by West, Mark
Aim and shoot. It will be okay.
He closes his eyes, holding the gun on an angle against the lock, hopeful the bullet would head up and out. He winces and pulls the trigger. The gun jolts. There is a loud crack from the barrel and the sound of metal against metal. William opens his eyes to see a smoking hole where the lock used to be. He drops the gun and then pulls back on the latch, surprised that it works. The boot flips open, a wave of heat escapes, causing William to take a step back. Eden is lying in a foetal position, eyes closed, face pale.
He shades her face from the sun and leans in to feel for a pulse. It’s weak, but she’s alive. He gives her a little shake.
‘Eden. Eden.’ Her eyes flutter and close. ‘Talk to me Eden.’
A faint whisper escapes from her lips. ‘Water.’
William runs and grabs a bottle of water from the stuff he had pulled from her bag. He pours a little over her face and head, hoping the evaporation will help to cool her overheated body, then places the bottle to her lips and trickles the reviving liquid into her mouth.
Eden’s parched mouth works slowly, letting the water moisten her dry lips and tongue before swallowing. Eventually her eyes open and she looks up at him.
‘You came back for me.’
‘I’m sorry. I was trying to protect you.’ He lowers his head in shame. ‘I didn’t think about the heat.’ He stares into her eyes, hopeful for forgiveness. ‘You could have died.’
‘But I didn’t. We didn’t.’
‘We need to get out of here. Infected will be coming soon.’
William takes a sip of the water, then reaches in and puts his arm around Eden. Her skin is burning hot.
‘We need to get you into the shade.’
It’s clear she needs rest, but the smell of the Infected is getting stronger. He begins pulling Eden out of the sauna and onto the road. She feels like dead weight.
Eden wobbles a little when she tries to stand. She leans against him and looks at the car.
‘I thought I was going to get crushed.’
William peers back down the highway and spots hazy shadows moving in the distance.
‘We need to get moving.’ He points down through the rows of vehicles. ‘You see?’
Eden squints. ‘There’s more coming.’
She grips William’s arm tighter. He prises himself free and hands her the gun. He then jogs around the car and stuffs Eden’s things back into her bag.
‘Can you walk?’
Eden nods twice slowly. ‘I think so.’
‘Great. C’mon, follow me. I have an idea.’
The pair begin steadily moving back along the road, ducking in and out of vehicles. The silhouettes in the distance are becoming more apparent, low moans now humming through the warm air.
William stops by a Subaru Forester wedged against the concrete barrier dividing north and south bound lanes.
‘This will do.’
Eden looks at the car, confused. ‘Why have we stopped?’
William points to the bonnet. ‘Get on. Quick.’
Eden places a hand on the hood and retracts it right away.
‘Ouch!’ She looks at her hand. ‘It’s too hot.’
William rips cloth from his tattered shirt and wraps it around Eden’s hands.
‘Try that.’
Eden winces as she steps onto the fender, her exposed legs touching the metal.
‘Onto the hood. Now.’ William orders, following Eden up onto the bonnet. His bare hands are burning, but there is no time to complain; he can see Infected running in the distance.
‘Now what?’ asks Eden. ‘We are sitting ducks.’
William hurls the two packs over the barrier and onto the other road.
‘We need to get over. Quickly. It’s our best option.’
Eden leans against the concrete wall and peers down the two and a half metre drop.
‘You can’t be serious?’
William points towards the mob of Infected. ‘Serious enough for you?’
Eden gasps and grips the top of the wall. She pulls herself up and spins around on her stomach. William grips both of her arms and slowly begins lowering her over the side.
‘You good?’ he asks.
Eden nods nervously, legs hanging freely in the air. ‘I think so.’
‘Okay, I’m going to let go on three. One, two …’ He lets go on the third count and Eden falls to the ground on the other side. He leans over to see her lying on the ground.
‘You okay?’
She rubs at a grazed arm and sits up ‘Fine. How will you get down?’
