The Good, The Bad & The Dead | Book 1 | Once Upon A Time In An Undead World

by Grimes, A. L.

  The first bullet ripped through his shoulder, the second put a hole in his chest and the third punctured his guts.

  Erik darted for the rear window and through himself headfirst through it. Three shots fired in his direction, the last one catching his calf as he went through the window. He landed heavily, grimaced then picked himself up. He limped with speed to the rear wall, hauled himself up and over. He landed in the middle of three dead people. He pulled a serrated knife from his boot and stabbed the three in the head. He moved up the alleyway. The dead were everywhere. He rounded a corner and killed another.

  He ripped out the guts and covered himself in the rotting juice. The bullet to his calf had already compromised his gait. He stepped into the horde of the dead.

  They welcomed him like one of their own.

  Chapter Seventy-Three

  The Dock Area, Liverpool.

  They had acquired a couple of loader trolleys among the wreckage of the mangled dock to carry their prizes back to the lighthouse. They had found a good selection of tinned soups, fruits and fish. Billie-Jo discovered the biscuit section, which was half a pallet worth at the back of the container. They also came across a selection of toiletry necessities. Mouthwash was going to be a luxury in the coming weeks and months. The women acquired other essentials.

  ‘It’s hard to think that this could all be a thing of the past if the government don’t get control of the situation,’ said Claudia as she rammed a chocolate éclair into her mouth. They had also been fortunate enough to discover a refrigerated section at the back of the container.

  Tom had his face buried deep in a different and bigger calorie blaster. ‘Get it while you can, after this lot we will be fighting with the rest for scraps. No doubt the supermarkets will have been looted by now.’

  Billie-Jo didn’t involve herself in the conversation. She was overdosing on sugar and indulging in cream and chocolate heaven, Lola was on the same journey next to her.

  ‘The looters will head here eventually,’ said Ben. ‘It’s difficult to acknowledge but we will have to defend our findings. Food will become the new currency for the foreseeable future.’

  ‘I’d do anything for a cream cake,’ said Claudia.

  Tom thought about it for a second, he decided to shut up and continue eating his own cream cake.

  *

  Ben and Tom had given Dale and his acquaintance a sea burial, they shoved them in the dock, wrapped in sheets. The women had given the lighthouse a good scrub while the funerals had taken place…both of them had declined the opportunity to attend.

  They all took a turn in the shower, Claudia enjoying Tom’s embarrassment when she asked if he would like to share to save water. Her and Billie-Jo giggled to each other. Ben had cooked them a full breakfast, sausage, bacon, eggs, black pudding, tinned beans and tomatoes and a whole loaf of bread. All courtesy of Tesco. Every little helps. They all agreed to sleep for a few hours and travel under the cover of darkness. Tom volunteered for first watch.

  Claudia and Billie-Jo took the sofa, Ben found a sleeping bag and took that on the floor. They had all fallen asleep within fifteen minutes. Lola took the watch with Tom. He sat at the top of the stairs, the dog beside him.

  *

  ‘I really miss you,’ said his mother.

  With a roll of his eyes, he decided to respond this time. ‘Strangely enough, I miss you.’ Lola looked at him with a cocked head, he tapped his own head as if to indicate where the conversation was taking place. People have a habit of communicating with pets like they understand.

  ‘Do you really? I’m all alone here,’ she replied.

  ‘You have Dave and Chris on the other side of the fence.’

  ‘I see the tragedy in your life hasn’t stopped the sarcasm,’ she said.

  ‘Tragedy?...Oh right…err.’ For once he was stuck for words.

  ‘I see you are getting on well with your new friends. Strange really, you didn’t have many in your normal life.’

  He stopped himself from pointing out the irony of her words. ‘How can you see anything?’ He asked. ‘Where are you anyway?’

  ‘In the garden were you left me,’ she replied.

  ‘I mean paranormally,’ he responded, instantly regretting it.

  ‘Para what?’

  ‘Jesus Christ,’ he said.

  ‘I’ve not seen him either,’ she replied.

  He had to laugh at that. ‘I doubt you’ll be seeing him where you’re going. You won’t have to complain about the cold anymore.’

