Chapter Twenty-One
The sun gleamed down onto the complex. Declan Grimmett, a 31-year-old man, walked along the side of the warehouse. He lived a reclusive life in the town, away from all the madness of the inner city. He walked around to the rear of the milk plant, looking ahead as he walked back towards the living area of the complex. He saw some shadows on the ground behind him. He stopped and turned around to look at two of Andrew’s men looking at him.
“Are you okay?” one of them asked.
Declan didn’t reply for a few seconds.
“Come and get some water,” the man said.
Declan entered the warehouse. “Thanks,” Declan said. “I am thirsty.” He turned the corner. It was dark. No water. Nothing. “What is this?” He gasped.
Declan looked to see a wooden cricket bat flying towards his head. The bat slammed into his head before he could blink. He fell onto the cool ground as his eyes closed. His vision was a blur as he looked up at Andrew. It was a struggle to keep his eyes open.
“Move him!” Andrew ordered.
An eerie sound was heard as Declan began to come around a short while later. He lifted his head, looking around an empty cage. “What the hell?” he gasped.
Declan saw one of the infected in front of him through the railings of the cage.
“You can scream all you like,” Andrew said. “No one can hear you.”
“What are you doing?” Declan said as he shuffled around in the cage. He then hunched up into the corner of the cage, trying to stay back away from the infected person.
“Survival of the fittest,” Andrew said.
The trap door to the cage is opened. Declan watched as one of the infected people stormed into the cage. Andrew just stood there, looking at Declan.
Delcan’s eyes opened. They were gleaming yellow. Declan got up, storming out of the cage. Andrew looked up and over as Declan joined the other missing people of the town.
“How many is that now?” Andrew asked.
“Thirty, sir,” Zane replied.
“How is the construction of the fence around Tamagoroa going?”
“Just about finished.”
Andrew looked down at all of the snarling infected. “Perfect. Now we can begin the takeover plan.”
“When do you want to begin the takeover, sir?”
“As soon as possible”
***
Justin walked around the complex with Lucy. She walked next to him, her arms folded, enjoying his company. Andrew looked over at Justin.
“Justin!” Andrew called.
Justin looked at Lucy. “I’ll catch you later,” he said.
Lucy turned around and walked back to the living area of the complex.
“How are you doing?” Andrew asked.
Justin froze for a few seconds, looking at Andrew.
“I’ve got a job for you later,” Andrew finally said.
“What’s that?”
“Follow me, please.”
Justin watched over his shoulder at Lucy.
“She’ll be okay,” Andrew reassured him.
Lucy entered the building as Andrew put his hands-on Justin’s shoulders. “Got a job for you, my man.”
Justin looked up at Andrew. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see, my friend.”
Justin watched as Andrew pulled the fence back. He turned the corner to the warehouse. He looked in and around the building, seeing a huge ditch in the ground, filled with the infected.
“Woah,” Justin gasped. Justin froze as he stared down at all the infected. He then turned to look at Andrew. “What the—?” he gasped. “What are you doing?”
“Follow me” Andrew requested.
Justin followed Andrew over to the workman’s hut in the corner of the warehouse. Andrew opened the door. On the table in front of him was a map of Tamagoroa. It showed the construction of the fence around the town.
“Is this…?” Justin began to ask.
“Yes,” Andrew replied. “Our new home.”
“What?” Justin gasped.
“Like I said, our new home.”
“How do you mean?”
Andrew looked out of the window onto the infected.
“No, no, no,” Justin said, stepping back “You can’t do this.”
Andrew grabbed hold of Justin’ hair and ripped it back. Justin squinted in pain. “Listen to me, and listen very carefully,” Andrew demanded. Andrew continued to rip on Justin’s hair as he squinted in pain. “Tomorrow, you are going into that town, and you are going to keep your ears and eyes open, and you are going to report any suspicion about my plan to me and my people who are already in there.”