‘Jump.’
William pulls himself up onto the barrier and starts to turn his body. He can see the Infected advancing, shapes of all sizes, snarling and howling like wild creatures. They are less than fifty metres away.
This is it.
He lets go.
Chapter 54
A dark walk
The sound of her cage rattling wakes Victoria. Travis is standing by the door with a set of keys. He has a torch in his hand and is pointing it in her direction.
‘Toilet break,’ he says quietly.
Victoria gets sluggishly to her feet and rubs her eyes.
‘What time is it?’ She peers down towards the end of the barn to the set of open doors, taking in the ominous grey.
‘Doesn’t matter.’ Travis unlocks the cage and takes a step back, shotgun under one arm. He points it warily at Victoria. ‘Move.’ He doesn’t make eye contact.
Victoria walks towards the door of the cage, careful to avoid her fresh vomit in the hay. She looks towards Imelda’s cage, stomach still woozy. ‘What about her?’
Travis taps his foot impatiently. ‘Last chance.’ He goes to close the cage door.
‘Wait.’
Victoria hurriedly exits the cage, grateful to get away from the smell and hopeful she can find an opportunity to escape. If she can’t, she at least wants some answers.
‘Which way?’ she asks, looking around.
‘Door.’ Travis points towards the exit with the gun.
Victoria begins absorbing her surroundings, searching for something to help aid an escape as they walk towards the barn door. More cages like hers line the external walls and there are empty animal pens in the middle. She can spot no other humans.
The horse stirs, startling Victoria. She glances at the animal, catching sight of its worn coat. It’s in the same situation as her; she feels sorry for it.
I hate these people.
Victoria stops at the entrance of the barn and turns around to face Travis. He has a gun pointing at her stomach.
‘Where are we?’
Travis holds a finger to his lips. ‘Shush. No talking.’ He swivels his gun to the left, pointing down a dirt path. ‘Move, but quietly.’
Victoria steps outside and draws in a breath of clean air, grateful to be away from the animal stench. She spots light shining from a window of a small cottage. Three men are sitting at a table, smoking and laughing. She recognises two of the men from before; the one in camouflage and the tall, lanky man who rode her cage. She isn’t sure about the other one but suspects he is just as cruel judging by his long mullet and bulky face.
Monsters.
It’s a bright, clear night and a full moon, and in the distance Victoria can just make out fencing encircling the property and beyond that a blur of trees. There seems to be another shed off to the left, half the size of the barn, and a couple of water tanks running off the tin roof of an old weatherboard house. It’s hard to tell in the moonlight, but everything seems run-down, almost derelict.
‘What is this place?’ she asks.
Travis gives her a glaring look. ‘I told you, no talking.’ He glances towards the house and then back at her.
Victoria catches his eye and begins questioning his motive, wondering what he is up to. Goosebumps erupt across her skin, her mind filling with unwanted, horrific thoughts.
Travis jabs the gun into her side makin
g her wince.
‘Move it. Quick,’ he hisses.
Victoria continues walking, her ribs throbbing. She glances back to the house. If she screams, perhaps they will stop this freak from harming her. But the image of Imelda’s leg makes her think not.
The pair move further and further along a rocky path and away from the house. Victoria is still scanning for a stick or rock to fight back with, but every time she slows, Travis jabs the gun in her ribs. The only thing she can do now is to try and reason with him – perhaps find a weapon later.
‘Travis … That’s your name, isn’t it?’
Victoria glances over her shoulder, trying to make eye contact, but his face is hidden in shadow.
‘I’m Victoria – mother to a daughter, wife to a husband. I bet you didn’t know that.’
Travis says nothing, so she decides to continue.
‘You don’t seem like the others. Perhaps you’re different?’
‘Just shut it, alright?’ Travis snaps. ‘They’ll hear you.’
‘Why don’t you want them to hear us, Travis?’
Victoria just wants to scream but bites her lip instead, trying everything she can to stay calm.
