Hellspawn Dominion

by Ricky Fleet

  “You aren’t that big. And if I’m not mistaken, your clothes seem to be a couple of sizes too large for you now.”

  Winston looked down at the sagging trousers and replacement belt which was buckled tighter than his previous one ever had been. “Do you think so?”

  “I know so,” Sarah agreed with Kurt. “Give it a week or two and you’ll need to bin those baggy tops and find something that fits better.”

  “If only I’d known about the apocalypse diet and fitness regime before the dead came back to life. I may not have been such a loser.”

  “I’ve known losers, and you aren’t one of them,” Kurt proclaimed.

  “You certainly aren’t, sweetheart,” confirmed Sarah. “Now, is your arm hurting? We can put this off until you’re fully recovered if you want.”

  Winston flexed the fingers and moved the limb around. “It’s not that bad. I’m off my face on morphine, which probably helps.”

  “Even more reason to delay it then,” Sarah cautioned.

  “Honestly, it’s fine. I was only joking about being high as a kite. Apart from some itchiness, the medicine just dulls the pain. I don’t feel sleepy or sluggish like I thought I would.”

  “I don’t want to risk hurting you. If you want more time, just say,” Kurt offered.

  “No, we need to do it now. I didn’t disconnect the battery with the switch when I arrived. If we wait much longer it may not start at all.”

  Kurt stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’d sooner lose that machine than you. Everyone in here speaks up for what a good soul you are, and I’m starting to believe it myself.”

  “Even Braiden?” Winston laughed, trying to deflect the awkward praise.

  “Especially Braiden. I’m sure you can appreciate that he used to be the type of person who was your worst nightmare in school. There was a time I’d have run the little bastard over for what he did to Sam. Now we love him as if he was our own child. The fact that he speaks so highly of you is enough of an endorsement for me.”

  “He really says that?” Winston said with surprise. “Most of the time he’s threatening to stab me.”

  “He likes to project this image of being a rebel. Deep down he craves the affection that never came from his real family.”

  “So, he wouldn’t really stab me?” Winston asked.

  “Oh no, he’d stab you. But only if you threatened his family. If you’re part of the family, he would kill for you,” Kurt replied.

  “We all would,” Sarah said.

  “That’s good to know… I guess.” Winston gulped.

  “What I’ve just told you about his past is in strictest confidence, do you understand?”

  “Of course.”

  “And are you sure you want to do this today, honey?” Sarah asked.

  “Yeah. A bit of excitement never killed anyone.”

  Kurt was impressed at his bravery. “Ok, let’s get everyone ready.”

  ***

  Standing atop the wall, the men and women looked down on the silent machine. Hundreds of zombies still surrounded the crane and the nearby stone fortification.

  “We can pick them all off if you can give us twenty minutes,” DB offered.

  “We need to do this quietly. The noise of the rifles will just bring more of them down on us.”

  Braiden nudged Sam in the ribs, “Now’s our chance,” he whispered.

  “Dad?” Sam called.

  “What’s up, mate?”

  “We’ve been thinking. We could go out there and pull them away across the fields.”

  Kurt shook his head. “No, it’s too risky. I don’t want to put anyone in danger.”

  “But you’ll let Winston go out on his own? That’s a bit unfair.”

  “I don’t mind, honestly,” Winston piped up.

  “It’s not really a danger, Dad. They can’t move fast enough to catch us, and if they manage to cut us off from the castle walls we can just hop onto the canal boat,” Braiden explained.

  “I don’t know…”

  “We can cover them from the wall,” said Jonesy.

  “See, Dad,” Sam exclaimed. “We’ll be fine.”

  Kurt looked at Sarah who slowly nodded. “Who’re you going to take with you?”

  “Ian Pringle and Anthony Christopher,” Braiden replied and the two teenage boys stepped forward.

  “They’re a dead shot with the bow and arrow,” Sam explained. “And with my slingshot we can pick them off all day long if we needed to. I’ve got pockets full of bearings and stones.”

