Zed Days (Book 3): Zed Days III

by Harland, Nick

  Then I knelt in front of her so I could kiss her breasts and spank her bum, Esme licking her the whole time. Finally I stood in front of her and made her suck me again, pressing the gun to the top her head and telling her I wanted her to cum now. She screamed, and swore, louder than she ever had done before.

  I couldn’t cope with having bullets in the gun, but I knew for Eve at least it was part of the turn on. I manged to remove them without her know after tying them both up. I felt wired after the session, and I sensed Eve did too, but it was obvious she’d loved it. It was as far as we’d ever been with any scenario and it was hard to get back to reality afterwards. Esme was full of surprises and took it in her stride. When we were done she said, ‘That was fucking awesome, BDSM meets guns and ammo. Next time I’m in charge but I sense you guys might need to ease into it a little. Don’t worry though, I’ll make sure you’re both ready before I fuck you both up completely. By the time I’m finished you won’t even be able to look at a gun without tingling from the memories.’

  Eve smiled and replied, ‘Well aren’t you just the suppressed dominatrix let loose. That was fucking brutal but fucking great, and after last time you were in charge I’m looking forwards to it, but I don’t think my nipples could take another session for at least a few days. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re still tingling tomorrow.’

  Over breakfast we swung from one decision to another about which vehicle to take back with us, and although it wasn’t the most comfortable, or the fastest, we ended up in the Husky. The crane didn’t take up too much space so there was still a fair amount of room in the back. Although in many ways we would have preferred to take Lulu, we wanted to show everyone back at base one of our finds. Bill also looked nervous when we suggested Lulu, and he was right. Lulu was still great but she could break down at any time if we got into trouble and if we were by ourselves, it could be difficult.

  Esme won the game of rock paper scissors and got to drive, Eve joined her in the front. The Husky was at least as uncomfortable as it looked on a longer journey, but there were no doubts it felt secure to be inside. Tim said it weighed in at about seven tonnes so even a Talker with a decent sized horde would struggle to tip it over. The tyres were heavy and huge and I couldn’t imagine anything other than a decent calibre bullet being able to puncture them. The Windscreen was split and Tim said it would take about three medium calibre bullets before it shattered, so even a Zed with an ice-pick or something would really struggle to make a dent.

  Chapter Twenty Two – Smoke on the Horizon

  The journey back was easy, but what awaited us when we got there was not. We saw the smoke from a mile away and Esme stepped on it the moment we did. We were all ready for a fight when we arrived, but we were too late. The base had been reduced to a smouldering shell but several of the cars stored inside the perimeter were still burning, their tyres smoking heavily. It was carnage outside the perimeter with piles of dead Zeds surrounding the base and the strong smell of chlorine. The front gates had burst open but the escape convoy had barely cleared them. A rig had led the charge but all its tyres had been blown out, as had the tyres of the two following four by fours, both of which had been turned onto their sides. There were crude but effective planks of wood with large nails poking through them on the pavement outside the gates.

  There were dead Zeds surrounding the vehicles, the sheer volume of them had stopped the rig. None of us had the heart to look at the eaten bodies of our friends to see who was amongst them. Only moments after we had stopped to take in what had happened Esme shouted, ‘Andrea, what about Andrea?’

  Before we could stop her Esme grabbed a rifle and got out of the husky. Eve and I followed, rifles up, checking for Zeds. Esme marched into the base barely bothering to avoid the heat coming from the burning vehicles. The gate to the storage area was open and so was the gate to the pen where we had been holding Andrea. The door to the shed where the other talker we had captured was being held was open too. Although the main building had been engulfed in fire, the outside storage area and caravans were mostly intact. There were dead Zeds strewn around inside the perimeter too, and a couple of bodies so badly mauled and burnt we couldn’t recognise them. I gagged.

  Esme turned around and roughly wiped her arm across her tear strewn face, ‘She’s alive and I’m getting her back, with or without you. That Hybrid’s going to fucking die. Even if she’s the last one left standing and it would be better to keep her and interrogate her, she’s going to fucking die.’

