Rogue Evacuation

by Simon Neilson

  “Come on, we need to get to one of these trains and see if they work,” said Duncan ushering everybody down platform four.

  Looking back I saw the infected pounding on the thick glass. There were slight cracks beginning to appear and I was sure it would not take long before the whole thing would shatter. Right at the front, face snarling and trying to tear at the glass was Griff.

  DIARY ENTRY 19

  It was true what Jackson had said back at the shop we were holed up in for a while. Duncan used to work with trains. We stood on the platform as Duncan ran from the driver’s carriage at the front of the train and back to the link to the second carriage. He was giving Jackson instructions on what to do. The front carriage had the driver’s compartment, the first class section and the rest was made up of second class seats.

  “Right everyone jump on,” shouted Duncan from the driver’s compartment.

  The lights on the outside of the doors lit up and I pushed the black rubber button. There was a hiss and the electronic doors slid open.

  “Excellent the doors work,” said Duncan smiling.

  “How do we know the electrics on the tracks still work?” Jackson asked.

  Duncan disappeared inside the compartment and after a few seconds the train sprung to life. There were a few spurts and the motor sounded out, drowning out the noise of moaning from the horde at the front of the station.

  “Well, how do you think they move troop trains around the country?” Duncan asked popping his head back out.

  “I don’t follow,” said Jackson.

  “When the curfew and lockdown came into place did you not notice that electricity was rationed?” Duncan asked.

  “Well, we only had a certain amount of electricity. We had to use it at certain points of the day,” I replied thinking back to my grungy bedsit.

  “That’s right, because all the power was re-routed to the train lines to move troops and cargo around,” said Duncan smiling.

  “Automatic power?” Jackson asked.

  “Exactly on a computer mainframe, which means if you would all like to jump aboard, we can get the hell out of here.” Duncan popped back inside the compartment.

  There was a huge shattering sound. I gazed back at the main concourse where we had stood earlier. The infected streamed through the broken glass doors moaning and groaning. The sound was deafening as it echoed through the station. Thousands of them poured down towards us on platform four.

  “Go! Go!” Jackson screamed.

  We all dived onto the train as it slowly began to move forward. A few of the newer infected creatures reached us quite quickly. As they had only recently turned they were quicker and I noticed Griff shuffling our way leading the charge.

  Jackson took aim with his machine gun and let rip with a volley of shots. Griff was one of the first to drop to the floor, his head exploding with the impacting bullets. Everybody but Jackson were aboard the train. The other infected fell and that left the more decomposed corpses lumbering towards us. The carriage moved off and I put out my hand. Jackson gratefully accepted the gesture and I assisted him onto the train. Moving off, the train started to gain a little pace as we moved to the cross-over tracks near to the signal box. Soon we were entering the first tunnel.

  Once Jackson was safely inside, the doors hissed and shut. Duncan looked back from the compartment as he had left the driver’s door open. The train began to pick up speed through the dark tunnel.

  We appeared the other side and then moved into another tunnel before moving out the other side. I could see the stadium of Arsenal Football Club to my right, it was decaying and parts of the once tremendous football ground had fallen down revealing the pitch all overgrown and unloved.

  Duncan slowed the train down as we came to Finsbury Park station. We passed through and I could see some infected inside one of the waiting rooms just wandering around with nowhere to go.

  Apart from that, the platforms were deserted and I noticed they were falling apart. We moved through pretty slowly and I gazed out at the streets below as we moved over the bridges. I could see so many infected on the streets below. Their disgusting faces stared up at the sound of the train passing over. Some of them pushed their deformed hands into the air as though they thought they could touch the train. It was a depressing and demotivating sight.

  Fed up of looking at the infected streets I moved towards the driver’s compartment. Passing Maria I smiled, she returned the smile and I could see the whole day had taken its toll on Jesse who was fast asleep on one of the first class seats.

  “That was close,” I said to Duncan as he stared out at front.

  “Sure was, Kaleb,” replied Duncan.

  “When did you work on the trains?” I asked.

  “Oh, that’s not really important right now.”

  “Why are the IGS and the military after you so much?” I asked.

  “As I said I’m a Scottish national. Enemy of the state, Kaleb.”

  “There must be more to it than that, I mean….”

  “Not now, Kaleb,” said Duncan cutting me off.

  I nodded to him, acknowledging the fact that he did not want to talk about that particular subject. Moving back inside the carriage I could see Jackson fixing Lana’s weapon. He was pointing out to her where she had not maintained it properly and the grime that had built up was responsible for making her weapon jam. At the worst point possible, I thought to myself.

  I sat down next to Bruno and gave him a big stroke. I gazed out of the window at the passing tower blocks of this part of North London. We moved through Hornsey, an area that used to be home to the prestigious Alexandra Palace, but no more. The old building had been burnt to the ground many, many months ago during the bombing of the city. A sad sight indeed.

  My thoughts moved from my wife and daughter to Brendan and then to Griff. Looking round the carriage I wondered how many more of us would succumb to this infection before it would be stopped. If it could be stopped.

