Dead & Alive Collection #1 [Books 1-6]

by Smith, I. J.

Alina smiled at his words, “But Jack is mine,” she replied.

  Kane turned to look at her, “Don’t worry, you will have your play time Boss!” he told her happily, with an evil smile.

  Back at the house, Jack was upstairs looking around; he was in the front bedroom looking through the window, when Elle walked in.

  “You should get some sleep,” she told him.

  Turning to look at her he smiled, “So should you,” he replied.

  As she walked closer to him, he noticed she still had a limp.

  “How’s the foot?” he asked her.

  “Bearable, I can keep moving, as soon as you say we have to,” she told him with a smile.

  Jack looked uncomfortable, “Frank will give the orders, I just make suggestions,” he said in a whisper.

  Elle faced him, she took his hand and with her other hand touched his face, “We follow you, we stayed for you, Frank is in charge, but we are only alive because of you,” telling him with passion in her eyes.

  “You should have gone; you all should have gone!” he told her bluntly.

  Elle looked concerned, “You stayed to save the people downstairs, and they stayed to help you.” She took a deep breath before her next words came out, “and… I. Stayed to save you,” she uttered with a stutter in her voice.

  Jack touched her face, brushing his hand over her ear and through her hair and taking notice of the beautiful freckles on her nose, “you should have left me,” he whispered to her.

  Moving closer into him, she kissed him, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. Jack knew this was not the time for this, but he was tired of fighting his feelings for her. For once, he wanted something real for himself. The passion between them sparked like fireworks; as Elle unzipped his vest and started removing his black shirt. He quickly responded by removing her jacket and shirt, down to her bra. She pulled back, Jack worried he had gone too far, without hesitation; she pulled him over to the bed. Together they fell on the bed, gripping each other’s hands. They wanted to savor every moment of this, for once in Jack’s life. Both as a child, without parents and as an adult taking orders, in the Army. This was their moment, and truth be known, in the life they now lived; this may be their only intimate moment.

  Outside the house, two cars with no lights were parked in the street. Alina stepped out of the car; she looked around looking for Toby. She quickly spotted him; running towards her from a dark alley, “They are in there,” he said pointing to the house.

  Alina smiled, “Good, they hurt us, we hurt them,” she replied happily. She looked back at Toby, “Get around the back and make sure no one gets passed you,” she ordered him.

  As he ran back off into the darkness, several other people appeared from the vehicles, as a gray truck joined them.

  A woman covered in tattoos joined Alina.

  “So, they are inside the house Boss?” she asked Alina.

  “I want this to be memorable, no one leaves alive!” She replied.

  The tattooed woman started to walk away when Alina grabbed her arm; she also called everyone else over to her.

  “There is one man in there that none of you get to kill, he is big, and he stands out. He has short hair and he beams out leadership, he will be the one taking charge,” she told everyone.

  “He is mine!” Alina warned them; in a tough very strict voice.

  They all nodded in agreement and walked away, to take up their posts. Alina watched as the tattooed woman got into the gray truck. She turned the truck and put it in reverse, the truck smashed through the garden fence and crashed straight into the front of the house.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  RAGE

  Lying there naked in each other’s arms, this was the moment they both dreamed of. Elle stared into Jack’s eyes, “No regrets!” she whispered to him.

  Jack simply kissed her tenderly. They held each other tight; wanting this moment to last forever. They were disturbed by a loud crash and what felt like an earthquake; that shook the room around them. Both Jack and Elle jumped from the bed and rushed to dress themselves.

  Downstairs Bray lay on the floor, covered in dust and rubble. He was dazed as he opened his eyes; he was met with confusion. Bray looked to see Frank was attempting to get back to his feet and saw a gray truck had reversed into the house. Mark stood against the wall with Ryan; trying to avoid the falling debris that down filled the room. The back door of the truck suddenly flew open and everyone watched in fear at what appeared.

