by Kings, Alex
Folding up the map, Richard said, “There's one more thing. I've been meaning to visit Foxglove Compound for a while now. If he goes along, I'd like to see him off from the van.”
Chapter 6
Luke took hold of another box of vegetables and, after checking to see to guy on the other side was ready, lifted it and hefted it into the back of the van.
He'd done it. Everything was ready. In just over an hour, he and Jess would be leaving in the van to get dropped off by the hospital.
He and his parter went back to the stacked boxes of food and picked up another. This one had oats and roast crickets.
They'd told him the plan: They'd drop him and Jess at the head of a pedestrian street not too far from the hospital. For carrying the equipment back, they had an old shopping trolly between them and a backpack each. If necessary, they'd drop the trolley. To keep themselves safe, they had some body armour (scavenged from a police station, by the look of it), two pistols and a submachine gun.
They'd have to spend overnight in the hospital. This was the big risk – but doable so long as they found a clear room and could barricade it. Then – and this had been made very clear – if they weren't back at the rendezvous point at the appropriate time, the van wouldn't wait for them.
Jess walked across the loading bay towards them. She already had her armour and backpack on. “You need any help?” she called when she was close enough.
Luke was about to tell her to wait, when his partner said, “Yeah, sure. You see those boxes there? Just pack 'em in, any old way will do.”
She shrugged off her backpack and and got to work. From the way she winced when she lifted the first box, he could see she was in pain. Part of him was annoyed – there was no reason for her to hurt herself doing that when he could have done it just as easily. But she did it anyway. He stifled the feeling and gave her a smile anyway. She smiled back.
They had almost run into another problem when she revealed herself as his only volunteer. Her work in trading, in writing letters to convince the other compounds to trade, was more important that the labour he contributed. For a moment it seemed like Mayor Mason was going to forbid them. But Jess had argued her point, again, as a matter of freedom. And after a brief discussion with Richard Carter, the had been allowed to go through.
Richard Carter. An interesting man. He had arrived only eight months ago, and yet already half his shifts were taken up helping the mayor administrate the town. He helped work out rotas and shift schedules. He decided whether the compound was to work on improving its water filtration for the next couple of months, or work hard to produce extra food. In many ways, he was her second-in-command, appointed rather than elected. He was one of those people who were hard to dislike at first – instantly friendly without being overbearing, positive without being annoying, and relentlessly confident. But Luke couldn't help but feel there was something ever-so-slightly repellent about the man. Maybe it was just simple jealousy?
Anyway, Richard had said he would be accompanying them in the van. He would see them off at the departure point on Bachmann Street, then continue with the van's crew to Goat's Head Compound. Afterwards, he'd return with the van and – if they were still alive – help them load the medical equipment in.
It was a job that seemed ill-suited to his position as an administrator. In fact, Luke had got the impression that the mayor didn't want him to go on this trip. Still, Richard would be in the van the entire way, and far safer than Luke or Jess.
Eventually they finished loading the van. It was nearly time to go. While the drivers were checking the van's engine, Luke put on his armour and backpack.
Richard came sauntering up. He was a little taller taller than Luke, and offered them a each a friendly smile. “Luke and Jessica, right? Hello!”
Luke shook his hand.
Jess was coming out of the van. She waved, “Hello. It's just Jess.”
“Jess, then. Ah, yes, I know you. You're to thank for all the good trade deals we have.”
“I'm sure you can find someone to replace me,” said Jess.
“Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that,” said Richard. “And Luke? Thank you for fighting off that demon yesterday.”
In the back of the van there was just about enough space for the three of them to sit together with the trolley.
The rear doors were closed, cutting out most of the light. Then, from the van's cab one of the drivers called, “you ready in there?”
“We're ready,” said Richard.
Luke heard the engine start, and then the van rolled away.
They drove through open ground for some hours. It was difficult having Richard there. Luke couldn't say anything about their real plan, so instead they talked quietly about work, or looked out the grating-armoured window onto the empty roadway.
“I think you're very brave, going to all this trouble,” said Richard.
“Oh … thank you,” said Jess. She rubbed her arm.
“What made you decide to do it?” Richard aimed the question at Luke.
Luke, who was looking out the window, squeezed past the trolly and sat down beside Jess. “We need these supplies,” he said.
“We certainly do,” said Richard. “And I certainly hope you manage to get them. You'll probably be heroes when you get back.”
“Yeah …” said Luke. He hadn't thought about that. They might well be famous in Paradise Compound for while. He wondered for a moment if that would make it harder to get the operation done in secret – then he noticed how intently Richard was staring at him.
Richard's attention moved away instantly.
“Well, it's either risk our lives now, or risk dying of measles or flu or something a couple of months later,” said Jess. She shrugged. “Personally I'd rather take action.”
