Killing the Dead (Book 10): Feral

by Murray, Richard

  Cold rain hit my face as the increasing winds lashed it against the back of the building. The metal staircase that led down to the ground was slick and any blood trail was long gone, washed away by the seemingly endless rain.

  It left me little choice, but to search the area as best I could, aware that I’d be using as much guesswork as anything else. I descended the steps and risked flicking my pen light back on to do a quick sweep of the area.

  Rubbish bins, old cardboard, paper, bottles and tucked beneath the stairs, two dead bodies. I bent down to them as I reached out one cautious hand. Neither body moved and both were fully clothed in ragged and filthy male clothing. Good indication that they weren’t the girl I was looking for. I grabbed the arm of one anyway and pulled until it flopped over onto its back.

  The skull was cracked and whatever brain matter had been in there had been scooped out. Its eyes were gone, ripped out by claw-like fingers judging from the marks around the sockets, while the nose and the right cheek had clearly been torn off by teeth.

  A gaping hole filled the torso and from shining my pen light into it, I could see that little remained of the internal organs. Again, the torn skin around that hole bore claw marks that could only have come from a Feral. I didn’t bother to turn the other over.

  Is that how they feed on their own kind? Was my first silent thought. Start with the soft parts and devour them, taking the outer flesh only when all else had gone. Of course, if that was how they fed, then I had to wonder, why would they leave good meat…

  I spun around, axe held ready and the Feral stopped in place. Its slow creep through the alley had been purposeful to keep me from hearing it. Another odd behaviour from them that showed they were going to be a problem. Seeing that stealth was no longer needed, it opened its mouth and roared.

  Warning, intimidation or cry for help. I had no idea what it intended and less desire to hang around while others came my way. I swung my axe in a wide arc as the zombie leapt towards me.

  Chapter 13 – Lily

  Pat busied himself making the pub as secure as possible when the last of our people returned. Jess had sunk into a semi-coherent slump at a table as she nursed another drink while Cass tended her brother with the aid of Georgia.

  Becky and Gabriel spoke softly at the far end of the bar, looking my way often and while I knew they were discussing me, I couldn’t find it in me to care. Ryan was out there, alone. No matter how confident he was, I was worried.

  Jinx gently nuzzled me and I wrapped one arm around her as I stroked her fur. It was comforting and relaxing at the same time. While I sat with her, I could imagine that he was safe and not out in the dark facing god knows what.

  Leo and Martin got up to help Pat, ensuring all windows were secured with curtains firmly closed so that no light could shine through. We’d brought candles with us and these had been set around the bar to provide some light. None of us wanted to sit in the dark just then.

  “How is he?” I asked Cass as she came over and dropped onto the upholstered seat beside me.

  “Resting,” she said. Her tone was dull, and her face was drawn with worry. “She says he might lose his eye and will definitely need antibiotics.”

  “Any signs of infection?” I hated to ask but we had to know. She shook her head and I exhaled a soft sigh of relief. In part because if a wound like that hadn’t shown signs of turning him into a zombie then Ryan should be ok too.

  “We need to head home,” she said and I glanced at her, eyes searching her face. “The castle I mean.”

  “I know.” With my free hand, I reached out and gripped hers, giving a gentle squeeze of support. “In the morning you should take him back. We’ll stay until we find Nat.”

  “You know I don’t like leaving you…”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  Her smile was strained but it was a start. She was concerned for her brother, I could understand that and if Gabe had any issues, I’d set him straight. Hell, if he raised any objections, I’d just send Ryan to talk to him. That thought made me smile.

  We sat in silence for several minutes and I listened to the low murmuring of the rest of the group. It didn’t take long for me to notice something else underneath that, a noise much like that made of fingernails scratching against wood.

  From the ceiling above and even from in the wall that my seat was fixed to, it was there. It’d start and stop intermittently. Cass must have noticed my frown for she arched one brow as she asked, “what is it?”

  “That noise… you hear it?”

  “Yeah,” she said with a delicate shudder. “Fucking rats.”

  “Seriously?”

  “I heard Leo say these buildings would be full of them. Close to the river and so much food out on the road.”

  “Just what we need,” I said with a sigh and settled back against the chair. It wasn’t exactly easy to relax with that constant scratching.

  “We’re as secure as we’ll get,” Pat said as he plonked himself down beside his partner. He lifted one big arm and she needed no further urging as she slipped beneath it to nestle against his side. Their easy manner, the way they worked so well together just helped remind me of how hard it could be sometimes with Ryan.

  “Maybe we should have brought in some food,” I said as I felt my belly grumble.

  “Bar snacks only,” Pat said and pulled a face. “Stale ones at that.”

  “Pork scratchings, peanuts and crisps. Yay,” I said and slumped back against the seat. Hardly sounded appetising.

  “Well I could nip out and grab something from that lot we loaded up earlier,” Pat offered.

  “No.” The refusal from Cass was immediate and brooked no argument. “It’s dark and I want to keep you close at the moment.”

  He opened his mouth to protest but I managed to catch his eye and with a tilt of my head towards where her brother lay, he subsided.