Justin squinted his eyes in pain. He gave a gentle nod. Andrew let him go. Justin fell back, coughing in pain.
“Let me tell you something,” Andrew said. “The only reason you are still alive is because of me.”
Justin lifted his head, looking at Andrew as Scott entered the hut.
Scott looked at Justin as he kneeled on the floor in the corner. “Does he know?” Scott asked?
“What do you think?” Justin said.
Justin watched as Scott and Andrew left the hut, leaving Justin in the corner. He hunched his legs up.
***
Justin looked out the side of the van as they sped closer to the town. He felt his heart pounding as he prepared the story in his head—the lie he must tell the people of the town. Andrew sat down next to him. He looked into the distance as the driver cut the lights to the van.
“Okay, so you know what you’re going to do?” The driver asked.
Justin nodded.
“Remember what Andrew said,” the man added. “Say anything, and he will feed you to the infected.”
Justin slowly got out the van, feeling the cool air blow across his face. He looked towards the light coming from the town as he was handed a blue BMX. Justin rode towards the town. He snuck through it, looking around at the houses. Some had their lights on. He then turned his head to the right, seeing some torchlight from one of the night watchmen.
“Hey” He heard
Chapter Twenty-Two
Justin lifted his head up very slowly. He first looked at Spence, who was standing next to Rebecca with his fists clenched.
“You piece of shit!” Spence yelled. Spence went for Justin.
“Hey!” Chelsea screamed, stepping in front of Justin.
“Spencer, leave it,” Rebecca yelled.
Spence grabbed Justin by the hair. He pulled it back, looking down onto his eyes seeing his face squint in pain.
“Hey!” Chelsea screamed again.
“Fucking piece!” Spencer yelled.
“Enough!” Boyd screamed at the top of his voice. Boyd locked eyes with Spence. “Spencer, leave the kid alone”
Justin looked down at the floor.
“This is what we are going to do,” Boyd began. “We increase the routine patrols around the perimeter,” Boyd ordered.
“Then what?” Spence asked.
Boyd walked over to the window of the office. “I don’t know,” he replied monotonically.
Rebecca looked down at Justin. He kept his head down to the ground. “I’m so sorry,” Justin cried.
“Hey,” Chelsea intervened. Chelsea gently rubbed the side if his face.
Rebecca walked over to Boyd. He stood looking out of the window, arms behind his back.
“Sir,” Rebecca said. “I’m awaiting your orders.”
Boyd span around. “Chambers, I want you on the outer perimeter when they return; we can stop them. Hopefully, Flynn may have halted their plans from here onwards.”
“We hope,” Spence said.
Boyd looked over at the radio. “Oliver Smorgon,” he said. “Town hall.”
Boyd turned to Justin. “Justin, when is this attack going to happen?”
Justin didn’t reply.
“Justin…” Boyd asked again.
Justin refused to comment.
&nb
sp; Spencer looked at Justin as he tried not to reply to the question. “Fucking piece!” he yelled.
“Hey!” Chelsea called. Chelsea got in front of Justin, trying to stop Spence from attacking him.
Spence nudged her out of the way and put his hands around Justin’s neck. “When is the attack going to happen?” he demanded.
Justin struggled to breathe.
“Hey!” Chelsea screamed.
Justin was reluctant to speak. Spencer threw him across the floor and began kicking him in the stomach.
“Stop it!” Chelsea cried. “Please!”
Spence rolled Justin onto his back. He clenched his fist. “Tell me or I’ll hit you!” he threatened.
Justin could hardly speak, scared of what Andrew would do if Justin gave the plan away.
Spence sped his fist towards Justin.
“No!” Justin screamed.
Spence stopped inches from Justin’s nose. “Now, I am going to ask you one last time…” Spence asked calmly “When is the attack going to happen?”
“Soon,” Justin replied. “That is all I know. I swear. I promise.” Justin laid on his back. Chelsea hugged up to him tightly. She reached up, grabbing a piece of tissue out of a box.
