The Virus

by Lee, Damien

  “Yeah, we’re coming now,” Lisa snarled through clenched teeth, her eyes locked with Simon’s. She turned and grabbed the rifle from the ground before walking away.

  “Touch me again and I’ll put you in your place, you little slut.”

  The man’s outburst shocked Tina, who gasped in amazement. Lisa turned and smashed the butt of the rifle into his face. His head snapped back as he cried out in pain. She ignored his whimpering and joined Tina by the doorway.

  “Good job,” the teenager chuckled.

  “He asked for it.”

  Lisa looked around the large warehouse. Colossal shelving units stood from floor to ceiling, stocking a variety of goods.

  “You broke my nose!” Simon’s nasally voice stole her attention. She turned to look at him as he cupped a bloody hand to his face.

  “Step out of line again and I’ll break your legs.” She made her way down one of the aisles, duly followed by Tina.

  “So how are we gonna do this?” the teenager asked.

  “Let’s look for a trolley or something. Then we can wheel it to the van and load it in the back”

  “Then what?” Simon grumbled. “Leap out of the window Dukes of Hazard-style?”

  “Got a better suggestion?”

  “Yeah, let’s turn back the clock and not break the fucking window!”

  “Idiot.”

  Lisa motioned for Tina to follow her. The two women walked to the end of the rows with Simon in tow. He had his head tilted back, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

  It was when they reached the far wall that Tina spotted the trolleys in the corner. “Something like that?” she offered.

  “Exactly.”

  Lisa made for the row of trolleys but stopped short as a plank of wood swung through the air in front of her. She took a step back as the assailant stepped into view, swinging the board with greater ferocity.

  “Get back!” the man snapped.

  Lisa aimed the rifle at his head. “Drop the wood or I’ll blow your head off.”

  The man stared at the trio, his eyes darting between each of them before he lowered the plank to his side.

  “Who are you?” Lisa demanded.

  “Adam.”

  “Well, Adam, I’m Lisa. This is Tina and Shithead.” She motioned to the pair behind her.

  “You’re not one of them?” he asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Have they bitten you?”

  “Nope.”

  “But I’m guessing you’re the ones who set off the alarm?”

  “You got one right,” Lisa praised. “It was the only way we could get in.”

  “You need a place to hide?”

  “No, we need supplies.”

  “Oh, great. So you figured you’d go looting through my store and to hell with the consequences?”

  “This is your store?”

  “It is now. I had to kill my dad. He was bitten.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Adam shrugged his shoulders, but Lisa could tell he was concealing his sorrow.

  “Look, we need supplies. It’s the only way we’re going to survive.”

  “I would’ve thought food was the most essential.”

  “We’ve got another group searching for food.”

  “Another group? How many of you are there?”

  “A few.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. We’ve got a farmhouse out in the countryside. If you give us some supplies, you can come with us.”

  “What do you need?”

  “Anything we can use to barricade the house.”

  Adam nodded, looking around at the shelves surrounding them. “Okay, you’ll need wooden planks and nails to start with. We’ve got a few nail guns here as well.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “We’ve got soldering guns, angle grinders, drills.”

  “We don’t have any electricity, or at least not for long.”

  “Oh, right.” Adam’s eyes quickly scanned the rest of the warehouse. “There’s a load of sandbags left over from the floods last spring?”

  “We’ll take them. Lead the way.”

  The trio followed the young man as he rushed down one of the aisles. He stopped halfway, motioning at the series of planks.

  “How many of these will your car hold?” he asked, turning to face Lisa.

  “We’ve got a Transit van, so we should get a lot in the back.”

  “Where is it?”

  “Outside. We’ve backed it up to the window so it’ll be easy to fill up”

  “But judging by your expression, there’s a problem?” Adam muttered sceptically.

  “Yeah. There are tons of zombies surrounding this place. We’re going to struggle to drive it away.”

  He nodded, his gaze drifting to the side as if lost in contemplation. “Okay,” he said after a brief silence. “We’ll fill the van first and then see what we can do afterward. He stooped down and retrieved a few boards from the shelf.”

  “Good. Shithead, go get a trolley.” Lisa turned to face her bloodied companion.

  “Get it yourself.”

  “What did I tell you about stepping out of line? Go get a trolley!”

  Simon glared at her before trudging towards the back of the store. When he returned, they filled the metal container with the planks.

  “Okay,” Adam said once the trolley was full. “Lead the way.”

  “You two start filling another trolley.”

  Lisa left the pair and retraced her steps back to the passageway with Adam and their goods in tow. She stopped at the door, trying to establish which way led to the van.

  “Do you know where you’re going?” Adam asked.

  “Nope, I came in through the top window, but it should be near here.”

  “The only window leading outside is in the room to your right.”

  Lisa turned towards the door which stood ajar. With her rifle at the ready, she kicked the door wide and burst into the empty room. The alarm blared louder than ever, but the sound of the zombies outside was even more prevalent. The back of the van blocked out most of the light from the window as she turned to grab the trolley. The shattered glass crunched beneath their feet as she helped push the planks over to the window.

