Safe Zone (Book 2): The Descent

by Suzanne Sussex

  Back at the council building, I'm surprised to see the amount of activity and what has been achieved in a few short hours. A few marquees have been erected. One next to the hospital to act as a triage, so only those who need extensive medical care will be admitted into the small hospital. Another looks as though it will be for catering. Large urns, crockery and cutlery, are being arranged on tables inside in the shelter.

  The activity inside the cold main hall of the council building matches that outside. Sleeping bags, duvets, blankets and pillows are being arranged to make temporary sleeping quarters. We're all to stay here until after the invasion. Sally wants us to be close together. Perhaps because it will be easier to assemble to begin the fight or maybe because it will create a sense of community and togetherness. Either way, we are going to have to sleep in shifts. There are around five thousand zoners left, and while the hall is massive, it won't sleep that many at any one time.

  I pass the S&T department office but don't stop. No one will be in there. I'm proud that every one of our team has stayed behind to join in the fight.

  Years of training and actually going out into the real world means we are skilled in combat and will be useful to the zone.

  Their jobs today are to stockpile our supplies in the safest part of the zone. The armoury. Stripped of weapons, the armoury is spacious. We won't get everything in there, but it’s better than leaving it all in the stores. It has a secure, heavy, lockable door, perfect to protect our supplies.

  The door to Sally’s office is uncharacteristically closed. Without thinking, I push it open and find her and Joe deep in conversation. On the table in front of them, they have a schematic of the zone.

  “Sorry,” I say, “I’ll come back later.”

  “It’s fine,” Sally replies. She gestures at an empty seat. “Come and join us. The more heads we have on this, the better.”

  I pull out a chair and sit down, “What are you doing?” I ask.

  “Looking for potential weak spots,” Joe replies.

  “Found any?” I ask.

  He shrugs, “Hard to tell. With the perimeter guards, we have the whole zone covered, so we’ll know as soon as they get near. But if the entire population of Zone G attacks all at once, they'll soon breach the fences.”

  I study the schematic and think back on my fleeting memories of the landscape surrounding us. Joe watches me with interest.

  “See anything?”

  “Not really,” I shake my head, “There’s long grass here, which could hide people, I guess.”

  “Yeah,” Joe nods. “Not much we can do about that.”

  “Should we double up the guards on that part of the perimeter?” Sally suggests.

  Joe stands, “Good idea. I’ll get on that now.”

  He shuts the door behind him when he leaves.

  Sally sighs and leans back in her chair, and she smiles softly at me.

  “How are you doing?” she asks.

  “Well, my boss, my mentor and friend was murdered just days ago. My home could be attacked at any moment, and my Mum, my aunt and my could-be boyfriend are on a dangerous trip to the nozo compound. I’m okay,” I shrug with a wry smile.

  Sally laughs softly, “Boyfriend?"

  I blush and shrug again, "Maybe, who knows?"

  “He seems like a good man,” Sally smiles gently.

  “He is,” I nod, “But... oh I don't know... I guess anything could happen.”

  “Take happiness where you can, Sammie,” Sally advised. “You may never find it again,” and for a brief moment a deep sadness flickers across Sally's face.

  “Do you still miss him?” I ask gently. I don't need to say his name, she will know exactly who I am talking about.

  “Sam? Yes, every day. Mostly I miss the memories that we never got to share. I had only known him a week when he died, barely any time at all,” she let out a small, sad laugh, “and for most of that week he was a bit of an idiot.”

  “What?” Sam had always been painted as a hero. The young man who gave his life to save others. Never have I heard him referred to as an idiot.

  Sally grinned, “Yep, a real jack-the-lad, immature and selfish. We met in Spain a few days before the outbreak. I slept with him on the first night, then when he left, I don't think he ever expected to see me again. But then we ended up in quarantine together and well...”

  She lets the words hang, and her eyes glaze over as she recalls the brief time she had shared with her only love.

