by Cenz Barone
Even though Kenny himself had never had any runs in with the police in all his life, let alone sat in the back of a police car, this was all so novel to him. The man on the checkpoint stared inside the back window of the car Kenny was in to take a closer look at him. The man on the checkpoint was a young man with a rifle around his shoulder, and then just waved towards a colleague further ahead as the car started up and drove on through the open point. Kenny could not even recall what was shared between the driver and the man on the checkpoint.
The car drove about 600 meters inside the compound, the driver, knowing where to go until they stopped outside a building which was outside of a larger building and was a large building which was thick on the outside and there was large doors visible to Kenny who remained seated until the driver stepped outside the car and went towards the side of the backseat Kenny was in and the driver opened the door. The female voice said “Out”. The driver, all Kenny knew of her was her name from the house stared up at her. She was looking at him through her mask, those large black hidden bug eyes of the gas mask. It was impossible for him to make out her manner beyond the commanding tone of her voice, she had a no-nonsense tone.
Kenny asked her “Why am I here?” Nancy not wasting time went inside the car and took hold of Kenny’s arms, which he could not resist due to the handcuffs and lifted him up. She ignored his groans of pain as well as his question and just pointed towards the building she had parked outside with her free hand. Kenny lowered his head and walked towards it, knowing she would not be forthcoming with answering his questions. All he reasoned was the noises and sounds of gunfire were far from where he was, he could tell this by the sounds in the distance, being carried closer by the wind.
Kenny stopped walking as the police officer stood near the car and she was intimidating to look for him, due to her silence and the way she was kitted out. Nancy remained patient, allowing Kenny to survey the scene. He wished would have taken off his handcuffs but there he stood, the rain trickling down, the cold wintery wind blowing lightly around him. He stood still as Nancy had moved to the front of the car and held her weapon which Kenny took as a sign she wanted him to move on which he did and he headed towards the building and he remained waiting for her, he turned to face her and could not move anymore due to the door requiring being pulled and he was handcuffed. Nancy moved a few paces towards Kenny, and she was not using force at this point but was giving him space and being reserved on purpose. Her subtle movements designed to let Kenny know she was in charge. Kenny could not help but think how ridiculous it was.
Finally Nancy headed towards him and stood right beside him, and then she nudged him to the side as Kenny said “Hey, there is no need to do that. I am listening to you aren’t I?” the reason Nancy was keeping such a distance and being reserved was she was still unsure whether or not Kenny had been bitten, or was infected somehow, even though the car drive she took on and how he appeared told her he was not, but she was cautious by experience. Nancy now opened the door without saying anything to Kenny and she merely used her head to nod in the direction of going within the building. Kenny entered, with Nancy beside him, taking her time and observing Kenny.
As Kenny entered he could tell this spacious and overbearing building had to be the localised campus security building, each university he had been in had something similar, and was often designed as mini-police station. Kenny wondered momentarily about the others he had been rescued with, but unbeknownst to him, those others had been taken towards the main area or hub with other people who had been rescued from the surrounding streets. As Kenny walked further into the building, he appreciated more of the inner designs, and it was quite big in the foyer area, the security station was top of the range with good security and open wide spaces, it looked as though it was built within the last few years. Kenny noticed a table to the side which was the reception desk and Nancy then used her machine gun to direct Kenny towards the desk, he was standing still observing the rest of the building, he was amazed how big it looked inside compared to how it seemed outside.
While Kenny walked towards the desk, the other group he had been with had also parted ways when they were in the main rescue centre. Laura and Melissa went off to search for ways to get into contact with their parents who they hoped had made it to a rescue station in their home cities as well as search out other friends of theirs who might be within the current rescue station, while Grant and Elise went off to look for their partners who they hoped had made it to a safe rescue station, ideally this particular one or one nearer where they lived just outside Oxford. All along the inner university main hall however were large notice boards and televisions with people writing down names for family and friends who might be looking for them or looking out for others. They were shuffling around amongst 100s of people. It was packed. Cherie did not have much family and so did not know what to do, so she tried to find a pay phone to contact someone back in Bath, where she was from.