  “I’ll jump in the back, you pass the wood through.”

  Lisa stepped onto the window frame and climbed into the back of the van. Sensing her presence, the horde started to pound the sides, filling the echoic space with metallic thuds. Lisa dragged the boards into the back as more of the undead creatures joined the fray.

  “Hurry!”

  Adam passed the rest of the boards over. He stepped aside as Lisa jumped back in.

  “How many are out there?” he asked.

  “Too many.”

  She stepped back over to the door as Tina appeared with another trolley filled with wood.

  “Where do you want this?”

  “Leave it there, take this one back and fill it up.”

  Lisa took the trolley from the teenager and wheeled the empty one back into the corridor.

  “How many more do we need?”

  “I’d say two more before we start on the rest of the stuff.”

  Tina nodded and left.

  “Right then, let’s go again.”

  After twenty minutes of passing the trolleys back and forth, the van was almost full.

  “This will have to be the last one,” Lisa told Tina as she took the final trolley. “Any more and you won’t be able to get in. Start loading this one while we come up with a plan to get us out of here.”

  She motioned for Adam to follow her as she left the room and proceeded down the corridor. She stopped as she passed the doorway to the warehouse.

  “Shithead, go help Tina; we’re leaving.”

  She heard an inaudible grumble from Simon as she strode towards the stairs.

  “So, what do you have in mind?” Adam asked as they bound
ed up to the first floor.

  “I don’t know. I’ve only got seven bullets left. I want to see how many are out there before we go any further.”

  She walked past the closed doors until she reached the room she had gained entry through.

  “My dad’s office,” Adam informed her as he followed her inside.

  “Where is he now?”

  “In the next room along.”

  “And he’s definitely dead?”

  “I caved in his skull with a claw hammer. What do you think?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Lisa approached the broken window. The sight outside confirmed her fears. There were at least two dozen zombies crowded around the van. Some peered through the windows, while others pounded the side in frustration. She stepped back to give Adam a better look.

  “Oh my God,” he whispered, “I recognise some of those people.”

  “That’s not going to help us get out of here. We need a plan. Any ideas?”

  “There’s a back door?” Adam turned away from the window to look at Lisa.

  “That’s not going to help us get to the van,” she replied.

  “No, but there’s an alley on either side that leads to the front of the store.”

  “So?”

  “So, why don’t I go out there, get their attention and lure them away from the van. I can run back down the alley and get in through the back door.”

  “And when they’re gone I can jump down, wait for you three to get in the back and then drive us to safety.”

  “Exactly.”

  “It does sound like a good plan.”

  “But?”

  “But I’m not keen on using you as bait. What if you trip? Or what if they’re faster than you?”

  Adam considered the possibility briefly before a smile spread across his face.

  “The room next door has a window above the alley. You can cover me there. If any of them look like they’re gaining on me, shoot them.”

  “I only have seven bullets left.”

  “So don’t miss. Besides, I’ll be in and out in thirty seconds.”

  Lisa chewed her lip as she considered the plan. “Okay, are you sure?”

  “I’ll be fine. C’mon let’s go tell the others.”

  Lisa followed him back down the stairs, where Simon and Tina waited.

  “Do we have a plan?” Tina asked.

  “Yeah. Where’s the back door?” Lisa asked, turning to Adam.

  “At the back of the warehouse.”

  “Right.” She turned to Simon and Tina. “I want you two to wait here for Adam. He’s going out through the back to lure the zombies away from the van. Once we’re clear, I’m gonna jump down, get behind the wheel and wait for the rest of you to get in the back.”

  “No chance,” Simon snapped. “I don’t trust you. You’ll leave us as soon as the coast is clear.”

  “No, I won’t. I’d leave you behind in a heartbeat, but Tina and Adam have their uses. I’m not leaving them behind. Once Adam is back inside, all three of you jump in the back of the van and off we go.”

  “How will you know we’re in?”

  “Just bang on the back or something. That’ll be my cue to drive.” She looked between the three as they considered the plan.

  “Everyone ready?” she asked after a brief silence.

  “Let’s do it.” Adam nodded.

  “Good. So where’s the window overlooking the alley?”

  “Upstairs, first door on your right.”

  “Okie doke, good luck.”

  She turned on her heel and ran back up the stairs. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her body as she made her way into the small, well-lit room. The first thing that struck her was the smell. The next was the dead body slumped in the corner. She aimed her rifle before noticing the odd shape of the corpse’s skull. A claw hammer lay next to it, coated in blood and tufts of hair.

  “You weren’t kidding about your dad, Adam.”

  She tore her eyes away and approached the window. There were no creatures present in the alley. All Adam had to do was get the attention of the crowd out front and they would be good to go. She threw the window open, waiting for the plan to unfold.

