by RR Haywood
‘Doesn't feel like it, it’s stifling.’
‘Better than being in that sun dear,’ he replies, ‘the tan is nice but it makes me wrinkly and I dread the day we run out of anti-wrinkle cream.’ Sarah laughs at his camp manner. ‘I think,’ he adds with a wink, ‘we should do our own raiding party, you know…we could get a pink vehicle and dress in pink fatigues and go on a beauty products raiding mission…the glam raiders,’ he says with his hands out front and fingers splayed wide.
‘I like it,’ Sarah laughs.
‘We could take Dave to protect us.’
‘I don’t think he’ll leave Howie’s side.’
‘Well they’ll all have to come with us, those big nasty brutes in their tough clothes looking all….all brutish.’ She laughs again as he increases the camp manner for her benefit. ‘Anyway…now what did I come in here for, other than to moan about the lack of moisturiser…oh yes, stores my dear…they’re getting somewhat large and we may have to consider moving them to another set of rooms.’
‘The stores? Are they running out of space already?’
‘Afraid so, that blasted lorry your brother brought back from the cash and carry has got it jammed to the rafters, plus all the little odd and sods the newbie’s are bringing in with them.’
‘Right,’ she sighs, ‘where can we put them?’
‘The visitor centre, it’s in the middle and easily accessible for everyone, there’s plenty of space in there that’s not being used, and it might help us ration our supply of toilet roll, they can get a supply before they go and do their dirty business.’
‘Good idea,’ she nods in agreement, ‘we could ask Kelly to get a big counter top made up to prevent people just walking in.’
‘And some shelving to keep everything off the floor.’
‘Okay, check with Chris, he’s about somewhere, if he’s happy with it then carry on and get it done.’
‘What about Sergeant Hopewell?’ Roger asks in a serious tone, the camp act dropped instantly.
‘Forget her, she’s getting worse and we can’t afford the delays.’
‘What was that?’ Terri asks walking into the room, she removes her hat and wipes the sweat from her forehead.
‘Roger suggested we use the visitor centre for stores, they’re running out of space where they are…’
‘They’ve ran out of space,’ Roger corrects her.
‘Yeah well anyway, so we can use the visitor centre. I said check with Chris and if he’s happy then go ahead and get it sorted.’
‘And I asked about Sergeant Hopewell,’ Roger adds.
Terri looks back at Sarah, the conflict clear on her face. Her loyalty to Debbie is obvious but even she can see the decline in her Sergeant’s behaviour. ‘Oh this is bloody awkward,’ she sits down heavily and stretches her legs out, ‘Debbie has always been a role model for me, seeing her like this is just horrible…it’s like she’s having a nervous breakdown or something, honestly…I really don’t know what to do.’
‘I think Chris has spoken with the doctors, they’re going to be speaking to her very soon,’ Sarah says quietly.
‘Ooohhh,’ Roger winces, ‘that won’t go down well.’
‘No,’ Terri agrees, ‘it won’t, what a mess,’ she shakes her head sadly.
‘Have you tried talking to her?’ Roger asks in a gentle tone.
‘Didn’t work,’ Terri replies quickly, ‘she just snapped and started on about loyalty and it being time to pick sides.’
‘Oh no, really? That’s awful,’ Sarah grimaces, ‘poor woman, I know she’s causing damage but I feel for her, I really do.’
‘We all do,’ Roger adds, ‘right well I’ll go check with Chris and get it underway, er…what do I say if she asks me what I’m doing?’
‘Tell the truth,’ Terri replies, ‘I can’t see how she’d get upset about something like that.’
‘Okay,’ Rogers says without confidence, ‘if you hear me scream please come and rescue me.’
The two women laugh, ‘Fancy a coffee?’ Terri asks.
‘Sounds lovely,’ Sarah smiles.
‘Ooh, why not, always got time for a coffee with the girls,’ Roger adds.
‘Any more newbies?’ Sarah asks, using the term coined by Roger for the new arrivals at the fort.
‘Couple this morning,’ Terri replies as she switches the little gas burner on and fills a battered saucepan with water from a bottle, ‘but nothing since…glad of the break if I’m honest, it’s bloody hot out there.’
‘Where’s Jane?’ Sarah asks.
