by T. L. Frost
“Die you fucker!” Snarled Carter as he drove the sharp splinter of bone into the zombie’s head, again and again.
Blood and brain tissue poured down his arm, splashing his face and upper body. The pressure eased, the zombie twitching and jerking now, its pale eyes losing focus as its head turned. Dropping the bone, Carter reached into its skull, grasping at the exposed brain and pulling. It was surprisingly tough even after all the damage done to it, but Carter pulled as hard as he could until finally, a large piece of the creature’s brain came away in his hand with a wet, sucking sound. The zombie went limp, its mouth opening and closing weakly, a low pitiful moan coming from it as Carter pushed it away and rolled clear. Taking a few deep breathes he looked around but it seemed suddenly quiet again. Reaching for the tyre iron, Carter grasped it in both hands and drove the pointed end into the creature’s skull, punching it in several times until it lay still, its head now a bloody, broken mess.
Carter stood, bone weary now and made his way back to the hospital entrance where Sally waited, ready to unlock the door and let him back in. Her face was a vision of surprise, fear and curiosity at the sight of Carter covered in blood and brains.
“Are you ok?!” She asked at last.
Carter nodded “I’m fine, nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Matthews and Carl came running down a corridor towards the entrance, a look of disbelief on Matthews’ face.
“You’ve been outside!” He exclaimed furiously “I didn’t authorise anyone going outside of the safe areas. You could have drawn dozens of those creatures from the surrounding areas with your thoughtless actions!”
Carter stared at him and the smirking Carl standing beside him.
“I don’t need your permission for anything I do asshole.” He said “And the only creatures I saw were from inside the patient’s wing.”
Matthews glared at him, furious at having his authority questioned, but the sight of Carter standing there, covered in brains and blood, gripping the tyre iron menacingly convinced him to hold back.
“No good will come of this foolishness!” He said as he stormed of, Carl close behind him.
Chapter 4
Carter took a cold shower and changed into some fresh clothes Sally had found for him. After that he joined her and Rob in the small kitchen and helped himself to more of the dwindling supply of food. He couldn’t remember ever being so tired, the wounds and the run in with the zombies taking their toll.
“What happened to you?” Asked Rob as Carter sat down at the table.
“Ran in to some unwelcome company outside.” He said, feeling better as he ate “I managed to get the mini-bus about half filled with fuel, just in case. If we ever need to get out of here, meet up there.”
Carter looked at the other two, both of them nodding agreement.
“Don’t tell those other two assholes about it.” He added.
Rob grinned “Talk about unwelcome company.”
“If I was fully fit I’d be tempted to kick their asses out right now and keep this place for us.” Said Carter “I may do it anyway.”
“If you decide to, just let me know.” Said Rob “I’ve had to put up with the doc and his shadow since I got here. I think you took their minds off me when you woke up.”
“Let’s not do anything hasty.” Said Sally “They are people after all.”
Carter reached out and took Sally’s hand.
“You’re a good person Sal, but assholes like that will end up getting someone killed. I don’t want that to be us.”
Sally nodded understanding, she had put up with the unwanted attentions of Matthews and Carl since she had arrived too.
“What happened in the patient’s wing, were you here when it happened?” Asked Carter.
Sally shook her head “No, I arrived later. There was just Doctor Matthews and Carl here. They said the sick ones who weren’t evacuated were kept in there when they died. When they started coming back Carl managed to lock them in.”
Carter frowned, thinking about the zombies outside.
“What is it?” Asked Rob.
“The ones I saw outside were from that wing, got out through a busted window.” Said Carter “They were covered in bites, never seen a zombie attack one of its own kind before.”
“Are you saying they were locked in there while they were still alive?” Asked Sally surprised.
Carter shrugged his shoulders “I don’t know, I’m way too tired to think clearly right now. I’ll just say watch your backs and don’t trust the others.”
Rob and Sally nodded grimly as carter stood.
“Right now I think some rest is in order.” He said “Even that hospital bed looks comfortable right now.”
Carter thought about what he had seen, he wasn’t sure if Matthews and Carl had anything to do with it but he would have a word with them later. He couldn’t prove anything but that had never stopped him before, he wasn’t a judge or a lawyer. If his gut instincts told him something, that was all the evidence he needed. He was relaxing and just about to close his eyes when Sally nocked and came in.
“You still awake?” She asked quietly.
“Sure, come in.” Said Carter with a smile.
“Thought I’d take your old clothes and give them a clean.” She said, looking at the pile of bloody, brain covered clothes without enthusiasm.
“Leave them, I’ll find more later.” Said Carter “Come join me instead, unless Matthews has you doing more pointless jobs.”
Sally looked back out of the door, down the corridor, then turned back and nodded with a smile of her own. She lay down next to him and as Carter put his arm around her, they kissed. Tenderly at first, then more intensely as passion flared in both of them. Exhaustion was forgotten for a while as they enjoyed the closeness and touch of each other. The day wore on then as they slept, arms wrapped tightly around each other.
