by C. A. Earl
Ben slid the inner blister pack out through the open end. Some of the individual compartments had been opened neatly but around eight had been pressed open in a rush. At least three of the blisters still had broken pieces of tablet in them.
‘These aren’t the strongest dosage’ Katie continued. ‘She’s taken too many but I don’t think it’s enough to do her any real harm. It’ll probably zonk her out though...’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Look. Do you remember Jackie that I used to work with? You know - the one with the red hair? When she was going through her divorce she was taking a lot of these – in fact she said she couldn’t get through the day without them. And she was on 10mg.’
‘Okay. But if it’s no problem then why-’
‘I think you’re missing the point. Look, the drugs aren’t the problem here but Sarah’s state of mind is. I don’t think she would’ve known what a safe amount to take was. There’s a difference between anxiety and depression. If she’s feeling suicidal...’
Ben looked down at the cardboard packet and then slowly handed it back. Katie gave him a confused look as he took a deep breath and put his hands on her shoulders, staring straight into her blue eyes.
‘I know what you’re saying. I really do. But I can’t think about this at the moment. I’ve gotta be focused about tomorrow.’
The words hit Katie like a physical blow. She had been doing anything and everything to avoid thinking about tomorrow. All those jobs she had been busying herself with were distractions; diversions to stop her giving any thought to it at all. Now more than ever, magnified in her husband’s eyes, she could see the enormity of the challenge ahead. ‘Jesus, Ben’ she sobbed, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
‘It’ll be okay’ he mumbled, his trembling body and unconvincing tone making him a liar. There was no escaping it. They both knew it. In twenty-four hours there was a good chance they could all be dead.
When the outpouring of emotions had sapped their energy almost completely, the Reillys released each other to wipe their eyes and compose themselves once more. Then, after one last hug, they slowly made their way downstairs.
Halfway down the stairs a strange aroma hit their nostrils - and for once it was a pleasant one. Drawn by the smell of hot food, they made their way to the kitchen where an apron-wearing Chris greeted them with smiling eyes. He was standing over a huge earthenware pot that had been placed on the central island above an enclosed barbecue-style grill. A warm orange glow was coming from beneath the pot, which simmered with delightful bubbling sounds. Ashley was standing at the corner of the island looking hungrily into the pot while Harry was at the far end of the room, pacing up and down like an expectant father.
‘Where’s Sarah?’ Katie asked immediately.
‘Toilet again’ said Ashley, replying a half-second before a cistern flushed from back along the hallway.
Katie took a few steps back and craned her neck around the doorframe. The bathroom door opened and Sarah appeared, looking as pale and spaced out as before. Katie pursed her lips, deciding at that moment to confront the girl before she could take another step. Striding over and standing directly in front of her, Katie reached into her back pocket and withdrew the empty cardboard packet. Sarah’s reaction was non-existent, her vacant, glassy-eyed expression as lifeless as a doll’s.
Katie could feel her pulse quickening. ‘Now don’t lie to me, Sarah. How many did you take?’
Wobbling unsteadily, Sarah tried to push past but Katie stood her ground, needing very little effort to block her. A sudden waft of whisky hit Katie’s nostrils and she looked around the teenage girl, seeing a large empty bottle on the floor beside the toilet.
Now things were serious.
‘Fucking hell, Sarah!’ Katie yelled, prodding her in the shoulder while waving the empty packet in her face. ‘Tell me - what did you do? How many of these did you take?’
When the girl didn’t answer for a second time Katie shoved her back into the bathroom, grabbing her by the hair and spinning her around and down onto her knees. Sarah tried to fight back but her fumbling resistance, weakened by drugs and alcohol, was easily overcome. She cried out as a sudden yank pulled her head back and at that moment Katie took her chance, thrusting two fingers into the girl’s mouth and finding the back of her throat. With a split-second warning before Sarah started to gag, Katie pushed her face toward the open toilet bowl.