  Ryan rushed to Bray, to help him to his feet. He looked on as the dead piled out of the truck and into the living room. Zoe rushed to Bray and grabbed his side arm. She started shooting towards the approaching dead. Frank now on his feet; also began to shoot. Mark tried to run to the back of the room when a rotting corpse grabbed him. He tripped on a brick and fell down with the zombie falling on top of him. Mark held the zombie at arm’s length; as he pushed it away its decomposing arm collapsed and the zombie slumped down on him. Mark screamed in fear, Bray pulled the corpse off him and shot it in the head, “Move!” He shouted.

  Jack and Elle, rushed from the bedroom, they were met by a waiting Paige, who sat on the stairs, Jack started to rush down when the front door burst open. Dragging its feet through the door; Jack watched as a corpse was guided in with a long metal pole attached to a strap around its neck.

  “What the fuck?” Elle muttered.

  Jack quickly pulled his sidearm and with a single shot sent the zombie’s brains through the air. As they continued down the stairs, gunshots began to echo out. Bullets started hitting the wall and stairs around them. Jack grabbed Elle and threw himself, holding her through the stairs bannister. As they both crashed to the ground, Jack covered Elle; as Paige jumped on top of him, trying to avoid the bullets flying around them. Jack ushered Paige forward, he started to stand as he helped Elle up.

  Touching her face, “You OK?” he asked her.

  She looked towards the front door and noticed more zombies appearing, “We have to go!” she told him.

  Jack helped her to his feet; he began shooting again towards the door. Ryan appeared through the living room door holding Bray up. Elle grabbed his other arm to help. “Both of you get out now!” Jack ordered them.

  “Wait, we stay together!” she told him in a scared voice.

  More shots began being shot through the front door. Jack pushed everyone against the wall; trying to cover them with his own body, he looked around to Elle. “The furniture shop, the first place we took cover in when we got here, we all meet there!” he told her. He looked at the fear in her eyes, he suddenly kissed her, “Please go!” he whispered. Reluctantly, she helped Bray with Ryan’s help towards the back door. She took one last look to see Jack, rush into the living room.

  Mark was back to his feet, as he lifted his head, he was shocked by a swinging machete flying over him, and he turned to see another zombie fall to the ground, with its head in half. Jack stood there holding his machete and grabbed Mark, “Out the back, follow the others!” Jack ordered him. Zoe looked over to Jack as he pushed Mark out of the room, “You too!” he pointed to her.

  “I can help!” Zoe, told him; wanting to be part of the team.

  Jack looked at the truck, as it began to move away from the window, “Help the others; myself and Frank will buy you time!” he told her. Zoe noticed the look in his eyes, it was one of desperation, she knew she had to go; she touched his shoulder and ran from the room.

  Jack rushed to Frank’s side, picking up a rifle on the way; he took a knee and began to shoot out the huge hole in the wall.

  A bright light burst through the hole in the side of the house; illuminating the room and almost blinding Jack and Frank. The shooting stopped and an eerie silence followed, both men picked up what they could of their supplies, when a familiar voice came from the bright light.

  At the back of the house, Elle and Ryan helped Bray headed for the back door when it smashed open. Coming to a stop, Elle looked at the large man stan
ding in the doorway; holding a gun. At that moment they believed it was over for them. The large man started to walk in; when running through Ryan’s legs, Paige jumped into the air, her teeth sinking into the man’s neck.

  As the man screamed in pain, blood gushed from his throat; Zoe rushed and grabbed the man’s gun. “Good girl,” she said as she stroked Paige’s head. She handed the gun to Ryan, who looked confused as he looked at the gun.

  They made their way out of the back of the house and along the alley. The darkness made it almost impossible to see anything; Zoe moved ahead of the others, she came to an abrupt stop; noticing movement in front of them. The echoes of groans made it clear what was coming towards them. “This way,” Elle said, as she led them towards a small dark passage. Leading away from the dead and disappearing into the darkness.

  Frank looked in shock as a female voice shouted through the light, “TIME TO DIE!” followed by mass laughter.