Meanwhile within the university security station, Kenny was told to go and sit down on some waiting chairs before the reception desk by the guard, who occasionally watched him from behind the desk, but remained cold and indifferent to Kenny. The police officer Nancy who had brought him within had departed briefly, the guard behind the desk was a white haired man with a beer belly, who sat on the desk with his hands behind his head, coming across as quite cocky after having written some notes. He then turned towards Kenny near the bench, still handcuffed and finding it was hurting his wrists at this point to a point it was becoming intolerable. The guard behind the desk asked him “Come on son. I have not got all day”.
Kenny stood up and shuffled over as the guard with a smirk said “Stop feeling sorry for yourself” the guard reading Kenny’s down and depressed facial expression. Kenny did not reply but just came to stand before the wooden desk. Kenny noticed the computer and the guard had an erotic magazine barely covered with some pieces of paper. Kenny waited as the guard asked “So what have you been brought in for?” Kenny himself was unsure what to say and was unable to reply, the guard asked again “I asked you a question boy. What have you been brought in for?” Kenny looked around but the lady police officer had not returned so he said “I think it was because I was defending myself”.
The guard glared at him and then burst into a snigger, as the guard said “Defending yourself you say. I suppose you need to with what’s going on out there, it does not matter to me though son. Soon enough all will all be under control. Anyways, what is your name boy” Kenny was amazed with the guard’s casual attitude so he asked the guard did Kenny “Don’t you know what is going on out there?” the guard looked at him, sensing Kenny’s seriousness as Kenny added “I mean why don’t you ask me why I defended myself”. The guard had a momentary lapse of composure, it was clear facially to Kenny. The guard then stated “I don’t give a fuck! All I care about is doing my job, so shut up”. His tone was harsh and the guard annoyed started knocking the pen onto the wooden desk near the piece of paper. Kenny was staring at the guard who now focused on Kenny, annoyed Kenny was not forthcoming with his name. The guard now stated “I am well aware about what is happening out there. So why don’t you just tell me your name, and make it easier on both of us”.
Kenny felt his stomach churn because he just wanted to get this over with so he said “My name is Kenny Splint”. The man next asked “What is your address Kenny?” to which Kenny replied “310 Maple Ridge Bristol”. The guard looked him up and down and said incredulously “You are from Bristol, what are you doing in this part of the country kid?”
Dizzily Kenny answered, staring straight ahead trying to ignore the pain from being handcuffed as he replied “I was sitting exams and enquiring about buying a house. That’s why I am here”. The man laughed and asked amusingly “Do you still want to buy a house down here?” Kenny did not answer to which the guardsman said as though trying to be sympathetic “I have not heard how the situation is in Bristol, I don’t think it’s as bad as it
is over here but I know no matter what god forsaken thing this is it will never cure the irritating Bristol eon accent you have” he continued making snipes at Kenny’s expense.
Kenny just glared at him and said “I don’t have the fucking accent, I live on the outskirts” the guard just ignored him. At this point the front doors burst open and in walked two police officers, wearing their masks, Kenny immediately recognised despite them wearing riot gear and their gas masks, it was the tall man who entered the house he was rescued from named Steve and the female who drove him into this rescue station named Nancy. The guardsman stood to attention as he watched them walk over towards the desk. They both stood looking at Kenny and then at the guardsman, Kenny looked pitiful with his hands behind his back as the guardsman waited on what was to be said.
Steve took off his mask and took a deep breath, the first time he had taken his mask off for a while. He was a man in his 40s with brownish hair and dark eyes, and he had a lot of wrinkles and a frown on his face, one of those faces which always look constantly pissed off. Steve said to the guardsman “This man has been arrested for the murder of three people” Kenny angrily told him “How can you arrest me, you have seen what is going on out there. People are killing other people. All I did was defend myself from being attacked. I did not murder anyone in cold blood”. Steve stared at Kenny but ignored him as he seemed irate and stated to the guard behind the desk “His friends will be here shortly”. Steve now looked at Nancy still with her gasmask on and asked her “Have you located them Nancy?” Nancy just shook her head and answered “No Sir, Paul and Davies are looking for them both! We have no idea where they are”.
