War of the Dead Read online

  He just kept on fighting, knife stabbing out until his life was taken from him.

  My cleaver caught the first of the Ferals in the side of its skull, sinking deep. The other turned on me as I used both hands to pull my weapon free. A clawed hand tore through my shirt and into the flesh of my stomach.

  I cried out, releasing my hold on the knife and staggering back, hands pressed there as the Feral advanced on me.

  Lisa collided with it, knocking it to one side and Ben was there next, his bloody rock in hand to crush its skull. I pulled trembling hands away from the wound, fear chilling me as I fought down the rising panic.

  “My Lady?” Lisa asked as she approached, cautiously as one would approach a timid deer.

  “I’m fine,” I said, praying that I wasn’t wrong. “It’s not deep.”

  Please, God, don’t let it be deep!

  “We need to clean it!”

  I nodded, and she snapped an order to ben. He raced off as she came close, pulling aside the ragged edges of cloth and staring critically at the wound.

  “Shallow enough not to have done any real damage,” she murmured. “As long as its cleaned you should be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked, afraid to hope.

  “I’ve seen plenty of these wounds,” she said with a quick look around to make sure there was no danger coming our way. “You’ll be fine.”

  I gripped her hand as she rose and she turned back to look at me.

  “You’re sure, there’s no danger?”

  Her brows drew down as she looked at me then her eyes flicked down towards the wound in my stomach and her eyes widened slightly as she nodded slowly.

  “Yes,” she said. “There is no danger to… you.”

  “Thank you.”

  She nodded and turned her back as Ben arrived, a jug of water in his hand. I gave him a questioning look and he grinned sheepishly and waved at the houses nearby.

  The Dead were moving amongst those people who had been bitten or wounded and giving the necessary blows to the head to ensure they wouldn’t rise again. Too many of the people I had freed from the facility were down and those that weren’t had the shell-shocked look I had seen often on the faces of survivors.

  “Dammit!” I snapped as he cleaned my wound as best he could. “Lisa! Gather everyone up.”

  “My Lady?”

  “New priority. Get as many people to safety as you can. Most will have locked themselves in their houses if they have any sense. I want to find those who weren’t able to and get them someplace safe.”

  “And the Scourge?”

  “Kill any we find but saving lives comes first.”

  “As you command.”

  She pressed her clenched fist against her breast and went to pass the word amongst the others. Ben finished up with the water and passed me a clean, white shirt that he had probably snagged from the same house he got the water.

  He tore it into strips and did the best he could to improvise a bandage for me and I smiled my thanks as he finished up. My hand pressed against my stomach and I fought down the worry, the doubt and set my resolve once more.

  The stench of the undead was everywhere, filling the town with a noxious odour that offended the senses and from all around us came the cries of the wounded and dying. I wanted to weep for the people who, believing they were safe, had no way to defend themselves.

  But tears were for later. Right then, I had to focus on the task at hand as I led my brave band of acolytes and fighters through the streets.

  I pulled a young girl from beneath a car as Lisa did a deadly dance among the undead. She clung to me, body shaking and tears streaking her cheek as first one then another zombie fell around us. The acolytes were fast, tireless and lethal.

  Blood flowed through the streets as more of my people fell. A woman opened the window of her house, face full of fear as she reached for the child that I passed to her. She slammed it shut and I wished them well as I moved on.

  Ahead of us, along the wide main street that ran through the town, a large group of Ferals came into view. I glanced around at my few remaining people, covered in their own blood from numerous wounds but still standing, still determined to fight for their home.

  Only two acolytes remained besides Lisa and Ben and I swallowed back my fear as I realised that we were very likely about to die. My hand pressed against my stomach and I wished that Ryan had been with me.

  “My Lady?” Lisa asked.

  Blood dripped from the knife she had taken from a fallen brother and her chest heaved as even she felt the weight of the fight settle around her. Her face, lined with weariness, was still full of determination.

  “We fight,” I said and she nodded grimly.

  “Ben,” she said.

  “Yeah?”

  His voice was full of exhaustion but he stood with his back straight as he watched the approaching zombies.

  “Take the Living into the alley and hold them there.”

  “What?” I demanded as Ben turned without questioning and shouted for the survivors to move.

  “We die, so you may live,” she said simply as the two remaining acolytes moved up alongside her. “Ben will guard you as best he can from any that make it past us.”

  “No! We’ll fight together.”

  “This is our purpose,” she said as Ben’s strong hands seized my arms and he pulled me away from them.

  She gave one last salute, fist pressed against her breast, and it was echoed by the other two. Then they turned as one and set off at a run towards the enemy.

  I lost sight of them as Ben pulled me into the alleyway and he turned, pushing me back into the few remaining men and women from the facility. His eyes shone as he gave a salute and turned to face the alley mouth, knife held firmly in his hand.

  “What do we do?” a woman asked and I couldn’t answer her.

  I pressed my hand against my aching side, feeling the dampness on the bandage and felt my legs give way beneath me. I couldn’t stop the tears falling as three brave people faced an enemy they couldn’t beat and all to buy us a chance of surviving.

