Killing the Dead Read online

  Carrying the box, I pulled open the store room door and peeked through. It seemed things had escalated in the brief time I had been searching the room. The crowd of people were pushing against the doors. Something on the other side was trying extremely hard to get through. It was definitely time to leave.

  Giving up any pretence of stealth I ran for the ladder. I managed to climb one handed the box tucked under my arm and I banged my elbow against the trapdoor when I reached the top. It opened slowly to reveal Lily stood above, hammer raised. She let out a yelp of relief as she saw me, throwing back the trapdoor and reaching to help me through.

  I explained the plan with the others. We took the jump ropes and tied two knots in each, trying to keep the distance between even. That task done I began to tie each of them, one to another. We lost some length from the knots and the necessity of making them secure. We could still have perhaps forty feet or so of a makeshift rope.

  We carried it to the edge and I let one end fall over to hit the floor below with a thud. As I stood holding the end of our rope and only hope of escape, I realised we had a problem. We had nothing to secure it to on the roof. I began to swear loudly.

  Chapter 10

  It would have been pleasant to be able to sit and moan about how bad things were, but to be honest, I was tired of sitting on rooftops. I was tired of reacting to the undead. It was time to be proactive. It was time to act.

  I stood on the edge of the roof and looked around. The road that ran beneath me travelled generally from north to south. Across the road sat a public house, two stories of stone. A small beer garden was enclosed in a wooden fence. Beside the pub was a row of terraced houses each house quiet with no movement behind their windows.

  The houses continued to the north until the road turned a corner. The road had a great many vehicles parked along its length. In places some of the vehicles that had likely been abandoned had been pushed aside by the military to allow their patrols to drive through. I studied each vehicle as I tried to find one that was suitable. Eventually I found what I was searching for. It sat pushed onto the curb and against a wall. The passenger side door was open.

  “Lily.” I called.

  “What’s up?” she asked as she walked across the roof to join me. I pointed to the vehicle I had chosen. “Do you think you can start that if I can get you off the roof?” I asked her.

  “Sure.” She said after a moment. “But why?”

  I quickly outlined my idea. Lily smiled and agreed. I called Claire and her daughter over.

  “Ok. Claire, you and I are going to hold onto this end of the jump ropes.” I said, holding up the end of the rope as I did so. “We are going to hold tight so Lily can climb down. She will then head over to that van.” I pointed at the large grey transit van I had seen.

  “What good will that do?” Claire asked.

  “That van is perhaps seven or eight feet high. Lily can drive it alongside the wall directly beneath us. I can hold the rope and lower you and Maggie down, but with no way to secure it I would be stuck. With the van beneath me I think I can hang from this roof ledge and I won’t have so far to drop.” I told her with a smile.

  “Ok.” She said as she grabbed hold of our makeshift rope. I was fine with her taking the end. I would stand at the edge and take the majority of the weight on the rope. I got into position and braced myself, right foot pressed up against the small raised lintel that ran along the edge of the roof.

  Lily wrapped the line around her waist and sat on the edge of the roof. She took a deep breath and gave me a nervous smile before taking a firm hold on our rope and lowering herself over the edge.

  She was in no way large for her size but trying to support the full weight of an adult was harder than I had imagined. The thin rubber rope dug painfully into my flesh as I leaned back to avoid being pulled over. It must have taken less than a minute but that minute stretched painfully for me as I tried to hold myself in an unaccustomed position, muscles aching from the strain.

  Finally the line went slack. I looked over the edge in time to see Lily wave before she sprinted towards the van. I waited impatiently and watched her reach the back of the vehicle. She was cautious, taking her time to look around before approaching the door. I saw her poke her head through the open door and held my breath. If anything was in there, now would be the time to grab her. She looked back towards us and gave a wave that I hoped meant all clear before she climbed into the cab of the van.

