by T. L. Frost
“Time to go!” Said Jim to himself as he ran across the open space.
Looking around as he ran, he saw the main street lined with other shops and a petrol station to the front where the first small group had fled. Without thinking he angled in that direction as he ran. Another crash sounded behind him and Jim glanced back to see a zombie stagger out through the exit he had just used, its head turning side to side as it searched, until its eyes fixed on him.
“Dammit!” Said Jim as he ran faster, trying to dodge out of sight.
A scream sounded, a blood-curdling yell of hatred as the zombie recognised fresh prey. Jim didn’t hang around, putting every last bit of his fading strength into getting as far away as possible. Other zombies around the store took up the call and screams and moans sounded all around as Jim frantically ran. His breath was ragged, deep quick gasps as the lack of food and rest took their toll. He knew he wouldn’t be able to go on much longer. Glancing around as he ran, heart and lungs burning as panic slowly started to take over, he almost missed it. A high pitched whistling drawing his attention. Risking a sideways glance, he saw a small cottage set a short distance back from the road, its gravel driveway leading up to the front door and above that, an open window. Leaning out of the window was a frantically waving Sarah. Jim turned, running up to the door which opened just as he got there, sounds of screaming and moaning not far behind. Jim tumbled in, collapsing onto a sofa exhausted, unable to speak as he gasped for air. Chris and Tom barricaded the door as Sarah came running downstairs.
“Glad to see you made it old man.” She said helping him to stand and giving him a big hug.
Jim slowly recovered, his breathing slowing as he sat down again.
“Are there any others with you?” Asked Chris.
“No... just me.” Said Jim.
“I nearly didn’t see you.” Said Sarah “Lucky for you I was upstairs looking for Jumpy.”
Jim looked around confused.
“Jumpy? Who’s that?”
“My new cat.” Said Sarah reaching behind the sofa and lifting the struggling animal.
“As if we don’t have enough problems.” Said Tom, glaring at the cat.
“He’s no problem.” Replied Sarah “Unless you try squashing him again.”
“You tried to squash him?” Asked a surprised Jim.
“Long story.” Said Tom.
Chris brought Jim some water.
“Did anyone else make it out?” He asked seriously “Those creatures were right behind us, we waited as long as possible but saw nobody else come out.”
“I saw Merrick and Barry for certain, they were the last ones I saw.” Answered Jim “The last ones I saw alive anyway. Young Peter was…” He choked a little at the memory “He didn’t make it.”
“No one else!?” Asked Tom, despair on his face.
“No one after them.” Said Jim “I didn’t see if anyone got out before them, by the time I looked all hell had broken loose in that store.”
“More could have made it out then?” Asked Tom
Jim nodded.
“Though none came out of the exit I used or the front, so if they did, it was through the exit on the opposite side of the building, the one Merrick and Barry used.”
“We need to find them!” Said Tom firmly.
Chris looked around at the small group, everyone seemed to be in agreement.
“Ok, but first we eat.” He said.
“Eat?” Asked Jim as his stomach rumbled again.
“There’s a small greenhouse and some vegetables planted out back, I noticed it late yesterday.” Said Chris “I say we take everything that doesn’t need cooking, then head out.”
They all agreed eagerly and Chris went with Jim to gather what they could, while Sarah and Tom made signs in case any others of their group came that way. When Jim and Chris returned, they had some bowls filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, salad onions and strawberries. Most were over-ripe, others tough and bitter. They all sat down to eat and it seemed like a feast.
Chapter 5
Merrick woke up early the next morning, a few beams of sunlight making their way into the barn through gaps in the walls. The first thing he saw was the end of a double-barrel shotgun pointing between his eyes. The gun wavered slightly, swaying side to side as he watched, when he managed to tear his eyes away from the barrels and look up, he saw an old man holding it, he was wearing a cloth cap, wellies and a thick woollen jumper.
“What have we got here then?” He said, looking around “A pack of hideaways I say!”
“We were just…” Began Merrick as the old man steadied the gun very close to his face.
“Just trespassing I say!” Interrupted the old man as the others came awake and saw what was happening.
“Whoa! Hold on there mate, we didn’t do any harm.” Said Barry as he stood, palms outwards.
“We were running for our lives.” Said Natalie as she also stood and moved to her brother’s side.
“Hmm, dare say there’s been a lot of that going on these days.” The old man said looking around the group.
“Have you seen any others around here?” Asked Alice “We were separated from our friends.”
“No.” Said the old man shaking his head “Can’t say I’ve seen anyone around here for a good while now, not anyone living anyway.”
Lowering the shotgun, the old man put out his hand to help Merrick up.
“Come on sonny.” He said “I’m Bill, Bill Trotter. You and your friends here look like you could use some breakfast.”
Merrick took his hand and stood.
“Are you alone here Bill?” Asked Natalie.
“Alone? Ha! If only. Might get a bit of peace and quiet at last if I was. My missus is here too.” As he led them from the barn, he paused, looking back “Here, let’s keep that comment about the missus between us eh? Never hear the end of it otherwise.” Then he continued on to the boarded up farmhouse, chuckling to himself.
