In the beginning.

Every one wondered how the world would end. But December came and went the movie 2012 was laughed at more than when it was released and thrown in to bargain basement bins everywhere better as a coaster than entertainment thats what i use my copy for i wonder if that women is still waiting at the top of the mountain in France for the alien spaceship to take her away the only reason the men in white coats havnt taken her away is because they cant be arse to walk up the montain. But life carried on as normal I cant wait to tell my kids if i have any how i survived 2012 bird flu and swine flu load of shit ha it was media sensationalism and hype like that that led to our current problem that started 8 hours ago this is how the world ends.
I woke up late as usual staying up watching tv that i had no interest in. 25mins to get dressed and get to the bus stop for the staff bus that ferrys staff from site to site. I threw my clothes on and walked to the bathroom spent 5mins fighting my hair to stay down or in some kind of semblence of style i gave up winked at the mirror just a weird habit i have. I work in a hospital nothing fancy im just the cleaner but it pays my bills just about. the walk was the usual uneveentful freezing cold rainy misery you would expect from south east England in January but at least short enough not to be soaked to the bone but long enough for a smoke. After stepping in sick from the night befores drunks swearing and putting out my fag i crossed the road seeing the staff bus already waiting. I used to walk the two or so miles to the hospital but that got old real fast when the rain of summer ended and the freezing rain of winter began. I got on the bus the driver completely blanking me as usual i made my way through the narrow aisle looking at the still half asleep faces of the 7.30 Monday mornig shift I sat in my usual spot at the back on the left always the same spot thats the thing about commuters always stiicking with the same old seats and spots i plugged my headphones in to my phone and dozed in my seat the scenery passing by my blank gaze.
The bus pulled up outside the hospital main entrance and the passengers slowly disembarked in one slow line ambling forward. The revolving door was still acting up stll stopping halfway through is rotation keeping you out in the cold for a bit longer like it had some personal disstain for you. I walked through the lobby already starting to bustle with people who had gotten here far to early for there morning appointments and could now enjoy a two hour wait staring at a screen that would tell them they would have to wait an extra hour on top of that because some one was late or sick hospital staff are always hypocondriacs oh well at least they could have a disgusting sandwhich from the shop both disgusting in price and taste.
I headed down ignoring the lift aking the stairs down two flights swiping my card signed in and walked off with out a word to anyone I already knew my ward for the day same as every oher day for the last 3 months not that i minded I had worked with this group for a while now they knew me i knew them they were a good group. I took the lift this time sod doing 4 flights of stairs at this time of the morning headed past the maternity ward swiped my dam card again headed down the corridor to my area for the day after a brief argument with the card scanner which seemed to not want to read my card mainly because i was trying to swipe my atm card i should realy use my wallet i walked through. My ward is basicaly 3 corridors in a Y shape 10 rooms 5 on each side a nurses station on the base part of the Y and the other 2 parts having 10 rooms and nurses station on each side and to the left a large waiting room where there was rarely anyone waiting mainly due to the fact there was another entrance there which had a swipe card reader so no members of the public could get in unless they pushed the buzzer and waited 10mins for someone to respond and let them in. I muttered good morning to the nurses who were just getting there updates on patients from the night shift and headed straight on to my walk in cupboard. I Spent some time fighting the cleaning trolley out of it some one had somehow managed to wedge it behind a stack of paper towels i pulled it out and walked in took of my bag and coat threw them on top of the cupboards and popped open a can of irn bru i was realy starting to get addicted to that stuff. After 15 mins I realised I was on my own for the day or at least until half 11 when the nex shift would be on 4 hours on my own God I love Mondays.
After a fun hour and a half of scrubbing toilets and emptying bins the volunteer pushing the trolley with the newspapers came round i got a paper and a redbull he didnt stock irn bru i retreated to my cupboard downed the rest of my irn bru and started on the red bull browsing the paper. Gun control controversy why do Americans need an automatic weapon your not John Wayne and this is not the wild west. Taxes. Jimmy Saville god will that ever end. The door opened it was Jade the nurses aide she was short black hair pale face reasonably good looking she smiled "Patients going home room for you to clean oh give us some" she grabs my redbull and takes a swig "Morning Ringo your welcome by the way" "Fuck off" She replied laughing. "Which room?" "Number 22 just do a normal clean nothing fancy could you start it now A and E have a patient they eant up here quickly" "The fun never stops does it" i muttered she smiled and left I looked back at the paper sports would have to i wait.
A patien always leaves something behind when there discharged from hospital socks a coat choclate a pair of false teeth once this time it was an old leather bound Bible Mrs H Collins written on the inside page loveFrank kiss kiss. I put i in my pocket it obviously had emotional value and I didnt want to put it out where odds were i would end up spilling cleaning fluid on it. This room was a little different from the others it was on the op lef of the Y of the ward and was an Isolation room all though I had never seen it used as anything other than just a genral patient room it had 2 entrances a plain simple pine door that lead directly in to the room and another pine door that lead into a small room with a table and sink before another door lead in to the room. The room had a vent and a pressure monitor i had no idea how it worked just if you didnt close the the door properly after 5mins it would star beeping madly driving you insane til you closed it and hit the silence button. After mopping the floor i told Jade it was all done and went back to the cupboard and caught a glimpse of the new patient coming in. He was in his 50's a little heay thining grey hair big red nose sweating profusley but pale as hell the guy looked like death. I wasnt to concerened about the mask this ward was a respiratory ward all the staff knew wha they were doing they were dedicated and they cared if he could get better we would make it happen I let the cupboard door close behind me and went back to the sports secton.

In The End

I was halfway through the Man utd match report in the paper when the alarm went off I wandered out of the cupboard to see every nurse and Doctor run off to the isolation room I never understood what every one needed to go there are other patients you know. Two nurses pulled the crash cart in to the isolation room and the door slammed shut behind them. I sighed and looked at the time 9'oclock still an hour before break I grabbed the cleaning trolley and went to clean a patients room. I was watching the news while cleaning the room some new version of flu was going round London I wonder what animal they would name it after this time bear flu has a nice ring to it. The lady in this room seemed to be in a coma or something either way it was my pick for what to watch on TV I switched channels and put on the Jeremy Kyle show its like watching monkeys at the zoo. I saw the nurses walking out of the ISO room the man had died.
After my 10'o clock cigarette break I headed back in to the ward through the waiting area why did they have to make the smoking area so far away? The first thing I noticed was the shouting I looked down the corridor there were 5 or6 members of staff crowded around the isolation room there faces shocked out of curiosity I wandered other expecting it to be a relative causing a scene again. As I got to the door I was shocked to see 2 members of security pinning the patient who had passed away just over an hour ago the ground. For such an old man he was putting up one hell of a fight. A doctor a young guy in his twenties white shirt red trousers god knows why he was wearing red trousers moved closer to the man and attempted to calm him down saying he was in shock and that they were here to help. The patient responded by yanking free of the security guard and biting a chunk out of his hand the young Doc howled in pain and backed off as the guards them selves struggled to hold the man. It happened so quick the guard holding the man down on the lefts hand slipped the patient responds launching himself at the throat of the guard on the right he does not have time to cry out as what ever this thing is tears his wind pipe out. Chaos ensues several people move forward to try and remove the patient from the guard several are bitten in the process others run either to phones for help or to get away from the man in front of them. I don't move I stand there looking but not seeing the site in front of me. The few who tried to help the guard have backed away nurses and doctors look at there injuries. The thing has it's back to me I hear these odd sounds like chewing swallowing sounds.I gag.It stops chewing. It turns. And I look in to the face of death the monster stands up to face me. Only seeing the man wheeled through on the trolley earlier I could not tell how tall he was but he was a little shorter bout 5'8 tubby but the skin was grey like a storm cloud no colour no life no humanity in the eyes just a blank staring hungry look. But the worst thing was the sound it made a raspy growl as it took a step towards me I didn't move. My mind raced my heart beat it took another step I looked around for something anything. I saw it. I grabbed it from the wall and swung it with all my strength I could feel the things ribs crushing under the weight of it it stumbled back in to the ISO room knocking over a chair as it went and sailing over the bed. I dropped the fire extinguisher I stood there for a moment and watched as the monster got back to its feet. I looked it in the eye i could see my own disbelief reflected back I'm skinny but I know a 9 liter fire extinguisher smashed in to your ribs should keep you down for more than a few seconds. it moved towards me again a slow lurch I reached in to the room for the chair slammed the door shut and propped the chair against it. looked in to the room the thing was looking at me through the glass and then preceded to start bashing on it i flipped the blind and turned round. Several people rushed forward towards the fallen security guard but then proceeded to run back when the thing started banging on the door the chair held it firm. 1 brave nurse stepped forward to examine the man his white shirt stained with claret his eyes still holding a look of surprise. She checked his pulse and shook her head. I sighed and then ran to the sink to vomit judging by the sounds I was not the only one. Shit. It came to me in a second the other door in to the ISO room It was already at the last door and was pounding against it I watched for a second that second became 5 then 10 it was banging on a pull door it rasped its fury and scratched at the glass frustrated that we were so close yet so far. I don't know how long we stared I grabbed the fire extinguisher again and another doctor moved towards the door seeming intent on opening it an older balding doctor stopped him. The next couple minutes was a mix of pleas from staff for the thing to calm down and weeping of staff as wounds were examined. I just stood there and watched. I had seen to many movies read to many books this is not what it looks like zombies are not real.
An hour later and everything was almost back to normal. Police had turned up and released the man from his room 1 officer was bit in the process eventually the patient was strapped to his bed I over heard the odd conversation sedatives no effect no life signs I have never seen anything like it. I was interviewed by the police they said it was unlikely charges would be brought against me and arrangements were being made to take the man and I use that term loosely to a more secure hospital good riddance my supervisor was there he offered to send me home I declined I don't know why maybe because We were short staffed that day many who had been bitten or injured had to continue working after being stitched up they were a good bunch of people carrying on like that dedicated and caring no matter what they carried on.
2 Hours later 1 ,o'clock I liked to spend my lunch in the cleaners cupboard its quiet in there peaceful generally reading a zombie book but I ignored that today I had no appetite for more blood shed I plugged my headphones in put on Carry on wayward son closed my eyes and tried to forget. I opened my eyes and checked my phone 2:30 shit I put my phone away unplugged my head phones and then I heard it. Screams rasps cries for help. My heart raced it's here I opened the door and looked out. Devastation greeted me blood so much blood bodies lying everywhere people gathered round them biting feeding eating one looked up noticed me. A blonde nurses support once attractive but the beauty long faded the left side of her face torn away giving her the appearance of a long sneer as she looked at me she was only 3 feet away I move to close the door but she got an arm through preventing me from closing it. I slammed the door repeatedly against her arm but it would not move luckily the other things seemed to preoccupied with my colleagues to assist her but now she was on her feet and pressing her whole weight against the door I pushed back as hard as I could my face was so close to hers around the lip of the door I could feel her teeth gnashing the air rancid breath I turned away and looked for something anything a mop handle was all that was with in reach. I grabbed it I prodded it around the side of the door pushing her away easing the door closed the door shut i pulled the mop handle in with me I locked the door and sat on a box of paper towels the banging on the door began the only entrance the only way out.

Escape

When you are trapped and cornered several things start to happen the adrenaline starts to pump your heart beat pounds in your ears you sweat you panic. All of this happened to me as I paced around the cupboard trying to collect my thoughts none of this was helped b the continuous pounding on the door. I took a deep breath and checked the door it was solid and the lock was sturdy it would hold but that didn't help me with getting out of the room. I looked around the room not much in the way of useful implements a few boxes of hand towels toilet paper some mops the mop stick i had used to repel my attacker earlier some bin bags and that was about it, I checked my bag that I brought with me hoping that somehow a machine gun had materialized in there at some point of course it hadn't just a spare t-shirt a can of Irn bru a book day by day Armageddon and some Doritos. Crap. Outside every thing had gone quiet all I could here was the pounding on the door guess it was to much to ask for them to forget about me and move on. I looked at my options 1st the door pretty much suicide I would be lucky to make my way past the one at the door and had no idea how many more were out there if this had happened to every one on the ward it could be as many as 50 30 patients and various amounts of staff if they hadn't already fled. Another option was the wall the hospital executive board had bragged about how the hospital was future proof if anything needed rewiring or new systems needed to be put in could could just smash in to the cheap wall and put it in but by the time I smashed m way through odds are the things would of heard me. Or the 3rd option sit tight cross my fingers hope the door holds and they get bored this was the most appealing option but i had no idea how long this would take it could be days or they could just stay there none of the options was particularly jumping out to me I looked up to the heavens asking God for an answer and surprisingly he responded I smiled as I saw my way out. I piled up a couple of hand towel boxes and climbed up on top of them I pushed the cheap board up and looked up in to the gap between the main ceiling and the false ceiling where various cables ran I was reminded of aliens worrying about if one of those things had climbed up here to I didn't fancy one coming up behind me and getting bit on the arse. But the pounding and groans on the door drove me up only pausing to grab my coat (it was chilly outside didn't want to catch my death) and the mop handle not sure why but I just felt better by having it in my hand. I threw the pole up and then hauled myself up replacing the board behind me wasn't sure if they were smart enough to follow me but didn't want to take the chance. It was dim up here dusty as hell enough room for me to crouch but that's about it. but at least I could see where I was going I slowly made my way across the beams testing each step carefully I didn't want to risk putting my foot through a board falling through the ceiling twisting my ankle and being devoured. I made my way to the east for about 15 meters I stopped I should by my estimation be just above the door I removed the panel and looked down a body couldn't make out who's it was half the face was missing the other half caked in blood I suppressed my reaction to puke but 2 more panels over and I would be on the other side of the door that required a swipe card to open i doubt these things were to smart to work it out I stooped over to the panel i needed and pulled it up I looked through both ways down the corridor all clear. I gently dropped down and looked back in to the ward I didn't want to but couldn't help myself there they were just shambling around 1 looked at me I knew her a moan escaped her lips and they all proceeded to the door banging and shoving it fortunately they were to dumb to work out the swipe card I moved closer to the door looking through the glass gazing in to there eyes I saw nothing just emptiness they continued to paw at the glass I saw something. I threw myself to the side just as I one of them slammed in to the door where I was a second earlier where the hell had it come from? Had they escaped in to the main part of the hospital had the people that had been bitten and sent to a and e turned and spread the infection? I didn't have time to contemplate this any further as the creature was coming at me again not seeing a fire extinguisher near by I held only the pole as a weapon I held it in both hands keeping it between me and it it lunged and I swung the pole straight in to its knee cap it sank to one knee it looked up and roared but at this point it was roaring at nothing as I had taken off down the corridor closing the doors behind me thank you resident evil for the advice. I swiped my card again and walked passed maternity I could here screaming and crying i couldn't bring myself to look in but blood was seeping under the door and in to the corridor. The elevator was just round the corner I would take it to the ground floor and head out through the underground parking area. As I was waiting for the elevator i considered that the stairs would have been a better idea I wasn't paying attention and it almost killed me I headed straight in to the lift with out thinking tucked in to the corner just out of view it hurled itself at me it caught me on the side I some how managed to get the pole up between me and its teeth its mouth biting in to it. It was a girl blue top blonde hair jeans I'm not sure I was to busy trying not to get eaten to play fashion police. I managed to get my foot up and drive it in to her stomach i then used my weapon to hold her against the wall while I reached for the ground floor button the door slid shut and i could use both hands to hold her in place. The ride down seemed to take forever hopefully they would not be outside the elevator door waiting for me. The door opened it was clear and I sprinted out the elevator leaving the thing was behind me. The corridors in the hospital are wide and offered a nice area to dodge around I was going to need it the ground floor was swarming with them broken glass broken bodies everywhere people yelled and cried I just kept going and going it was easy to dodge most of the creatures were to preoccupied with others. I was approaching the main lobby I could head out here but the revolving door would be suicide best to take the stairs down a floor and head through parking I was almost at the stairs just passing the coffee shop when one came out of nowhere waving an arm at me I ducked it raised the pole in both hands caught it under the chin and drove it bakc and knocked it straight through the glass divider between the stairs and the floor we both tumbled over my momentum carrying me down with it I landed on top of it I heard the pole snap its neck as we landed. But although its body could no longer move its head continued to tr and bite me I stomped on it it stopped. I stumbled to my feet winded but there was the door leading out to the parking area I had made it. I swiped m card and headed through in to the parking area it was deserted I walked through freely.I walked out and stood on the pavement just outside the hospital emergency vehicles were racing past me to the hospital i walked up the slope to see the hospital everything had changed people were on the ground being eaten or shambling around with blank face pursuing those few who still remained among the living. The staff bus pulled up to the main entrance and opened its door the driver realized the mistake to late the things forced there way on and attacked ever one on board. There is nothing I could do I turned round and started the long 2 mile run home.

Home

It normally takes me about 45 mins to walk the almost 3 mile distance home but seeing what I had seen and doing what I had just done tends to put a spring in your step. After I was a few hundred meters from the hospital and out on to the main road everything was so normal contrasting with the fear I had just seen. People driving on by like the world had not suddenly gone mad the only odd thing to the rest of the world was the extra emergency vehicles with sirens on speeding to the hospital but of course no one took any notice of this it was a hospital after all.I considered going back trying to figure out what happened I decide against it and realized what an odd state I must look standing on the side of the road with a metal mop pole in my hand and a coat which I had just noticed had some dark stains on it I smelled it the whiff of rotten meat settled at the back of my throat and I choked I took my coat off leaving me with just my purple work t-shirt very stylish. I walked up the road and smoked a cigarette turning to the left to the local Tesco's everything was in a daze more normal things were happening around me people carrying on with there lives anger came up inside me I wanted to shake them ask them why they didn't care what had just happened to me of course they had no way of knowing this and my reaction was that of all humans who go through stress nobody loves everybody hates me. I walked through the double doors grabbed a plastic carrier bag and shoved my coat inside it. Why was I here? I should be calling the police screaming panicking anything other than this but no I'm here deciding what kind of bread I want and which toilet paper Jon does not think feels like sand paper. For just 5mins I craved normality peace. I got some crisps and headed to the counter the girl behind the till asked me
Sir are you OK
God I remember when people didn't call me that I'm only 24 for god sake I muttered I was fine asked for a pack of fags paid and wandered back out in to the parking area. The entire scene had changed.I looked down the road to the junction that would take you to the hospital on the junction there were half a dozen police cars stopping traffic in all directions people climbed out of the cars and angrily started to yell at the dozen or so officers all of whom were to busy talking on walkies or putting up what looked like crowd control barriers. I walked closer til I was only 20 feet from the barrier and looked down the off road from the junction the hospital was just out of view but I could see an army of police cars outside of it and was that military trucks? No that's stupid only in the movies does this stuff happen. An officer in his 50's approached me
Sorry son roads closed and I need you to take a few steps back looks like you have the day off
Pardon I replied surprised that he knew I worked at the hospital he nodded at my shire indicating where it said NHS trust
Of course sorry officer do you know whats going on?
He shook his head and rattled something off about a mild public disturbance nothing to worry about just a precaution.
I apologized again to the officer and walked away not wishing to fraw any more attention to myself. Precautions mild not if you have seen what I have I walked for home. After half an hour or so's jog I turned on to Camden road that runs through a small town in the South East I walked past all the shops starting to wind down from the working day waved at the guys in the kebab shop where me Jon and Ty were regulars. Jon and Ty short for Tynam I know weird name but I didn't pick the name were my best mate and brother respectavley Jon had come to stay with us for a couple of weeks about a year ago we had been best friends since we had 1st meet 5 years ago I was slightly older than him. Ty was my younger brother the youngest of 3 boys he has lived with me for 2 years since our mother died. The middle child Toby (yes I'm well a where all our names begin with T but I didn't pick them) lives just round the corner in a 1 bedroom flat with one of my ex gf's no there not sleeping together Toby has a girl friend I hadn't spoken to Toby since before Christmas but the thought of contacting him was pushed out of my mind with the sudden realization that I was at my front door. I live in a small two bedroom 2nd 1 in terraced house me and Ty having a bedroom each and Jon having the front room a his room the only thing I didn't like about the house was you had to walk through Ty's bedroom to get to the bathroom. I opened the door and stepped in the bailiffs had been by again while I was out requesting immediate payment blah blah I ripped it up and threw it in the bin Jon was still in bed asleep but he didn't have work til 5 so it was fine but wat if there wasn't a 5? I decided not to wake Jon and headed upstairs and went to the bathroom Ty had not been to college today teacher training or something and was also asleep probably shattered after staying up til 8 this morning playing video games. So many things raced through my head I dunked it under the cold tap that helped a bit what would a rational person do in this situation? Put on the news if it's that serious it will be on there. I walked in to my bedroom dropped on to the bed and flicked on my tv and laptop that's when I saw it the hospital was there staring back at me from an aerial view from the circling helicopter. Underneath on the scrolling headline I could see the small figures wandering round outside the hospital covered in blood some chasing down the few living remaining. My eyes rose to the headline THE DEAD WALK?

A Little Shopping Trip

I sat down on the bed. This was not happening it cant be it's not possible it's just in the movies I closed my eyes opened them again the screen still said the same thing the dead walk. A million thoughts ran through my head part of me wanted to scream another voice in my head told me to hide in the cupboard. I took a deep breath I had seen loads of zombie films read a million books the zombie survival guide World War Z Day by Day Armageddon listened to were alive only one difference they had guns i had a mop stick. I went in to Ty's room yelled at him to get up and watch the news in my room after a bit of grumbling and me putting my foot up his arse he got moving. I went down stairs to wake up Jon.
Baldy wake up
He groaned and told me to piss off
I turned on his TV and told him bailiffs were trying to get in this got him up. Ty came down the stairs and the 3 of us just sat there watching the news. The aerial view had pulled away from the hospital now and you cold see the things making there way to the junction where I had seen the policeman there were a couple of dozen or so in a rag tag group lumbering up the road. The reporter was in hysterics as a policeman made his way towards the group his pepper spray in hand you could see him shouting at them to stop he pulled the trigger and the spray hit the thing straight in the face not that it seemed to take any notice of this. The officer tackled the man to the floor another two officers joined him forcing it to the floor they jumped on it's back and attempted to handcuff the thing again they hit it with the spray the officer moved closer this time the thing squirmed under the two officers the officer moved closer still it looked like he was trying to negotiate with it it lurched out suddenly and caught his hand the other 2 officers pulled it away and managed to cuff it. The bitten stricken officer stumbled back behind the makeshift barricade of police cars. There were a good couple of thousand of people working in the hospital not to mention patients visitors and people only in for quick appointments. If they were having so much trouble with 1 how were they going to deal with thousands? The news did a fairly good job of convincing Ty and Jon that my story was true and if they needed any further convincing I showed them my coat covered in that foul smell an glass shards and the pole covered in blood.We sat there and watched the news for another 20 mins or so the police had moved the barricade further back and the number of monsters was swelling at least a hundred now if they kept up this direction they would be coming our way. No one said anything we just sat there Jon was the 1st to speak what are we going to do? Shopping I said the other 2 looked at me like I had gone mad. It was time for our monthly shop any way our cupboards were empty apart from a few beers half a loaf of bread a tin of tuna and more assorted bottles of alcohol. No way to ride out the end of the world on that. We quickly drew up a plan me and Jon would head to the supermarket Ty would stay home lock the doors cover the windows turn off the lights and keep an eye on the news making sure the things didn't decide to put on a massive burst of speed and me and Jon getting caught out in the open. Ty had no credit on his phone Jon handed him his I made sure i had mine on me I rarely take my phone with me I don't know why and even when i do i rarely answer it that wouldn't be happening today. I headed upstairs to quickly change I thought about the thing s Zombies and tried to see a positive at least they seemed stupid and slow the 1st 1 i meet couldn't work out a pull door and they only seemed to stumble around the place at least they were not 28 days later zombies that was something. Clio the cat was on my bed when I came in and gave me a grumpy look showing her disdain that I had dared to interrupt her peace and quiet. I pulled a face at her and pulled on a pair of black jeans red trainers now for a shirt I looked o the side and smiled a grey t-shirt with a white first aid cross on it it read Zombie Apocalypse rescue team. I pulled it on and a hoody I got from my Resident Evil 6 collectors edition seeing as my coat was stinking. As we left I told Ty to take all the dirty clothes he could find in the house and put them in the wash if I wasn't overreacting this could be the last wash for a while. I also told him to fill up the bath sink all cups and bottles with water. Me and Jon headed out the door making sure it was locked behind us. We walked in to the town center I'm not sure what I expected to see mass panic stores being looted cars overturned bins on fire but none of that was happening people were still carrying on as normal. Humanity's arrogance and blindness to the truth they could be marching towards extinction and they only thing they could care about was getting in that last bit of shopping. Me and Jon didn't talk much we mainly just smoked we walked past the train station and entered the supermarket every thing was so normal again no panic buying no fights over the last roll of toilet paper. We grabbed a trolley and headed in making straight for the tinned section. Normally we get frozen items but this time it was tin after tin of food I didn't even know what half of it was but the expiry date was in 3 years so it was thrown in the trolley. We also got 60 2 liter bottles of water a lot of dried food 60 cans of cat food for Clio I hope we don't get desperate enough to eat it or the cat and 1 or 2 things that would expire quickly but made life a bit more pleasant bread eggs milk need to make a note to eat those 1st. We did get a few odd looks as we walked round and a few comments about how 2012 had not happened little did they know there end could be right around the corner. I rang Ty to find out what was happening the monsters had made it past the Tesco at the hospital the police were constantly falling back and there ranks had swelled to at least a thousand apparently military vehicles had arrived but there had been no shooting ...yet. Jon waved at me I nodded and he got a kilo of tobacco of the world is going to end I want to at least enjoy 1 more smoke .The old lady at the till gave an exasperated look as we piled everything on to the counter. We started putting things in to boxes a member of staff fetched for us it took me Jon and 3 others to pack everything up and me having to run off to grab a tin opener that would have been embarrassing in a survival situation. I made sure to tip the people who helped us pack and offered them another fiver each to carry it out to the taxi for us. The driver was a nice fellow a jolly Indian man he asked why we had so much food Jon lied and told him we were going for a world record attempt the biggest picture ever done with food items. This seemed to satisfy the driver all though he told us we were completely mad he mentioned what had happened at the hospital we feigned ignorance of the matter. I rang Ty and asked him if the house was OK he said it was and the things had not made much progress they had stopped to terrorize the occupants of nearby houses and the group had split in to different directions but a large number still heading our way the police had been wiped out a band of 30 soldiers were apparently were firing in to the creatures with little effect not aiming for the head probably. Ty also told me all possible water containers were full up and all the windows were covered I told him to unlock the front door and to give us a hand the driver pulled up outside our house I tipped him in the car this encouraged him to give us a hand. We said good bye and he drove off we looked at all our food part of me now wanted the end of the world otherwise we would be living off tuna and baked beans for the next 6 months. We decided that was enough for the moment we sat down and watched the news the things were still on a steady course to our place. I went up stairs and in to my room i pulled the boxes away that were in front of my cupboard I pulled the clothes up from the bottom and pulled it out it was still in the box maybe I watched far to much TV but having this made me feel better. In the house we had few options for weapons we had stopped off at the local sports store we got a 4 cricket bats the biggest lightest we could find and a couple of golf clubs so to defend our selves against thousands we had cricket bats golf clubs a couple of pool cues left over from a table we broke a couple of months ago oh and a mop handle plus what I had in the cupboard we had done all we could. Let them come we have done what we can to prepare if we make it we make it if not well dam it.

