The Blood of the Infected (Book 2): Once Bitten, Twice Live

by Stanton, Antony J.

  She smiled, a genuine expression of relief and he continued, getting into his rhythm now. This was already the longest conversation they had ever had together and she found herself warming to him. He spoke about his experiences and his career and his cup of tea had gone cold by the time he came to drink from it again. The two sat by themselves as the afternoon shadows lengthened on the lawn outside. There was the occasional noise from somewhere on the base but nobody else came in to the dining hall. At times they chatted, at others they sat in silence, but for them both it was nice just to have the company for a while and to not feel so alone and afraid.

  Wood was trying to keep as quiet as possible, so when his radio crackled into life again he cursed himself for not having turned the volume down.

  “Wood, it’s Lewis. We’ve found a survivor, we’re going straight back to the Land Rovers. It’s time to leave.”

  “Roger, still a few rooms to go,” Wood said sharply into the radio. “We’ll be there soon as.”

  He neither waited for, nor heard a reply. His troops had finished checking the rooms on the first floor. There had been no further incidents and no more useful information to take away with them. They were now peering up the stairs to the top floor.

  Straddling was still unhappy. “I don’t like this. I think we’re wasting our time. They’re not stupid. They’ve gone back to the Landies. I think we should do the same.”

  "Go then," Wood said with a scowl as he started to ascend the steps. Straddling fidgeted uncomfortably, then followed. As before, at the top the corridor led away through fire doors in opposite directions. Wood pointed at the ones that were above the corridor they had just checked. He hesitated before nudging them gently ajar. He shone his torch through into the sinister void within. The entire upper floor here was devoted to the large eating area that they had glimpsed before, but they were now at the other end. The few windows were covered and hence it was relatively dark inside. He could make out tables and overturned chairs and various broken objects scattered across the chequered, tiled floor. There was a sudden movement as a rat scuttled briefly through the torch beam.

  “It seems as though the lab rats have escaped and have probably been breeding. Don’t be alarmed if one of them runs over your foot. Otherwise I can’t see anything,” he whispered to his troops. “We’ll move in a clockwise sweep pattern, clear the area quickly and get out of here. If we see anyone make sure they are indeed ill before shooting them. Short bursts. Head shots. Conserve ammo. Okay?”

  They nodded although the looks on their faces were far from happy. Well I don’t feel exactly delirious about it either, dammit, he thought to himself, but this is just something that we have to do. Despite the fact that this was further gambling everyone’s lives, if there was even the slightest chance that there were any survivors here then how could they just walk away and leave them to perish in this mad house? It was not necessarily that Wood was less afraid than any of the others, just that he had perhaps come to terms with dying more than they had, and had a greater sense of purpose.

  He opened the door slowly, sidled through and shone the torch around quickly. Nothing appeared to move and they edged forwards in a huddle with Mayoh fearfully watching the door they had just come through. Suddenly there was the sound of metal scraping. Something was knocked over, somewhere in front of them.

  “We’re not alone,” Straddling whispered.

  From nearby there was a gurgling noise that sounded more bestial than human. There was a chattering from around the centre of the café. Wood half covered his torch and they listened intently. Crouching in the darkness in a formation to cover them from behind as well as the front, they all looked out into the room warily. Another creature seemed to answer the first with similar, unfamiliar sounds, then another bang and a scraping sound and again all was quiet. Wood started to creep forwards towards where the noises appeared to come from.

  “Are you crazy?” Straddling rasped angrily but Millington silenced him this time, with a heavy hand on his shoulder. The big man put a finger on his lips and scowled at him.

  Wood paused, and indicated Millington to take the lead but hold position. He moved back, next to Straddling so that he could whisper in his ear. Straddling started to say something but he clamped a firm hand across his mouth as he glared at him.