  Shouting from the open hatch caught my attention. I jogged across the roof to see what was happening. I reached the trapdoor just as a man climbed out. I skidded to a stop with a curse.

  “Help us, quick” he yelled at me as he reached down into the passageway.

  I peered down through the opening. The ladder held two women and a man. I couldn’t see below them but I could hear enough to know that zombies were crowding the bottom of the ladder. This was a complication I didn’t need. I looked across at Claire. She was busy looking towards the van. I considered throwing this man back down at his friends and closing the trapdoor. Maggie turned her head and saw us. She pulled on her mother’s arm and pointed. Damn. I couldn’t do it with them watching.

  I reached into the gap and helped the newcomer pull up his friends, one after another. When the final man had climbed out we slammed shut the trapdoor. I didn’t think the zombies could climb but it wasn’t worth risking.

  “Thanks for the help” Said the first man. He held his hand out towards me, “Names Mike. Thought we were done for there.”

  I reluctantly shook his hand. “These are Rachel, Ellie and Patrick.” Mike said pointing at each in turn. I nodded once to them as their names were called.

  “Ryan.” I said, “Maggie and Claire” I pointed.

  “Really pleased to meet you all. I hope you have a way down, it’s all gone to hell down there.” Mike said.

  “Working on it.” I responded reluctantly before trotting back to Claire and Maggie.

  “How’s Lily doing?” I asked Claire.

  “Van’s not moving yet.” She replied sounding scared. I gave her a pat on the shoulder. I hoped I was getting better at providing comfort but doubted it. I looked towards the van. It was still and quiet. I hoped that meant Lily was making progress in the cab.

  “Blimey that’s a bit of a drop” Mike said as he reached us and looked down. “We all climbing down that rope?”

  “No.”

  “Then what’s the plan?” He asked, his brow furrowed in puzzlement.

  “Our friend Lily is going to bring a van so we can drop down” Claire said. She was looking at Mike from the corner of her eye, she had an appraising look. Great, that would be yet another complication we wouldn’t need.

  Claire and the new folk exchanged names as we waited. She took the time to ask what had happened and made various sounds as they told their tale. I was feeling sulky. I didn’t like large groups and was just getting used to the people in this one. Too many people around me at once was incredibly stressful and a nuisance I didn’t need. If nothing else it would make me irritable in a way that only a kill could help.

  The faint sound of an engine coming to life brought my attention back to the van. I saw an arm reach out and pull the door shut before it slowly reversed away from the pavement. Lily had come through for us. In minutes she had the van turned around and was parked beneath us.

  “Right then. I’ll hold the rope whilst you climb down” I said to Claire.

  “Why bother with the rope?” interrupted Mike. “If Pat and I hang down, the drop to the roof isn’t far and we can catch the rest of you.”

  “That’s a great idea.” Claire positively gushed. Mike set about directing his friends. In a short time he and Patrick had dropped to the roof. Maggie was gently lowered down to their waiting arms. Claire followed and then Rachel and Ellie. I went over the edge last. I hung from the ledge and pushed off to the side to land at the back of the van, disdaining their offers of help.

  I climbe
d off the van and approached Lily who was in the process of being introduced to the newcomers. “Good work.” I said as I gave Lily a smile.

  “Thanks. What now?” She asked.

  “We stick to the original plan, we head north to the Lakes but we will need supplies first.”

  “What’s in the Lakes?” Mike interrupted again. “Why not find somewhere in town to hole up?”

  “Look around you. That idea hasn’t worked so well so far has it?” I told him.

  “Tell you what. I worked on a farm a few years ago. We should head there.” Mike said, looking around for support.

  “You can head wherever you like. We have somewhere else to go.”

  “No, no. Let’s go to the farm. We can at least have a breather there before doing anything else.” Patrick chimed in as Rachel and Ellie offered their support.

  “We could do that” Claire said looking to Lily. “It makes sense. We won’t get far without some food and stuff anyway.” She added.