  DIARY ENTRY 20

  The train trundled along, not at a great pace, but quick enough that before long we were reaching the outskirts of London. We passed through Barnet right on the edge of the border with Hertfordshire.

  I thought back to my time inside the bedsit, although safer and away from the infected, life was pretty gloomy then. It was nothing like the gunshots and explosive nature of what I had experienced.

  Duncan was pretty quiet. I had popped into the driver’s compartment a few times with some rations we had saved and he did not say a word. I did not try to talk to him either as I assumed that he was grieving over the loss of Griff as he had done with Brendan. What was his passion about these particular people? And why am I here? I thought.

  Since we had left London and the chaos of the infected I had found time to be at one with my thoughts, but all I had were questions.

  I returned to my seat and gazed out of the window as we entered yet another tunnel. The one thing Duncan did shout back from the compartment was that he did not want to drive the train at break-neck speed in case some of the rails were unsafe or if signals had been changed which took us in a completely different direction.

  I knew we were heading in the direction of my home. Duncan did not know this and I didn’t think it prudent to bring the subject up at this time. I wanted to wait until we got closer.

  My mind drifted back again to the bedsit and how I would gaze outside after curfew and log onto the Renegade blogs I used to read. The Renegade blogs? I wondered if it was still online in this upturned world.

  I used to be intrigued by who these bloggers were and part of me wanted to meet them, but after everything which had happened, all I wanted was to survive and try to get home.

  My family returned to my thoughts, my wife’s face over time started to become blurred as if my subconscious was trying to block her out. I imagined my little girl playing in the back garden with her toys or splashing around in the paddling pool on hot summer’s days. My wife would bring out an ice
cold beer as I sat at the table smiling at my little offspring giggling. We would kiss and our eyes would smile at each other. In a moment that image was gone.

  Like a light switch the thoughts disappeared from my head as we exited the dark tunnel into daylight and the touch on my shoulder made me spin round. Maria handed me a hot cup of what was supposed to be tea, but I can assure you it was a poor substitute.

  Jackson and Lana were going through the supplies. Unfortunately Griff had been carrying a backpack which had some good food in and seeing as he was now – well – gone, we were running pretty low. I still had the medical supplies, but bandages and antiseptic cream did not make a meal. Jackson and Lana carried what was left of the ammunition and Maria had the rations.

  Jackson checked Duncan’s bag and apart from some more ammunition and military rations that was about it. We desperately needed to stop and find some supplies.

  “How is Jesse holding up?” I asked Maria.

  “She’s doing ok,” replied Maria. “Considering.”

  I gazed back at the driver’s compartment. Duncan was still concentrating on the track ahead.

  “So how did you come to meet Duncan?” I asked Maria.

  Jackson and Lana gazed up at me as I asked the question. I saw them out the corner of my eye. Maria although not looking in their direction was also aware of them looking.

  “Chance meeting I guess, drink your tea,” said Maria with a smile.

  Maria walked away and I gazed after her, feeling quite puzzled. Jackson and Lana watched her walk back to the seat where Jesse was sleeping and glanced over at me.

  I turned my head and Jackson smiled nervously then continued to check the supplies. Lana did not look at me and whispered something to Jackson but he just raised his hand to stop her.

  I felt a sudden feeling come over me that I wasn’t being told the full truth. When I first arrived at the warehouse with Duncan, back in South London, I felt an air of something mysterious in the group. That had soon been forgotten during our journey but now it had returned. What was going on?

  I was shaken from my thoughts by the loud screech of the train brakes. The carriage lurched forward and we came to a stop. I got out my seat and moved towards the driver’s compartment with Jackson.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “Obstruction up ahead,” Duncan asked.

  “Where are we?” Jackson asked.

  “Potters Bar,” I replied knowing the area pretty well as it was a journey I had made many times.

  “We need to shift it,” said Duncan.

  “We are low on supplies,” said Jackson and pointed to the backpacks. “If you and Kaleb move the obstruction, I can take Lana to see if we can find some food.”

  Duncan looked back at the obstruction and nodded.

  “Okay, but fifteen minutes max. If you see any infected, do not engage. The last thing we need is them heading our way with no escape route.” Duncan tapped me on the shoulder. “We have work to do.”

  Jackson and Lana loaded their weapons and jumped off the train to a banking that led down to the main road. I followed Duncan to the obstruction of twisted metal, wood and concrete. I gazed up at the sun which shone brightly in the sky. There was no sound to be heard apart from our feet crunching along the gravel stones.

  I had the thought that after we clear this obstruction I needed to tell Duncan about being near my home. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I was getting a strange feeling about the group.

  DIARY ENTRY 21

  The last of the concrete pillars were slung to the side. I was sweating in the baking heat. Duncan’s military combats were soaked with sweat also and he leant back to ease the pressure off his back.

  “Right let’s get back on the train,” said Duncan gazing down at his watch. “Nearly twenty minutes, they should be back by now,”

  Duncan clambered into the driver’s compartment, I jumped into the carriage. Jesse was awake now. Fortunately Maria had the hindsight to tie Bruno to one of the metal poles in the train to save him from bolting off again.