“Ah,” said Richard.
“And if you're wondering why we chose to do it and not someone else I think it's just because we thought about it first. All the people who survived the Fall and made it to Paradise Compound are the sort to take action, after all.”
Richard smiled. “You're being too modest, I'm sure. Not everyone would risk their lives when someone could do it. That heroes' welcome? I think you'll deserve it when you get back.”
“If we get back.”
“You will.”
Jess shrugged.
After that the conversation lulled. It was slow going along the road – the van had to weave around potholes or debris in the road, take alternate routes in a couple of cases where the road had been completely torn up, and in one case, edge around a deformed-looking animal skull the size of car.
Later, just as Luke was thinking they weren't going to see any demons at all, they saw one in the distance, in a dead field. It was massive – a hundred feet tall at least – and with its leathery black skin it reminded him of a leopard. But instead of its head, there was just a lump of flesh with six or seven pale, greasy-looking eyes scattered randomly.
It was standing over the body of another smaller demon lying dead on the floor. As they passed, the leopard-demon's chest cracked open, with the ribs on either side like teeth. Several spiny tentacles dropped out of the chest cavity, wrapped around the bloody carcass of the other demon, and lifted it up. Was it eating, or something else?
Jess clutched at her arm again.
“Don't worry about that guy,” called one of the driver from the front. “He's pretty harmless.”
Sure enough, they passed the leopard-demon without incident, and soon after headed into the suburbs of Bridgham.
Rows of empty houses with broken windows. Brown lawns. They passed an old children's playground with the burnt-out hush of a crashed car resting against the climbing bar. Something inside it moved. They passed without incident.
Luke checked his watch. Half an hour before they reached their drop-off point.
The van slowed.
“Oh, shit,” muttered one of the drivers. “Here we go.”
“What?” asked Luke.
“Demons. Hold on to something.”
Jess sighed. “This should be fun,” she muttered.
Luke, still standing, braced himself against the boxes by the door.
The van accelerated without warning, engine roaring. They swerved a couple of times, left and right. The stacked boxes creaked and nearly fell over. Then came a loud thump; they'd hit something. From Luke's vantage near the window, he saw a cluster of demons outside. Runners – vaguely human, but with broken, bloody faces. They ran towards the van. The body of the one they'd hit a moment ago was lying on the road. It quickly got up, arm hanging at the wrong angle, and joined in the chase.
The van took a hard right. Luke grabbed the top box before it fell on Jess. Glancing out the door, he saw the daemons rounding the corner behind them. They were't fast enough, though – they were being left behind.
All save for one, who tried to grab at the van's exterior. Its claw-like hand cut in two. Luke guessed it must have touched one of the lawnmower blades on the van's exterior.
Still, it tried again. This time it managed to find something to hold on to.
It's face was at the window! A human face, once – but without eyes, and what looked like tentacles coming out of the empty sockets.
It crashed on the side once, twice –
The van swerved again. Towards a brick wall on one side of the street.
The demon slammed into the wall with a dull thus, held on for a fraction of a second, then rolled away behind them leaving a bloodied smear over the window.
A cheer rose from the cab. “Alright, guys,” said one of the drivers. “You can calm down now. For a bit, anyway.”
Only then did Luke notice that Jess was still clutching her arm. From her expression, she was in pain. A glance told him Richard had noticed too.
But what could they do? They couldn't look at it without Richard knowing. They couldn't even talk about it.
He sat down between the two of them where he would block Richard's view, doing his best to avoid looking suspicious. He gave Jess's free hand a gentle squeeze. They were nearly at the drop-off point now.
She gave him a knowing smile. Thank you it said. Then the smile faded and she took a shallow shuddering breath.
“Is everything okay?” said Richard quietly, leaning forward.
Silence for a moment. Jess nodded.
“Yeah,” she said. “I just banged my elbow when we were …”
“Looks like a pretty bad bump,” said Richard.
“Yeah.” Jess's throat bobbed. “Just give me a moment. I'll be fine.”
Luke tried to pull her closer, but she shrugged him off.
Then he saw something move beneath the sleeve of her shirt. A wave of revulsion swept through him, and without meaning to he sat back and grasped the edge of his seat. What on Earth was that? Jess didn't seem to notice through the pain, though, and after a moment the motion went away.
Jess's arm didn't seem to be getting any less painful. Luke had known it to hurt sometimes, but he'd never seen her this bad.
Suddenly she grabbed his hand. “It's getting worse,” she whispered. “I don't know if –” She slid forward off the box to her knees.
In a moment, Richard was on his feet. He moved past where Luke was sitting and supported Jess's free shoulder. For that moment, Luke didn't care. Being found out didn't matter, so long as Jess was alright.
