by T. L. Frost
“I’m sorry.” Said Carter placing a hand on Peterson’s shoulder as he fell to his knees by his wife’s body.
“She didn’t deserve this.” Said Peterson, fighting back tears as he spoke “If only I had gotten here sooner, I should have…”
“Bullshit.” Said Carter.
Peterson looked at him, sorrow mixing with anger and frustration.
“What did you…?”
“I said bullshit.” Said Carter again “You came as quickly as you could, this wasn’t your fault, it’s the fault of this fucked up world.”
Peterson turned back to his dead wife, tears flowing freely down his cheeks now.
“Say your goodbyes quick.” Said Carter “We can’t be here after dark, it’s too dangerous.”
Peterson seemed to sag, then he straightened and stood, turning to Carter, jaw clenched.
“I find my daughter then we leave.”
Carter nodded and started packing some food in the kitchen as Peterson headed upstairs, quietly calling for his daughter.
“It’s ok now sweetheart.” He said as he checked the rooms “Daddy is here, the monster is gone now. Becca? Where are you sweetheart?”
Carter heard him moving around and talking softly until another door opened and everything went quiet.
“Oh Becca…” Said Peterson faintly.
Muffled snarling and moaning could be heard and Carter stood ready but nothing happened. After a few more minutes Peterson came back downstairs and sat at the dining table. Carter said nothing, waiting. Eventually Peterson looked up.
“My daughter, little Becca…” He said, then stopped, looking down at the table, his fists clenched “I couldn’t do it. She’s…gone, I know that, but still it’s too…” He choked up again.
Carter looked at Peterson, he was a wreck, he would be no help at all getting out of there. Drawing a long knife he had sheathed at his waist, Carter walked through the house to the stairway. He felt Peterson’s eyes on him as he started up and felt glad again that he had no family. Most of the rooms were empty apart from the master bedroom. Carter heard the muffled moans coming from within and when he pushed the door open, he saw Peterson’s daughter, tied to the bed, a gag muffling the moans as her grey, lifeless eyes stared at him with hatred. There were no bite marks visible and Carter guessed she had been taken by the disease. Stepping next to the bed, he switched his hold on the knife, holding it blade down, the handle tight in both hands. The creature struggled against the ropes binding it, trying to get at Carter, teeth biting against the gag. Just a kid thought Carter, such a damn shame. He plunged the knife down hard, straight through an eye socket, the soft tissue offering little resistance. The zombie stopped dead immediately and looked even smaller than before. Carter released the knife, leaving it where it was and went to re-join Peterson. As he left he glanced back at the gruesome scene, shaking his head a little.
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When he woke some hours later, the first hints of morning light were showing, the total blackness giving way to barely perceptible shadows. The corridor on the other side of the blocked door was quiet and Carter stretched, easing joints protesting at the uncomfortable night’s sleep. Movement in the shadows showed Sally was awake too. Moving slowly in the dim but growing light, she sat beside him.
“What now?” She whispered.
“We’ll wait until it’s lighter then see how many are out there.”
Sally nodded, her hair dishevelled and splashed with drying clots of blood, clothes also spattered with dark red and brown stains. She was still tired, both of them had slept lightly, jerking awake at the slightest sound and fatigue was showing in their faces. Even so, Carter thought she looked great and grinned at her as the sun slowly rose.
“What are you grinning at?” Asked Sally as she tried to comb through her hair with her fingers, to little effect.
“Was just thinking how lucky I am right now.”
Sally blushed a little, a small smile on her lips as she gave up trying to tidy her hair. When it was light enough Carter stood on the desk again, checking the corridor outside through the small meshed window above the door. Finally satisfied, he climbed quietly down again to a questioning look from Sally.
“A lot of them have moved on.” He said “Looks like something else got their attention.”
“What about getting out that way?” Said Sally nodding to the room’s high, narrow window.
Carter shook his head “It’s sealed, looks like the whole building has air-con. We start smashing through that and this barricade won’t last long. There are too many of those things out there in the corridors.”
“So we have to fight past them?” Asked Sally looking uncertain.
“A few for sure.” Said Carter “But we’re not going further into the hospital, I’m betting the other doors will be locked too. Looks like most of the zombies have gone that way anyway. We go back.”
“The way we came? But the zombies…”
“Like I said, looks like most have passed by, drawn by something. We go back the way we came. There’s a window already broken in the patients’ wing.”
Sally thought for a second and swallowed hard. Carter knew it was a lot to ask but there was no other choice he could see. Sally nodded.
“Let’s go then, if I think about it too long I might not have the nerve to go back out there.” She said.
Carter kissed her, hard. “Stay close.”
