The Virus

by Lee, Damien

With a mighty roar of the engine, he jerked the wheel sideways, bounding onto the bordering field. The zombies followed, crying out as the lorry moved past them. The trailer bucked over the uneven ground as they increased their speed once more.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Lisa gasped.

  “What? It worked didn’t it?”

  Frank looked in his side mirror for confirmation. Sure enough, the zombies were now running alongside the trailer. The mass of mangled bodies left in the road had painted its surface red. He looked back as Lisa snapped at him once again.

  “Are you forgetting what’s back there?” She jabbed a thumb at the trailer behind them.

  “Those three? They can live with it.”

  “I’m not talking about them; I’m talking about all the loaded guns!”

  Frank’s heart lurched as the magnitude of his actions became clear.

  “The bouncing could set them off!” Lisa urged.

  “I realise that.”

  Frank lurched towards the road. He smashed through a wooden fence before they were driving on the road once more.

  “Thank God.” Lisa sighed.

  Frank stared ahead, his unblinking eyes scanning the area for anyone else in their path.

  “So now our building’s gone, where do we go from here?” Lisa asked.

  “We go north.”

  “North?” Why?”

  “I’m going to collect on a bet.”

  29

  Footsteps echoed around the large room as Gus Razor paced back and forth. He would stop now and then to frown at the gagged soldier in front of him, before continuing his stride. The man’s bound hands were bleeding from the constricting tie-wraps against his wrists. The soldier fought to speak through the soiled rag in his mouth, but only an inaudible muffle escaped.

  “You want to speak?” Gus asked. The soldier nodded, his eyes fixed on the gangland boss.

  “Fine, but it better be something useful. If you tell me you need a piss, you’re gonna get another beating.”

  Razor strode over to the man and yanked the fabric from his mouth. He gasped for air as his captor crouched to his level.

  “Now what’s so important?”

  “I need a piss,” the man wheezed.

  Razor swung a punch at the soldier’s face, causing his head to snap sideways.

  “A soldier with a sense of humour? What did you clowns do in Iraq? Throw custard pies?” He rose to his feet and resumed his pacing.

  “They’re not coming back,” the soldier said after a while. “They must’ve been gone for half an hour.”

  “This is a big place. It’ll take a while to make sure everywhere’s secure.”

  “It was secure until you lot tricked me into letting you in!”

  “Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Murdock. There’s no way you could have kept this place secure on your lonesome.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to try. Your boys have either left you or they’re dead.”

  “Willing to bet your life on it?”

  The soldier fell silent as Gus turned to face him. He produced a large combat knife from a sheath on his belt.

  “No?” Razor continued. “How about your peepers? Or those big cauliflower ears?”

  The man remained silent, eyeing his captor with contempt.

  “Here’s the deal, G.I. Joe. You better hope they don’t come back. Because if they do, I’m cutting something off.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Why not?” Gus sneered.

  “Look, I can help you. Let me out of this chair and you’ll have a fourth gunner to protect this place.”

  “I gave you that chance yesterday. You responded by breaking poor Zielinski’s nose, do you remember?”

  The man fell silent once more.

  “No chance, Sunshine. You’re only alive to serve as zombie chow if those things get in again, that’s it.”

  Gus looked around at the bodies strewn across the floor of the military base. It had been almost four hours since the undead had managed to gain access. Even now, he still felt the adrenaline pumping through his body. He slid the knife back into its sheath and resumed his pacing once again.

  The sound of footfalls accompanied his own as the two men returned from their expedition.

  “Well, Action Man, looks like you were wrong.” Gus pulled the blade from its sheath once more. “What do you want removed?”

  “No, please!”

  “Wait, Gus,” Zielinski said.

  “I’m busy.” Razor yanked the soldier’s ear and started to slice.

  “You might wanna see this!” Zielinski shouted over the soldier’s screams.

  Razor turned to face the two men. “What’s that?”

