"Are you okay?" I asked her.
"Yes... just about... God... what are you doing out here Tim?" She said angrily.
"What do you think?"
"To kill Shirley? Is that why you are all here?" She asked me as I helped her up.
"Look... we came here to question her... and no... not to kill her. What do you take me for Lydia? I'm not a murderer!" I shouted.
"Then what's going on Tim? Why come here?" She asked.
"We came here to get away from the kids... we didn't want them to know what was happening or scare them. You should go back now... they need you there." I said.
"Why? So you can kill Shirley!" She shouted more loudly now.
"No! I was thinking of doing something other than that if you want to know." I said.
"I see... and what would that be?" Lydia asked as she stood there and brushed snow away from her coat.
"Letting her go." I said at last as Lydia stared harder at me.
"What? But why?" She asked.
"She's got a history of mental illness... Charlie told me before he died. She's dangerous Lydia. I won't kill her, but I think we should make her leave. We can't accommodate someone that is a danger to us and the kids on this farm. It's the right thing to do... John and Jenny agree with me." I had told her at last.
"What kind of mental illness Tim?" She asked as I turned to go back to the cottage. I didn't want to discuss this anymore.
I walked away, but she followed me and I knew she would never let it go. She would hound me until the sun came up I thought. God! Why was she so hard to please?
I carried on walking leaving her behind. I knew it was the wrong thing to do until I heard her fall and scream. I turned around and saw her fall into a ditch.
"Lydia!" I shouted as I ran to help her.
She had slipped on a patch of ice and was now sinking deeper into a ditch of what looked liked icy water. I grabbed her cold, icy hand and tried to pull her out. But I needed help.
"Aiden... Joe!" I called feeling a chill run up my spine at the thought of losing Lydia forever.
35. Lydia Brown - A Chill
Tim grabbed my other hand and I hung on to him as tightly as I possibly could. I felt more hands pull me out and I was thankful that I was eventually saved. Of course, falling into the ditch wasn't the problem. It was the shivering that came afterwards that made my body convulse violently into a deathly chill.
The coldness overwhelmed me as I felt my body being carried inside. The voices that surrounded me were like a blur in the distance. Everything seemed slower than normal. The movement sent a dizziness into my brain as I tried not to be sick.
I knew my clothes were wet. They were making me shiver uncontrollably. The ice in the ditch had electrified my body or that's how it seemed at the time.
I heard someone say, "We need to get her back to the house and change her clothes so we can warm her up... okay? Wrap her in this blanket first."
Hands wrapped me up in a blanket and then a pulling sensation hurled through my limbs. I screamed. The pain was excruciating for a split second and then I passed out.
I awoke later in a bed. I was covered up in blankets. I felt warm. In fact, I was sweating. Who had turned up the heat?
Someone touched my hand. I didn't know who, because it felt like a dream. All I could feel was a hotness like I had never felt before. I knew I wasn't wet anymore, but the feeling of fire was wreaking havoc on my entire body. It was too much for me. I shook my hand away from the person who was holding it and started shaking. I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. I wanted to tell whoever was there to turn the heat down.
It was getting worse too. I tried to throw the blankets off me, but someone kept on putting them back over me. Who was doing that? I wanted to scream at them and tell them to stop, but I guess my voice wouldn't work. What was going on?
I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't. Something was stopping me from seeing. The only thing I could feel was the heat. It felt like over one hundred degrees. The only thing I could do was moan and hope someone would help me. I moaned so much, but no one came to help me. Didn't anyone care?
Then I heard someone speak. "Shush... shush... you must calm down... I'll help you cool down Lydia." A man said as I felt a coldness touch my forehead. It felt like a relief. A damp cold feeling that didn't last for very long I thought.
Time was of no substance to me, because days had gone by without me knowing it, until I finally woke up from a deep slumbering chill that I hadn't realised I'd been in.
"Lydia... Lydia." I slowly opened my eyes and saw Tim sitting next to me on a chair right next to my bed.
"Tim... what... what's going on?"
"You've been ill... you had some kind of chill and you were really out of it for three days, but you will get better now." Tim said.
"Oh... I have? I can remember feeling very hot." I said still feeling a little weak.
"Yes... that's because you had a very high temperature. The Doc got you out of it though. You can thank her when you see her, which should be soon." Tim said still holding my hand.
"Oh... I remember falling in a ditch." I said.
"Yes... you did." Tim replied.
"Oh... what about Shirley? Where is she Tim?" I said in a whisper.
"Don't worry about that now... just get better and then we will talk." Tim said as he suddenly let go of my hand as Jenny entered the room. "I'll be back later... just drink plenty of water and get better Lydia."
I tried to nod as he got up to leave, but all I could think of was Shirley. Was she dead or had they let her leave?
36. Lydia Brown - Where is Shirley?
I opened my eyes and saw Tim sitting in the armchair next to me. He was asleep. He appeared peaceful, but haggard and strained on the outside. His jaw and chin were covered in stubble. I realised he'd been neglecting himself again. Had he found more alcohol from somewhere, I wondered? I sighed deeply to myself hoping it wasn't the case.