Merrick and the others followed and were met by the farmer’s wife as they entered. Immediately she began fussing around Bill, a worried expression on her face.
“Where have you been? You said two minutes. Two minutes he says and twenty later comes strolling back with a group of strangers in tow!”
“This is Harriet.” Said Bill trying to ignore her fussing “Our guests look like they need a good meal in ‘em Harri, why not make us all some breakfast eh?”
“Oh of course, where are my manners!” Said Harriet “Make yourselves at home, poor things, you look half starved! Couldn’t have been nice out there.”
“No Mrs Trotter.” Replied Natalie “Not nice at all. Some of our friends are still out there somewhere.”
“Call me Harri dear and there’s no point worrying on an empty stomach I always say.” Said Harriet heading for the kitchen “You girls can help me with breakfast while the men decide what to do.”
Alice rolled her eyes and was about to object until Natalie took her by the arm.
“We’d be delighted Harri.” Said Natalie looking at Alice “Wouldn’t we?”
“Oh why the hell not.” Answered Alice “It’s already been a weird morning.”
“Don’t skimp on the bacon.” Said Bill slapping his wife’s plump bottom as she passed him.
“Oh you devil Bill, behave yourself when we have company!” Replied Harriet with a smile as her cheeks took on a warm, rosy colour.
“Did you say bacon mate?” Asked Barry suddenly very interested.
After a large breakfast of bacon, eggs and homemade bread, the group sat around relaxing.
“I tell you what mate, that was the best breakfast I ever had.” Said Barry leaning back and rubbing his full stomach.
“Oh our Harri is a great cook son.” Replied Bill with a grin “How do you think I got this size?”
“You’re just big boned dear.” Said Harriet as she brought in pots of tea with the help of Natalie and Alice.
“So what brilliant plan have you men c
ome up with wile we were slaving away in the kitchen?” Asked Alice “We still have people out there.”
“We could go out looking?” Said Barry without enthusiasm “If we’re careful…”
“Too dangerous.” Said Bill shaking his head “One of them things out there sees you and you could lead a whole bunch of them back here, if you even made it back.”
Merrick nodded “We could wander around for days without finding anyone. We need to make them come to us if they can.”
“Some sort of signal?” Asked Natalie.
“Not too obvious but that could work.” Said Merrick “That big storage silo outside would make a good lookout post, we need someone up there during the day and some signs hanging from it would be good. I’m pretty sure the zombies won’t take any notice of them.”
“I could make the signs if we have any paint?” Said Alice.
“Got plenty of that.” Said Bill “And some tarpaulins you could use, I’ll show you where they are.”
“I’ll take first lookout.” Said Barry taking some binoculars from Merrick.
“Take care on that silo son, gets a tad windy up there at times.” Said Bill as Barry left.
“I’ll look at some sort of signal, maybe get their attention.” Said Merrick.
“I’ll get dinner started.” Said Harriet as they were all leaving “Got some pork chops I’ve been saving.”
Everyone paused.
“Fuck me.” Said Barry “I’d fight through a group of zombies for a pork chop right now.”
“No need for that dear.” Said Harriet laughing and giving Barry a wink “And you can have two, a big boy like you.”
Barry was lost for words for once and the others joined in as Bill laughed at him.
Chapter 6
Chris studied the map as he crouched behind an abandoned car. Risking a quick look through its broken windows, it didn’t look promising. The way back to the store was overrun by zombies, they had checked and quickly changed their plan to go back through the shopping centre of the small town. After Jim’s narrow escape that morning, the zombies were very active, searching continuously. It seemed as if every one of the creatures for miles must have been attracted by the commotion. With no other choices, the group had headed away, hoping to find a quieter route in their search for other survivors.
“Looks quieter but there are still a few about.” Said Chris quietly as the others crouched around him “That minor road heading north looks like it loops right around the town, hopefully it will get us to the other side of the store. The area there looks pretty clear on my map, some farmland and wooded areas. I’m betting the others headed that way.”
“There are some zombies ahead.” Said Tom “How do we get passed them?”
“I saw two.” Chris replied “Moving slowly, I think we’ll have to take them out.”
Everyone gripped their weapons tighter but nobody disagreed.
“The longer we wait here, the slimmer the chance of finding the others.” Said Jim moving around the car and watching the two zombies “Move quietly, aim for their heads.”
Without another word he was up and running, Sarah right behind him. Tom and Chris looked at each other and shrugged, then jumped up too. The two zombies had staggered away a little, facing away from the group. As Jim got closer one of them turned, its lips pulling back in a snarl and mouth opening as it saw him. Before it had even fully turned Jim swung his long metal boat-hook. Striking a glancing blow on the zombie’s upraised arm, knocking it off balance. Sarah, right behind, crouched and hooked her crowbar around one of its ankles, lifting and pulling as she continued running after Jim. Chris saw it go down and landed on top of it, knees pinning it down as he rammed his baseball bat into its mouth, breaking teeth and bones.
“The head!” He gasped with the effort of holding the struggling creature “Smash its head in!”