Siege

The evening followed soon after our return i went back downstairs the news still on. I sat down but immediately got straight back up went to the kitchen grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge and sat back down. I threw one to Jon and the world unraveled in front of us. Then it happened urgent update the view switched to London it had spread. An aerial view of London appeared on the screen. I don't know London very well at all but I could see the London eye close by the screen said possible terrorist attack at S.t Thomas's hospital. The hospital was an old building grey and showing it's age I could see the things wandering around outside lingering by the Thames. This was happening I couldn't believe it I finished my beer and went to get another. As I sat back down police were arriving at the hospital dozens of police cars most of the officers went straight inside many came running back out a few seconds later you could see why they were running. A couple at first but then more dozens of them came out slowly pursuing the officers. An unlucky cyclist oblivious to what was going on reacted to late and ploughed straight in to the waiting arms of the monsters they pulled him from the bike and the TV view pulled away before you could see his grisly end. I put my beer down unopened and went upstairs to grab my laptop and brought it down with me I logged in and checked BBC news mainly it focused on what was happening in London but there was a small part about our area no useful information on the movements of the creatures. I went on to Facebook I was friends with a lot of the hospital staff there were no updates from them beyond this morning apart from one a young nurse who had apparently got to the staff room and locked the door behind her the update was 5 mins ago she was still there trapped I posted to her to go out through the ceiling I have not received a response yet. I felt slightly insane doing this next bit I went online and started downloading how to guides anything I could think of hot wiring lock picking basic first aid guides. I went back upstairs and grabbed a couple of books and threw them at Ty and Jon the zombie survival guide for Jon World War Z for Ty I took the SAS survival guide. We all started raiding while downloading the guides online. We sat there for a couple of hours reading it was 9 o'clock the the view on the news had changed apparently the scenes on London streets were to gruesome to show. I took a peak out the window nothing. I really fancied a takeaway we rang up the burger shop round the corner it was open and ordered burger and chips 3 times to pick up. I drew the short straw I went out the back door to get to our back door you had to go through the garden a wood panel door negotiate tiny alley filled with dustbins and then another sturdy wooden door. I opened this last door slowly took a look nothing I hit call on my phone Jon would hear everything that was going on it took me 2mins to get to the shop our order was ready I paid and left with out a word I got back inside and we sat down to eat. I got a phone call from Toby he lived just round the corner in a flat on the 3rd floor we talked briefly neither of us seemed to want to panic the other so we agreed to sit tight for now and talk again tomorrow his girlfriend and flat mated were with him. The 10 o'clock local news showed the things still on course to our area just half a mile up the road. A lot of experts came on TV blaming everything from a terrorist attack a virus and one nut job blamed the lunar cycle and one more blaming homosexuality there are some stupid people in the world. It's midnight I volunteered to stay up and keep an ear out just in case something decided to knock on our door. I have dimmed the windows further by placing more curtains on top of the ones already up so i can have the TV on with low sound. London looks to be overrun earlier I saw them spill into the underground Waterloo line the dead of being trapped down there with those thing was horrifying. It's 2am it has spread further it seems that some of those that were bit in the underground made it on to other trains turned bit more people they fled on to more trains London's wide transport system was spreading the monsters every where Leeds Manchester and Birmingham have confirmed occurrences Glasgow is a possibility. I'm sitting by the window holding the curtain back a little bit gazing in to the street not that I have much of a view just the terraced houses on the other side I have not seen any of the monsters yet. 3am Jon is taking over so i can get some sleep Ty will take over from him at 4. It's 6am Britain has declared a state of emergency borders have been closed and a nation wide curfew of 6pm has been declared anyone out after that time will be arrested the military have entered London to deal with the things the news has been censored from showing this. The area is oddly quiet no one is out on the streets. Jon suggested we have a look I thought he was mad but he produced a small remote controlled helicopter something he had bought from the local men's gadget shop. The copter had a small camera capable of taken 1min of continuous footage or 300 still photos. The range was about 200 meters and ten mins of continuous flight. We headed out in to the back garden i got the copter camera linked up with my lap top and saw the grass Jon piloted the copter up we decided to keep it low at 8ft we wanted to get a good view of the area it disappeared over the fence and turned the corner it had only made it just past the takeaway before the signal started to get weak we decided to bring the copter back to the garden and have it fly as high as possible above our heads. Shit a little further on from the burger shop the things were spilling in to the town hundreds of them they split at the junction in 3 different directions they were 15 mins away. Jon brought back the copter and we headed inside I looked out the food we had acquired yesterday suddenly it looked like nowhere near enough. I grabbed a cricket bat Jon had the same idea grabbing another we told Ty we were heading to the newsagents on the corner and told him to wait by the door to let us in. We ran up the slight slope and headed in to the small corner shop Jon had brought 2 large travel bags with us the last thing I wanted when running away was for a bag to split I hit the button on my phone we had 5mins then we got out no excuses. The store was open but no one was in there I checked underneath the counter nothing. I went straight for the tinned items Jon for the drinks and we soon had one bag filled the second was filled with frozen ready meals I took my sports bag off my back and returned to the counter grabbing as many packs of cigarettes and tobacco as I could fit Jon grabs handfuls of junk food. My phone started to vibrate times up we grabbed the bags and headed out we could see them in the distance we instead of going back the way we came we headed left out the store so we were out of there view we then turned off and headed back on the next road over Ty let us in I looked around before I went in nothing saw us we locked the door behind us. I have removed all the light bulbs from the house we have moved various large items downstairs blocking the front door cupboards chairs etc the back door will be the emergency way out. We have moved with great difficulty the fridge from downstairs the microwave and all supplies plus any useful items forgot the tin opener again had to go get it we have moved all supplies to the loft barring 3 bags that will be kept by the door at all times in case we need to make a quick escape. I am taking this quiet time to download more how to books then writing them down by hand just in case the electric gives out. I have also looked in to giving these things a name they always have a name walkers biters geeks grabbers the infected I have decided on Vivens from the Latin words mortuus Vivens meaning Living dead. I have just looked out the window there spilling down the street there here

Take Back The Street's

We are up on the second floor now me Ty and Jon none of us are quite sure what to do now so many zombie movies are running through my head but we have settled on one movies idea have a sit down. The news is on again I don't think I have ever watched this much news before the last time I even bothered looking at BBC news was during the London riots. I'm still downloading how to guides at the moment a guide to agriculture and caring for livestock why? God knows I do not have the faintest idea of what half of it means but maybe it could come in handy. Jon has already opened a beer it's only 8 in the morning but I think we can excuse it even Ty who rarely drinks and even then only a wkd has had a Malibu and coke i have just settled for coffee. London appears to be almost overrun with the things the footage keeps panning back and forth to try and record a section of street that does not have a Viven as I have taken to calling them the other 2 think I'm stupid chowing down on someone unfortunately that's what they always seem to be capturing. The view switched to a narrow street the hundreds Vivens literally being funneled up it as they pursued a group of survivors running for there life you would think this would be a time to stick together but unfortunately humans rarely do so when there arse is on the line people were shoving punching trampling each other to get away I swear I saw one guy trip another only for the fallen man to jump to his feet chase down the man and proceed to bash him over the head repeatedly with a plank of wood the man then stood up and nonchalantly took off running to catch up with the main group the chopper focused in on the man lying on the street then pulled back a bit the creatures were only 30 meters away the man just laid there he rolled over and looked towards the dead he tried to get to his feet but stumbled and fell clutching his head the view reverted back to the studio before you could see the mans demise another expert wanted to give his opinion on why granny had decided to get up to have a stroll and then nibble on your elbow I was only paying half attention but I think I caught the words Gypsy curse I rolled my eyes got up and took a peak out the window. We had the TV sound off and subtitles on so I was not to worried about one of the things seeing me as long as I was careful. I pulled back the curtain a little and looked out there were 3 of them that I could see all male 2 were completely naked and middle aged the other was younger late teens early 20's not much younger than me dopey emo brown hair over his face remnants of a black t-shirt that had been shredded and a portion of his abdomen missing and faded jeans they were all looking at the house opposite mine and I saw a short balding fat man standing there at the window sipping coffee on the phone I could catch the odd yelled word from across the street something about the police. Idiot he was attracting them to his doorstep as if on cue they lumbered over to his front door and began to bang on it. This caused him to close his blinds I hoped it would not be to late for his sake. But the last thing that I expected was what happened next an old beaten up Land Rover pulled up and 3 large men dressed in jeans and black jackets jumped out two went straight for the door brandishing baseball bats the Vivens turned with almost a look of surprise on there face that there meal had come to them for a change the looks didn't stay for long as one of the men caved in the youngsters face with a baseball bat and then preceded to make quick work of the other 2. They left them there on the doorway only stopping to push something through the mans letterbox I called Ty and Jon over and we watched as the men proceeded to make there way down all the houses and post something through each letterbox. "A bill" Jon asked I laughed "either that or the bailiffs really want us to pay that council tax before the world ends" Our letter box went as well one of the men looked up at the window and saw us he raised up his bat and shouted "take back the streets" then the men jumped back in to the car and drove off. We moved away from the window I sat back down and Jon went downstairs to retrieve what ever had been posted through the letter box I could hear him swearing as he tripped over our makeshift barricade and again as he made his way back up. He stood in the door way reading a white a4 piece of paper he finished and passed it to me. It was a photocopied set of instructions listing various things bites infect people etc basically confirming most of the things about your stereotypical zombie. At the bottom though in Large handwritten red letters it said TAKE BACK THE STREETS and underneath a website address that simply said 12pm. We looked at each other and checked the time 8.25. We tried for the next few hours to take our minds off the end of the world by turning off the news and watching something else no luck there every channel had news we tried putting on an old Simpsons DVD but showed no interest and put the news back on.Eventually at about 10 to 12 I typed in the address and a plain black page appeared with a message stating Take back the streets and a countdown at about 8mins. None of us said anything we just waited for the timer to tick down. Then the screen changed and one of the men who had jumped out of the car earlier appeared the English flag behind him. He was a tall man just nudging over 6 foot shaved head in his early 30's wearing a grey muscle shirt that tightly hugged what was obviously a mountain of muscle. I got a text from Toby asking if I was on the site to i sent back simply yeah and returned my attention to the video. He just stood there for a few seconds as if trying to size us all up through what was obviously a cheap webcam then he spoke in a thick northern accent Geordie I think. My friends he started look out of your windows and what do you see? At the moment you may see none or 1 or 2 of these zombies why is that? London is dying places further North are burning and crumbling yet here we are in relative safety. A major hospital just round the corner has a mass outbreak and yet we only have a few dozen of these things spread out do you know why? He waited a few seconds as if waiting for some one to respond. I'll tell you why we have been lucky those things at the hospital had a load of options on ways they could go multiple junctions they could go down thinning them out over a large area fields and parks they will wander around in for days but our luck is ending I'm going to show you something the man dissapeard for a second and cut to a view of Tonbridge a nearby town I used to live there a few years ago the scene was of utter chaos the video was shot on a hand held camera and the person holding it couldn't keep it steady and you could see why hundreds of these things similar to sizes we had seen in London were making there way down the high street making there way in to shops trying to get through car windows ripping people apart on the pavement. Screaming crying moaning flooded the air along with the cameraman muttering oh fuck oh fuck. And this wasn't all of the Viven's the camera man zoomed in to the distance and you could see more and this looked like thousands slowly advancing down the street engulfing everything in there way. The view switched back to the man with the accent. My name is Mark Styles and this is what happened at 6pm yesterday. That was only 5 miles away from us I thought Mark continued. And this is what is happening now this was taken 1 hour ago. The camera switched again to a view of the bypass up the road from the high street. The creatures were making there way across the bypass there were so many that they were pressed against the guard rails. The cameraman ran to the left and zoomed in you could see the other end of the raised bypass now and there were more behind them those that did not get on the overpass simply walked or fell down the steep slopes at the side hitting the trees then at the bottom picked themselves up and proceeded to make there way across the the 4 lanes of the motorway and up the other side the number crossing the overpass did not compare to the amount on the motor way the number was staggering. The picture switched back to Mark. The zombies have run out of prey in Tonbridge they have skirted the out side of Southborough and are on course for Tunbridge Wells. We think with in the next 6 hours the main bulk of the horde will hit the outskirts of town. We cant hide anymore or wait for help to come cross our fingers and help some one else will do it for us it's time too stand up as he said this I swear someone started to wave the flag behind him God were not Americans. I went let those things take our town so everyone watching this get your shit in gear grow some balls grab something hard and heavy and meet me at the Welcome to Tunbridge Wells sign we will give them a welcome they will never forget and send there rotting arses back to the grave. The video stopped and then after a few seconds started to repeat. A forum with answers to questions popped up soon after, with typical gun ho lets kick arse responses along with the you are going to get yourself killed responses. Another feed popped up Showing the outskirts of Tunridge Wells I could see the welcome to town sign straight ahead it was on a t-junction to the left of the sighn behind a hedge was a large wine and alcohol warehouse ahead was a row of shops and to the right a small fire station. Mark obviously already had a few people helping the roads ahead and to the left were had been barricaded with cars the fire truck had been taken from the station and parked to the right of the front barricade judging by the large puddle someone had already been playing with the hoses. Just behind the barricades a man was taking the tops of bottles and dipping in rags probably petrol or Molotov's there was already a crowd of 20 to 30 people starting to gather but i cant say i would trust my life to them shirts off drinking a stella talking about how they had played resident evil they knew what they was doing blud. I muted the page and looked at Ty and Jon. The next 4 hours was a mix of indecision and arguments Toby called I put him on loudspeaker me and Jon both lit up a fag and continued. There were plenty of options stay put go fight or pack up and leave for somewhere safer while the Viven's Toby laughed when he heard that were slowed down by the defenders after a little while a decision was reluctantly made we would continue to watch the feed if a significant number of people turned up to defend we would go if not we would stay put for now. I can hear shouts outside now people are out in the street heading to the showdown the street seems to be clear of the monsters but that was only a few we are dealing with thousands. 4.30 I cant believe we are doing this I zipped up my coat and grabbed a cricket bat Jon followed me also grabbing a bat Ty would stay here Toby met us outside the corpses were still outside the other guys door. Toby was taller and bulkier than both me and Jon well over 6ft and a good 16 stone I remember making fun of him when he was little for being short and tubby but now it has evened out he was dressed in his leather coat and Jeans carrying a machete i called him an idiot when he got it jokes on me now Jon had a red hoody and jeans as well me in you guessed it jeans red high tops black coat it was not particularly cold but it was thick on the arms so if something tried to latch on I should have a second or two to react. It was a 2mile walk to the meeting point which was uneventful apart from having to step over the odd corpse. 5.30 We arrived at the meeting point to strange scene the town has a population of 50,000 or so it looked like we had got a few thousand people here at least I could see the barricade ahead of us there were one or two Viven's already that were quickly clubbed to death but most of the people there seemed like they had turned up for a party not to fight for survival people were drunk and staggering around there were coolers and even a dam BBQ it was just a big rabble of people no organization no nothing just a bunch of drunks and weapons like that has ever ended well for anyone. We elected to stay near the back for the time being a short man was passing items out I wandered over to him and had a pair of black gloves thrust in to my hand and he walked off i unwrapped them they were black with raised reinforced plate parts I'm not sure what they were made of it wasn't leather but not fabric Toby and Jon had also received a pair we sat down and waited.

The Last Stand

Twilight was fast approaching people had dragged a couple of bins out to the barricades and started a fire in them proving an eerie feel in the early evening as the moans of the Viven's started to approach. Cheers rose up from the crowd and people started to move the barricade as they rounded the corner coming in to view. This was the head of a snake that seemed to stretch on forever. They were filling the street tightly packed people started to shout a man jumped up on to the barricade it was Mark. Friends he began the enemy were at the gates we wont let them take our home or our families give them hell a cheer rose up from the crowd. It was 6.30 and the ranks of the living had swelled to at least 4000 we were at the back of the group not wanting to get involved in the initial clash or stand to close to the petrol bombs that were starting to be lit. You could see people at the barricades begin to light them a roar rose from the crowd as the 1st bomb was thrown through the air it landed well short of the creatures but it still claimed a gasp from the crowd as flames spread over the road. The creatures continued to advance straight through the flames more bombs went soaring this time landing in the crowd igniting the monsters and they still kept coming more and more went flying through the air setting light to them after a couple of minutes the hail of bombs had stopped and they were still advancing a voice came over the loud speaker two men jumped out of the fire engine and picked up the hose lying on the ground they then proceeded to the front of the barricade and turned on the house the dead were only 20 meters from the barricade now most of the flames had dyed out now but many were still smoldering the men with the hose proceeded to douse the undead extinguishing the flames. Marks voice rang out again it sounded like he had been drinking a slurred CHARGE was yelled and the crowd started to advance forward people jumping the barricade eager to get to grips with the monsters in to the valley of death they charged. The 2 sides meet bats and teeth clashed yells and moans rang out. 6.45 After the initial enthusiasm and momentum the tide is now turning the living are being pushed back to the barricade sirens rang out in the night someone had jumped in the fire engine they put it in to gear and rammed the barricade and drove in to the mass of undead sending the things flying before dissapearing quickly around the corner before reversing back and running over more of them. Dumb arse the barricade was broken and the dead started to swarm through the gap the front line defenders were take by surprise and quickly overwhelmed. Screams rang out not form the front but from the side the dead were at the left barricade no one had thought to keep an eye out in that direction and they were pulling them selves over the cars people at the back were starting to run we moved to the side to avoid the main crush only a few hundred people remained to defend the barricades were no overrun the fire engine had stopped moving I could see blood spatters on the inside of the cabin. People were falling around us I heard crying across the road there was a young girl by the front of the fire station she couldn't have been more than 10 years old blonde haired blue eyes sitting down hugging her knees. The dead were pushing forward and no one seemed to notice what was that rule from zombie land never be a hero? Oh Fuck it I thought I started to make my way across the road advancing towards the dead I reached her Hey are you ok a stupid question. I cant find my dad she bawled. What does he look like why did I ask that like we have time to wander round and look for them I turned round dam the defenders had backed off further now there was only a few meters of open ground between me and the dead Jon and Toby made there way to me. Look darling I don't know if we can find him right now but we cant stay here it's not safe. She looked up at me tears in her eyes he's dead isn't he I heard a scraping sound one of the barricade was being pushed further to the side by the sheer number of undead. Honey if he is alive we will find him but we have to go now she nodded. Whats your name? Sky Sky Harper. OK Sky I'm Tom that's Jon and Toby are you o.k to walk? She hesitantly nodded I'll tell you what how about a piggy back she seemed to prefer that idea I passed my bat to Toby and she jumped on. And we began our retreat there were on a few dozen defenders left now to drunk or to macho to admit that we had lost as we dissapeared in to the night. Jon light the way with a small torch on the way back past the shopping center we came across a grisly site 3 survivors just lying gutted on the floor with 4 Viven's feeding on them they looked up and saw us Jon and Toby moved forward to intercept them Jon put all his weight behind 1 massive shot to a creatures temple you could hear the crack of its skull I told Sky not to look. Toby's machete took off another head and he proceeded to deal with the 3rd out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement from the shadow of a shop doorway one came charging out it caught me completely off guard I had time to throw Sky off my back and raise my arm before it smashed in to me knocking me to the floor its face plunged towards my neck I managed to get my forearm underneath its chin he was a police officer but now a monster its teeth gnashed inches from my face hot breath washing over me I looked over to the Jon and Toby they were having difficulty finishing the last one Sky was watching me struggle she cried I managed to get my foot up and boot the zombie cop straight in the solar plexus this gave me a second to scramble to my feet. I stumbled over to Sky putting myself between her and the monster what I did next I did with out thinking I walked forward towards the creature when I was with in range I stomped straight down on the creatures kneecap with all the force I could muster the sound of the snap was unbelievable it started to sink forward i grabbed its head with my gloved hand and pushed it back it lay there on the floor trying to get up Jon and Toby had finished with theirs and had seen me stomp the thing Bat I said Toby passed it to me and with one hit I cracked the creatures skull. I stopped and looked at the officer he was young could not have been on the job that long dam. I proceeded to search his belt I took his collapsible baton and case handcuffs CS Spray a torch handcuff key his radio was smashed but I found a small first aid kit I also took his note pad we looked behind us more of the Viven's on the way I picked up Sky and we headed home entering through the back door ensuring someone or something didn't see us. 10.30pm Toby has returned to his flat we have decided to stay separate for the time being we have new rules for entering the house now everyone gets checked for bites and cuts. We have boiled up some water and put all the clothes we were wearing in with them the water is still running so me Jon and Sky all had a quick bath each to clean off the blood. The things are advancing I risked a peak out the window earlier and saw dozens in our street screams echo through the night I have given Sky my ear plugs and she is asleep now cuddled up with Clio the cat we have given her Ty's bed we don't want to be sleeping downstairs just in case the things come through the door so we have had to place it in my room Ty is in his own room and me and Jon have drawn the short straw and have to share but tonight i will be on watch til 3 and then Jon will take over so it wont be to bad. I sat down at my desk sipping my beer and watched as fire raged through Coventry.

Remnant's

I slept lightly that night after Jon took over the watch I woke up once or twice thinking I heard something banging on the door. We woke up at about 9 Jon's watch ended at 6 and Ty took over. Sky was already up sitting on her bed Hey are you hungry I asked no Thirsty? No OK. Our clothes had dried from the night before and she ha already gotten dressed can we look for my Dad today? Well let's see how it go's I said but I think you should stay here for the moment it's not safe out there she nodded sadly and pretended to go back to sleep. I sighed and went back to my room and turned on the TV society is breaking down a few channels manly those further north are either not on or showing constant repeats electricity water and internet are still up though I looked at our supply of food we haven't even started on it yet we managed to scavenge a few things on the way to the last stand yesterday but none of us has any real appetite. Guns Jon said what about them I replied only half interested. The gun shop around the corner.I told Toby there is no gun shop in this town. There is though he showed me a site on my laptop country ware and firearms I looked at the address it was only round the corner. It's to dangerous Is said that's the 1st place everyone is going to go and the people that own the store and have a lot of guns probably want to keep there guns and won't think twice about trying to blow our heads off. At that moment Toby called he was again put on loudspeaker and the argument continued. Even when we get there the place could be locked down the shutters closed how will we get in do you have a pair of bolt cutters handy? The guns are all probably in cases well we can smash the cases and what about the people there already do you know how to fix a bullet wound? This silenced everyone I walked over and looked out the window there were 5 Viven's outside I quickly ducked back down. Well what do you want to do then get a car get more supplies are we moving to Toby's flat no not yet at least but if we can get a car we always have a getaway option. Where do you want to get the supplies from? Cotswold's it involves going in to town and even tough its close I don't want to lump the stuff back by hand. None of the people in our group have a drivers license but Toby and Jon know what they are doing and I have an idea Jon probably had the most experience so he was elected to drive. Now to find a car. It didn't take to long to find something literally on the next street me and Jon had headed out the back nothing saw us and we took off at a quick jog within 100 meters we found a Green Ford Fiesta Ecocentric great miles per gallon 4 doors and they did an awesome test on Top gear the driver side doors was open like someone had jumped out and left in a hurry behind us we could hear the monsters groaning as they made there way to what they hoped would be there first meal of the day. We approached the car Jon on the drivers side me on the other i peered in to the back seat nothing there keys are in it Jon said he also checked the car and got in almost a full tank I climbed in shotgun and Jon started her up. I stopped him from pulling out Are you mad I said? What? Put your seat belt on Oh yeah just in case we get stopped by the police my mind flashed back the officer from last night a wave of guilt rolled over me Jon pulled his seat belt on and we headed to pick up Toby. The drive to the store was uneventful apart from the shouts and smashing of glass Jon wanted to stop at the store he insisted had guns but we stuck with the plan survival equipment 1st. We pulled up outside of the store well it's less of a store and more of a landmark. The store is a all stone building with 5 Roman esque pillars at the entry way holding up a roof that was also very Roman looking it was what you would think a temple would look like. But now it had been converted in to Cotswold an outdoor survival store spread over 3 floors 1st was women s wear 2nd mens and 3rd survival equipment. The plan was simple me and Toby would head in Toby would head straight to women's for some clothes for Sky then he would head upstairs to join me in the search for equipment whilst this was going on Jon would loop round the block and wait for the signal to park up we didn't want our ride getting swamped or stolen we stole it first. Me and Toby got out we could see a buzz of activity inside people shoving and rushing to get what they could. We made our way in the alarm was going off for obvious reasons someone had thrown the cafe table outside through the window not that anyone was going to respond to the alarm apart from them.I headed straight upstairs trying to avoid the most crowded parts this area was a little quieter I pulled out my list and began to pile up everything I needed there was a hand on my shoulder I knocked it away rolled and pulled out the baton Toby burst out laughing shut up arsehole and help me find what we need Whats left on the list Lantern Stove and fuel and a couple of hand axes. All of that what have you been doing whilst I was downstairs Hey up your arse with a piece of glass Oh yeah you would like that he retorted Jog on. We quickly found everything we needed I ran off and grabbed some heavy duty shopping bags we bagged it up and called Jon to let him know we were ready to be picked up we headed down the stairs Toby was in front of me a lanky man walked over to Toby and proceeded to try and snatch the bag out of his hand Toby held it firm and proceeded to tell the man what he thought of him he responded by punching him in the face. I walked over to the man extended the baton and smashed it straight in to his kneecap he collapsed in pain get your arse up and lets go I said to Toby we grabbed our bags and got to the car a few Vivens were in the area now Jon had obviously taken one down judging from the splatter on the windscreen. We put the supplies in and drove off as we turned a corner I told Jon to stop the car a man was on the floor bleeding from a wound to his throat next to him an overturned shopping trolley full of boxes I umped out and grabbed as many of the boxes as I could manage got back in. Wat you got Jon asked Mobile phones I said Oh sweet have you got the latest I phone you mean they have brought another one out fuck me Jon whats wrong with you has the new one got a new picture on it or something God your old he said Shut up and keep driving I laughed. We stopped in a parking area reserved for permit holders only all though i doubt we were gonna get clamped today we were a couple of hundred meters away from the house so the things wouldn't be attracted to the noise we got out light up cigarettes and discussed the next move. The obvious thing to do would be to move all our supplies and ourselves to Toby's flat but I didn't want to do this just yet with the building still full of people and the possibility of them trying to steal what we had acquired this was a real possibility after what had happened to Toby in the store Jon still wanted to go to the gun store this lead to another argument that lead to shouting which was interrupted by moans not to far away this snapped us back to our senses we agreed that everything we had gathered today would go back to Toby's flat with the exception of Sky's new clothes we would remain in our own place and pack everything up for removal. A group of about 30 undead rounded the entrance to the parking area. I'm getting out I said Are you mad Jon replied look you are gonna need time to unload all this stuff you cant do that with those things hassling you I'll distract them while you do it unload the car park it somewhere safe and head back. He nodded I climbed out and looked at the group of monsters Jon drove off I extended the baton and walked slowly towards them and started shouting making sure I had there full attention the group advanced on me I skirted the outside edge smacking any stray hands that came my way with the baton I was behind the group now and they were slowly turning to face me I lead them down the hill further away from the house stopping occasionally to let them catch up and yelling the odd insult not that they could understand it but it made me feel better. When we reached the base of the hill I sprinted back up the hill passing the creatures heading back through the parking area calling Ty to open the back door I was out of there line of site when I entered the back gate and headed in to the house. I locked the door behind me and Sky ran up to hug me hey you miss me I said she nodded I have a present for you I took my backpack off and pulled out some of the clothes Toby had got jeans and fleeces mainly but she seemed happy and ran off to change. How did it go Ty asked Place is going to hell I said Toby and Jon are taking the supplies to the flat and we are gonna start packing up here soon to move it over there. I rang Toby and surprisingly got an answer thought you and Jon would still be unloading no we finished that 10mins ago he said that's weird Jons not back yet I hung up on Toby and called Jon it rang and rang but no one picked up I called 5 more times I text ed saying if he didn't reply I was going to kick his arse still no reply. 2 hours later Mid-day Jon still isn't back and no response on his phone Sky asked me where he is I told her he is out with Toby but I think she knows I'm lying where the hell is he? The news is not much of a distraction anymore evacuation centers are being set up all round the country they advise that everyone should head to the nearest one immediately we wont be doing that this thing has gone to far already to be stopped.