  An hour passed and then two, which is when I began to really worry. Still, no sign of Ryan when darkness had completely covered the town and I feared the worst. I knew I shouldn’t. He was uniquely suited to survive the damned apocalypse, but even so. I worried.

  The candles were blown out until only one remained. It provided poor light and then only by the bar, leaving the rest of the room in shadow. Gregg stirred and was given more of the pain relief that Georgia had brought with her.

  As she cared for him, the way she stayed by his side and tended to him, had me wondering if I was wrong about her. No one who was so willing to work to help keep someone alive and free of pain could be a poisoner.

  “We’re gonna head upstairs,” Martin said quietly. He indicated Jess, Leo and Zak who were all seated around one of the tables. “If anyone’s coming they need to do it now.”

  “Why?” Cass asked sleepily.

  “Gonna block the doors to make sure we’re safe.”

  “I’ll stay down here,” I said. “Wait for Ryan to come back.”

  “He’s not coming back tonight,” the man said softly. “You know that lass. He’ll either hole up till morning or he’s not coming back at all.”

  “He’ll be back,” I said stubbornly.

  “Whatever. Anyone else?”

  “We’ll stay pal,” Pat said.

  “Unless you’re gonna carry my ass up there, I’m stuck down here,” Charlie said with a scowl that deepened when no offer to carry her came.

  “Yeah well, we’ll join you,” Becky said. “No point us all waiting down here.”

  Gabriel had the grace to look slightly abashed at the idea of hiding away upstairs rather than waiting for the missing group members to return, but he didn’t offer to stay.

  “What about you, pretty lady?” Martin asked Georgia who didn’t bother to look his way as she replied.

  “No.”

  Just that. No explanation, just a simple refusal. Martin shrugged and gestured for the others to follow him before heading upstairs. In short time, the bar was prett
y empty and a great deal lonelier as the sounds of heavy furniture being moved above us could be heard.

  “Wankers,” Charlie muttered as she poured herself another large glass of spirits. Probably not the best idea considering we were firmly in unsafe territory.

  “He’ll be back,” Pat said gently and I smiled at him in the dim light of the flickering candle.

  Without replying, I rose from my seat and stretched. Not the most comfortable place to sit for a couple of hours and I felt the need to move around a little. I crossed the room to the windows that faced onto the road and pulled back the curtain just a fraction, enough for me to see through.

  The godawful rain had finally stopped and the sky had cleared enough that the dim outline of the moon could be seen. It provided scant illumination by which to see, but I felt a little better knowing that it wouldn’t be pitch black for Ryan.

  A shadow moved by the side of the building opposite and my heart leapt. Ryan! But then another shadow moved, and another. I let the curtain fall and dashed across the room to the candle, squeezing the wick between two fingers to extinguish it.

  “What?” Charlie asked and I hissed at her for silence.

  Pat and Cass were on their feet and crossing to join me beside the windows. They each took turns looking out as I whispered to Georgia.

  “There’s movement out there. Keep him quiet if you can.”

  “Of course,” she replied and reached into her bag. Gregg blinked his one visible eye and tried to push himself up.

  “Hush,” I whispered to him. “Danger outside.”

  He nodded, the barest movement of his head as he settled back down. He eyed the needle Georgia had in her hand and I could understand his concern. Anything powerful enough to put him out would leave him totally defenceless.

  “We won’t leave you,” I promised and hoped that I wasn’t lying to him.

  “Gregg?” Cass asked, voice barely audible as I approached in the almost pitch black room.

  “If we need to leave, he’ll need carrying.”

  “Oh god.”

  I reached out and patted her gently on the shoulder as I peered through the gap in the curtains. There was definite movement out there, amongst the cars. Not Shamblers, that was certain. I could tell by the way they moved.

  After watching for a minute or two, I was sure they weren’t human either. Ferals then. Do they know we’re here? One of them reached down and snatched something from the ground, bringing it up to its mouth.

  As I watched, others were doing the same and I began to realise what they were doing. The rats! I’d been listening to them for the past two hours. Scratching at the ceiling above us, the scamper of feet in the gaps between the walls.

  They must have gone out amongst the bones in search of food, and the Ferals were feeding on them in turn. Live flesh was always preferable to that of their undead cousins. That was something I was sure of.

  If we just stayed quiet, avoided bringing any attention to ourselves, then we could avoid being attacked by them.

  A thump came from above us and my blood ran cold as I looked out the window, hoping that whatever the thump had been, it hadn’t been heard. None of the undead seemed to have noticed and I breathed a sigh of relief, just as someone yelled above us.

  Chapter 14 - Ryan

  The Feral dropped to the ground at my feet, head almost severed from its neck by the swing from my axe. I’d obviously damaged its spine since it couldn’t get up to attack me but its mouth and eyes still moved.

  Its cry had sounded though and if there were any others in the immediate area, they’d be on their way. My hunt for the girl was pretty much done. It was time to head back. The immediate problem with that was that I had no idea which way back was safe.

  A quick glance up at the door I had just left the store by was enough to realise that way was lost. The door only opened from the inside and I’d let it close behind me. The alleyway I found myself in was narrow with an exit at either end. None of the surrounding buildings looked to have an open door.

