Dark of Dawn 4Horsemen: Book one in the Dark of Dawn Series

by Sebastien Woolf

  Cracking of Bones

  Eric shit his pants.

  Saliva dripped from the yellow rotted teeth as they snapped perilously close to his face. The stench of the creature’s breath was nauseating, which reeked of death and decay. The only thing standing between him and certain death from an infected bite, was the aluminum baseball bat he held at the throat of the undead male.

  Pushing with all his might he managed to eventually throw his attacker off him. He rolled to a knee, struggled to his feet and then swung with all his might.

  Ping!

  Home run.

  Lights out. The force of the blow crushed the creature’s skull and it crumpled to the ground.

  Colin gave an almighty war cry as he drove one of his meat cleavers into the cranium of the creature he was battling against. He yelled again, this time following through with the other cleaver, severing the spine at the neck. As the head fell he sunk his boot into it and kicked it down the road.

  Thwack!

  “Fore!”

  Gerard had joined in on the action, connecting his 9-iron flush on the temple of an undead woman dressed in a purple Adidas tracksuit. Blood and brain tissue leaked from her wound as she fell in a heap on the ground.

  “Damn bunker!” he said with a laugh, before swinging again.

  It was carnage on the road that afternoon. Despite their best efforts to be vigilant, they had been taken completely by surprise and had been overrun by a large swarm that had come out of nowhere. Many more creatures leaked from buildings and shadows, joining quickly in the fracas.

  Swish!

  Siobhan’s heavy sword sliced through brittle bone, felling an undead mechanic. The man slumped to the ground into his blue overalls, having been dismembered below the knees. The last thing he saw was the sharp blade as it fell, slicing his skull in two.

  As they fought the group fanned out in a circle. Olivia, Rebecca and Zoe positioned themselves inside the protective ring, reloading and rearming their protectors. They watched the fight carefully, issuing warnings and directing traffic. This was a strategic maneuver they had employed many times before and it worked to perfection.

  Zoe loaded another 33-round magazine into the Glok 9mm that Siobhan had taught her to use. She raised her weapon and spun around. A creature walked point blank into the barrel of her gun and she blew its head clean off.

  “Take that mutha-fucka!”

  Tyler looked down at his hands. The black Kevlar gloves were covered with blood and he was struggling to keep a grip on his weapons. Furiously he wiped them on his already discolored jeans. His shoes squelched as he trampled in piles of gore, stepping through the dozens of corpses that lay strewn around him. He continued to hack and chop, adding more bodies to the pile.

  “To your right Josh!” yelled Rebecca.

  Instinctively Josh turned and swung hard. His weapon connected with some force, embedding itself in the eye of an oncoming attacker, killing it instantly. He pulled at the hockey stick. It was stuck. With a blood-curdling shrill another creature lunged at him. Was met with a size eleven and finished off with a blow to the temple.

  “We can’t hold them!” screamed Eric. “There’s too many!”

  “What…?”

  Snap!

  Bones cracked as Josh felled yet another attacker.

  “… should we do then?”

  “We need to find a way out!” bellowed Jon. “Fast!”

  “Roger that. Siobhan, can you make a hole for us!”

  “Sure can.” Energy flowed through the body of the tough, uncompromising Irish girl, into her fingers which tingled in readiness. Her hands caressed the handle of her sword, swinging it methodically like a conductor’s baton. Quickly, efficiently she carved an opening.

  “Run!”

  Desperately they made a dash for freedom. On and on they ran, far from the maddening creatures behind them. Leaving the main thoroughfare they darted down laneways, sprinted along side streets, pushing themselves hard for the sake of survival.

  Tyler’s lungs burned. His shirt was soaked in sweat. Muscles hurt like hell and his mouth was dry. He was not alone.

  On they ran.

  The sun was setting when they finally reached a safe place to rest. Feet had pounded the pavement until they could not run any further. They were spent. Hands grasped at hips as each of them were doubled over catching their breath. One by one they collapsed. Panting.

  “Where… are… we…?” Colin gasped, lungs heaving.