A stream of vomit exploded forth into the pan, instantly followed by a second. Sarah gripped the sides of the toilet and began rhythmically expelling one liquid splurge after another, her entire body heaving with every burning discharge. Standing behind her, Katie staggered back and sank slowly to the bathroom floor.
‘Jesus Christ’ gasped Ben, appearing in the open doorway with Chris just behind him. The teenage boy’s joyful expression was long gone, replaced now with a deep sadness.
‘Oh my God’ said Chris. ‘Is she-‘
‘Don’t worry’ muttered Katie. ‘She’s gonna be okay...’
Ben stepped back from the door and put a sympathetic hand on Chris’ shoulder. ‘Come on, mate. Let’s give them some space.’
Chris nodded and slowly turned away while Katie walked forward on her knees until she was alongside Sarah. This time Katie gently took a handful of the younger woman’s long, dark hair, holding it up while Sarah continued to retch.
And so it was for the next twenty minutes, with Sarah’s ordeal ultimately degenerating into a series of ‘dry heaves’. In that period Katie pressed the toilet flush at least eight times and thanked God that the plumbing system still worked, even if nothing else did.
Eventually, Sarah fell away from the toilet and Katie helped her to her feet, carefully manoeuvring her toward the basin. As Sarah leaned over and rinsed her mouth Katie backed away to give her some space, putting her spine to the wall while the younger woman continued to recover. Finally Sarah looked up, catching Katie’s reflection in the mirror above the basin.
‘I know what you’re thinking’ she whimpered with a slight slur, her voice drenched with despair. ‘You don’t have to tell me. I’m a fucking selfish bitch, aren’t I?’
Katie sighed and pushed away from the wall to hand her a dry towel. ‘I’m not judging you, Sarah. We’ve all lost so much already. I just don’t want to see you give up like that.’
Sarah’s almond eyes creased in grief. ‘But my mum and dad are dead. I’m never gonna see them again. And my friends too, they’re all gone...’
Katie wiped her hands on her jeans and looked down at the floor. ‘Maybe they are’ she mumbled. ‘I won’t lie to you. From what we’ve seen, they probably are...’
When she looked up again it was just in time to catch Sarah’s shocked expression in the mirror. The statement, however blunt, needed to be said. The time for saying that everything was ‘going to be all right’ was over.
Katie didn’t know that.
Ben didn’t know that.
No one did.
‘But think for a second’ Katie continued, preparing to play her ace. ‘People have been killed in all sorts of horrible ways out there, but we’re still alive. If we don’t make it then so be it, but you can’t throw your life away when we’ve still got something to fight for. What if your family and friends are out there right now, thinking exactly the same things you are? Would you want them to give up too...?’
Sarah sniffed and patted her moist eyes with the towel. Then she shook her head, an action that made the older woman’s heart soar. It was a microscopic achievement in the scheme of things, but it looked like Katie was actually getting through to the teenager.
‘I’m sorry’ Sarah whimpered. ‘For everything.’
Katie moved closer and put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. ‘Don’t be sorry. Just stay alive. Okay?’
Sarah gave a slow nod.
‘Now’ added Katie, daring to push her luck. ‘I know you probably feel like shit, but is there any chance that you’re up to eating
something? Only if you think you can keep it down, that is...’
When the girl nodded again, Katie took it as another victory.
There was a bowl of beef stew waiting for both women when they entered the kitchen a few minutes later. Sarah took a seat on a stool near the central island and Chris placed a dish in front of her with a warning that it was ‘still quite hot’. The girl picked up a spoon and tentatively prodded at the food before eventually swallowing a small mouthful. Behind her, Ben mouthed ‘well done’ to his wife.
‘Take it slowly, Sarah’ warned Katie as Chris handed her a bowl too. ‘Your stomach’s going to be quite delicate for a bit. Hope it’s not too rich for you...’
Chris gave a modest shrug. ‘It’s nothing special. It’s just a mix of stuff from the tins in the cupboard, but it’s not bad.’
‘It’s bloody good’ marvelled Ben, moving toward the kitchen sink with an empty bowl in hand. ‘The boy’s a magician.’