‘Just move.’
Travis jams the gun into her ribs, lighter this time, but her ribs are so tender it makes her eyes water. She grabs at her side.
‘Please, Travis,’ she begs. ‘You don’t have to be like them.’
She swallows hard and tries to hold back her tears.
‘Don’t eat me.’
‘I don’t … I mean, I won’t.’
Victoria stops and faces him. All her emotions are spilling out at once. She can’t help it. She has been through so much and now to be … She doesn’t want to think about it. It’s all too much.
‘I saw that woman’s leg – Imelda. She told me what you did. Why?’
Travis raises the gun to his shoulder. ‘St … stop t …talking. I me … mean it this time.’
‘But—’
Travis cocks the trigger, cutting her off. ‘Shut it!’
Victoria lowers her head, turning her back in defeat. All hope has drained from her. There is no reasoning with someone like him. His mind is set. She just hopes he is quick.
‘Keep moving.’
The pair walk for another few minutes in silence and stop in an open stretch of land. In front of Victoria is a lone gum tree. Beyond that it’s inky black.
Travis removes something from his coat and tosses it to Victoria. It lands by her feet. She looks down to see a small roll of toilet paper.
She picks it up. ‘Seriously?’ she snaps, a little relieved.
‘Now go.’
Victoria chuckles to herself and shakes her head. ‘Here?’ She looks around.
Travis shrugs. ‘Better than mucking out the hay.’
‘But I thought …’ Victoria cuts herself off. ‘What about Infected?’
Travis takes a step back, gun by his side. He seems anxious.
‘They’re around. Now move. Behind the tree. I don’t need to see you piss.’
Victoria eyes the tree up and down, unsure why she needs to be here of all places.
‘Just do it,’ Travis demands. ‘Before I change my mind.’
Victoria shrugs. ‘You’re the boss.’
She moves around the tree and drops her pants, peering out into the darkness. She wishes Travis had given her a torch. Anything could be out there watching, waiting. A part of her would have been fine doing it closer to the shed. At least this way she has had time to think and enjoy the fresh air. She needed to suss out a plan to escape.
What if I ran? Would Travis gun me down?
Victoria feels around and picks up a stick about the size of a pen. She squeezes it tightly. Her only chance of escape is to stab him before they get back to the barn, get his gun and get the hell out of there before the others find out.
When Victoria is finished, she buries the paper under a thin layer of dirt and stands, slipping the stick into the side of her pants.
‘I’m done,’ she says. ‘Don’t shoot. I’m coming back around.’
She steps cautiously around the tree, careful to avoid the bulging tree roots.
‘Travis?’
Chapter 55
Don’t make a sound
William and Eden stay as silent as mice until the last of the pounding feet fade into the distance. They had been waiting for the Infected to pass for the last ten minutes, hidden between a car and the barrier on the other side of the highway. Despite the heat they are both shivering with fear.
‘Are they gone?’ Eden whispers.
William peers up at the concrete barrier. ‘I think so.’ He rubs his ankle. He is pretty sure it is sprained. ‘I think I injured myself.’
Eden lays her hand on his. ‘You okay?’
William gives her a reassuring smile.
‘Yeah. I’ll be okay. Just a sprain.’
Cautiously he stands, slowly putting pressure on his pulsating ankle. ‘Let’s get out of here before they check this side. We’ll follow the road until we can cut across to the stadium.’
He takes a few painful steps before having to lean against a car.
‘You need something for the ankle first. Let me help you.’
Eden grabs her bag and removes a roll of bandage, a pair of scissors and some tape.
‘Sit down and take your boot off.’
He does as she asks. It’s agony. He hopes he hasn’t broken it.
Eden begins scrutinising his ankle. ‘It’s a little purple and swollen, but it doesn’t seem to be broken.’ She begins wrapping the foot. ‘Are you sure we shouldn’t stay awhile. We could both use the rest.’