  I was about to answer when we all jumped at a voice behind us. Chris and Bob sloped towards us with soot blackened faces smudged where they had wiped away their tears. Chris said, ‘I’m sorry, we’re so sorry, there was nothing we could do. We were on patrol outside the base and saw the horde coming, but we couldn’t get in front of it to warn everyone. There was just the two of us on foot and there were hundreds of them. They surrounded the whole base at dawn and as soon as they attacked they laid the traps in front of the gates for the cars.’

  Bob took over as Chris’s head bowed, ‘We wanted to help but there were too many, we were out in the open and we would have died. We’re so s….’

  I was still too choked to talk but Eve interrupted them, ‘It’s alright, it’s not your fault, it’s ours, we weren’t here. You would have died trying to help and that would have been pointless. Can you tell us anything else, do you know where she went?’

  Chris nodded, ‘We followed her. After she burn the base down she took what was left of her horde to the gastro pub a couple of miles away. We were watching the pub from the trees a couple of hundred feet away and saw your vehicle. We waited for a few minutes to check they hadn’t seen you, but they didn’t seem to have, so we came here.’

  ‘One other vehicle escaped but we don’t know where they went. There was a Land Rover at the back of the escape convoy that drove between the rig and one of the other four by fours. Its tyres punctured but there was enough of a hole in the horde created by the other vehicles for it to escape and keep going. We don’t know where it went, we assume the factory, but we don’t know how safe it is there or how far they made it with four flat tyres. We think it had Donald, Michelle, Angela, and some of the kids bundled in the boot.’

  Knowing there were people from the group out there in a Land Rover with four flat tyres pushed me through the shock that had been paralyzing me. I looked at Esme, ‘I’m with you, the Hybrid has to die and we have to get Andrea back, but right now we have to find that Land Rover.’

  Eve jumped in, ‘Chris, which way did it head. If it’s got flat tyres it will probably leave a trail. If they kept going it wouldn’t have been long before they were on their rims and that would mark the road.’

  Chris pointed down the road outside the base and we all started walking back to the Husky. My mind filled with scenarios and none of them were pleasant. I said, ‘We still have to stay alive ourselves, and there’s not much room in the husky.’

  Eve said, ‘It doesn’t matter, I’m going to be sat on the front looking at the road.’

  Esme added, ‘And I’m going to be stood in the back with a rifle.’

  I didn’t like the thought of them out in the open, but I knew there was no arguing with them, and Chris and Bob had been through enough. We loaded up and as I turned the key I prayed we could find the Land Rover. We headed off slowly with Eve sat on the bonnet, leg’s dangling over the front. We all knew that for every turn we passed without picking up the Land Rovers trail, the chances of finding them got less. We also knew that with every minute that past, the chances of them staying alive got less. The battle between wanting to speed off and needing to go really slowly so we didn’t miss their trial made my stomach burn and twist.

  We got to the end of the road where it forked, one direction heading towards the nearby housing estate and the other towards a dual carriageway. They had gone the wrong way to head straight towards the factory and it occurred to me they might not even know how to get there; none
of them usually drove. I stopped at the junction and Eve held her hand up, then pointed towards the dual carriageway. I couldn’t see a trail, but if I were them I wouldn’t head into a built up area and I was sure Eve thought the same. I turned the wheel and started down the road when Chris barked, ‘Stop, I need to get out.’

  His sudden interruption made me press the brake hard and Eve almost fell off the front. Chris got out of the Husky and we joined him. Eve jumped off the front looking irritable, ‘What the hell’s going on?’

  Chris said, ‘I’m going back. We need to kill the Hybrid but we can’t if we don’t know where she is. I’m going back to follower her if she moves. I have a radio so if she does move I can contact you. We lost her before and look what happened, we can’t lose her again, no matter what.’

  Eve looked at me, ‘He’s right, we need to know where she is and if she disappears again we might not find her for ages, by which time she could have gathered a huge horde again.’

  I looked at Chris, ‘Are you sure? It’s really dangerous.’