  He eyed the bundle of documents in Zielinski’s hands.

  “Read them.”

  “Fuck off, Zielinski. You know I don’t read.” He turned back to his victim and made to continue slicing until Zielinski spoke again.

  “Fine, but there’s something else you need to see.”

  “What’s wrong? Have you found how they got in?”

  “Yeah, we’ve sorted it. The base is secure.”

  “So what do I need to see?”

  “Look outside.”

  “Don’t fuck with me, Zielinski!” Gus spat, pointing the blade at him. “Just tell me what’s out there.”

  “A lorry, it’s heading straight for us.”

  ***

  Amy rubbed her forehead as their car raced along the Yorkshire moors. The roar of the engine was all she could hear as they sped through the desolate landscape.

  “Something up?” Ben asked.

  Amy looked around and found concern in his eyes. “No... I just...”

  “Just what?”

  “Do you think we should have left them back there?”

  Ben looked back at the road. “Look, you were right. We had to move. If not, the zombies would have caught us.”

  “I know, but we could have made space. Some of them could have got in with us.”

  “Amy, by the time we did all that, it would’ve been too late. Besides, in all the confusion I think they would have jumped in the lorry regardless.”

  Amy looked away and stared at the passing countryside. She had watched in the wing mirror as the lorry ploughed through the crowd of undead. She remembered the sick feeling in her stomach as the vehicle slowed. Then came the sweeping guilt as the lorry disappeared from sight. Despite barely knowing the group, and despising the criminal leading them, she couldn’t help but feel responsible for their demise.

  “We don’t even know if they were killed,” Ben said, as if reading her mind. “They might have made it out.”

  “I guess we’ll never know,” she replied.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. We’ve got guns and food now, right? At least we stand a better chance of surviving.”

  “Right.” Ben smiled.

  The sun was at its highest. Its radiant beam pressed the countryside, raising the temperature of the car.

  “It might be a fast car, but the air con sucks.” Amy sighed as she opened her window.

  “Yeah, well, we don’t have to endure it much longer, we’re almost there.”

  Amy looked on as Ben motioned towards a large facility on the other side of the neighbouring field. She found it reassuring that there were no undead creatures nearby. Yet, she still felt apprehensive about entering the slaughterhouse. Her trepidation intensified as the smell of death drifted through the open window.

  “Oh god.” She gagged, putting a hand to her mouth.

  “Looks like this place was hit pretty bad.” Ben motioned towards the dented metal door that led into the building. He reached behind him and produced the shotgun propped against the back seat. “Where are the bullets?”

  “Here.” Amy handed him the boxes they had taken from Lisa earlier.

  “We should’ve got more,” Ben said. He sifted through the boxes until he found the shotgun shells.


  “We were lucky to get out of there.” Amy watched him thumb the cartridges into the gun before handing it to her.

  “Here, you take this. This place might be quiet, but we don’t know what’s inside.”

  She nodded, taking the weapon from him as he retrieved the rifle from the back. She stared at the entrance to the building as Ben loaded the rest of the weapons. The indentations in the door signified a lot more than undead humans. She held the shotgun with trembling hands as Ben passed her a handgun.

  “Just in case,” he said.

  She took the weapon and followed him as he swung the door wide. Standing in the open air made her stomach turn. The buzzing of flies was the only sound they faced as they approached the building.

  “Are you sure we should do this?” she whispered as Ben peered into the confines of the room. Satisfied they were safe, he turned back to Amy.

  “I need to see if he’s alive. I owe it to Fran.”

  “Okay.”

  She followed him as he crept through the doorway. His boots emitted a stifled echo as he walked deeper into the slaughterhouse. Amy breathed through her mouth in an attempt to dispel the rank odour which seemed to worsen as they went. She scanned the area, trying to detect movement within the shadows. Ben stopped in his tracks.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He didn’t answer. She looked past him towards the shattered confines ahead. The large gate which must have imprisoned the animals now hung loose on a single bracket. Amy felt a flicker of dread in her stomach as the notion of undead farm animals filled her mind. She aimed her shotgun toward the enclosure.

