It was definitely no warmer today than it had been just over a week ago. The sun had been out then, it had been cloudless, with twinkling snow. So the only difference to all of them, was that danger, not salvation was before them.
There was also something else on Gary’s plate. He seemed to share the leading of the group, all their responsibilities, with Wee Renee and Pat. There was a big hole in the group now that they weren't here. It all was on his shoulders now.
The clouds lifted a little. As they walked over the last high ridge it was three o'clock. From this height, they could see Friarmere beneath them. Their home.
They carried on for about an hour. Walking towards their fate. The darkness rushing towards them, in more ways than one. They all knew now that they wouldn’t make it to safety whilst it was still light. He would get them. He knew they would be coming over here tonight. He had insisted, hadn’t he? Tick, tock. So he would get them tonight. Fear was overtaking them. Was it tiredness or the night that made their knee’s tremble? It was now dark. Friarmere was closer but still way below them. They had not made any descent. Danny pointed towards Friarmere.
‘What is that?’
‘It’s fires!’ said Tony. ‘I think, it is in the fields, there,’ he pointed. ‘But over there is a house or building on fire. There seems to be another one in a field the other side of Friarmere, as well. It's too hard to tell from here but I am guessing by the rows of streetlights……. it looks like that one is on the street, and that one is near nothing else, maybe in a field.’ Whilst they watched another one sprang up, in what they thought was a street.
‘What the hell is going on?’ asked Gary.
‘Who knows what is going on in their mind’s, when they do these things,’ Carl said. It was one of the first things he had said since they had left Melden. He had refused to eat anything at all. ‘What is in it for them, if they burn down the whole village?’
‘Whilst they are doing that though, they aren’t up here. We will deal with all that in the cold light of day tomorrow. Let's forget about it tonight, get ourselves sorted and settled.’ They stopped talking now, the darkness, the fires, the close proximity to The Master weighed heavily on the group. Each step was an immense effort. After a short while they nearly went past the place where the public footpath was, that would take them to the den.
‘Hey!’ said Bob, ‘aren’t we stopping?’ The travellers stopped walking, and took notice of where they were. Bob was right. They had walked a few steps past the path, as their eyes had been fixed on the fires in Friarmere. Retracing their steps, then turning left, they started to walk up the path. It looked like there had been no one here since they were last here a few nights ago. No footprints. No pawprints. Bob went first, the others walking in single file. In the clearing they found the den. Sally, Beverly and Carl were quite heartened at how warm, dry and safe it was here.
The men put up the tarpaulin, lashing it quite hard to the tree’s so that it would stay up and maybe take some weight from the snow if it had to.
They set up a timetable of when people would be on watch, but thought that it probably would be safe that night, at least. After all, Norman's mission was to have them back in Friarmere. It would be no use killing them up here.
They got themselves comfortable, unpacking the blankets and provisions. Taking out the remainder of their sandwiches, they rubbed at their sore feet and sore shoulders from the backpacks. Most of the group was soon asleep. The soft smell of Pine Tree’s taking them to better places. In the den, warm and no longer walking, they were in better spirits than they had been when they had set off on this journey. At this point, Liz realized that she hadn’t needed the sledge once. The antibiotics must be working.
‘Gary, are you still awake?’ Bob whispered.
‘Yes, lad.’
‘I have had a thought. What if it isn’t the vampires setting the fires? What if its survivor’s like us?’ Bob said. ‘If they are setting fires then there are either people or vampires after people, still about. There must be someone else alive, whichever way it is.’
‘I don’t get you lad.’
‘Ok. If there are humans, then they are the ones setting fires. Conclusion – humans are alive. But, for some reason if the vampires are setting light to stuff, what is in for them? They aren’t fireproof. It can’t be solely for their benefit, or that they need the warmth. It must be to lure human’s out, to put out the fires. Or to torch houses, so that the humans have to run outside into the dark, and they can bite them. Same Conclusion – humans are alive. Whatever is happening, there is some life left in Friarmere.’