Search And Rescue

2pm Jon has not come back yet Toby hasn't seen him since they drooped the stuff off and then left with the car. So many possibilities ran through my head had he been attacked was he trapped somewhere had an accident. Me and Jon have been friends for 6 years despite being almost polar opposites on many things we met when we worked at Mcdonalds and quickly got on going out for drinks playing video games and living together. I thought realistically about where he cold have gone. He had a daughter in York but that was over 240 miles away he wouldn't go that far would he. The gun shop maybe he went there but that was close it wouldn't have taken him this long unless something went wrong. I sat up off the bed knocking the how to guides I had been hand writing to the floor we had a respectable amount now covering most basic things we would need to know archiving humanity's knowledge for the future. I put my coat on and headed for the door Ty didn't want me to go but I told him I would be back in an hour if not then he could panic. I put my phone on silent don't want it going off and alerting every thing to my location and headed out the back a few creatures saw me exit and I had to draw them away before I could start my search the streets were calm with only shouts and screams coming from the distance as I made my way past the burger place it was closed shutters down and kept walking down the street sticking to the pavement I didn't want to get hit by a someone driving a car who thought i was one of those things. I saw more of the living on my way than the dead people piling in to cars with items strapped to there roof's a mass exodus was happening in front of me these people would soon be refugee's in there own country. The dead were now more numerable but on the wide road it was quite easy to dodge round them a few motorists even aimed at the creatures sending one flying in to a wheelie bin a few feet ahead of me I made it to the turning just past where Jon worked in a betting shop I looked through the window just in case for some reason he had stopped there he hadn't and the shop was deserted. I turned off. Chris Potter Sporting goods est 1978. The store front was completely green and the shutters were up surprisingly and there were a large amount of dead outside the door all with parts of there head missing. I got to the door and poked my head round and quickly pulled it back as part of the doorway next to my head exploded gunshots are a lot louder in real life then they are in the movies and I was temporarily deafened. Stop shooting you idiot I'm not dead I bellowed over What the hell do you want I'm looking for someone well it's only me here so get lost if i poke my head round the corner are you going to try and blow my head off again i'm only looking for a friend fine but keep those hands where I can see them I put my hands out in to the doorway slowly and then walked in to his full view one quick pull of the trigger and he could paint the wall of my brains. The store was wood lined with various rifles and what appeared to be shotgun's and the man standing behind the counter with one of those pointing at my face He was an older man thinning grey hair and a weathered face jeans and a green t shirt the same shade as the store front displaying the store name. Hi there I said What do you want And I'm Tom That doesn't change my question what. Im looking for a friend of mine and I said no ones here You don't know what he look's like well what does he look like Bald my height solidly built. Haven't seen him what if i showed you a picture I'm reaching in to my pocket to get my phone Get down the man yelled and brought the shotgun up I threw myself to the floor and another ridiculously bang echoed around me i turned around to see a now headless corpse flop out the doorway I cautiously got back to my feet phone in hand with a picture of Jon him have you seen him?The man looked at the photo and then back at me he raised the shotgun again but this time it was aiming at me Yeah I know him that little fucker got one of my guns i looked down the barrel of the gun well when i find him i will tell him to return it immediately don't bother got him locked up in the back there i looked over his shoulder and saw a chair propped up against a walk in cupboard door Jon i said Hi he replied I turned back to the man who still had the gun pointing at me well i'm sure he is very sorry about what happened so i will take him off your hands No way we are waiting for the police to come get him er dude I don't think the police are coming shut up get over here your joining your friend in there but i only just came out of the closet I said that got me a nudge in the back with the gun it shut me up just as he was about to open the door another creature appeared at the doorway he turned to blast it. I made my move he had a 2 barrel shotgun so after this shot he would have to reload pistols are illegal in this country so i know he didn't have a backup on him i turned and planted my foot straight in to his crotch not very fair i know but i don't believe in playing fair i believe in winning. the man groaned and sank to his knees I knocked the chair from the door to let Jon out And where the bloody hell have you been I asked trying to come out the closet he said. My laugh was stopped half way out my mouth when the shopkeeper punched me in the gut winding me I doubled over and he punched me in the jaw i saw stars he was standing over me one hand on his balls the over on his empty shotgun holding it like a club he lifted it up and then a chair smashed across is face he fell to the floor Jon still held the chair legs take your time why don't you i replied He laughed well whilst were here he said i sighed and had a look around I could see two weapons just lying there next to the shopkeeper we grabbed them and the boxes of bullets he had been using there were loads we piled them in to a spare card board box and made for the door or rather we had to throw ourselves out as the shop keeper was back up with another gun taking aim at us we dived out the door I followed Jon just past the shop and to the car just round the corner he was bleeding from a cut just above his eye and i felt blood on my cheek you ok to drive I said yeah I'm fine dude don't you ever go off like that again next time I will fucking leave you no you wont you love me to much he laughed and i laughed as we drove off we came in through the back door we had to lure the things away again but eventually we got back inside. Sky ran up and hugged both of us Ty patted us both on the back and we explained what had happened whilst we cleaned up the wounds. We were in quite good spirits now all things considering and we prepared some food and went in to my room to eat but the TV put us off our meals it's spreading outside of the UK continental Europe is reporting cases the states Africa Asia God it's everywhere. 5PM Toby called and we told him we had found Jon and what we had acquired he had more news every one in the 15 flat building has left they went and checked the whole building this settles it we cant stay here much longer it is not secure enough moving all the supplies and people will take 2 or more likely 3 trips that will attract some attention so were gonna pack everything up and brainstorm. 10pm all packed up plan made just waiting for the morning and its all systems go. Cars have been driving off all day people heading for the evac zone it's a gamble to stay but we can always follow later and I don't want to be stuck in a massive traffic jam with the creatures coming up behind us. So we stay and await our fate.

Moving House

I have been up since 4 it's now 9 I have forced some toast down my throat even though I'm not hungry i haven't eaten in a few day's it's not odd for me but we have a lot to do today and I need the energy. I looked at all the stuff we had to move it was a mountain. We decided to move Sky and Ty 1st I would carry Sky and Ty would follow carrying a few lighter items and wait inside the door to help move supplies in. I will ten return to the house Toby and Jon will then load the supplies in to the car I have the fun job. I walked over to Sky after a few chats I found out she was 8 years old she asked me how old I was I told her 24 she told me I look a lot younger I laughed and thanked her she has packed up a small bag with a few things in it she has laid claim to my old teddy bear that I was born with I don't mind its been a good few years since yar yar had a hug he was now in her Cinderella back pack with his head poking out the top. Ty has grabbed a few lighter items and I have my satchel with the things I need for my part. Toby arrived at the back door and we were all set we moved what we could to the back garden. We stopped to wish each other luck and the 3 of us headed to the front door. One last check of the the road and we headed out the front door. Sky jumped on my back and we headed out. “No piggy back for me?”Ty asked “Like I could shift your fat arse” I said we moved up the street giving the couple of creatures that were there a wide berth we trotted up the road Ty sticking close to me we crossed the road and the flat was already in site. The flats are located in a former church that was converted into 15 small flats it was a nice building but a lot of low level windows so destroying the stair case would be essential as we turned off a few monsters further down the road took notice I could hear Sky start to sob Ty went pale “It's OK I said there slow I can out run them even carrying you”. We got to the flats and were instantly buzzed through by the girls. I put Sky down. OK I said kneeling next to her “I want you to go all the way to the top of the stairs there your gonna meet Lara and Jenna they will look after you but they will need to come down and help Ty Jon and Toby with supplies moving all I want you to do is” “Help move the stuff” she said brightly “no I said” firmly “you are gonna stay upstairs and look after this” I took one of the boxes off Ty it began to shake Sky squeaked “Don't worry it's only Clio see” I opened the box a little and Clio poked her head out obviously unhappy about her transport arrangement. Sky took the box “there is also another cat up there called Riley but be careful they probably won't get along” “OK” she said “What are you going to do” I repeated “Stay upstairs” “good girl I will be back in a bit OK?” “OK” she has gotten used to me going out now understanding that we all had a job to do today “Can I come with you” she said This caught me by surprise “er well erm maybe when your older” I stammered she smiled happy at this and ran up the stairs I turned to Ty “keep an eye on her man” “Sure” he said “I'm gonna call Jon and Toby they will start moving stuff over here the girls will be down in a second to help you move it in” “What are you gonna do?” “I get the fun job I'm the distraction” I said. I exited the building a few creatures were already getting close to the building I got there attention and began to draw them away from the building they were slow as hell I had time to light a fag smoke it stub it out before I started to head for home. The plan was for me to lure as many as possible past our house past the parking lot where the car was and away from the area so the others could load and unload in peace. I had acquired about 30 when I exited the parking area and called Jon give it 5mins and head out Got it I hung up We proceeded up the hill I had to be mindful of the creatures I had lured in front of me and any that may be lured to the noise coming from behind I didn't want to be bit on the ass. I made my way up to a junction near a multistory car park opposite the shopping center. I pull out of my satchel a mobile phone that we had acquired a few days ago clicked the button and it started playing sweet child of mine at full blast I then threw it on to the 1st floor of the parking area and took off running into the main town center. I stopped on the main road there were more I rang Jon “hows it going I asked?” “1st trip is done gonna need 2 or more though can I hear music” “Yeah you like it?” I asked “More of a R and B man personally” “I want to attract them not make them run away screaming” I joked “Call me when your done” I hung up and headed down the street and looked on to the shopping promenade glass shopping trolleys dead everywhere there were hundreds tightly packed I wasn't getting past this I picked up a brick and hurled it at the nearest one “Hey ugly!” I yelled dead eyes turned in my direction oh shit a sea of dead headed my way I took another phone out and threw it in the opposite direction I was heading back towards the last group and ran off past the pub a large portion of the group was still following. My phone rang again “We are just packing up the last of the stuff where are you” “Town center I have made some new friends they say they want to meet Bollocks..” I dropped my phone one was running fucking running straight at me “Help Help!!” she screamed she wasn't dead. She was about my age brunette 5'5 pink t shirt with a navy blue sports jacket over the top and navy blue tracksuit bottoms like she was out for a jog. “Hey” I yelled “God you have to help” me she grabbed hold of my coat “OK calm down i said I'm Tom you are?” “Jane God you have to help me please” “OK OK quiet down your gonna attract them” a moan confirmed it 10 were ahead of us and this was a narrow section of road there were dead behind us “Were gonna die she cried” and sank to her knees “No we are not get up” I pulled her to her feet. All I had on me was my baton 4 mobile phones and a couple of cereal bars for a snack “o.k how bout this” I picked up a shopping trolley “What are you doing ?“she said “Can you walk?” i asked “Yeah but...” “Fantastic I said now stay behind me” “what are you gonna do?” “You ever see that film Die Hard? No? oh OK then this will be original for you you want to stay alive stay with me OK lets go” I started to run with the trolley in front of me she kept up well the dead were almost in a straight line I attacked the far left of the line and crashed in to what appeared to have been on old lady I heard bones snap and it crumpled as I released the trolley I hurdled the trolley and kept going Help I turned and saw the creature had a grip on her trousers I ran back extended the baton and hit the nearest advancing creature over the head it staggered but did not fall I stomped the creatures head its hand went limp I took Jane's hand “Quickly” I said and we ran hand in hand down the road weaving our way through a less dense crowd we met on the way we looped round behind the 1st group of dead I dropped a phone this one was Don't fear the reaper very appropriate I got a questioning look “I'll explain later” I said. My phone rang “Yes Mr Abernathy” Jon's sometimes nickname “What the hell happened the phone went dead after you swore” “I found a survivor were almost back at the house we will be at the flat in 5 if your all done” “Yeah were done you bringing friends with you?” “Apart from Jane no is everyone OK there” “Yeah there fine just a couple of boxes to move upstairs” “Awesome” I said I hung up. We jogged back Jane asked me a few question's “There are others?” “A few 7 including me” I didn't go in to to much detail thinking it could be a way of sizing us up as a possible target maybe to many zombie books but never hurts to be careful. “Why didn't you evacuate with everyone else I asked?” “Couldn't get a ride” she said “Didn't want to walk with those things walking the street I ran out of food and headed in to town that's when they saw me” I nodded we had arrived at the flat nice place she said Well with a few modifications it should be like a fortress I said. I hit the call button outside checking behind us Jon answered and buzzed us in Toby met us in the lobby I introduced Jane to him he said hi and we made brief chit chat. Toby went to head upstairs are “You forgetting something?” I asked “What?” “You haven't checked us for bites” “Oh yeah” “Did you and Jon check each other?” “No” “Get Jon down here now!!” I was angry I was pretty sure that the bites could transfer the virus or curse or what ever this thing was. Jon came down Toby went 1st he pulled his top up showing his arms chest legs feet he was clear Jon did the same while I hummed a stripper tune Toby sniggered then came me I knew I was clear Jane was the last. “Do I have to?” “If you want to come in yes you do” i said “If you want there are girls upstairs they can check” She nodded Jenna Toby's girlfriend and Lara my ex girlfriend came down me Toby and Jon turned round we wouldn't look but we were not about to leave the girls there unprotected Lara came over to me “She has a bandage on her left wrist she wont let me take it off she said she fell and cut herself” I sighed “What do you want to do?” Jon asked I turned round “Jane I'm sorry if you feel like we are invading your privacy but we cant let you in here with out looking under that bandage” “It will get infected” she protested “We have a couple of 1st aid kits upstairs we can treat it with disinfectant” “I'm not showing you” “Then you cant stay” I said coldly “Well I'm not leaving” she sat on the stairs Lara grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the floor Jenna walked over pulled her arm out and ripped the bandage off what we saw was clearly not a scratch it was a bite. Jenna squeaked Lara and Jon went pale Toby said nothing my mind crashed.

Hostage Negotiation

Lara and Jenna immediately let her go Jane took her chance and ran up the stairs me Toby and Jon went after her she tried the 1st floor door locked then went up the next flight this door ad been propped open by someone to make it easier to move supplies through she ran in to the corridor and knocked Ty out of the way and ran in to one of the flats and slammed the door behind her I got to the door as she locked it I ran in to it and bounced off. I heard a scream in the flat Sky I yelled more screams and shout's of shut up shut up I kicked the door it was solid. Fuck my mind ran with possible scenario's could she turn with Sky locked in there? Would she hurt Sky I took a moment to collect myself. Jane I called out Jane this time angrily if you hurt her I will destroy you there is no way out of there just come out and we can figure this out. Silence. Jane I screamed booting the door again I'm not coming out she said you don't have a choice and neither do we you could be infected I'm not she wailed well come out then You will throw me on to the street to die Dam right we wi Jon began but i cut him off we wont throw you out Jane just please let the girl go she has nothing to do with this no your lying you will come in here and kill me Jane we don't want to force the door but we will NO she shouted I slide against the door the others were looking at me get the ice axes I said Hold on Toby said he went to a pile of stuff in the corner and pulled out a sledgehammer where did you get that I said Found it he replied I nodded and went back to the door Jane this is your last chance to open up If you come in here I I I I will hurt her. I took a gamble that she wouldn't I didn't think she had it in her Toby took the sledgehammer and we backed up a bit to give him some room to swing the 1st hit seemed to have no affect Aim for the lock I said whilst Toby worked on the lock there were more shouts from with in after the 3rd shot to the lock it broke and the door opened Toby went to head in I stopped him where are the guns I asked we haven't brought them up from the lobby yet. A bit of relief went through me Wait here I said. I took my coat off unclipped my baton from my belt and tucked it in to my pocket and entered the flat. Straight ahead of me was the bedroom on the corner was the bathroom a cupboard and a short narrow hall way leading to an open plan kitchen front room the door this was closed. I knocked Jane? I said I heard whimpering but no response Jane I'm coming in I opened the door a little Clio came flying out of the room that made me jump. I opened the door fully the front room is small square with a large typical church window taking up almost the whole of one wall the kitchen was to the left. Jane was pressed against the window the curtains were drawn across. She had Sky pressed up against her a knife in her right hand. Jane let her go we can sort this out don't do something you will regret I took a step forwards Jane pressed further back to the window and raised the knife to me go away she said in tears I wish I could Jane but i cant I step closer I'm with in arms reach of her now You OK i said to Sky yeah she said barely a whisper OK walk slowly towards me but don't worry no one is going to hurt you she started to walk forward I thought Jane was about to let her go but suddenly her empty hand shot forward to pull her back i stepped forward quickly and pushed Sky away Jane brought the knife up and tried to slash my chest I jumped back making sure Sky was behind me I extended the baton Sky go wait in the hallway she ran off Jane just put the knife down we can sort this out you can stay and we will keep an eye on you or you can leave your choice you're just gonna lock me up We don't have a choice yes you do Jane i have seen what these bites can do to people that has not happened to me she yelled and came forward quickly catching me off guard the knife cam down quickly almost hitting me in the chest as i stepped back as she was recovering I used the baton to drive her back the knife came back again higher this time I felt a sting across my cheek I managed to kick her legs out from underneath her she fell to the floor bringing the knife again I dropped the baton and grabbed the knife hand she bought her other hand to and kicked me in the crotch pain raged through me Jon I yelled Toby and Jpn burst in to the room and grabbed her hands and pulled her away I lay there on the floor gasping I got to my feet my balls ached I walked back in to the hallway and out the flat Jenna was hugging Sky Your bleeding Lara said it's fine its my balls that hurt I winked she laughed I think were past that she said I smiled you OK I said to Sky she looked up from Jenna and nodded Where's the yells from downstairs answered my question I headed down Jon and Toby were in the process of throwing her out the door No I said Jon and Toby stopped pushing Jane stopped yelling bring her back in they did I handcuffed her to the bannister upstairs now I said to Toby and Jon what about me Jane said I gave her an angry look she shut up and we headed upstairs we sat down in the living room where all this took place which was actually Lara's flat we sat down and had a smoke Throw her arse out on the street Jon said he was angry and rightfully so everyone seemed to agree with him. Wait I said Wait for what Tom wait for her to try and stab you again? wait for her to turn? She's scared I said and Dangerous Jon replied what if she turns?We handcuff her to a radiator in an empty room then if she turns we deal with it if not well we cross that bridge when we come to it. She tried to kill you she thought she was going to die Jon was red in the face now and I could understand why we should give her a chance i said she had her chance and she attacked us with a knife Jon said. We vote on it then I said fine Jon said everyone in favor of letting the murderer stay raise your hand I meant a secret vote I said do i get a vote Sky said I wasn't sure but everyone else said yes so i went with it. We got some paper I put my point across and the precautions we would take locking her up if we threw her outside she would just attract the dead banging on the windows etc Jon put his point across and we voted I won 4 to 3. Jon was not happy about it but went along with it. Me and Toby went downstairs unlocked Jane What are you going to do now she said your staying i replied for now she started to thank me i cut her off we are handcuffing you in to a room and locking it your quarantine for 24hours we picked a room on the top floor we opened up the room with a credit card god bless the internet it was 3'o clock we opened the room and did a quick sweep to check it was empty we covered the windows and handcuffed her to the radiator and Toby left. I got her a bucket for her business and some toilet paper I put the TV on handed her the remote a couple of magazines i found,laid down some cushions to sleep on and found some crackers in the cupboard and filled up a water bottle I handed it to her. You're just gonna leave me here she said We will come back in a day and check on you I recommend you keep quiet or you will attract the things. What if I'm not infected we will have another vote to see if you can stay. What if they say no we give you some food water and point you in the direction of the evac center. I'll die before i make it there then you should think twice before going all stabby on people. I sat down on the floor out of arms reach when did you get bitten why she said I'm curious i said just before i met you ok then lets say about 10.20 I said you have any family no answer anything to say Not to you ok then I got up and walked out closing the hallway door behind me and left the flat I closed the door I grabbed a chair and put it a few feet back from the door and sat someone would watch the door at all times no one would go in or out til tomorrow. 8' o clock The noise we had made earlier has attracted some undead to our location though all they are doing is milling about outside searching for a noise that is no longer there all the windows of rooms rooms we have gone in have been covered Jon had an idea of going outside and spray painting DEAD INSIDE on the front door to deter people from trying to come in though we haven't seen or heard anything human today apart from Jane. Due to the number of dead outside we have had to hold off on destroying the stairway as the noise may attract them to us we have settled with just moving the supplies to the top floor there are 5 rooms here we cleared them no one was in them the other 2 floors were not sure if there are dead waiting locked in there rooms we will clear them tomorrow but the top floor is safe and the door that leads in to the hallway is solid. Toby and Jenna have taken one apartment Lara has kept hers Ty and Jon are sharing for the night Sky has opted to stay with me for the time being I have given her the bedroom I will take the sofa she is asleep now with the hallway light on and her door open. The 5th room has Jane in I'm watching it now reading Day by Day Armageddon again I can just look to my right and see Sky she wakes up occasionally looking over to see I'm still there and go's back to sleep. No one has been in to the room with Janet since I left and there has been no sound coming from there. I have sat here watching since we put her in Ty will take over at 11 then Jenna at 6. I couldn't keep concentrating on my book and put it down I put my head in my hands and thought back to the day's events. So much could of gone wrong Sky could of been killed I could of been killed just as easily why was I giving Jane a chance? I started to play with my necklace a metal angel wing I pressed it to my forehead and felt the cold against my skin. I sighed God I was bored Jon and Ty had gone to there room Jon was still in a mood with me over letting Jane stay he would get over it. I reached in to pocket and pulled out my phone tuned it in to a radio station and listened. A couple of evacuation centers had already been overrun not that they said this they just stopped mentioning them when they were listed foreign news was not much better France was almost as bad as here the Americans were making a stand in various places through out the country but it seemed no where was safe now China refused to comment. I turned off the radio Jon walked out in to the corridor all quiet he asked yeah not a peep what are we gonna do with her if she isn't infected i sighed we put it to a vote and if they want her out? Then she go's he nods your to soft you know he said I nodded and look what your fucking cat did to my arm he showed an arm covered in scratches I laughed and it's not my fault she hates you are we OK he said yeah man were fine i understand why you would want to kicker her out it crossed my mind to he nodded night he said nighty night dude I plugged in my head phones so I wouldn't disturb Sky and continued my watch maybe tomorrow will be better.

