. It made her angry those awful morons had beaten down his spirit.

  “Amar, could you fetch a bottle of water and something to eat for Hayden?”

  The younger boy was more than happy to help and jumped out of his seat as Jenny knelt down in front of Hayden.

  “You don’t need to be scared of us. We heard how those other people were treating you, and that won’t happen with us. I promise,” she gently said.

  He raised his eyes to look at her. She saw he was trying to be courageous, but the tears welled in his eyes.

  “It’s Ok, she said and leaned forward to see if he would accept a hug. He did and gripped onto her when the well broke. Amar stood by with the water and food, keeping his distance until Jenny and Hayden released each other. Then, not to be left out, he wanted a cuddle from Jenny too. She was happy to oblige after he handed his cargo over to Hayden.

  There was no one to give her an innocent hug when she was a young orphan after her Mum and Dad were killed in a car crash. Orphans was exactly what these boys were at the moment, so she would make sure she cared for them to the best of her ability. She wouldn’t presume to be a surrogate mother, but as far as she was concerned she was now their guardian. Never having been responsible for anyone else’s life before, the task ahead, scared her as much as the zombies did.

  Amar stood sentry duty as Jenny fixed up Hayden. She let out a sigh at how badly he had been neglected. His face and hands were a mess and she was sure he owned other unseen wounds. For the moment though, she took care of what she could see. His poor hands were covered in both fresh blisters, and many older burst ones. His skin was red raw. She was careful in her treatments but couldn’t help making the boy wince. Once done, she decided they would have an early lunch. Hot soup was on the menu again.

  Over the quick meal, Amar told Hayden his story of rescue by Jenny. He even spoke of his mum and dad. Telling the new boy how they became dead people and had forgotten about him and where they lived. On prompting from the younger boy, Jenny recounted a vague story of her experiences. Hayden listened but when she was done, he didn’t offer anything of his life. He simply thanked Jenny for the soup and asked if he could help clean up. She could see how tired the boy was, plus his hands must be very sore, so she declined and explained they would soon get back on the road and head for the Lake District. She procured a sleeping bag for him and informed him he could rest whenever he wanted to. He nodded and took it to the sleeping compartment. Amar went to join him for a little while, keen to show off his colouring book. Jenny had only driven a couple of miles when Amar joined her at the front and whispered that Hayden had gone to sleep.

  The sun began to slip below the horizon when she found a spot to park up. They had made good progress sticking to the country lanes. Hayden had slept while Amar amused himself with his colouring.

  The evening meal was more substantial and the new boy appeared a little more relaxed after his rest. He ate heartily and jumped at the chance to have a cup of tea afterwards with Jenny. Amar wasn’t interested in a hot drink, and because he drank a glass of diluted orange juice with his dinner, he wasn’t thirsty.

  “Is that a school sweatshirt you’re wearing?” Jenny asked Hayden. He looked down and then nodded.

  “Taymore Court Boys’ School,” he replied.

  “Private school?”

  “Yes, near Kirkby Lonsdale on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.”

  “I’m not familiar with that area,” Jenny admitted, then asked,

  “Is that where you met those people?”

  Hayden shook his head before answering,

  “I was travelling with two other pupils and one of our tutors, Mr Jenkins and…” he paused for a moment before going on, “something bad happened to them.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jenny said, “that must have been awful for you.”

  The boy nodded and she could see he was getting distressed by thinking about it, therefore she added gently,

  “I can see you’re not ready to talk about it. That’s Ok, I’m here to listen when you are.”

  He nodded.

  Later that evening, after Amar brushed his teeth and was eager to hear the next part of Peter Pan, Hayden surprised her by joining them. He sat on the bed while she continued the story. Within fifteen minutes the youngest boy was asleep. Hayden retreated, followed by Jenny. She held the book out to him and said,

  “If you want to read it on your own then just leave the bookmark in, so I know which page I stopped at with Amar.”

  “No. It’s fine, thank you. But I would like to listen when you read it at night.”

  “Ok,” she replied, glad he wanted to be included.

  Hayden stayed quiet after that, and it wasn’t until Jenny was pouring steaming water into two mugs and enjoying the smell of hot chocolate, that the boy whispered.

  “Do you really think you will find your friends?”

  Stirring the liquid and returning to sit down at the table with the mugs, she replied,

  “I hope so.”

  “And if you can’t?”

  “Then we’ll find somewhere else. Maybe go further north.”