They moved the desk and filing cabinets as quietly as possible and then Carter opened the door a little. Moans and shuffling feet could be heard to the left, in the direction of the hospital’s main entrance but to the right it seemed pretty quiet. Risking a look out into the corridor it looked empty, no movement to the right, to the left signs of drying blood and gore on the corridor walls before it turned a corner, out of sight. Carter nodded to Sally and they both headed out at a fast walk, looking for danger. They passed Carter’s room and all was still ok. The doors to the patients’ wing were wide open, no damage. Sally saw it too, they had been unlocked. Carter gritted his teeth and led the way into the wing filled with beds. The smell was bad. Body parts and old, dried blood was everywhere. A lot of people had died badly. One of them was still there. A man, restrained in one of the beds. He had large chunks torn and bitten from him, the bed was soaked with more congealed, crusted blood. The head of the man turned to face them as they entered, grey, lifeless eyes staring. Carter rushed forward as the zombie opened its mouth, the scream on its lips. Swinging the tyre iron as he got close, the scream stopped before it began, the zombie’s head exploding with the force of the blow from the heavy iron weapon. Carter hit it twice more, just to be certain.
“I think I may be sick.” Said Sally behind him.
“No time for that.” Replied Carter, pointing with his weapon “Out of that window now, I’ll be right behind you.”
Sally landed heavily on the grass outside of the window and rolled away as Carter pushed himself through. They sat there for a while, the sun rising slowly in their faces, relief washing through them both.
“Let’s move.” Said Carter, standing and taking Sally’s hand.
They made it around the building quickly, coming to the car park and the mini-bus. They got in and Carter started it up.
“What about Rob?” Asked Sally “He’s one of us, we can’t leave him with… them.”
Carter was about to protest, they were safe and the best thing would be to get out of there, but he hesitated, the pleading look in Sally’s eyes getting through to him. Fuck it, he thought, got to at least try to find him.
“You stay here.” Said Carter.
“I can help, I’ll…”
“You stay here.” Carter repeated firmly “You’re exhausted. I’ll look for Rob.”
Sally nodded and sat back drained “Be careful.” She said.
Carter grinned and turned off the engine. Reaching into the glove box, he took out the stun gun, pocketing it, then he headed for the main entrance. I mus
t be nuts, he thought, I hardly know the guy.
Chapter 5
The entrance was locked up tight. Carter checked all of the doors, rattling them loudly but none of them opened. Carl’s surprised face could be seen inside for a second before he disappeared again.
“Asshole.” Said Carter with a growl as he moved away.
Spotting a heavy paving stone, marking the edge of a path, he worked it loose with his hands. Lifting it high and pointing a corner at one of the doors’ glass panels, he threw it with all of his strength, his reward a loud shattering sound as the panel broke into hundreds of small pieces. Carter stepped through and listened. Moans and some screaming in the distance, from the direction of the patients’ wing. Moving past the doors leading that way, he could see they were locked, a hasty barricade thrown up against them. On the other side more screams sounded and Carter could see the bloody smears on the small glass windows set into the doors. Moans of anger came from the large group of zombies on the other side. Moving past Carter headed for the kitchen, two birds with one stone he thought, check for Rob and grab some supplies. Rob wasn’t there but Carl was. Carter grinned, it wasn’t a friendly sight.
“How did you…” Began Carl.
“Get out alive?” Asked Carter angrily “You look surprised to see me still breathing asshole!”
“The zombies escaped and we thought you were all dead.” Said Carl, keeping a table between himself and Carter.
“Escaped? Bullshit, you let them out, you and that asshole doctor.”
“We didn’t… I had nothing to do with it.” Said Carl “It was Matthews’ idea!”
Carter pointed at Carl’s belt where the keys to the hospital were fastened.
“Maybe it was his idea, but I bet you unlocked the doors.”
Carter grabbed a knife laying on the table, waving it towards Carter.
“Just get out! Nobody wants you here!” Yelled Carl.
Carter reacted instantly, grabbing the table edge and throwing it up hard towards Carl who covered his face as the table hit him. The knife lashed out wildly but Carter was ready for it. He struck down hard with the tyre iron and Carl’s forearm broke with a satisfying snap. Carl dropped the knife and fell to the floor, holding his arm in shock at the pain. His mouth opening and closing as if trying to speak. Carter stepped forward and landed a solid kick to his chin, knocking him flat instantly. Taking a bag he threw some supplies into it then grabbed the keys from Carl’s belt. As he was leaving he took another look at the locked doors, the zombies on the other side still pushing against them, he couldn’t see any sign of Rob but guessed he was in there, pity thought Carter, he seemed like an ok guy.
“What have you done?!” Came the angry voice of Doctor Matthews.
Carter turned, Matthews was on the other side of the hospital entrance lobby. He looked furious.
“I knew you would cause nothing but trouble!” He screamed “Walking around here as if you owned the place, I should have refused to treat you! Now look what you have done, those creatures have overrun the hospital!”
“Thanks to you and your friend Carl.” Said Carter, his voice surprisingly calm.
Matthews looked around.
“He won’t be coming any time soon.” Growled Carter.
“What have you done to him?” Said Matthews taking a step back “Carl!” He shouted.
“Is Rob in there?” Asked Carter, nodding towards the door where the zombies were now hammering at the glass with their fists, cracks appearing.
Matthews looked at the doors then stumbled over his words.
“I have… no idea, he could be anywhere.” Said Matthews, his eyes shifting nervously.