  “What if the gate gets surrounded when the crane goes through?” Kurt was looking for any excuse to keep them safe, even though he knew it was selfish.

  “We’ve been practicing on the ropes. We can climb them like monkeys now.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’ve been planning something like this for a while,” he suggested, suspicion evident from his narrowed eyes.

  The students all shuffled their feet, looking at anything other than Kurt.

  “I thought so, you sneaky buggers. We’ll talk about this more afterwards,” Kurt muttered.

  “Is that a yes?” Sam pressed.

  “It’s a yes, but don’t be surprised if I put you over my knee later and give you a bloody good spanking!”

  “I’m too old for that!” Sam hollered, running off with the boys to get their weapons.

  “You’re never too old for a thrashing!” Kurt called back, grinning.

  “They’ll be fine,” Sarah whispered. “They just want to prove themselves and show off to the others. I remember a time when you did the same with me.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “I take it you’ve forgotten the first holiday we took? The balcony hopping in our hotel complex?” Sarah replied, eyebrow raised.

  “That sounds far too dangerous. Only an idiot would do something so foolish just to impress their new bit of skirt.”

  “I was your fiancée by then, asshole,” Sarah slapped his arm. “And yes, it was stupid. I could’ve kicked your ass for scaring me so much.”

  “It all worked out, though. Didn’t it?”

  “This will too.”

  ***

  “How many are there outside?” Sam called up to Patricia.

  “Six at the gate. There’s eight more of them fifty yards to the south.”

  “Ok, let them in,” Braiden growled.

  Peter drove the vehicle away from its position against the gate. Denise slid the bolts, backing away as the weight of the dead pushed it open. Before the first zombie could take a step, an arrow whistled forward, burying itself in the eye socket. Crumpling to the ground, its companions moved around the body. Sam’s slingshot twanged, the bearing embedding in a brain with a wet crunch. Braiden took the opportunity while they reloaded and skewered one of the zombies through the temple with his screwdriver. Seconds later, the rest of the small group had been slain, clearing the way.

  “All clear. Be careful out there,” Denise whispered.

  “You ready?” Braiden asked Ian and Anthony.

  Their nerves had jumped a few notches at the sight of the open gate. Being on the other side of the massive stone walls had been fine in theory, even thrilling. Ten simple paces would see it become a reality.

  “Fuck it, let’s go,” Ian raged, trying to psych himself. Remembering the lady stood close by, he apologised for the swear.

  “No need, sweetie. Give ‘em hell!”

  Led by Sam and Braiden, they ran through the shadows and out into the light.

  “No heroics. We’re a diversion, nothing more,” Braiden said.

  “We’ve got your back, boys!” DB yelled from the ramparts.

  Walking east towards the canal boat, the small group that Patricia had identified gave chase.

  “We kill these and then we can pull the main horde away from the crane,” Sam explained.

  Anthony and Ian pushed a few arrows into the soil at their feet. Nocking their
bows, they waited. Sam was more confident in his skill and picked a couple off as they approached. When the remaining six got within twenty yards, the archers drew their arrows and let fly at the fastest moving creatures. Ian’s pierced through the forehead, but Anthony’s was wide by a foot.

  “Sorry, I’m just nervous.”

  Sam killed the zombie before it could become a threat. “It’s no different to the corridors when we took the castle. Remember, just take your time, the next one’s yours.”

  Ian had destroyed another and was already drawing the bowstring for his next shot. Anthony took a deep breath, drew, and loosed. The red flight fluttered as it found its mark, punching through the soft eye before bursting through the back of the creature’s skull.

  “I knew you could do it,” Braiden said with a wink.

  “Thanks.”

  A dull thud indicated the last cadaver had been slain, so the four boys jogged south towards the heavier concentration of undead. The adults and fellow students watched from above, nervous in spite of the high-powered assault rifles which watched over them.

  Braiden let out a wolf whistle. “Grubs up! Come and get it!”