  They edged forward, stepping through pools of blood and gore until they arrived at the holding pen. The lack of livestock unsettled Amy.

  “Where are all the animals?” she whispered.

  “Look behind you.”

  She turned, gasping as her gaze stopped on the carcasses scattered next to a huge machine. The gangway above had collapsed, sending those standing on it down into its metallic maw.

  “What is that thing?”

  “A meat-separation device. The largest in Europe actually; my dad’s pride and joy.”

  Amy didn’t want to know more. The prospect of the machine ripping bodies to shreds was enough to satisfy her curiosity. She tore her gaze away and scanned the rest of the area.

  “So where’s your dad?”

  A gunshot answered her question. It ricocheted off the ground next to their feet, echoing around the building. She shoved Ben to safety as another shot sounded.

  30

  “Wait here.”

  “No way, I’m coming with you,” Lisa said, grabbing Frank’s arm as he made to leave the lorry.

  “We don’t know what’s in there. If things go bad, I want to make a quick getaway.”

  “And I don’t want to risk you being ripped apart. I’m not protecting those little shits on my own.”

  She jerked a thumb towards the trailer which housed Tina, Simon, and Elaine. Frank rolled his eyes and turned to the door once again.

  “C’mon then.”

  He leapt from the carriage and waited for Lisa to join him in front of the military base. The barriers leading up to the huge building lay in ruin, making it easy for their lorry to gain access. Frank half expected their vehicle to succumb to machine-gun fire as they neared, but it soon became clear that the army was no longer around. With this in mind, he drew his handgun as they stepped toward the barricaded door.

  “Do you think there’s anybody here?” Lisa whispered.

  “Someone’s here.”

  Frank motioned towards the barricaded windows. “Whether they’re still alive is another question.”

  As they neared, Frank heard a familiar voice.

  “Frankie!”

  Gus Razor’s cheerful welcome caused the pair to look up. Their gaze fell on the gangland boss peering out of an upper floor window.

  “I’ll be right down!”

  With that, he vanished from sight.

  “What was this guy put away for again?” Lisa asked.

  Frank sighed, shaking his head. “It’ll be easier to tell you what he didn’t get put away for.”

  They fell silent as movement on the other side of the doors caught their attention. An angry outburst from Razor accompanied muffled thuds.

  “That’s heavy, you tosser!”

  A loud bang caused the pair to step back.

  “See, now look what you did!”

  Before long, the large doors swung open.

  “Frankie!” Gus stepped towards them with open arms.

  “How you doing, Gus?”

  “Not as good as you,” he replied, eyeing the woman beside Frank. “You didn’t wait long, did you?”

  “Fuck you,” Lisa said.

  “Oh, got a mouth on her as well. You’ve got yourself a right little treasure there, Frankie, m’boy.”

  “Looks like I’m not the only one making new friends,” Frank retorted, nodding towards the two men behind Gus.

  “Well, you already know our little Polish friend.” He gestured towards the man to his left.

  “What happened to you?” Frank frowned, eyeing Zielinski’s distorted nose.

  “Pissed off an army cadet,” Gus replied. “Now this evil-looking bastard is Lurch.”

  He pointed towards the large man on his right. Frank eyed the giant with wonder. Eyeliner and black lipstick adorned his face whilst countless piercings shimmered in the sunlight. His long, black hair fell loosely over his leather jacket. A chain hung from his jeans, which also sported a sheathed combat knife. He eyed them with a menacing stare, which only softened when he spotted the teenager behind them.

  “Fuck me, Frankie. You didn’t tell me you brought Morticia to this little gathering. What is this, Addams Family Reunion?”

  They turned as Tina approached.