Adam stared at the children in the school hall. He had been forbidden to eat them all. The Master brought him animals. He was to live on that for the moment. The children were more scared of him than the rest of the vampires because he never left the room ever. His eyes forever open, watching them. He had somehow become miserable as a vampire, something he never was as a human. The fact was – he was lonely. He was sick of sitting in the dark listening to kids cry and wipe snot on their coat sleeves. Was this it for him forever? He wasn’t going to do this much longer. He was just waiting for what he had asked for – the only request he had made. Once he had what he wanted, he was going.
Adam, when alive had been incredibly clever. Maybe he had the potential of becoming one of the great minds of the country, but that would never come to pass. Adam waited for his friend Bob. He knew he would come. He was too good a friend, and Adam would be waiting. He knew The Master had plans for Bob and Bob's parents. Norman had promised they would not to perish. He wished to collect them very much. Adam would have his friend with him again soon. Him and Bob would be the next generation, and oh what fun they would have!
30 – Meat
That afternoon went by so slowly for the group left in Melden. Whilst Jennifer, Pat and Wee Renee had taken the travellers to the outskirts of the village, Rose and her daughter Natalie had unfortunately arrived for a visit.
In the warmth of Our Doris’s house, the group filled them in about Anne’s message. They had immediately noticed that there were less people in the house, when they had arrived. Rose and Natalie no longer doubted what was going on in Melden, but clearly by their demeanour, they were not hopeful of a positive outcome. The two women were fatalistic about what would happen to them.
‘We are just walking carrot cake, to them lot. Not long before we are all eaten,’ Rose said morosely. ‘I don’t know why we don’t lay outside in the streets for them at night, covered in dog food. Get it over with!’
Freddie went into Brenda whilst she made tea and coffee in the kitchen.
‘Do you know what Brenda,’ he whispered, ‘even Carl who has lost his wife does not emit such a black atmosphere as those soul suckers in there. Two women, who it hasn’t affected whatsoever. Absolutely bugger all has happened to them.’
‘They are just a miserable pair,’ Brenda said. ‘Rose has always been the same. She was always a party pooper. I can categorically say that she was born a misery. She wanted the world to revolve around her and bolster her through her turmoil’s in life.’
‘Well we haven't got time for it and we aren’t bloody doing it.’ Freddie’s word was final. He helped Brenda to take in the tray of drinks.
Terry and Kathy arrived at the house with their bags, and shortly after Pat, Jennifer and Wee Renee arrived back. When Rose and Natalie found out that that Terry and Kathy were staying with the group, they said that if strangers were staying there, then they were going to as well. Freddie said under his breath, we haven't invited you but thought that it was mean-spirited of him so made sure they didn’t hear. If he didn’t watch himself, he would end up as bad as them. Our Doris however, was on point.
‘What did you say, Rose?’
Rose quite clearly didn’t care what anyone thought of her or her opinion, as usual.
‘I said, Our Doris….that if strangers are staying then we are!’
‘You cheeky rat, Rose. The
y aren’t strangers and if you don't like it, you needn't come. Terry is my dentist and I also knew Kathy before this. They are welcome and more people together means that we are all safer. Can I also remind you that myself and Terry are infected and we need the support of each other during this difficult time. He is trying to cure me. Terry is going out of his way for me. He and his daughter are NOT strangers. So if you have a problem, or think you can’t manage to be civil to them, or anyone else. Go home!’
Wee Renee watched this exchange between the two sisters. Her eyes were squinting down at Rose and she was ready to support Our Doris at a moments notice. When Rose or Natalie, didn’t reply, Wee Renee gestured to Pat to go into the kitchen with her.
‘Come on Pat, we have loads more meat to deal with love,’ she said. Pat followed her and Wee Renee shut the door.
‘Pat, I have not got time for her. We are all trying to do our best. She has just come here because she is nosy and wants Brenda to wait on her. I bet she doesn’t lift a finger from go to woe. I hope she doesn't stay and that she buggers off out of my way until we have to set off for Friarmere or something.’