‘She’s having a coffee with the guards, I think she fancies one of them…no…I know she fancies one of them,’ Terri laughs.
‘Oh really,’ Sarah smiles, ‘which one?’
‘That tall guy with the dark hair.’
‘Oh him, yeah he’s nice,’ Sarah nods.
‘Nice! He’s bloody lovely, tall, dark, handsome and he’s got a six pack and no,’ Roger pauses for effect, ‘…and no hairy back.’
‘Hairy back!’ Sarah bursts out laughing.
‘Trust me my dear, you get to my age and finding a man without a hairy back is very difficult,’ Roger gives it the full camp, simpering with delight.
‘Well, I think he likes her too, they keep chatting and I’ve noticed he keeps appearing on duty when she’s out there.’
‘Good for her,’ Sarah adds.
‘Lucky bitch,’ Roger snipes with a well-meaning smile, ‘oh that’s what I need, a big strong man to come and whisk me away from this awful place.’
‘Like Clarence?’ Terri asks with a raised eyebrow and a smirk at Sarah.
‘Ooh no dearie, he’s certainly got muscles on top of muscles but far too much of a brute for me.’
‘Well I don’t think someone here agrees with you,’ Terri smiles again.
‘Oh give it a rest, I think he’s lovely…he looks like a bear but he’s soft as a kitten really’ Sarah laughs easily.
‘So?’ Terri asks expectantly, Roger matching the gaze as they both look at Sarah.
‘So…’ Sarah grins, ‘what?’
‘You know full well what!’ Roger laughs, ‘so what’s he like…you know,’ he gives a theatrical wink, ‘what’s he like?’
‘And when exactly would that happen? He’s off with Howie killing zombies every five minutes.’
‘Ah, that’s sweet, a stolen romance in the midst of all the destruction, a snatched kiss under the moonlight…holding hands under the desk at the meetings,’ Terri says dramatically.
‘I wish,’ Sarah mutters with a roll of her eyes, ‘I think I’m competing with my own brother.’
‘Urgh that’s gross,’ Terri laughs.
‘Oh I don’t know,’ Roger gives a wry smile.
‘I didn’t mean it like that, I meant they all bloody adore him…how can a girl compete with that?’
‘Well, far be it for me to say anything,’ Roger raises his eyebrows, ‘but I can see why they adore him…that smouldering intensity, dark eyes…brooding and dark…does it for me!’
‘Do you mind,’ Sarah laughs, ‘that’s my brother.’
‘He might be your brother dearies but he’s certainly not mine,’ Roger laughs.
‘I tell you how you compete with that,’ Terri grins, ‘Make-up and a low cut top…works every time…and a push-up bra for good measure,’ she adds with a laugh.
‘I’ll try it, next time he comes in I’ll get all glammed up and lean against the door frame with my sexy pose,’ Sarah replies.
‘Sexy pose?’ Terri laughs, she lifts the pan and pours the hot water into the three mugs, ‘mind you, there is something special about Howie…’
‘You’re telling me,’ Roger adds, ‘imagine being in that vehicle with them on a hot day, those hard bodies stripping off to the waist, narrow waists…defined chests…all covered in sweat and glistening…’
‘Roger!’ Sarah exclaims still laughing.
‘Oh I don’t know,’ Terri stares away dreamily, ‘I th
ink I could manage a few hours out with them…those lads of his are very cute,’ she adds slowly, emphasising the last word.
‘Just give me one of them,’ Roger says softly, ‘I’d even take Dave.’
‘Dave!?’ Both the girls say with shocked grins.
‘He might be little but you know what they say,’ Roger smiles, ‘it’s not the size of the tool but the man holding it!’
‘Oh not Dave,’ Terri laughs shaking her head, ‘he’s lovely but no…Nick…yes…Blowers…quite likely….Cookey I could manage…’
‘Manage?’ Sarah carries on laughing.
‘Yes manage,’ Terri nods, ‘but not Dave…he wouldn’t know when to stop.’
‘Suits me fine,’ Roger adds with a grin.
‘Howie’s changed,’ Sarah says in a soft voice as she takes the offered mug, ‘he was always so softly spoken, funny…you know…always messing about and making me laugh, but the way he is now…different,’ she tails off with a distant look.
