Snatchers: Volume Two (The Zombie Apocalypse Series Box Set--Books 4-6) (47 page)

Chapter Thirty Nine

After much deliberation, Paul and Bentley had decided that the trip to the supermarket, just on the outskirts of town, could benefit
both
men: Paul could see if his wife and daughter were held up there, while Bentley could get more supplies—although he had a few more weeks before he needed anything. Bentley also decided to take the opportunity to see if they had anymore gas canisters in the camping department, providing it was safe to do so. The petrol station besides the supermarket would probably be a waste of time, he thought. With the power down the pumps wouldn't run, and even if the power was up, he had a feeling they'd be dry by now.

Kyle was outside by the barbed wire fence that encircled the area they were in, and he seemed to be caught up in his own little world, holding a twig in each hand and playing on the dirt. Paul didn't really want to tell him off for dirtying his clothes, as it seemed trivial, and he didn't want to disturb his little fantasy. Paul smiled and looked over to the outside of the cabin where Bentley and Laura were having a heated discussion.

Paul guessed that the passionate talk had something to do with the supermarket trip. He walked over to the couple, and raised his hands in a
I come in peace
gesture. He took a peep at Laura and said, "I know you're not happy with Bentley coming with me, but I did insist on going alone. I just wanted Kyle to be looked after while I was away."

"No offence, Paul." Laura began, "but we hardly know you and..." She never finished her sentence, but Paul could understand where she was coming from.

She had kindly taken in a man and his son overnight after her partner had helped them out, and now both men were going back to the small town, almost, and her partner was risking his life for people he didn't know for a second time.

"I understand," Paul said, and nodded in defeat.

"But he's going anyway," Laura sniffed.

Paul looked at the couple in surprise, and his eyes were thankful.

Added Laura, "My conscience wouldn't allow you to go on your own. I don't like the idea of Bentley going, but, no offence to you,
he
can handle himself. And we can't have you going alone and having that," she pointed over to Kyle, "little boy losing his father, can we?"

Paul felt like hugging the woman, but refrained from doing so. "Thanks."

Laura asked, "And what if you
do
find your wife and daughter? What happens then?"

Paul knew exactly where Laura was coming from. She wasn't a heartless person, but her partner bringing back two extra mouths to feed probably wasn't in their plans. And if Paul found the rest of his family, does that mean they'd be six mouths to feed in all?

"If I find them, then I plan on going to my mum's a few miles away. Don't worry, I wouldn't stay any longer and burden you with my family. That wouldn't be fair."

Bentley released a puff of air, and added, "We'll be back before you know it." He leaned over and kissed Laura on the cheek as a way of saying cheerio.

Laura nodded, unconvincingly, and her head shook the once. Paul knew something else was bothering her and before he asked her what was wrong, she said to him, "Why now?"

Paul didn't understand the question. "I'm sorry?"

Laura decided to be clearer on her query. "Bentley told me that you lost your wife and your daughter in the first week, so why do you want to look for your wife now? Why didn't you go before?"

Paul turned around to gape at Kyle, and already the penny had dropped with Laura and Bentley, but Paul explained anyway. "I didn't want to put Kyle at risk. Outside of my street, I had no idea what was going to greet me. Not only that, leaving Kyle on his own was something I couldn't do either."

Bentley asked, "Would he freak?"

"Yes," added Paul. "If I did go out on my own, if I did run into...
trouble
, and was killed, then Kyle would be left all on his own. His last days or weeks would be of starvation, total fear, and confusion on where his dad was. That thought alone stopped me from leaving the house altogether. We only left when there was absolutely no choice at all."

"Bentley told me about your neighbours. I'm sorry." Laura gave off a thin smile and asked, "Do you really think your wife and daughter could still be at this supermarket?"

Paul lowered his head sadly and seemed to have taken an age to answer Laura's question. He said, "It's the only hope I've got. If her car is there, lying empty, there's a good chance that her and some other survivors are cooped up inside. But if it's not there, she could be anywhere."

"What about your mum's?"

"Nah." Paul shook his head. "I was in contact with my mum for the first few days and they had never heard from her."

"You two better go then. The quicker you go; the quicker you'll be back." Laura took a look at Bentley, and they both hugged. Once their embrace was broken she told him not to be a hero. Paul thanked Laura for her understanding. He told the two of them that he was going to explain to Kyle that he was going out, and that he'd be back very soon.

Paul walked over towards his child that was lost in his own little world. He approached with caution, and although Kyle knew the presence of his dad was a few yards away from him, he continued with his fantasy.

A minute later Paul cleared his throat. Kyle turned around, almost annoyed that his playtime had been interrupted. "What is it?"

"I'm going out for a couple of hours now, big chap."

Kyle stared at his daddy with his large, wonderful green eyes. His eyes narrowed, but he was lost for words.

"I'm going out with that kind man, Bentley, who helped us out. We're going to get some food and stuff."

"I thought he had loads of food."

This remark stumped Paul, and finally said, "We're going to get some more." It was the only comment he could think of. He didn't want to tell Kyle the truth, because he didn't want to raise his hopes. Paul could only imagine what it would do to his child if he told him he was going to look for his mummy and sister, to then come back empty-handed.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, son."

"Is a tree bigger than a shark?"

Paul smiled; he had no idea what was going on in that head of his. "I don't know." Paul leant over and kissed Kyle on the top of his head. "Laura will look after you while we're out. Be a good boy. And stay away from the barbed wire."

Paul could then hear heavy footsteps behind him and then felt a hand slap him on the shoulder. "Ready when you are," Bentley growled.