Chris held his hands up in mock adulation while Katie took a mouthful, savouring every tasty morsel. ‘Wow. It is good’ she said, looking around, noticing that Harry and Ashley were nowhere to be seen.
‘They’re in the garden’ Ben whispered, reading her quizzical expression. ‘I think they’re talking about tomorrow...’
Katie nodded and then slowly peered into her bowl. ‘So you found some matches then’ she said, desperate to change the subject.
Chris looked suddenly embarrassed. ‘Uh, no. Not yet. But I did remember that I had this.’ Reaching behind his back he produced the gun-shaped lighter that Reg Herbert had given to Ben all those days ago.
Katie’s eyebrows rose. ‘Where’d-‘
‘Sorry’ said Chris, his cheeks flushing red. ‘I’m such a tool. I forgot I had it tucked in the back of my belt...’
Chris continued to speak but Katie didn’t hear the rest; her thoughts were immediately elsewhere. Her mind was again conjuring up memories of the old man, including his heartbreaking sacrifice at the Shoreham house.
‘So that’s good, eh?’ said Ben, touching her shoulder, aware that her attention had drifted. ‘And we’ve got candles too for when it gets dark later.’
‘Well, just those tealight things’ added Chris, scooping the last of the stew into another small bowl.
‘Is that for Cassie?’ asked Katie.
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Good. Let it cool for a couple of minutes and then I’ll take it up. She might stay awake long enough to eat some...’
At that moment heavy footsteps and mumbling voices filtered through the open door and seconds later Harry and Ashley entered the room. The Scotsman was carrying the dead soldiers’ rifles, one in each hand, while Harry was holding a pile of clothes rolled into a large bundle.
‘Right’ grumbled the big man, dropping the bundle. It unfolded as it hit the floor to reveal the soldiers’ black uniforms including their gloves, goggles and masks. ‘We’ve got our plan. Now let’s be clear on who’s doing what...’
~ 6 ~
It was 5.24am and Chris McReedy was scared. He hadn’t slept a wink all night. Lying fully clothed on the sofa below the living room window, his frightened thoughts were on one thing and one thing alone. He had listened to Harry’s plan and had worked out what was going to happen long before he’d been asked. It had been obvious. There were two soldier’s uniforms.
Harry was too big.
Ashley was too tall.
Katie was too female.
With equal respect to Sarah (and little Cassie), that left him and Ben as the only possible candidates.
He gulped and sat up, swinging his legs down onto the floor. Hunching over, he put his head in his hands and rubbed life into his cheeks.
You have to do this. You have to.
‘Six’ Harry had told him. ‘Be ready t’go at six.’
Leaning back, the youngster pulled the curtains slightly open. It would take another half an hour for the sun to fully rise yet still enough light filtered in for him to see across the room. Sarah was fast asleep on the other sofa, curled up beneath a large grey blanket. Chris stared at the back of her head and a nervous smile twitched across his lips.
Last night (without any of the others present) they had talked properly for the first time in ages, and it had been as frank and honest a conversation as either of them could remember. There had been none of the awkward former boyfriend/girlfriend bullshit either. Sarah had told him that she was sorry for acting crazy; Chris accepted her apology and confessed to being scared to death. United in fear and with no more need for pretence they conversed for hours, laying bare their thoughts and feelings until midnight came and went. Then, finally, they hugged and settled down on opposite sides of the room. Maybe, thought Chris, if they could just get through this there might be a chance for them again...
Back in the present, he stretched and gave a silent yawn before standing up to listen. It was eerily quiet but no doubt the others, dotted around the house, would soon be stirring. Ben and Katie had shared Cassie’s room while Ashley was in the vacant boy’s bedroom across the landing from them. Harry Skinner, ever on guard, had hauled a big chair into the conservatory before hunkering down for the night.
Chris looked down at the pile of clothes beside the sofa and an icy cold shiver ran down his spine. Atop the pile were the creepy-looking mask and goggles that he had already tried on once and was dreading wearing again. Also beside the pile were the heavy black boots, too big under normal circumstances but just about wearable with the addition of three layers of socks. And then there was the uniform itself, with its shotgun-blasted hole below the right shoulder. I can wear this underneath, he had told the others earlier, showing them a black T-shirt beneath his hoodie. The hole won’t show, not unless you’re right up close.
