Siobhan spoke so fast and with such a thick Irish accent, the men really had to concentrate just to keep up. They all struggled.
“There were a few of us camped here, but the last two decided a little while back to head out for this place called the Oasis. Ever heard of it?”
Josh shook his head slowly.
“Not to worry. They said something about a sanctuary, but it sounded too unrealistic to me. Haven’t seen them since so I have no idea what happened to them.”
She took a breath. Stood and took a step towards the men. They instinctively backed away, sizing her up.
“Relax gentlemen,” she said, taking another swig. “So, I knew if I kept to myself and held out long enough, sooner or later someone would come. I was hoping for marines not you lot, but here you are huh. My knights in shining armor.” Her sarcasm was totally evident as she battered her eyelids at them.
So much to like.
Josh was smitten. Felt his cheeks redden further.
“I heard you coming from the other end of the street. How you didn’t wake the dead beats the crap out of me.”
Eric felt offended. “No need for insults,” he said, defensively. “We found you didn’t we?”
“Oh you sure did matey! You rattled your tambourine and banged on your big bass drum all the way here. Would you like to let off your fireworks now?”
“Listen you ungrateful …”
“Tart?” Siobhan finished Eric’s sentence. This infuriated him even more. “How about bitch. Nah, that’s too tame. Maybe you meant to call me an ungrateful cunt!”
“Woah! You’ve got a mouth on you haven’t you.” Despite what he said, he did agree with her, that was precisely what he wanted to call her.
Siobhan frowned. “Now you listen to me little man,” she said with a change of tone, which chilled Eric to the bone. “I’ve been here long enough to know how to fend for myself.” Raising her sword she pointed it directly at him at eye level. Took a long gulp of her beer.
Eric froze. Swallowed hard.
“I have probably killed more of these creatures than you have had hot dinners buddy. I have done things, many things that I never believed I was capable of in order to stay alive. Believe me, I will do anything…,” she looked straight at him, “and will kill anyone, in order to keep myself alive.”
Tensions grew, expanding to fill every space in the room. Light flickered.
Tyler and Stuart found themselves instantly gravitating towards the fiery Irish girl. She pulled no punches and told it like it was, they liked that. Also, humiliating Eric so publicly appealed to them so much more than it should have.
“Look”, she said, in a softer tone lowering her weapon, “I never asked you to come, but I am grateful that you did. I suggest we all have a drink, cut the shit and just chill the fuck out. Alright?”
Josh coughed. “Alright,” he agreed. Turned to the others, who all looked intimidated and bewildered.
Heads slowly nodded.
“Great,” she said, sounding upbeat and positive. “Who wants that drink then?”
Jon paced the porch, patiently waiting for a sign. He cast his gaze through the dark, deserted intersection, looking for the missing group. There was no movement, no lights, no sound, not a goddamned thing. He chewed his lip anxiously.
“They’ll be ok Mr. Jon,” came a voice from the far side of the verandah.
Slowly, Jon turned his head. Before him sat Raj, cross-legged on the decking. He was busy with his nightly ritual, removing and rewrapping the wide blue cloth that made up the Dastaar turban he wore around his head.
“I know Raj,” replied Jon. “And thanks for the encouragement.”
“You do not need to thank me Mr. Jon. Your boys are good boys. They can take care of themselves out there.”
Raj Singh was an intelligent, softly spoken and caring individual. A proud man with a gentle disposition who, up until when the world turned was a dedicated family man. Having worked hard in his medical career qualifying as a surgeon, he had become disheartened with life in his native India.
Gathering his family together they migrated to the western world for a better life, arriving in the heart of this thriving modern metropolis. Despite not being able to practice in his chosen field, he had managed to provide for his family by driving a taxi cab full-time.
For years the Singh’s had enjoyed their new life in their new country. They accumulated friends and quickly became integral members of the local ex-pat Indian community. Life was seemingly perfect, until that fateful day when the world changed. Raj had been hit hard during the turn, losing his entire family to the infected.
