‘It doesn’t make any difference anyway,’ she said. ‘McKenzie is starving hungry and so I’ll leave you to explain it all to him. I let him out of his office a moment ago.’
Kathy looked over her shoulder.
‘He’s probably waiting outside even as we speak.’
Hooks
Someone banged the door. It was really loud. The kids started to scream. Kathy laughed.
‘I told you,’ she said. ‘There’s no escape now.’
The door banged again. And again. The kids were all screaming. I looked at Kathy. She was smiling. It was funny to her. She liked the kids being scared. She started to laugh.
‘McKenzie’s so hungry,’ she said. ‘He’s going to eat all of you, one after the other.’
I looked at Vinnie. He looked worried. Kathy went to open the door. Vinnie pushed her back.
‘Oh no you don’t,’ he said. ‘You’re not letting that thing in here.’
Kathy shrugged. She sat down.
‘Doesn’t matter to me,’ she said. ‘Someone else will let him in. There’s plenty of us around.’
McKenzie banged again. The kids screamed again. This was no good. We had to get some action. We couldn’t just wait to be eaten. We had to get the kids away. I looked around. The blue light was weird. It made everything hard to see. Kathy watched me.
‘Looking for a way out?’ she said. Her voice was mean. ‘This room is completely sealed. There’s only one way in and out.’
I ignored her words. I kept looking. I saw some big hooks hanging down from the ceiling on wires. I went over to them. The hooks were as thick as my finger. The curvy end was really sharp. I tried to get one. The hook had a circle on top. The circle was hanging on another hook. They were for hanging meat. I lifted the bottom. The hook wobbled. I lifted again. The hook came into my hand. It was a good weapon.
‘Good work, Jake.’
I turned. Vinnie was behind me. He got a hook as well. We both had something to fight with. But Vinnie forgot about Kathy. I heard the door open.
‘She’s got out,’ shouted one of the kids. ‘She’s left the door open.’
I turned around. Vinnie was angry with himself.
‘Sorry, Jake,’ he said. ‘I should have stayed with her.’
‘Doesn’t matter now. Let’s get out of here.’
We went to the door. We couldn’t get out. Something big was blocking the way.
It was McKenzie.
McKenzie
McKenzie was a giant viro. He was so tall. His hair was wild. It was all orange. He had big boots. There was blood all over his face. McKenzie looked at us through his dangerous eyes. He licked his lips.
‘Get back, Jake,’ Vinnie said. ‘He’s too big to get past.’
I walked back. I had the hook in my hand. It was heavy. I lifted it up. I was ready to fight. Vinnie stood between McKenzie and the kids.
‘Quick,’ he said to them. ‘Get behind us.’
The kids didn’t know what to do. I stood next to Vinnie. I could block the kids from McKenzie. The kids were screaming and crying. The sound was awful. McKenzie looked at them. He liked the sound of their fear. He licked his lips again.
McKenzie stepped towards us. His clothes were so ripped. He stank. I felt all sick. My eyes watered.
‘Eeugh!’ said Vinnie. ‘You’re a disgusting child snatcher.’
Someone ran past me. They banged my leg. It was a kid. He was crying. He didn’t see. He ran the wrong way. McKenzie grabbed him.
‘Help me,’ the boy said. He wet his legs. The boy looked at us. This was all wrong.
‘I don’t want to die.’
McKenzie had big teeth. They were dirty black. He sniffed. It was like he was starving. The boy was his breakfast. Everything seemed slow now. I watched upset. McKenzie pulled the boy off the ground. He hung like a doll. The boy kicked his legs. McKenzie was so strong. The boy could not escape. This was like a really bad film. McKenzie opened his mouth. He tried to bite the boy.
I felt a whoosh past my head. Vinnie hit McKenzie with the hook. It stuck in his shoulder. McKenzie wobbled. He roared. He dropped the boy. McKenzie roared again. It was an angry sound. The boy crawled behind us. McKenzie tried to get the hook out. There was blood all over. The hook was deep in his skin. McKenzie pulled it. It was stuck. He pulled again.