‘He frightens me sometimes,’ Terri says quietly, ‘not like I’m scared of him, but like…you know…the way he is, so intense and that look he does…’
‘I know,’ Sarah nods, ‘he was never like that before…the way everyone looks to him, and the energy he gives off, I look at him and think that’s not my brother…and the way he fights, like he’s possessed.’
‘Well you heard what happened during that big fight outside,’ Roger says.
‘I think everyone has by now,’ Sarah replies, ‘that’s got to be exaggerated…’
‘I don’t know,’ Terri shakes her head, ‘enough people are saying it…they all heard him…and they keep saying it was like the things were too scared to attack him.’
‘Yeah,’ Sarah says sadly.
‘I fancied him like mad,’ Terri adds, ‘you know I did…I still like him but not like that now, no offence I know he’s your brother and all that…’
‘Oh none taken, don’t worry,’ Sarah says quickly, ‘I know what you mean.’
‘Besides, I’ve heard he likes that Lani girl?’
‘He does, but he’s useless around women,’ Sarah chuckles, ‘he turns into Hugh Grant if he likes someone, stuttering and stammering…quite sweet really.’
‘Just adds to the charm,’ Roger adds.
They all freeze as the rumble rolls across the fort, looking down at the ground and the vibration coming through their feet.
Ditching the coffee mugs they run outside, watching everyone running to the far side and staring up. They look up at the clear sky and move further away from the wall. The rumble ends and they watch as Chris runs up the slope with Meredith. Word soon spreads as those with a view tell others. A big explosion in the distance, then someone says it’s Fawley refinery.
Terri watches the look of fear cross Sarah’s face, knowing Howie and his group have gone for fuel and then hearing the fuel depot has just exploded.
‘They’re probably nowhere near it,’ Terri offers softly.
‘Yeah…yeah you’re right, that’s miles away…’
‘They’ll be in Portsmouth somewhere, attacking some giant horde of zombies and having the time of their lives,’ Terri smiles, ‘come on, let’s get that coffee.’
Thirty-Three
‘What was it?’ The woman asks her husband as he walks back into the tent.
‘I didn’t see anything but they all saying Fawley refinery has gone up, ‘ere mate, I think you got the wrong tent,’ the man turns at the hulking form of Randall slipping inside the large canvass structure.
‘Sorry,’ Randall murmurs.
‘No worries,’ the man says with grin, ‘what the…’ he voice gets cut off by the large hand gripping his wind pipe. Lifted off the ground and propelled across the ground as Randall grips the woman by her throat and drives them both down to the floor. He squeezes hard, preventing them from screaming out. They both thrash and buck, flailing useless fists against the hard muscle of the big American.
On his knees with a throat gripped in each hand he drops down and rips a chunk of flesh from the woman’s face before twisting his head and going for the man’s ear. Ripping it clean off and spitting it aside. He holds the throats until they start blacking out, easing the pressure to prevent killing them before the infection can course through. As they slip under he releases and watches for a minute, listening to the normality of the sound coming from outside.
They start to twitch, two bodies lying prone on their backs, convulsing until they both sit up and open their eyes. Randall nods with an evil grin before darting outside.
Back in the sunshine he walks into the middle of the compound, surrounding by tents and thick crowds of people.
A scream sounds behind him, an ear piercing wail as a woman falls to the floor with the husband and wife team tearing the flesh out from her neck.
‘NOW,’ Randall roars at the top of his voice. The signal is heard by his men. Strong hands grabbing bodies and biting into necks, faces, hands, arms, legs, anything they can get they bite.
Randall grabs a man running past, pulling him in and tearing a hole out of his cheek before throwing him away. He grabs another, biting into the top of the man’s shoulder and then pushes him hard.
Two steps and he grabs a woman, physically picking her up and biting into her neck. The hot blood spurting over his face, soaking his beard. He throws the woman aside. The blood coursing down his throat, driving him to feast and kill.
A child screams as he lunges at her, sweeping her up in his arms as he strides further into the living area of the survivors. He bites into her thigh before casually casting the screaming child aside. A man runs at him with a hammer, swinging the tool wildly. Randall catches the man’s arm mid swing and drags him in, sinking his teeth onto the man’s nose and wrenching his head aside. He kicks the man away and keeps hold of the hammer.