Day after day for weeks on end, desperate to survive he drove for his life. Sleeping in his vehicle, siphoning petrol and avoiding the undead. Eventually and fortuitously he found sanctuary at the compound where he was adopted by the Armstrong’s and had been with them ever since. His yellow cab lay abandoned on the far side of the intersection as a monument and stark reminder of his former life.
Jon continued to pace.
“They probably took longer to dump the load than anticipated,” he said, trying to rationalize things. “Rather than drive home in the dark, they more than likely decided to play it safe. I might be wrong, but I reckon they are huddled together keeping each other warm and safe in the truck, somewhere out there on the route home.”
Raj continued to wrap the turban around his head, covering his long, uncut hair. “As I said Mr. Jon, they are good boys. They will be fine. You will see, they will be back here for breakfast tomorrow morning and all your concerns and fears will be over.”
Jon wanted to believe it, more than anything. “You’re a good man Raj. I hope you are right.” He stood, staring vacantly into the darkness. “I really do.”
A cool breeze blasted the compound. Both men shivered. The sudden squall brought with it another heavy downpour.
Siobhan had been the perfect host, plying the men with booze and filling their stomachs with junk food. The beer may have been warm and the snacks stale, but they still drank and ate heartily. After a long, tiring day they were in need of sustenance and as they had only packed lightly they gorged themselves on the feast before them.
Time ticked by rapidly, so fast that they lost track of it completely. Conversation had been spirited as Siobhan had set the bar high right from the start. The men became engrossed in her every word as she shared with them her survival story. They sat, listening intently as she recalled how the pub had been overrun in seconds by wave after wave of undead creatures that had swarmed in through the front door. There had been little time to react and all she and the other survivors could do was barricade themselves in and ride it out.
There was sadness in her voice as she told how her world changed in an instant. One moment she was serving drinks to her favorite customers, then…, “nek minnit I was fighting for my life,” she said. “It was truly horrific.”
Tired from their ordeal, none of the men felt like talking. They were happy to just sit and listen. Totally captivated in the Siren’s tales.
“All I could do from that day on was think and live day by day – and try to survive. I was shacked up here for a while with some great people, as well as some real loonies. We were an eccentric bunch but all in all we got along in the beginning.” Siobhan took another sip of her drink and then sighed. “Things went downhill bloody quickly after that.”
Outside it was raining hard, drumming heavily on the cab of the truck, tapping against the windows. Night’s chill hung in the shadows.
“The whole damn world seems to be simply turning to dust. It has no soul anymore, no heart.”
Nodding, the men pried the tops off more beer bottles. Each of them had drunk way too much. In truth it wasn’t a lot at all, they were just out of practice. Having gone without alcohol for so long they had become tipsy rather too quickly.
Eric refused more refreshment. He was hell-bent on getting home and had been grumpy since they had arrived, griz
zling about the time, the dark, the warm beer and anything else he could think of.
Tyler had had enough, he was sick of his brother-in-law’s attitude and rude behavior. “Eric!” he snapped. “Stop your fucking whining! You’re being a total dick.”
“Hey, I just want to get home alright.” Eric pointed at Siobhan. “We don’t know her from a bar of soap. For all we know, this could all be a trap.”
Tyler leapt to his feet. “You’re a right wanker!” He felt like punching Eric in the gob right there and then. “You were the one who brought us here. It was you who saw the light. You who said… no, insisted that we check it out. Pull your fucking head in!”
“I’m just saying…”
“So am I, you cynical prick!”
Josh jumped in, it was time for him to play peacemaker yet again. “Calm yourself down little brother. He’s not worth the effort. Plus, there’s a lady present, so just chill.”
“Lady huh, thanks,” said Siobhan. She raised her hand to Josh, gave him a Royal salute. “It’s ok, I really don’t give a shit what he says, that’s his entitlement.” She stared long and hard at Eric. “So am I the spider and you’re the fly, is that what you think?”