Grand Design's

I slept surprisingly soundly last night despite our unsecured building and a possibly infected house guest. I listened to the radio in the shower the government has just upped and dissaperaed with no one having any idea where they had gone. London is lost along with Liverpool Manchester Birmingham Newcastle Cardiff and just about any other major population area you can imagine. But apparently areas are holding it Hastings are in the process of organizing a wall to be built being on the coast they will only have to do half the job we would. Canterbury was also holding out the ancient walls around it had more or less channeled the dead in one direction for them stopping them from being surrounded nothing has been heard fro Ireland or the rest of the world. I left the peace of the shower to grim reality another busy day surviving at least we would be relatively safe when we had made our cosmetic changes to the building. I thought about the territorial Army base up the road a few miles away near the last stand last I saw the fence surrounding it was intact maybe there were soldiers waiting to take back the town and I dismissed the thought almost immediately I would only have used it as an excuse to go back to bed. After a few pieces of dry toast we forgot to get butter on our trip. Not much was said over breakfast we were all to a where of what might have to be done soon with Jane still handcuffed to the radiator a couple of rooms down. Jon took the lead "Right lets get started we have stairs to smash" He was right we sit here filled with melancholy then we were dead. We would need to destroy 2 set's of stairs to make sure the things could not get up to the living area in between was a small landing for the 1st floor we elected to keep that to make passing supplies up easier. To get up to the landing we would have to do a delicate balancing act on the postboxes to get up the last part we would use a large cupboard we found in my room laid across the gap easy to push away if the creatures got up to the landing but solid enough to hold our weight. But 1st we would have to clear the ground and 1st floor flat's Toby and the girls were fairly sure everyone had left but we didn't want to bump into one just because we hadn't been careful plus it would be a good opportunity to scavenge supplies from the other room's. We would start on the 1st floor and then the ground then destroy the staircase what a fun day. Me and Toby both grabbed bat's Jon would take the rifle being the only one of us to have fired a gun before he shot a heron once but it would be a last resort only we didn't want the extra noise to attract them. Lara unlock the door on the landing and we went in. There was an odd smell the smell you always get in buildings like this and you wonder what the hell there cooking in there. Toby dragged the sledgehammer behind him I could tell he was excited to smash something. But hopefully he wouldn't get the chance til the stairs. Maybe I had been reading the how to book to much but I had been looking at the article on picking locks with a paperclip I had tried last night while on watch and got mixed results. I straightened out the paperclip and approached the closest door and knelt down. "2 packs of fags says you cant do it" Toby said gleefully "Your on" I said. I knocked on the door "Hello ghost busters" I yelled Jon gave me a weird look "Like it matters what I say" I replied. After 10 seconds no reply I inserted the pick and Jon and Toby got ready. I gave up after 20mins and pulled out a hammer and screwdriver I inserted the screwdriver and smashed the other end with the hammer taking out the frustration that I had just lost 2 packs of cigs. The lock broke the door opened and I rolled to the left. Nothing. I went in 1st keeping the cricket bat in front of me it was dim in the room all the curtains and doors were closed we cleared it empty of dead or alive occupants. We cleared all 5 room's on the 1st floor it took a couple of hours and was about midday. Lara and Jenna would now move in and scrape the place clean for things we could use. We stopped for a lovely bread sandwich a can of drink and a fag delicious. We repeated the process with the ground floor all was well until we got to the last room. I forced the door and we went in. Bedroom 1st clear Bathroom clear. Down the hallway open the door to the living room/ kitchen Toby was following me to closely and the 2 of us fell in to the room he landed on top of me" get off me you oaf" He got up and I realized the floor was damp I looked at my hand.Red a lot of it. I scrambled to my feet and saw it all 3 of us stood there and gaped. The source of the blood was clear a golf club bent in the middle the corpse with it's head caved in. But the most shocking was the body suspended from the ceiling with rope around the neck a man dressed in a white shirt smeared with red and black trousers barefoot. The most disturbing was the fact it was still moving.It was reaching out as if trying to embrace us it's feet kicking uselessly. "Er what do we do about that?" Toby questioned. It was a good question suspended like that it would be difficult to smash it's head with out getting grabbed we could try and cut it down but then we had the problem of it being mobile shooting it was an option but the dam noise. It started to moan. "Go get your machete and my mop stick" I said Toby ran off to get it. I looked round the room it was simply decorated God awful green wallpaper brown leather sofa and matching chair crammed into the small space along with a TV that looked older than me and Jon put together a small coffee table with pictures scattered on it wedding photo's clearly showing the man who was now intent on trying to unhook himself from the roof and a woman that was probably her on the floor not that you could tell anymore it didn't take a genius to work out what happened here. Toby returned. "O.K here's the plan I'm going to distract it from the front with the stick Toby you climb on the armchair and well you know" He nodded grimly. Jon would cover us. I moved towards it just out of it's reach it got more excited kicking more furiously I prodded it with the pole in the chest it grabbed hold trying to pull me towards it Toby went round as it was focused on me. The fury in it's eyes was like something I had never seen like an animals. No you can see emotion intelligence in an animals eyes here you saw nothing. I was so mesmerized by it that I didn't notice Toby's swing it cut deep but didn't remove the head the thing lost interest in me and tried to twist round to Toby he took another swing the body thudded to the floor the head came lose from the knot and landed on the coffee table. We couldn't believe it it's head was still moving chomping at the bit as if daring us to come closer we watched it 3mins passed still it was moving. The reason for watching and not throwing it out the window was simple information. I poked it with the pole it bit down on it i pulled back and lifted it up in to the air slightly decapitation did not work you had to actually destroy the brain. Jon finished the head off with a carving knife. We headed over to the hanging things body and checked his pockets a wallet and pocket garbage. Nothing else whilst I went through the wallet Jon was looking at the now headless body he lifted up the shirt "Gay" I said "Help me get his trousers off" Jon said not smiling. "Dude necrophilia is not the answer" "Shut up and get them off"I complied we took him down to his skivvy's. "What do you see?" "Your ideal boyfriend I replied?" "Seriously what do you see" I took a second and answered "No bites scratches nothing how did he turn?" "Maybe it's airborne" Toby chimed in. That was a horrifying thought "Maybe it doesn't kick in till your dead and bites just accelerate the process"Jon mused. "Walking dead style" I muttered. Were all infected when you stop breathing you turn"Silence descended on the room. There was not much we could do with our new musings we couldn't prove or disprove any of it. We rolled the body's up in the airing cupboard's bedsheets and used the rope to secure them and dragged them through in to the main entrance way. "Should we say something?" Toby asked. The man's wallet said his name was Mark I couldn't find anything for his wife. "I'll say something then" I said. It's been a while since I said a prayer but Frank and his wife had been wearing matching silver crucifixes so they obviously believed it would be right to say something. "Ah-hem bow your heads and close your eyes Dear God please take you're servant Mark and er Mark's wife in to your loving arms where there will be no suffering or pain this we ask in your name Amen" The other 2 murmured Amen. We unceremoniously dropped the 2 body's on the doorstep of a church round the corner why were there so many churches round here?We would have liked to do a bit more but the dead prevented this. We reentered the flats and the next job began. The staircases were quickly demolished with the sledge hammer and we were soon on the top floor looking down at the mess we created we were safe for now maybe.We hoped. But one thing was left. It was now 5 o clock I had been putting it off for a while now but we had to check on Jane handcuffed in the other room no matter how much I wanted to wanted the problem disappear it wouldn't me and Jon got up. We carefully opened the door and headed towards the living room. I turned the handle "Don't come in!" I jumped back from the door trading on Jon's foot. I recovered my composure " Er are you OK on there I asked?" "No you didn't leave me any fucking toilet paper!" "Oh er sorry about that can we come in" "Hold on OK I'm decent" We entered the room Jane was still handcuffed she had drunk all the water and eaten the food I had left. "You still haven't turned I said can I see your arm" She pulled back defensevley. I knelled beside her "Please Jane" She relaxed and held out her arm. It was unmistakably a bite a human one to so why wasn't she turning? "Jon I need to speak with her do you mind if we do it privately?" He grunted and walked away he couldn't get out of there quick enough it was clear he didn't like Jane not that I could blame him holding kid's hostage does not endear yourself to anyone. "Be back in a sec" I left the room grabbed a couple of things and returned. I emptied her toilet bucket with toilet roll this time some more water and a couple of pot noodles I passed her one and started on mine. "So want to tell me what happened I questioned slurping a noodle that was bigger than I expected. "You know what happened you know it's a bite and you're gonna kill me for it" She started to eat. I sighed "Your not turning you were bitten over 24 hours ago but you are still you you aren't tying to eat my brains but we don't know why we cant let you just wander around the place I am sorry I wish it could be different" I looked down at my noodles they didn't look so good anymore. There was a pause and suddenly " I forgive you" "What?" I looked up shocked " I forgive you and I'm sorry for what I did it wasn't right for me to do that nothing excuses it" She looked down at the floor. "Look how bout we just eat "I said. We did we chatted and told each other about ourselves she used to be a personal trainer at the gym near the shopping center standard back story single lived in a small house near where we found her with a greyhound called Duke he was still there apparently with out food. God I like cats but I also like dog's the thought of it just slowly starving to death got to me. "Whats the address?" I asked. "Why?" "Do you want you're dog back or not?" She gave me the address. Before I left the room I cleaned the bite with antiseptic and put a fresh bandage on I said we would take a vote at 8pm tomorrow night everyone including her would get to give there point of view I would try and get her dog back I un cuffed her hand that was high up on the radiator and lowered it before snapping it shut again so it would be more comfortable. "Good night she said as I went to step out " "Night" I replied without turning round. 10 pm I'm sitting here in the dark watching walls of metal fencing wood cars anything that the locals can get there hands on in Hastings to build a wall against the undead the battle could o either way I know who I would be betting on. Sky had fallen asleep next to me on the sofa halfway through Finding Nemo I picked her up and carried her to the bedroom and tucked her in. "Night night" she muttered rolled over and fell asleep. I half closed the door behind me Jon didn't approve of the idea of going to get a dog but has decided to come with me. I lied down on the sofa and the darkness enveloped me.

K9's And Crook's

So this is what being human is risking our lives for an animal that could be suffering even though we could be killed in the process, The dog will have gone with out food for 3 day's at least common sense would value human life higher than that of a dog's but I could not sit here and imagine it's suffering. Jon pulled up a map on his iPhone the house was less than a mile away. Before we left. The girl's and Toby wished us luck he would be staying behind just in case. "Tom?" "Yes darling" I said loading a few things in to my satchel. "I have something for you?" "What's that?" She came up to me on tip toes and kissed me on the cheek "Come back quickly" "I will be good and look after the cat's we might have a surprise for you when we come back" Her face light up and she hugged me. We left the flat and jogged for 5mins to the car park "Got the house keys?" Jon queried I was notorious for leaving with out them "I'm not an idiot of course I have them" We jumped in and headed off. The drive took a lot longer than it should have done having to drive round corpses tends to ruins your early morning commute but we pulled up outside with no incident. "Right I'm gonna head in you drive round til I call sound like a plan?" "Got it don't get your arse bit though" "I would never let that happen it's my best feature" "Much better than your face anyway" I laughed and got out the street was clear it was a short road with about 15 houses in all with well maintained front gardens apart from the one I was heading to which was overgrown wild and looked more like wasteland with the brown grass and overgrown hedge. I approached the door and knocked I heard soft barking inside. The dog was OK that cheered me up a bit. Instead of the front door I unlocked the wooden side door so i would not be noticed on the street's I poked my head through it seemed clear and I headed in. The back garden had been completely concreted over looking more like an abandoned industrialized zone than a place to be enjoyed it was bear with only a couple of wheelie bins and a 6ft stone wall. I approached the glass sliding doors the blinds were down so I could not see inside. This didn't worry me the house looked secure so i doubted anything was in there I inserted the key and opened it up slowly and headed in. I was in the dining room a large oak table with 6 chairs surrounded it I closed the door behind me. It struck me as I was standing there I had no idea if this dog was friendly oh well time to find out I made my way out of the dining room and to the hallway SQUELCH I looked down I had trodden in dog shit lovely. Then something came racing down the stairs and jumped up at me. "I guess your Duke then?" The dog slobbered all over me "I bet your starving come on then" I stood up and walked back in to the dining room and fished some dry food and tinned food and poured it in to a bowl it stank worse than the dog shit i trod in Duke didn't seem to mind he barked appreciation and proceeded to wolf it down as I got him some water. After feeding Duke I went upstairs pulled out a couple of travel bags Jane had mentioned a few things we might find useful as well as asking for some clothes I piled all those in along with Duke's food and bowls when he was done. I pulled the lead from a nail in the wall "How bout a walk?" He jumped up again obviously eager for me to attach it "O.K ready?" Woof. "Great" I slid the back door open again and locked it behind me but this time the garden wasn't as bear. There was one of them just standing looking at me how did it get in? I locked the side door it advanced at a run not zombie human as soon as this thought hit me so did the human he was a good deal bigger than me at least a good half foot and an extra 3 stones we went back and through the glass his head was trying to get my throat he was trying to bit me what the hell was this guy doing? I kneed him in the balls a groan escaped his lips and he fell to the floor not a zombie moan and the balls aren't there weakness he was curled up in the fetal position groaning I walked over to him " Hey you snap out of it" He looked up and groaned it was a good impression of a zombie moan but this guy was definatley human his eyes he was bleeding that meant the hurt was beating. I had an idea I took a photo of him and turned to leave he wasn't getting up soon. I picked up Duke's leash and the 2 two travel bag's and my phone rang "Are you done he asked?" Urgency rang through his voice "What's happened? "Toby just called people are at our front door and they want in and are threatening to break the door down" " Fuck there going to lead the dam things straight to us I'm good to go got the dog you outside?" "Ready and waiting" I ran out in to the street opened the back door of the fiesta threw Duke and the bag's in closed the door an hopped in the front. "We have the rifle right" I asked Jon nodded as we sped to for home. We Decided not to park in the usual place but bring the car to the flats maybe the dead we attract would force the people away we didn't have enough for ourselves let alone more. We pulled up I stepped out the car. The group was 10 strong armed with an assortment of bats and knives dressed in tracksuit bottom's jean's and bargain basement t-shirt's and coats. They turned as I stepped out. "I'm sorry guy's but there is no more space here we cant take anyone else" I said calmly and confidently. "Were not asking" The biggest one and obviously the leader said he had a blue and white track suit top jeans and Adidas trainers on and a wooly hat over what I think was a shaved head. " Neither was I" The group laughed "Oh so your going to stop us" He advanced towards me he had a crowbar in his hand. "Actually I hoped you would respond to my good manners and politeness" Another laugh erupted from the group. The man smiled he was missing his left front tooth he started to turn away then suddenly he swung the arm that had the crowbar at my head I stepped back and staggered just keeping my balance. The group roared with approval again. I dropped to a knee to regain my balance the man advanced he he stuck his head down to my level that was when I struck. The front drive was lightly graveled I had gathered some up and threw it in his face he staggered blindly dropping his crow bar I picked it up and smashed it in to his stomach he groaned lowering his head I booted him in the face he went down. His group look shocked "Take your friend here and get out" The group looked in 2 minds then a bang rang out I looked towards the car Jon was out and had the rifle perched on the edge "1st shots in the air second blow's your face off" he said. The group took off running only delayed by helping there boss up and carrying him away he was cursing loudly. "Never knew you were such a good negotiator" I said "It's amazing how much more reasonable people are when you can blow there heads off" We chuckled phoned Toby to let us in unpacked the car and entered. Turns out Toby was right by the front door with the shotgun the girls and Sky had taken refuge upstairs they had managed to keep Sky in the dark over what was happening. We explained to the girls what had happened and took turns petting the dog Sky obviously being the most enthusiastic. I headed in to Jane's room to test an idea I knocked "Come in" Jane was flicking through one of the magazines "I got you a present" Duke barreled into the room slobbering on his owner delighted to see her. After 5mins of baby noises the greyhound settled down and rested his head on her lap eyes half closed I sat down on the floor. "The creature that attacked you would you recognize it if you saw it again" I inquired "I could never forget that thing it was so different from the others" "Describe it to me" "Why?" "Because you may not be infected" The answer struck her in to silence she quickly recovered and described the one that attacked me at the house to a tee from the look in it's eye the clothes the way it moved. I showed her pictures of zombies on my phone she instantly picked out the one that attacked me at the house again. "That was a human" I said. "How do you know?" she replied. "I kicked it in the crotch and it muttered oh fuck Jesus Christ don't think normal zombies do that" "So I can come out and stay here now unlocked from the radiator" The look of hope in her eyes was powerful. "I said yesterday if you weren't infected there would be a vote your not infected so there will be a vote" She nodded glumly and looked at the dog he seemed happy "We are gonna eat then we will all come in and discuss what to do next o.k?" She nodded. We ate then the politics began every one had a chance to say there part but Jane would not get a vote we voted and the decision was in.

Human's are worse than Zombie's

They are back. I woke up early this morning and heard shouting I woke Jon and Toby we headed downstairs. On our way downstairs we heard glass smash Toby had grabbed the shotgun Jon the rifle we hopped down the now destroyed staircase to the lobby. Someone was poking there head through Jon ran up and proceeded to shove the barrel of the the rifle into there face. The head quickly withdrew. I stepped up to the door. The man who had stuck his face through the door was the guy who was missing his front tooth yesterday now after meeting me it looked like he was missing both. "Yes gentleman can we help you?" I said lightheartedly. "You prick" The man went to grab me through the window but soon reconsidered when he saw Toby with a shotgun aimed at him. "You wont pull the trigger" Tooth said. " Why not try and step inside then?" I asked. He stood there and considered me for a moment. "You are leaving us out here to die" "I'm sorry but we cant take any more and I don't trust you" He looked angry but kept his cool. A creak came from above us Jenna was making her way down the stairs. Tooth saw her "Hello darling why don't you come out here and meet a real man?" Toby did not react well to this moving forward I brought my hand up to stop him. "Look we can have this pissing contest all day but it's not going to change the fact you are not coming in" I tried to look intimidating we eyeballed each other from across the door. I could here barking suddenly Tooth stepped aside another member of the group was holding two pit-bulls by there collars. "Let us in or we send them in" He said slowly his voice dripped with malice. I didn't know what to do. "Get upstairs" I whispered to Jon. We began to walk away. "Times up" The dog's were let loose they came barreling towards the door Jon aimed and shot hitting one of the dog's the second though got through i stepped aside and it missed me I took a swing with my baton and missed. The lobby is a small enclosed space not the best place to combat a dog Jon and Toby could not fire with out risking hitting one of us. A scream the dog had locked on to Jenna's leg. She was shaking it but it's grip was iron tight. I ran over and booted the dog with my steel toe capped boot's I felt rib's crack. It flew across the room and hit the wall.I snatched the rifle from Jon went to the door and unloaded at the scum that was outside the gun had a 10 round clip I'm not sure if I hit anyone but they took off running and there was blood on the floor. I turned round Jon and Toby were looking at Jenna's leg. I went to look at the dog it was lying on it's side struggling to breathe it whimpered as I got closer. It was not the dog's fault humans had taught it to do this I stroked it's head as I plunged my knife in to it's skull. We carried Jenna upstairs and laid her down on a sofa the wound was large ragged. Jane came in and told us to get out of the way. We managed to stop the bleeding and Jane cleaned the wound the best she could. Toby stayed with her me and Jon went back downstairs and cleaned up the mess using some old wooden panels to fix the window. "Told you she would come in handy" I said to Jon as he hammered the last panel in to place. He grunted. Jane was allowed to stay by the group unanimously in the end Jon was the last to agree but he had agreed.Jane had instantly started work keeping the room we had quarantined her in as her own she started he;ping with the washing and cooking and in the last week since that vote had happened drawn up a fitness regime for all of us mainly cardio so we could outrun the dead. We finished barricading the door and headed upstairs Jon would wait on the 1st floor with the rifle just in case they decided to com back. Wen I got up top Sky was waiting for me "Tom come look at my drawing" "In a sec I need to go check on Jenna" "Is she OK?" Concern growing in her voice. "I'm sure she will be fine why don't you go pick out the pictures you want me to look at 1st?" She smiled and ran off.
6pm Jenna is not doing to well she has a high fever and the wound look's infected.
10am No improvement in Jenna fever is still high.
11am We have made a difficult choice someone is going to have to go to the hospital to get antibiotic's this is dangerous not only because it is a hospital full of undead but the fact Tooth and his gang could reappear while were gone so we need to send a weaker team to the hospital. I have to go I know where everything is Jon is also coming he has been teaching Jane and Toby how to use the weapons better without expending ammo of course. Before we left I spent time with Sky looking at her pictures she drew one of her house her mom and dad and me she got the bad haircut down perfectly we were all standing outside in the garden no zombies around no nothing the sun was even smiling. I put them up on the wall and gave her some math and History homework to do whilst I'm out because I'm mean like that she pulled a face but got started. Jon and Toby were waiting for me on the 1st floor. "Don't worry dude we got this" I said throwing a bat to Jon. "If you don't come back with the stuff I'm kicking your arse" he said. Me and Jon headed down and out the door in to an undead world.
1pm We arrived at the hospital. We headed in to the underground parking area we elected to walk due to the possibility of cars blocking the way we encountered large number's of undead but they were avoided. The door to the parking area slammed shut behind us. We started to walk through "So where are we heading Jon asked?" "We need to go through here up a flight of stairs jump the pharmacy counter and find antibiotics then straight back out simple right?" Not a second after I completed that sentence did the moans begin hundreds begin piling down the ramp we had just walked past "Fuck run to the door on the far side" We got to the large door and pulled it open the card readers didn't seem to be active but the place still had power. We ran down the corridor and up the flight of stairs where me and a zombie a week or so previous had gone for a tumble. We got to the top of the stairs and saw the pharmacy we hurdled the counter one was waiting on the other side I pulled out the crowbar I got from Tooth and jammed it in to it;s eye socket it dropped. We rummaged through the shelves looking for what we needed we had printed off a list of various antibiotics and had memorized them on the trek over. "Got it Jon said" "Awesome now grab what you can and let's get the fuck out I don't want to come back here again" We filled our bags and moved to jump the counter. What we had failed to notice was a mini sea of undead now surrounded the pharmacy front I pulled down the security screen to stop them climbing over Jon headed to a door in the back he pulled it open a pair of undead arm's shot round grasping for us Jon slammed his weight against the door I ran over and managed to smack the arms back with the baton the door closed and locked. I looked up at the ceiling way out of my reach to climb up undead at the front and at the back we were trapped.

Alone

The sea of undead in front of us was growing larger, there fists pummeling on the screen. The door to the back was no better the numbers banging against the door, panic ran through my head there was no way out we couldn't get out. I sat down on a table Jon put his back pack on the ground and started rummaging through it as I stared out the screen. I looked around for something we could use. Nutty ideas ran through my head but one jumped out.Jon was following my train of thought I grabbed a microwave on the opposite table and found an extension cord and plugged it in. Jon pulled out a small container of petrol we then proceeded to put any flammable medical item we could find inside along with a scalpel to spark. Jon pulled a small oxygen cylinder next to the counter and I carried the microwave. "O.k on the count of 3 lift the screen chuck the microwave and the oxygen tank duck cross your finger's and have a little cry" I said. "Sound's like a plan" Jon groaned lifting up the cylinder. "O.K 1..2..3" I pushed the screen up Jon hit the cook button on the microwave and shoved it out and I pushed out the tank I tried to pull the screen back down but a couple of creatures were spread eagled on the counter I pulled it down as far as it would go and me and Jon ducked down. "Think it will work?" I asked. "Well if not we are utterly fucked" What setting did you put it on?" "Popcorn" "Theirs a joke in there I know i.." An explosion interrupted me all though we were ducked behind the counter we felt the shock-wave pass over us and saw a flash of fire and flying glass as soon as it faded we stood up and leaped over. The sea that was there before was not completely destroyed by any means but it had taken off limb's and floored them allowing us to run through. The way towards the main entrance was still choked with dead so we went straight which was still not much better I grabbed a cleaning trolley and pushed it in front of me straight in to there midst Jon was behind me. We slammed in to the crowd I jumped up on the trolley ran across kicked a creature in the face feeling it's teeth snap and jumped off. The route ahead of us was more clear we closed a set of double door's and put a nearby chair through the handles slowing the dead at least for a little while. We stopped to catch our breath. "Which way is it?" "Back the way we came but I dont think our buddy's will let us through the only other way is to go down 2 floor's and head out the loading bay" Something snapped not the door we blocked but the door in between me and Jon. Dead spilled out we both backed up Jon was near the stairs and the way out but between me and him a dozen undead there eyes locked on me. Jon moved forward to attack "No don't I know the hospital I will find a way out" Jon looked like he wanted to say something before he could I shouted to make myself heard over the dead "Get out wait an hour if I'm not back by then head home" Jon looked solemn but nodded "See you in a bit then" He yelled "Yeah no worries I called back" The sound of wood splintering drew my attention away from Jon as he dissapeared down the stairs. The door we blocked was starting to give. I headed down the corridor the dead here were mercifully thin and easily avoidable I made my way to another stair well and peaked through the glass. I couldn't see anything on the other side so I opened it. Dam. The stairs did not go down only up but if I went up I could probably make my way round and back down avoiding the horde. I couldn't see another option so went up to the 1st floor. I burst through onto the floor just in time to see something large and red come flashing at me. It hit me pain erupted from my forehead blood trickled down it felt like someone had hit me with a brick. The source of the object was clear a creature 10 feet away was now shambling towards me as my head began to spin I fought to remain conscious. I looked down at the floor fire extinguisher that was what hit me I backed up to the stair well door and reached in to my satchel. 5 feet away. 4. 3. THWIP!. The creature stopped and dropped to it's knees before collapsing. I slid back against the door my crossbow dropping next to me the practice had been worth it. I'm not sure how long I sat there on the floor I pulled myself up and retrieved my bolt a bloody task as it had pierced the eye ball. I staggered down the corridor clutching my head I was seeing double. I looked through door windows seeing undead occupants in all of them. Near the end of the corridor I found a room with no one in it I tried the handle it was open I poked my crossbow in 1st and scanned the room. Just an office books lining 2 walls the 3rd was a large window with the blinds drawn across. A handsome mahogany desk with a swivel leather chair faced opposite the window. So this is where the NHS budget went. I locked the door and dropped the shade behind me and lumbered to the desk putting my crossbow on the table and sat on the chair. There was a mini fridge with bottled water I opened one up and looked to see if we had any pain killers in the bag I was in luck I swallowed 4 of whatever they were and reclined the char the room started to spin just a second that's all I need just 1 second.
I awoke with a start snatched up my crossbow and fired. The bolt hit the door nothing was there no banging nothing. My head was pounding. I searched my pockets for my phone not there crap must of dropped it. I looked at the clock on the wall 8:15 I was out for a while. I stood up and the room span again making me sit. I tried to log on to the pc but it was password protected. In a fit of rage I threw every single item on the desk on to the floor. It made a satisfying smash as it hit the floor. Bang Bang Bang. Dam that was a mistake I wandered over to the door and pulled back the shade. Dead eyes greeted me. I backed away and looked at the ceiling solid shit I ran over to the wall window a 25ft drop on a dark night greeted me. I picked up my crossbow retrieved the bolt from the wall and put it in my satchel. I walked back to the window extended the baton and hit the window. It took a few hits before I had a large enough hole to climb through. O.K I can do this I have done it in video games a million times OH CRAP I'M GOING TO DIE!! I never liked height's I got vertigo looking out of the hospital window sometimes on a normal work day let alone throwing myself out of one,the door splintered and I jumped. As I fell the rules for surviving a high drop ran through my head knowledge I had gained when I was bored one night. Land on the balls of your feet lean forward and roll protect your head all good advice but organizing that as you are falling is hard. The ground rose to greet me and I hit it rolling on impact. I landed flat on my back winded. I realized I was alive and coughed that turned i to a laugh I gazed up at the sky chuckling "Ha ha ha OH FUCK!!!!" I rolled to the right as a creature hit the ground where I was a fraction of a second ago. Still laughing I got up booted the creature in the head and looked back up at the window. A few more dead were taking the plunge I stepped away and let gravity do the work for me. Jon better not have waited for me. I headed off site through the woods following the main road past the Tesco's. It was dark the street light's still had power that was something but it wold be dangerous to travel like this my head was still giving me trouble occasionally I felt dizzy and my vision blurred. All though I wanted to get back and make sure no one worried I wanted to come back most of all they would just have to forgive me. I selected a 2 floor detached house for my home away from home I broke open the back door with the crow bar and swept the downstairs empty I headed upstairs and cleared it. One door left I knocked no response. I pushed the door open aiming my flashlight in closely followed by the crossbow. The light swept the bedroom. A body. On the bed was a man in in his late 40's in blue overalls he had a good week's worth of stubble that matched his long greasy jet black hair. Jack was on the name tag he didn't seem dead. I moved closer the flashlight illuminated the bed more clearly. Blood was splashed on the white sheets. I backed off and stuck my head under the bed nothing there I sat back up and looked closer. The source of the blood soon became evident a large knife and cut wrists. I took a step closer to him and cautiously put my hand on his neck. I found a weak pulse.