  Long shadows crossed the road. Before them the imposing façade of a community college. Long since run down, looking decrepit and grey. Gargoyles peered down from up high atop the main building.

  An eerie silence descended.

  In their haste the group had run way off course. They were now completely lost, totally disorientated and confused. No-one had a clue where they were.

  Jon scanned the landscape around him. A large wire-netting fence surrounded the grounds. Two heavy, ornate entrance gates lay open, unhinged rusted and broken. Concrete on the art-deco exterior lay in ruin, crumbling from years of neglect. Shattered glass from broken windows lay sprinkled across the compound, glistening in the diminishing light of the setting sun.

  “We’ll have to hunker down here for the night,” Jon said calmly.

  “What?” Zoe blurted out. “In there?”

  “It’s as good as anywhere,” came Jon’s reply. “Let’s just catch our breath and then check it out.”

  In the silence outside they rested. Replenished.

  Tyler peered over the rim of his glasses. Something had caught his eye. Movement. A shape shimmied on the path up ahead. A girl, or a woman, he wasn’t quite sure – definitely female and dressed in blue. The shadowy figure stood there, looking straight at him.

  “Oi,” yelled Tyler, getting to his feet. Turned to the others, pointing ahead of him. “Did you guys see that?”

  “See what mate?” said Josh.

  As Tyler turned back, he saw the path was empty. No sooner had she appeared, the girl in the blue dress had vanished. “There was someone there… on the path.”

  Immediately everyone got to their feet and they all turned to look. Instinctively they had their weapons drawn.

  Nothing.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am bloody positive!”

  “Okay. Take it easy bro,” Josh said, glancing all around.

  Tyler removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Looked again. The sidewalk was indeed empty. He swallowed hard. “I’m telling you, there was definitely someone on that path! She was right there!”

  “She?”

  “Yes, a girl.”

  “A creature?”

  “No! A girl! Goddamnit!” Tyler was getting agitated. He knew what he had seen but could sense that no-one was believing him.

  “Well,” said Jon, “If that’s what you saw, then we should go and check it out.” He gestured with a sideways nod for Josh to join him.

  With the utmost caution their eyes swept over the path ahead of them. Rifles panned all around as the three Armstrong men slowly made their way to where Tyler claimed to have seen the girl. The area was clear, completely deserted. No sign of life whatsoever.

  “Okay,” Jon said quietly. “There’s no-one here son. If you did see someone, they ain’t here now.”

  Tyler was reluctant to agree at first, but the lack of evidence forced his hand. “I saw someone here, I know I did.” Anxiously he continued to look around.

  “We don’t have time to argue with you son,” Jon said, casting a cursory glance to the sky. “We’re fast losing light. C’mon you two, we need to find somewhere in there to spend the night.”

  From behind the glass door Josh gave the all clear. Then one by one the rest of the group proceeded to file through the front doors of the college. Stepped into the main foyer. Inside it was deathly quiet, the only sound was the squeaking of their shoes on the linoleum hallway floor.

  With trepidation they edged their way
forward. As they worked their way down the main hallway they checked each door to ensure they were safe from any possible threat. Each classroom they passed was carefully inspected for signs of life, of any kind. Nothing moved.

  All clear.

  Eventually they reached a T-intersection. Two long corridors ran off in each direction lined by rows of lockers all along the far wall. Some had toppled over and lay sprawled across the floor like fallen dominoes. Papers were scattered everywhere.

  “Which way?” whispered Siobhan.

  Josh held up a hand. Stepped over a pile of books to read the schematic on the wall. Tracing the passageways on the diagram with his finger he found what he was looking for. “Follow me.” He turned to his left and set off along the gloomy corridor towards the gymnasium.

  Outside the sun finally slid from the sky. As night fell over the college their world went dark. Josh fired up his flashlight, attaching it to the barrel of his rifle sending a bright beam of light blazing down the passage illuminating the way ahead. They continued on with caution, following the light and making as little noise as possible.

  From the darkness there came a growl.

  With a wave of his hand Josh brought the group to a halt. He listened intently.