  He paused, blew on the mug and took a hesitant sip before saying,

  “They picked me up on the motorway. That’s where Mr Jenkins’s car crashed.” His eyes met hers briefly before he lowered them and cooled his hot chocolate again. “They were nice at first,” he continued, “but once we got to the next town, they told me to help them collect supplies.”

  “And they made you go into houses first to check for zombies?” Jenny asked.

  Hayden nodded.

  “Well, like I told you earlier, you’re safe with us, or at least, as safe as we can be with the way the world outside is now.”

  The morning had Jenny shivering the moment she got out of her sleeping bag. At least she’d slept through the night without being disturbed this time. Both boys were still asleep. Creeping to a window, she viewed the surroundings. No frost clouded the windows, but it was grey and overcast, with ominous dark clouds obscuring the sky. Nearby trees and bushes swayed, and Jenny guessed the wind chill would make the temperature colder than it looked. It’s going to be a wild day, she thought.

  She made herself a cup of tea and sat enjoying the silence. The kids were still asleep when she finished her drink. Shivering again and seeing her breath misting, she turned the camper’s engine on to let the interior warm up. Even that didn’t wake the pair. Jenny decided she would let them s
leep another ten minutes while she made breakfast and as soon as the meal was done, they would head north.

  Jenny hated the idea of returning to the A6 but her options were limited. She could detour east again. But even if she did, she would still end up going back to the A6 as it led to the roads she needed to get around the Lake District National Park. According to the map, the area could prove difficult due to its limited road network. So the A6 became the plan for the day.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  As it happened, the A6 journey went fine and the motor home was soon leaving Lancashire and entering Cumbria; the home of the Lake District. She joined the A590 which at the point of meeting the A6 was in the form of a dual-carriageway. The rain started soon after that. Jenny groaned inwardly when it turned to sleet and prayed it wouldn’t develop into full-on snow. That was the last thing she needed right now.

  She travelled along the dual-carriageway for a few miles, then became surprised and worried when she noticed a car heading towards her. The driver was using the wrong side of the road. Jenny slowed and checked to make sure the bolt cutters were within reach.

  As the car approached, it slowed down and eventually they were side-by-side, but both driver’s kept a safe distance from the other. Jenny looked into the other vehicle. A dishevelled man sat in the driver’s seat. He appeared haggard and anxious. Someone else sat in the passenger seat, but because the van was higher, Jenny could only see a pair of legs dressed in grey sweatpants. She got the impression it was a woman.

  Sliding down her window, she watched as the man did the same. They regarded each other with suspicion and Jenny was the first to speak.

  “Where are you headed?” she asked.

  “South,” the man replied tersely, “You?”

  “Further into the Lake District. What are the roads like up ahead?”

  “Other carriageway is blocked a mile or so back but this side was alright,” he paused, “Where did you travel from?”

  “The Midlands. We headed north west.”

  The man turned his head to look at the tarmac in front of him before asking,

  “What’s it like south of here, are there refugee camps?”

  “We started out looking for a camp, but I’m sorry to say we never even got a hint of one.” She paused, seeing the man’s head droop, then heard soft sobbing from the passenger.

  Jenny said, “Keep to the country roads and stay away from towns and cities if you can help it. There’s nothing but trouble in them.”

  Jenny’s heart dropped when a baby gurgled. She watched the man automatically put his arm across to the passenger seat to pat the leg of the sobbing passenger.

  “Look, why don’t you come with us?” Jenny said, then continued,

  “We’re looking for some friends. Maybe find a safe place to sit out the winter.”

  The driver’s voice trembled as he replied

  “You won’t find it in the Lake District.”

  “You’ve driven through it?”

  “We live…” he corrected himself, “We lived there, in Seathwaite near Coniston Water.”

  “Is that a big town?” Jenny asked, not familiar with the name, but she remembered seeing Coniston Water, one of the lakes, on the map and knew it wasn’t far from where they now were.

  “No. It’s a village.”

  “What happened?”

  The man finally turned his head back to her as the baby gurgled again,

  “Dead people, starvation, dehydration, fire. Our house burnt down,” he said as a sob escaped him.

  “I’m sorry,” Jenny said as the man turned his head away so a stranger wouldn’t see his tears.

  She hated to say it, but she had to warn them of the dangers ahead,

  “I’m afraid you won’t find much better elsewhere. I haven’t seen one place that escaped the virus.” She paused and asked again,

  “Why don’t you travel with us? There’s more safety in numbers.”

  An alarmed woman’s voice spoke from the passenger seat,

  “I’m not going back there, Rod,” and then she utter a strangled sob, “I can’t!”

  “I know,” her companion said, “Me either.”