  ‘You should really come home; I’d feel a lot more settled knowing you are safe here with me.’

  ‘It’s not safe anywhere at the moment,’ he spared her the details.

  ‘I see you have done a better job of keeping that snot nosed brat alive than you did with me,’ she said acidly.

  ‘Goodbye mother.’

  *

  They had all had a fractured sleep, broken by nightmares and dead loved ones. Claudia hadn’t spoken to her family for a long time. Ben dreamt of Jill again. Billie-Jo woke as she bashed in her foster parents skulls and Tom uttered the word mother several times followed by a series of expletives. Lola slept peacefully.

  The sun was just peeking through the clouds as it descended. All were trying to get into the toilet. Equality flew out the window when the women played the gender card. Ben stood frozen to the spot; Tom was pissing out of a window. They had a light meal of porridge, the pre-made stuff that only needed a splash of milk and a few turns in the microwave. They had been fortunate in an unfortunate situation. While breaking the locks on the containers they had luckily opened one destined for Go Outdoors. They all looked like they were going on a skiing trip.

  Billie-Jo had initially picked out a bright pink, waterproof, windproof and everything else proof coat. The collective ‘No’ had been enough for her to put it back. They all agreed, dark colours were much safer.

  They found new back packs, much more space to pack food and additional clothing. They each had a torch and spare batteries courtesy of Go Outdoors. Billie-Jo had picked up a set of skiing goggles, the rest of them laughed until she pointed out the rain. Now all four of them stood with goggles wrapped around their bobble hats. Lola was nestled comfortably in a front pack, her head and two front paws sticking out.

  ‘So we are clear on the plan. No heroics, we stick together and any threats we take care of,’ said Tom.

  They all agreed.

  Most had agreed that Tom was their leader, something he disagreed with. ‘We are all responsible for each other, no leaders, we make decisions together.’ It was unanimous.

  Ben volunteered to take the lead, as he knew the way. Tom took the rear. They had estimated that with breaks and no interruptions they could make it in a couple of hours. They had considered taking a car and driving along the dock road, safety over speed had won. Stick to the docks out of the way.

  They skirted around the edges of the water. Tom stopped at the base of a crane. ‘I’ve got an idea.’ He started climbing the crane.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Asked Billie-Jo.

  ‘He is having a look at what lays ahead of us,’ Said Ben.

  ‘I like his style and his butt cheeks in those pants,’ said Claudia.

  Tom almost missed his footing.

  ‘Careful,’ said Billie-Jo.

  Tom continued until he had a good vantage point. He could see the terrain before them was good with a minimal amount of anger. He looked further on, towards the city centre and the waterside. His face said it all.

  ‘Is it that bad?’ Enquired Ben as Tom jumped off the crane.

  ‘The docks are fine; we can get through no problem.’

  ‘But,’ asked Claudia.

  ‘The city centre is overrun. We would have to surface for a mile or so. No chance could we fight our way through. Have a look for yourselves,’ he said.

  Billie-Jo and Lola were already up the crane. ‘Fuck me,’ she said. ‘He’s right, there are hundreds of them, just
stumbling about.’

  Ben and Claudia followed her. ‘There is no way were are getting through,’ said Ben.

  ‘Unless,’ said Tom.

  ‘Nope, not a chance,’ said Billie-Jo as she jumped down.

  ‘You haven’t heard my suggestion,’ argued Tom.

  ‘You are going to suggest that me and Lola sneak through on our own because we are the smallest,’ she argued back.

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I was going to say I think I could get through on my own.’

  Billie-Jo looked at him with pursed lips and an irritated glare. ‘Really,’ she replied.

  ‘Right, you were taking the piss…you knew what my idea was,’ he responded sheepishly.

  ‘Yes and you can rethink your plan. If you go, I go. I am not babysitting these two,’ she nodded in the direction of Ben and Claudia. ‘No offense.’

  ‘None taken,’ replied Claudia.

  ‘None taken,’ said Ben. ‘We have just been insulted by a teenager.’

  ‘The same teenager who saved your life,’ said Billie-Jo.

  ‘Fair enough,’ replied Ben.