  “This is Tina,” Frank said. “Tina, this is Gus, Zielinski, and Lurch”

  “Hi.” Her eyes locked with Razor’s large, gothic henchman.

  “Hi,” the man smiled.

  “Okay that’s enough from you, Tainted Love,” Gus snapped, rapping the man on the shoulder. “Go and see if our army cadet is still yapping.”

  “He’s fine.”

  Gus turned to face him. “Then go keep a lookout.”

  Lurch’s menacing glare returned as he slunk back into the building.

  “Where the hell do you find these guys?” Frank asked. “He’s almost as big as Tony.”

  “We found Lurch doing some Kung Fu on a pensioner.”

  “You sure know how to pick them.”

  “So do you.” Gus gasped as Simon and Elaine appeared. “What the fuck are you doing? Smuggling immigrants?”

  Frank turned as the pair approached.

  “What the hell are we doing here?” Simon asked, looking between Gus and Frank.

  “We’re here to put your piloting skills to the test.” Frank turned back to Gus. “Please tell me you’ve got planes in there.”

  “The best fighter jets money can buy. The only problem is we can’t fly them.”

  “This guy can.”

  “What?” Gus and Simon snapped in unison.

  “I can’t fly a fighter jet!” the chubby man added.

  “Why not?”

  “I’ve never even been in one.”

  “It can’t be that much different. Keep your finger off the missile button and you’ll be fine.”

  Before they could speak further, a series of thunderous gunshots sounded overhead. Frank looked up and saw Razor’s henchman firing from a top window. He was aiming at the destroyed barrier where countless zombies sprinted towards them.

  “I think we better take this reunion inside,” Gus offered. His gaze was fixed on the small crowd storming the base.

  The group ran indoors, congregating in the hall. Gus and Zielinski blocked the entrance with large metal drums. Frank produced his handgun as the gunfire continued overhead.

  “Where th
e hell did you get a shooter?” Gus demanded as he produced his own gun. Not waiting for a response, he turned to his companion. “Zielinski, guard this door with your life. If you let those fuckers in, I’ll chop your knackers off!”

  With that, he jogged away with Frank close behind. He followed Gus up a flight of stairs as he rushed into a nearby room.

  “I’m sure I don’t need to remind you to shoot them in the head.”

  They crouched beside a window. The glass was already shattered, with wooden boards hammered over the frame. Gus removed a loose board and aimed through the gap. Frank followed his example and pointed his handgun at the crowd. The pair fired in succession. The zombies were quick, but the bullets proved to be quicker. Before they had wasted half of their rounds, bodies littered the grass.

  “So where did you get the gun?” Gus repeated as his pistol clicked empty. He retrieved a second magazine, reloaded the weapon and took aim once more.

  “We raided a gun shop.”

  Frank followed the progress of a young female as she sprinted towards the building. As soon as the sights were level with her head, he pulled the trigger. He lowered the gun, watching as the machine gun crippled the remaining zombies.

  “Did you get much?” Gus asked.

  Frank snarled as a bullet from the machine gun clipped the top of his lorry. “We won’t have anything if boy-wonder hits that trailer again!”

  Gus looked at the vehicle, his eyes widening. “That’s full of guns?”

  “And ammo.”

  “Fuck me,” Gus groaned. He staggered to his feet, yelling at the floor above. “Watch out for the lorry, you dickhead!”

  The machine gun continued to rattle.

  Frank jumped to his feet as a second bullet ricocheted dangerously close to the fuel tank.

  “Oy!” Gus shouted.

  He raised the handgun aloft and fired two rounds into the ceiling. The gunfire ceased as a cloud of plaster rained down on the pair. Frank leapt back as the fragments crashed around them.

  “Oh, fucking hell,” Razor spluttered, brushing the white dust out of his hair.

  “Great job, Gus.”

  “He stopped didn’t he?”

  “Of course he did, you probably shot him!”

  Razor’s face dropped. “Lurch?”