I shuffled in the bed and sat up. I touched my head. It wasn't hot anymore. I felt much better too and brighter in myself. I wanted to be up and about all of sudden, so I got out of bed. I didn't feel dizzy.
I wasn't sure why or what I was doing really. The last thing I remembered was being dragged or carried into the house. I wanted answers. What had happened to me? Did I hit my head or get ill from a chill? Yes; that was it!
I sat back down on the edge of the bed, thinking of how I had got here. I could remember being wet. Some of it was coming back to me now. I had fallen into a ditch, but why? I thought about it for a moment and then it came to me. I had been out trying to find everyone. I had been out in the snow looking for them and trying to get answers as to what they were going to do with Shirley. I remembered bits and pieces, but I especially remembered Tim implying that he was going to kill her. Was she dead now? Oh no!
I touched Tim's hand. I needed him to wake up now. I needed answers. I had to ask him and I wanted to find out and I wanted to know why I had gotten so ill. Did I get too wet? Was that why? I tried desperately to remember if Tim had said anything to me before I had passed out.
I shook Tim's hand and slowly, his eyes opened. I watched as his blue eyes focused on me. His hand touched the stubble on his face and I watched him rub it as he started to move slightly in the chair.
"Hey."
"Hey back." I answered.
"You should be in bed. It's too soon for you to be up." He said in a concerned voice.
"I'm fine. Really. I don't feel ill anymore." I said trying to reassure him.
"You maybe feeling okay, but your body went through a terrible chill so you really need to stay in bed and rest." He stated as he took hold of my arm and took me back to bed. I got inside the covers and Tim sat on the bed next to me.
"Tim... what happened?" I asked, hoping he would tell me everything.
"You came looking for us and then you fell in an icy ditch and got a chill." He stated clearly.
"No... I mean b
efore that... why was I looking for you all? Why didn't I know where you were? Did you deliberately not tell me what you were going to do? Tell me Tim. I want to know what you were up to with the others." I said calmly and quietly.
"I wasn't hiding anything and I didn't do anything to Shirley if that's what you are implying. She is alive and well." He said smiling as he folded his arms together.
"Then, where is she right now?" I asked as I stared at him intently.
"We let her go. She wanted to leave here. She said it was too hard for her to be with people. She was distraught and unhappy, especially, as she was the one who'd killed Charlie... her own husband. I know it was an accident, but I think she blames herself and I think she despises all of us, which was one of the reasons why I had thought it was too dangerous to let her live. Then, she pleaded with us to let her go, because she said she wanted to leave. She couldn't bare the memory of him dying here. I knew it was making her feel worse, so, I let her go. She left two days ago." He said as I saw him wince with guilt.
"Two days ago? How long was I out for?" I asked with amazement.
"Three days.... You were deftly ill with a raging high temperature. The Doc said you wouldn't make it through, but I am so glad you did." He said as he touched my cheek.
"Me too. But Tim... what made you change your mind?" I asked as I felt a relief of some kind go through me.
"Well... to be honest... I just couldn't kill a living human being other than a biter." He said smiling. "But I'm probably going to kick myself for letting her go one day."
"I'm glad you came to your senses, but what do you mean?" I said as I touched his hand that lay on my cheek and brought it to my lips.
"It's just that... well... I feel as if I don't trust Shirley 100 percent." He said watching me as I held his hand and kissed it again.
"Mmmm... that's nice and I see you are feeling much better now." He said as he moved closer to me.
"Yes... completely." I moaned. "I'm sure Shirley is just upset. She isn't the sort to cause trouble Tim, so don't worry."
He nodded without saying a word as he moved closer to me and then I felt his lips upon mine. They were soft and sweet. I clung to him tightly. His body was warm and it felt good to be near him once again.
Of course, our romantic moment was interrupted by chaos when Joe came storming into the room, yelling for Tim at the top of his voice. I looked at him frantically and knew something was about to go very wrong. Something terrible was coming and I had a bad feeling about it. What could it be now?
"Tim!" Joe shouted. "You have to come quick! There's a fire!"
37. Lydia Brown - Doomed By Fire
Tim left me and went off with Joe. I wanted to go with them, but Tim was adamant that I stay and rest, but I was anxious about what was going on. I wanted to be with them. Hearing that a fire had broken out was now getting to me. I wanted to be out there helping them.
I got up. I paced the room as I tried to consider what to do. I didn't want to rest anymore, because I felt better. I knew I could do something useful. I got my clothes and starting dressing. I was determined that I should see for myself what was really going on. I didn't care what Tim might say, because I knew it was more important to be outside than in here.
I left the room and walked down the hallway and out of the front door. What I saw next was a huge blaze roaring high into the sky. I looked around me. I stared upwards, into the gloomy, dark clouds and saw the smoke rising higher. When I turned to look ahead, I could see the barn burning in flames. It was a mess and it had, almost, fallen to bits.
Of course, what I noticed next astounded me. I thought I had seen someone lurking in the bushes. I walked closer and thought I could see a large figure hiding behind some trees. Who was that? I walked nearer and then I could see clearly who it was. Oh no! It's Shirley!