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The elevator ride down to the basement parking area seemed to take forever, the canned music playing softly as the two men stood amidst the blood and gore. Carter checked his weapon as Peterson reloaded his. Both men were breathing calmly, waiting as the numbers above the door counted down… 2… 1… Lobby… Parking… ‘Ping’. They took places either side of the doors, weapons raised, each pointing across the other’s field of fire. A wider angle of cover, centre of the elevator empty.
“Aim for the head.” Said Carter softly as the doors slid open.
Peterson nodded, jaw clenched but no other sign of tension in either man, they were professionals. Danger wasn’t a new experience for either. The basement was dimly lit even with fluorescent strip lights all over the large, windowless area. Cars were parked neatly in the bays though only about half were in use, business was slow with so many people sick. Peterson stepped out, looking around and nodding all clear. Their car wasn’t far, Carter had taken the closest space he could find to the elevator, a couple of parking bays away. Grabbing a fire extinguisher, Carter jammed it between the elevator doors, stopping them from closing fully. They walked towards their car, alert and watchful. Using the remote to unlock it, Carter went to the rear and opened the boot. More gear was stored there, Carter took out a couple more clips of ammunition and on impulse grabbed a Taser gun too, pocketing it and closing the boot. Three shots sounded then, controlled, evenly spaced. Peterson was at the front of the car looking to the side, gun raised, aim steady. Carter joined him quickly. A zombie lay there, half of its head blown away, blood and brains spread over someone’s Mercedes.
“Nice shot, let’s go.” Said Carter.
Screams sounded as they pulled out of the parking bay, echoing and loud in the confined space. Ahead somewhere, concrete columns blocking the view, Carter thought he saw shapes, movement. Spinning the steering wheel to the left, he gunned the engine, pulling away fast, the exit up ahead, a trace of daylight at the top of the exit ramp. Shapes in the rear view mirrors now, bodies spilling over cars into the lane behind them, running, screams loud even
over the sound of the engine. Ahead the exit was close and Carter braked suddenly. Peterson, who had been watching behind, looked to see why they were stopping. The barrier was down, automated. Maybe the car would smash through, maybe not, thought Carter. He doubted it would fly apart like in the movies. He passed his spare ammunition clip to Peterson.
“Make them count, slow those fuckers down.” He said as he rummaged through the glove box.
Peterson leaned out of his window, firing quickly but smoothly. Zombies tumbled and fell, some getting back up, others tripping over them in their haste to reach the car. Carter pulled out the hotel resident’s pass and waved it in front of the automatic barrier. A ticket printing out a small bill as Peterson dropped an empty clip and reloaded, firing immediately. Good luck billing me, thought Carter as the barrier raised and he accelerated away, Peterson emptying his clip again, the closest zombie a few feet behind the car falling forward with a leg shot, two others behind it tripping over its flailing limbs. Others jumped over the bodies but they were too late. The car pulled out into daylight and Carter gave it plenty of gas as he turned onto the narrow, city street.
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“Carter, you awake?” Came Sally’s voice, interrupting his dream.
He came awake quickly, the note of concern in her voice catching his attention.
“What is it?” He asked, comfortable but alert.
“I thought I heard something.” Said Sally.
Carter listened, he thought he heard the shuffling of feet outside the door to his room.
“If one of those two idiots is out there, I’ll kick their ass!” He said angrily.
They both stood and dressed quickly, Carter grabbing the tyre iron from the cabinet next to his bed. He was reaching for the door handle when he stopped and listened again, head tilting slightly to the side.
“What is it?” Asked Sally.
Raising his hand for silence, Carter reached for the door handle again just as a moan sounded outside. He looked back at Sally, worry on his face, mirrored on hers. Turning the handle as quietly as possible, he cracked open the door a little. The evening light was failing, the dimly lit corridor shadowy and dark but he could make out figures up ahead, their movements slow. More moans came from them. They were spreading out, coming from the direction of the patients’ wing.
“Fuck.” Said Carter quietly after he closed the door.
“They’re inside?” Whispered Sally in a panicked voice.
Carter reached out, touching her shoulder gently.
“We’ll be ok, understand?” He said “We can fight our way through any we meet but we need to leave quickly, more are heading this way.”
Sally nodded, her panic receding quickly as she took strength from Carter’s confidence.
“Grab a weapon and when we go, move quickly and quietly. Stay close.”
Sally looked around and moved to the IV stand, dismantling it, she turned and nodded she was ready, a long metal pole held firmly in both hands, a look of determination on her face. Carter grinned, damn she’s cute he thought. He grabbed the door handle again.
“Remember noise attracts them, stay as quiet as possible.”