  “Right then. It’s decided. You lot jump in the back and I’ll drive us.” Mike spoke with determination. His friends were already on the move to the back of the van. Patrick climbed in the passenger side of the cab. Lily looked at me helplessly and shrugged.

  “Guess we are going to this farm then.” She said as she followed the others. Claire and Maggie were already moving. In moments it was just me, stood on the road. Mike leaned out of the van window and asked, “you coming?”

  It seemed I had little choice. I climbed into the back of the van pulling closed the door behind me. The van had just a few bits of loose carpeting covered in dust and muck and some empty boxes. They had been shifted around to allow the group to sit on the floor. It wouldn’t be comfortable but it was dry and zombie free.

  I sat beside Lily as the van set off. The group chatted about their lives and what they were doing when this whole thing had started. It had not taken them long to grow used to the horrors of this new world. Just a short while ago they had been running from their lives and faced death and rebirth as a zombie. Now while safe they could laugh again.

  Stuck in the back of the van with nothing to do, I took the time to look over each of my new companions in turn. Rachel had red shoulder length hair in a pony tail. She was young, perhaps early twenties. She was wearing Jeans and a vest top that once may have been white. A small bag with a thin strap was thrown over her shoulder.

  Ellie looked to be around the same age as Rachel. I had the feeling they had known each other before all this. She sat close to her friend and laughed easily. She wore dusty black leggings and a baggy shirt of some kind. Hair dark, almost black hung loose around her face. She sported several piercings and a tattoo of some kind adorned the back of her neck.

  I had never understood the urge to pierce or tattoo your body. I had never encountered anything that I wanted to have inked into my skin for the rest of my life. Piercings just seemed pointless, like most jewellery. It served no purpose except to draw people’s attention to you. I had spent the better part of my life actively working to be as unnoticeable as possible.

  Patrick it seemed was eager to follow Mikes lead. He wasn’t very tall, perhaps five and a half feet but he was solidly built. I imagined he had been hiding in the gym as that place was where he had spent all his time anyway. He had the look of someone who worked out a lot, but the muscles were all for show. As was the fake tan that was already fading and the shaven head that was slowly sprouting new hair.

  Mike was all confidence. He was used to being the leader and he irritated me. He had stepped in and taken over my little group with little fuss. I wasn’t used to being in charge, so had no real way of dealing with threats to my leadership. He was a very handsome man and had certainly caught the attention of Claire. He was naturally tanned and in good physical shape. Dark hair cut short and in what I imagined to be a fashionable cut. He sat in the driver’s seat laughing at some comment from Patrick. I had a brief imagining of what it would feel like to run a knife blade across his throat and felt my heart beat a little faster.

  But that wasn’t to be. I had made a promise and as annoying as he may be, I would hold to my word. I couldn’t kill him. I would however have to find some way to take control of this group again. I liked Lily and was used to having her around, not to mention the fact that she had proved herself both capable and effective. I would stick with her, but I wasn’t going to be a happy little follower of Mike.

  We drove for about an hour. Through the windshield I watched the suburban area turn to countryside. It seemed as though the majority of zombies had been busy feasting within the stadium. We saw few on the roads. Those zombies that we did see Mike would aim for, clipping them with the corner of the van and laughing as they were thrown across the road. Eventually he pulled up beside a thick wooden gate and shut off the engine.

  “Right folks. We are going to be walking from here. This van won’t get down the path to the farm. It’s not built for it.” He called.

  “Are the farmer and his family going to be here?” Lily asked.

  “Most likely but don’t worry, I know him and I am sure they won’t turn us away.” Mike said as he climbed out of the cab.

  The rest of the group followed. Patrick of course following close behind like a puppy. Rachel and Ellie linked arms and walked along as though it were any normal day, whilst Claire and Maggie walked beside Lily talking quietly. I brought up the rear alone and excluded.

