by Luke Ashton
“Boss, check this out.” Paddy called. Jim span round to see Paddy stood by the left hand concrete wall. Jim walked over to him and he pointed at a small silver call button like you find outside office buildings. On closer examination he found a sign above it that read ‘hold call. Say your name. Release.’ Jim followed the instructions and then waited. After several seconds a voice sounded over a set of speakers hidden in the shadows.
“Hello.” The voice was a pre-recorded message and paused before the recording of Jim saying his own name kicked in. “Jim. You are now entering Sunny Spring. We are a zombie free colony who are focused on reviving humanity past the current crisis. Your safety is our main priority and we have armed guards watching over you twenty four hours a day. All we ask of you. Jim. Is that you help us in return. There are many jobs we need you for from joining our agricultural projects to helping build more homes for our rapidly growing number of survivors. If you wouldn’t mind waiting for just a few minutes you will be joined by our guards. They will check you over along with any of your luggage and vehicles to ensure you are safe to join our colony. They will be armed but don’t be alarmed, they will only fire upon you if they feel threatened. We advise that you keep any weapons you have pointed safely at the floor in a non-threatening way and comply with their every request. While you wait please enjoy some music.” As the voice finished some classical music that Jim didn’t recognise began softly whispering out of the speakers. Jim waited for several minutes listening to the music before digging in his pocket and passing round the cigarettes. After around an hour of idly chatting, cleaning weapons and filling the truck from the Gerry cans he decided he didn’t want to be waiting around all day and called a meeting at the front of the truck.
“Right.” He said as everyone gathered round. “It has been over an hour and no one is coming. I say we try and drive the truck through the door and explain it to whoever is in charge later.” Jim wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do but he had to do something. “I mean after all, we can’t really stay here forever can we?”
“I say we go for it.” Sam agreed. Paddy looked at her and nodded in agreement.
“What if we ram through and the army opens fire on us.” David asked. It was a good point and Jim thought carefully for a moment before answering.
“Chances are they will see a military vehicle and hesitate. As well as that they will see camouflage kit and hesitate further. All we need to do is get through the door and show ourselves.” Jim explained as he lit another cigarette and passed the pack around. David nodded slowly.
“Fuck it. Let’s do it.” He said.
“Good, I’ll drive. Paddy, you’re up with me. Sam, back on the Gimpy. Everyone else stay out of sight to avoid them firing on us.” Jim gave his orders before throwing his cigarette and jumping in the truck. He fired the engine back up and waited for Paddy to give him the nod. It came seconds later to tell him everyone was on board before he slowly rolled the truck up to the gate. There was a small jolt and a metal clunk as it touched and he gunned the engine, pushing the accelerator down to the floor. The engine strained under the pressure and the wheels began spinning on the tarmac that was once part of the road.
“Come on, come on. Just give already.” Jim breathed as he gripped the wheel hard. There was a loud pop that made Jim jump and the truck leapt forward as the gate gave way. It swung open and Jim jumped on the break. He gasped at the view in front of him. He didn’t know quite what he pictured it to look like in his head but it wasn’t this. The scene was just chaos. It hadn’t always looked like this, Jim could see this was once a thriving settlement with an area for shacks, ploughed fields and storage but the scene in front of him was now nothing in comparison. Several of the shacks and storage areas were on fire, the fields were scattered with dead bodies, several zeds here feeding on them. What used to be a water tower was now laid broken on its side. The water still pouring out of it. One of the zeds that were previously wandering across the road was now eyeing the truck suspiciously. David appeared at the window.
“What’s the problem Jim?”
“The settlement’s been overrun.” Jim called back.
“Well why don’t we back up and we will go somewhere else?” David asked.
“We can’t do that I. I locked the gate behind me.” Jim explained as he kicked himself. He thought it would help. “I guess.” He paused slightly. “We have to go through it.”