He frowned again.

  “Yeah, well,” said Aiden. “Now you know what I know. I fled the city, but there was no way of getting west, so I gave up and came down here. I figured less people, less of the dead, but it hasn’t really worked out like that.”

  “The dead regenerate tissue,” said Lauren. “They literally come back, to a kind of life. Being remote will help at first, but it’s not a long-term solution…”

  Aiden threw his arms up. “Yeah… I started to see that for myself.” He looked around the room again. “So what’s your plan? I presume you people have one? You seem pretty organised, and you made it all the way here from a place that was nuked, so you’re survivors.”

  Jenn stood up from the old sofa she was sitting on, holding up the radio that was in her hand. “Tyrone? Over.”

  “I’m here. Over.”

  “Still looking clear? Over.”

  “Yup. Over.”

  She looked back at Aiden. “We need supplies. What you have here is not enough to feed all of us. There’s still plenty of daylight. I need you to take us to the local town.”

  He sighed. “I’ve avoided the nearest town. I got my supplies from the local houses… but if you really want to go there, then we’re going to need that skiff of yours.”

  *****

  The bank on the other side of the river looked undisturbed, peaceful even, with a few boats bobbing on the waves, moored against a small wooden jetty. Beyond was a park, with flowers in neat beds and a grassy area which ascended into trees.

  Joe lowered his binoculars, the rubber being hot in his hands from the late afternoon heat. “Not seeing any of our friends. Let’s go.” This time he didn’t need to use the tiller as it was decided that using the oars was the wiser option to not make any noise, as they crossed the few hundred feet of river.

  Aaron and Grace took up the long pieces of wood on the starboard side, while Jenn and Aiden did the same on the other, the four of them facing Joe, who acted as their guide across the waterway.

  It wasn’t long before they were approaching the other bank and Joe’s radio came to life with Tyrone’s voice, saying that he could see them, and there was no sign of movement nearby.

  As the skiff hit up against the wooden walkway, Joe jumped up onto it, tying the rope to one of the posts, then immediately scoured the area for danger as the others joined him, doing the same through the scopes of their rifles.

  Aiden took the lead and the group of five made haste across the grass and up a concrete path. The forests here were less dense than the other side of the river, allowing a view of a few hundred feet in most directions.

  The four Brits were struck by the sounds of nature.

  “Birds…” said Grace.

  Aiden looked back.

  “All the animal life was decimated in the U.K.”

  He nodded and they quickly made their way along the dirt path, arriving at a two-lane road, where a blue and silver pickup sat with its driver’s door open.

  “This road will lead us all the way into town, which is about two miles. We’ll need to cover that distance as quickly as we can.”

  “Not a problem,” said Aaron, but the others looked less enthusiastic.

  The American looked at the oldest of the group, Jenn. “Yes, it’s fine, let’s go,” she responded.

  The group began jogging, keeping close to the side of the road to be masked by the bushes and trees at the end of the gardens and wooded areas.

  Joe, at the rear, was the first to spot the movement. A figure was at the side of one of the large colonial style houses. The head of a man, who was wearing a red checkered shirt, flicked in their direction, his body rotating in the same direction, his legs then carrying the rest of him forward as if his torso was only barely attached.

  The group picked up the pace, but the undead figure did the same, breaking into an awkward, stumbling run.

  “We need to deal with it,” said Jenn, a little out of breath.

  Aaron immediately peeled away, placing his rifle over his shoulder while unsheathing his knife. The zombie crashed into him, but Aaron’s movement was swift, stopping the thing’s hands from getting any purchase and he smashed his blade into its skull, causing it to collapse to the lawn.

  While Aaron took care of the undead, Joe scanned the surroundings for any others, but there were just trees and bushes gently swaying in the warm breeze.

  Jenn looked back to Aiden. “You searched these houses?”

  “Not yet.”