Side Tracked

Jon was almost home. He had waited an hour for Tom then another hour and another it was 7 o clock when he finally left the hospital grounds and had started to head back. He had managed to escape through the loading bay but a group of undead had followed him out preventing him from re entering the building with the main entrance being packed with undead and it would be suicidal to enter through another exit as he did not know the layout of the hospital. Jon hit the call button on the door and was buzzed in. What was he going to say to everyone? How would he explain this to Sky? She had started coming out of her shell lately after she had lost her father in the last stand no one had the heart to ask her about her mother. Jon climbed up the stairs, Toby met him at the top. They searched through the bag luckily there were some antibiotics in the bag and Tom had not been carrying all of it. Toby did not seem to notice Tom's absence probably thinking he was still downstairs. Toby rushed off to give the medicine to Jenna Jon sat down at the top of the stairs his leg's dangling over the edge. Jane appeared at the doorway and looked at him but didn't come over she was still scared of him she looked like she wanted to ask but instead walked away. Sky appeared running out on to the landing eyes wide and bright at seeing his return "Where's Tom I did my math stuff he said he wanted to check it before I could watch a film..." She stopped talking and looked round desperately looking for any sign of Tom,tears formed in her eyes. "Where is he?" she cried. Jon didn't know what to say to her this is the second time she had her heart broken in less than a month. She sat down. Next to him and sobbed.
Blood was every where on the bed on this guy who ever he was on the floor and on me. I know sweet fuck all about medicine 8 seasons of house and 7 seasons of scrubs is the total of my medical knowledge. The guy was pale as the white sheets the parts that were not covered in blood anyway. I looked in the wardrobe and found what I hoped were not this guys best shirts ripped them in to strips and tied them round the man's wrists.I was conflicted about what to do.I had seen the man we discovered in the flat had turned with out being bitten. The bleeding seemed to have stopped and there was still a pulse so i was safe for now I took the handcuff's out from my satchel and handcuffed the man to the headboard. I then proceeded to wander round the house, I was unable to find a mobile phone or a house phone to call home but I did find a pack of biscuit's which I quickly tore through. I decided to sleep outside the room the man was in not wanting him to possibly turn while I was in the room. I took a few cushions from the sofa and placed them outside the room to settle down. I laid down and closed my eyes my head was still throbbing and I was still getting blurred vision occasionally I don't think you are meant to fall asleep with a possible concussion but there was no doctor here to lecture me otherwise I drifted off staring at the door.
The mood in the flat was somber Jon had tried to call Tom's phone multiple times no response. Sky had ran off to her room earlier and all attempts to try and comfort her had failed. Jon Jane Lara and Toby had gathered round the living room table with a bottle of vodka attempting to drown out Tom's screamingly loud absence. Jenna was still asleep but it seemed her condition was improving her fever had gone down and she had woken up briefly for some water and to take more antibiotics. "We go look for him" Toby said finishing his vodka and slamming the glass down on the table. "That's suicide there is to many of them" Jon replied not looking up from his glass. "Well we cant sit here and do fuck all he is out there some where he would come looking for us hell he went out looking for a dog" Toby jabbed his fingers in Duke's direction who was curled up at Jane's feet. Lara spoke next "I think we should look for him but not now we should wait till tomorrow" "N0!" Jon stood up from the table almost knocking the bottle over. "It's to dangerous we go back we get killed of Tom's alive he will make it back if not then" Jon's voice trailed off everyone looked at him he stormed out the room he spent that night sitting outside Sky's room neither of them could sleep she stared at the ceiling he sat and drank.
2 Day's Later
"Can I get one of those?" The voice scared the living hell out of me I looked over to the bed he was awake. He still looked like crap but alive. I threw him a cigarette and cautiously leaned over him to light it. "Are you thirsty? Hungry?" I asked. The man shook his head "No food in the house but a drink of water would be nice if we have it" I threw him my water bottle he attempted to catch it with his cuffed hand he looked shocked and turned to me. "Yeah sorry about that cant be to careful" I said moving over to uncuff him. "I have seen people turn with out getting bitten" "Me to" There was a long pause "I'm Tom" "Jack so Tom what brings you to my humble abode?" I explained what had happened at the hospital how I had broken in looking for a safe place to stay only to discover him and spend the next 2 day's trying to get him better. "I don't know why you bothered me and you are probably the only 2 people left" "No were not" Jack's face was shocked. "That's why we were at the hospital a friend of ours was hurt we went looking for medicine we got separated" A smash stopped the conversation the sound of glass breaking. "I looked at Jack can you walk do you have a weapon?" He nodded he could walk but did not have a weapon. "O.K you have 2 choices duded wait here for certain death or come with me and probable death" "Well when you put it like that guess I'm coming with you" he said. Whilst wandering round the house I had found the garage attached to the house found the key's in the kitchen and it had half a tank there was also a large amount of tool's that were obviously part of Jack's trade I had piled them and a few other item's in to the ancient Vauxhall Astra. We headed downstairs the sound was coming from the living room I could here voices. Shit people not dead. We got to the garage and I went to the door to pull it open as Jack started the engine. The door opened and right on the other side were 3 men the 1st one looked at me in shock ans so did I he recovered 1st he punched me square i the face. My legs wobbled I tried to reach for my baton but he delivered another punch to my stomach and i dropped to my knee's. "And where do you think you are going?" he said in a sneering voice. "You pissed off the boss man the other day and he want's a word with you" I started to panic was he talking about tooth? If he was I don't think I would be surviving this little chat. I rolled back in to the garage away from my attacker I would not be able to get in the car quick enough before they pulled me out kicked the crap out of me instead I moved to a metalwork table the 1st man laughed and he entered the garage the other 2 moved up blocking the exit. He got closer to me. Behind my back I had been pulling the lid off a tin unsure what it was. He grabbed hold of me and put his face right up to mine. "O.K I give up I said just don't hurt me" He laughed "And why would I do that?" "Because I'm a really nice guy but most of all because asked nicely" He roared with laughter again I took this opportunity to pull the tin round from behind my back turn my head and spray WD-40 in to his face. He screamed rubbing his eyes letting me go he dropped to his knees and I put one of mine in his face. Jack took this opportunity to gun the engine and drive straight at the 2 guys on the door they both dived for safety. I ran past them jumped in the car and we sped off. Jack was laughing "That didn't seem very fair" he said. I laughed to despite my aching head "I don't believe in fair I believe in winning take a left here" Jack laughed again as we headed home.

Home Coming

"So what happened with you back there?" I asked throwing Jack a cigarette. "What do you mean" Not taking his eyes off the road that was thinly coated with dead. "The wrists dude I cant invite a mentally unstable guy into our midst you know I have people to protect" He sighed "I have... had a wife and kid a little girl Emmy she was 7 years old we had such a hard time getting pregnant Tammi my wife had given up on having kids but against all odd's it happened. Tammi was taken Em to school I was still in bed didn't have a chance to say goodbye. Scream's woke me up I went outside and they were being attacked by those thing's. I managed to get them in to the car and drive them to the hospital but the place got overrun... I saw them walking around dead but attacking people. I escaped got back here and drank myself stupid then well you can see for yourself what happened". I listened in silence and nodded. "Look Jack I'm not going to lie to you and say I know how you are feeling I don't I have not lost any of my family yet but you seem like a stand up guy we have a place you can stay and people there all a lot younger than you but there a good group" He nodded but didn't say anything. "We also have more booze" I joked. "I think I have had enough for 1 lifetime" He smiled. We parked the car next to the Fiesta so someone was still home inside the flat's we grabbed the tool's and headed off. "Dude what the hell do you do with half this stuff? It weighs a dam tonne" I asked. "Half of it was never used" he said. We got to the front door of the flats and it was obvious something was wrong the door entrance way was scorched I put the bag's down and cautiously put the bag's down and approached the door of someone was on watch I didn't want them blowing my head off. I pressed the call button no response I pressed it again after 5 attempt's I gave up and poked my head through the broken glass window. Toby shoved the barrel of the shotgun against my temple. "And it's nice to see you to" I said Toby put the gun down pulled me through the door and hugged me then punched me in the arm "Don't you fucking do that again" I laughed and prised myself from his grip. "I wont but I made a new friend" Jack pulled his way through the glass with the bag's. "Thanks for the help he said" I helped him to his feet. Jon Lara and Jane soon followed down the stairs hugs kisses and introductions flowed for the next 5 mins. We grabbed the new equipment and headed upstairs. There was only 1 person I wanted to see. "Wheres Sky?" I asked Jon. "In her room she's pretty upset she has barely eaten or left her bed" I nodded and entered my flat and opened the bedroom door. The light's were off and the curtains closed a lump was in the middle of the bed facing away from the door"Go away I don't want to talk to anyone!!" "Well I will just go away then" I said laughing. Sky jumped up from the bed and jumped to hug me saying she missed me and thought i was gone forever. She also yelled at me for making me worry I apologized and she proceeded to show me the homework I had given her and the pictures she had drawn. I introduced her to Jack and they seemed to immediately hit it off not surprising since he has had a girl her age. It was midday and we all settled down for lunch Pot Noodle all round but it was the best thing I had eaten in ages. The morale has improved dramatically even Jack told a few joke's. After lunch I had a shower washing grime and dried blood from the previous few day's. I got dressed and found Toby and Jon waiting for me. "This can only be good new's" I said. We sat down and Jon started talking "The day after I got back someone but I think we can all guess who threw a petrol bomb throw the window we managed to put it out but a brick came flying through the window with a note attached to it" What did it say?" Jon passed me a folded piece of lined white paper.
MEET 7:00PM FRIDAY ROYAL VICTORIA PLACE TOP FLOOR COME ALONE USE THE FOOD COURT ENTRANCE
You have been a pain in are arse but we just wanna talk to yous
"See what I mean?" Jon said. "I can see the grammar is terrible get rid of spell check and the world go's mad" A small snigger from Toby. "Well if only one of us can go then I'm going I said" I will skip over the argument that followed as it was the same old argument again but suffice to say there was plenty of swearing. Today was Wednesday that left us 2 day's Jon had gone to check the state of Royal Victoria Place a small shopping center and found the place securely locked down no living or dead inside. It was unlikely that this was there main base as this place would be very difficult to defend and we had seen them retreat in the opposite direction the other day. Every one would stay except me just in case this was a trap to leave the place undefended. Later I headed down to the 1st floor with Jack to help him pick out a room he selected one and I helped him move his tools and the few personal possessions he had managed to take with him. When we were done the place looked like a car repair garage. Jack had told me before all this happened he had been an inventor/engineer and enjoyed tinkering with things I asked him Jokingly if he could make me some ultra cool zombie killing weapons "O.K" he said. "Dude I was joking" I said. "Give me your boot's and your baton" He was serious I passed him my boots and baton and he started to measure.
The next day was very relaxed despite knowing what I had to do tomorrow. We checked our supplies read did some cooking I drew pictures with Sky who soon ran off to see why Jack was in his room all day. I checked on her after an hour and found her sitting on a des watching Jack taking part of my boot apart. "She isn't bothering you is she?" I worried that Jack might not do to well with having a girl the same age as his daughter hanging round him. Instead he looked up and smiled "No it's fine really" I shrugged "O.K be good" "I will" They both replied causing them to both degenerate in to giggles.
After dinner I went to see Jack again bringing him down a sandwich Sky had fallen asleep on the sofa and had a coat draped over her. "Hey I got you some food" He turned to look at me. He looked a lot better the colour had returned to his face the bags and lines seemed to have faded he looked more his age of 37 rather than his 50's like the other day. He smiled and demolished the sandwich. "Are you O.K with her in here I asked?" Motioning towards Sky. "Yes she's fine she reminds me a lot of Em" He smiled wistfully. "Just checking how's my zombie killing shit coming along?" Changing the subject. "It should be ready for you tomorrow but I'm not going to ruin the suprise are you sure you don't want someone to come with you?" "No I'll be fine always have been in the past don't see why tomorrow would be any different" "Your luck may run out" "Well I try not to worry about things I cant do anything about did you ever hear that poem from world war 1 soldiers?" "No how does it go?" "When you are a soldier you can be one of 2 things safe or not safe if you are safe don't worry. If you are not safe you will be one of two things injured or not injured if you are not injured don't worry. If you are injured one of 2 things will happen you will die or you will recover if you recover don't worry if you die you cant worry there fore a soldier never worries" Jack laughed. I scooped up Sky said goodnight to Jack and headed upstairs. I put Sky to bed and settled down on the sofa. There were no TV channels still transmitting some just had static others just showed dead sets literally dead sets with the former crew wandering around the stage. The odd radio station was still up most of it pleas for help from my miles away or just the same prerecorded music over and over again. I settled on to the sofa as the apocalypse howled around me.

And So We Meet Again

I woke up late the day of the proposed meeting, everyone seemed to want me to get some rest. Jon and Toby had left early in the morning to scavenge from a few local shops they didn't find much a few tins and that was about it. Considering that we have 3 more people than we planned on having our supplies are holding out well but soon we will have to travel further to scavenge for food we have already made plans to head to a few garden stores to get seeds and anything else we could possibly grow so we have a more reliable food supply. I gave Sky some new homework basic maths she started on it cheerfully she seemed happy just to have me back so she didn't complain. Ty Jenna and Lara were doing washing up and various other laundry bits and pieces. I headed downstairs to see Jack. Jack's room had now gone from looking like a garage to Q's lab. Wiring pieces of metal and tools I had never seen before scattered everywhere. He looked up from what looked like a half disassembled TV and laughed at the look on my face. "Come in come in morning careful where you step I dropped some glass earlier cant quite remember where it was though" CRUNCH "Ah there it is" I lifted up my shoe and saw the TV's screen below it. "Do you sleep?" I asked. "Cant sleep when you found me the other day I was well lets just say in a bad place but now" He waves his arms around. "Look I have all this!"I looked at the junk that had piled up remarkably quickly "Er.. yeah it's certainly something" I said. Jack chuckled "O.K Mr skeptical come see what I did to your stuff. He wandered over to one of the tables and picked up my boot's. "Well when I saw them yesterday they were in pieces the fact there back together now is a large improvement and you polished them" I laughed. "I have done more than that I cut in to the boot's and reinforced it with thin pieces of metal so they should be bite proof" I nodded my head "Cool" "You look dissapointed" Before I could respond he picked the left boot up and tapped the back of the heel. A large steel spike came shooting out stayed there for a few seconds before retracting back in to the boot. "Shit that's what I'm talking about" I was like a 12 year old after the latest toy commercial. "I call it the stiletto very simple to use kick the heel it pop's out impales whats on the ever end should go through bone quite easily powering it was difficult we don't have any compressed air so I have taken an idea from self powering watches use it and after a few steps the clockwork built into the built will store up tension and it will be useable again after 20 steps or so just try not to impale your own foot." "I'll do my best" I said carefully putting on the boots and testing the boot spike. I looked up at Jack eagerly expecting more he obliged. "Your baton on the other hand was more difficult I haven't tested it yet would you like to try?" "It's not going to blow up in my hand is it?" I said. "It shouldn't do here" He handed me the baton it was heavier than I remember it being and the pole was now a metal silver instead of black on the handle was a small red button. "O.K come over here to the table" He lead me over to a small kitchen table propped up against a wall. "Now extend the baton" I extended it it seemed the same as before but now there was a spike at the top about half the size of the stiletto but this one was hollow. "Now as I'm sure you know these were designed to be non lethal so I made a new shaft of steel and attached a hollow spike at the end now jam the spike in to the table and press the red button. I rammed the spike into the table it pierced easily and pressed the button a dull POOF came from the baton and I heard something imbed itself in the wall. I pulled the table away and looked at the wall what looked like a ball bearing had gone a good 2 inches through. "Yes I have given you an improvised gun but I recommend you impale with the spike before pulling the trigger at range it can be unwieldy and then of course there is the reloading" He held up what looked like an Alan key. "Reloading is simple but takes time simply slide away the bottom of the baton insert a new ball then use the key to turn the clockwork to get it ready for another shot. I nodded "Awesome so one shot deal for close encounters and quiet should come in handy but you do realize when Jon see's this he will want something to" I joked. "Already got something for him and Toby" Jack moved back to his work bench and picked up a mutilated cricket bat. "As you can see theses are already starting to show the signs of wear and tear soon they will be unusable so I have adapted them into these. He picked up another 2 bat's but these were different the handle and the left side were still the original bat but the wood looked like it had been reinforced with steel and ball bearings were poking out of it creating points for the impact to focus on. The other half was now a razor sharp piece of metal. "Blunt force on one side a slicer on the other think they will like it?" I took a few swing's with it "I think they will love it thanks Jack" "Oh I have 1 more thing for you here" He passed me my gloves. "I have reinforced them as much as I can without constricting movement of the hand should hold up pretty well to a bite" I nodded thanked Jack again and promised to send Sky down to keep him company as long as they didn't blow the place up. I felt a bit better about what I had to do later the new inventions made me feel safer.
6:30 PM
I said my goodbyes to everyone and checked my new equipment I had been practicing with it since I got it. I looked in the mirror Lara had cut my hair it was now a number 3 all over and I had spiked it up I don't think anyone will be judging my appearance but the new style will make it more difficult for me to be grabbed by the dead. I looked back at my reflection and the person staring back was unfamiliar I had a beard not a full beard but then I had never been able to grow a full one, despite the rationed food I had bulked up considerably mainly due to the exercise regimes Jane had been subjecting us to my arms now actually looked looked like they had muscle and not just matchsticks. I kissed Sky on the cheek goodbye she didn't seem to mind me going so much this time she was going to hang round with Jack til I got back on the condition she would behave herself. Jon offered me one of the guns but I turned it down just in case this was a trick to attack while I was away. I exited the flats and started the 5 min jog up the road to the shopping center. "Wait" I turned round Jane was chasing after me. "I'm coming with you" "No you are not stay here they will need you" "Toby and Jon can look after the place they don't need me it does not matter what you say I'm going to follow you anyway" I rolled my eyes "Fine but stay close to me are you armed?" She shook her head I passed her one of the crowbars and we continued on our way.
The shopping center is set on 3 floors the 1st being the food court and the other 2 just various shops. It was small compared to other shopping centers but I didn't like big cities I hated London even before it became overrun by undead this place was big enough for me. We got to the food court entrance and as the note said it was unlocked we opened the door and jammed a mop through the handles on the other side this place seemed clear of the dead we didn't want to worry about them as well as a possible maniac howling for our blood. "O.K go take cover behind one of the restaurant counters if I need you I will give you a signal" "What's the signal?" Jane asked. "How about please help I'm dying?" "Not funny" "It was a little funny and it get's the message across" She rolled her eyes and hopped over the counter of one of the burger joint's. The light's were on in the shopping center but the escalators were not switched on I couldn't see anyone down here so I headed up to the 1st floor and wandered round past various shops all the shutters were up but no one was here I helped myself to a few DVDs while I was at it. I took the stairs to the top floor and was just outside the sports shop I was weighing up the idea of grabbing a few things when I saw someone. He was sitting with his back to me in a cafe that was situated in the walkway between shops a coffee in one hand and a packet of crisps in the other he didn't seem to have noticed me. I made my way over to him he was not what I expected he was wearing a grey suit with a white suit all ironed and clean with immaculately groomed short brown hair with wisps of grey coming through. Compared to me in my black coat green long sleeved t-shirt and jeans I felt like I was extremely under dressed. When I was with in 20 feet of him with out turning round "Your late" There was a clear hint of annoyance in his voice. "I walked round the tables until I was in front of the man the suit could not have been more of a contrast to the mans face. Bruises scrapes and a nose that looked like it had been broken reset broken again and then trodden on was unevenly spread all over his face he had hard case written all over him. I sat down opposite him pulling out one of the cheap brown seats and taking off my satchel I didn't want it impeding me if this turned nasty. "Sorry the end of the world delayed me" I responded sarcastically. He did not rise to my comment instead just sniffed. "Can I get you a drink?" "Sure a coffee dark 4 sugars if you have it please" "Crisps?" "Salt and vinegar please" He wandered off behind the counter and quickly returned with what I had requested. "Thank you" "Well I'm glad to see the apocalypse has not destroyed your manners" "Great British manners can survive anything" I joked the man smiled "Introductions are in order my name is Graham and you are?" "My name is Tom" "I see and I assume you speak for the group in the flats?" "For now you can but if you wanted to talk you didn't need to set fire to our building we have a kid in there" The man seem unconcerned with this "Yes well we wanted to make sure we had your attention and the last time we showed up you shot at some of our group and injured 2 of them poor Jeff has lost most of the rest of his teeth since meeting you" "Well he will have to rely on his sparkling personality instead and I want you to know I am overflowing with sympathy for your injured men who set attack dog's on us" "One of them was my son" If he expected this to shut me up he was wrong I leaned closer to him "And the people you attacked are my family and friend's if your son or Jeff comes back they wont be leaving" Grahams mouth twitched at the corner he was struggling to keep calm he wasn't used to people standing to him. "I would advise you against making threats the people you have seen so far is a fraction of our numbers there are over a hundred of us" "So what do you want" I spat cutting him off. "Your home we need a more secure place to live" "Go fuck yourself" "Maybe you should let me finish before you start shouting obscenities if the others had there way we would be burning you out of there right now what I'm offering you is the opportunity to pack up and leave with out incident" "Oh well in that case shove it up your arse with a piece of glass" Graham crumpled his coffee cup in his massive hand everything about him was massive he was a good 6'5 more than half a foot bigger than me and about 7 stone heavier not in fat but in muscle he was like a really ugly rugby player. "You understand this is going to happen you can't stop us the only thing to be decided is if we force you out or you leave with all your limbs still intact" "And where are we meant to go?" He sniffed "Hastings has a nice setup apparently" "Well why don't you fuck off over there see how nice it is and maybe we can do a house swap" Saying this might have been a mistake as he leaned in towards me "Leave or die" Malice dripped from the words. I leaned in to my face inches from his "Try and take it you ugly prick" "Last chance" he snarled I heard a click and he brought up a switch blade from underneath the table and put it between my face and his. I picked up my coffee and with out moving my head away took a swig. Suddenly he pulled me towards him his face pressed against mine "Pick!" "Well I guess I don't have much of a choice" He loosened his grip a little and I spat a mouthful of coffee into his face he released me and pawed at his eyes I flipped the table on to him grabbed my satchel and ran for the stairs I had not gotten 20ft away when I heard footsteps following me I turned and saw him chasing after me still clutching is blade I took the stairs 2 at a time and mad it to the bottom just as Graham jumped the last 7 steps and clobbered me with a forearm to the back of the head. We both went sprawling I rolled and sprung to my feet Graham was already up blocking my exit I could try the other way but had no idea if it would be open if it wasn't I would be trapped in a dead end. I turned and ran back up the stairs I could her Graham laughing as he pursued me. As I reached the top of the stairs I extended the baton and took a wild swing at his head and missed we got to the top of the stairs and sized each other up he stepped in and slashed I swirled my satchel in front of it and heard the blade rip through the fabric. He moved in again I couldn't move fast enough and the blade came across me left forearm causing me to drop the baton and it rolled out of reach towards Graham who kicked it away. The only other weapon I had was in the satchel and now that was behind him. I took off running towards the cafe where this had started Graham pursued me behind the counter and got a cupful of boiling water straight in his face he raised his arms and cried out in pain I kicked him in the stomach and he dropped the knife I punched him twice in the face only for him to pick me up and hurl me over the counter I slammed into the store display of the Apple shop as he advanced on me again I was not going to take him in a straight fight as if to prove this point he hurled me through the store front window glass shattered as I hit an I pad display table and bounced off. Graham was laughing he picked me up and threw me back out of the store thankfully not through another window I slide across the floor and hit the escalator barricade and staggered back to my feet only to be knocked back down with a punch to the temple my vision temporarily faded. When it returned Graham was standing over me knife in hand "Any last words?" I spluttered something "What was that I didn't catch that" He moved closer cupping his ear sarcastically. "Fuck you!" I clicked my heel in to floor and with all my strength drove the spike in to his shin. He howled in pain I stumbled back to my feet and rushed him he had no time to react and he tumbled over the escalator barricade somehow he grabbed on to it. I collapsed but crawled over to where he was holding on to a thin piece of overlapping floor getting my baton on the way I looked him in the eye there was fear in it "Help me" It sounded pathetic coming from a man that size and who was intent on trying to kill me . I hauled myself up and reached down a hand to help him he took it and some how I managed to haul him up so he could jump back over but before he did "Thank you oh God thank you for being so stupid"Another knife appeared in his hand I felt it go in to my side he smiled. Then it faded he looked down at his chest and saw the point of the baton buried in his chest I pressed the button even though the noise was almost silent it echoed in my head as the projectile hit it's mark he tumbled back over the balcony I didn't see him fall. I dropped to my knees and looked down blood was spreading out over my green t-shirt he had caught me on the far left I felt light headed and slumped to the floor.

