Zed Days (Book 1)

by Harland, Nick

  Eve nodded and got Seven ready. She still hadn’t done much face to face killing with Seven, at least not without a fence to protect her. The Zeds were quite spread out and we both climbed onto franks bonnet and waited for them. With them coming one at a time it was an easy few minutes, although we were both sore from the night before, and they were definitely getting faster as well as smarter. Soon there were no more Zeds and we searched a few pockets and found a couple of sets of keys.

  We both wanted to be clean when we left for the caravan place so we investigated the houses the Zeds who had keys on them came from before going to Eve’s old house. Fighting in the confines of a house was always risky so Eve had her gun ready and for the first time she gave me the other one rather than leave me with the old Werlod. We let Mutt go first as he had better instincts and must have been able to smell them. I thought it was only fair really, as they could apparently track his poo from miles away. He knew where they were without a fault and growled to let us know. He would growl, the Zed would come out of the room, and we would kill it. It worked well.

  We collected what tins and other non-perishable food and drinks we could and dumped them in Frank. The first house had a decent looking three year old BMW estate a key fitted. Eve found a pen and paper and wrote the address and car down and folded the keys inside the paper. We took the handbrake off as we left and I had to slow the cars roll so it wouldn’t make too much noise as it hit a wall.

  The second house had some more supplies but the key we had only fitted a baby blue fiat 500, it was cute, but next to useless except maybe for fuel to come back to. We took the handbrake off anyway. The road was still clear when we had gone through both houses and although it would have been good to investigate some others while it was quiet, we had other things on our mind.

  Having a steamy hot shower again was good, but having it with Eve was fantastic. I gave her instructions and she followed them willingly, she proved to be a talented submissive. I couldn’t deal with being called master or anything but Eve started to refer to herself as Missy rather than Mistress and it worked for me. It made me think of some backwoods American farmers’ daughter with huge virtually untouched tits who was used to doing what she was told, so I went with it.

  I made sure Eve checked every part of me was clean before we got out of the shower and then she moisturised both of us with what I assume was really expensive stuff that should probably have lasted months. Giving her instructions and teasing her felt stilting at first when all I wanted to do was fuck her and not stop, but our session went well. I remembered her story about the female shooting instructor she had screwed for ages and I made her tell me in detail what she would be doing if she were with us as well. I made her tell me about what they did to each other and what she would like to do to her in front of me. It added an element we both really enjoyed.

  When we were collapsed on the bed next to each other getting our breath back Eve said, ‘That was good. I’ve never pretended someone else was there before and you chose well. I’m sure she’ll be joining us again soon. I know we planned to go to the caravan place but we don’t know how long the drive could take or what to expect. I think it’s a bit late to start out now. Why don’t we stay in the panic room tonight and leave in the morning. I don’t even think we should search any more houses, we’re tired and could both use some comfortable down time.’

  I looked at her and said, ‘You read my mind.'

  We got going shortly after sunrise having fallen asleep really early. We both groaned to get up and dressed, both of our shoulders feeling even worse than they did the day before. The caravan shop was just under twenty miles away and there was some dual carriage way to get there. I hoped our path wasn’t blocked but Frank could go over or around most things so I was confident we’d make it. I didn’t think the shop itself would be particularly busy. I didn’t remember it being busy when I was younger, but I wondered if any other survivors might have thought it would make a good base too. I wish I’d thought about is it sooner, but not so soon I didn’t find Eve.

  Eve drove and had to be creative at times, even driving though a field at one point before crashing through a wooden gate at the other end to get back onto the road. There had been a big pile-up and fire that completely blocked the road. There weren’t too many Zeds on the main roads away and we managed to avoid most of the ones that must have got out of cars. Frank seemed OK but many of the panels had dents and scratches and there were some squeaks and rattles that hadn’t been there before our shopping trip. I knew if we ever lost Frank we would never be as safe travelling again, and that we’d have a really hard time replacing him.