The room fell silent yet again.
“Then, if that is the case,” gritted her teeth, “welcome to my lair.”
Eric swallowed hard.
Siobhan turned to Tyler, then back to Eric. She already had the impression that there was bad blood here and that Eric was a complete arsehole and therefore decided to be a bit more diplomatic in her approach. “I kind of get the feeling you two are not very fond of each other.”
“You could say that,” replied Tyler, spitefully.
“Well, I think we have all got off to a bad start here, so let’s dial this back a notch. Eric…,” the former car salesman lifted his head to look at her, “there’s no trap here matey, ok? Nothing at all for you to worry your pretty little head about. I’m no more a spider than you are a fly. Nothing more than a damsel in distress. I simply needed rescuing, so thank you for spotting my light in the window.” Despite her words there was a healthy dose of sarcasm yet again, delivered with so much poise and fervor that is was missed by most.
Josh gave her an appraising look. She was more beautiful than any other woman he had seen in his lifetime. That was either true, or a trick his mind was playing on him, given the lack of opportunities in the new world to meet new people. Either way he felt his pulse race as he ogled her.
She possessed every trait imaginable that he desired. Fiercely independent, intelligent, funny, sarcastic and not one to be messed with. This girl was stunningly beautiful, totally captivating. Never had he seen eyes so green, nor a body so perfect. Her breasts were full and round and wonderful to look upon. Josh could not help but stare, gazing at her nipples, clearly visible, standing erect though the tight fitting dark t-shirt she wore. Desire stirred within him.
Siobhan sensed his gaze. Waiting for the right moment she gave him a coy, teasing smile that the others did not see. Josh felt the burn as his cheeks lit up.
“So, ummm… what do you do for food?” Josh asked, purposefully changing the subject. “I… I mean, how have you kept yourself alive all this time?”
In the overall scheme of things this was a fair question. Survivors in the new world, especially those wandering the wastelands of the city had been reduced to a life of scavenging and forging. Without a corner store or supermarket to shop at, finding food had become as high a priority as avoiding being bitten by the undead.
Siobhan gave a slight laugh, moved across the room to the tea chest and toppled it over. As the contents spilled out onto the floor, both Tyler and Stuart fell to their knees.
“Phwaaaah!
Chocolates, sweets, crisps, peanuts, biscuits lay everywhere. They were in junk food heaven.
“You’re not serious are you?” quizzed Josh.
“About the food?” She laughed out loud. “Of course not silly, there’s a whole lot more in the freezers downstairs and packed away in cupboards and storage rooms. I have also stashed some in other buildings around here, just in case this place ever got overrun.”
Josh was suitably impressed.
“Help yourself boys,” Siobhan invited.
Neither Tyler nor Stuart needed a second invitation. Tearing open packets of chocolates with the same vigor and enthusiasm as they used to open Christmas presents when they were younger, they grinned from ear to ear. Without hesitating, they wolfed down the snacks.
Eric shook his head, said something under his breath then picked up his beer taking a long sip.
“Have you had any encounters here?” Josh asked.
“Sexual you mean?”
His red cheeks darkened to a deep crimson color.
“Just shit-stirring,” Siobhan said, smiling broadly showing her perfect teeth. “Yeah, a few scares. This door had never been breached though until you idiots tore it down. On the whole it has just been nothing more than random creatures stumbling round downstairs. They are so bloody clumsy and easy enough to deal with. It’s quite laughable really.”
Josh agreed. He spent some time sharing the confrontations they had with the undead at the compound. Spoke about the fight they had been involved in that morning and how they were disposing of the corpses on the other side of town.
“I’ve learned a lot of lessons the hard way, said Siobhan. “These things really stink when they decompose. Must be the infected blood or something, or maybe their rotting skin. Whatever it is, they totally reek. I’ve actually lost count of the number of corpses I have piled up in the back alley.”