  Chris nodded, ‘It’s the only way…’

  Bob added, ‘And I’m going with him, no one should be out here without someone covering their back.’

  I knew they were right and nodded at Eve. Eve handed Chris her rifle and we gave Bob another one. We packed them a rucksack with most of our food and water and four grenades. Eve ran through how to use the rifles and grenades and without so much as a hand shake or look back they both jogged off.

  We watched them go and I said to the air in front of me, ‘You know they probably haven’t slept?’

  Eve answered, ‘I know that, and they know that too. They’ll manage, just like we would if it were us. They can rest in shifts when they get settled. Right now, we have our own job to do, so let’s get on with it. Every minute we waste reduces the chances of finding them alive.’

  Eve sat back on the bonnet and we started off again. Before the road hit the dual carriage way there were a few turnings and Eve looked down them but indicated that we should keep going straight. The road forked again so cars could go either way on the dual carriage way, and I was just contemplating how unlikely it was that we’d find them when Eve shouted, ‘Stop, I’ve got them.’

  I got out and Esme jumped out of the back too. We stood either side of Eve and looked down at the road. There were definitely marks that looked like they came from wheel rims and as we were looking around Esme pointed up the road and said excitedly, ‘Look, up there, part of a tyre.’

  I started to walk towards the tyre remnant when Eve slapped me on the bum, ‘Hold up dummy, we know it’s them and they are still in danger, so let’s get back to it.’

  We resumed our positions and moved off again. Eve waved her hand to speed me up a bit. We joined the dual carriage way and I wondered how far they could get on just their rims, and how much noise it would make. Then Esme shouted from the back, ‘It’s them I see them.’

  The Land Rover was abandoned on the road and they had climbed onto the roof of a nearby eighteen wheeler’s trailer. They all stood up the moment they saw us and started climbing down from the cab. There was Donald, Michelle and Angela with five children, just like Chris had said. Michelle and Angela grabbed each other in a hug and started crying, then broke off to squat down and reassure the children. Donald who had led the group with the hockey guys in stepped forwards roughly wiping his eyes and holding his hand out, ‘It’s so good to see you. Do you know…how did you?’

  I shook his hand firmly and said, ‘It’s ok, you’re safe now. We found Chris and Bob who told us what happened. We’re going to take you to RAF Leeming where it’s safe. We found everything we need there and one more survivor.’

  Donald let go of my hand and I thought he would collapse with relief, but Angela turned him around and hugged him, ‘It’s ok, you did it, you saved us.’

  Esme didn’t hesitate and radioed Chris, ‘Chris it’s Esme, we found them and we’re taking them back with us. Can you hold on until we come back with reinforcements?’

  Chris’s voice crackled back quietly like he was whispering, ‘That’s good news, I’m so glad. She’s still in the pub but there have been some coming and goings, Talkers with small groups in tow. I think they’re patrolling and finding more Zeds to bring back. Don’t worry about us, we’ll hold on. This is too important not to. Just get back here as soon as you can.’

  Esme forced a smile and replied, ‘Understood, we’ll see you soon.’

  Eve said what we were all thinking, ‘We need to hurry. They’re tired and on foot, and she’s already gathering another horde. If they get discovered the chances of them surviving are slim.’

  I looked from the group to the Husky, it was uncomfortable even for four, but we didn’t have the time or skill to get another vehicle going. I looked at Donald, ‘Ok, you guys are going to have to squeeze in the back with kids on your laps. One of the kids can be with Esme in the passenger seat and.’

  Sam, the only child I had ever really spoken to interrupted me. He was eleven and had been learning to be a gardener, ‘I’ll stand in the back, I’m bigger than the others and there isn’t enough space.’

  I smiled and carried on, ‘And Sam and Eve can go in the back.’

  I knew how Eve felt about children, which is why I put Esme in the front with a child on her lap. I was surprised when Eve grabbed Sam’s hand and said, ‘Looks like it’s you and me then. Just tell me if you get tired or cold, it’s a bit of a journey. I can show you how to use a gun on the way if you like. There are less of us now and we need you.’