  “Do you hear something?” asked Jon, in a whisper.

  “Shhh…”

  Josh paused a moment longer.

  Silence lingered.

  “Sorry, it was nothing.” He took a step forward.

  Growl!

  Everyone froze. Hairs stood on end. They all heard it this time.

  “What… the fuck… was that?” Siobhan’s eyes bulged.

  “I have no idea,” replied Josh. “But it doesn’t sound good.”

  Growl!

  “Fuuuck!”

  It had been a long day. The group were drained after their long battle on the road and for most, the very thought of another conflict had them shuddering.

  Growl!

  Josh panned the flashlight in a frantic effort to find the source of the sound. Sweat beaded on his forehead, ran across his palms. His hands became sticky and he wiped them on his shirt. His heart pounded inside his chest thumping so loudly he could hardly hear.

  Growl!

  This one was closer.

  “Where are you, you mother-fucker?”

  Suddenly, the light reflected off something up ahead.

  “There!” whispered Tyler. He saw the glint in the distance.

  Josh panned back. His heart sank in an instant.

  Two beady yellow eyes shone brightly in the dark.

  Growl!

  Another pair of eyes appeared, glaring through the darkness. More came. Many more.

  “Fucking dogs,” Josh whispered loudly. Kept the light fixed on the ferocious creatures in an attempt to determine their number.

  Saliva dripped from bared fangs that snarled menacingly. The beasts were lean with ribs protruding through their skin. They were mangy and hungry.

  “You wouldn’t bloody read about it would you,” Eric said, spinning his baseball bat in his hands. “How many?”

  “Too many.” Josh knew that they would be able to easily deal with one, maybe two of the wild dogs. An entire pack of vicious, hungry hounds on the other hand, given the fatigue amongst the group was bordering on suicidal.

  Snarl!

  Josh was starting to crap himself. “We need to back up,” he said, taking a small step behind him. The others did the same. “Slowly,” he urged.

  From down the hallway they could now hear claws scraping on the floor. The dogs were on the move.

  Olivia took another step backwards. Her foot slid from under her, skidding on loose paper and she hit the ground hard, yelping in pain as she collided into a locker. Made a racket. The sound echoed loudly through the corridors.

  “Shit!” Tyler dropped to a knee, grabbed his mother by the arm and quickly helped her to her feet.

  “Sorry,” mouthed Olivia, without uttering a sound.

  Ahead of them in the dark came another deep growl. Several ferocious barks followed.

  “Ummm… guys,” Josh said, pointing.

  In the glow of his flashlight came two savage beasts that had peeled away from the pack and were now bounding towards them. Their vicious yellow eyes confirmed their intent and were firmly focused on their prey. Saliva frothed at their mouths spraying everywhere as they ran.

  “Guys!” There was now an element of urgency in Josh’s voice.

  Sharp white and yellow fangs came into view as the dogs neared. They snarled and growled, panting through their teeth as they ran. Driven by hunger and territorial protection they bore down quickly on the terrified group.

  Pop! Pop!

  Zoe’s Glok.

  One of the beasts collapsed mid-stride. The dog’s body went limp, sliding forward on the slippery floor slamming into the wall with an almighty bang. Blood leaked from a hole between its eyes. Relentlessly the other dog bolted onward, ignoring its fallen brother. It was on them in no time.

  Eric pushed his way forward. Found some space and positioned himself so as to meet the beast head on. Grasping the handle of his baseball bat tightly with both hands he swung with all his might.

  Thwack!

  Bone split. The strike was clean, flush on the head. With a yelp the dog dropped in a heap, whining. Eric’s second blow crushed its skull. His third drove home a point.

  From deep down in the gloom came a terrible howl. The lead dog snarled again. Barked loudly. It sprang forward, bringing with it the remainder of the pack in an all out attack.

  “Run!”

  Josh spun on his heels. Ahead of him the rest of the group were already on the move making a fleet-footed retreat. They picked up the pace as they ran.

  “Head for the entrance!”