  We reached the unassuming front of the Caravan centre. Through the gates was carpark out front with four parked cars. A high fence much like the one around the old base surrounded the whole place. The front gates were open. The main part of the plot was behind and to the side of the main building past the car park and there was another set of very sturdy gates between the car park and outdoor sales and storage areas. The gates to the storage area looked locked. We stayed in the car for a few minutes after turning the engine off but nothing came. We got out and I used a bike lock to secure the gates. The simple double doors to the building were open and we went into the short wide hall with a window to the main office on one side before going through another set of doors to the main area.

  The building was as big as I remembered, almost like a small aircraft hangar. It was two stories high but only had one comparatively small upstairs area with lots of awnings. The whole downstairs area had polished concrete floors. The more expensive new vans were lined up to the left and right of the entrance, marching away from the doors as I remembered they were. They were like trees lining a road that led to the accessories shop at the back of the first area.

  There were no Zeds to be seen which was good, but there were blood and goo trails on the floor where bodies had been dragged away. We followed one trail to behind one of the vans closest to a corner and found three dead Zeds and two dead bodies. We looked at each other and I think we were both feeling the same think, a mix of excitement and trepidation at finding evidence of another survivor.

  I couldn’t help but make a joke, it came to me too quickly and was too good to let go. I said, ‘Maybe it’s Patricia.’ Patricia was her old shooting instructor who’d joined us during our last session.

  Eve laughed, ‘Now that would be something. You’ve been good so far, but could you still obey mistress if you had to watch her pleasure another woman. Imagine you face resting on her soft warm tummy so close to her you could feel the heat while I pleasured her. I’d do everything we imagined earlier and so much more.’

  I was about to reply when we heard a muffled bang come from the far side of the area. Eve had her gun out before I even looked back at her. I held the pry bar and we quietly made our way towards the sound. The main inside area was split into two and the sound seemed to come from the other half where there were more caravans and three camper vans for sale.

  As we approached we heard the sound of someone or something moving around in one of the vans. We were just about to sneak up to it when the door opened and a scruffy, rotund, middle-aged man with balding brown hair carrying a tyre iron stepped out. He saw us, dropped the tyre iron which clattered loudly onto the concrete floor, and put his hands in the air. We were as surprised as he was and before either of us could speak, he said, stuttering slightly to begin with, ‘Welcome to Green Glade Caravans, my names Bill, how can I help you?’

  Chapter Thirteen – Bill

  Eve and I lowered our weapons and smiled at each other, plainly Bill wasn’t a threat, though I wasn’t very sure how useful he would be either. Eve replied, ‘Hi Bill, I’m Eve and this is Brad, have you been here since the start, are there any live Zeds anywhere in the compound?’

  Bill relaxed a little and replied, ‘Yes, I’ve been here since the start and yes there are three moving around in the van storage area out back, my boss and a coupl
e who came to collect their van. We’re safe in here though. I hate to ask so soon, but have you got any food, I’m really hungry. I also ran out of water this morning.’

  I was hesitant to leave Eve alone with him, I felt weirdly jealous. She was mine and I didn’t want to share her with anyone. I knew I was being stupid but couldn’t help the feelings. I put my hand on her shapely bum and said, ‘Of course, I’ll be back in a jiffy, if you fire up a stove of some form we can have something hot and a cup of tea.’ Relief washed over Bill’s face and as I went back to the car I couldn’t help thinking he looked a little pathetic.

  I opened up Frank and pulled out a rucksack full of food and water. I grabbed an extra couple of bottles of water and felt a pang of concern as I did so. With an extra mouth to feed we weren’t exactly doing great for water ourselves. I returned to find Bill and Eve firing up a couple of the top end outdoor stoves from the accessories area. I dumped the bag down, fished out a small bottle of water and handed it to Bill. He took it and said, ‘Thanks a lot.’ before downing it.