  Turning back to look at Jenny he said,

  “Thanks for the offer, but we need to get away from this area.”

  And with that, he started to close his window up.

  “Wait,” Jenny said, “do you even have any supplies?”

  The man’s gaze came back to hers. He hesitated, narrowing his eyes before he shook his head. She understood he might be thinking she might try to take them if he said yes. But she believed they had nothing, or at least, not much. Logic told Jenny to keep her supplies, but her heart and conscience were stronger.

  “I have some spare,” she told him, hurrying on, “I can’t give you much but it should be enough to keep you going until you can find some on your own.”

  “I…” he started, then sighed with relief, “Thank you.”

  “Ok,” Jenny said as she started to move out of her seat before adding, “I’d appreciate it if you stayed in your car while I get some stuff for you.”

  He nodded his agreement.

  The boys had kept quiet throughout the exchange. Now Jenny whispered to them,

  “Keep an eye on him and let me know if he even starts to get out. Ok?”

  Amar and Hayden nodded and went to watch the car while Jenny found a plastic carrier bag and added a few cans, a spare can opener and two packets of biscuits. She also grabbed one of the excess camping stoves, a box of matches, and a can of gas, plus a couple of two-litre bottles of water and some plastic cutlery. Jenny laid those things to the side of the back doors. She remembered she had grabbed a whole box of energy bars from the outdoors shop, so she took a handful of them and added them into the bag. At the last minute she decided to give them a spare sleeping bag. That would leave the van with one extra.

  “Wait here,” she told the boys and realised she would have to make two trips back and forward as she wasn’t going out without the bolt cutters.”

  She scoured the area for any danger before opening the door and jumping down. Then picked up the plastic bag and slung one of the bottles of water under her arm. She approached the vehicle with slow steps, the man watched her advance, seeing the heavy tool she carried in her free hand. Jenny could now see the woman in the passenger seat. She seemed to be around the same age as the man and was equally dishevelled. A baby cuddled up against her, wrapped in a pink teddy bears fleece blanket.

  The driver went to open his door, but Jenny held out the weapon and said,

  “No. Stay in the car and I’ll pass these through the window to you.”

  He appeared glad he didn’t have to get face to face with her and rolled his window all the way down.

  Jenny handed over a bottle of water which the man gave to the woman. She was already unscrewing the top before Jenny lifted the carrier bag up to the window. The man took it, then stared behind Jenny. The woman halted her efforts to drink, following the man’s gaze. As Jenny turned around to see what was going on, she saw only the kids, who had ignored her warning. They came forward to the car. Hayden carried the other bottle of water while Amar hugged the sleeping bag.

  The woman let out a cry of dismay and wailed. The man cast his eyes down as Jenny brought her gaze back to him. She barely heard his whispered explanation,

  “We lost two of our boys yesterday. They were about the same age as yours.”

  “Oh… I’m so sorry.”

  His eyes came back to her, ignoring Amar and Hayden.

  His voice broke with a sob as he whispered, “Thank you.”

  Jenny finished the task at hand, taking each item from the boys and handing them over. She didn’t know what else to say, so she wished the travellers good luck and told them she was heading towards Kirkland if they changed their minds about wanting to join forces. The driver thanked her again and put up his window, then drove off.

  Before returning to t
he van, Jenny admonished the boys for having disobeyed her.

  “I need to be able to trust you both,” she told them, “and how can I do that if you don’t follow instructions.”

  Amar burst into tears and hugged her around the legs,

  “I’m sorry, I promise I’ll be good from now on.”

  Hayden also muttered a sorry and took the blame for the incident, saying it was his idea, and he just wanted to help. Jenny sighed. This guardian business was harder than she thought. And now she felt guilty at having told them off. Both boys looked miserable.

  As she turned back to the van, she caught a movement to her side. Looking up, she saw a traffic camera.

  “Did you see that?” she asked.

  “What?” Hayden replied.

  “That camera moved,” Jenny said, pointing to it.

  “Really? I didn’t see it, but it is windy,” he answered.

  “What about you Amar, did you see it?” Jenny asked.

  Amar shook his head. She turned around to stare at the camera.

  “It is windy,” Hayden said, “perhaps it’s not bolted on properly.”

  It was possible she supposed, but the movement hadn’t seemed like something being wobbled by the breeze. She stood in front of it and said,

  “Can you see me,” pointing to herself, then added, “move up and down if you can.”

  She bobbed her head up and down slowly, then peered at the camera, waiting for a reply. When none came, she repeated the gestures. Amar giggled,