  “These are wealthy people’s residences. They might have some useful toys. We’ll check them out on the way back.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  LAUREN

  Lauren sat at a large table she had uncovered in the hall, studying a map she had found of this part of Connecticut. Tyrone had requested to join her and she had happily accepted, welcoming the company. Something she had grown used to during their journey to the U.S.

  “Three major towns within forty miles of us,” she said. “And if what Aiden says is correct, then no military bases as well.”

  The young officer frowned. “I was kind of hoping there would be. We’re going to need weapons and ammo to get through all this.”

  Lauren opened her arms. “What? A medieval castle isn’t enough for you?”

  Tyrone tilted his head. An expression she found appealing. She also knew he liked her but had never confirmed it. The idea of being romantically involved seemed naive to her. Anything other than one hundred percent concentration on the problems at hand would be a distraction that could get them killed. Still. Sometimes, especially during those moments on the boat when she was feeling despair, the General’s second in command was a distraction she often needed.

  He smiled. “How about you and I get a place of our own?”

  The brashness of the comment made her laugh out loud, making her cover her mouth where her outburst became a chuckle. “And what kind of place do you think I would like then? Seeing you know me so well.”

  He sat back while rubbing the stubble on his chin. “Hmm… An apartment. With large—” He opened his arms. “— windows to give you a view of the city.” Her bemused expression caused him to continue. “And a big, big kitchen, like you would see in one of those cooking programs. With lots of copper pans. How am I doing so far?”

  She smiled, looking back at the map. “Not bad.”

  He looked back at the stone walls and ceiling. “But for now… this is going to have to be enough for all of us…”

  She could tell there was something else on his mind. “The General can take care of herself.”

  He nodded. “Sure. I know that. Anyway. I’m tasked with finding out what our water supply is like.” He stood. “Better get on that.”

  He began to walk away when she spoke again. “Maybe we can talk again later?”

  He briefly smiled and left.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  JOE

  Abandoned cars, some with doors open and refuse laying scattered around them, were sitting across a two-lane road. The route was bordered by an abundance of deep green trees, bushes and lawns with smart, nineteenth century buildings.

  Could be England, thought Joe.

  He and five others were kneeling at the roadside amongst the foliage, waiting for any sign of movement ahead.

  Aaron shook his head. “I don’t trust this,” he whispered then looked at Aiden. “What you think?”

  The American looked ruefully across the desolate scene. “I’ve not been here for a while. Got no idea what’s out there.”

  Jenn looked at the youngest in the group. “Aaron, take point.”

  He moved forward and the five of them jogged along the edge of the road, trying to hear any sound out of place amongst the wind.

  They soon came to a small parking lot, with a brick built, single-story building sitting a little further back. A sign announced the place’s function.

  “Medical centre,” said Grace.

  It was the first time having seen hospitals and similar places before, since the nightmare started that Joe thought there might be a need for those kinds of supplies. It struck him how quickly he had become used to the virus healing him and everyone else. But things were different now. People weren’t fully healing and he had a pregnant wife.

  Jenn looked at Grace and Joe. “Go have a look. Get what you can.” She switched her attention to Aaron. “Keep watch out here. Let them know if we get company. Aiden and I will explore a little further on. Nobody go too far.”

  They all nodded they understood and Grace and Joe quickly covered the concrete area to the glass front door of the centre.

  The smokey glass allowed a limited view of the shadowy interior, which looked untouched apart from an overturned plastic trash container, which had spilled its contents.

  Grace leaned on the door, pushing it open, while Joe watched Aiden and Jenn jog away out of sight.

  He followed her in.

  The room was mostly clean, with a polished floor, small counter and plastic chair in a modest waiting area. A corridor with multiple doors stretched off into the distance, with wheelchairs and a gurney against the wall.

  “We need to find the pharmacy,” whispered Grace.

  They tried to move quietly, but their boots had other ideas, squeaking against the smooth tiles.