  I found a couple of tins of beans with sausages and some crumpled white bread that wouldn’t be edible for very much longer. I knew they pumped it full of crap to make it last that long but I was glad they did. Bill looked longingly at the food and even licked his lips, I felt sorry for him. We put the beans in a pan on one stove and some water in a kettle on the other.

  Eve asked Bill, ‘Can you tell us what happened. Obviously we know about the Zombie apocalypse but tell us what happened here, how did you survive?’

  Bill shuffled in the camping chair he was sitting in and told his story, ‘I came to work as usual and had several services to do so it was going to be a busy day. I was checking something out under a display van after a customer said it was squeaking when they walked around in it. Then I heard some shouting and screaming and saw someone fall onto the floor over there with someone else on top of them who was trying to bite chunks out of their neck. I froze.’

  The chaos carried on and there was more shouting and screaming and more people falling onto the floor. I saw one of the sales guys fighting off one of the people who seemed to have gone crazy. He got them, or it, to the ground but his arm got bitten in the process. He came over to the van I was under and found a tyre iron in my bag. Then he hit the one he’d managed to knock over in the head before it could get up. Then he seemed to lose it and went wild shouting, “Come get some you”….I won’t say those words. A few minutes later I saw him fighting off two of them and although he killed one the other pushed him onto the ground and took a chunk out of his neck at the same time as he buried the sharp end of the tyre iron in its skull. It was horrid.’

  ‘Then it was quiet, really quiet. I waited for what seemed like hours, still hidden under the van. Eventually I came out and grabbed the tyre iron. I’ve been here ever since. I tried to call the police but there was no answer. Then I heard the radio messages. I went outside to look around and saw people who definitely weren’t themselves walking along the middle of the road and cars crashed into fences, so I came back in.’

  ‘All the bad people must have been attracted by the fighting because I couldn’t find anyone else left alive. I looked out of the back door to the outside display area and it was clear, but when I looked at the area where we store other peoples’ van’s I saw my manager and two others walking around aimlessly and figured they must have turned too. The small gate to the area shuts itself with a spring and they didn’t see me so I came back here. I’ve been here ever since. The water stopped after a few days but there are a few taps around and water in the pipes so I survived on that. We don’t stock any food so all I’ve had is what people brought for lunch and a few sweets people had in their office draws.’

  I went over it all in my mind and none of it was very surprising except one thing perhaps. I asked, ‘So you haven’t killed a single one so far?’

  Bill looked blank and a little shocked by the question, ‘No, I hid and didn’t need to. The sales guy got the last one but was dead a minute later. I’ve dragged the bodies into the corners so I didn’t have to look at them. How many have you had to kill?’

  Eve looked at me and nodded. I replied, ‘Excluding road kill it’s hard to say but the night before last was really busy, at least two hundred between us I suppose, maybe more. Including roadkill, much more than double that.’

  Bill’s mouth dropped and he stopped stirring the bubbling beans and sausages. Eve turned off the stove and said, ‘It’s ok Bill, we’re here now and this place should make an excellent base. Our last base was ok but got overrun. At least we know more about them now than we did before though. We have loads of gear and a tripped out survivalist Range Rover we can get around and scavenge in.’

  Bill’s eyes lit up, ‘Is it the 4.4 V8 or the 5 litre petrol?’

  Eve hesitated a moment then answered, ‘It’s the 4.4. In an apocalypse you need torque not speed. It’s mapped to 390, has a snorkel, raised upgrade suspension, huge off road tyres, bullet proof glass, very useful sky roof, and bull bars front and back. We would probably be dead without it.’

  Bill looked in awe at us and there was an uncomfortable silence I broke with, ‘Breakfasts ready. If anyone wants fried bread we have some oil and could put one of those fancy looking grill pans on the stove.’

  Bill replied, ‘Yes please’ then got some plates out and started to portion out the beans while Eve made the tea. I wished I liked black coffee, it would have been so much easier. Have I mentioned I really missed proper milk.

  We had breakfast and we could both see Bill’s eyes occasionally flick to the doors. Eventually I asked, ‘Is something worrying you, you keep looking at the doors, are you expecting trouble.’