Once both men had said their goodbyes, they left the area and reached the car. Bentley was sitting in the passenger seat of the Mazda while Paul pulled away into the country road.

*

They had been on the road for a few minutes and both men seemed on edge, especially Paul, and the silent drive was too much for Bentley Drummle. "Okay, here's a question to lighten the mood," Bentley began. "Would you rather go down on your granddad, or your grandma go down on
you
?"

Paul looked at his passenger and said, with bemusement in his voice, "I'm sorry. Is this a serious question?"

Bentley laughed, "Just curious."

"You don't talk like this when Laura's around."

Bentley winked at his driver and answered, "Of course not. She'd have my balls in a jar. But you're a guy. It's been a while since I've had man-company. That's what we do, us men; we talk shite. Leave the serious shit to the women. So what do you think?"

"About the question?"

"Yep."

Paul was too nervous to be amused by Bentley's attempt at humour. "I'd rather do neither. Let's talk about something else."

"Okay," Bentley said, with a smirk. "Would you rather sleep with a man with a vagina, or get banged by a woman with a penis."

"I'm serious, Bentley. I'm nervous as hell going to this supermarket."

"Okay. Just trying to relax you a little." Paul's passenger raised his hands apologetically, then immediately changed the subject. "First thing I'm gonna do is steal me a decent motor after my other was nicked."

"When was your vehicle stolen?"

"About two weeks ago," Bentley sniffed. "Don't get me wrong; there was nothing of value inside it, and I had no plan on using it as we've got everything we need, but you don't know when you need a quick escape."

"Absolutely," began Paul. "It must have been frustrating to have it pinched."

"That's the only trouble with being situated in the woods; there's not much of a hiding place for a car. I covered it in branches and stuff, but it was still exposed. Fuckers must have taken it during the night."

They drove in silence for a minute after Bentley had finished his mild rant, and Paul decided to go the long route to the supermarket, the country way, rather than heading back into town where potential dangers lurked.

It wasn't just the dead that were a threat; some of the living were beginning to show desperate acts of violence for survival and pleasure.

Paul felt safe alongside Bentley, and the Glock 17 stuck in the front of Bentley's trousers was also something that made Paul feel relaxed. He didn't ask where he'd got the gun, or about his past. Paul was taking Bentley and Laura how they were now, and they seemed like good, kind people, but at the same time, he guessed that they were individuals that were no pushovers if ever they were crossed. Maybe the handgun was a part of his prepping, thought Paul.

"Here we are." Bentley pointed up ahead at the supermarket that was situated in the countryside, on the outskirts of the small town of Little Haywood. The only other thing that was situated near it was an empty McDonald's restaurant. Paul had only been to this supermarket twice; it was a place that Julie went for the shopping.

It had everything under one roof, not just food, but garden utensils, toys, sports accessories, a medical centre, amongst many others. It was built ten years ago, and it was perfect for such a small town that had to wait decades for a Pizza Hut, but not so good for local businesses that relied on the tiny population of Little Haywood to give themselves an adequate income. Businesses soon folded once the supermarket was opened, and were replaced with charity shops.

As soon as Paul steered the Mazda left, and they entered the huge car park, they saw that there was about thirty cars in the three hundred places that were available. Paul pulled the car right outside the entrance of the supermarket's doors. There was no sign of carnage, and it was quiet;
too
quiet. Both men took a look at each other and didn't know what to do next.

They nodded at one another and stepped out of the vehicle. Paul couldn't see Julie's car from where he was standing, but frantically craned his neck to see if he could even see a vehicle that was the same colour as his wife's. Seeing the concern on his face, Bentley said, "Look, if they're here, they're going to be inside anyway. That's where the supplies are."

Paul nodded his head in agreement. Bentley was thinking more rationally and made sense. Noticing for the first time that Paul wasn't carrying a weapon of some sort, Bentley added, "First thing we're gonna do is go to the hardware section and get you a crowbar."

"I thought I had a crowbar somewhere in the car." Paul scratched his head in confusion.

"Have you killed many of these things before?"

Paul nodded. "A few, but I'd rather not."

"Me too," Bentley sniggered. "I don't enjoy doing this, you know. Well...maybe a little."

From the back of his jeans, Bentley pulled out a hunters knife and noticed that Paul was glaring at him in confusion. "Something the matter?"

"You've got a gun."

"I know." Bentley tapped the front of his jeans where his Glock was tucked in. "But I'm not gonna use Glen unless I have to."

"Glen?"

"These things are attracted to sound, and with this supermarket you have over twenty aisles. We don't know what's around every corner, but if there's so much as a gunshot, then we'll get the whole dead population inside making their way to us."

"You used that thing before?" Paul pointed at the bulge of the Glock that was hidden under Bentley's T-shirt.

"Absolutely. I love my shotgun, but this is my baby." Bentley pulled it out of his jeans to show Paul, and added, "The Glock has three built-in safety catches, and the gun can be kept fully-loaded with a round in the chamber."

Paul nodded satirically. "I have no idea what that means. Does it work?"

Bentley snickered, "Don't worry, Glen works just fine."

Both men began to walk to the already-opened entrance doors to the place, and Paul said, "You never know; there might not be any of these things in here."

"True." Bentley nodded, then pointed over to the health aisle to their left where a body lay on the floor. Blood pooled around the corpse and it appeared that it had been eaten by a group of the dead. There wasn't much left for it to reanimate and the head had almost been pulled away from its body. "I doubt it, though."