  Grace stopped outside a door, trying its handle. “Ah, it’s locked. We need to get in here.”

  Joe looked both ways along the corridor, which they were halfway up, the end being a T-junction. “If we both—”

  Gunfire broke out from somewhere outside.

  He ran back to the foyer, trying to see if Aaron was still outside but there was no one to be seen. “What’s happening? Over,” he said into his radio while pushing the door open. A yell from behind made him whip around. The corridor was filling with staggering bodies, some of which the doctor was fighting with, trying to extract herself from their hands which were flailing at her own.

  Joe raised his rifle and fired, hitting the two closest to her. The contents of their skulls painting those behind. The bodies dropped as she quickly ran to him, both moving outside, closing the glass door.

  “What happened?” she said to him.

  He held his radio to his mouth, wanting to know himself, when he spotted the figures across the road, perhaps twenty to thirty, that were staggering towards them. Pulling on Grace’s arm they ran to the cover of the vehicles in the parking lot.

  “Where is Aaron!” she said.

  Another jolt of gunfire filled the air, somewhere off to their left, along the street. They crouched behind a red pickup.

  “Jenn? Arron? Come in, over,” said Joe.

  “We got a problem!” said Jenn in response. The sound of grunts and scuffling come from behind her voice.

  “Where are you!”

  “We’re surrounded! About—” the signal ended abruptly.

  “Jenn? Jenn? Aaron?” Joe repeated.

  He turned to Grace, shaking his head, his hand on the warm metallic body of the truck. He pulled on the driver’s door latch pulling it open.

  “Has it got keys?” she said, louder than she meant to.

  “Nope.” Joe plunged beneath the well worn steering wheel, pulling his blade from its sheath. “Keep an eye on those across the street.”

  “They’re coming!”

  He grabbed the exposed wires, cutting through all four then started shredding the plastic from their ends as the sound of heavy footsteps made itself known on the concrete.

  “Almost on us!”

  A spark sent a flicker of pain into his left hand, but the engine fired. He tied the two wire ends together and pushed down with his other hand on the gas revving the engine. “Get in!”

  A body slammed into the open driver’s door, his hands coming up just in time to stop it from closing and cutting into his waist. He shoved it the opposite way, pushing the disheveled middle-aged man with dried blood smeared across his face, a few feet away.

  Grace pulled the passenger’s door open, jumping in, Joe the same on the other side, immediately lifting the handbrake. The old truck surged across the forecourt, slamming into body after body, bumping onto the street while he swung the vehicle to the left, then promptly slammed on the brakes at the sight a few hundred feet away at an intersection.

  Joe was sure he was looking at more people than could have possibly lived in this small town. A few thousand bodies were stacked up against each other, seemingly all focused on one building. A Greek-revival structure with white columns below its facade. Perhaps the local courthouse.

  The pickup rocked, the panels crumpling as limbs pushed into them. Joe pushed down on the gas again, moving the vehicle forward, towards the wall of undead, some of which were now turning around, giving him an idea.

  He hit the horn.

  “What are you doing?!” shouted Grace, flicking her attention from him to behind the pickup.

  He pressed the centre of the old steering wheel once more, this time lingering, prolonging the shrill wailing sound which echoed off the surroundings, then held his radio to his mouth. “If you can hear this, I’m going to try and draw them away!”

  Grimy hands then torsos hit up against the back of the pickup, enough weight to jolt it forward. Joe hit the gas again, the pickup being swept along, directly into the things running at them. Bodies bounced off the fender then hood as he drove the heavy vehicle straight into the mass of undead flesh, hardly being able to see through them.

  “Left! Go left!” shouted Grace.

  Joe obliged, swinging the wheel in that direction piling into more bodies as gunfire opened up once more, heads exploding around the vehicle as bullets slammed into bone. The dead were less here, the mass of them being thinned by the barrage that was coming from two sides.

  Aaron emerged from the left, running across grass towards the pickup while firing.

