Capital Falling Trilogy Box Set [Books 1-3]

by Winkless, Lance

  Chapter 17

  Josh feels his phone vibrating in his pocket. A ray of hope flashes through him as he goes to get it out. Please let it be Lieutenant Winters with some good news, he thinks to himself. Josh’s hope grows when he sees that it is him calling.

  “Hello, Sir,” Josh answers, bringing his head up with his phone to his ear. Josh feels the weight of expectation as Emily, Catherine and Stacey look at him from their seats with hope and desperation on their faces.

  “Listen up, Josh; I’m about to get in a lift so I’ll have to be quick in case I lose signal,” Lieutenant Winters says.

  “Sir.”

  “Are you still in the First-Class lounge?”

  “Yes Sir, but we were just about to evacuate to a higher floor,” Josh answers.

  “I’ve sorted out transport, but it won’t be straightforward. I need you all to meet me outside the command room, one floor up from you. Leave there and go right, up the corridor to the lifts. Take the lift up to floor five, then, out of the lift, go right then first left. The command room is at the end of that corridor. Understood?”

  “Yes, Sir, we will leave immediately.”

  “Is Dixon still with you?” Winters asks.

  “Yes Sir, and Collins.”

  “Good, make sure they come and bring all the firepower you can, okay?”

  “Yes Sir, I would have a job to stop Dixon coming.”

  “Good, wait for me outside the command room. I’ll meet you there, don’t try and come in. I’ve got to go.” Josh’s phone clicks and Winters is gone.

  “What’s happening?” Catherine asks as soon as Josh’s phone leaves his ear.

  “Lieutenant Winters has got transport, so we have to meet him on the floor above us. Get ready to go, we have to leave now,” Josh says and then turns to speak to the others.

  Dixon, Collins and Alice are at the barricaded door to the lounge. No one else is in the lounge now. Dixon managed to get rid of their guard, with a few choice words. They have already started to disassemble the barricade and are in the process of lifting furniture away as Josh reaches them.

  “What you saying?” Dixons asks Josh.

  “Lieutenant Winters has arranged transport; we need to meet him on floor five.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. I knew he would come through in the end. Let’s get moving,” Dixon Replies as he shoves some furniture out of the way of the door.

  “What kinda transport?” Alice, asks.

  “He didn’t say. He did say it would not be straightforward, though.”

  “Sounds like more fun and games,” Dixon says ominously.

  “Yes, yes it does,” Josh replies. “I’ll make sure the others are ready,” Josh says as he leaves them to finish off clearing the door.

  Catherine, Emily and Stacey are up, have gathered their few belongings together and are ready to leave.

  “Josh, are the Rabids outside the door?” Emily asks, taking Josh by surprise at her use of the word Rabid.

  “No, Emily, but we are going to take it very carefully, okay?” Josh answers as best he can.

  “Why is there so much shooting then?” Emily asks.

  “That’s downstairs and we are going up, so we will be moving away from the shooting, okay?”

  “Okay, will you stay by me?” Emily asks worriedly.

  “Yes, of course, little sister, I’m not going to let you out of my sight,” Josh tells her, picking up his rifle and checking it.

  “Okay, let’s go then,” Emily announces.

  The three move over to the still-closed door out of the lounge.

  “Right, listen up,” Dixon says. “We haven’t got far to go, but eyes open, everybody. Collins will take point with Alice. I will take the rear with Josh and you ladies will be in between us. If we run into trouble, stay together and listen to what I tell you, okay?”

  “Okay, Mr Dixon,” Emily says.

  “Good girl,” he replies with a smile on his face.

  “Has anybody got a spare sidearm I can use?” Catherine asks.

  “I’m not sure that is a good idea,” Dixon informs her.

  “I didn’t ask if it was a good idea, Mr Dixon. I asked if you had a spare sidearm? I am well trained if that’s what you’re worried about.” Catherine retorts.

  “Are you sure?” Dixon asks.

  “Yes, my father used to take me shooting in South Africa and I shoot regularly when I go back.”