Carter had seen people lying often enough to spot the signs and Matthews wasn’t very good at it. That was all the proof Carter needed. It wouldn’t convince a Jury maybe, but there were no Juries any more, no judges, no laws.
“You asshole.” Said Carter.
He pulled the stun gun from his pocket and fired. The wires shooting out as the barbed projectiles punched into Matthews’ chest. Carter held the trigger down and Matthews fell backwards, writhing and jerking as the electric shocks ran through his body. Dropping the gun, Carter took the hospital keys and unlocked the doors holding back the zombies, the hasty barricade blocking them giving him just enough time to run for the mini-bus.
“Rob?” Asked Sally as Carter jumped in, starting the engine.
Shaking his head slowly, he pulled away from the hospital.
“He didn’t make it and I made sure those two assholes didn’t either.”
Sally watched the hospital as they pulled away, screams coming loud from the entrance.
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Part Eight: TOWER BLOCK
Tower Block
Quinn shook the head of his axe, blood and brains dripping from it. Even after the plague had hit and people had started getting up and walking when they should have stayed dead, he had refused to leave his home. Gathering some other survivors had helped, more people to search for supplies in a city which was almost dead. But as stubborn as he was, even he had begun to wonder if it was a good idea to stay. Every day it was more dangerous, people had been lost, more would be, he knew it. Not that he cared much, they were there to help him and were, as far as he was concerned, expendable.
Chapter 1
Quinn raised the large, two handed fireman's axe he was holding and swung it with a grunt of effort. The zombie in front of him spun away as its head was cut in two, brains and blood spattering all around. Another stepped into its place, a snarl of hatred on its lips as it lunged for Quinn's face. Using the axe head to push the creature away Quinn watched in satisfaction as Perry, one of the newer members of his group, stepped in with a large hammer and crushed the zombie's head, dropping it like a stone.
"Get back!" Yelled Quinn as he stepped away from the fighting and looked around "Back to the shelter, now!"
Without a pause the six other men with him broke off from the pack of zombies they were trying to fight through and followed Quinn, all of them moving fast. The screams of the pursuing zombies were close behind as the group raced around a warehouse and into a narrow street. A dim light ahead guided them to the rear entrance of a jeweller’s shop. They rushed inside and the man waiting there pulled the shutters down quickly, turning off the small light. Zombies ran past outside, their footfalls and screams drowning out the sounds of the group who were all breathless from the run. Soon the street outside was quieter and the man who had closed the shutters turned on the light again, giving the all clear sign.
"Damn it!" Said Quinn in frustration, the thick muscles of his neck taught with anger "I thought we were going to make it there."
They had tried three times now to find a safe route to the nearby food storage unit. Goods had come in from all over the country and been stored there, Quinn was betting it was still full and the feeling of getting so close, just to have to run again, was really annoying him. The rest of the group stayed silent, Quinn's short temper was no secret and neither were the punishments he gave out for those who failed him. Most of them avoided eye contact as Quinn paced back and forwards like a caged bear.
"Couldn't be helped." Said the man who had been waiting at the jeweller's "The lads did their best, nobody could get through soon as that big pack o' zombs appeared."
Quinn snarled, waving the large axe towards the older man with one hand as if it weighed nothing, his large shoulders knotted under the jacket he wore.
"Shut your mouth old man." He said "I told you if I want your opinion I'll fucking ask for it."
Quinn sat down on a wooden crate, breathing out a large sigh as he planted the axe head on the ground, resting his hands on top of its handle. Looking around he could see the others avoiding his gaze as they caught their breaths. He didn't care about that, people had always avoided him and his temper didn't help. He didn't care if people liked him or not, as long as they pulled their weight. Nobody got a free ride. He had a plan and was
going to see it through. At first he had been happy staying in the tower block, it had been his home all of his life and he didn't plan on leaving it, even when he saw the city fall to pieces around him. A lot of sick people had been evacuated early on and when the zombies began appearing, he had wasted no time in securing the tower block, along with the old man, Charley, the only one he allowed any back talk from. He knew things, how to make water safe to drink, how to get electricity from some solar panels on the roof, how to fix things, but Quinn had just about had enough of his attitude. The plan had changed slowly in his mind, from staying where he was, to getting the hell out of town. It was getting worse every day, more and more zombies appearing in ever larger groups. He had hoped if they stayed quiet the city might get clearer as the zombies spread out, searching for food, but now he doubted it was going to get any better. The extra people he took in were needed, he knew that, it was one thing he agreed with Charley about, you had more chance of surviving in a group. He had been stockpiling provisions, half of everything they scavenged was stored in two trucks he had waiting in the walled off service area at the rear of the tower, only Charley, himself and a couple of others he trusted knew about it.
"Alright, everyone up." Said Quinn after they had rested for a while "Check the route back." He added, looking at Charley, who nodded and went upstairs.
A few minutes later he came back down, the group now standing near the front entrance.
"There's still quite a few out there, look pretty spread out." He said "But there are more coming from the west, a lot more. We should make a run for it now."
Quinn nodded and Charley unlocked the front entrance. The screams came as soon as the first of them left the jeweller's shop. The large group of zombies had spotted them, turning and running in their direction.