Pat hoisted up her leggings before replying.
‘She’s a bitch Rene, it’s as simple as that. I am fighting the urge to clock her one up the earhole. It’s not going to last forever though. If you see her tonight with a thick ear, it was me.’
‘I’m not going to stop you Pat. I think, in this current situation, it wouldn’t matter if you gave someone a cauliflower ear. So have at it. We are all lucky to still have our ears. It’s a wonder they aren’t round Anne’s neck on a necklace.’ Pat took this opportunity to open the door a little and look at Rose.
‘I don’t like her, or her spawn.’ She shut the door again. ‘I was thinking Rene, do you think you should tell everyone about Carol?’
‘No, I don't think so. They might treat me differently. I will just deal with it in my own way. Thanks Pat. Just you knowing about it has meant it is a trouble halved, so that is fine by me.’
Our Doris and Brenda had planned a large cheese and onion pie for that evening’s meal. After Wee Renee and Pat had dealt with the meat, they put it in bags. Wee Renee put one bag outside the house in an old bowl, which had been in Our Doris’s garage. She banged the bowl with a screwdriver she had been using to prise the meat out of the bag with.
‘Suppertime,’ she screeched. ‘Come and get it, you filthy critters.’ Now there were two portions’ full of drugged meat outside. One either side of the drive. Terry and Wee Renee did not know how this would affect the wolves. This mixture was not a drug for wolves, or any animal at all.
Even if they knew a specific measured dose of drugs for one creature, they didn’t know if one wolf might eat one piece and another one might eat ten pieces. The second wolf would obviously be more affected than the first one. Even if an overdose killed them, it couldn't hurt the survivor’s plight, only help it. If the drugs did not affect the wolves whatsoever, the best-case scenario would be that it might save them from biting someone else at night, if they were no longer hungry.
That afternoon Freddie put the radio on to see if there was anything about vampires mentioned, but there was only news about snow. There was going to be a lot more of it on the way.
Jennifer went upstairs and blow-dried Our Doris's hair for her. When they returned Our Doris sat next to Terry, who put his book down and turned to her.
‘How are you feeling?’ Terry asked.
‘I don't want to jinx it, but I am actually feeling better,’ Our Doris replied. ‘I am feeling marvelous actually. It has made a huge difference. I mean, I am not 100% but I would say, since I have had two doses of the antibiotics, that I am 75% better.’ Then she lowered her voice to say the next part. ‘Do you still have the dreams? I do.’
‘Yes,’ he shivered. ‘Positively ghoulish!’ She nodded.
‘They stay with you all day, don’t they? Sometimes I think I have experienced it. Everything feels so real. They are living that life, the ones with her. It makes you think doesn’t it?’
‘It certainly does.’
‘Do you want tot of whisky. I am. It helps. It’s ok with the antibiotics isn’t it? Do you want one?’
‘You’re alright Our Doris I’ll pass. You can though.’
Our Doris turned to look at Rose. She was thinking things through
‘You had better get some stuff from your house if you are staying for the night. It is getting on a bit now, so you need to sort yourself.’
‘I am not bothering, we'll use your stuff,’ Rose said with her arms folded and a challenging look at Our Doris.
‘Oh you will, will you? None of my clothes will fit you and you’re not stretching them. As hardly anyone else has any stuff with them, as they are basically refugee’s, you will be out of luck. Serves you right for being so lazy that you can’t be bothered to get your own stuff. If there was anything decent about you, you should have been lending your stuff to the ladies here. I can’t believe we have the same parents!’ said Our Doris. Brenda gave an audible sigh to say that she had had enough of Rose’s behaviour. Our Doris looked at Brenda, her mouth tightly pursed. It was just about to kick off again, when Terry broke the atmosphere.
‘What abnormalities are you still having then, Our Doris?’ Our Doris had to collect herself for a moment, before replying.