  “Look, you may not like me and lord knows I don’t like you, but we’re here to complete a mission. Everybody’s handling the stress and fear pretty well I’d say; everyone except you. You are becoming a liability, you're letting yourself down and you're gonna endanger us all. I suggest you start acting like a soldier and demonstrate some of that front line savvy you’re always so keen to talk about. Now I don’t want to hear another word of protest from you. Do your bloody job Sergeant! If I have to have this conversation with you again you will be sorry. Have I made myself clear?” He did not wait for a reply.

  It was a large room. The torches picked out various signs that survivors had been there. There were food scraps, used plates and utensils, some toiletries and clothes. Mayoh tripped over a corpse that was sprawled under a table. He jumped in shock as he knocked against some chairs, making a dreadful clatter. With that, there was a screech and they all froze, staring into the dark.

  Millington shone his torch in the direction from which the screech had come. By the wall there was a serving counter and a wooden door behind it. A man was standing there and the light caused him to blink. He threw his head back and cried out, showing a mouth nearly as devoid of teeth as his eyes were of reason. The scream was answered by another from nearby and Wood barked at his soldiers as they stood back-to-back in a small, defensive circle.

  “Everyone stand firm. Torches on. Find them and kill them all!”

  Millington was closest to the food counter. As the man ran at him he grasped his rifle determinedly at the hip and with one hand squeezed off a short burst. The ammunition tore into the man’s stomach and he sank to his knees, still moaning and making a vague effort to crawl. One more round to the head and he was blown backwards, out of the torch beam. Another suddenly appeared no more than three paces away from Straddling, looming out of the dark with a groan. He must have been beneath a table and they had failed to notice him. Straddling stepped back reflexively and fired twice but either missed him or the bullets had no effect, it was impossible to say in the dark. The man sprang forwards and grabbed Straddling around the neck, trying to bring his jaws close. Straddling retreated with a gasp but Wood was there in an instant. He grabbed the man from behind and yanked him forcefully back, propelling him away, and then followed it with a shot to the head, ending his attack, and his life.

  Everything was silent and they looked all around. Their torches urgently probed the room. Straddling spoke quickly, for once sounding more the experienced professional that he had always prided himself on being and less the complaining coward.

  “Check beneath the tables as well, we don’t want any more surprises. We have got to keeping moving fast.”

  Millington now illuminated the door with his torch. “Seems to me that crazy was scrabbling around over there. Is it worth a check?”

  “I’d say so yes,” Wood nodded and the small huddle cautiously made their way to the food counter.

  They peered beyond it but could see nothing on the far side. They all scrambled hastily over the work surface. They stood with their backs to the wall, gathering their breath while squinting out into the room.

  “Well at least if we can’t see them, they can’t see us either,” Straddling said sounding less pessimistic than before.

  The food counter was several metres long and at one end was attached to the wall. It provided them with a partial barrier from attack and they all felt a little less vulnerable. A moment later the doors they had come through swung open and they could see at least one figure lurch through.

  Wood now muttered in a low voice. “Okay, quickly Millington, get the door open. Mayoh cover him. Straddling and Handley watch the room and s
hoot if that crazy gets near. Move.”

  Millington wasted no time. He took half a step back and then launched at the door. The hinges shattered in a single kick. It slammed open. The room had a window but the blinds were drawn. There was a scream from within and Mayoh wildly shone the torch around in a panic, trying to identify where the noise had come from.

  “Easy man, easy,” Millington placed a calming hand on his arm. “Over there.” He guided Mayoh’s torch to the far corner of the store room and picked out a flash of white behind some stacked boxes.

  “What’s going on?” Wood peered into the room over Mayoh’s shoulder.

  “Think we found a survivor sir,” Millington answered with a quick grin.

  The torch picked out a small girl in a striped red and white jumper hiding behind some boxes in the corner. Her eyes were wide with terror.

  “Get the kid. Then we’re out of here.”