  Frank blushed, No, it’s..I would.’

  Eve had guessed why he was distracted and rescued him, ‘Why don’t you come out and see the car, we could use some help unloading it anyway.’

  Bill was on his feet immediately and looked at Eve. She added, ‘I have a sip of tea left, why don’t you go out and have a look, it’s open and the keys are in it. We’ll be there in a minute.’

  Bill walked off at a brisk pace and Eve looked at me, ‘I don’t think he’s going to be useless after all. I think if we’re lucky he’s a true geek, and a car geek. Not the kind of fan boy geek who gets obsessed by a subject, but whose head is turned by the first pair of breasts that talk to him, the kind of geek who never thinks of anything else.’

  ‘I mean, he hasn’t stared at my tits since we arrived and although he must have seen you put your hand on my bum earlier, it barely registered. He might even be gay. He said he did caravan services so he’s a mechanic. If we’re lucky he couldn’t only tell us the specifications of every car outside but he could change their brakes, strip down their engines, and fix most of the thigs that could go wrong with them.’

  The implications of what she said ran through my mind and yes, I was relived he hadn’t seemed to notice that he had a sex goddess as a fellow survivor. I took her hand and we walked outside to see. Bill was crouched under one of the front wheel arches, a mix of awe and concern on his face. He looked up at us and said, ‘This is a top notch job but this upper control arm is bent and it’s stressing the ball joint. Unless you clean off the...stuff clogging up the undercarriage and shocks things could start to go wrong soon.’

  Eve looked at me and smiled, I smiled and raised my eyebrows in reply. I looked back at Bill who was looking back under Frank’s wheel arch again, ‘So you said you service caravans, if you had the right tools can you also fix cars, even cars like this?’

  Bill stood up and looked at us, he obviously wasn’t a stupid man. Even if he was a weird ultra-geek, he knew his situation, ‘Yes. I know I’m not a brave man and I’m an extra mouth to feed but I can keep you rolling. I don’t know a vehicle better than this to have under the circumstances, except for a bespoke armoured car or something, and when I say that it’s not just a throw away comment, you name any vehicle you can think of and I
’ll tell you why this one is better.’

  ‘This car is meant to be tough but you’ve abused it pretty badly, necessarily though I’m sure. You’ve been lucky you haven’t broken anything on it yet and got stranded, which I assume would be very dangerous. You bring me parts and tools and I’ll make sure she’s as good as she can be and ready to roll when you need her. I also know gas, leisure batteries, and caravans, so we can make the most of what’s here. With most of the stored van’s still being here as it’s early in the season we should have enough gas and other supplies for quite a while. If we have to run any electric devices we will have some capacity to do so but even with all the batteries we should still be very careful.’

  I knew what this meant for us and felt a wave of relief flow over me. I held my hand out and said, ‘Deal.’

  He took my hand and shook it and his grip was properly strong, he obviously wasn’t all mouth. Then he shook Eve’s, ‘So what’s the first priority? From my perspective I have a fair few tools but eventually we’ll need some more specialist ones. At some point we’ll need a Range Rover diagnostics kit for error codes and the like, but it can wait a little while. I could also really use some welding gear. If you don’t care what she looks like there are a few things I could do which I think might help. Although some of the parts on this mod would be almost impossible to find in the current situation most can be adapted and replaced from other standard diesels. She’s ok for a little while depending on exactly what you have to put her through, but you never know. The sooner we find a donor vehicle or two and bring them back here the better.’

  Eve looked at me next. I said ‘We’re ok for food but water is an issue, mainly because of washing and cleaning. If it was just for drinking it wouldn’t be so bad. I have a load stored in my old flat but it’s in big containers that aren’t ideal. We need a decent sized supermarket to raid, which should have loads of bottled stuff and other drinks. Though it might be safer to go to the flat first and fill up any empty containers we have. You said there was a big water store above the panic room and we can use that too. For the time being we need containers and water.’