  Sam, Anthony, and Ian commenced hollering and jeering the dead. Losing interest in the flesh on the wall, they obeyed their inhuman instinct and followed. Staying close, the boys danced and sang, ensuring they were the sole object of the milky eyed attention.

  “It’s all you now, buddy!” Sam called out and Winston saluted.

  ***

  “Wait,” Kurt whispered, holding the teen back.

  The distraction team were working like a charm, luring the zombies away. Spreading out, the boys made sure to keep the attention of any stragglers at the back who may be tempted to return to the crane.

  “Now!” Kurt hissed.

  Sarah tossed the jerry can over the wall, playing out the rope until it touched down by the side of the machine. Winston took hold of the second rope, complete with knotted handholds down its entire length. A moment of vertigo took hold as his legs flailed in the open air, before wrapping firmly around the cord. Hand over hand, he dropped to the ground, scanning the area for lurking threats.

  “Check the undercarriage,” Jodi warned. “The bastards can get themselves wrapped around the axles.”

  “Thanks for the warning!”

  Sure enough, the shredded remains of a couple of zombies reached fruitlessly. Their arms were gone, sharp protrusions of bone and tattered flesh replacing the missing limbs.

  “Shall I try and kill them?”

  “No, we’ll take care of them when you get to safety.”

  “Ok,” Winston replied.

  Taking the can, he climbed up on the caterpillar tracks. Stepping gingerly across the lumps of gore snagged between the metal, he reached the tank. Tipping the fuel into the vehicle, the dark tube swallowed it gratefully. Capping the jerry can, he carefully lowered it to the ground and Sarah retrieved it. With a resounding clang, the metal bouncing against the stone.

  “Shit! Sorry!”

  Winston looked at the gurgling crowd, but they were too rapt on the tender young flesh on offer to respond to the noise. “It’s ok. Here goes nothing!”

  Staring at the ignition, he prayed for some luck. Twisting the key, the engine turned over weakly and failed to fire. Shit, I can’t believe I didn’t flip the switch.

  “Try again, mate. It may need to draw some of the fuel into the injectors,” Kurt called out.

  Turning the ignition key, Winston watched the yellow glow plug light until it went out. Crossing the fingers on his left hand, he turned it all the way. The starter motor grumbled, energy fading. Just as he was about to give up, it coughed, the fuel finally igniting. Pressing the accelerator, the engine roared, black smoke spewing from the exhaust.

  Winston leaned out of the cab. “Call the others back! I’m going to squash a few of the pus-filled bags of shit on my way in.”

  ***

  “He did it!” Braiden cheered, seeing the claw retract and the boom lower.

  Gloria whistled, waving from the wall to fall back.

  “Let’s get inside. I’d say this was a job well done,” Sam said, beaming.

  As the four dodged around the swarm, they saw Winston veer away from the wall, heading straight for them.

  “What’s he doing?”

  “I think he’s planning on doing a little hit and run,” Braiden replied.

  Denise flung the huge gates open, taking up position outside with Patricia. DB and Jonesy were watching from above, rifles at the ready. The crane’s horn blared, swiftly followed by the impact of steel on bone. Those that were lucky were brushed aside by the collision, the unlucky made disgusting popping sounds as their innards were expelled under the crushing weight. Applause and cheers rang out from the battlements at the destruction and Winston tooted the horn once in reply.

  “Get ready, everyone,” Kurt shouted, joining them at the gate. “There’ll be some clingers accompanying our crazy guest.”

  “Will it fit under the archway?” Sarah asked, a tone of doubt entering her voice.

  “It’ll be tight, but the old girl will fit,” said Kurt.

  Peter moved clear to give the massive machine an unimpeded entry. The swinging arm and boom emerged from the gloom, closely followed by the tracks and heavy body with Winston whooping his enjoyment inside.

  “Seal it up, mate!” Kurt yelled.

  Driving under the arch, the light faded as the two portions of iron reinforced gate slammed shut. Denise dropped the bolts and stood to one side. Peter crept forward inch by inch until he felt the vehicle meet resistance. Pulling the handbrake, he turned off the engine and joined the others just as the dead reached the barricade. Their incessant hammering could not drown out the jubilation of a well fought mission.