In frustration Steve said “God damn kids, how can Paul and Dave lose them, its unprofessional I made it clear I wanted them kept together and not to let them go with the other people we rescued”. Kenny pleaded to Steve “Please Sir. I am not a criminal, I was just...” Steve raised his voice to interrupt Kenny and said “You were breaking the law, regardless of what has happened, what you did was extremely serious and those bodies I saw in that house were not like the attackers, except the girl”. Kenny was dumbfounded “But it is the bites which make people turn, all three of them were bitten”. Steve looked visibly horrified, he did not want to admit to what Kenny was saying because Steve had seen it so many times, even though he felt it was all lies and exaggeration so he turned to the guardsman and shouted “Put him behind bars Clint, with the others I don’t want to see him anymore”. “I need to take his details, he has only given me his name and address” said the guard but Steve angrily replied “We will do it later, just put him away with the others” as Steve was commanding him.
“What others?” Kenny asked wondering what else was happening, and who else was locked up, Clint the guard was unhappy and in a flustered state said “Steve, I told you it’s over full. Do not get me wrong you’re a commendable policeman, an enthusiast for arresting people even with all that is happening, but this is no fucking good. The resources for this crummy shithole cannot contain nor match your enthusiasm. We already have 50 individuals in a cell compartment that should only hold 25. We could be in trouble, no more mate I am sorry, it’s not my job to take risks. I am going to lose my job Steve to those human right cunts and I am retiring in a few years and I want a clean record, nothing to risk my pension. So I am sorry but you have to find someplace else for him, I have given you way too much leeway”. Steve turned to Nancy ignoring Clint and said “Fine, you take him somewhere isolated. Take him upstairs, keep him in the office cage up there, and stay with him; I will bring up the other kids later so we can take statements. Once I find them that is, but I have so much other stuff to do”.
Nancy did not reply to Steve but she eased off her gun which was secured to her by a rope over the shoulder. Nancy pointed to a side door which Kenny nervously walked towards, Nancy stood in front of him and he followed her. Nancy then took off her mask as Kenny could see she was an attractive blonde woman with sparkly blue eyes and stood at 5’6 in her late 20s. He did not expect this face to be behind the harsh voice he had heard ordering him when she wore the mask. As they entered the large doors which swung open then shut, they went down the gradient and Kenny was passing where various men and women were held. All separated it seemed according to sex. When the people in the cells noticed Nancy walking through, some were pleading to be released while others were shouting abuse at how outrageous it was for them to be locked up. All were adamant they were innocent and needed to see their families. Kenny could not get over how many there were, Nancy was deaf to it all and did not answer or rise to their pleas or abuse.
Once they reached the elevator Nancy pressed floor 9 as she waited for the lift. At this point Nancy turned towards Kenny and studied him up and down, he merely looked ahead but sympathetically Nancy asked him “Are your cuffs too tight” Kenny shook his head not wishing to engage in a conversation with her about his handcuffs even though they were. All Kenny wanted was answers, so he asked her “Please, do you know what is going on?” Nancy turned back to the elevator doors and replied “I only know as much as you. Please watch your step”. The elevator doors opened and she gripped him by the handcuffs and both of them entered the elevator, Nancy hit the button for their chosen floor and the elevator took them up. Kenny was just shaking his head to himself in despair.
Nancy was studying around the elevator, wondering what was going on outside herself and she had so many questions about not just what was happening but how the police and military were conducting themselves. To her it was difficult to grasp whether or not they were doing the right thing but she had to remind herself how unprecedented this all was, so she had to trust in and follow the orders given to her.