  “Where are they?” shouted Joe through his window which was smeared with pink.

  Aaron pointed back to the large old building at the back of the intersection. “They were on the second floor of that building!” He fired again, felling two zombies that were getting close.

  Joe hit the horn again, then held his radio up. “Jenn? Are you there? Over.”

  “We see you! We’re on the side roof! If you get close, I think we can jump down! Over.”

  Aaron hopped in the bed at the back, Joe driving in an arc, reversing then stopping. “Ready?” he said into his radio.

  “Yes!”

  Aaron began firing before Joe hit the gas, dropping bodies, clearing the road a little, but the pickup was soon in the thick of it, smashing through appendage and skull alike, the undead clawing at the vehicle trying to tunnel through them.

  It bumped on the curb, losing speed due to the sheer volume of bodies it kept impacting, Joe slamming on the brakes a little too late while swinging the wheel to the right, the side of the pickup hitting up against the side of the building, crushing three of the things against it.

  Two heavy bangs heralded Jenn and Aiden dropping down into the back and Joe pushed down on the gas, the wheels spinning, refusing to move the pickup from its position against the wall.

  As the others fought with the things trying to drag them from the back, Joe leaned out as much as he could, trying to see what was holding the pickup back. Pieces of skulls, torn skin and flesh were caked beneath the wheels which were tearing them into even smaller fragments. He threw it into reverse. “Hold on!”

  The vehicle scrapped along the wall as Jenn and Aiden thrashed and swiped the butt of their weapons at the limbs trying to grab them.

  Quickly placing back it in drive, he accelerated forward, back onto the road, swerving left then right, towards any gap in the constant wall of figures. As the road narrowed, storefronts flashed by, the deluge of the infected beginning to thin out, until after sending one last body barreling into the air, the road ahead looked clear.

  He glanced in the rear mirror, spotting Aiden bent over and Aaron the same, shouting at someone below them both. Coming to a stop, Joe and Grace jumped out, running to the back.

  Aiden pulled back, revealing Jenn’s blood-soaked clothes and heavily lacerated face. “She’s not breathing!”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  LIZ

  Liz was sitting on a rickety wooden chair on the castle’s rooftop, watching Tia reading on a rug nearby which doubled as a blanket, and Hope, drawing in a small notebook. These days the child’s scribbles were carefully confiscated as soon as she was finished with them. It wasn’t lost on Liz how many sketches had been discarded over the past month, how many visions of horror had been forgotten. Maybe it was for the best. But Candace, Jenn and the others that had placed themselves in charge of the group, wanted to see everything Hope was drawing as soon as she was done with it.

  She switched her view back to her own offspring. Tia looked noticeably older. Perhaps it was just natural ageing as she was not too far from her eleventh birthday, but Liz knew it was also her daughter’s mind having witnessed things a child shouldn’t. She was having to grow up way too quick, and Liz hated that perhaps more than anything else. It wasn’t fair. She placed her hand on her stomach. She was determined that her next child would have a proper childhood, even if the idea of that seemed like a fantasy.

  The door to the roof opened, a group of people all entering at the same time. First up was Ember with her baby and her boyfriend, or whatever Maggie’s son was to the young woman. They emerged onto the roof, she holding the baby and he with a bag in hand.

  He held it up. “Got some snacks if you want some.”

  Liz smiled with a nod. “I could do with some, thanks. And Tia.” The next two people to step outside she looked away from. Swanson screwed his face up from looking up at the sun, while his wife, Lydia was more interested in pulling a large piece of fabric with her, and finding a spot to lay down. She seemed a nice enough woman, thought Liz, from the brief conversations she had had with her during the ocean crossing, but she also seemed disconnected from reality, as if the country hadn’t been swamped by the undead, that it was just a minor blip in the country’s history, and things would somehow return to normal once all that nasty business was taken care of. For now though, Lydia just seemed interested in getting a good tan.