Swarm (Book 3) (6 page)

Stacy smiled. She had waited a long time for Laura to come out of her room. Day had turned to night and she had stayed patient. She had sat in the rain and let it fall on her. At first it was very hard, but then, after a bit, she didn’t mind. She liked it out here in the big storm. It made her feel cleverer and she never got cold. The plan that she had was
really
clever. And now she didn’t need to wait for Laura to wake up. Now she didn’t need to be patient anymore.

Stacy giggled and put her hand over her mouth.

…

Hurrrghhh!

Zack sat up in his bed. Stones was barking furiously.

Hurrrghhh! Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Fuck…” Zack whispered, jumping out from under the duvet. He grabbed his knife from the bedside table. It was outside, he told himself. It had to be.

“Stay here,” he said to Macy. “Lock the door.”

She nodded, wide eyed. Zack left her and went onto the landing. He walked along it quickly and entered the darkness of Laura’s room.

“Laura,”

She rolled over. “What?”

“There’s a zombie. I think it’s outside.”

“Oh…”

“What do we do?”

She got out of bed. “Is it outside or not?”

“I… I think so… I think it’s hitting the front door.”

Laura walked past him. Zack followed. Stones moved softly into Laura’s bedroom as they went along the hallway and down the stairs. Laura stopped halfway down.

“It’s outside,” she said, “There’s no way for it to get in.”

“What do we do?”

“I don’t know… Nothing. Just leave it.”

“… But-”

“I- I need to lie down.”

Zack stared as she slowly walked up the stairs. Then he followed her as she headed back towards her room.

“Laura,” he said sternly.

“What?”

“What… Where are you going?”

“I told you.”

“We can’t just leave it there.”

“Just… just wait a second…” said Laura.

She closed the door and locked it.

Zack waited for a while, before realising that she wasn’t coming out.

“Fuck…” he said quietly.

He went back to Macy and Stones. He noticed that she hadn’t locked the door and looked back to do it himself. It was then he realised that there was no lock. Macy was on the bed, crying – a loud, wailing type of cry. Her face was buried into the duvet. Zack went to her. He held her.

“It’s okay…” he said. He tried to focus. It was outside. That was important. What if it broke a window? And what if more came? They hung around in groups, so what if it brought more with it? He couldn’t just leave it out there.

He walked back out and headed to one the windows in the corridor. He looked out. The angle was too sharp – he couldn’t see the zombie. He opened the window and lent out slightly. Now he could see a man. Quite tall. Dark hair. It was hitting the door with its hands.

Zack stuck on the last bit of gaffer tape. It was ready. The knife was secured to the metal pole. He picked up his makeshift weapon from a sofa that was now laden with rolls of tape, half empty superglue bottles, a pair of scissors and a couple of knives.

He faced the building’s entrance and began to walk. The groans and thuds growing louder as he drew close. A fresh dose of adrenaline entered his veins. Every sense reached its peak.

He arrived there, having suffered each second of the way. It was so loud. He could feel how close it was; how so little separated them.

Zack lifted up the letter plate and put the knife inside. Then he took hold of the pole with both hands and pushed. It slid forwards slightly and then stopped. Zack could tell it was getting caught on something, and wasn’t getting through. He rammed it forwards again and again, but each time it got stuck.

He pulled it out to take a look. It didn’t make sense. It seemed like it should fit. He put it back and tried again. The same thing happened. No matter the angle, it just wouldn’t go. He peered inside the letter box and saw black bristles inside, some sort of draught protection. Balancing his weapon on his shoulder, he poked the blade through, trying to push the bristles aside.

Eventually he figured it out. The letter plate on the other side wasn’t flat. It had raised sides, making it a kind of shallow trough shape. This meant the knife got caught, instead of passing all the way through.

Zack realised he needed to push something through to raise the letter plate first. He moved to the kitchen, grabbed a fork and came back. He fed the fork in, then, with his other hand, he pushed his weapon through. It came out the other side, this time unhindered. He slid it out. It hit something soft. That was it! He pulled it back and rammed it forwards. Again. Again — putting all of his strength into each stab.

At first everything was clinical, his focus only on doing it well. But as the muscles in his arm found their rhythm, his aggression started to flow. It felt good. It felt powerful. Each strike was his reply to the world, his chance to be the one who attacked.

His arm began to ache, until finally he had to stop. He listened. The zombie was making the same groans, and hitting the door just as it had before.

…

Laura got up. Why didn’t she care like Zack? She asked herself. Maybe she was getting used to this stuff. Maybe she had given up. Or maybe it was this
thing
in her head; maybe it was sucking all the life out of her. She didn’t know what it was. But she knew, now, that it was wrong. She wasn’t thinking straight. Of course this was important. She had to do something. She walked along the hallway, searching the different rooms, eventually finding Zack downstairs at the front door.

“What are you doing?” said Laura.

Zack’s whole body jumped. “Fuck…. I’m trying to kill it.”

Laura stood next to him, eyeing up the makeshift weapon that Zack now rested on his shoulder.

“It’s not a bad idea,” she said.

“Why aren’t you helping?”

“Okay… so I know how to kill it… so put that down and come with me.

Zack slowly placed it on the floor. Laura noticed blood on the blade. Wordlessly they went upstairs. Laura led them back to the window, so that they could both look down. She saw that the zombie was wearing a leather jacket — this impressed her. He must have stabbed pretty hard.