  “Fair enough,” Dixon says as he reaches for a holster in his body armour, on the left side of his chest. He pulls out a Glock and hands it to Catherine.

  Everybody watches surprised as Catherine checks the safety, releases the magazine to inspect, reinserts it and pulls back the action.

  “What, have you never seen a glamorous PA with a gun before?” Catherine jokes as she finishes checking her weapon and sees everyone looking at her.

  “No, not since Miss Moneypenny, but I like it,” Dixon jokes.

  “Steady on, cowboy,” Catherine fires back. “Let’s get going, shall we?”

  Dixon nods once at Catherine and then at Collins, giving him the go-ahead to open the door.

  “Wow, that was brilliant,” Emily says to Catherine as Collins slowly opens the door.

  As soon as the door opens, the volume of the constant shooting increases considerably. The gunshots echo around the cavernous departure lounge before they travel the relatively short distance up the corridor to them. Emily moves close to Josh and tries to take his hand in hers.

  “I need both hands, Emily, stay in front of me but hold Stacey’s okay?” Josh tells her, and Emily complies.

  Collins's head goes out of the gap of the open door to check the area is clear before he opens the door fully and moves out into the corridor, his rifle up and his knees bent. Alice mirrors his stance and follows Collins out, her rifle swinging one way and then the other. Satisfied the corridor is clear, she signals for the rest to follow.

  Catherine is the next one out, her head looking one way, then the other, Dixon’s Glock held in both hands. Her arms are straight, pointing the gun at the floor in front of her, ready to bring it up at a moment’s notice.

  Emily and Stacey are up next but just as they are about to cross the threshold, an impossibly loud Rabid screech pierces the air above the noise of gunfire. Emily immediately takes a step back away from the door, moving back into safety.

  “Emily, we have to go now; come on, we can do I,” Stacey says, looking at her and pulling her hand gently.

  “I’m right here, Em,” Josh reassures.

  Emily takes a step forward again and this time, she keeps going. Stacey guides her out and takes her to the right, so that Josh, followed by Dixon, can start to move.

  Alice has waited, covering the corridor on the left, her rifle aimed directly down it. As soon as Josh emerges, he replaces her, and she quickly moves up to the front with Collins. Josh then rolls away to follow Emily, allowing Dixon to cover the rear.

  The group moves quickly up the corridor with Collins showing the way on point and Josh and Dixon working in tandem to cover the rear. Sounds of gunfire and Rabids are constant and only quieten marginally as they move away up the corridor.

  Collins presses the button for the lift as soon as he reaches them, before taking a covering position just past the lifts. Dixon has taken a knee and is covering the rear as they wait for the lift to arrive.

  “Pack into the lift tightly. We don’t want to split up,” Dixon instructs from over his shoulder as the doors ping open.

  Collins and Dixon load onto the lift last. It is tight but not too tight, even with their weapons. The lift whisks them up to the next floor quickly.

  In sync with the door sliding open, Collins’s rifle sweeps down, the butt rising to meet his shoulder and his head moves to its sight. He steps out of the door before it is fully open, and he covers Dixon’s exit which is just as well choreographed. The two men ensure the area is clear and cover all angles before signalling to Alice to lead t
he others out. She comes out rifle raised, joining Collins and taps him on the shoulder without dropping her aim to tell him to proceed. Collins moves forward immediately, back towards the sound of fighting, before he hangs left onto the adjacent corridor that leads up to the command room. Alice stops at the intersection, covering until the three women are past and Josh reaches her when she breaks to join Collins again.

  They move quickly along the corridor until it opens out into a foyer with a room at the end. Outside the room, hanging on the wall by the side of the entrance is a sign that reads command room.

  Two soldiers are stationed at the entrance and they both look confused by the arrival of this odd group.

  “This’ll do,” Dixon orders as they reach the end of the corridor and get just inside the foyer, well short of the command room.

  Collins has already stopped and taken a covering position at the corner of the corridor and the foyer. His rifle is already aimed back down the relatively narrow corridor. He knows as Dixon does, it is the best defensive position if anything decides to attack up the corridor.