He runs ahead and slams the heavy metal head onto another man, stunning him. He bites down into his neck and shoves him deep into the crowd.
All around screams rip through the air. Shouts sound out as everyone runs in different directions.
Harry, his long grey beard already covered in wet sticky blood surges into the crowds. His big frame forcing a lane through. He grabs body after body, biting into the flesh, saliva flooding into his mouth as he passes the deadly infection again and again.
Colin rampages from tent to tent, running in to grab at people trying to hide. He laughs with unrestrained glee as he grabs an old woman and bites one of her fingers off. He chews the solid digit for a second before spitting it back into her face. A teenage boy strikes him across his back with a heavy stick, driving him forward. The boy comes in for another strike and gets kicked in the stomach. Bent double he finds Colin grabbing him roughly and biting into the top of his skull.
The inmates work quickly, a frenzied feast as they lash out, biting anything they can grab.
Ted draws his pistol and runs into the fray, his arm raised as he tries to identify who is biting. He spots a large man with a long grey beard covered in blood. The man grabs a woman and bites her. Ted fires into the man’s back, he staggers forward but stays on his feet. Turning to grin he starts coming at Ted.
The old policeman backs up, aiming again he fires into the man’s chest, watching with horror as the man takes the bullets and keep coming.
Something heavy slams into him, taking him to the ground. He lands on his back and catches a glance of a big black man with a thick beard on top of him. Ted scrabbles to bring the pistol up, a solid fist slams into the side of his head stunning him. He drops the pistol but fights out, slamming his fists into the sides of the man’s head. He feels the pain as teeth bite into his knuckles. Screaming in rage he yanks his fist away, blood pumping freely from the skin torn away to reveal the white knuckle bone.
The pressure is released as the man disappears, jumping up to run off. Ted grabs the pistol and raises it to fire, hesitating at the utter bedlam erupting all around him. People everywhere and no clear targets.
He looks down at his hand, at the ruined skin on his knuckles. The red eyes of the man that bit him.
He tries to stand, his legs buckling as pain grips his stomach. He gets to his knees, thick tears welling in his eyes. He roars with frustration, knowing what will happen.
An inmate drops down in front of him, punched away by another man. Ted quickly raises the pistol and fires into the inmates head. The skull explodes as the grey matter is spewed out onto the dirty grass.
The pain wrenches at his inside. Gasping for breath he lifts the pistol and pushes the end into his mouth. At least I got one. He offers a prayer and pulls the trigger. Instant blackness as the top of his skull is taken off.
Kelly and the engineers rush out of their rooms, stopping to stand in shock at the scenes of violence in front of them.
‘Get in and lock the door…’ Kelly turns to the men, her words are cut off as she is taken off her feet by an inmate charging her down.
The engineers react quickly, lunging in to attack the man, kicking and punching him away. Kelly screams in agony, clutching a ragged laceration in her neck. Thick red blood pumping out between her fingers. The inmate grabs one of the feet launched at his head, gripping the ankle he bites into the calf muscle. The man screams at the pain shooting through his lower leg. He wrenches free and drops down. The inmate springs up and takes another engineer, driving him backwards as his teeth gnash and bite at the man’s face. The man twists and turns his face, the ferocity of the attack rendering him unable to do anything. Teeth bite at his lips, tearing the bottom lip off. The inmate pushes him down before running back into the crowd.
Doctor James, halfway across the fort towards the police office, freezes at the first scream. He spins round to see the interior of the living area erupt into an instant riot.
‘GUARDS…GUARDS…’ He bellows back to the gate. Several men appear, carrying long barrelled weapons; rifles and shotguns. They start running towards the affray already aiming.
Not one shot is taken. The guards, too terrified of firing into the crowd after what Sergeant Hopewell said to them, hesitate and pause, trying to identify targets. They go too deep, too worried about firing into the densely packed crowds. Graham the preacher, turned by Randall just a few minutes ago, runs towards the guards with his head down. They pause even longer, recognising the man. Graham gets to the first one and lifts his head at the last second. He barrels into the guard, sending him sprawling onto the ground. The man screams in panic as Graham lashes down, sinking his teeth into his forearm brought up to protect his face.