“You do that to him again…” she began to threaten Spence.
“You’ll what, little girl?” Spence looked down at Chelsea as he walked off out of the office.
“Hey,” She comforted Justin. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” Justin cried. A bit of blood was running down his nose.
“Here,” she said, getting him some tissue.
Spence went for Justin again.
“Enough!” Boyd yelled as he returned. “Spencer! Leave the room.” Spencer looked at Boyd. “Now!”
Spence looked at Justin as he left the room. He kicked the metal bin away.
Boyd slammed the door shut. “Justin,” he said.
“Is this the time?” Chelsea asked.
“Chelsea?” Rebecca asked.
Chelsea stood quietly.
“One thing…” Justin stuttered.
“What?” Boyd asked.
Justin struggled to breathe. “It’s happening now. Right at this very minute.”
“What is?” Rebecca asked.
“The attack,” Justin said. “He is on his way.”
“How?” Rebecca asked, clutching the rifle.
“Using the infected. He was kidnapping people from the town and turning them into the infected.”
Boyd looked up at the ceiling of his office as Chief Oliver Smorgon entered the room.
“What’s the problem?” the chief asked.
“What isn’t the problem?” Boyd replied.
Oliver looked at Justin as he sat down on the chair in the middle of the office.
“Our friend Andrew Parker isn’t who he says he is,” Boyd stated.
Oliver just looked at Boyd. “Well, who is he then?” Oliver asked
Oliver looked at Justin again. “I see…” he said
“Andrew Parker is planning to take the town,” Boyd said.
“How?” Oliver asked.
“With the infected,” Rebecca said.
“When?”
Boyd turned looking out of the window. “Anytime now.”
“Shit,” Oliver uttered under his breath.
Boyd turned around on the tips of his feet, looking at Rebecca. “Rebecca,” he said. “Your and my service to the country… It is our duty to protect our people.”
“Agreed,” she replied.
Boyd looked out of the window again, trying to plan the defence for the town. “Okay.” he said, turning around “Oliver, I want this to be kept quiet. We can only hope that Flynn has foiled their plan. If not, we’re going to have a war in our town.”
“Sir,” Rebecca said.
Boyd looked at Oliver. “Oliver, I want all of your officers to the main entrance to the town.”
“Sir,” He replied before walking off calmly.
Boyd looked over at the entrance to the office. He stormed over to it and pulled the door open.
“Spencer!” he called.
Spencer got up and strolled into the office. He looked at Justin who was still sitting down in the chair.
“Do me a favour,” Boyd asked.
Spencer looked at Boyd. “Pleasure.” Spencer stormed towards Justin.
“Not him!” Boyd snapped. “Can you go and get Phoebe for me, please?”
Spencer gave a brief smile as he turned around.
“And don’t try anything with her!” Boyd yelled. “I’ve heard stories about you.” Boyd slammed the door shut behind Spence.
“Now what?” asked Rebecca.
“We can only hope that Flynn has foiled Andrew’s plan.”
***
Flynn looked forward. He focused on the fence surrounding the infected people. He struggled to undo the rope that was holding him to the metal pole.
“Shit, come on!”
He heard some crunching from behind him. “Don’t move!” a voice said.
“Who is it?” Flynn demanded.
“Listen to me,” the voice said. “Carefully.”
Flynn glanced back into the darkness. He couldn’t see the person’s face.
“Andrew has started the attack on your town.”
“What?” Flynn gasped
“He is already on route.”
“How do I get back to warn my people?” demanded Flynn.
“Take these.” Flynn felt some keys fall into his hands. “There is a superbike around the back of this warehouse,” the voice instructed. “Use it.”
“Got ya,” Flynn replied.
“All entrances,” the voice continued, “are guarded. Go up the ladder, and escape via the roof.”
Flynn watched the figure disappear. “Hey!” Flynn called. “Where are you?”