William shakes his head. ‘What if they come back on this side?’
Eden applies tape to the end of the bandage. ‘Try that.’
Gingerly, William pulls his boot over the bandaged ankle and tries walking.
‘Better,’ he lies.
The truth is every step is like a kick in the guts. Better than a break though.
Eden is busy packing their bags. She seems a lot better. The colour in her face has returned and she seems to be regaining energy by the minute. It could have been a lot worse.
‘Time to—’
William stops, cut off by a loud thump of something metallic. It sounded heavy. He peers around cautiously for the source, careful to stay out of sight. Eden is frozen, eyes wide, mouth open, staying low to the ground. William places a finger to his lips. They both listen.
More thumping follows, like heavy footsteps. Then a scraping noise. William checks around but can’t see where the sound is coming from. Vehicles are bumper to bumper, but there’s no movement. The place seems deserted.
Eden slowly takes the gun from the bag and holds it up ready to fire. William raises his eyebrows as if to say, ‘be careful’. Eden gives him a withering look.
Dust and concrete chips rain down from above. William looks at the rubble curiously before peering up at the concrete barrier. A hand is gripping the edge, bloody and unfriendly.
William gasps. ‘Eden,’ he hisses. ‘Get out of here.’
But it’s too late. Another hand comes over the top of the barrier and then a face appears. Jaundiced eyes look down on them, like a yellow-eyed crow honing in on its prey. The Infected pulls itself up, exposing a bulky frame in a singlet, its skin covered in a red, fungal rash.
‘Shoot it!’ William cries out.
Eden fires off a few rounds, clipping the concrete and sending down another shower of dust. She finally hits the Infected in the arm. It snarls wildly and flings a leg over. She continues to shoot, hitting it in the torso and showering them both in blood.
William rubs his face, which is now streaked in black, and moves over to Eden. Her hands are shaking.
‘Keep shooting,’ he urges, but Eden has stiffened up with fear.
He snatches the gun from her and points it at the Infected, emptying the clip. Blood and concrete explode in all dir
ections. The Infected is riddled with holes. It goes ballistic, slinging its other leg up and over so fast it becomes unbalanced.
‘It’s going to fall!’ William cries out, dragging Eden away from the drop zone.
The Infected tumbles, hitting the ground with a thump. William draws the gun back and aims at its twisted body. The gun clicks.
‘I’m out.’ He turns to Eden. ‘Bullets. Quick.’
Eden snaps out of her paralysed state and begins rummaging through her bag. The Infected is twitching and moaning on the ground, trying to stand but hampered by an arm that won’t bend and a leg that has snapped, the bone poking through its muscled flesh.
‘Here.’ Eden hands William the box of bullets.
William keeps his eyes fixed on the Infected. ‘You do it.’ He hands Eden the gun. She fumbles and drops it to the road, but quickly picks it up and ejects the magazine.
The Infected gets awkwardly to its feet but collapses when it applies pressure to the broken leg. It reminds William of an injured bird he once saw. The bird had flown into his Dad’s car and lay floundering helplessly on the road, waiting for another car to run it down. The vet had said it was not worth the cost to save it. His dad paid anyway. William loved him for that.
‘Here,’ Eden says urgently, handing William the gun.
He takes it and cautiously approaches the Infected. It is trying to regain its footing, seemingly dumbfounded that its body is not working the way it should. It stops moving when it spots William’s gun. Their eyes meet.
For a moment, William feels almost sorry for the Infected. The man who got the virus didn’t have a choice in the matter. No one would ever choose to be infected. But then again … He aims the gun at its face.
‘Will, look out!’ Eden screams.
William spins to see Eden pointing to the top of the barrier. Another Infected is climbing over, a young boy around his age. He seems nimble and swings his last leg over with ease, eyes staring down at William, his lips drawn back showing tiny needle-sharp teeth.
William draws the gun around as the child dives from the top, arms splayed like a possum. He aims at the falling figure and fires.