‘Hit him, Jake,’ Vinnie said. ‘Hit him while he’s distracted.’
I lifted the hook. I tried to get my swing straight. Vinnie was too close. I had to move. McKenzie was pulling the hook. It was stuck. It was annoying him.
‘Hit him, Jake!’
I moved again. McKenzie pulled at the hook. It wouldn’t come out. He roared his anger.
‘Jake!’
I lifted the hook. It was over my head. McKenzie turned his head. I shut my eyes. I wished all my strength to my arms. I had to be strong now. I had to stop McKenzie. I swung the hook. There was a loud swish. The hook jerked. My hands really hurt. I let go.
‘Good shot, Jake!’
I opened my eyes. The hook had hit McKenzie’s ear. It was in all the way. Blood fell out. The giant viro roared. He tried to grab the hook. The blood kept falling like water from a tap. His dangerous eyes rolled shut. McKenzie fell to the ground.
Nobody
Nobody spoke. My ears were full of ringing. The kids stopped crying. Vinnie whistled.
‘Phew, Jake. That was close.’
My hands were shaking. I didn’t speak. I nodded. My heart felt like bursting. Someone pulled my hand. I looked down. It was the boy grabbed by McKenzie. He smiled.
‘You’re so tough,’ he said. ‘You just killed a monster.’
I didn’t know how to speak. The little boy kept talking.
‘My name is Oscar and you saved my life.’
I smiled at Oscar. Another little boy came over. He shook my hand.
‘I am Jamie,’ he said. ‘Thank you, Jake.’
I felt awkward. I shrugged.
‘I’m me,’ I said. ‘That’s all I am.’
‘No,’ Jamie said. ‘You’re a hero. You killed the bad man and rescued us kids.’
‘Yeah,’ said Oscar. ‘That lady said he was going to eat us for dinner. I didn’t want to be that man’s food.’
‘He wasn’t a man,’ said one of the girls. ‘He was a monster like the ones who killed my mum and dad.’
She started to cry.
‘I want my mum and dad to come and get me.’
I hated her tears. It was all sad. All badness for such small people. But there was kids all over the world like this now. Everywhere. Not just them. Me too. I was lost. My mum was lost. I didn’t know how to get her back. She might be always gone. My tears felt strong. I couldn’t cry. I had to help these kids. They needed me and Vinnie.
‘What’s your name,’ I said. I wanted to be kind. The little girl looked at me.
‘My name is Cecily. I am nearly six.’
‘I’m Jake. It is great to meet you.’
We shook hands. The other kids were watching. I think they felt safer than before. They came over. They looked happier. I shook hands with Laura, Damian, Eleanor, Paul, Emily, Richard. And Eric.
Eric
Vinnie said we had to go. He didn’t know who Kathy would tell. We needed to leave. He spoke to the kids.
‘Listen to me, everyone. We cannot stay here. We have to go away and you have to come with us. Do you understand?’
‘But what about my daddy?’ said Eric. ‘He said to wait here.’
Vinnie was nice.
‘We can’t wait here,’ he said. ‘It isn’t safe here.’
‘Yeah,’ said Cecily. ‘Your daddy wouldn’t want you waiting here. He wants you to be safe.’
Eric had a think.
‘Will he be somewhere else?’
Cecily was strong.
‘I don’t know, Eric.’
Eric was sad. He didn’t like Cecily’s words.
‘But my dad is strong. He is a fireman. He saves lives.’
‘But your dad was …’
Vinnie stopped me speaking. He looked at Eric.
‘I don’t know where your dad is but I do know that he would want us to look after you. He would want you to be safe so that’s why you must come with us. Do you understand?’
Eric nodded. His little face was so sad. I had to look at something else. Eric held my hand.
‘Will I be safe with you?’ he said.
I looked at Vinnie. He nodded. I looked at Eric. I nodded.
‘You are safe,’ I said. ‘Me and Vinnie and the others will help you.’