  Eventually, her eyes clear and she smiles at me, “I wish I’d been as brave as you when I was your age.”

  I say nothing. I don’t feel brave. I feel stupid. I should have killed Brian the day I met him. I should have read more into the unease I felt in that first meeting. All of this could have been prevented.

  So instead I change the subject, “What have you done with the vials?” I ask.

  She sighs, “They are safe.”

  “In the armoury with the rest of the supplies?”

  She shakes her head, “No, I thought about it, but isn’t that the first place he would look?”

  “Yeah, I guess. So where then?”

  “Sammie,” Sally’s voice has a sharp edge to it as she speaks. “With all due respect, I am not going to tell you.”

  “Why?” I ask, offended that after all that I’ve been through, she does not trust me.

  She takes my hand as though to acknowledge my hurt, “You escaped Zone G, freed their prisoners and turned some of his own against him. I suspect that Brian Crowe will be particularly interested in finding you."

  “So what if he does?” I ask, my voice rising slightly. I want him to find me. That way I can kill him.

  “What if he does?” Sally laughs with an air of sarcasm, "Do you have some grand plan that you and he will be alone, and you can overpower him?"

  I shrug sheepishly, for that is exactly how it plays out in my mind.

  “What if he is not alone? What if he overpowers you? He wants those vials. How much torture can you withstand before you give the location away?”

  I open my mouth to protest, but then think about it. I honestly don’t know. I like to think of myself as strong and capable. But then, I’ve never been tortured, so how could I promise I wouldn’t say anything?

  “Okay,” I nod. Once again, Sally is right.

  “Listen, you're clearly not going to relax today, so why don’t you make yourself useful and go and help out with the catering. I’m sure they’re desperate for another pair of hands.”

  Sensing that I am being dismissed, I agree, and actually, having something to occupy my mind will be a good thing. I stand up to give Sally a quick hug, but she holds me tightly.

  “I'm so proud of the woman you have become, Sammie,” she whispers, “Helping your mum raise you has been one of the greatest parts of my life.”

  I squirm uncomfortably, at a loss for what to say, so I settle on a peck on her cheek, “I love you, Aunt Sally.”

  She squeezes me and then lets me go.

  It is only when I am leaving the building to go to the catering tent that I realise the conversation sounded a whole lot like she was saying goodbye.

  I brush the morose thought aside and smile brightly, “Anyone need any help?” I call out to the people rushing past.

  ~

  With a job to do, the rest of the day and evening passed quickly. But, as I lay down in the large cold hall, once more I found it difficult to relax. Convinced that Zone G’s army would arrive overnight and take over the zone while I slept, I tossed and turned, huffed and puffed until someone close by snapped at me to be quiet. So I lay still and eventually sleep took me.

  Now, the zone is alive once more, and I am back in the catering tent, serving breakfast. With no attack overnight, everyone seems a lot calmer today. The tensions of yesterday have been swept away.

  People chat while they eat at the tables we’ve set up outside the council building. It feels like a party atmosphere. I can’t remember th
e last time the zone came together like this. When this is over, we should get together more often. For today the sense of community is strong, despite our missing numbers.

  I smile at the man I am handing a bowl of porridge to, and point to the end of the table where he can find honey and the spoons. He nods his thanks and turns in the direction I indicate, but before he takes a single step, he drops the bowl to the floor. It smashes, noisily spewing the porridge onto his trousers and shoes. But neither of us pays attention to the mess. Instead, we focus on the distant sound of whistles being frantically blown and the young boy who has just sprinted in the area shouting that the attackers are here.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Through the binoculars, Brian watched as the guard at the tower was taken out by a single arrow to the throat. He laughed wickedly as he watched the man clutch at his neck, his eyes wide with shock, while blood spurted over his hands. The guard stumbled as he fell from the tower. The guard next to him leaned over the railing and called out to his fallen comrade. Within seconds, another arrow was loosed and the second man was taken out. Brian turned his attention to a person who had appeared from beneath the tower. A young girl. She ran over to the fallen man, frantically grabbing at something attached to him.