  “Why don’t you take a seat ladies, while we wait for Lieutenant Winters?” Dixon says, motioning with his head to a row of nearby seats from his covering position. “Josh, see if the Lieutenant is in there; we can’t hang around here in the open.”

  Josh doesn’t need asking twice. Gunshots are constantly ringing out, but their noise is gradually being overtaken by the unmistakable sound of Rabids.

  Josh rises from his knee, leaving Alice to cover the middle of the corridor. She moves to lie down on her front, her elbows resting on the floor holding her rifle up, her legs splayed out behind her.

  Josh approaches the entrance to the command room, the two guards outside looking wary.

  “Can we help you, Private?” one asks, a Lance Corporal.

  “Sir, Lieutenant Winters ordered us to meet him here, I just wanted to check he is in there?” Josh replies, his neck stretching to try and get a good look inside to see if he can see him.

  “We cannot confirm that, Private.”

  “Sir, this place is going to be overrun soon, I just need to know if he is in there? We have women and children with us, Sir,” Josh says, trying to pull on his heartstrings.

  Josh can see inside the command room; there are only a few people in there by the looks of it. He can’t see if Lieutenant Winters is one of them, however.

  The two guards look at each other for a moment and then Josh’s ploy works.

  “He is in there, Private, but we can’t let you in.”

  “No Sir, thank you, Sir. I’ll wait with the others, Sir.” Josh salutes and turns back.

  “CONTACT!” Alice shouts, and at the same time she opens fire, letting off two rounds.

  Emily’s scream is masked by the noise of Alice’s rifle, but Josh hears it. Panicked, he sprints across the foyer to where she is sitting gripping onto Stacey. He stands next to Catherine who is already up and guarding his sister, Dixon’s Glock pointing at the enemy. Josh puts his body between Emily and the corridor, his rifle aimed ready to fire.

  Chapter 18

  With extreme care, I edge nearer the junction that leads onto Bayswater Road. The normally busy thoroughfare that carries traffic into the shopping mecca of Oxford Street and the West End only carries the mangled shells of burnt-out cars. Battle noise travels up to me, making me more cautious. As I reach the junction, it is obvious in which direction the action is taking place—on my right, west, further along Bayswater Road or just past it in Notting Hill Gate.

  I have a decision to make, either stay on the built-up side of the road with its hotels and embassies or cross the road, to the Hyde Park side. The Hyde Park side looks more inviting with the trees and greenery behind the border fence, but it could easily hide Rabids in its leaves.

  There is no contest as I peer down Bayswater Road. The built-up side has bodies and other obstacles filling the pavement and gutter. The buildings that line the street are scorched by fire, with window broken and doors gaping open. No thank you, I’ll take the other side of the road.

  Rising from my covering position at the junction, I go to move and cross the road. I glimpse it out of the corner of my eye, on my left like a shadow. At first, my brain processes the image as a tall man running across the junction—and for a split second, I delay, but it is not a man. A giant Rabid, by far the biggest I’ve seen, flashes towards me at tremendous speed. Fear and reflex take over and I whip around, my M4 turning quickly with me as I bring the rifle to bear on the target. My split-second delay has cost me dearly, however, the rifle turning too slowly to get a shot away. The Rabid slams me back off my feet and we both hit the ground, the M4 pointing at nothing but air. I scramble to recover myself as gravity directs the Rabid to the side of my body. I am nowhere near quick enough; the Rabid’s scramble is quicker and it springs onto me, its powerful arms pushing down onto my arms’ biceps. The massive beast pins me down, its ugly head floating above mine. I struggle uselessly to free myself, hardly noticing its depraved stink, but I can’t break the Rabids’ unrelenting grip. Petrified and unable to move, all I can do is look with fear into the terrifying eyes of my assailant and wait for its teeth to strike.

  The Rabids’ mouth starts to open, its infested yellow teeth getting ready to slice into me. My eyes locked with the creature, it stares at me, studying its prey. The beast’s head tilts back, its mouth opening further and then the head comes swiftly down into my face and it screams an ear-piercing high-pitched screech an inch away from me. Its hot breath and spittle shower my screwed-up face as my eardrums threaten to burst. I wait for the inevitable pain of its teeth ripping into me, my fear rising, but it doesn’t come.