  Wood turned around and was about to speak to Straddling when there was a screech and a figure hurled himself at them. He came from out of the dark surprisingly quietly. He launched himself over the counter and grabbed at Straddling who was closest. The counter obstructed him somewhat and he cried out in rage. Still he managed to get within range of his prey. Wood cracked him on the top of the head with the butt of his gun stunning him. He shoved the man away, back over the counter then fired once, straight through the top of his head. The man jerked back into the dark. Wood turned accusingly to Straddling.

  “Okay, okay,” Straddling mumbled. “I’ll sharpen up. Don’t worry, I got it.”

  “How’s it going in there Millington?” Wood hissed over his shoulder. “Just grab her, there’s no time for niceties now.”

  Millington had walked slowly forwards with a pacifying hand extended. “There, there honey. It’s okay, I’m here to save you, don’t worry.”

  The girl moaned again but softly, and seemed to accept his help more readily than expected. He stooped and picked her up and immediately she flung her arms around his neck and clung to him tightly making even Millington wince, burying her head in his neck and sobbing.

  “I’ve got you.” He turned to leave and called out to Wood. “All done here, we’re ready.”

  “Right, time to get out of here.” Wood slowly edged towards the end of the counter. “Any more of them out there?”

  “I think there are some others,” Straddling breathed. “I heard noises.”

  As they started moving away from the store room the girl yelped.

  “What the hell’s wrong with her?” Straddling snapped. “Keep her silent.”

  “Quiet honey,” Millington gently comforted her but she opened her mouth to complain again.

  “Muffy.”

  “Shut her up, dammit!”

  Millington was being gentler than Straddling would have liked. “Who’s Muffy sweetheart?”

  “Muffy’s my doggie.”

  Wood sighed. “Millington, get the hound and keep them both quiet.”

  There was another bang and clatter from somewhere. They strained to see any movement. Millington hurried back into the store room and shone the torch around but there was no sign of a dog.

  “There’s no dog here poppet,” he said but the girl whimpered and pointed at the corner. There was a small rucksack with a dog’s floppy ears, a big, brown nose and a smiling, lopsided mouth. Millington sighed and turned to leave but the girl began to whine so reluctantly he grabbed it.

  The doors were now swinging wildly as though they had just been kicked open with force. Wood turned to them all, curtly issuing instructions. “There are several of them somewhere out there in the dark between us and the way we came in, so we need to move fast and make for the other exit.”

  “We wedged it closed earlier, remember?” Straddling said.

  “Well I think that direction is the safer option so we’ll just have to break it open then won’t we. Now move!”

  He was accepting no discussion on the subject and Straddling gave no further argument. One by one, they vaulted the food counter and made their way as fast as possible in the dark towards the far exit. They negotiated overturned tables and chairs as they went. There was a screech from somewhere behind them and the none-too subtle sounds of angry pursuit as they were spotted by some of the diseased.

  Straddling grabbed Mayoh by the arm and yelled at Wood. “Get the doors open, we’ll cover you.”

  He shone a torch back the way they had come and caught site of movement. Furniture was battered out of the way by whoever was chasing them. They could hear the furious screams of more than one creature nearby. Straddling fired into the shadows at the figure.

  Wood got to the doors first and dashed himself against them. They rattled but would not give. He turned to cover the retreat of his comrades as Handley arrived next to him.

  “Open the bloody doors,” he ordered the doctor.

  He picked out a figure lurching towards them. Dropping to one knee he fired a short burst. There was a reassuring scream in reply. Before Handley had a chance to try to force the doors Millington arrived and thrust the girl unceremoniously into his arms.

  “Hold her.”

  There was another burst of firing and Straddling shouted at Mayoh above the noise. “I’m out. Changing mags.” Deftly he ejected the empty magazine and slapped another in place. He quickly checked it then picked out a figure lurching through the gloom. He shot it twice in the head. The figure pitched forwards and smashed a table as it went down.