  The sun glinted on the metal of the whistle as the girl put it in her mouth. Before she had a chance to blow it, the next arrow struck her in the skull. She died, collapsed in a heap on top of the guard.

  Brian smiled broadly. This was going to be easier than he first thought. He scanned the horizon and found the next guard tower. This man was slumped over a protective railing, an arrow protruding from his chest. Another man below the tower stood for a second, frozen in shock and confusion.

  Then he moved, just in time to avoid an arrow flying past his back. He opened his mouth in a yelp, then took off in a sprint. Brian traced him with the binoculars, a small frown creasing his face. The man waved frantically and was soon spotted by the next tower, and the guard there let out a series of long whistles.

  Without waiting for orders, the men hidden near the outer gates fired arrows at the sentries in the remaining towers. Brian suspected there were more sentries hidden from sight around the far ends of the zone, but for now they posed no threat.

  It had been tempting to give the order to speed up and attack last night. But he had held his nerve and waited. An attack before dawn was likely to be what Zone E had expected. Not in the morning, when people were probably just getting up and having breakfast, no doubt relaxed, assuming that the attack would not now come until the next night. He had his men hide in the long grass that circled most of the zone. There they waited until his next order was given.

  With two of the towers now defenceless, Brian shouted out an order, which set a man on horseback racing away. When the horse and his rider reached the front line, men rose from the long grass and began their assault.

  Bolt cutters were used to create openings in the chain-link fence, and his army strolled through unchallenged. They gathered underneath the guard towers until everyone had breached the outer gate, and then they made their advance on the inner gate. Brian gave the order for the men around him to move in.

  With the element of surprise now past, the inner gate guards were ready, with arrows nocked and poised. They managed to get a couple of shots off before they were pelted with arrows themselves.

  In less than ten minutes from the first arrow being loosed, Zone G had penetrated Zone E’s outer and inner gates. They were in the zone.

  Brian led the untrained zoners around him through the outer gate. He had them march towards the inner gate, then stood to one side and let them pass. Only when the rough band of men and woman had breached the inner gate to join the experienced troops already inside, did Brian join them, choosing to lead from behind. After all, he shouldn’t take any unnecessary risks himself, should he?

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chairs get knocked over, and tables overturned as people jump up in panic. Bowls of porridge and mugs of hot drinks fly into the air. Yelps of pain have started already from the unfortunate victims, who scream out as they are coated in hot oats or scalded with hot tea. Some are probably out of the fight before it has even begun. People rush around, not seeming to go in any sensible direction, but apparently feeling that they should be moving, rather than calmly waiting for instructions.

  It’s as if all hell has broken loose. I wonder if this is what it was like during the outbreak. Then I wonder if I'm being insensitive to those poor people who died during the outbreak. Then I wonder what the fuck I am doing wondering about any of this right now.

  I scan the crowd for Joe or any of his team. Hoping someone, anyone will put an end to this chaos. Through the bedlam, I can see Joe's team, running around in despair as they try to round up their groups of trainees from yesterday.

  Then I catch a glimpse of Sally and Joe standing by the doors of the council building, Sally's face contorted with a fury that I have not seen in her before.

  Joe gesticulates wildly, then he pushes her roughly into the building.

  I've had enough of this.

  “Everyone, calm the fuck down,” I scream at the top of my voice.

  Nothing, no response, not even a glance in my direction.

  Then I hear a large boom. Like thunder but closer. Everyone freezes. I spot Joe giving me a wry smile as he holds the shotgun in the air. He nods at me as though I should try again.

  “Right, everyone,” I call out, clambering on to a chair to make myself visible. “I know it's frightening, but you all know what to do. Team leaders put your hands in the air.” Forty or so hands wave in the air, “Find your team leader, and let's go and do this,” I yell. “Let's show these pricks that they messed with the wrong zone.”