  As they approached the T-intersection the beasts were close, bearing down fast. All seemed lost. This was surely a race they could not win. Josh thought to himself how ironic it would be that after everything they had been through, with every enemy that they had vanquished and every challenge they had met that it would end like this. Devoured by a pack of wild dogs. The fickle hand of fate rapidly descended upon them.

  A wolf whistle.

  They all heard it. Two shrills.

  Ahead of them, straight ahead a door had opened. A bright stream of light poured out into the corridor. There, standing in the glow was a young woman, beckoning furiously for them to come to her.

  Without hesitation they bolted for the doorway, tumbling over one another as they fell into the room. Josh busted his gut to get there. As he approached the open door he tripped on his own feet, landing on his back. Sliding across the floor on his back he raised his rifle.

  Crack!

  A dog fell.

  Crack! Crack!

  Two more.

  Josh felt hands on him. He looked down to see black painted nails at the end of a woman’s fingers. They tugged at his shirt and dragged him into the classroom.

  With a loud bang the door slammed shut. The hounds leaped and scratched desperately seeking a way in. They bayed, barked and growled in the corridor until they realized that their prey had evaded them. They then returned to devour their dead brothers.

  Lamplight illuminated the room. The light sliced into Josh’s eyes. He blinked, adjusted and looked up. Above him rifle barrels were leveled at him and the others in the group as they lay sprawled on the floor.

  “Welcome comrades,” came a female voice. Deep and husky. “Now that was a little too close for comfort. Is everyone ok?”

  No reply.

  “Well in that case, I guess we’re all good then.”

  Growling from down the hallway reminded them all of the danger that lurked beyond the door.

  “Ladies,” said the girl, with a wry smile. “What do you think? Do these fine people pose a threat to us at all?”

  “I wouldn’t think so,” said a tall girl, with a slight German accent. “They’re far too reckless and so goddamned nois
y.”

  “Hell yeah Dominique. Any louder and they would have woken the dead.” Folding her legs underneath her she sat facing the newcomers. Surveying the group she eventually smiled.

  Pushing his back against the door Josh sat upright. The girl before him was dressed all in black. She had a piercing in her left eyebrow and a silver ring through her septum. Tattoos adorned her body, a busy colorful sleeve ran from the wrist on her right hand up under her shirt to her shoulder. Her long dark hair was tied up in a ponytail.

  “Welcome to our den. I’m Danni, but the girls call me Raven.” She smiled again. Bright white teeth gleamed.

  “Thank you Dann… Raven,” said Jon. “We are incredibly grateful for you saving our butts back there. It was pretty close alright.”

  “Ha! Well, you had the misfortune of running into our guard dogs this evening.”

  Giggles.

  Raven turned to her team. “Ladies, I’ve got an okay feeling about this lot. I think we’re pretty safe. After all, we did save them from ending up as dog food didn’t we?” She joined in on the joke giggling along with the others. She signaled that all was good and the weapons were lowered.

  Raven then introduced the other girls. “You’ve met Dominique,” indicated with her head towards the red-haired German lass. “This is Angelique, Victoria, and Johanna. And here, we have Amy.”

  Blue dress!

  Tyler’s eyes bulged. “See, I told you!” he exclaimed to his father, sounding somewhat childish. “I know what I saw.”

  Jon acknowledged his son with a silent nod of the head. Tyler gazed at Amy. At the blue dress.

  “We call this little lady Squirrel,” said Raven.

  Zoe jumped in. “Because she forages for food?”

  “Hell no. Because she’s fucking nuts!”

  Laughter erupted amongst the girls.

  “I’m so glad it is so bloody amusing,” said the girl referred to as Squirrel.

  As the laughter abated Raven continued. “So, what brings you to our part of the world? Blowing in like a whirlwind too I’ll have you know.”

  “We were heading to the docks, but got a bit off course,” said Josh, sighing. “Ambushed by a large herd of creatures and were forced to make a run for it.” Shrugged. “And now, here we are.”

  “And here you are indeed! Where were you slinking off to in the dark just now?” she asked, making the walking gesture with her fingers.