“Why didn’t you just leave?” asked Tyler, filling his face with a fistful of M&M’s.
“And go where?” I am safe here.”
“Surely we’re not the only survivors out here.”
“No, we’re not, believe me, I know. But not everyone out there has their moral compass pointing in the right direction, if you know what I mean. Plus… single girl, living alone in the big city and all that.”
“We’ll, you’re pretty resilient,” said Eric. Now that he had polished off two beers he was in better spirits. Somewhat calmer.
“If I didn’t know better,” Siobhan said with a smile, “I’d say that sounded like a compliment.”
Eric sniggered.
“I think about leaving every day, I honestly do. But after what I have been through, it is hard to trust people.”
“Why trust us then?”
“I watched you all the way down the street. I heard every word you spoke when you arrived and when you were in the stairwell. Oh, and of course I watched you fall right through my door. The only threat you pose to me is making me die of laughter.”
“Hmmmmph!” Eric opened yet another bottle of warm beer and began to guzzle.
“I kinda know this street like the back of my hand and the buildings around it. I’ve managed to stay alive on my own this long all on my own.” She sighed heavily. “What I miss most is people, you know… good people. The buzz of good convos, laughter, and being a part of something. Every time I make my mind up to leave, I end up stumbling across more creatures, or convince myself with some half-arse ridiculous excuse to stay.”
“That’s understandable. So, have you seen anyone else?”
“Since the others left here I have heard gunshots, screams and seen the odd vehicle every now and again. There are others out there, I know there are. Somewhere.”
Josh bit his lip. Chewed on it.
“Hey. Wanna see something cool?”
“There’s more?” Josh raised an eyebrow.
With a wry smile Siobhan added, “Oh hell yes boyo, there is much more.” She strolled over to the window that overlooked the road below, opening it wide. A stiff breeze blew in. The room dimmed as several candles that had been illuminating the interior went out.
Josh shivered as the cool air hit him. “What am I looking for?”
“Give me your light.” She dispossesse
d him of his torch, flicked it on and shone it brightly out of the window into the rain.
“What the hell?”
“I know… right!”
6
Night on the Town
Josh strained his eyes as he followed the light. Through the rain the beam of his own flashlight reflected off something outside the window. He looked hard, did a double-take and then looked again. There in front of him, spanning high over the street below was a makeshift bridge. Two ropes tied to beams on the awning of the bar had been pulled taut to the other side, with planks of wood fashioned from broken tabletops fastened at regular intervals across the span.
“Catching flies are we?” Siobhan asked, cheekily.
Josh snapped his jaw shut. “What the hell…?”
“Like it?” She gave him a broad smile, exposing her perfect white teeth yet again.
Shrugging his shoulders Josh gave her an inquisitive look, begged for an explanation.
“This is my escape route. It runs straight over to the building across the road,” she said, pointing through the drizzle. “It keeps me entertained and not tied to one place. I can head over next door without hitting the street. That takes away all the risk of stumbling across any of these damn undead things. Once there I have freedom to move between quite a few other buildings, all above street level. I usually go for a stroll every couple of days, it helps to stop me from going mental.”
Eric sniggered again, exhaled arrogantly with a loud fluttering of his lips.
Ignoring the interruption, Siobhan continued. “From that rooftop I get a birds-eye view over a good part of the city. I’ve got weapons and food stashed over there and another whole living quarters, just in case.”
Josh raised an eyebrow. “Wow, I am impressed. What an awesome set-up.”
“Hey,” Siobhan said defensively, “you’ve got to be ready for anything.”
“Damn! You’re fricken amazing,” Josh blurted out without thinking.
“Thanks for the compliment boyo. To be honest, I never gave it a second thought. It’s all about survival you know.”
Dark of Dawn 4Horsemen: Book one in the Dark of Dawn Series Page 7