  I set off towards the northern end since that was the direction the pub was in any way. I’d only managed a dozen paces when a shadow crossed the mouth of the alley and I stopped dead in my tracks.

  Since it was all too likely to be another Feral, I turned and ran full speed to the southern entrance. It’d be just my luck to have them coming in from either end of the alley. I was confident I could take one easily enough, two or three if the conditions were right. But, more than that and I was screwed.

  With only the barest pause at the end of the alleyway to ensure the way was clear, I was out and dashing along the street, lungs burning as I distanced myself from the source of the cry that would draw all other zombies in the area.

  Dark shapes were moving in the shadows. Coming out of hiding in doorways, buildings and side streets. The cry had definitely been heard and I was rapidly realising that I was in danger of being trapped. Hemmed in by the advancing zombies.

  I ducked down a side street, leapt a pile of suitcases that had been left on the pavement directly in my path and skidded between two abandoned cars. At least one of those cars had an occupant that began to moan as soon as I passed by.

  Things were rapidly going from bad to worse and a quick glance behind showed several shapes moving along the road after me. On top of that, the damn rain was finally stopping which meant I no longer had that to help mask my presence.

  A shambler stepped out of a doorway as I passed by. It’s too thin arms reaching for me, withered fingers brushing my coat. I lashed out with the axe. It fell without a sound and I was past.

  The noise from those following me began to grow in volume and I exited a street to find myself at the entrance to a housing estate. The dim light of the moon was enough for me to see dozens of the damned things turning my way as they heard the noise.

  I didn’t wait for them and took off at full speed to the east, along the wide road that ran past homes and once neat gardens. Past the abandoned cars that seemed to fill every road of the town and across an open stretch of grass.

  Another zombie fell to my axe and I pulled the combat knife from the sheath on my belt with my left hand. I was pretty sure that I’d soon need every advantage I could get. With a pain growing in my side and burning lungs, I turned into the next street and slid to a stop through a deep puddle of muddy water. The road was submerged.

  A natural dip in the road combined with blocked drains meant there was a small lake between the end of the street I had entered and safety at the other side. The zombies wouldn’t cross through the water but there was nothing to say what was beneath it already.

  There were certainly enough abandoned vehicles with open doors and windows wound down… or smashed. It wasn’t hard to imagine that more than one previous occupant of those vehicles was hidden beneath the water. A quick glance over my shoulder though and my choice was made.

  Freezing water came to my knees and the waist as I waded along the street. Behind me, moans rose in volume as the zombies saw their prey escape and I allowed a grin to form for the cowardly creatures that still couldn’t overcome their distaste for open water.

  Which, of course, is when I heard the first thump of feet on metal and glanced back, to see one of the smarter Ferals climb onto the bonnet, then the roof of a car. My mouth hung open as it took a couple of tentative steps before leaping to the next car. I didn’t know they could do that!

  I increased my pace, pushing against the foul smelling water that I had begun to suspect may have come from the sewers and listened to the growing number of thuds as the ferals leapt from car to car.

  They’re still afraid of the water though… was the sudden thought that came to me as I stopped in the centre of the flooded street. They could use the cars as stepping stones but to get me, they’d still have to enter the water unless I went too close to the cars or left it.

  My grin returned as I turned towards the cars and watched th
em approach. I readied my axe and waited for the first Feral to reach me before I swung out and caught it soundly on the side of its calf, sending it crashing to the roof. My combat knife plunged into the skull with a crack before it could right itself and I began to enjoy myself.

  A second died as it scrambled over the body of the first and when the third approached, I set my legs and swung the axe, catching it in the hip and sweeping it from the roof. It landed in the water with a splash and I realised my mistake as claw-like fingers tugged at my jeans while another zombie approached.

  I kicked at it to little effect and pulled away as best I could as the approaching zombie, heedless of the water I was in, leapt at me. Filthy water closed over my head as its weight dragged me down and I lost hold of the axe as I struggled to push it away from me, left hand stabbing furiously with the knife.

  It went still and I kicked out, away from the hands grasping at my ankles, shoving the corpse off of me and surged up, out of the water. I sucked in great gulps of air and spat out the water that had managed to enter my mouth. I wasn’t sure if I’d actually swallowed any in the struggle but was pretty sure I’d need a course of antibiotics just to be safe.

  More of the damned creatures were approaching, leaping from car to car, jaws hanging open as though ready to bite down on my flesh. Not something that I wanted them to do since I very much preferred my flesh to stay on the bone where it belonged.

  I backed away until I reached a garden wall and hoped it was far enough away that the gathered zombies wouldn’t dare to leap at me. There was still at least one alive beneath the water and I had no idea where exactly which presented a problem.

  Somewhere close by a new voice could be heard. It didn’t moan or make the guttural growl of the Feral, it roared. When it sounded, all heads turned in the direction from whence it came and more than one of the Ferals cringed, ducking down as though in obeisance.

  It sounded again, somewhat different to the first, not that I could state exactly how. It was an almost instinctive knowledge, as though it was speaking to me on a more primal level than that used by modern humans.