‘Many of the symptoms, including the tiredness and nausea have all but completely gone. Thank you so much, Terry, for thinking about this. It is the way forward for us both, especially now that we have discovered it works for other people like Liz, too.’
Brenda, who had stormed off into the kitchen, was loudly banging the ingredients down for the pie onto the table. Our Doris came in, shutting the door behind her.
‘Take no notice of her, Bren. There are more important things to think about. I will keep her in check.’
‘You can’t Our Doris. She thinks she can say what she likes. As if we aren’t under enough stress. I bet neither of them offer to help with the meal,’ she said. They didn't. Brenda told Our Doris, to go and sit down because she was still recuperating and she didn’t want her to do too much. Jennifer, Kathy, Pat and Wee Renee came in one by one and just got to work without being asked. The five women sat around the kitchen table, not saying anything, just listening to everyone's conversations. Natalie wandered in after about half an hour.
‘I’m hungry, Auntie Brenda.’
‘Biscuits,’ Brenda said through tight lips, pointing at the biscuit barrel with her rolling pin.
In the living room, at one point, Haggis wandered over and put his wet nose against Rose’s knee and she said shoo. Our Doris got up and relayed this information to the ladies in the kitchen. Our Doris was furious in the kitchen and said she wanted to get them out, but Brenda said it was too close to darkness. She agreed they would not get home in the time remaining, and thus she would be sending them to certain death.
‘Reject my dog, and face death. That seems fair enough to me,’ Our Doris said.
‘You don’t mean that,’ Brenda laughed.
The pie was in the oven, and they were looking forward to eating soon. Terry had noticed that two of Our Doris’s lightbulbs had gone out, so was replacing them on a small stepladder. Freddie was writing down the full list of places that his friends were visiting to find the children, and places they might stay, before he forgot what they had said. The first hints of darkness came. Shadows began to form in the corners of the living room and Freddie closed the curtains. He said he wanted a rota of people, constantly getting up and checking the cul-de-sac.
‘Not just the same people looking every time. This means those who particularly haven’t been pulling their weight.’ As he said this, he looked over to Rose and Natalie.
It was fully dark by 4 o'clock and a grey cold night. Freddie had just sat down from checking the window when they heard a howl. They all looked at one another, knowing what this meant.
‘Sounds like Anne is out for the nigh
t on a spree. I hope her wolves enjoy the supper I made for them,’ Wee Renee said sarcastically. The group did not yet know, that she had six new acolytes with her. Fresh, strong and hungry for blood. There were nine people inside the house and Haggis. Only two of them were under fifty years old, and even Haggis was older than fifty in dog years. Although in a crisis most people would have rather been with Wee Renee than Natalie, who was quite useless.
Anne felt that they had had their chance at escaping and rescuing the children from Friarmere. Whatever was left was fair game and she would tell Norman that. She did not care what he thought. Her children needed feeding too. She had to deal with her own problems in the village as well. Norman would not sort those matters out for her. So tonight, was going to be her night. Now that she had more followers with her, she would definitely outnumber them in this house. She reached the bottom of the cul-de-sac and waited for the others to catch up. Anne was excited. This was the biggest army she had had since she had come to this island, and she was looking forward to this fight. She hadn't lost a fight yet and she was standing right there as large as life, to prove it.
As she walked into the entrance to the cul-de-sac, she was sniffing all the time but at the moment could only catch a brief scent. Every step it got stronger. She knew that the house contained less humans than yesterday, at least for now. Just how many there were she didn’t know. She saw the curtains twitch and a woman's face look out at her shocked. The woman then closed the curtains again. She stood at the bottom of the drive. Anne tasted the air again. The information was slow coming through to her. There were several humans in the house that had not been there the previous night. She could sense that there were now two people that had drunk her blood in there. That was a bonus. Two people prepared. Another was definitely earmarked for saving and turning by her child, Carol. She would make decisions on the others on a bite by bite basis. Anne waited at the bottom of the drive for several minutes. Nothing happened.
Silver Banned: Book 2 of the Saddleworth Vampire Series Page 19