Tom smashed his hammer into the zombie’s forehead, adrenaline giving him strength as he gave the blow all he had. Its head broke apart as the hammer crushed it, splinters of bone and pieces of brain flying as Tom lifted the hammer again and again, smashing into the now still creature. When he finally stopped and looked around, Jim and Sarah were standing over the other, now dead zombie, watching.
“I think you got it.” Said Sarah with a grin.
Tom looked at his arm and hammer, covered in brains and blood, his stomach doing a somersault as Chris stood beside him, looking a little pale, and patted him on the shoulder.
“Let’s go in case any more are around.” He said.
The way ahead was pretty clear after that and the small group made good time until they came to a roadblock. A tractor and some other farm machinery were jammed into place across the narrow road, covered in barbed wire. Some zombies were trapped in the wire, all but one with its head smashed in. Jim stepped forward, driving the spike of his boat-hook into its brain.
“Can we climb over it?” Asked Sarah looking at the barbed wire without enthusiasm. Chris shook his head “Too risky, the fields either side are an easier route.”
“Could be anything in there.” Said Tom watching the tall wheat through gaps in the ancient, thick hedgerows lining the road.
“Maybe the zombies don’t like it either.” Said Chris “Those ones threw themselves at that barricade instead of going around.”
"We've already come a long way in the wrong direction to get here." Said Jim "Any more detours and we'll never find the others."
Chris nodded "We don't know if the others are still on the move, any more delays now and we might not find them."
Without wasting another second, Tom gripped his hammer and pushed his way through the hedgerow bordering the road.
"Come on then, I'm not standing around here and losing them." He said looking back "We can be through and out the other side in a couple of minutes."
Turning back he forced his way into the wheat. Looking at the others, Jim shrugged and followed.
"Decision made." Said Sarah with a smile as she raised her crowbar and followed Jim. Chris sighed and after a quick look around he too followed.
Chris struggled out through the overgrown hedges on the other side of the roadblock, relief Washed over him as he stepped into the open air again. The first thing he saw was a struggling Tom, face down on the road, with a soldier restraining him.
“What the hell?!” Said Chris raising his baseball bat.
“Put it down!” Yelled one of the soldiers, pointing a rifle at him.
Chris hesitated as the struggling Tom’s hands were tied behind him. Jim was already secured, hands bound behind him as he knelt beside Sarah. Another soldier was going through their packs, emptying their contents onto the road. Reaching a hand into one, he pulled it out quickly and dropped the pack. A hissing and angry meowing came from inside it as the soldier sucked a cut on his finger, stepping forward angrily.
“Don’t hurt him!” Shouted Sarah.
The soldier kicked the pack across the road as his companions laughed. Chris took a step forward and felt a solid blow to the side of his head. The world went fuzzy, the light fading as he collapsed onto the road. The soldier next to him lowered his rifle butt, turning Chris over and producing more cable-ties.
“Secure!” He called out as Chris was tied up.
Chris tried to lift his head, then everything went dark.
“Are you alright?” Came Jim’s voice from what seemed a long way away.
Chris shook his head to clear it as Jim helped him to sit up. A pounding in his skull told him that was not a great idea.
“Yes… just a sore head.” Replied Chris “How is everyone else?”
“Mostly fine, a few lumps and bruises.” Said Jim.
Chris looked over at Sarah and Tom, sitting on the floor at the opposite side of the small room they were in. Tom had a black eye and swollen lip but seemed alright otherwise.
“They brought us to a farm and locked us in this room in the main house.” Said Jim as Chris looked around “Not heard
much from them since.”
“Some arguing.” Said Tom touching his swollen lip “Hard to make out what they are saying though.”
“They took all of our stuff.” Said Sarah “Even my pack with Jumpy in it. If he’s still alive that is.”
“I remember.” Said Chris.
“Well there’s no point guessing what they want.” Said Jim sitting back against the wall “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”
They didn’t have to wait long. A short while later the sounds of commands and running boots could be heard. The door to the small room was opened and two soldiers entered, weapons held ready. They parted and stood at either side of the door as another entered, stripes on the sleeve of his uniform. He scowled at the four survivors, eyes lingering on Sarah.
“What’s going on here?” Asked Chris, starting to stand.
The soldier nearest to him pushed him back down.
“You stay put until the Sarge tells you to move, wanker.” He shouted.
The sergeant turned his scowl on Chris for a second, then looked at the others, eyes finally resting on Sarah again.
“What’s your name lass?” He asked in a deep, unpleasant voice.
Sarah looked at Jim who nodded without taking his eyes off the soldiers.
“Sarah.” She said “Why are you holding us here?”
“All in good time lass.” Said the sergeant with a grin “All in good time.”
“You want me to give her the tour of the place Sarge?” Asked the other soldier, a young, scrawny looking man, scratching some spots on his chin as he spoke “I could show her the sights.”
He stepped forward, reaching for Sarah who shrank back from him as his hand closed around her jacket. Jim stood quickly, his fist striking the young soldier on the chin and knocking him down. The first soldier rammed the butt of his rifle into Jim’s stomach, winding him.