Tragedy

Jon and Ty smashed through the glass of the food court entrance. Jon reached through and pulled out the mop holding the handles in place and they burst in replacing the mop behind them. It was 10PM they had not heard from Tom or Jane since they had left. "TOM!!! JANE!!!" Ty bellowed. "Shut up you moron" Jon hissed "Do you want to attract more of them?" Ty waved his hand in apology. "Shit there is someone over here" On a table with blood dripping off the side was a man sprawled out blood coming from his mouth Ty leaned over him and felt for a pulse the man coughed. He grabbed for Ty's coat and pulled him towards him he could not make out what the man was trying to rasp to him, the man gave up released Ty and slumped back to the table breathed his last breath and lay still. Ty felt for a pulse again. Nothing. "He's de.." The words barely escaped his throat before the man sat up and reached for him. Jon was about to move in to kill him but Ty swung the custom bat Jack had made them 1 each and sliced through it's neck the body dropped and the head fell to the floor Jon quickly scythed it in 2 so it was no longer a threat to anyone. A drop of blood fell on to the head from above. They looked up blood was dripping down the side of the balcony and on to the table. Jon and Ty raced up the stairs. Tom was lying on the ground in pool of blood he wasn't moving Jon reached him 1st and felt for a pulse rolling him on to his back he was pale paler than normal his eyes shut he had a pulse. "Fuck he's been stabbed wheres that 1st aid kit" Ty threw his bag off and rummaged round pulling out the large red bag. Jon had been religiously reading 1st aid manuals and anything else he could find on emergency medicine. Jon fished out a pair of rubber gloves and some alcohol he cleaned the wound and examined it, "How does it look?" Ty was trying to control the emotion in his voice but wasn't doing a good job of hiding it. "It's deep but I don't think it's hit an artery or the kidney or liver" Jon cleaned the wound up again and started to stitch it up Jane had been in training to be a nurse before she gave up on that idea to become a personal trainer he wasn't sure why but she had tried to teach him a few things but where the hell was she now? "JANE!" Jon yelled scooping up Tom. "JANEEE!" Nothing "Fuck! Call her again" Ty tried no answer. Glass smashed not to far away down the corridor and dead hands reached through a doorway. "Dam grab his bag and weapon were leaving" "What about Jane?" "What do you want me to do Ty stand here shouting for her? Attract more dead whilst Tom's dying?" Ty shook his head "We will find her later" Jon said softly "But right now we need to get out of here.
2 Hours earlier
"Tom get up please get up" Jane ran to Tom's side blood was pooling around her knees as she knelled. "You cant die get up" Tom's eyes flickered open "My side is killing me" He looked down " Oh yeah I got stabbed that would explain it. Help me up" A door opened down the corridor "BOSS! GRAHAM! Where are you?" I froze I knew that voice it was Tooth. "Fuck we gotta go now grab my bag" Jane ran to pick the satchel up whilst I stooped to pickup the baton. "Can you walk I'm fine stop fussing we were on the top floor 2 floors down Graham was sprawled out on a table I couldn't tell if he was alive but I doubt he would be getting up anytime soon. I hobbled down the stairs "THERE AFTER THEM!!" "Shit they've seen us go" Jane insisted in trying to support me as we were pursued she might have gotten away if she would of left me. But she didn't suddenly she was pulled back by her hair she screamed as she flew back. I turned as quick as I could manage and activated the stiletto driving it into her attackers shin he screamed as it hit him I pulled it back reached forward and punched him in the mouth he fell backwards. We turned to run again but something hard and heavy hit me between the shoulders I fell Jane landed next to me I extended the baton and took a swipe at his legs catching them and sending them to the ground. I got back up helping Jane there were 3 more coming. We were not going to be able to out run them "Go" I said "What?" "GO NOW" I pushed her away. "I'm not leaving" "Well you don't have a choice now" She looked they were to close now I stepped in front of Jane. "You don't look to good today dude" Tooth made his way to the front still sneering "Better than never looking good but you wouldn't know anything about that would you?" Tooth smiled his toothless smile "Say what you want you can't upset me you have done me a massive favor" "Oh yeah brushing all those teeth must have been very inconvenient for you" Again that smile "No you have just incapacitated my boss so now I'm in charge and the 1st thing on that list is burning that shit hole of yours to the ground" "Over my dead body" "As you wish" He moved forward amazingly quickly I raised the baton but he knocked it aside and clocked me on the chin I fell. What happened next was a blur all I could see was boots hitting me after the 1st few I couldn't feel it anymore. I looked up and saw Tooth's men dragging Jane away kicking and screaming Tooth knelled beside me careful not to get my blood on his jeans. "It's over just lay there and die like a dog your friends are next" He booted me in the stomach one last time and walked away. My vision faded death embraced me.
RIGHT NOW
"What the hell happened to him?" "Someone stabbed him" "Is he O.K?" "He has been stabbed how do you think he is?" "Is he going to make it?" "I don't bloody know I'm not a doctor" "Put him in bed" "Wheres Tom?" "Sky get out" "What happened Tommmm"
1 hour later
Tom seems to be stable Jane is still missing people are with Tom out of commission people are looking to me for leadership and I have no answers for them. Considering the scene we came across at the shopping center we could be attacked at any second we have done what we can to reinforce the downstairs we have boarded up the windows on the ground and 1st floors unless they can throw like mother fuckers they aren't going to be able to throw a petrol bomb through the highest window's. Sky has not left Tom's side and won't eat. We have heard nothing from Jane."So what do we do?" Toby broke the silence. "We wait for Tom to wake up we go from there" Ty chimed in. "We cant sit here with our thumbs up our arses for that long" Jack countered. "We should leave" Lara said Heads turned in her direction. "We cant just stay here they know where we are now were sitting ducks" "And go where?" "Any where" "Jon do you wont to join the discussion here or just stare a hole into the wall?" Jon light a cigarette. "We cant leave we have no where to go we need to reinforce our position do we have any more boards for the windows?" Jack gave the answer "No were out but there is a scrap yard about 30 miles away we load it up with sheet metal bring it back and I can reinforce this place to the hilt" "30 miles is quite away to go man" Toby questioned. "What if something happens while were gone I'm guessing this is more than a 2 man job" "If we want it done this year yeah it would take me you Ty and Jon to load it" "Leaving us vulnerable at home" Jon pondered. "We need to take this chance right now they could be here any time we need to do this now" "I agree with Jack" Jon said. Eyes turned on him. "He who hesitated is lost we move or we die here moping Lara and Jenna will stay but I'll show you how to work the gun's tonight we will be as quick as we can but for a while your on your own" They nodded "Everyone else agree?" They nodded. "O.K go get some sleep big day tomorrow" Jon went and sat with Sky for a bit watching over Tom. "He wont die will he?" "No he wont die he's far to stubborn for that" "Why's his arm in that thing?" "It's a sling I think its fractured that will help support it" "O.K" She feigned understanding. "Come on time to get some sleep" "Cant I stay here?" "No now come on off to bed" Jon tucked Sky in in Jane's room just in case Tom turned during the night. He climbed into bed exhaustion swept over him and the task ahead of him weighed upon him as he slept.

Scrapped Lives

Jon Toby Jack and Ty drove up to the chain link gate. Jon was behind the wheel of the Astra, the car was cramped and smelled of old cigarettes. Jack hopped out and snapped the padlock off with a pair of bolt cutters and they drove through. "Dude this car is shit" Toby had to yell to make himself heard over the engine which sounded it like it was on it's last legs and was probably attracting dead from miles away. "Feel free to get out and work by the look of you you could do with one" Fuck you" Jon interceded before the argument went from jokey to nasty "O.K ladies put your handbags down your dresses are both lovely" Ty giggled and punched him on the arm. Jack stopped to attach a new padlock to the gate so they would not be interrupted during there scrap run. "Maybe we could fortify this place?" Ty suggested "Yeah sure we are in the middle of no where and with no place to scavenge" Toby scoffed. "Actually now he mentions it might not be such a bad idea" Jack said "The fence is here already theirs a warehouse to sleep in running water probably" "Well lets keep it in mind for the future but for now focus on what were doing" Jon parked facing the gate just in case they had to exit quickly. Everyone jumped out Jack headed straight for the warehouse and scanned the large area, it was almost empty apart from a few pallets of bricks and a forklift there was a metal stair way leading up to a catwalk where there was an office and break room. "Not as much here as I hoped" Jack shouted back. Something groaned from behind one of the piles of bricks. A man who had obviously been a builder before his death emerged in to full view the left half of his face had been torn off and dried blood was on his fluorescent jacket he started to shamble over to Jack "Guys little help" Toby brushed past him "I got it I got it" He swung Jacks newly designed bat and caved in the things skull "Your car still sucks by the way" "What ever " Jon headed over to a beaten up old Ford transit it was locked and he was forced to jimmy it open with a crowbar luckily enough this was an old model try this now a days the alarm would go off. He opened the door checked the front and back of the van whilst Ty kept watch. Back in the warehouse Jack had turned on the forklift and was scooping up the pallets of bricks whilst Toby grabbed what sheet metal he could find along with a few bags of cement. "Come on get your arse in gear it's not that heavy" "How about we swap I drive the forklift and you carry the bags of cement" "You have a license?" "No" "Well guess you cant then" "Oh yeah you never know when the forklift inspector might pop round. They both shared a laugh.
At the flats
"Sky come on you cant sit here all day again" Lara had been trying to tempt Sky away all morning. "No someone need's to stay with Tom until he wakes up" "Sky he will still be here even if you walk into the next room for something to eat come on you can have anything you want" Sky knew that she was not going to win this argument. Reluctantly she got up and headed in to the next room. Lara poured her a bowl of shreddies there was no milk but she compensated by loading sugar on them. Jenna was in the kitchen talking to Jon on the phone apparently they were going to be a while problems with the forklift. "Tom any better?" "No still out" "O.K well we be back in a few hours if anything happens let us know" She hung up and sat down with Lara and Jenna. "Did you do the home work Tom gave you?" Sky nodded. "Do you want to read a book?" Sky shakes her head "Watch a film?" She shakes her head again. The conversation is interrupted when the lights go out. "There go's the grid" Jenna sighs "I dont think so" Lara look's out the window. "Look the sign across the street is still on it just means the meter is out we just need to plug the key into the pay station take it downstairs and plug it in" Yeah one problem the meter is outside in that shed thing" "It's fine I'll be out 2 mins max" "Maybe we should wait til they come back" "Don't be a wimp I'l go" Jenna frown's "It will be fine really 30 seconds max" "Oh Jesus Christ" The shout came from the next room. Sky jumped up from the table and Lara and Jenna soon followed. Tom was sitting up in bed clutching his right arm still in a sling. "Your awake" Sky jumped up to hug Tom"Ow ha ow ok darling it's nice to see you but be careful I feel look someone just stabbed me" Lara entered the room "That's because you got stabbed" "Huh I guess that would explain it where is everyone?" "They have gone out to get materials to strengthen our defense" "So who's here?" "Just me Sky and Jenna" "Well who's watching the front?" "Right now Jenna" "O.K help me with this shirt I'm gonna watch with her" I managed to put on a white short sleeved t-shirt before standing up and quickly sitting back down. "Man I'm shattered" "Yeah you lost a lot of blood and we have been pouring pain pills down your neck you are going to feel like shit for a few day's now get your arse back into bed" I didn't have the energy to argue as soon as put my head on the pillow I was out again.
"O.K I have the electric key charged I will be back in a sec" Lara exited the building and turned the corner there were a few dead around but by the time they could reach here she would be back inside. The door to the shed was stiff and required a swift kick before it opened but she located the appropriate charging unit plugged it in and turned to lock the shed door behind here. As she turned around there were 2 people standing behind her 10ft away. Dressed in jeans and white tank tops that only flatter muscular arms instead this just showed how skinny they were they were both sporting shaved heads and ridiculous amounts of gold chains a couple of wannabe rappers. Lara moved slowly back to the flat door and they followed she started to run so did they. She got to the door and pulled it open as she went to slam the door behind her they reached the door one of them reached through and held the door open Lara kicked him in the crotch and made to climb up to the 1st floor but as the man fell he grabbed her ankle she kicked but couldn't break free. The second man entered and made his way to Lara he dragged her to her feet and held a knife to her throat.
"How's the van coming Jon?" Ty asked still keeping watch over him "Would be a lot quicker if you shut up" "Jeez sorry" "Not long be" The van roared into life. "Right now" Jon finished. They had loaded almost everything up despite a few problems with the forklift but Jack had fixed it simply by hitting it with a hammer a few times. Toby had wandered off from the main warehouse floor and up on to the cat walk he made his way to the office door and opened it. Soon wishing he hadn't the stench coming from the room was overpowering there were at least 12 dead inside standing not reacting til Toby had opened the door there eyes all turned on him and they moaned. "Fuck guys time to go" He slammed the door shut behind him and ran down the catwalk. Jack looked up from the forklift controls "What do you mean we have to go?" The office door glass breaking and bodies spilling through answered his question "O.K time to go" He moved the forklift forward with the last load of bricks "Get out the way Ty!" He stepped aside just in time as Jack went past him shooting the last load of bricks in. Jon jumped in the drivers seat and Ty climbed in alongside him followed by Jack Toby slammed the doors shut opened the metal gate and hopped in to the Astra stopping only to lock gate behind him.
Jenna had heard a scuffle downstairs and as the 1st guy reached the top she swung the pool cue and broke it over the 1st guys head not that it seemed to slow him he knocked her down. They frogmarched Jenna and Lara into a room and sat them down on the sofa. The taller one pulled out a phone "Yeah boss were in. No only a couple of girls here. No actual girls. Here in 20mins? No problem" He hung up. "Boss is on his way" He sat down on the arm of a chair whilst the other stood in the hallway.
"Tom wake up please get up someones here" Sky shook Tom but he was not waking up. She picked up a cricket bat and made her way to the next room. She had never been so scared in her life as she approached the man from behind lifted the bat and hit him in the lower back with all the strength she could muster. The man barely flinched as he turned to face her. "Got another one" "Need a hand" "With an 8 year old I think I'l manage" Lara jumped up "Leave her alone the tall one slapped her to the floor "Sit down" Sky backed down the corridor the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife "Come on come sit with the rest of us like a good girl" Sky ran into the next room down the hall the man pursued her. " He entered the room but what greeted him was not what he thought the little girl was not cowering under the bed instead she was standing behind him the one the boss wanted dead in his hand a police baton his right arm in a sling he looked like crap struggling to stand.
"You have one chance get out now" The man walked further into the flat "And your going to stop me?" He was close now the knife still in his hand big mistake I headbutted him and took a step back and brought the baton across his face teeth flew from his mouth. My side hurt and I dropped the baton Sky pulled at me "Tom come on theirs one more in there" I looked at her in disbelief but I got up found my satchel and handcuffed the mans arms behind his back "Wait here do not move OK?" "Yeah" "I'm not joking Sky do not move" "O.K" I exited the flat I was not sure if Jon had taken the guns with him and I didn't have time to look I headed next door. Lara and Jenna were on the floor this guy was standing over them a knife in his hand he pulled Jenna up by the hair. I walked quickly forward and tapped him on the shoulder the surprise on his face was obvious as I punched him in the nose he dropped the knife but then tackled me to the ground I swung the baton preventing him from jumping on top of me as I got to my feet he reached for the knife as he stooped I kicked his hand I swung for his head with the baton he ducked and ran out the room into the corridor I chased him down. Sky had wandered out to see what was happening and he made a bee line for her I caught up with him and kicked his legs out he went crashing to the floor. Rage flew through me I stomped on him I turned him over and beat his face with my fists until it was raw and bloody. The only thing that made me stop was that Sky was watching. I got up giving the guy one last kick the other man had now regained consciousness and he tried to back away as I walked towards him. I don't know where I found the strength with one hand to pull him to his feet I slammed him against the wall by his throat and with a voice that was oddly calm for the situation "Can I borrow your phone?" He didn't answer I pulled a knife from my pocket and slammed it in to the wall next to his head. He whimpered "Dam I missed" I pulled the knife from the wall "But luckily for you that means you get a second chance" "My left jean pocket" "Thank you" I reached in and whilst searching for the last dialed number proceeded to bash the man's head against the wall I dialed the number "Jones what do you want were almost there and what the hell is that banging noise?" "I'm sorry that would be me bouncing Jone's head off the wall I guess I'm talking to Jeff?" "YOU!!" "Hey I have a name you know I had the decency to learn yours" "I'm gonna kill you you sniveling little shit" "Yeah yeah sticks and stones but the rising dead will never hurt me etc now i understand your on your way here but my friends have just got back and they have guns and we might not be able to take you all out but the 1st one we are going for is you now I am going to go throw your friends here out on the street if you want them alive I suggest you get here quickly oh and just so you know I'm keeping the phone bysie daises" I hung up just as I saw Jon and the others hop out the van everyone had got back safely I slumped down on the sofa Jones fell to the floor unconscious Sky sat next to me and hugged me.

Taking the Fight

We started unloading materials in to the flats well everyone else did I was having a chat with our new friends "WHERE IS SHE!!!!" I slammed the man I only knew as Jone's against the wall. "I don't know I haven't seen her" "LIAR!!! Fine you want to lie come here" I knocked him to the floor. "Ty go get me the rope" "Why?" "Shut up and get it!" He ran off. "Fine now were gonna play a game it's called tell me what I want to know before you get eaten alive"
We finished loading everything in it took a few hours with all the bricks but at least Tooth didn't show up for his friends so much for loyalty. We tied his feet to the rope and tied the other end to a wardrobe. "O.K last chance to tell me" No answer. "Fine" I pushed him back over the bannister he fell to the ground he stopped 10ft before the floor. He started to scream but it was not the fall that scared him it was what was at the bottom. Holding it's arms up reaching for him an angry zombie its shattered teeth gnashing at the prospect of fresh meat. "Changed your mind dude? I'm pretty sure Larry down there would like a new friend" "I haven't seen her I swear" "Pull him up" Toby Ty and Jon pulled back on the rope lifting him back up a few feet before dropping it again Jones screamed Larry the zombie got even more excited. I headed down 1 flight of stairs and leaned on the railing being careful with my arm so as he slowly spun he could look me in the eye "Now I'm getting bored of this game and if you don't win the game before I get bored you lose and you don't want to lose then I will go get your friend see if he feels more cooperative" "I haven't seen her please I'm sorry" Tears rolled down his cheek. "Your sorry? You threaten a little girl with a knife attack a couple of girls and your sorry? Well that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside here let me cut you down" I picked up Toby's machete and leaned over to cut the rope. "Oh please God stop I don't know where she is" "Fine where are you holed up?" "If I tell you that they will kill me" "If you don't tell me Larry will kill you but with me I will give you a 10min head start" "O.K O,K I'll tell you there at the court" "The local court?" "Yes please let me go" "How do I know you're not lying?" "Does it look like I am lying?" I lifted the machete up "Please you said you would let me go" "Well that's what I call a lie" "No!" This voice took me by surprise Sky came running down the broken stairs and threw herself round my leg "Please Tom don't do it don't hurt him" She looked up at me. My anger faded away "O.K dont worry I wont hurt him go back upstairs" "You promise?" "I promise" Sky walked off. I headed down to the ground floor dispatched Larry the zombie with the baton and Toby and Jon lowered Jones down so he could look me in the eye upside down "You are a very lucky man hold still I'll cut you down I would hate to miss" I swung the machete and the rope broke he fell the last 5ft or so and landed on his head "Oops sorry"
We drove for 2 hours me and Toby until we were on a small country road in Marden. Houses here were separated by fields of nothing just grass so it was practically the arse end of no where meaning the dead were far a and few between. It would have been a good place to setup home for a while if supplies were nearby but none of us knew the area that well and we didn't fancy lots of exploration in an unknown place better to stick to the small town we know. "Here look's good" I pointed for Toby to pull over "Whats different about that bit of hedge to the last bit of hedge we passed?" "I don't know it looks greener just pull over" We got out of the car and opened up the back. Jones and the other man were sitting in silence with blindfolds on "O.K get out and hope you didn't bleed on the car we just got it" They reluctantly climbed out I pulled off the shirts we had been using as makeshift blindfolds. "Where the hell are we?" Jones asked slowly turning taking in his new surroundings " "Marden hold out your hands and don't try anything Tob would very much like to shoot you and I don't know if I can be bothered to stop him" They both complied and I cut the cable ties that bound them while Toby stood guard with the shotgun "Now what your gonna kill us?" "No your free to go but don't come back or you might run in to Larry 2" "So what you dump us out here to die?" "No that would be cruel you have 2 choices Hastings are apparently have built a wall the last we heard you could head that way or head to London that was the last evac center we heard from before we heard nothing at all" "Hastings is 30 miles away" "Well you better start walking then" "And that evac center is probably overrun" "Oh no really? Well hop back in we will give you a lift" Jones looked shocked "Really?" His stupidity stunned me "No not really you moron if you follow we will reverse over you" Toby got back in the car I reached in to the front seat and pulled out s hello kitty back pack and throw it to the two men "The little girl you threatened she insisted I give it to you theirs a map a few bottles of water a crowbar and some sandwiches she made them for you count yourself lucky it's more than you would have gotten from me" I got back in the car and we pulled away leaving them.
We got back and work on improving our defense had already started. Organized by Jack we started bricking up all the downstairs and 1st floor doors and windows. Jack was now doing welding metal to the front door. Me and Jon after a crash course of brick laying we built a 20ft long corridor out side leading up to the main entrance and placed another metal coated door at the entrance and one halfway down between the 1st door and main entrance. Jack welded and bolted more metal to form a roof for the corridor. At the 1st door was a swipe card lock that Jack had taken from the scrap yard at the second door was a webcam so anyone arriving could be checked after that the main door was simply a bar through the door handles. It took 12 hours and we were working into the dark but it's amazing how shambling corpses can speed you up. We collapsed exhausted upstairs providing a massive horde didn't attack before the concrete set we should be safe. Sky made us sandwiches from the last of the frozen bread they were pretty awful but we were so hungry we didn't care"
The next morning we all slept in til 9. But even though we were safe Jane's absence hung over us. Me and Jon packed up a few things and headed out the new corridor was now set hit the button and the door unlocked. I made sure to check I had my key card on me it used to be a coffee loyalty card until Jack had rewritten it. We got in the car and proceeded to the court. As a defend able position it was not a bad place to set up shop most of the doors had coded locks plenty of toilets spread over 3 floors plus a small ground floor reception area but it reeked with age "So whats the plan?" Jon said swerving to the left to clip a nearby undead "Nice shot and I haven't thought about that yet maybe we could just pull up and say hi and ask if we can have Jane back?" "You do remember that she tried to kill you right?" "I dunno I have had a few whacks to the head lately" "That explains a lot" "Well I'll just pop back to the hospital and see if I can get an MRI" Jon grunted. We pulled up outside the court no one was outside but we could just about see into the reception area and there were 2 guy's on watch well on watch in the sense that they were playing cards "You think Jack's little trick will work" "I think theirs a good chance it could blow us to hell" "Well what a jolly day this will be" We got out of the car and jogged to the entrance and knocked on the glass the two guys jumped out of their skin and scrambled for their weapons "What!" A tall bald black man who looked like he had steroids for breakfast lunch and dinner demanded "Hi were you're neighbors?" "The question remains the same what?" "I think you have a friends of ours could we have her back" "There's a lot of people here I aint looking through them all" "Oh that's O.K if you let us in we will look for you" "You aint coming in" "Why don't you get your boss he will want to speak to me" "Oh really why's that?" "Tell him I'm here to return his teeth he left them on my driveway" The guard frowned "Huh he said you died you and Graham killed each other" "Well not much stays dead these day's go grab your boss chopity chop I cant dilly dally here all day" He whispered to his cohort who ran off upstairs "So how are you?" He didn't smile. After a couple of minutes waiting his friend returned "Boss says send them up" They opened the door and we entered "Leave any weapons you might have here" "Why?" "Boss don't like you that much" "Oh well we wouldn't want to upset him now would we" Me and Jon didn't want to chance upsetting them before we found Jane so we placed everything we had in the tray" "You want to check my pockets?" Jon asked. Mr. Steroid grunted and waved us up the stairs another guard was waiting to show us up. We headed up 2 flights of stairs and entered a former waiting room that had been transformed into a sleeping area numerous stains were on the grey carpet and most of the furniture had been broken. "This way" He showed us through another door and we entered the actual court room. The seats were full of people shouting yelling and cheering a bottle was thrown in our direction that Jon had to duck "Nice group" "Shut up" The words came from the Judges seat there was Tooth in a black Judges robe and wig "Hey dude long time no see could we have our friend back please I hate the idea of her eating all your food so we will take her off your hands" Tooth grinned "Don't worry we haven't been feeding her" I frowned and made my way to the front of the court Jon followed beer was poured over us as we walked Jon smacked one who got in his face that settled them down a bit "O.K then your honor could we please have our friend back" "That depends" "On what?" "You're trial of course" The crowd roared with approval and mine and Jon's trial was about to begin.

Trial

"Tom and the bald one" "Jon" "I don't care you stand accused of murder how do you plead?" I almost laughed "Er who's murder? "Graham" "Oh yeah that guy don't I get a lawyer?" "No" "Mistrial?" "No" "Plead insanity?" "No" "Dam I'm out of excuses can I make a request?" "Make it quick" "Before we start 2 things 1 I want to see Jane and 2 what happens if were found guilty?" "We throw you off the roof to see if you can fly but I will grant the other request because I am a merciful and honorable Judge" The crowd roared with laughter even I laughed. I turned to Jon "Don't worry I got this I have played Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney" "You realize that video games aren't real right?" "Really?" A door opened and Jane was dragged by her arm into the court by her arm she looked a bit roughed up but otherwise not to badly hurt "Hey" I said waving cheerfully. She smiled slightly and moved towards us but the guard directed her to the seat next to the Judge. Tooth banged the gavel "I call this court to order and call the first witness me" "Objection" I said "Overruled" "Dam thought I had him" Tooth began to speak "I accuse you of murder who agrees" The crowd roars again "Excellent guilty" "Er do I get a chance to say something?" "Oh what the hell why not?" I stood up the people in the room visibly stiffened almost daring me to run so they could chase me down "I stand here today in front of you learned individuals to say your old boss was an arsehole" Boos flooded the court and I ducked a whiskey bottle "It's true though if you think about it i did you a favor now you have his honor up there" Even Tooth laughed "And look at my arm and this" I lifted my coat and shirt a little to show the stab wound "It was clearly self defense so I think we should be free to go" The court was in silence Tooth broke it "I agree Graham was a horrible bastard in fact were all horrible bastards in fact were such horrible bastards were gonna kill you anyway grab them" This didn't surprise me "Before you do that there is one last thing you should know" "Whats that" I unzipped my coat and revealed 8 jam jars attached to the inside packed with nails green and yellow wires were attached to all of them leading to a red box that had another couple of wires leading to a light switch. The crowd and guards froze where they were "Don't fucking move Jane come over here" Tooth stood "Stop them you morons it's fake" "You want to risk it?" Jon demanded. Jane slowly made her way over to us "You O.K?" She looked a lot better before she saw the improvised bomb "O.K were leaving try and stop us big bang etc" We backed out of the room and down the stairs at the reception Mr Steroids quickly stepped aside when he saw what I was carrying as we were heading out the door Tooth appeared at the stairway "Next time I see you I swear to God you die" I unhooked the red box from my jacket and a jar of nails"Well why don't you say that to God right now?" I threw the box and jar in his direction there was a timer on the side counting down from 5 seconds "FUCK!!" Tooth threw himself to the floor the red box landed next to him it counted down 5 4 3 2 1. A small poof of smoke came out of the top of the box Tooth wet himself and a message was displayed on the box HA SUCKA!!
We ran to the car and jumped in laughing we had walked into the lions den and walked back out maybe we would survive this.