  While they were debating their predicament and unsuccessfully attempting to form a new strategy which would be around plan F by now…one of the dead walked around the corner. With so much padding on, Claudia did not feel the hand touch her shoulder, she felt its fetid breath on her ear though. Her shriek stopped the discussion dead in its tracks, it also attracted several more of the walking corpses.

  Tom was first to react. His blade was out and arcing through the air and splitting the skull of the dead creature before it could bite down on Claudia. Billie-Jo took the second and third in quick succession. Ben was still fumbling by the time Tom had almost shorn another in two. Ben ploughed into the next, hammer swinging with an increased skill. Claudia had composed herself and joined the melee. They stood amongst the carnage of another dozen dead bodies.

  ‘And that’s why we stick together,’ said Billie-Jo, Lola barked a couple of woofs in agreement.

  They decided that it wouldn’t do any harm to go as far as they could and take a look. They rain had started again. Ben theorised about their scent attracting the dead, Tom had argued that a species that didn’t have hyper-sensitive senses in life could hardly obtain them as their bodies were shutting down. Ben wasn’t convinced.

  Tom suggested they carry out some research. He wanted to conduct a highly hazardous experiment that was vetoed instantly.

  ‘Do you have a death wish?’ Protested Billie-Jo.

  ‘Hardly, yes it’s dangerous but we know the risk and it can be managed,’ he replied.

  ‘You want to get inches away from a creature that want’s to eat you,’ said Claudia.

  ‘Correct, but I now its vulnerabilities. It will be slower, weaker and I will have the element of surprise. I don’t want to date the thing, just see if it aware of me as it goes past. That way we will be able to understand a bit more and see if Ben’s theory is correct.’ He knew Ben would wade in with support.

  ‘He has a point,’ said Ben.

  ‘Would you want to do it?’ Asked Billie-Jo.

  ‘Err, no I wouldn’t,’ he replied.

  ‘Then pipe down and stay out of it,’ she hissed back.

  Ben took a step back and tagged out.

  They took a vote, Tom was defeated. Claudia and Billie-Jo voted against. Ben went to take a piss.

  Tom took it in good spirits. He was actually pleased that people he barely knew but felt he had known forever cared about his wellbeing. He had hit it off with Billie-Jo better than he had expected, he wanted to keep her safe, a sense of responsibility. Although he reckoned she would be quite formidable on her own.

  They moved through the buildings of the docks with ease, no sign of the dead as they went. The walls to the docks were high and were the old wall had crumbled, it had been rebuilt with new brick or cast-iron gates. They took a ten-minute break; Tom did a reconnaissance of the area. Lola was allowed some brief exercise and a toilet break. Ben and the others grouped around; the wind was sharp.

  Tom found himself at the main gate to one of the docks, he could see the road through the narrow bars. He climbed to look over the wall. So that’s what happened to the workers, he thought. At least two dozen of the dead, all wrapped in overalls were stumbling about outside.

  He observed the dead as they bumped into each other. They didn’t show any signs of aggression or cannibalism towards each other. Quite the opposite in fact, they were moving as one. They didn’t appear to have any purpose other than shuffling around each other. They hadn’t noticed Tom, high above them. He jumped down and grabbed a handful of stones before ascending the wall again. He took aim and bounced a stone of a car on the opposite side of the road. The dead turned and moved towards the vehicle. The attention was brief when they didn’t locate any food.He aimed a much larger rock at another abandoned vehicle, this made a much louder thud, again they turned towards the noise. Tom fired another rock in a different direction, they turned again…he was amused. He did this a few more times, watching as they reacted to the noise.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Said Billie-Jo as she crept up quietly.

  Tom was so engrossed in his research he jumped at the sound of her voice. The remaining rocks he held in his hand tumbled from his grasp and hit the floor below…the dead turned as one and groaned at him and Billie-Jo.

  ‘Shit,’ he said. ‘They’ve seen us.’

  ‘Were you throwing stones at them? Asked Billie-Jo.

  ‘I was experimenting, see what they react to, how fast they respond to noise in different directions.’

  ‘I thought we agreed on experiments that cause danger to us as individuals and as a group are off limits,’ she replied.