‘The others?’ said Eric. ‘Who are they?’
‘Ellis and Amber and Abe and Florence,’ I said. ‘They are the others. We are survivors.’
Eric looked a bit happier. He liked my word.
‘Can I be a sur-vi-vor?’
‘You already are,’ I said. ‘You are all survivors. You are like us now.’
The kids liked my words. They stopped crying. But I did feel worried. They were more lives to keep safe. Could we really do it? I had to not say this out loud. I looked at Vinnie. He smiled. Vinnie knew I meant the right thing. He knew I was honest. He knew I couldn’t say the lying words.
Vinnie got us organised.
‘Jake, I’ll go first and you’ll be at the end. You kids will be between us. I want you to choose a partner and stay with them. It will be easier for us if you hold hands and walk in pairs.’
‘Just like walking to school,’ said Eleanor. ‘Me and my friends used to walk to school like this. I always chose my best friend Rose. We had the best chats together.’
Vinnie nodded. His voice was nice.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It will be just like walking to school.’
Chaos
Vinnie went first. He grabbed a hook. He stepped out the freezer. We waited. Then he spoke.
‘All clear,’ he said.
We all stepped out. I had my hook. It was dark in the warehouse. I saw an office to one side. The big door was on the other end. That was where we should head. Vinnie went that way. He was watching left and right. He walked slowly. The kids held hands. I was last. I kept turning around. All the shadows had monsters hiding. My eyes hurt with all the looking.
This was such a big thing. We had to be safe. We had to keep the kids safe. We had to get out of this place. We had to find the others.
Nothing could go wrong.
We got to the big door. Vinnie stopped. He pointed at the shadows next to him. I understood. I moved the kids to hide there. They crouched together. I put my finger to my lips. They nodded. I knew they were scared. We all stood still.
Suddenly the door opened. It was Kathy. She saw us.
‘What the …’
Vinnie stepped in front of her.
‘Back off, Kathy,’ he said. ‘We’re getting these kids out of here.’
She looked surprised.
‘But McKenzie …’ she said.
‘Dead,’ said Vinnie. ‘We killed it.’
Kathy’s eyes went wide.
‘Killed him? But how?’
Vinnie looked at me.
‘Jake put a hook through his ear.’
Kathy looked sad. Vinnie didn’t care.
‘We’ll do the same to you,’ he said, ‘unless you get out of our way.’
Kathy nodded. She stepped away.
‘It doesn’t matter anyway,’ she said. ‘Everything’s all over now.’
‘What?’ I said.
Kathy laughed at me. She was hating.
‘The camp has been breached. The army are pulling out right away. Apparently, there’s an aircraft carrier out at sea. They’re heading there.’
‘But how?’ I said.
‘An enormous flash swarm managed to break through the front gate. The soldiers eventually destroyed it with heavy mortars but not before they damaged the gate.’
Kathy laughed again. Her voice was mad now. She was having fun. She was scary.
‘It’s chaos out there. Lovely, crazy chaos.’
Fish
Kathy went back inside the warehouse. Me and Vinnie and the kids looked at each other. The kids were scared. I could see worry sticking on their faces. Vinnie did too.
‘We have to get to safety,’ he said. ‘There must be trucks and transports we can get on. The Army can’t just leave everyone to die.’
I shrugged.
‘We need to get Ellis and the others,’ I said. ‘Perhaps they’re back at the Centre?’
Vinnie nodded.
‘You’re right, Jake. We should head there right now.’
Vinnie looked at the kids.
‘Listen,’ he said. ‘We need to find our friends and then we can all get out of here.’
Eric stepped forward.
‘My dad is a fireman and so I guess that makes me kind of like one too. That means that I should help be in charge of the evacuation.’
We didn’t answer. Eric spoke to the others.
‘We must work together to get out of here. If you all listen to me then we will be fine.’
The kids didn’t speak to Eric. They didn’t say he was in charge. Eric looked sad. I put my hand on his shoulder.
‘Thanks, Eric. You can help us help you all.’