  Whatever his reasons for doing it, Ryan had built an army of brave and loyal warriors that anyone could be proud of. I knew then that I was. Proud to have served with them, proud to have fought alongside them. Proud to have known them.

  I held my knife and pushed myself to my feet, the people around me helping to hold me upright. The sounds of battle, the growling and moaning of the undead that grew in volume as they came closer.

  My hand was slick with sweat and my own blood. My heart thundered and my vision narrowed as I focused all my attention on the entrance, waiting for the undead to come pouring through the narrow gap.

  “Be ready,” I said to the people around me. “Live together, die together. Either way, you won’t be alone.”

  “Aye,” someone murmured. “Better to die on our feet than in a cage.”

  “Better not to die at all,” a woman muttered and laughter sounded as my own lips twitched.

  I couldn’t have been more proud of those brave people who stood with me and I considered them as much warriors as the Dead were.

  “Here they come,” I called as the sound of feet hitting pavement came to us.

  I braced myself, raising my cleaver in a hand that trembled while I pressed the other against my stomach and wished for a future I could never have.

  A dark form entered the alleyway and a cry escaped my lips as I staggered.

  “Lily!” Samuel said as she rushed over to me. “Thank the Creator you are safe!”

  I sagged in his arms as he held me and his eyes widened in alarm as he turned his head to look back.

  “Get a medic!” he screamed at the others and my tears came.

  Chapter 24

  The boat was crowded, which was to be expected as we’d been forced to fit all of my remaining minions and the supplies onto the one boat since the other had been sunk. It wasn’t entirely bad though.

  D
espite the stench that came from a large number of unwashed bodies all crowded together, we had managed to rescue some people. The children had been reunited with their mother and though they wept for their father, they at least had one parent left. Which was more than most had.

  Jenny, to my surprise, had survived though she had a bullet lodged in her shoulder. She was most apologetic for her poor showing in the fight, which was ridiculous. I never actually expected them to survive unarmed against mercenaries with assault rifles, so she had nothing to apologise for. She had served her purpose of distracting Dawn.

  I grinned at that thought as it led me to remember the way my knife slid into Lucius and the wonderful feeling I had as I watched the life fade from his eyes. A shiver ran through me at the memory and I knew that the darkness inside of me would be quiescent for a little while.

  We’d had a long night at sea and it was a pleasing sight to see the harbour of Stornoway come into view as the first light of dawn broke over the island. Less pleasing was the heavy black smoke rising from several locations. Clearly, something had happened.

  It was irritating to have to wait as the boat moved far too slowly towards the harbour. Any requests the captain of the vessel made over the radio were met with a simple request to dock and disembark.

  My concern grew a little as I noted the armed people on the docks. My own minions and those naval troops that belonged to the Admiral were prominent and I was the first to leap from the boat onto the dock when it arrived.

  “Report,” I snapped at the closest minion.

  He saluted with fist to chest and in quick and simple sentences, filled me in on what had happened. My good mood soured and the minion stepped back from the look of fury that crossed my face.

  “Lily?”

  “Safe, My Lord Death. She’s at the council building.”

  A small mercy then and one that would prevent me from burning the entire town to the ground. I left the others to disembark and hurried over to the council building, a burning anger seeming to grow with each step.

  The guards on the council building were all mine. Dressed entirely in black with their hoods in place, they saluted at my approach and pushed open the door which probably saved it from being kicked in.

  I navigated the narrow corridors, noting the number of minions playing guard and burst into the council chamber.

  A heavyset man in CDF uniform stood in the centre of the room, his hands behind his back with actual handcuffs on. His rank was clearly displayed on his shoulders.

  My kick buckled his leg and he dropped to one knee as I pulled out my knife with one hand, grabbing his head and pulling it back with the other.

  “Ryan!” Lily called and I looked up.

  Her face was pale and she sat stiffly in the centre chair. She’d swept her hair back into a ponytail and wore her displeasure openly.

  “He hurt you!”

  “And he will be punished, but not by you. Not here.”

  My hand trembled with the desire to ram the blade into his throat but for her, well, I had found there was little I wouldn’t do should she ask.

  I released my hold and stepped back, my glare falling on Samuel.

  “You let this happen?”

  “Forgive me, My Lord Death.”

  I probably would, in time, but just then I very much needed to expel some anger.

  “Explain!”

  He gave an apologetic look to Lily and cleared his throat.

  “Can this wait?” she asked and my glare softened as I turned to her. “You are interrupting.”

  “Of course,” I said and inclined my head. “Please, by all means, carry on.”

  Admiral Stuart greeted me with a nod, while Cass smiled warmly. The baby she held in her arms gurgled and fussed.

  “Glad you’re alive,” I muttered to Gregg as I crossed the room to stand beside him.

  “You too, mate.”

  Opposite us, on Lily’s left were most of the government ministers, though a couple appeared to be missing. They looked confused and upset but didn’t seem to want to say anything that might get a reaction from the handful of minions that were guarding them, with weapons drawn.