Are You there God? It's Me

We dropped Jane off back home and immediately set out again we headed to the territorial army base 2 miles away. We had seen at least 60 people in there base and we could not take them on our own. The remnants of the last stand were still further down the road so we could not the destruction. The base seemed in good shape there was a large white office building at the front painted white with 2 red painted bomb shells and a large missile on the lawn. The base from the front was about 100 meters wide and you could see a parade ground which was as deserted as the rest of the compound seemed. At least the fence still stood it was sturdy and metal with a sliding gate at the front. It would be difficult to climb but if no one was going to answer the doorbell that would be the only option. We pulled up to the gate and rolled down the window, before all this happened and the dead started walking 2 guards would come out with mirrors on sticks to check underneath your vehicle but that didn't happen. I hit the intercom button no response "Don't tell me we are going to have to climb the fence" Jon complained "I don't particularly want to do it either you know" We waited but dead were starting to take notice of us so we didn't hang round we got out locked the car and started to climb the 10ft fence.
I dropped down on the other side and kept watch as Jon climbed down "Cant you move your arse any faster?" "Cant you stop bitching like a little girl?" I smiled and pulled out a phone and dialed Toby answered " Tob it's me" "Who else would it be?" "Maybe one of the undead pocket dialed" "Maybe" "Anyway were over the fence and inside we cant see anyone at the moment were gonna have a look around is Jane O.K?" I never got answer I had to hang up me and Jon threw ourselves against the wall of the office building. 2 dead soldiers lumbered past us we quickly dispatched them "Guess they didn't make it either" A search of the base yielded nothing no usable weapons and any that were there were either locked up or were in areas crowded with dead we retreated back to the front of the office building "DAM IT" Jon booted one of the red painted shells "There must be someone around here with a fucking pulse apart from us and those fuckers" I held my shoulder I had removed the sling so I could climb the fence but it still hadn't healed I had dislocated and fractured that arm when I was 12 and it had only taken a couple of weeks for it to heal I hoped it would be the same this time. We stood there and smoked trying to think of anything we could do any where we could go to get help but nothing came to us "Hastings" Jon said finishing his fag and stubbing it out "We don't know if they barricaded themselves in time dude we cant move everyone on the off chance of theirs a safe place and we cant drive the roads will be fucked we cant walk it's to far" "Dude it's 30 miles" "30 miles through zombie infested territory" "There is one last option" "We fly?" "No we take the train" I was gobsmacked "It's not that stupid an idea there relatively easy to drive the train line hear go's to Hastings the power is still on so the rails will still have power" "No it's a great idea lets hop on a several hundred tonne train we have no idea how to drive and go on a magical adventure what if the tracks blocked?" "We get out walk down the line til we find another train do you have a better idea?"
We headed home and discussed the plan with the others though it sounded stupid it seemed like our only option eventually our food would run out our defenses would crumble or we would be overrun by Tooth's gang or zombies. Me and Jon would go Jack would talk us through everything by phone he had been considering a train escape before we met and had devoted a lot of his time to the idea "I'm coming to" "No you are not!" I would not have this argument with Sky "My grandparents live there" "No it's to dangerous" "Then why are you going?" "Because because someone has to go get help and that's me and Jon" "I want to help" "Sky no" Sky looked like she was going to burst into tears I had never raised my voice to her before, she walked over to me and sat down "Please I know where they live I know the address and everything" I decided to test her I deliberately typed in the wrong address in to Google earth 3 times before entering it correctly and she picked it out "Now can I go then you wont have to worry about me any more I know it makes you mad. I sighed and hugged her "Sky you don't make me mad you make me happy I just worry about you" "If I'm with you you don't have to worry" Oh crap
It was a short drive to the train station we had taken enough food and water for a week for the 3 of us Sky was in the back seat. Jon was not ecstatic about the idea but the look on Sky's face had prevented a flat out refusal on his part, we had left everyone else and the guns with the others so they could look after them selves sand we had taken the Astra instead of the Fiesta so they could all fit inside comfortably. We got out of the car, the station was deserted of all life and death a train was at the platform the buttons to open the sliding doors were still light so there was power. I picked up Sky and put her on my back. The train doors slid open nothing came rushing out at us so we moved up the carriage to the drivers compartment. We closed the door behind us as Jon settled in to the chair called Jack put him on loudspeaker while I kept watch. It takes years to master how to drive a train but providing we kept our speed down we should be able to avoid a derailment and a horrible death. Jon flipped a few switches and eased forward on the dead mans handle we were moving. I checked the 1st carriage behind us all clear and me and Sky settled down in to a couple of seats she started to color and I found the snack trolley. The crisps and fizzy drinks were still in date so we stuffed ourselves and brought some up to Jon. We were going about 10 miles an hour I had moaned at Jon for going 20 but then I don't like going fast even in cars, it would take us at least 3 to get there so we settled in.

Derailed

The train lumbered along the tracks the clickety clack was soothing it was nice to let our guard down for a bit. We all had a turn driving the train including Sky that cheered her up we had passed Battle and Roberts bridge and were on our way to St Leonard's, we had not run into any trains on our side of the track and progress was smooth apart from the odd undead on the line which required me to get out behead and drag off the line. I climbed back on board cleaning the spike on the baton on a seat "I need to pee" Sky was dancing around trying to hold it "O.K hold on a sec" I entered the drivers cabin "Gonna go and find the toilet dude" He grunted ""O.K then lets o find the toilet" We exited the carriage I had cleared and moved on to the next one. 3 carriages down we found 1. It was a sliding door one, I checked the rest of the carriage and found nothing I hit the open button. A girl in her mid 20's came flying at me teeth bared and bloody, I was caught off guard and she knocked me to the floor I put my hands up to stop her getting at my throat but I dropped the baton in the process and it slide away under a seat "Sky get back in the carriage" She did and the door slid shut behind me. I kicked the girl off me and she flew back and hit a pole I got to my feet and tried to reach under the seat for my baton, the girl quickly recovered and came at me again I wrapped my hand around the baton just as the train shuddered sending it rolling out of reach. I got to my feet, was the train speeding up? No time to think about that now. The girl slammed into me again knocking me against the exit doors, I felt them start to slide open that shouldn't happen unless the emergency release was... an alarm rang out ah that would explain it I dropped onto my back and tried to force the girl out the now open door. I had to hold my head up to stop it dangling out the doors the girl dropped to her knees onto my chest and started to try and paw at my face she bit my gloved hand as she was focused on that I took the opportunity to punch her in the head a couple of times This made her let go of my hand and focus on the other I then grabbed her by the shirt and with all the strength I could muster hurled her out the open doors. She landed on the track and rolled before she was out of view. I got up and moved away from the door picked up my baton and hit the driver contact system "Jon why the hell are we going so fast?" "Er I dunno it wont slow down no matter what I do" "Fuck" I made my way back to the drivers cabin. The dead mans handle was locked in place me and Jon both tried to pull it back but couldn't do it we tried the emergency break nothing. I looked down at the console something was flashing red "Hey er what does that mean?" "Oh it means oh fuck we need to get off" Jon grabbed his bag and headed for the door I followed "Why do we need to get off?" Jon was already half way down the carriage and had scooped up Sky "It means obstruction ahead" "Oh goody and I thought today was going so well"
We didn't have many options the train was now going at full speed if we jumped the impact would kill us or the we would be electrocuted on the rails. Soon the decision was made for us a tremendous impact threw us off our feet, Sky screamed as the train started to twist as it came off the rails "Move" We ran down the carriages as soon as we made it out of one carriage the one behind us was ripped away eventually we hit the end we threw ourselves to the floor and held on to the hand rails. It felt like we was in a tumble drier we turned over and over I lost my grip on the pole fell and hit the ceiling or the floor or what ever the carriage turned over one last time and the world faded in to darkness.
"They O.K? Toby asked "There fine they should be in Hastings in an hour and a half or so" Jack put down a mass of wires he was glad to have people around him again but he missed Sky the her curiosity about everything he did, he personally didn't agree with Tom's decision to take her with them but he didn't want to rock the boat "Jack snap out of it man how are those cameras coming along?" "Well I chopped up Tom's webcam smashed a few video cameras we found in the flats so we can have a camera for each side of the building and one for the entrance way if they come round we will know about it" Toby nodded and walked off he played with Duke and tried to takes his mind off how quiet everything was what he wouldn't give for some excitement.
I woke up and was immediately disorientated I looked up and saw the seats on the ceiling what the hell happened? We were on a train and oh yeah we crashed "Jon! Sky!" "What?" I looked over and saw Jon pick himself up from under a few bags of luggage that passengers were never going to collect "I'm O.K" Sky had landed on Jon we stood up our carriage had become separated from the others moonlight was coming through the sliding doors "So who wants to get out and push?" I asked. We checked ourselves over apart from bruises and cut's we had fared pretty well. We exited the carriage and made our way to the embankment and Jon checked our position on his i phone I hate those thing's. We were near a town called Battle about 6 miles away from Hastings at a place called Malt-house Wood. From the aerial view we could see we were in a field and that there would be a few more to cross to get to Hastings. We decided to spend the night in electric generator shed there was no roof and the floor was gravel but as long as we didn't poke the generator with a stick or make to much noise to attract the undead we should be fine.
Sky had fallen asleep I had draped my coat over her it was a cold night "Do you miss the times when we used to do nothing but play video games" Jon pondered "All we did in video games was kill zombies so I guess this isn't to different" "No continue option" "Yeah there is that you had a look at the route were taking tomorrow?" "Yeah I think we should stick to the fields away from the towns it will take a bit longer but be a dam site safer" "Sounds like a plan get some sleep I'll keep watch for a bit""All right night dude" "Night" I kept watch the whole night I didn't bother waking Jon I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway.
"What do you mean the train crashed" Toby yelled down the phone "Well we were kinda on the rails then we kinda came off the rails" "Are you O.K? Where are you?" "Near malt-house woods about 6 miles away from Hastings it's not to far so were gonna head through the fields on foot" "No head back home" "Tob whats the point were almost there now if there are no survivors we will jack a car and head back I'll call you when we get there" Toby started to yell down the phone so I hung up. We packed up climbed out of the generator shed and started to walk through the fields. There was only a few dead we saw one chasing after a house that was easily out trotting it then it left it alone and focused on us and was easily dispatched. Me and Jon took turns carrying Sky over the odd stream we both fell in at some point getting covered in mud and I lost a shoe somewhere. Then we hit it a wall 12ft high that stretched for miles. It was made of what building sites commonly used to stop nosy people looking in to construction sites for stuff to steal patched together with concrete cars barbed wire skips junk and anything you could imagine. One of the panels had the Queens award for enterprise logo on it and Better homes for the future written below it or at least that's what it used to say before someone had written fuck you all over it. More promising was a sign that read survivors this way and arrow pointing East. We followed the wall for about an hour "STOP SAY WHERE YOU ARE DO NOT MOVE DO NOT FUCKING MOVE!!!!" Before we knew what hit us the wall stopped and what looked like a large metal sliding gate improvised from junk and various items of debris to cover it's flanks and in front of the gate a tank It's barrel swiveling to aim at us, the owner of the booming voice walked in front of the tank with a SMG in his hand's and flanked by 6 more men in military fatigues "I said don't move!!" "Whoa wait were not dead!!" "How many of you are there" "3 me my friend and a little girl" "Are you armed? "Er I have a baton and my friend has a club thing" "O.K walk towards us slowly" We moved towards them which is very unnerving when you have 7 SMG's pointing at you. I moved to shake the mans hand he was i his late 30's short browns hair starting to grey it looked like he had not slept in a week, he politely declined to shake my hand "Sorry Sir cant do that til you get checked over for possible bite's" "I understand so what's going on here?" The soldier motioned for us to follow him, we did not go through the large main gate instead he motioned for us to go through 1 of 4 doors 12 ft apart. We entered into a bare room with nothing more than a chair "The civilians here started to build a wall as soon as the outbreak hit they were in pretty good shape when the rest of the country was overrun the wall stretches for most of Hastings with the sea behind us so we get food and can send out raiding parties by boat when our good Lord master politicians decided to show there faces again they were on the first helicopter ride here to save their arses" I nodded taking this in "I'm afraid we are going to need you to remove your clothes so we can check for bites sir" "Sure no problem but call me Tom" The soldiers were very professional and I took no offense to them doing their job it was for everyone's safety after all a nurse came in and checked us over she bandaged my arm and injected me with an antibiotic just in case any of the numerous cuts and bruises I had collected were infected. We were moved on to another room this one was larger and had tables and chairs the soldier at the gate offered us a seat and I offered him a smoke, he had not been able to get a fag for weeks and joyfully light it up and we chatted casually "Right I'm gonna need to fill out some paperwork on you guy's" I laughed "End of the world but the government still loves it's paperwork" He smiled at that. His name was Stan and he asked me and Jon various questions where we had come from how we survived etc he then gave us 2 electronic passes completely whit apart from the magnetic stripe. Apparently we would use this to get our food rations from the stations located in the town all public buildings had been converted into sleeping and living areas for people who had made it here but as so few people had they were practically empty money was still good for everything except food which was now tightly rationed and attempting to subvert it was a criminal offense. Then came the difficult discussion about Sky "So is she your daughter?" "No" I sighed "Her father was killed and we rescued her we don't know about her mother but she said her grand parents lived here we were going to try and reunite them" Stan nodded "So what do we do here Stan? I'm quite happy to take her home to find her grand parents she knows where they live "What if their not there?" "I hadn't thought about that" I looked over at Sky who was a couple of tables away coloring she waved, I waved back "If I can I'd like her to stay with me could I do that?" It turn's out that a lot of kids had lost there parents during the rising the few public buildings that were full were full of kids who's parents had died to protect them. Stan did a background check on me and Jon we both had no criminal record and in light of the job we had done protecting her so far awarded us provisional custody upon til the time a close family member was willing to look after her a full time foster family could be found or until I applied for official adoption. Then that was it we were waved through several large gates given directions for food and a place to stay and we were in. Hastings it didn't look like it had changed much I breathed in the sea air even the mid day sun was shining brightly it was like all this had never happened.

Cloak and Dagger

"If you look book at the history of Britain during the Empire many people and countries rose up against it only to be viciously struck down. This fighting spirit and tenacity is in all humans. We now face a new threat something we have never seen before, they have few weaknesses you cant negotiate with them they wont stop they wont show mercy all they will do is kill kill kill. But dont forget humans are very good at killing thins to, we have wiped out entire species before with out even trying we can do it again" It was odd to see a message proclaiming genocide as the answer. I put down the newspaper that looked liked it had been typed up on a laptop printed on a household printer and photocopied. I got up from the camp bed we were in a small church hall and were the only ones here the rest of the 30 beds were empty all neatly lined up and made waiting for new arrivals that would probably never arrive. The hall was quite comfartable the vicar had given us some biscuits and tea, I'm not a fan of tea but after a cold night with out sleepig I gulped it down. I rolled over and tried to sleep.

A Hastings Hotel Room

"These two look promising" A tall man clean shaven passed 2 manilla files across a heavily scratched oak table to a short man with grey hair but with a few faint patches of black scattered across it he wore a grey suit and white shirt un-buttoned at the top and shoes that were poished to perfection. He opened the files and stared at the information for a while almost as if he could find more information than what was actualy printed "Their very young" He turned a page "No military experience no fighting experience hm a cleaner and a shop assistant an odd combination" "But they survived a long trip and their accounts speak volumes it's all to well detailed to be made up their survivors" The grey haired man frowned at the files again "They came looking for safety and they say their are more of them in a place called Tunbridge Wells" "Yes Sir 6 more to be precise, they also warned of a large group of thugs that have taken up residence in the court house" "Hm it says here he managed to kill their leader?" "Yes but apparantly it was in self defecne he showed the officer on duty a stab wound he apparantly recieved from him," "Then fights off 2 armed men on his own one handed walks up to the thus doorstep  fakes a bomb and survives a train crash?" "Yes Sir" He stared again at the file and picture attached something was odd about it. The face that looked back was clearly young younger than he should of looked but the eyes said so much they seen a lot but still retained a softness about them, oddest of all was the fact that he was smiling "You see this? And this one to" He holds open another file with Jon's picture in it "Look at them their smiling. What does that tell you?" The other man shrugged "I'll tell you they are completely insane or they are some of the mentaly toughest people I have seen" "Is'nt that also a trait of serial killers?" "These day's more serial killers would be handy... we can use them" He closed the files "Will they be willing though Sir?" "They don't have a choice in the matter"

At The Church

"Wake up!" I was roughly shaken awake by a man in army fatigues. I grabbed my baton thinking we were under attck "Whoa no need for that son" "What do you want?" "We need you to head across the street to the office building for work assignment" ""We wont be here long enough for that" "I'm sorry Sir but I am ordered to escort you there now we need everyone to pitch in together" Despit a few grumbles we complied I had no urge to be arreted and thrown in to military custody. Their was a makeshift school in the church where Sky could stay she was not eager to do so but I think it will do her some good spending time with kids her own age. We crossed the deserted street and entered through a set of revolving door's with an arned guard on either side. We walked up to the reception desk a young soldier took her names and previous work experience and told us to take a seat. After about 5mins Jon was called away to a room whilst I waited. A after about quarter of an hur I was told to head upstairs 1st door on the left. I went up and ranninto a soldier who asked me to turn over any weapons I may be carrying I did and he waved me towards a wooden door it was locked the soldier wandered over and unlocked it, the door opened it was pitch black inside. Suddenly I was shoved in to the room the door slammed shut behind me, I was in complete darkness. Lights flickedon temporarily blinding me. My vision returned I was in a small room with a wooden table and chair. But against the far wall one of them, it's leg was tied to the table it turned to look at me and moan, it was a former soldier his uniform shredded and bloody he was bootless his comrades had probably taken them. I tried the door locked. FUCK. The rope holding the thing to the table snapped as it leaned towards me, it fell flat on it's face that made me smile despite the situation I was in. The room was bare apart from the table and chair. I advanced kicking my heel to extend the stilleto I tried to kick it in the head but it caught my leg pulling me to the ground, I booted it in the face with my free leg and it's relinquished. I scrambled away, I picked up the chair, I turned and broke it over the things back this had little effect but it wasn't meant to. One of the hair legs was still in my hand now ending in a jagged point. I waited for the creature to it's feet then I drove the spike through it's eye socket, it dropped to the floor. I moved away from the now re-dead corpse and sat on the table. What the hell was that? Did Jon habe this happen to him? The door opened and I jumped off the table flipped it over and scrambled behind it. 2 armed men stormed into the room guns drawn a man walked between them he was a little shorter than me with severely  graying black hair, I got up from the table he walked straight past me like I wasn't there he looked at the dead soldier then at me "Shame we are going to have to get catch another one now" He sighed "I don't have to kill that one bare handed to do I?" He looked at me as if he had just noticed I existed an interested look in his eye which quickly faded he turned to the 2 men "I think we are going to get 2 chairs Mr. Jackson appears to have destroyed that one and a cup of tea would you care for a drink?" He turned to me "A pint?" "It's 9:30 in the morning" "Jeez is it that late? Better make it two pints then" A couple of minutes later we had both taken a seat me being closest to the corpse and furthest from the door. stirred his tea whilst I looked in amazement a as a can of Budweiser was opened and poured into a glass for me then the 2 guards left leaving me with the man, we sat in silence for a moment "I was joking about the pint you know" Nothing no smile nothing "I think you are hot...ok then how about telling me where my mate is?" He took a sip of tea butcontinued to say nothing. I took a swig of beer "I'm having a wonderful time I enjoyed meeting your friend" Another sip nothing "Can I go?" Sip "Can I stay?" Sip "Can I have that potted plant in the corridor? It would look great in my house" "Your friend is fine" His sudden answer suprised me "He is talking with one of my associates now" "By associate do you mean zombie friend or human?" "See for yourself" He passed me  an ipad on the screen was a black and white camera feed showing a room exactly the same as this apart from it was Jon and a bearded man, there was a corpse in the corner it looked like it's head had been smashed repeatidly in to the wall the cracks on the walls supported this. I handed back the ipad "My name is Kane" "And what can I do for you? Any more of those things roaming round you want me to deal with just send them in the room til I drop" "It's funny you should mention that" "Why?" "Because we have work for you" 

   

Are you Tom Jackson?

"Well that's nice and all but I have my own problems people trying to kill me and all that" The man sniffed "Yes I heard about that I aso heard you killed one of them" "I didnt want to but it was self defence" "Mmm you dorealise everyone is struggling right now we need to band together" His tone was so calm almost like the world was not ending my tone was not "Then they can help their dam selves I'm busy and I dont paticuarly feel inclined to help people who ock me in rooms with viven's" "Viven's?" "It's Latin or something for undead the points is I'm leaving" I got up stormed past the man and opened the door a soldier was behind the door and he wasn't about to move. I slammed the door shut and stormed back to my seat "I'm staying" I took a swig of my beer "What do you want?" He paused and stared at his tea before he talked "Our world is changing Mr. Jackson" "Tom" "Sorry?" "Call me Tom Mr Jackson is my fathers name" "Very well look around the world has gone to hell their are few places in the country that are secure the police force has literally been destroyed the army cant defend against the Viven's as you call them and police the street" "I'm not a police man" "No I want something different from you we are recruiting normal people for new positions" "Such as?" "We are trying to build up a police force that will enforce law but we need a new department we cant use soldiers people wont talk to them or trust them the same with the police force, we need people who can walk the streets unnoticed to keep an eye on people" "You want me to spy? Wont that invade peoples right to private life? " He reached into a black folder took out a photograph and placed it in front of me "Privacy is at a premium safety is what we need look at the photo" I had it was an unpleasent site bits and pieces of the humanbody were scattered across a living room "Some one brought in their infected family member they got loose killed 9 people infected 3 more one was the poor fellow on the floor net to you " He indicated the corpse at my feet "We need a people who will respond quickly to incursions patrol the safe zone keep a watch for suspicious behavior and the occasional high risk job I am about to ask of you" "I get the feeling this job is gonna suck" "Yes your right, here" Another photo taken from a low flying plane a field  was shown with large walls made out of what looked like stacked up cars "This is Chepstow farm 276 miles away just outside of Manchester, the people here banded together with the army and built a mini fortress but their is a problem they are trapped" All the way round the compound a large moat of the undead "Yeah that is a problem are there many places like this?" "A few scattered around the country but back to the point the people here are dieing they are starving we cant do any more air drops our fuel needs to be rationed carefully" "Send the army then" "And engage them? They would be killed" "Well what lure them away? They will only come back" "Well you need to find a way to remove them permanantly" "Me?" "You are hired as a ghost you have you orders go see Stan he will give you what you need" "I never said I want the job" "Your friend has will you let him go alone?" "You over estimate how much I like him" "People are dying Tom will you leave them to die?" "I have family to worry about" "Yes on the return trip we sent the chopper over your house everything seems secure" He showed me another photo it was the flats "When was this taken?" "Early this morning they are fine for now Tom these people wont last much longer" I glared at the photo "Fine we will do this one thing after though we can walk away" "Fair enough" "And I want you to help me with something we brought a little girl with us her grand parents live here can you look into it" "I will don't worry I will make sure she is safe"  We shook hands and I left. I met Jon in the lobby and we talked about what just happened.

We arrived at a multi storet car park the entrance was guarded by soldiers they scanned our finger prints and we were allowed entry. We met Stan on the lowest floor he greeted us and walked us over to stacks and stacks of wooden crates "Glad to here you guys have joined up" "We didnt have much of a choice" "Yeah the boss always gets his way O.K I read your mission brief and I have loaded up a vehicle for you. We walked over to a jeep the most horrible shade of green you have ever seen in the back was water petrol MRE's Stan warned us they tend to back you up a bit. Sevral bags of supplies flares maps a tool kit maps various things "Whats over their" I wandered off from the jeep to a steel wire cage that had a load of cardboar boxes stacked to the ceiling. Stan came over "Fireworks some idiot went nut and started lighting them up attracted a load of those things so we confiscated them all" "We need to lure them these would help" "I'm not sure I would need to ask the boss" "Ask him then" Stan spoke into a radio and Kane's voice crackled in "Yes" "Sir you'r new recrutis want to take some fireworks to lure the creatures away that O.K with you?" "Give them what they need Stan" "Yes Sir"  We took 3 large boxes of fireworks and place them in the jeep "Oh one more thing here" Stan handed us a wad of bank notes "Their's £300 it's a descretionary fund get your selves some new clothes" "Money is still good here?" "Yep now your mission brief we have scouted a route for you from the plane thats relatively clear and loaded it in to the GPS and we have marked it out for you on the map in case you loose the link you need to lure the horde away from the walls, their are a lot of soldiers in that place we need to get them out so they can get here we need the reinforcements any questions?" "When you say we do you mean your comin to?" "Fraid not boy's" "He threw the keys to Jon "You will need to leave soon but take a couple of hours to yourselves"

We got new clothes with the money we also got Sky £20 worth of sweets she would stay in the church whilst we were away we sat and ate one last time before we headed for the Jeep.

We drove out through the sliding door Jon at the wheel "How do we get ourselves into these thing's Jon?" "Just lucky I guess" I opened up the map and we set off 270 miles away people were dieing and we were their only chance.     