One the elevator reached its designated floor. The elevator doors opened up and Nancy led him through a short corridor and into another room. Kenny was just so pleased he was safe. Nancy could see Kenny was scared and was not going to cause her trouble but she nevertheless led him towards an open cell inside the large office area. Kenny obediently stood still, waiting for her direction, as Nancy took out a key and opened the open cell, she stood near it and Kenny now felt Nancy took his hands with the cuffs, and she placed the key inside, taking his handcuffs off.
Kenny was seen stretching out his hands. Nancy was patient as Kenny now walked inside the cell. Kenny did not wait for her instruction to do so. Nancy closed the mesh fence door behind him, which was a mesh fence for the walls as well and once she locked it she said again with a tone of sympathy “Behave okay. It will help me out and help you get out of here quicker”. Kenny asked her, pleading “Can I try and phone my family please! Maybe here the signal is better than at the house I was in and I have misplaced my mobile phone”. Nancy had her own purpose to use the phone so answered “One minute, I need to use the phone first, just relax okay”. Nancy walked towards a desk as Kenny watched her do so. He sat down on the edge of the bed. Nancy dialled a number and was patient as it rang and then she spoke to a colleague “Daniel it is Nancy, do you need any more blankets and pillows. Uh huh, well call Trudy from the logistics, she will get everything. I have a message from Officer Peters. The message is there are over 300 people dead in the shower room of school section 8. The bodies are going to be put in classes, most of the killers are in quarantine, so we only have to do whatever the military instruct, and they need manpower. So I am just passing on orders” Nancy was now quiet as her colleague was speaking over her and then she pensively said “Okay. Like I said I was just passing on information, so be prepared for that instruction”.
Kenny could not help but listen in to what words Nancy was saying, it was surreal. He thought 300 dead in the shower room in a school section. Did she mean the university and killers are in quarantine, what does that mean he wondered. Killers like those people in a trance, those dead things or people like himself who was acting in self-defence. Nancy hang up the phone so Kenny inquired “You really are arresting them aren’t you, I saw when you came to the street e
arlier in those vans you were putting people into them, how can you do that. They were possessed, those you weren’t shooting you were arresting, it doesn’t make sense”.
Nancy sat down on the chair near the desk and placed her gas mask on the table. She wiped her eyes and looked across at Kenny. The room was in darkness with only partial light from outside, so she informed him “We have to do it. It is our orders, it is our job. We rescue people, arrest people who have committed crimes like you, and those who are attacking if it is safe for us, we try to arrest them and lock them up”.
Kenny was unsure had this policewoman seen what he had been seeing so he said “I shot one of them, I shot them four times and they kept coming. I shot it in the heart, in the throat, and even in the stomach. But it kept coming” referring to the house massacre as he added “They were not intending to attack us until they got injured and died but when they die they are relentless. The one I shot kept coming. Do you really think I did the wrong thing in that house with everything happening?”
He was desperate as he stood up and went to the cage, and angrily disclosed “None of this is normal. I was just defending myself”. Nancy was quiet and not answering, she was following her instruction to maintain her position next to Kenny and felt it was a waste of her time and resources, for the rest of her colleagues and for her to be up here, even though she deep down was thankful to be off the streets. Kenny said fearfully “I still cannot believe I am under arrest when being out in those streets all I could think about was finding help, finding the police and you do this to me”.
Reassuringly Nancy told him “It’s not about what I think, you are under arrest under the suspicion of murder. That’s all I know and want to know, here, use the phone, phone your family and let them know you are safe”. Nancy brought the phone which was wireless towards Kenny and she placed it through the gap near the door for him as she said “And Kenny, you won’t be prosecuted they are already letting people go. My commander, the man who arrested you is just trying to make sense of it all by following the book, he’s a pro that way, and he will keep us all safe. So just don’t make any trouble okay for me” she hanged the phone there and said to him “Now try phone your family, and tell them you are safe”. Kenny sighed as he said “You could have fooled me” he took the phone and Nancy replied “I know what’s going on is not normal but just keep calm, okay, hear that gunfire, the army are here, the National Guard, the marines and even the air force. There are also people from the government in the region to. They are bringing it under control so it’s all going to be fine”.