Sally nodded again and Carter turned the handle. The door suddenly pushed against him, a loud moan coming from behind it. Off balance, Carter took a step back as a zombie pushed into the room. It stumbled forward as the door opened and Carter kicked its legs away, sending it crashing to the floor. Without a pause he closed the door again, a quick glimpse showing no other zombies coming yet. He spun, tyre iron raised, hoping Sally didn’t panic or scream. She didn’t. Instead she was pushing the thin metal pole into the zombie’s eye socket as it flailed its arms and legs weekly. She was gritting her teeth as she put all of her weight into it. Pushing the makeshift weapon deep into the creature’s brain, silencing it. Carter lowered his own weapon as Sally pulled the metal pole clear, blood and brains dripping from it as she took a deep breath.
“That’s my girl.” Said Carter with a grin.
Sally smiled shyly back and wiped the gore from her weapon on the now still zombie’s clothes.
“You ready?” Asked Carter as he reached for the door handle again.
“Yeah, let’s get out of here.”
Opening the door again, he checked the corridor, more zombies were starting to fill it but they were mostly at the far end, where the doors to the patients’ wing were wide open.
“We go left then move fast.” Said Carter “Don’t stop for anything. Head for the kitchen.”
He pushed the door wide open and stepped out, to his left a zombie had its back to him. Swinging the tyre iron, he caught it with a solid blow to the side of its head, sending it crashing into the wall and falling. Carter rushed past, glancing back to see Sally close behind, dodging a wildly grasping hand from the fallen zombie. They raced down the corridor, turning to the right as moans and screams suddenly filled the space behind them. A set of double doors led to the entrance and kitchen areas and Carter wasted no time, crashing into them to send them flying open, but they didn’t open. They rattled loudly as he pushed against them.
“They’re locked!” Said Carter, turning and looking around.
Running feet could be heard from the direction they had come.
“They can’t be!” Said Sally as she tried the doors herself “They’re never locked!”
“Well they are now.” Said Carter as he grabbed her arm and pulled her back down the corridor.
Another turn and they were rushing past offices. Large glass fronts looking out towards the corridor, all empty. At the end was a closed door with the grand title ‘Hospital Administrator’ painted on it. Bureaucracy at its finest thought Carter sarcastically as he tried the handle. It was unlocked and empty like the other offices, but had no window looking out onto the hospital’s interior.
“This will do.” Said Carter, pushing the large desk to block the door.
Sally helped him and together they man-handled some filing cabinets alongside it, pushing the last one in place just as the door shook with a loud bang on the other side. A scream followed and the sounds of more running feet. Another bang, shaking the filing cabinets.
“They know we…” Began Sally.
Carter raised a finger to his lips for silence and Sally stopped talking, a look of fear on her face as the impacts on the door and screams continued. Both of them pushed against the desk, keeping it in place as the door rattled loudly, scraping and crashing on the other side. Sally looked around wildly but there was no other way out. A high, narrow window filled with meshed safety glass the only other option, but no way to break through it. She looked at Carter and he was grinning at her, almost totally calm and relaxed as he leaned against the hasty barrier. Sally couldn’t help herself and grinned back, the panic subsiding as they waited together for whatever might happen. Eventually the crashes against the door and the screaming stopped. Moaning and the shuffling of feet could still be heard as the zombies outside of the office continued their search. A small window above the door allowed Carter to climb carefully up onto the desk and get a glimpse of shadows moving, but it was getting dark now.
“We’ll wait it out in here until morning.” Whispered Carter “You get some rest, I’ll keep watch.”
Sally nodded, exhaustion sapping any argument and she managed an improvised bed against one of the walls. Carter watched her as the light failed. A glimmer of moonlight through the room’s narrow window was soon the only thing keeping away the blackness. Soon that disappeared too. Carter sat down, his back against the desk.
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They had been on the move for weeks now. Peterson’s family had not made it. He had insisted on going to look for them and Carter had been unable to refuse. Having no family or close friends himself, he had wanted to get away from the city as fast as possible, but Peterson refused. It had taken days to get there, the streets eerily quiet in places and a bloody nightmare in others. Carter had been tempted to let him go but reckon
ed his odds might be better with Peterson as backup, so he had agreed. What they had found made him glad he had no family.
They had entered through the rear door of Peterson’s house, keeping to the back streets and avoiding everyone they saw, living or dead, not that there were many living anymore. The house was quiet, screams and moans could be heard outside in the distance though, so Carter urged his partner to be quick, thinking maybe it would have been better to go it alone than to come to those streets. Houses meant people, which meant zombies. He kept a lookout at the back door as Peterson walked through to the living room. All around the kitchen were water bottles, empty food cans, other litter. Maybe they were ok thought Carter. A crash interrupted his thoughts and he stepped through to the living room to find Peterson standing over the body of a twitching zombie, its legs kicking out feebly as Peterson raised the heavy steel bar he was carrying to smash it again into the back of the creature’s head. It looked like it had been feeding. In the centre of the room was another bloody corpse, guts torn out, limbs with large chunks bitten from them. Blood was everywhere apart from the victim’s face, a pretty blonde woman whose features were frozen into a mask of terror. Carter recognised her, Peterson’s wife.