On The Road Again

"And I'm a cowboy on a steel horse I ride I'm wanted..." Silence apart from the engine "Jon you were meant to say wanttteedddd" "Wanted" "Your no fun" We had just left Hastings and were heading North progress has been slow due to the winding route we had to take to get past pile up's of cars. Dead or Alive finished and Everytime by Yashin came on much to Jon's relief he had lost the coin toss to choose the music. We were currently heading through a large field all around us were dead sheep that had been torn apart by the undead blood had soaked and dried into the grass. The ride was bumpy as hell but Stan had assured us that the Jeep would not break down the under carriage had been reinforced they had totally dismantled the engine cleaned checked and repaired it all done by the Royal Engineers so we felt completely safe from breakdown. The original wind screen and window glass had been replaced with thick security glass and the parts that held it in place were reinforced with steel. The tyres had been replaced with runflats and the cars shell had been reinforced not that we had needed it so far we had only run into small groups of the dead that were easily avoided. We contacted Toby and the other's an hour ago they were all fine and excited to here about another group of survivors they suggested moving now but we decided it against it if we were going to move we would do it together just in case.

I looked down at the large brown envolope Stan had given me before we left it contained various bits of information what would be expected of me and Jon if we decided to continue on in this roles as Ghost's as Kane had called it, maps of the country showing overrun areas almost every where there was a major city was now a dead zone. The part that made the most interesting reading was the studies they had been doing on the undead. The 20 or so pages were stamped Sensitive in red ink and me and Jon had been forced to sighn a declaration that we would not reveal these details to anyone or how they had attempted to recruit us. I opened up the file it had been heavily redacted apparatnly we were not trusted that much all that remained in any length was the conclusions.

5th MAR 2013 Subject No: 1 SEX: M Height: 165CM Weight: 15 Stone AGE: Mid to late 30's

I can conclude the following about the undead.

All attempts to anesthetize calm or reason with the undead appear fruitless.

All known toxins and poisons to humans tested so far have no effect on the subject's.

After submerging the subject in a tank of sterile water for 48 hours the subject was removed and was still "alive" the undead appear to not need oxygen.

The spreading of the virus stems from the mouth in it's saliva making a bite a quick way to infect other's.

Immediate amputation of a limb that has been bitten must take place with in 1min of the bite wound even then this is not 100% guaranteed to prevent infection.

During the 3 month's these tests were carried out the subject was starved and does not seem to be suffering any ill effects of it.

Subject 1 status: Terminated

Report filed: Dr (Redacted)

The next section of the report was on another subject this was also heavily redacted apart from the conclusion's.

20th MAR Subject:2 SEX: F HEIGHT: 150cm WEIGHT: 8 Stone AGE: 28

(Redacted) Infected by subject 1 in a handling error volounteered for experimentation concent form attached.

After the initial bite subject's will suffer a high fever confusion swelling and redness of the bite area but bleeding stop's quickly. Numbness in the extremities confusion and agression followed by death no treatment has proved effective so far. From death to reanimation the time varies any where from 10mins  to 4 hours mitigating factors are thought to include location of bite weight height and temprature.

Addition: People are turning with out being bitten it appears we are all infected and when we die either naturally or unnaturaly we all reaniate but with out a bite this process can take any where from 6 to 24 hours Note: Information provided by survivors not yet confirmed further investigation required.

Subject 2 status: Terminated

Report Filed: Dr (Redacted)

13 MAR SUBJECT:3 SEX: M HEIGHT: 170cm WEIGHT: 11 Stone AGE: Late 50's

The undead have proved ver difficult to kill, whilst disabling the limbs will slow them it will not kill them they will not die from blood loss.

Traumatic damage to the torso has minimal effect apart from slwing movement

Choking or manual strangulation of the undead ineffective and not reccomended

Fire has proven effective to a point but they have no fear of it  they will gladly walk through fire to get to a meal

Electricity seems to affect the undead similar to humans causing muscles to spasm uncontrolably but lacks a killing factor.

Severing of the head is effective but the head is still capable of biting and must be dispatched by destorying the brain

After a week of tests the only way to reliably destroy the dead appears to be massive damage to the brain.

Subject Status: Terminated

Report Filed: Dr (Redacted)

The final conclusion page was all that was left

Study's of the undeads eatin habit's have been carried out along with how animals react to the creature's

27 MAR SUBJECT: 4 SEX: M HEIGHT: 190cm WEIGHT: 15 Stone AGE: Late 20's to early 30's

The undead will consume any living meat be it cat dog deer or cow but will always prefer human volounteer sample provided by (Redacted)

Animals show no interest in eating undead flesh a dog was force fed a small piece of undead flesh and expired with in 20mins

All animals show an instinctive fear of the undead prefering to run rather than face them

A dog was allowed to be bitten by subject 4 the dog had similar symptoms to a bitten human and died with in the hour no reanimation.

Study's of bacteria eating at the undead flesh has yielded startling resuilts. There are none. Normally a dead body would be broken down quickly due to the immune system not being active to protect it, itis quite possible that it could take decades before they simply disintegrate.

Subject Status: Terminated by Agent Crow unexpectadly

Report Filed: Dr (Redacted)

I put the files down "I'm in here you know" Jon looked over at the file "Crow?" "What did you choose?" "Bear" "Because your big and grumpy?" "You chose Crow  because of your skinny legs?" We both laughed.

10pm

We were a third of the way to the trapped survivors we had called in our position to Kane he was not happy with our progress "You need to move quicker" "You don't like it you fucking drive" Jon shouted back at the radio after listening to my music all day he was not in the best of mood's "How dare you speak to me like that" "What are you gonna do about it? You going to come get us?" "Just get there Kane out" The radio went to static "Bringing good will to yet another boss I see how did you never get that customer services job?" Jon chuckled "What do you think this a good place to stop?" We had arrived at a small farm that seemed clear of undead there was a large corrugated steel barn next to a small single storey farm house the door's to the barn were open Jon slowly drove in. Cow's or sheep had been in here at one point the place stank of manure and pens were set up Jon turned us around so we faced the entrance I cautiously got out and shut the barn door's and climbed back in. We had a dinner in the back of the Jeep we opened the sun roof to let the smoke out from the small stove we used to cook the mre's meatballs in pasta suprisingly good and a few energy bar's. I went to sleep as Jon took 1st watch we swapped at 3am.

8AM

I opened up the barn door's and Jon drove the Jeep out I looked over at the farm house and wondered if it would be worth looking inside for supplies I dismissed the idea we had everything we needed no sense in risking it as I was about to get in "Did you see that?" Jon asked "See what?" I climbed back in and shut the door "The curtain moved" "Oh really go look then you are seeing things if people were here they would have come out to say hi or yell at us or try to kill us" "They could be scared I'm gonna go look" I sighed and we both got out the car and wandered over to the house. Jon walked to the front window amd looked in I headed for the front door and knocked "Hello were alive and don't want to eat you honest but if you want to eat us then feel free to stay inside" Their was a bang against the door "Jon" I whispered he came over the bang came again "Can you hear me we don't want to hurt you we can take you some where safe" Then that horrible moan came from inside "Oh never mind then see you later" Dissapointed we headed back to the Jeep we climbed in checking the back 1st of course I have seen enough movies to know that they always climb in when you are not looking not this time though. Jon put his music on and we headed North.          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through the Fire and Smoke

It took us another 36 hours to get close to the survivors as we got closer to the area the dead were almost non existant but we would soon get an explaination for that. We emerged in the Jeep through the woods on a steep hill. It was 6pm and we were half a mile away from the survivors camp. All the dead in the area seem to have gathered around their fortress the cars were stacked 10 high on all sides they were holding but their was no way out. We radioed Kane and were ordered to act immediatley he would inform the survivors what we were going to attempt to do. We worked quickly setting up the fire works at the top of the hill tieing the fuses together so we could set off large amounts with less effort. We got back in the Jeep and sped down the hill at such a speed I thought we would turn over. We reached the bottom and headed towards the sea of undead I reached into the back and pulled out a megaphone Jonturned on the radio The warrior boomed loudly as the 1st few dead started to pay attention I stuck my head out of the sun roof "Hello Manchester how are you this evening?" It seemed that thousands of undead eyes turned at once with disbelief to what they were seeing I looked at Jon "Switch to the stuff that will really piss them off. Jon laughed the warrior stopped playing and The Spice Girls Tell me what you want boomed out. A great moan came from the crowd and they advanced "Told you it would work" I shouted to Jon to make myself heard "Yeah but will we survive it?" "I would take my chances with the dead rather than the Spice girls" Jon burst in to hysterics. We drove round the entire compound with the music and megaphone like the pied paper with a tale of undead following "Hello Sir you look hungry this evening would you like a snack? Follow us! And you and you er not you it look's like you have had enough! No shoes no shirt no arms no legs no brains we will still serve you come on" After about 10 mins we started to back up to the hill the dead following us the radio crackled "Boys?" "Yes Boss what can we do for you" "Is that the Spice Girls?" "Yes Sir we decided to use the WMD enticement wouldnt you chase us to turn that crap off?" Kane chuckled "The commander is reporting that large numbers of the undead are moving away from the wall the plan is when enough have moved away they are going to evacuate to other safe locations you just need to kee them away" "Got it boss we are just about to set off the fireworks" "Good luck" "Please Boss it's us" "Hmm" He hung up. The dead were now closing in on the base of the hill so we headed up I jumped out and ran to the fire works setting off huge piles of them. The sky erupted with rockets and flashes as I jumped back in and we sped back down the hill and 200 metres ahead of the closes dead the fire works would lure the dead closer to us they would see the car then pursue us the undead behind would follow their friends due to there instinct "Come on people we don't have all night come get us?" I blared through the megaphone, the undead continued forward. 

We lured the undead through several fields about 6 miles from the stronghold. Jon had periodacly thrown out more fireworks to keep their attenton, the radio crackled "The commander informs me they are starting the evacuation how are things their boy's?" I pulled out the map and checked our location "Er we can lure them away for another 3 miles easily  boss after that we could end up backed into a corner against the river if they keep going their current speed you have about an hour and a half to get everyone out before we need to leave" "O.K good work contact me if anything changes" "No prob" 

Nothing changed that night my voice was horse from shouting down the mega phone the dead continued to follow and eventually we got confirmation that the survivors had escaped we left the fields and the undead and sped off so the horde could not follow.

We were in high spirits on our way home we were hero's Kane and Stan both been in contact to congratulate us and added they hope we would see sense and return to Hastings. We said we would see but 1st we needed to stop home.

11AM

We pulled up outside the flat's something was wrong the reinforced door was open. We entred and closed the door behind us Jon had the handgun Stan had given us before we left. We entred the 1st floor their had been a battle here bullett holes every where bodies undead and human were on the floor I recognised a few from the court house they had attacked whilst we were gone. We cleared the floor all dead no one we knew. I gave Jon a boost up to the next floor and he helped me up. We kicked open the door to Jack's workshop everything was as we left it but no one was here. There were a few more bodies all human and had been shot in the head. The cupboard that had linked the floors where the staircase had been was now gone so we had to jump across Jon went 1st I took my jump I stumbled but Jon grabbed hold of my coat and helped steady me "Cheer's dude" "No worries" "What the hell happened?" "I counted at least 78 people at the court house and I counted 36 human bodies here and some of the zombies I recognise from there to could be at least 50 of them" "So what they attacked we shot a few they turned and started killing each other?" "Maybe" "Well maybe everyone is up here" "I rang Toby's phone no response Ty's phone no response. Dam. We had to force the door open as there was a body behind it. We checked it. He was from the court. 51? We cleared the room's from left to right Janes room was a mess blood and more bodies Duke jumped out and ran towards us scared out of his mind he started to bark "Shh" Jon soothed him we poured Duke some water and food and continued on with our search Lara's room empty no sighns of struggle Toby and Jenna's room empty Ty and Jons room empty the social flat empty apart from Clio and Riley they were scared and hungry we fed them and moved on to the last room. I slowly opened the door the room was a mess blood and the stench of death was everywhere the bedroom was clear as was the bathroom. We made our way down the short corridor to the front room. We opened the door Jenna and Lara had their back's to us they were kneeling over a body "Hey guy's" I called out. They stopped what they were doing and turned this was not Jenna and Lara anymore the moans escaped into the air as they got up and staggered towards us "Oh no" Jon said nothing he shot both of them between the eyes and they fell. We checked the body they were feeding on not one of our's his chest had been cracked open and the innardds scooped out. I ran to the bathroom and puked Jon quickly followed by vomiting in the bath. We covered the bodies and tried Toby and Ty's phone again we found their phones in there respective room's "Tom look at this" Jon called from the bathroom in his room. I wandered in on the bathroom mirror written in what looked like lipstick. TOM JON GONE HOME. We searched the flats for anything useful but it looked like anything good had been taken we put Duke on the lead and Clio and Riley in a cardboard box we left the hell hole and drove round the corner and parked up next to the Fiesta it was still here good sign. We headed down the hidden back alley to our house we got to the back door Ty was looking out a small gap in the curtains he opened the door and we came in. We did the usual bite check and after hugs etc Jack and Jane came running down the stairs for more hugs and kisses from Jane not jack who settle for a firm handshake "Where's Toby?" "Upstairs"Jane replied "Is he O.K?" I moved towards the stairs he's not hurt but he's upset over what happened to Jenna" I looked at the floor I was ashamed that part of me was relieved that I would not have to tell him about that. Jon took charge "O.K everone upstairs time for a chat" Toby' was in my room sat on the bed he barely noticed when we entered I reached under my bed and pulled out a bottle of whiskey I had left behind just in case we ended up lback here in a situation like this I took a swig passed it to Jon and so forth as Ty and Jack went to get the pet's from the car. Jane began to talk

24 Hours earliear

"Let him in" Ty called out. Jane pressed the button near the entrance the metal door swung open and Toby came through carrying an inconcious man on his shoulder's. He was bleeding heavily Toby dropped him to the floor "Theirs 3 more come on guy's" Toby pulled 2 more dishevelled men through and slammed the door shut. All men were examined for bites and passed. The bloodied man died soon after arrival Toby made sure he didn't get back up. That night the survivors sat down for dinner "So where did you guys come from?" Toby asked. The man who introduced himself as Fred put down his tin of beans and wiped his mouth with his hand "Maidstone we holed up in a block of flats like this until the supplies ran out then we went on the run we headed here and ran into a group of people near the court's we thought they were friendly then well they well you saw what they did to Matt poor bastard we ran and we bumped in to you guy's" "Yeah we have had a few problems with them as well" Another man Kieran chimed in "So is this all of you?" "No there are more of us but they are away at the moment" Ty said "Huh how long they been gone?" "A few day's" "They could be dead you know" "They are not" Toby banged his fist on the table "How do you know?" Kieran said spooning more beans into his mouth "I spoke to them this morning they will be back tomorrow" "Oh O.K then and they will decide if we can stay?" "Yeah it's up to them" "O.K do you think they will say yes?" Toby continues to glare at the 2 men "I'm sure they will" Lara said "Oh er good thank's for the beans guy's" "Your welcome" "All right time for bed guys Tom and Jon will be back soon we want to make sure we are up in time to let them in"

2:40am

Lara and Jenna were on watch that night sitting in armchairs next to the steel door Toby and Ty would be down in 20mins to take over they were tired and about to nod off they didnt notice the danger behind them. Kieran and Fred had made their way down the stairs dropping to the floor Jenna and Lara were chatting about Hastings and what they would hope would be there all of this and everything was cut short blades pierced the back of their chairs blood soaked into the fabric a small whimper and it was all over their eyes closed for the last time death came. Fred withdrew his knife and walked over to the door and hit the button to open the door Kieran spoke into a phone and hung up "They will be here in 25" "Fine" "Don't feel bad we had to do it" "What about Matt? Did the boss have to do that to him?" "It got us in didn't it?"

3:05am

Men ran into the lobby the raid had already developed into a shambles they had not been quiet on their way to the flats a crowd of undead were attracted and had started attacking as they exited their vehicles they were running into the lobby mainly to avoid being devoured. They slammed the door shut on their comrades. Above the bangs and shout's a gun shot rang out the top of Kieran's head flew off and he dropped to the floor another shot and another. Toby had the carbine on the top floor and was picking them off one by one. The men panicked half made their way towards the broken stair cases and seeked shelter in the side corridor they found none Jack was their with the shotgun he mercilssly put them down. The other half attempted to escape back out the door only to be swarmed by the undead waiting outside for themthe living and the undead clashed in a confined space Toby stopped firing allowing the dead to do their work. After an hour the living were gone the dead were all  that were left. Ty and Jane came running down with packed up supplies more dead could arrive any second it was time to go they headed downstairs and saw what was in thearmchairs. They carried the 2 upstairs andlaid them down the others left and Toby waited waited for them to turn. Lars woke up slightly quicker looking at Toby and got up from the floor. He aimed the rifle he couldn't do it he left the room in his way was a man Fred still alive he looked shocked. Toby grabbed him punched him in the mouth and kneed him in the balls and threw him into the room with the girls shutting the door behind him his screams made him feel a little better he gathered up a few last supplies and headed to meet the other's. 

I handed the bottle for Toby to finish no one spoke we were silent until I spoke "That's it" "What is?" Ty asked. "No more hiding reasoning and tricking we wipe them out or they wipe us out get ready for war"    

 

          

And So We Reach The End

No help is coming Kane can't spare the men I understand he has people to prtect he can't waste them on our personal vendetta. He has expressed an interest in turning an area around Tunbridge Wells into a small survival outpost as a rest stop for supply truck's to get through when they finally start coming through he has asked for our help in pacifying the area we said we would think about it. He wished us luck and his condolences for oour loss. We buried Lara and Jenna today in a small garden not our's but I'm sure the owner's wont mind. It was a simple ceromony and a 2 wooden crosses were all that marked the spot where they were buried. Toby said a few words and we left. Ty Jane and Jack will stay at the house if they don't hear from us with in 4 hour's they are to head to Hasting's Kane gave us a safe road route. We are out of ammo on the shotgun and rifle it was all used during the defence leaving us with 7 round's in the handgun and an estimated 15 or so hostile people waiting for us. We got in the Fiesta and drove none of us spoke we checked our weapons and waited for our arrival.

Our reception could not have been more different from the last time as we approached the door was unguarded but locked Toby quickly remidied that by smashing the security glass reaching through and unlocking the door "Knock knock" I joked. No one laughed. We entered the building and made our way to the stair's no one their as we ascended to the 1st floor I went in and Jon and Toby would continue up this is were we met Tooth in the court room he would be here the arrogant tosser. The other 2 floor's would be handled by Toby and Jon. I walked into the waiting room someone was here waiting for me not Tooth but the man who had been playing door guard last time he was sitting down reading a magazine about knitting of all thing's he looked up from it when he saw me "Hey dude is the Judge in?" He put down the magazine "Yeah sorry some one left the front door open so I wandered in" Gun shots came from upstairs "My frends wandered in to" Mr Roid rage rose to his feet I swear he had gotten bigger since the last time over 6ft and arm's as thick as tree trunk's "Don't worry no bomb this time but you'r boss he killed some friends of mine and I want an apolgy" "Boss aint seeing any one today" I stepped further into the room there was a corridor to the left of the waiting room with small individual interview room's and a small kitchen to the right 3 door's one to another interview room another to a Judge's office and the last to the court room "Dont worry I have an appointment I walked towards the court room door he followed. I reached for the handle he grabbed my wrist I looked at him "Something I can do for you?" "Get out!" "No chance" I went to turn the handle he gripped my wrist tighter grabbed me by the coat with the other hand and hurled me over the ward clerk's desk and hit the wall with a thud. I got up "Get out" He reached behind his back and pulled out a machete and walked towards me. I jumped onto the desk and booted him under the jaw a normal man would be out like a light but he barely staggered he swung the machete as I jumped off the desk and it stuck into the side of it. I grabbed one of the waiting room chairs and hit him over the back with it ithad little effect he finally managed to free the machete and swung again I rose the chair to block a waste of time all he had to do was simply push forward and with his much larger frame sent me stumbling back dropping the chair he moved forward again. I unleashed my new weapon I hurled a mix of crushed glass and pepper at the mans face I held it in a little bag clipped to my side. He stopped in his tracks pawing at his eye's.

Where was he? Where had that shit head gone? He was gonna fucking kill him the smug little bastard he looked round the court room the door had not opened or closed and he was to close to the court room door for him to get through with out knowing. He was still here. Wiping his eyes one last time he made his way towards to the waiting room's he kicked open the door of each tiny cubicle all empty just past the waitng room's were a kitchen and a server room for the computers. He kicked the door of the kitchen off it's hinges.

Jon and Toby had finished clearing the 1st of their 2 floor's. Their had been very little resistance only 2 people were able to oppose them and were shot. The rest were injured and quickly surrendered Toby was still in favour of shooting them but Jon calmed him,they locked them in a room and finished sweeping the floor and moved on to the next.

"Where are you!!!!" The man bellowed he was frustrated he could not find him any where. In fact Tom had not gone far at all he had ducked back under the court clerk's desk he was now advancing up behind the man knife in hand he was just behind the man when he turned. Tom tried to make the final few steps but the man was suprisingly quick he moved forward to meet Tom knocking the knife away and grabbing him by the throat slamming him against the wall lifting him 2 feet off the ground. The man stared into his eyes as if detirmined to see every ounce of life drain out of his opponent "Any last words" Tom tried to splutter something but couldn't "What was that? " The man asked but didn't release his grip he raised his machete again over his head then a sting in his stomach he looked the down, the boy had booted him in the stomach he started to laugh as he looked back at his victim the foot moved away from his stomach and blood spurted out he released his grip and held hs stomach. Tom fell to the floor and backed away from the man grabbing his knife. The man sank to his knees, Tom breathed heavily got to his feet turned his back on the man analked away. The roid junkie looked at his chest a large puncture mark in his black tank top and a pounding sound in his head no that was not in his head he looked in time to see the stilletto go through his eye socket.

The top floor was dark all the light's were off what little light their was came through a few window's Jon peeked in to an office room. Empty they checked all the room's they had to force most of the door's "Jon!! Get over here calm down don't worry were here to help you" Jon ran over. A skinny women in torn clothes was at the door window tears in her eyes. Oh God they werent using them for? It seemed they were Jon tried the door locked of course "Get away from the door we will get you out" The girl moved away from the door. It took a good few kicks but the door was eventually taken off it's hinges. The room stank of shit their were 10 girls in the small room all pale and skinny a bucket in the corner was the only toilet "Please don't hurt us" The girl who was at the door approached them "Were not gonna hurt you were here to get you out come on"

I cleared the gunk off my shoe and looked at the body on the ground I didn't feel any pity. I walked towards the court room door and opened it. His honour was sitting on the Judges chair a drink in one hand he looke up and laughed as he saw me come in "OH so your back what do you want? Come to laugh at me and my spectacular failure?" I stopped half way down the aisle "What here to kill me?" "You killed a couple of friends of mine" "So what you killed a good 50 of mine" "You attacked us 1st and 2nd and 3rd before we replied and even then only to get our friend back" "Bah details I hope they suffered" "Not as much as you are going to" "Oh really you think I'm going to let you kill me?" He reached down under the deskand pulled out a double barrelled shotgun I dived for cover under the seats as he fired off a single barrell and the seats next to me exploded. I heard Tooth jump down to the court room floor and he took a loud swig of his drink I moved back a row of seats "You arent gonna win I have a gun this time just please come here so i can shoot you" He was obviously drunk "O.K since you asked so nicely" I threw a chunk of chair one that he had blown apart earliear into the air he fired at it now was my chance. Tooth was trying to reload the gun whilst trying to not let go of his drink at the same time whilst pissed a bad combination, I leapt on to the back of the seats ran across them and flew towards him sending the gun him and the drink sprawling I landed on top and swung at him he blocked and headbutted me  knocking me off  he scrambled for the gun I grabbed hold of his ankle and jammed my knife into his foot he screeched in pain grabbed the guns shaft and swung it so the barrell clubbed me on the back. He pulled the knife out of his foot and tried to reload again. I grabbed the barrell and pointed it away from me and reached for my baton Tooth raised a foot and kicked me inthe stomach but I did not let go of the gun. We both staggered to our feet fighting for the gun I tried the stilletto but Tooth saw it coming and sidestepped it "Ha" I head butted him instead he staggered as he did I swung my elbow round catching him in the temple he fell leaving me with the gun I threw it away and pulled out the baton "Wait wait wait" He backed away slithering like a snake "You kill me then what it wont change anything it wont fix anything" I stopped he smiled "You know I'm right this is not who you are" I extended the baton and drove the spike into his chest "Don't tell me who I am" I pulled the trigger.

Jon and Toby opened the court room door Tom emerged looking beaten hair a mess.

I looked past them at the group of girls they had rescued "Fan's of your's?" Jon lauughed "You could say that" "You guy's all right?" "Yeah were good" Toby replied "How bout you" "Yeah as awesome as usual"       

Epilogue

Field Report's

Activities of Agent(s) Crow Bear

The survivors of the farm car fortress Crow and Bear rescued have been resettled at various locations.

Rebel groups that have been attacking survivors based out of a court house have been pacified.

Both Agents survived.

Note: Crow's brother possible recruit for Ghost.

Note: Agent's Crow and bear may be compromised psychological evaluation reccomended.

End of Report

International communication's

All countries are reporting massive out breaks their state as follows

Continental U.S: Overrun 84% Population death (At last contact) No government leader ship contact Note: Possible nuclear release

Europe: Overrun 95% Population death Limited government leadership contact

Australia: Overrun 96% Population death Governemt organised resistance in place

Canada: Overrun: 90% Population death No Government contact

Korea China Iran: ?% Population death Government refused contact

All other countries are unknown or can not be verified at this time

End of Report

 

2 years later

Since the end of the world humanity has done little to stop it strggling to survive is all we can do. Tunbridge Wells has now been fenced off a 10 square mile area. Me and Jon played a part in luring the dead away from workers so they were not hassled seeing as we were so good at it the 1st time. Kane has invited us toreturn to Hasting's but for now we will stay. He could not find Sky's parent's in the end and she has returned to stay with us. Survivors arrive from time to time increasing the numbers here at the outpost to a few hundred not including the 90 or so soldier's. We are still using old world currency so we are pretty much skint again maybe time to give up on saving the world and start a scavenging bussiness.

 

                                                              THE END

 

 

 

Impressum

Texte: T.D Jackson
Lektorat: T.D Jackson T.J.H. Jackson
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 10.02.2013

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