  That was an interesting development and piqued my curiosity enough to dampen my anger a little.

  “Colonel Smith,” Lily said. “You will be punished by your part in these events but you can mitigate that punishment by helping us. Tell us who was party to these abhorrent actions.”

  “No,” he said, voice firm with his resolve.

  I glanced at Lily and she flicked her eyes towards me, giving a minute shake of her head and I held back my sigh as I folded my arms across my chest.

  “Very well. Admiral, if you please.”

  “Now enough of this nonsense,” First Minister Wells said. He puffed out his chest and gave her his best glare. “You are not in charge here young lady. The government…”

  “Has been disbanded,” Cass said.

  Well, that was news. I grinned at the first minister who didn’t notice as he stared at Lily in shock. He turned to face the admiral.

  “You have no objections to this?”

  The admiral, a man who I would admit to myself that I quite liked, took a step forward. His uniform was rumpled and there was dried blood on one arm. It was clear that he too had partaken in the previous day's events.

  “It is clear, sir, that a firm hand is needed for the moment.”

  “And who will wield that firm hand, you?” he sneered. “Or perhaps these cultists you have set to guard us?”

  To my surprise, the admiral actually smiled as he shook his head.

  “No, I am not suited to such a task and,” he glanced at me. “No offence intended, but neither is he.”

  “None taken,” I agreed.

  “Then who?”

  “I will,” Lily said coldly. “Until a time comes that we can assure the safety of the people here, we do not have the luxury of rule by committee.”

  “And you think you have what it takes to seize power?” he snapped. “The people will rise up against you.”

  “The people are behind her,” Cass said calmly. “They saw her, leading the fight out there. They saw the Dead, throwing themselves in front of the zombies to protect those same people who were protesting their presence. They saw the admiral, lead his soldiers to arrest the colonel who sat on a hill and stopped the CDF troops from doing more than watch the people die!”

  She shook her head, anger showing in every movement.

  “At no time during the day of death did they see any of you! Not leading the fight, not helping people to safety, not even urging the soldiers to fight!”

  “No,” she continued. “The people know who stood up for them and it wasn’t any of you.”

  “With my lord’s command,” Samuel said. “We shall help ensure the safety of the people during the transition.”

  “Of course,” I said with a wave of my hand, playing along with what Lily clearly wanted.

  “I think that is enough,” Admiral Stuart said calmly. “If we could please clear the room of all non-essential personnel.”

  Samuel looked at me for confirmation and I gave a slight nod of my head. He raised his hand and the minions gathered up the former ministers and escorted them from the room, ignoring their protests all the way.

  “What about him?” I asked with a nod towards the colonel.

  “He will have a trial,” Admiral Stuart said. “If found guilty…”

  “Which he will be,” Gregg said quietly.

  “If,” the admiral continued with a glare. “Then suitable punishment will be meted out.”

  “Then take him away,” I said in a bored tone.

  My eyes were on Lily and I wasn’t pleased with the way she was sitting. It was clear that she had been hurt and the longer that man was in the room, the harder it was for me to stop myself from pulling out my knife and ending his life.

  “A good idea,” Admiral Stuart said. “We can take this up later. For no
w, the town is secure and the CDF troops contained until we ascertain their allegiance.”

  “Give them to Samuel,” Lily said and all eyes turned to her.

  “We aren’t staying here,” she said softly. “Hiding away while the world withers and dies. No. We are heading out and taking the fight to the mainland.”

  She turned her head to look at each of us in turn and I couldn’t help but smile.

  “We won’t survive here without change and that change will need to be hard fought for. I want the CDF trained, not like soldiers, but like warriors. Together, we will cross the sea and take back the farmland we so badly need.”

  “More than that. We will find and rescue every last damned person we can because unless we finally unite as one people, humanity is doomed.”

  She looked directly at me as though trying to impart some message though I was oblivious to it.

  “The war of the dead has started,” she said. “But for the sake of all the remaining people, for the sake of the children we will be bringing into this world… I intend to end it.”

  “Admirable words, My Lady,” Samuel said with a deep bow. “With my lord’s permission, I would be honoured to see to their training.”

  “Fine by me,” I said agreeably.

  It would mean a return to the mainland and the wider world beyond. A world full of undead hordes and bands of raiders, not to mention a new threat that was heralded by a group of mercenaries looking for lime of all things.

  “So be it,” Admiral Stuart said. “Both I and the forces I command, are at your disposal.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “Now, if I could have a moment alone.”

  “Of course,” Cass murmured with a smile as she tugged on her brother's arm.

  Samuel smiled and bowed once more, while the Admiral just wore a sad smile of his own. As they all reached the door I called out to them.

  “One question.” They all stopped and turned to look at me. “Why would someone need lime? I mean now; when the worlds gone to hell. What purpose would it have?”

  Samuel shrugged while Cass looked at her brother who shook his head, not knowing the answer. It was the admiral who spoke.

  “It has a number of uses, but the first thing that comes to mind would be a CO2 scrubber.”