My mind went blank for a moment until I heard shouting in the distance and as I did, I turned around and saw flames coming from the side of the house. I ran to it and went inside to rescue the kids.
"Trudie! Everyone! Get out now!" I shouted hysterically.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Quick... get outside... there's a fire!" I yelled.
"Where?" she asked anxiously.
"Just get the others and get outside now... hurry!" I said feeling afraid for all that we had accomplished here.
Eventually, everyone ran outside safely. Truidie came out first with her baby along with the kids and Jenny, Janice and Ellie. The men were already out here trying to stop the fire, but it was proving to be a big problem. The fire was just too far gone and too hideous to stop. I felt at a loss at what might happen next.
I saw Tim and ran over to him. He was desperately trying his best to put the fire out, but we just didn't have enough water from the well to conquer it.
"Tim... stop... there's no point. We can't do it. It's gone now. Let it go." I said as I stood there trying to make him see that nothing else could be done.
He stopped, trying to get his breath back. I knew what he was thinking. He was at a loss. Everything that was inside that barn and the house was now lost forever. Of course, the one thing he had on him was his sword, but I knew that would never make him feel better about it.
"Tim, it's over. There's no use in trying to save it." I said sorrowfully.
"I know... but what caused it?" he screamed as I stood there with him.
I suddenly thought of who I had seen in the bushes. I was so sure that I had seen Shirley. Should I tell him? I was afraid to because I knew Tim would go nuts. He would definitely kill her I thought. Of course, at this point, I knew I would let him do anything to her, especially, if she had started the fire in the first place.
I looked at Tim and he stared back at me. I wondered if he had seen a glimpse of someone out here too, but I wasn't sure what to say to him. But in the end, I didn't have to say anything.
"You know... I thought I'd seen someone lurking over there behind the bushes. I wasn't too sure because I was preoccupied; trying to stop the fire," Tim announced quietly.
I wanted to say that I'd seen someone too, but I wasn't sure how to tell him until someone else beat me to it.
"Tim... Tim..." Joe shouted as he came rushing over to us.
"What... what's wrong?" Tim asked Joe.
"I saw Shirley earlier on. She ran into those bushes. She can't have gone far... I think she did this... she said she hated us, so she must have caused the fire. I know she did it! How else could a fire start on it's own." Joe yelled.
I knew he was right. There was no way a fire like that could start on it's own.
"Bloody hell! I let her go!" Tim shouted. "Why did she come back here?" Tim turned to look behind us.
I wondered what he would do, but he just stood there. He seemed beaten up by the fact that Shirley had been around at the time of the fire.
"Tim... I thought I saw her too." I said, owning up to the truth. "I'm not sure if it was her because I didn't get a good look at her face... but... I could see her hair and her outline... it's a possibility that it could have been Shirley though."
"Right..." Tim started as he put his fingers through his hair. "Then we better search the bushes for her."
"Okay... what if one of us grabs her? What do we do with her?" I asked looking at Tim.
"Nothing... just capture her and then I will deal with her once and for all," he said.
"But how and what are you going to do Tim?" I asked worriedly.
"What do you think I will do with her Lydia? She's burned down Jenny and John's home where we all had a safe place to stay for a while. Do you think I'm going to let that go? No. I won't." I heard the anger in his tone.
"Just let's find her and then we can get the truth from her." I said honestly.
"That won't work." Tim shouted. "We have to end her if she's done this, cause she might just do it again to someone else!"
I knew he was right, but the thought of killing her was not something that I wanted on my conscience.
"Please Tim... let's just find her first." I said.
"Fine... let's go and find her now!" Tim said flippantly.
He walked ahead of me. He approached Joe and whispered something in his ear. What it was, I didn't know. I saw Tim and Joe walk away into the bushes followed by Aiden and Nick, and I hoped it would all be fine.
The fire had now ruined most of the house and it was spreading fast. We ran to look for Shirley, but she couldn't be found. She had disappeared for good. I knew that she had ruined our one chance to live a civilised life. All that was in front of us now, had almost gone as we stood there staring at the flames that still roared into the sky.
"We have to leave." Tim announced sadly. "Biters or anyone might be attracted to the blazing light of the fire, so we have to go now. Everyone get into the caravan with Lydia! Do it now!"
"Where will we go... what about Wales... we said we would go there, so maybe we should do that now?" I said trying to feel some hope about the future.
Tim nodded back at me. He seemed devastated and at a loss. He seemed terrified too. I knew he didn't want to be on the road again, but we didn't have a choice. He was right. We had to leave.
I got into the caravan and the others followed me, whilst Tim got into his van with Joe. This time we had John, Jenny, Danny, Trudie and her newborn baby. I felt the nightmare was about to get worse for us all, because we had to make sure that we were more alert than before. Now, that we had a baby on board it would prove to be difficult whenever she cried. I felt more obligated to keep everyone safe and I knew Tim would be feeling the same way.
So, we drove away with bitter feelings of what Shirley might have or not have done to us. Did she really try to kill us all? Yes, it was possible.
The End of Book 1
The Biters (Book 1): Time to Run Page 14