  “Retreat, I’ll cover you,” Straddling barked at Mayoh. He searched the darkness for more hostiles. “Move now.”

  Mayoh turned and ran back several paces before stopping and covering his sergeant, and they worked their way towards their team. Millington attacked the doors. They rattled and groaned but the chair legs that they had stuffed through the metal handles held fast. Wood’s torch now picked out a small group of infected who were on the far side of the room and must have just entered. Without the use of a torch their progress was slow, but resolutely they came on towards the trapped soldiers.

  “Here they come. Get that door open,” Wood snapped.

  Once again the far cafeteria door banged noisily as several more diseased swarmed in. As Wood, Straddling and Mayoh tried to keep them all in sight, Millington again slammed into the door.

  Wood gave terse orders to his soldiers. “Save your ammo till they get a bit closer.” Then, remembering something, he delved into his rucksack and brought out his last brandy bottle. Straddling and Mayoh stood for a moment without firing but the tension was too much. Mayoh accidentally squeezed off a shot and Straddling jerked and followed suit. Both sprayed back and forth across the room by the time Wood had got the bottle alight.

  “Stand back.” He chucked it and watched as it exploded in a small fireball. It caught one of the enemy in its blast and illuminated part of the canteen. Only then did they realise exactly how many diseased were coming at them. Wood almost wished he did not know. The number was far higher than they had previously feared. A woman who was caught in the flames screamed and still stumbled forwards but she got obstructed by a chair and Straddling shot her twice in the head. The rest of them were temporarily alarmed. Disorientated by the fire, they paused, screaming in frustration.

  “I’m out,” Mayoh said panicking as he fumbled for his Browning.

  In the light of the blaze they could now see more clearly. Straddling was able to squeeze off a couple of rounds and killed another.

  “I’m out too. Getting my pistol.”

  Wood turned to see how Millington was getting on just as the big man stepped back and brandished his rifle. He fired at the doors and then fired another long burst before charging at them one last time in desperation. The chair legs that had been jammed into the handles splintered and the doors exploded open, sending Millington sprawling to the ground.

  “Go!”

  Wood pushed the soldiers through the beckoning escape route as the flames started to die down. The horde plucked
up courage and charged forwards as he turned to squeeze off one last shot. This time even he forgot discipline and fired from the hip. He did not wait to check his accuracy but turned and fled, following his rapidly retreating men.

  CHAPTER 13

  “They are a-coming!”

  The dining hall was busier than before and Corporal Charlotte Collins was now sat with May Williams, Reggie Pethard and Josh. As Vida burst in with her announcement everyone turned to stare. This time she was not made to feel like a pariah. Her announcement silenced everybody for a moment, before there was a collective scraping of chairs and excited chatter. She stood beaming and answering questions with the very limited knowledge that she had, relishing the occasion to spread a little sunshine. Collins could not wait. She ran immediately to the main gate. Within moments there was a small gathering. Even Denny was there, standing by himself, shifting uneasily from side to side and keeping away from everyone else. He avoided conversation and kept his eyes low as he fingered the pistol at his side.

  It disturbed Collins to see that the entire team from the medical centre were present at the gates; Corporals Newman and Williams, Privates Howes and Hanson. Clearly they had been told something that Collins, as yet, did not know. Vida had said nothing about injuries to anyone and Collins was now increasingly concerned about Wood. She felt a pang of guilt. The last time she had stood in that spot, earlier that day, she had been saying goodbye to Wood. She new she had been distant and vague with him and if that was the last time that she would ever get to speak to him then she would never forgive herself. Her thoughts started to wander.

  Vallage appeared out of nowhere and saw her glance at the medical staff. “I told ya lassie, he’s a survivor. You don’t need ta worry about him.”

  She smiled at her new friend and patted his arm in appreciation but the worry remained nonetheless, gnawing at her stomach like a trapped rat. Certainly they had been told to prepare for someone with an injury so lord knows whom it would be.