  He looked at her in amazement, ‘You’re definitely telling me the truth when you say you are only fourteen. You’re not one of these people who only look half their age and have several degrees in the unpronounceable are you.’

  ‘We had this discussion less than two hours ago, it’s hardly an intelligence issue.’

  The dead had congregated beneath them, all reaching up. They could see the faces of the dead much clearer now. They looked angry, snarling, their grimy teeth visible against drawn back gums.

  ‘Fuck they are ugly,’ said Tom.

  ‘To be fair the circulation in their bodies has stopped. Their vital organs have stopped functioning. The infection they are carrying is obviously toxic and…’

  Tom was gawping at her. ‘Really, a biology lesson now. I was actually talking about pre-death,’ he laughed.

  ‘Hey guys,’ shouted Ben. ‘I think we have a problem.’

  ‘You having trouble getting the lid of your beans?’ Said Billie-Jo sarcastically.

  ‘No I’m good with that,’ he replied equally sarcastic while holding the beans in the air. ‘I’m guessing that while your debating on top of the wall and there is maybe a handful of the dead on the other side…’

  ‘Get to the point,’ said Tom.

  ‘A bunch of their friends are walking through that unlocked door,’ said Ben pointing with his beans.

  Tom and Billie-Jo looked back over the wall; a handful of the dead were still reaching up for them. The rest were migrating to the open door. four of them were already through.

  ‘Oh shite,’ said Tom.

  Ben’s beans were on the floor and his hammer in his hand as he strode forward. Claudia picked up her sword. Billie-Jo and Tom jumped down. Lola had never tasted beans before.

  *

  Ben approached first; his hammer raised. The dead stopped in front of them. Claudia arrived at Ben’s shoulder - her sword ready for action. Tom and Billie-Jo skidded to a halt. Tom noticed the difference first.

  The dead and the living were in a stand-off. ‘Why are they not attacking us?’ Asked Ben.

  ‘Do you think they are evolving?’ Asked Claudia.

  ‘I don’t think it’s anything as complicated as that,’ said Tom.

  ‘Wh
at do you mean?’ Said Claudia.

  ‘He means they aren’t dead yet,’ answered Billie-Jo.

  A piece of lead piping slid from the sleeve of the leader. The name tag on his overalls read Dave. Other metal bars crept out of the sleeves of the others. He looked towards the man next to him and nodded. He turned and locked the door to the road.

  ‘We are just looking to pass through, we don’t want any trouble,’ said Ben.

  ‘Leave your stuff and the young girl and be on your way,’ said Dave.

  ‘Not this again.’ Tom stepped forward; he drew his sword slowly. ‘When he said we don’t want any trouble, he wasn’t speaking for all of us.’

  Dave shifted a little, ‘You don’t realise who you are fucking with,’ he replied.

  ‘Sure we do,’ replied Tom. ‘A bunch of sneaky fuckers, pretending to be dead and attempting to prey on the vulnerable. However this is your unlucky day, the young girl you requested is probably going to split you groin to chin and feed you your balls.’

  Billie-Jo unsheathed her sword. Half a dozen hardened dock workers trembled as one in the face of the four who stood before them…five, Lola was now stood next to Tom.

  Dave considered his options, who knows why he didn’t try to return home when the dead woke up. Maybe he didn’t have a family, maybe he didn’t like them or just maybe he thought he could carve a slice of the new world for himself. Whatever it was, he had a bunch of his colleagues standing next to him, whom he had also convinced not to return home to their families. Tom watched him carefully. He guessed that this was Dave and his dock gangs first attempt at intimidation in the world of the dead. He had no doubt that these men would visit the pub after work, shoot some pool, down double figure pints and get involved in a ruck of some sort.

  He could tell all this from the slant of Dave’s nose and his left cauliflower ear. He also had a three-inch scar above his fight eyebrow. It made Tom wonder how many fights Dave had actually won. He reckoned Dave thought it would be easy taking from the vulnerable, and that two men, two females and half a dog would be easy prey. Lola was growling with intent now.

  The standoff was boring Tom, plus they were on a mission. ‘Okay, the way I see it Dave,’ he said. ‘You have two options; you can have a go at us, and we can dump your bodies in the water. Or you can piss off out of our way.’