  My arms feel the giant Rabids’ claw-like grip loosen around my arms, and it then pushes against them. The Rabids’ weight almost crushes my arms as it hurls itself up and off me, jumping to its feet. Before I can react, it runs off, careering down the road in the direction of the sound of fighting.

  The beast has deadened my arms, they feel weak and floppy; without looking, I know my biceps have already started to bruise. What just happened, and why didn’t it bite? It had me powerless in its grip. The temptation to lie on my back to rest and recover, to think more about the reason, is strong. I can’t though, I’m too exposed, my stomach muscles manage to pull me up into a sitting position. With some feeling returning to my arms, my left hand moves to my face, to wipe off the remnants of the Rabids’ spittle from it as best it can, in the hope the vile smell will go with it too.

  An idea starts to form in my head as my arms feebly help me to my feet again. An explanation as to why the Rabid didn’t bite. I churn it over in my brain as I bring the M4 up so that I, at least, have a chance of defending myself if I’m attacked again. Out in the open, I find a hold point and move to it, finally making it across the road. An Apache Attack helicopter powers over my head from behind, heading straight down the road. I barely hear it as my ears recover from the Rabid’s assault, but I welcome the sight of it.

  Do the Rabids think I am one of them? Do they take me for a Zombie? I had assumed the female Rabid in the stairwell at Orion hadn’t attacked me because it was alone in the dark or because there was something wrong with it. It was the same with the young infected girl in the street earlier. She didn’t attack me because she didn’t see me; she looked straight at me for fuck’s sake. Can they smell me as I smell them now? I couldn’t smell them so easily before I was scratched, I am sure of that.

  I was attacked by the hoard in Orion, yes, but I started that episode. The building was nice and quiet, until I started shooting; that caused the commotion and they reacted to it. There was no other reason for the giant Rabid not to bite, to take its pound of flesh. Was his display a display of power to show me he is the alpha, the king of the jungle?

  My mind reels as I try to work out what I am now. Am I a Rabid or do I just stink like one? I have my faculties and my one driving force isn’t to eat people. So, at least for no
w, I must just smell like one. Is that the only similarity I have to them, I wonder? My body has recovered extremely quickly from the virus. I have had colds that have lasted longer. I feel myself recovering, my body growing stronger as each hour passes. Perhaps I will get some of their inhuman strength; now, that would be handy!

  I force myself to put the ifs and buts about my condition to one side, at least for the time being. It will have to be investigated further; I don’t want to be a risk to anyone but now is not the time. My concentration has to be focused; I won’t change my tactics based on the possibility my smell may mask me from them. That sounds a sure way for my journey to come to a fatally quick end.

  The path ahead is clear, and the hold point picked so I move, staying low, behind the sights of my rifle. Leaving a wide berth from the perimeter fence of Hyde Park, I follow its path along to the next cover behind a parked-up Audi. The car, hastily parked, skew-whiff to the curb on double yellow lines, is near one of the entrances to the park. Unbelievably, the car is sporting a parking ticket stuck to its windscreen. Obviously, the Zombie Apocalypse has not deterred the diligent parking attendants of London.

  Moving down the side of the black car, on the park side, I reach the bonnet. Resting the M4 on top of the bonnet, I scan the area ahead. The battle in the distance is loud, unrelenting and drawing closer. In the distance, I spot a drone in the air. The unmanned aerial vehicle is much lower than it would normally fly, the pilot not having to worry about an attack from the ground.

  The vehicle looks like it is circling, I assume, over the battle taking place ahead. Judging by the vehicle’s position, it looks like the fighting is taking place in Notting Hill Gate area, still a fair distance away. A streak of faint smoke emanates from the drone as it fires a missile down at the ground. I don’t see a flash or any evidence of the explosion from the missile, but a few seconds later a muffled boom travels through the air to me. I’m going to have to be careful as I approach that area, as the fighting is fierce; however, it is my best chance of joining up with the troops and I haven’t seen evidence of others.