Eric looked at me. He was a bit happier.
‘Thanks, Jake,’ he said. ‘My dad would like you a lot for looking after us.’
I nodded. I wanted to be a hero. It was good to protect people. Especially kids. We all needed help but it was the small ones got eaten first. It was simple biology. The big fish got bigger by eating the small fish. The small fish swam together and hoped they don’t get eaten. That’s what I think they said at school. I wanted me and Vinnie to be big enough fish to stop the little fish getting eaten all the time.
Noise
The noise was deafening. It was like the camp was broken forever now. I could hear screaming and roaring and gunfire and explosions. The kids could too. They looked scared. Vinnie nodded.
‘Jake, we’ve got to move now.’
He looked at the kids.
‘Listen to me, everyone. It is going to be loud and scary as we try to escape but we have to stick together. Keep a tight grip on each other’s hands and don’t let go.’
The kids nodded. Oscar and Eric looked at the others.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Oscar. ‘Me and Eric will look out for you all.’
‘Yeah,’ said Eric. ‘We’ll fight all the way.’
Cecily wasn’t happy with the boys.
‘You’re not in charge,’ she said. ‘They are. We’ll listen to them, not you.’
Vinnie smiled.
‘Listen,’ he said. ‘We’ll all listen to each other and make sure we all get there together.’
I went first. The kids were behind me. Vinnie was last. I walked carefully. I didn’t run. We went around the warehouse. There was a dark street. I could see lights flashing and fires burning. Guns were firing. Explosions were loud.
There was people running everywhere. An old lady bumped into me. Her clothes were all shredded. She had no shoes. She looked very sad. I put my hook in the air in case she attacked me.
‘They’re going to eat me,’ she said. ‘They’re going to rip me to shreds.’
She gripped my sleeve.
‘Can you stop them? Can you stop them eating me?’
I couldn’t speak. My words weren’t there. The old lady waited. She held tight. I said nothing. The old lady shook my arm.
‘Make them stop chasing me. I’m too old to run any further.’
I shook my head. The kids were looking at me and her. The old lady started to cry. She let go.
‘You’re useless,’ she said. ‘I’m better off on my own.’
She sat down on the dirty pavement. She put her hands over her eyes. I heard her start to sing. The old lady had a wobbly voice. It was loud above all the madness.
‘O Lord, the holy innocents
Laid down for Thee their infant life,<
br />
And martyrs brave and patient saints
Have stood for Thee in fire and strife.
We wear the cross they wore of old
Our lips have learned like vows to make;
We need not die; we cannot fight;
What may we do for Jesus’ sake?
O day by day each Christian child
Has much to do, without, within;
A death to die for Jesus’ sake,
A weary war to wage with sin.
When deep within our swelling hearts
The thoughts of pride and anger rise,
When bitter words are on our tongues,
And tears of passion in our eyes.
Then we may stay the angry blow,
Then we may check the hasty word,
Give gentle answers back again,
And fight a battle for our Lord.
With smiles of peace and looks of love,
Light in our dwellings we may make,
Bid kind good humour brighten there,
And still do all for Jesus’ sake.
There’s not a child so weak and small
But has his little cross to take,
His little work of love and praise,
That he may do for Jesus’ sake.’
The old lady stopped singing. Her song was so sad. The madness was still loud but I thought I could hear something else. Something in my head. A small piece of peace. That was for the old lady. She just sat quiet now. I think she was ready for her world to stop spinning.
I really wanted to help her. I did. But we couldn’t bring everyone with us. We didn’t have the strength. I wanted that someone else could save the old lady. I hoped they would. I think I knew that they wouldn’t.
Vinnie spoke to me.
‘We can’t save everyone, Jake. It’s not our job. That’s what the soldiers were supposed to do.’
‘But they’re not doing it,’ I said. My head was filled with angry. ‘The soldiers are running away and leaving people behind.’
‘They have to, Jake. Someone has to try and keep some kind of order.’
Viro (Book 3): Viro Page 6