by Jessica Ward
Still, Leon and Ryan quickly suited up as we gathered yet again, around the opening of the loft hatch.
“Everyone, get your stuff together, once we come out, we’ll head back to the boats.” Ryan explained.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because my dear, if Lola has indeed turned, then she could alert the others. It’s best to get out whilst we still can" the Professor explained.
I nodded in agreement. “Be careful.” I warned the boys as I went to pack a bag. Lacey, Jared and Sarah followed.
“We’ll stay here as back up.” Paul told Ryan and Leon. “Just in case you need us" he added.
“Thanks.” Ryan smiled.
They made their way down the ladders and stood listening in front of the bedroom door.
Ryan knocked on the door. “Andy are you in there?” he asked.
Faint footsteps could be heard from the other side of the room. Ryan tried the door; it was still locked.
Ryan looked towards Leon. As Leon shrugged Ryan tried the door, a little more forcefully this time. The sound of the wood splintering was all that could be heard as he pushed his full body weight onto the door. One final push sent the door flying. The sight before them was one that none of us expected to see.
Andy was struggling with Duckface and had her by the neck up against the wall. She was infected. Blood drooled down her open mouth as she thrashed against Andy’s hold. Her pale face was covered in black veins; her eyes were sunken in as the flesh around her face cracked.
She snarled as Andy tightened his grasp around her neck. Unfazed by the lack of oxygen, after all she didn’t need it, she continued to fight on.
In one swift movement, Andy sent her flying, clean out the open window. It must have taken all his strength the way he launched her out.
Leon and Ryan stood wide eyed and opened mouthed as they watched the scene before them unravel.
As Andy turned to face them, they could see he wasn’t as he would originally seem.
Blood cascaded down his face as the dark crimson liquid poured from his mouth.
His face wrinkled into a snarl as he prepared himself for the attack. He too was infected. Black viscous liquid pumping through the veins in his arms and neck. His eyes were bloodshot as the infection tore through his whole body.
He was breathing heavily; he was still alive.
Ryan and Leon quickly slammed the door shut and wedged a lone chair against the broken timber frame.
“Everyone out now.” Ryan shouted.
That’s was all we needed to hear, we launched ourselves down the ladders and back to the main house we had been so desperate to avoid.
I felt the crunch as my foot went through the bones of the recently deceased, their rotten flesh covered bones the only reminder of what they once were. I carried on as each step I took broke through another corpse, already picked clean of their remaining organs as the remaining infection lived on.
We ran as fast as we could, down the stairs and through the smashed bi-folding doors. Jared let out a scream as he fell onto shards of broken glass. Leon dragged him up by the scruff of his neck as he carried on running.
From behind us we could hear a howl. Andy had already escaped from his room as he ran after us, eager to sample his first meal.
We pushed on towards the boat as we dodged the abandoned sun loungers around the pool. We had no choice but to alter our course slightly as Duckface appeared from the side of the house. Her arm was bent out of place as it must have taken the majority of the impact from her fall. Upon hearing Andy’s snarls from behind, she hung back, as if bowing to his authority.
Death had not done her any favours. Her thin body only accentuated the features of the infection. Her flesh had already started to rot away, in this short time, revealing the bone structure within her neck. Her high pitched call were like nails on a chalkboard, a sound I hoped never to hear again.
Ryan was the first to reach the boats. He quickly pulled the rope onto the boat; we had no choice but to all dive into Lion Heart, George wasn’t in any condition to drive his smaller boat.
As one of the last to descend the boat, I leapt onto the boat as Ryan got the motor going. I quickly moved out the way to make room for the rest of the group. The Professor lagged behind; he was the last to jump.
He used the last of his strength to propel himself forward in an attempt to leap onto the boat. Andy was inches away as the Professor flung himself into the water.
The Professor hit his head against the stern of the boat as the rest of his body descended into the murky depths below. Andy stood at the edge of the pier and in one fell swoop he threw himself into the water along with the Professor.
Blood floated to the surface of the canal, staining the brown silt that had already been disturbed.
Andy thrashed about in the water, edging closer to the Professor each time. The Professor bobbed along the surface, as fresh blood poured from the open wound on his forehead.
“Help him!” Lacey screamed as Leon and Paul tried their best to pull him from the water.
Andy was closing in fast, if we didn’t get him up in time, the Professor would die.
Leon and Paul struggled to get a grasp on the Professor; they heaved him up using all their might as Ryan and Nick ran to assist them.
The Professor was unconscious; we could do nothing to wake him. The boys had just about got the Professor on board when Andy finally inched close enough. Andy got hold of the Professors leg and bit down forcefully onto his calf. As he clawed his way through the flesh of the Professor we knew we had failed. Slowly but surely, Andy dragged the Professor down into the murky depths of the canal.
It was over. The Professor was gone. All that remained was the blood stain against the faded wood.
We watched as Andy dragged the dead Professor out of the water and onto the Pier. As our boat faded away into the distance, Andy and Duckface tucked into their first of many meals, as one of the infected.
I looked around the boat, I was met by frightened and scared faces. I looked ahead into the distance as I wondered what lay ahead as we continued our lives in this new age.
E Virus
The Diary of a Modern Day Girl
Book 3
The New Age
Coming Soon
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About the Author
Where to start? Well, being an author was something I never dreamed of. I love to read, but I don't do it very often. I used to when I was younger; growing up I wanted to be just like Matilda - powers and all.
As I grew up my interests changed. I was much more interested in going out with friends, dating and working. Clothes and especially shoes became way more important, as you can tell from my front cover!
So I'm not a complete bookworm. I had an idea for a story one day, and I decided to try my hand at writing. I'm hoping I've done a good job and you will all like what you read! It's not as easy as it looks, I understand first-hand the pain of writers block, and spending that much time in front of a computer that your eyes go funny.
When I spoke to my friends and family and told them I was writing a book, after a few raised eyebrows they were nothing but supportive. They pushed me to carry on and were so excited to read my first book.
Now, I’m an Author. I’ve realised my passion for writing, and I intend to use it! It’s been a fantastic journey of discovery and as I learn new things every day, my passion only grows. So here it is, the finished result. I hope you enjoy reading my books just as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
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