  “What are we waiting for?” Maria asked me.

  “Jackson and Lana haven’t returned yet,” I said peering out of the door.

  A sudden burst of gunfire caused me to throw myself to the floor very quickly. Jesse screamed and Maria jumped onto the seat to cuddle her. Bruno was barking loudly.

  Regaining my composure I looked out in the direction of the bridge, just before the station platforms.

  I could hear the familiar moaning sound from down below and as quick as a flash I saw Jackson and Lana appear from the side bank. They scrambled across the train tracks and I saw the infected stumbling up the hill, some slipping others just falling flat on their faces. The train started to move. I shouted down the compartment to Duncan to enquire what the hell he was doing. His reply was short and sharp and stated that if we didn’t start moving now there would be too many of them on the track for us to move. Unbeknown to me, Duncan could see down onto the road below and there were hundreds of the infected queuing to get up to us.

  Jackson arrived at the carriage first. He slung the heavy pack full of tinned food onto the train and I helped him up. Lana struggled across the tracks. Jackson unslung his weapon and took aim, taking out some of the closest infected. Lana went to throw the pack up onto the train but it was too heavy for her and without thinking I jumped down. Although the train was moving slowly I lost my footing and went tumbling to the floor, cracking my knee on one of the metal rails. Trying to forget the pain that was surging through my body I got up and took hold of the heavy pack. How the hell did she manage to carry this? I thought to myself.

  Helping Lana I pushed the pack onto the train. Jackson put his hand out and Lana took hold. I placed my hands on her rear and pushed her up onto the train. At first she gave me a disapproving look but once she realised I wasn’t going for one last, quick grope and was actually helping her she hauled herself up.

  “Come on, Kaleb!” Jackson shouted.

  My knee was sore. I could feel the blood trickling down my leg behind my trousers, but the sight of the infected horde pouring up the bank filled me with fear and adrenalin. I held my hand out and Jackson took hold. The sweat on my palms made my hand slip from his grasp and I stumbled. Three shots rang out. Lana had taken position by the doors and took out three of the quicker infected who had managed to gain without me noticing. I hobbled along again. Duncan was screaming out of the driver’s compartment for me to jump on the train. Easier said than done.

  With one last effort I removed my t-shirt and took hold of one end. Flapping the other end out towards Jackson he took hold and I managed to use it as a pulley so that he could hoist me up onto the train. My torso landed on the floor of the train carriage and I kicked my legs to give me some momentum to get inside. I felt a breeze blow by leg. Gazing back I saw that a group of infected had made it up the bank and were in touching distance of me, one of them had made an attempt to grab me.

  “Shoot the fuckers!” I screamed.

  Lana switched her weapon to automatic and hit the nearest group with a volley of shots sending them sprawling to the ground. Jackson took hold of my belt and yanked me inside the carriage.

  “Go!” Jackson screamed to Duncan.

  Without hesitation the train pulled away at speed leaving the horde of infected with their arms outstretched in our direction. Looking down at the road as we moved over the bridge I could see what Duncan meant. There were hundreds and hundreds of infected on the street below baying for our blood and their next meal.

  The doors of the train carriage closed with a hiss and I just laid there on the floor of the train panting.

  “Thanks,” I said to Jackson.

  “No, thank you,” replied Lana.

  So there was the proof, the infection had spread and now it wasn’t just confined to London. Had it reached my home? It was time to inform Duncan we were close.

  DIARY ENTRY 22

  It was hard enough for s
omebody like me to comprehend what was going on in this world, let alone a child. How do you tell a child what those things were when you did not know yourself? This was the conundrum that I faced when Jesse asked me who those “monsters” were and why were they trying to get us?

  I had no explanation for her, I could not tell her like I had done with my own child that monsters do not exist and they only exist in dreams, because apparently they didn’t. They were very real and they meant us harm. The only comfort I could give was to reassure her that we would do all we could to get away from the “nasty people”. I told her to call them that instead of monsters and that soon we would be safe, away from the nightmare world we lived in. I could see Maria looking at me as I did my best to put a smile on Jesse’s face, even doing silly things like pretending to fall over or do funny impressions of animals.

  She’s wasn’t even my daughter, but I still wasn’t sure what had happened to my family and at this point in time these people were the closest to a family that I had, even if there was something about them which felt quite strange.

  As we were not stationary anymore and did not require a guard, Jackson and Lana got some rest. I can’t remember the last time I saw them sleep. Lana twisted and turned in her sleep, obviously some sort of nightmare. Jackson would be in what appeared to be a deep slumber and suddenly jump up and peer out of the window.

  When he was satisfied no infected were going to bite him he would lie back down again. Jackson repeated this process on numerous occasions.

  I left Maria to settle Jesse down and gazed out the window. We were moving very slowly along the tracks passing through the small town of Hatfield. The town looked a shell of the former place I remembered. I could see burnt out buildings, some still smouldering. The roundabout by the large pub was visible and I saw small groups of infected just wandering around. A few of them heard the train pass by and just stared up at the tracks.