  Many people when asked will tell you that they love to get out of the town and into the countryside whenever possible. If you ask them why, they will explain in great detail that it is full of life, the air is cleaner and much nonsense like that. I had been in the countryside for ten minutes and I was already thinking fondly of the zombie filled town.

  The farm was situated atop a hill so the wind had nothing to block it and it was cold. I could not say whether the air was cleaner but it certainly smelt a great deal more like manure than the air I was used to. The nice and firm paved streets had been replaced by a long path of wet mud and of course what looked to be horse manure. I was not in a good mood by the time we reached the farm itself.

  This farm consisted of a two story stone house with a small lawn and a peaked stone tile roof covered in moss. The building was old and had probably been in the care of one family for generations. A large rickety looking barn made of wood and a stone stable that currently stood empty completed the farm yard. The whole place was quiet. Mike jogged up to the door and knocked. No one answered. Patrick had climbed through the small flower bed and was peering through a window into the darkened interior.

  “Can’t see anyone pal.” Patrick called to Mike who acknowledged with a wave and reached for the door handle. The door opened with no resistance and Mike walked into the house.

  “That probably isn’t a good idea.” Lily said as she turned to me. I just shrugged. If he wanted to get himself killed then that would solve one of my problems.

  “You should go with him” she added.

  “Why? He seems happy enough to do it himself.” I hated how sulky I sounded. Lily picked up on it too. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Oh you know, zombie apocalypse. People we don’t know who are suddenly deciding where we go and what we are doing. The usual.” I said with forced cheer. It didn’t seem to fool her.

  “Fine then, you stand out here and I will go help.” Lily said with a shake of her head before she walked across the yard to the front door. I watched her enter, pausing to call out first before disappearing inside. I fidgeted and rubbed my arms. A t-shirt wasn’t the best attire for standing out in the cold wind.

  I was concerned for Lily. I didn’t doubt her ability to look after herself but I had no idea how Mike would react if they encountered the undead as they searched. Lily still had my hammer at least. A cry came from within the house. I cursed and ran across the muddy yard.

  The door opened into a large modern kitchen. Sturdy cupboards and a large oven filled one wall. An old rectang
ular wooden table filled the centre of the floor with six chairs placed around it. Two doors stood open and led out of the room, beyond the first doorway were a set of steps that led upwards. I could hear noise from above and shot up the stairs.

  The sound was louder from the landing at the top of the stairs. Several doors lined the hall and I headed for the one that stood open. The cause of the noise was immediately apparent. An old man dressed in plain blue pyjamas was on top of Lily struggling to reach her with his teeth. Lily had both hands on the hammer that was pressed under his chin, as she pushed with all her strength to keep the walking corpse away.

  I cast my gaze around the room. It was the main bedroom, a double bed filled the centre of the room. Wardrobes and chests of drawers lined the walls at either side. A window filled the wall above the bed. I could see nothing that I could use as a weapon. With little choice I stepped behind the zombie and reached down to wrap my arms around his throat and pulled him backwards.

  With the pressure on her arms lifted, Lily scrambled out from beneath the zombie. “Hit it anytime you want” I called to her as I struggled to maintain my grip. She raised her hammer a look of determination crossing her face. I closed my eyes and turned my head away whilst trying to hold the zombie steady. The last thing I wanted was to have infected blood splash into my eyes or mouth.

  The zombie jerked in my arms as Lily’s first blow hit true. A second followed and then a third. With each blow of her hammer I felt more fluid land on my flesh.

  “It’s dead. It’s not moving” Lily said to me. I released my hold and let it fall lifeless once more to the floor. I felt behind me for the bed, eyes and mouth still closed and sat down.

  “You look a mess, stay there. Don’t move” She instructed. I heard her leave the room as the pounding of feet running up the stairs echoed through the house. A conversation followed too low for me to hear. I was sitting in an unfamiliar house with my eyes closed, unable to speak and with a dead body at my feet. It was not a pleasant feeling.