Flynn held onto the keys. He turned to look at the ladder that led up to the next floor. He climbed up it, trying not to make any noise. He looked to see an open window. It hadn’t been completed yet. He climbed out, looking out into the vast outback. The moon was gleaming. Not a cloud could be seen in the sky. Andrew’s men walked around the compound. Flynn hunched over, creeping along the roof of the warehouse. He looked at the long, black drainpipe. He slid down it and touched down onto the ground. The bike sat in the corner of the car park. Flynn kneeled as he looked over at the heavily-guarded entrance.
“Shit,” he mumbled.
Flynn pulled the bike key out of his pocket. He took one more look over at the front gate. He had to take a chance in order to escape. He put the key into the ignition and turned the key. The engine roared to life. The people at the gate looked over at the motorbike. Flynn rode towards the gate. The guard squinted his eyes, looking to see Flynn is on the bike, screaming towards the gate to escape.
“Shit!” the guard said. “Seal the gate!”
Flynn saw that the gate was starting to close. He ripped the throttle back to full. The cool air blasted across his face as he focused on the closing gate.
“Come on! Get it shut!” the guard panicked.
Flynn looked at the gap between the two gates. He watched as the men dove back. The bike shot between the two gates.
“Woah!” Flynn yelled. “Fuck, yeah!” Flynn kept the throttle at full. He eventually came to the crossroads. He turned to the right and backtracked the route he had taken a short while ago. He ripped the throttle back to full.
***
Andrew Parker looked out the front of the truck. He was dead silent. He looked into the distance as something caught his eye. He spotted the motorbike that Flynn was riding. Flynn stuck his middle finger up, ripping the throttle back to full.
“How the fuck did he get out?” Andrew yelled.
No one answered. They were close to the town now.
“Stop!” Andrew ordered.
The truck screeched to a halt. Andrew jumped down off the truck and boarded the helicopter.
“
Fly,” he ordered the pilot.
The engines fired up, heading in the direction of Tamagoroa.
***
Oliver Smorgon looked out into the far distance of the dark outback. The moon was the only source of light in the town. He looked through his binoculars. Nothing could be seen. Oliver turned around, looking at one of the houses. The family had gathered at the window, looking at the huge group of officers as they stared out into the distance of the outback. Oliver turned around and walked over to the window. The father of the house reached up and opened the top window, too scared to open the main one.
“What’s going on?” the father demanded.
Oliver walked closer to the window. “Nothing to worry about, guys. We’re just on patrol because the main gate isn’t fixed yet, and so Anderson wants some extra security out here.”
The father looked away, closing the top window of the house. Oliver turned around and walked back to the roadblock. He looked through his binoculars again.
“What do we do?” an officer asked.
Oliver just stared out into the distance. “We wait.”
Oliver found it hard to pull the binoculars away from his eyes. He tried to stay out of sight of the people. Then, in the deadness of the night, he saw a light appear in the distance.
“Shit,” He uttered. Oliver looked around. “Positions,” he ordered.
The officers spread out, kneeling by the police patrol cars. Oliver squinted his eyes, trying to make out what kind of vehicle it was. He squinted his eyes, looking to see it get brighter by the second. He realized it was a motorbike.
“Who is it?” an officer asked.
Oliver didn’t reply. The bike sped towards the main entrance to the town. Oliver watched the bike skid to a stop. He looked closely at it. “It’s Flynn!” he called. “Don’t shoot.”
Flynn ran to the roadblock.
“Flynn, what the fuck is going on?” Oliver asked.
“What’s the town centre like?” Flynn demanded “Come on, tell me”
“Sir,” an officer said.
Flynn spun around before Oliver could respond to his question. They looked to see another bright light in the sky getting brighter by the second, heading towards the town.
“Shit,” Flynn uttered.
Flynn grabbed the radio on the police car. “Anderson,” he said.
Fear The Outback (Book 1): Fear The Outback Page 25