  A little part of me was expecting some sort of rousing cheer to my impromptu speech. Even a smile or nod of acknowledgement would have been nice. But I suppose at least the chaos seems to be replaced by a little order as people head towards their teams.

  Jumping down from the chair, I run over to Joe. We don't have a team. Instead, we'll lead this whole motley bunch.

  Okay, so maybe Joe will lead them, and I will tag along because there is no way I am going to be at the back of this fight.

  When I join him, I give him my best beaming smile, daring him to tell me to go away. He shrugs in resignation.

  “Fine,” he says, “I've already had to order one woman around today, I'm not going to even try with you.”

  “Sally?” I ask.

  “Yeah, I've told her to stay put. We'll need her when this is over.”

  “She's going to hate that,” I tell him with a grin.

  “Yep,” he nods, "she can shout at me later,"

  I give my knife a last pat to make sure it’s still there. Then someone hands my a bow and a quiver full of arrows. I pull at the string, testing its tautness.

  “Ready?” Joe asks.

  I take a deep breath, swallow the nerves that have started to bubble up, “Ready,” I confirm.

  “MOVE OUT,” Joe yells, almost deafening me.

  In synchronicity, each of the teams starts to make their way down the alleyways that have been left unblocked.

  I pull an arrow out of my quiver. Not because I need to shoot anyone right now, but just because it feels better to be holding it. Joe gives me a sideways glance. “Non-fatal shots only,” he reminds me.

  “I know and I will. Unless I see Brian, of course.”

  “If you see him, be sure to let me know,” Joe grins. The expression does not reach his eyes, still too overwhelmed with sadness for the smile to be sincere.

  I shake my head vigorously, “Nope, you’ll have to fight me for him,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood. I know now is not the time to be making jokes, even lame ones. But to show fear now would not help anyone. Particularly the hundreds of people following closely behind us.

  We soon pass the building line and head towards the farms. Streams of residents pour out
of the alleyways until we all merge into one incredible force. Together we march past the fields of crops. The animals have been shut in pens in an effort to protect them from whatever is to come.

  It’s as we get to the edge of the water farm and on to the clearing before the solar farm that we see our invaders scattered between the solar panels.

  Lots and lots of invaders.

  I’ve seen pictures of historical battles, where two groups face off over a stretch of land and pause before charging at one another. I’ve always wondered how they avoided killing their own. I guess I’ll soon find out.

  There is no luxury of a pause in the marching; of a rousing speech, horns being blown and flags being waved to motivate the troops. Instead, we walk into a hail of arrows. People drop around me amidst cries of shock and pain, but a quick scan tells me those injured around me have superficial wounds.

  “Any casualties?” I call out and receive a satisfying chorus of dissent in return.

  As an added bonus, for every arrow that hits its target, at least ten miss and fall with a gentle clatter to the floor. Most a few feet in front of us.

  “They’re too far away,” Joe tells me.

  “Either that or they’re a terrible shot.” I snigger, “Awfully nice of them to give us free ammo though,” I add.

  Joe chortles but gives the signal to start moving. We do, but I sense a slight hesitancy in the steps of those around me.

  Knowing that within minutes a fresh rain of arrows will fall upon us, and that maybe this time we won’t be so lucky, my fingers grasp more firmly at the arrow in my hand, desperate to nock and bring the fight to the enemy. But Joe is right. The distance is too great to guarantee success.

  A few more metres covered and the next assault hits us. A man on the right of me drops to his knees. Holding his face and yelling in pain. He has an arrow embedded in his left cheek. Not fatal but certainly painful and he is out of the fight.

  “Medic,” I yell, and the man is quickly retrieved from the fray. No doubt he’ll be stitched up and made to rest for a few days, but at least he will live. I see a few more people being taken out with an arrow protruding from various body parts. I can’t tell if they are alive or dead, but regardless, a deep sense of injustice bubbles into anger.