  Frank and Jack glanced at each other, “Great, the crazy bitch is still alive,” Jack muttered.

  Jack put on the backpack containing the supplies, “The others are out now we need to move,” he suggested to Frank.

  “Let’s go,” he simply replied.

  They both kept low when moving towards the living room door, Jack peeked around to the front door; to making sure, no one was coming and continued to move. They headed for the back door, but were met by a swarm of zombies entering the house; they both backed up.

  “We’re trapped!” Frank observed.

  Jack looked toward the front door, and then to the back door, “Choose, zombies or a Crazy Bitch?” he asked.

  Frank could not help but give out a laugh, he looked back and forth, “The zombies,” he replied firmly.

  Jack swung his rifle round and handed it to Frank; he pulled his machete clear from his belt. “Let’s do it!” He shouted. Frank stood with the rifle and wasted no time in following Jack into the small army of the dead.

  Blood sprayed across the air, the dead marched against them. As Jack pushed back against them, his machete dripped with blood. Frank had placed the strap of the rifle over his shoulder and decided to use his sidearm in the fight instead, as his shots echoed out. Jack showed no fear by pushing the dead further back. The decaying head split open like a melon, Jack pulled his blade back and kicked at the body, sending it flying back through the back door; clearing the way for them.

  Jack and Frank both emerged from the house. The dead fell to the ground as Jack and Frank pushed them back. This was about escape and not killing the dead. They were happy just to just creep passed the zombies. They found themselves clear of the zombies, who continued to follow them; they both began to run at a pace. “Have you been bitten!” Jack shouted back to Frank.

  “All good!” Frank simply replied. “You?” he asked.

  Before Frank heard Jack’s reply, a car appeared from nowhere, hitting Jack. Sending him flying across the street they were running across.

  “JACK!” a concerned Frank screamed out.

  The black car braked hard, with no doors and a smashed windscreen, two large men exited the vehicle and ran towards Frank. He raised his gun, but before he could take a shot, he was hit across the face.

  Frank hit the ground hard, his nose broken and pouring with blood. The two men stood over him; before kicking him. Kicking him in the ribs, and then one kick across the head; rendering him unconscious.

  “STOP!” a female voice screamed out.

  From the back of the car a woman appeared. She slowly walked towards them, she looked at the body on the ground, “Put him in the car and get the other one!” she told them.

  “Yes, Boss!” One of the men replied, before lifting Frank’s body and taking him to the car.

  The second man walked across the street looking for Jack. He approached a still body; lying in the street. He knelt down to grab the body, as he pulled the body up; he felt a prick under his chin. Before he could react, a blade pierced through his lower jaw and was pushed up through his head and into his skull. The man fell to the ground. Jack also dropped to the ground, his face covered in blood; due to a gash across the top of his head. As Jack pulled the small knife from the dead man’s head, he looked up to see Frank being placed into the car. In pain and barely able to stand he noticed the woman standing there.

  “Alina,” he whispered under his breath.

  Alina shouted out, “Hurry up!” As she looked across the street, she stared into the darkness to see a silhouette of someone standing there. She approached slowly, the darkness cleared as she got closer, “Jack,” she muttered. He stood there saying nothing, he just glared at Alina. She rushed to pull a small gun she had in her pocket, before she could shoot; Jack disappeared into the darkness.

  Alina looked around, he was gone. She rushed back to the car, “Let’s go,” she told a large man. Without argument they drove away. As the car pulled out of the street, it was followed by several other vehicles; including a gray truck.

  Jack stood in the darkness watching them drive away, “You’re all dead!” He said, with a look of hatred in his eyes. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed something move in the shadows. Jack moved back and rushed with a limp across the street. He watched as the dark figure continued to move slowly, Jack approached the figure from behind.

  The dark figure came into the moonlight; it was Toby the companion of Alina; he had stayed behind to keep lookout. Toby heard a noise behind him. “God dammit, you’re supposed to be heading back home!” he shouted out as he turned.