  CHAPTER 28

  Hombre was moving cautiously through the dense underbrush, stepping on patches of bare earth to deaden the footfalls. The sounds of furtive movement were still drifting between the thick trunks as he forged deeper into the shadows. It lacked the uncoordinated bumbling quality of a zombie which could be identified from miles away as they thrashed between destinations. A huff and snort came from behind a sprawling briar patch. Sidling backwards slowly into a small nook of hedge, Hombre removed the ice axe and waited. A twig snapped and leaves rustled. Holding his breath, axe at the ready, he was awestruck when a small deer stepped into view. The creature was on guard, glancing around for any danger with big, brown eyes. That it had survived at all was nothing short of a miracle.

  “Go on, get out of here!” Hombre said, revealing himself.

  With a startled bleat, the doe jumped and bolted out of sight. The sounds of hasty retreat crashed through the woodland for a short while and Hombre paused, listening for anything that may have been drawn to it. No moans broke the still morning, so he rounded the prickly thicket and moved on. Craig would be eager to hear of the wild animals that still roamed the countryside. If they could hunt them, it would provide an excellent source of protein for the important prisoners. It would certainly be better than eating the other meat on offer. After the generator and fuel had been secured, he would borrow a rifle and see about bringing some juicy venison back.

  The sounds of many clacking teeth brought him to a dead halt. They belonged to at least four distinct zombies if his hearing was still up to scratch. With axes at the ready, he tiptoed silently towards the disturbance. Dangling from a tree branch were four empty nooses. Their strangled victims all lay on the leaf covered ground, snapping heads separated from the bodies. After taking their own lives and reanimating, they had obviously thrashed in the air until the flesh and tendons of their compressed necks had decayed. Staring at the scene, he felt revulsion at their cowardice.

  “Fucking pussies. Why not go out fighting?”

  Lining up, he took a couple of steps backward and then ran at the first. Swinging his boot, the steel toe connected with the male head, sending it flying off into the distance wit
h a sickly crunch. Wrapping the long, blonde hair of the second around his hand, he lifted the woman’s head. Trying to crack it against a tree trunk, the scalp tore away mid swing and the hairless skull tumbled away. Sniffing at the locks, the scent of shampoo had long ago been replaced by the fetid stench of rot. I wonder how I would look as a blonde? he thought, lifting the gory hairpiece. Maggots writhed on the remaining scraps of meat, so he laughed and tossed it away before trying it on. The two remaining brains were mashed beneath his boot heel. After wiping the gore away on the soft foliage of the ground, he quickly checked the pockets of the decapitated bodies. Nothing of value presented itself.

  In the next clearing, fresh rabbit droppings were scattered far and wide. Between the dense grass, burrow holes showed recent tracks of the animals hiding within. He added rabbit stew to the growing menu alongside the delicious venison steaks. If they could dry cure the meat, it would last even longer, reducing the pressure on the dwindling grocery store stocks. Over the tops of the trees, the first high rise apartment complex could be seen. According to the map, a few hundred feet further would take him out onto the grounds of a school.

  Reaching the chain link, Hombre caught sight of the deer on the outskirts of the playing fields. The dead had trampled most of the fencing around the perimeter allowing the doe easy passage across the open ground. A loud crack from the side of the school building startled him. An inhuman shriek emanated from the stricken beast as blood flowed from the gunshot wound in its side. After taking a few unsteady steps, the animal fell to the ground, the air misting with its final breath.

  “Fucking ‘ave it!” yelled a man’s voice. “I told you it would come back.”

  “Let’s get it loaded and back to the others.”

  The men emerged from their hiding place, leading two blinkered horses. Quickly mounting up, they galloped over to the fallen creature. Expertly binding the front and back legs, they wrestled the carcass onto the biggest horse before securing it in place. Jumping back on their steeds, they pulled the reins and trotted north through a break in the treeline just as the first inquisitive zombies arrived.