  Before long, she saw Adam dashing alongside the alley wall. He stared ahead, scanning the road outside for potential threats. When he was level with the window, he glanced up, ensuring Lisa was in position. She gave him a reassuring nod as he passed, watching him until he disappeared around the front of the store. Her heart pounded hard against her ribs as she waited for him to get the attention of the milling zombies. She wondered how he would do it. Would he shout? Scream? Whistle? Or throw something in their direction. The answer came as Adam’s voice reached her small enclosure.

  “Hey, over here!”

  The excited shrieks of the undead followed his outburst. Lisa gripped the rifle and aimed into the alley. She could hear pounding footfalls, but no sign of Adam. She held her breath as another second went by.

  “Come on,” Lisa muttered.

  The screeching and wailing grew louder. The anticipation was almost too much to bear. After what felt like an age, he sprinted into view with a crowd spilling into the alley after him. She aimed the rifle at the closest one and fired. The shot dropped the undead woman instantly, causing all those behind it to stumble.

  Lisa felt a wave of relief wash over. But the feeling quickly diminished when Adam suddenly stopped in his tracks.

  “What are you doing?” Lisa cried.

  She fired again as the zombies drew close. Adam whirled around, looking up both sections of the alley.

  “Adam!”

  “Help me!”

  She fired at another zombie, and another, until Adam’s terrified eyes met hers. He remained still, staring in horror. Lisa quickly found the cause of his fear. She looked down his escape route and saw a series of undead men, women, and children dashing towards him. He was trapped. With only three bullets left, Lisa felt as helpless as he did.

  “No!”

  She shot the first zombie reaching out for him. The corpse fell at his feet. She looked the other way and fired at a child. Its head exploded, showering Adam in gore. She looked on, aghast, as the crowd closed in. Adam cried out as she swept her sight back and forth along the alley. Bodies packed both sides tightly as they grabbed their prey.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Lisa looked down the scope with gritted teeth. She lined up her target and shot Adam in the head. His body crumpled to the ground as a sea of hands and mouths consumed him. With a parting look at the grotesque display, Lisa left him behind and rushed to the top of the stairs.

  “Guys, Adam’s dead. Get in the van now!”

  “What?” Tina shouted back.

  “The back door is still open and the zombies are gonna get inside. Get in the van now!”

  She didn’t wait for another response. Instead, she sprinted down the corridor and burst into the room with the broken window. She looked down at the van, relieved to see an empty car park below her. Using the butt of the rifle, she smashed away the rest of the exposed glass and stepped on the windowsill. The drop was a lot higher than she remembered. Yet, her fear was short-lived as a distant screech brought her back to her senses. Lunging forward, she soared out of the window and landed atop the van. The impact caused her to stumble. She pitched forward, rolling from the roof to the ground.

  She hissed in pain as she landed awkwardly on her leg. Yet, a nearby growl left her no time to contemplate her injury. She limped towards the driver’s seat and slid behind the wheel.

  “Are you in?” There was no answer. She rapped on the back of the van. “Guys, are you there?”

  A horrified cry came in response as a series of urgent taps sounded on the partition behind her. Lisa put the van in gear and raced forward out of the car park. She looked in the side mirrors at the diminishing depot, hoping she hadn’t left her companions behind. A series of bodies poured out of the broken window. The undead
creatures had got inside, but she was too far away to identify whether Tina and Simon were among them.

  “Guys, are you back there?”

  There was no response. A sick feeling formed in the pit of her stomach as she drove towards the designated meeting point. Part of her wanted to stop and check the back of the van, but she knew it would be too dangerous without a weapon. Despite her reservations, she continued to drive.

  28

  Frank drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Their rendezvous point had been deserted for the past ten minutes. With an agitated groan, he looked at his passenger. “How long since we split up?”

  “Almost an hour,” Ben replied.

  “Let me know when it’s exactly one hour.”

  “What difference does it make? We can’t go looking for them in this.” Ben motioned around the cab of the LGV.

  “Looking for them? Who said anything about looking for them?”

  Ben stared at him blankly.

  “If they don’t turn up, we’re heading back to the farmhouse,” Frank continued.

  “Like hell we are!”

  “Hey. We told them one hour. After that, we turn back.”

  “I’m not leaving Amy behind.”

  “Fine, then you can wait on the street while I drive back.”

  The pair fell silent as a transit van turned onto the street ahead of them. Frank recognised it as the vehicle Lisa had left in. He felt a flicker of relief as she came into view behind the wheel.

  “Took your time!” he yelled out of the window as Lisa rolled to a stop beside him.

  “Fashionably late,” she replied. “Nice wheels, by the way.”

  “You can thank Benny for that. He’s the one with all the good luck.”

  Frank jabbed a thumb towards the stone-faced security guard. Lisa drove past them before performing a U-turn. It was then that Frank caught sight of the zombie clinging to the back.

  “Hold up!”

  Producing a handgun from within his jacket, he blasted the creature in the back of the head. The van slowed to a stop and Lisa got out of the driver’s seat. He frowned when he noticed her subtle limp as she walked around the back of the van. Jumping from the cab, he strode over to her.

  “Have you been bitten?”

  “No, I think I’ve sprained my ankle.”