Unable to delay the inevitable any longer, the youngster unzipped his hoodie at the exact moment that Sarah began to stir. He paused. Maybe there was enough time to talk to her again before he left; perhaps he could even find out if there was a future for them together? It couldn’t hurt to have something else to hope for - something else to fight for. At the very least he would have to let her know how he felt. With his mind made up he moved silently across the carpet and leaned over to touch her shoulder.
Sarah’s reaction was both surprising and terrifying. She rolled over to glare at him and the first thing that he noticed was that something had dropped from the cradle of her chest onto the carpet. He looked down at a bloodied knife and then back at his former girlfriend.
It was still her, yet somehow not.
Haunted eyes, smoky white and bulging, glared from sunken sockets. Pale lips quivered and parted to release a rasping snarl. In the moment just before the thing lunged, Chris knew exactly what had happened.
Sarah had found a way to end herself.
Caught off balance, he hit the floor with the creature landing on top. He instinctively reached out, grabbing its wrists and finding slippery recesses where torn veins dangled like pallid worms. The gaping wounds, deliberately jagged, had left nothing to chance. Sickened by their touch, the teenage boy cried out in horror as the thing lunged for the side of his face.
Ben Reilly was already at the top of the landing when he heard the scream. Bounding down the stairs, he met Harry in the corridor and together they raced toward the living room. Katie and Ashley, the latter struggling to put on his clothes, were close behind them.
‘Fuck!’ yelled Ben as he lurched into the room.
In the middle of the floor, wrestling frantically with each other, were Sarah and Chris. It took a second for Ben to realise what was happening but then he noticed the blood; Sarah’s clothes were drenched in it from the neck down. Deep, ugly gashes in her wrists and an inhuman growl told him the rest.
She was one of them now.
Harry was first to react. Rushing over he grabbed the creature, hauling it off Chris and launching it across the room with all his might. Its head struck the wall above the sofa with a sickening crunch, splitting
the coronal suture of its skull like a cracked walnut. Katie and Ashley entered the room just as the thing fell away, the limp body flopping back onto the sofa and then slipping to the floor. Horrified, Katie clamped a hand to her mouth but was unable to stifle a gasp. Despite horrendous injuries, the thing was still moving.
‘Stay back. I’ve got it’ said Ashley, stepping forward with the now familiar metal baton. The creature remained on the floor but extended its arm toward him and gave a gurgling growl. Katie looked away as Ashley swatted the arm aside and jammed the baton into the side of the thing’s misshapen head. ‘I’m sorry’ he whispered, pressing the button.
Shhhhkkkkk!
The room was spinning as Katie Reilly turned away and sank to her knees to join her husband on the floor beside Chris. The teenage boy was groggy, eyes flickering at the edge of unconsciousness as he swung his head from side to side. Blood was dripping onto the carpet from a nasty wound at the top of his left ear.
‘She bit him!’ groaned Ben. ‘Fuck!’
Katie desperately tried to focus. Worried that she herself might faint, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Pushing aside a barrage of emotions, she opened them again and her gaze fell on an object next to the sofa. It was the large hunting knife that Chris had been using.
‘Hold him down’ she told Ben, and then scrambled on all fours across the floor. As she seized the blade Ben glared at her.
‘Wh-what are you-‘
‘I’m gonna cut his ear below the wound and try to bleed the infection out. Now hold him.’
Standing above Sarah’s corpse, Ashley scowled and flicked jellified brain matter from the end of the spike. ‘I’ve seen dozens of people bit by those things. He’s already done for and you know it.’
Ignoring him, Katie slid a cushion under Chris’ head.
At that moment another figure appeared in the doorway behind Harry. It was Cassie, her beloved rag doll hanging limply in her hands. Her eyes were half open as she stretched and yawned, completely oblivious to what was happening.