  As he turned he came face to face with a bloodied mess, Toby stood in shock not knowing who it was. The man stared back at him, before Toby could speak to him; the man head-butted Toby in the face. Toby hit the ground, Jack stood over him, and Toby looked up, “Pray for death!” Jack told him as he kicked Toby in the head.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  TALK

  Traveling quietly through the night, Elle and the group travelled through a familiar car park, the journey was a quiet one, and they had barely seen a few zombies along the way.

  They reached a familiar door; the exit of the furniture store was closed. Elle let go of Bray and pulled a small knife from her vest, she pushed the blade between the door lock and the frames, sliding the blade up the door opened. Pulling out her gun, she led them into the building that once served as a sanctuary for them.

  As they walked into the store, Elle looked at the two bodies of her former teammates; Zoe came from behind looked at them and noticed a look on Elle’s face.

  “Did you know them?” she asked her, noticing the uniform was the exact same as Elle.

  “Michael and Andrew, they were part of the team, they never made it far,” she replied, taking a deep breath, “and outside is Sara, my friends who died moments after we came here,” she finished.

  Zoe touched Elle’s shoulder to comfort her, Ryan still kept hold of Bray and joined them, Mark closed the door, but held back out of sight. He made sure he was not being watched as he pulled up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal a bloodied bite mark, he had a flashback to the moment it happened.

  ‘He was in the living room; he tried to move clear of the truck that had just crashed through the front of the house. He was pushing a zombie away, before he fell to the ground the mutilated corpse took a bite of his arm, in that one moment he knew he was dead.’

  He pulled down the sleeve of his shirt to hide the bite mark from everyone as he walked towards the others.

  Bray settled down in a chair, Elle and Zoe looked around to make sure they were alone, “Do you think the others made it?” Zoe asked.

  Elle found it hard to reply, “I am sure they have, besides Jack is too stubborn to die,” she laughed.

  A laugh broke out; “They’re dead, we are all dead,” Mark spoke aloud.

  Elle looked at Mark in disgust, Zoe touched her arm to comfort her, “Instead of sitting there how about helping,” Zoe told Mark, who simply rolled his eyes in response.

  Ryan moved o
ver to Bray, he handed him a bottle of water and never said a word, he turned to walk away when Bray spoke.

  “Thank you,” he told him. Ryan simply smiled in response, “not just for the water, but getting me out of there,” Bray added.

  Ryan looked like a scared child not knowing what to say when a parent shouts, “I just wanted to get out and helping you escape was my best chance of that,” he lied in reply.

  Bray looked into Ryan’s eyes and knew he was lying, “Fair enough, thanks anyway,” he replied, allowing Ryan to walk away from this uncomfortable conversation.

  As Mark sat there on his own, he rubbed the sleeve of his shirt that covered the bite; he looked around to see everyone just getting on with things unaware of his impending change. As he rubbed his arm, he was distracted by Paige, who was lying next to Bray; she was staring at Mark and began growling as if she knew what was happening.

  Elle walked back to the fire exit door, opening the door just a crack so she could see outside, concerned for both her friends she stood watching for any sign of them.

  An abandoned house stood empty, the front door suddenly smashed open, Jack appeared dragging a body behind him into the house. Dropping the body of Toby on the floor, he turned with a limp to close the door, taking a look outside making sure he was not followed first. Jack leaned against the door for a moment to catch his breath, he had a nasty cut on his head and his leg was sore from the car hitting him. He turned to look at Toby still unconscious on the ground, “Time to play,” he uttered.

  Bray struggled to his feet, “You shouldn’t move,” Zoe warned him. Bray gave out a smile, “Don’t have the luxury of staying still,” he uttered in reply. He walked slowly across the room to the fire exit where Elle still stood looking outside, he walked up behind her, “They will be fine,” he comforted her. Elle looked around to Bray, “I know, nice to see you moving around,” she replied.

  Bray placed his hand on her shoulder, “We both know Jack is a survivor, in fact, I sort of feel sorry for those who attacked us,” he told a worried looking Elle.