  Sam just nodded and Eve led him to the back. I tried to meet Eve’s eyes as she led Sam to the back but she was looking down at him. He was a brave kid and she knew it, it was something she could respect. We made our way back as quickly as we could with Esme and Sam in the back. I wasn’t surprised to hear a few shots as we drove and figured Sam was willing to learn and wasn’t doing too badly, or the shots wouldn’t have continued. It was early afternoon by the time we reached the airbase and had to break the news to everyone. Everyone had relationships with everyone who had died, and there were lots of tears and some anger.

  It was Bill who got angry first and said, ‘I take it the plan is to go back as quickly as we can and take everything we need to blow that bitch to hell and back.’

  Esme answered for me, ‘Yes, that’s exactly the plan and we need to do it now so we’re back before it gets dark. Chris and Bob are in real danger.’

  Bill picked up the rifle by his chair and said, ‘I’m ready.’ Everyone else was quick to follow except Mandy, Donald, and the others who had escaped.

  Eve looked at them and said, ‘It’s ok, we need you here and you’ve been through enough. Keep Ted and his brother safe. I’d hope we’d be back tonight, but you never know. We’ll be out of radio range but don’t worry about us until it’s getting dark tomorrow. If she moves or escapes the first attack, it could be a chase and it might take time. Don’t worry, this is personal now so we don’t care how many bullets or explosives we have to use. No one else human is dying today.’

  The only plan we had was shock and awe and we loaded up accordingly. We took the Husky and Stolly, Lulu for her last hurrah, and the two Land Rovers with mounted machine guns. Everyone had hand grenades and after one try each for practice, Eve let a few of us have grenade launchers as well. We had enough ammo to kill hundreds of Zeds and that was without the explosives. The base the Hybrid had chosen was great as far as its view and as a rallying point, but it had lots of windows and was relatively open plan inside, so it wasn’t exactly a fortress. She must have figured that with the horde she had she would be safe, and she would have been arming her minions and putting helmets on some of them. She can’t have figured on us finding a weapons stash and being ready and able to use it.

  Chapter Twenty Three – ‘Hi’

  We still had a couple of hours light left by the time we got to the dual carriage way exit a couple of minutes from the gastropub. We stopped
for a quick briefing. I was half expecting Eve to lead it but she turned to me.

  I looked at the gathered faces and saw as much fear as I did anger. Fresh tear tracks were still visible on some of them but we didn’t have time for that kind of emotion. I said, ‘The pub has a lot of glass and it’s quite open plan inside, we cleared it out a while ago. Unfortunately, it’s about two or three feet above the level of the road and there’s a metal crash barrier around the carpark outside the front. The plan for killing the Hybrid and the horde is simple, but we need to make sure we don’t kill each other in the process, and you all know we want to rescue Andrea if we can. We know this is a risk, and we know it might not be possible, but we’re not just doing this out of some unrealistic friendship and hope.’

  ‘Andrea was starting to come back to us and Talkers that can regain control over themselves are as useful as a tank. The Hybrid is smart, very smart. The moment she knows we’ve come with lots of guns she’s going to try and run, and she’ll want to take her assets and some protection with her. That means Talkers like Andrea and probably some freaks for protection. She’ll send everything else out to try and kill you guys and cover her escape. We’ve radioed Chris and Bob who are making their way behind the pub as we speak. Eve, Esme and I are going drive around the back in Lulu the moment you guys make yourselves visible.’

  We’ve brought the Land Rovers because the heavy guns will rip through buildings and Zeds alike, and one round will probably go through a few Zeds. We’re not expecting headshots, but we’re expecting so many broken bones that they can’t move, so the fire should be kept low, don’t even try for headshots. The Land Rovers are open and don’t have mesh, so the rest of you are basically on crowd control. Although we all have grenade launchers and a couple of hand grenades, they’re very dangerous and if they fall within thirty feet of any of you, you could get injured. Use the grenades when they first start swarming out of the pub and throw them long.’