“Wait,” said Jess. “It's okay. I'm okay.” She swallowed. “The pain's getting better.”
She let go of her arm to pull herself back up.
And Luke saw her sleeve had been pulled up when she fell, exposing her forearm – including the holes.
Then he saw Richard had noticed too.
Chapter 7
For a moment, nobody said anything. There was just the rumbling of the van along the road. Jess looked up at Richard, a sort of acknowledgment that she knew he'd seen, then slowly pulled her sleeve down.
“What's that?” Richard said quietly.
Luke's mind was still racing through the possibilities. How to stop this? The thought came, unbidden, of killing Richard – and he discarded it equally quickly. What else would stop him talking?
Jess took her time to settle, rubbed her arm again, and said, “I don't know. I mean, an infection.”
“She's not turning into a runner,” added Luke.
“How can you be sure?” asked Richard. He seemed to be taking the surprise quite well, thought Luke.
“Because if it was going to happen, it would've happened ages ago,” said Jess. “Besides, do you know any runner symptoms that look like this? Half of it's in the face.”
Richard paused to consider this.
Jess continued, “So I guess we're at your mercy now.” She nodded towards the cab. “If you tell them –”
“I won't.”
“If this gets out at Paradise Compound …” said Luke.
“You'll get kicked out. Or killed. I know,” said Richard. A thin smile of realisation crossed his face. “So that's why you're both going to the hospital. You want to try and fix it.”
“We're getting to medical supplies too,” said Jess.
Richard nodded. “Makes sense. Well, then, your secret's safe with me.”
“You won't tell anyone? Even Mayor Mason?”
“Even Mayor Mason.”
One of the drivers banged on the wall ahead of them and called, “Time to get ready. We're nearly there.”
Luke turned to Jess. “Do you think you can manage?”
She stood and grabbed her backpack. “I'm fine. Pain's nearly gone.”
Backpacks on, pistols ready, trolley positioned at the door. They were ready. The van slowed, then came to a halt. “Wait for a moment,” called the driver. Then: Looks clear this way. How about for you.”
Outside, nothing that looked like a demon nothing moving. “Coast looks clear!” said Luke.
“Okay. Go on, then.”
They opened the doors, guns ready, then with Richard's help pushed out a sheet of wood to act as a ramp. Luke rolled the trolley down the ramp while Jess kept a lookout. Then she joined him as Richard pulled the ramp back inside.
“Good luck!” he said before closing the doors.
The van started off immediately.
Outside! Outside the compound, outside the van, on their own in a city of demons. Pistol still out and levelled, Luke did a slow circle, checking all angles. The road was a commercial place, lined with shops, the pavement in front of them glittering with the shattered glass of their fronts. Nearby, and old McDonalds with half its sign torn down lay open to the world, revealing chairs and tables still in place where they were bolted to the floor. Unhealthy-looking weeds grew up through cracks in the pavement, between buildings, from drain covers. Some of them were plants Luke was sure he'd never seen before. The whole place smelled thickly of a sort of sweet, pollen-rich rotting.
He'd expected there to be bodies, he realised. No, not bodies after this long – skeletons, then. Bloodstains, at least inside where the rain hadn't washed them away. Remains of some sort, after the massacre after the demons had first come through. But there were none. They'd all been removed, or eaten, or something.
And on one side of the road was their way out: A little narrow passage leading to a flight of stairs.
No demons visible.
They set off. Luke pushed the trolly and kept a watch ahead, Jess took up the rear. There was a narrow ramp by the stairs, so they could get the trolley up without too much difficulty. Luke was still wondering about what had happened to Jess's arm back in the van, but he thought it would be best to save that conversation until a bit later.
At the top of the stairs and the ramp was a wide pedestrian plaza, roughly triangular in shape. Again, the standard wall of ruined shop fronts. There were shopping trolleys here too, probably from the supermarket on one side. They lay scattered about, all heavily rusted and mostly broken in some way. Other litter too that hadn't been washed or blown away in the
months since the fall: A walking stick, corroded metal chairs from a cafe, a supermarket shelf, a broken riot helmet. There was something human-sized lying near the middle of the plaza; Luke approached it with his pistol drawn, but it turned out to be more rubbish, so thickly covered in mould that he couldn't make out what it had been when it was dropped.
He lowered his pistol and turned to Jess. “With everyone telling us how dangerous this place is, don't you think it's a bit weird that we haven't seen more demons?”
“If we'd run into a crowd of runners like the van did back there, we'd be dead already. I think we've just been lucky so far – they're all busy somewhere else.” She looked at the mouldy lump with a grimace of disgust. “I wonder why, though. What do demons get up to when we're not around?”