…

Zack stared at the figure he had tried to kill. It seemed unaffected by its new injury.

“Keep watching it,” said Laura.

At first nothing. Then the zombie froze, looked at its hands for a few seconds, and began to slam its head against the brickwork. Zack stayed at the window – confusion and disgust on his face.

“I never told you because you wouldn’t believe it. But something’s happening to me,” said Laura.

“You can control them?” said Zack.

“Yeah… sort of. I don’t know what it is I do, exactly. But it always makes them kill themselves.”

“But what did you do? What did you do to it?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’ve gotta know…”

“I mean… I look at them. I sort of feel this connection, like I’m looking at a person that needs my help, and then it just happens.”

“It’s fucking…” He trailed off. “Why didn’t you do it before?”

There was a long silence.

“I have other things to tell you,” Laura said finally.

Zack looked at her with a blank stare.

Zack went into the kitchen and switched on all the lights. It was day, but felt more like night. He looked out through the glass wall at an unnaturally dark sky. Macy sat at the table and Stones patrolled the room. For the first time he wondered if this was more than a normal storm. He had never seen one last so long, with such intensity.

He made breakfast for all of them. For himself and Macy, he used the remainder of the cereal, with nuts and crisps added to it because there wasn’t enough. He left a bowl of this mixture for Laura too. For Stones, he found sausages in the freezer, which he threw in the oven before sitting at the table with his little sister to eat.

“What’s gonna happen?” said Macy, her voice quiet.

“Huh? What do you mean?” said Zack.

She shrugged.

Zack looked at her for a while,

“You mean, like, to us?” said Zack

“Yeah,” she said quietly.

“Well… We need to um … We need to figure that out.”

He waited for a response. None came. He searched for the right words, something to comfort her.

“I’m gonna think of something though, I promise. And we’re gonna go somewhere good. We’re gonna put this behind us. All of it,” he said.

She remained staring into space. Zack couldn’t tell if she was listening.

A little while later Laura came down. She had dark circles under her eyes, and made minimal eye contact with either of them. She noticed the bowl that Zack had left for her and picked it up.

“You okay?” said Zack. Laura glanced at him.

“I’m tired,” she said, going to the tap and filling her bowl with water. She grabbed a spoon and sat at the table. “So?” she said, with her mouth full. A silence passed, as they waited for her to continue. Her eyes flicked between the two of them as the cereal crunched in her mouth.

“What?” said Zack finally.

“What’s going on?”

They heard a sound coming from the door. Zack jumped to his feet.

“Hello?” came a female voice.

“Hello?” Zack shouted back, heading to the front room. Laura followed.

They both saw a woman, brown skin, thin, beautiful.

“Sarah!” said Zack running to her.

They hugged, then she hugged Macy. Stones jumped on her and she rubbed his back. Laura stayed where she was.

“Are George and Linda here?” Sarah asked.

“No. They passed away,” said Zack.

The happiness Zack felt was overwhelming, similar to how he had felt when finding Macy. In him, grew a sense that things were getting better, that he was going to come out the other side of this. Him, Macy, Sarah, Stones and Laura. A family.

The first moments with her passed quickly. She spoke of what had happened to her — how she had gone for a walk in the countryside, stumbled upon a group of figures and been chased back to her house. She had then spent several days there. Eventually the zombies had left. She had waited a few more days, until finally running out of food and being forced to get in her car and drive. Laura couldn’t figure out Sarah’s exact relationship to Zack or his grandparents. But she had let herself in the house, which meant she knew the code – so Laura guessed that they had been close. After Sarah had finished her story, she and Zack talked a little about the apocalypse and about what could have caused it.

Then she asked them all a question. “So what do we do next?”

“I don’t know,” said Zack. “We’ve been thinking the same thing. We have a bit of food here. And then… well, is there anyone you need to find?”

“No… no… I don’t think so… you?”

“I’m not sure… they’re all in the city and… I don’t think I can. Maybe we should think about getting out of here. Getting out of England.”

“That’s the logical thing, isn’t it?” said Sarah.

“Yeah… I mean. It’s gonna be a risk. But, I think we just have to go for it.”

“Yeah… yeah… this isn’t a life. I’d rather get infected trying to escape than live here like this.”

“Yeah… yeah,” said Zack. He could hear the lack of conviction in his own voice, but she was right — as scary as that was. She was right. And her words were empowering.

“Zack, can I talk to you for a second?” asked Laura.

“Oh… what’s up?”

“Er… in private… if you don’t mind, Sarah.”

“No…” Sarah said, concern flashed across her face, hidden a split-second later.

Laura stood up and Zack followed her upstairs.

“What’s up?” Zack asked her at the top of stairs.

But Laura did not respond. Maybe they were still in earshot. She took him all the way along the landing and into the bedroom at the end. She closed the door.

“Sit down,” she said.

Zack sat on the edge of the bed. Laura could see that he was worried.

“She’s been bitten,” said Laura. Zack stared at her for a while “I can sense it… we have to kill her.”

Zack stared at her. Laura waited as the silence passed from a small pause to something else. It became a deadweight between them, a sign that they had crossed a threshold. Laura could not read him. What was he thinking? Whose side was he choosing?

“Zack,” she said finally, unable to stand it any longer.

“How do you know?” he said quietly.

“I can feel it, you know?”

“No,” he said quietly, shaking his head. “How do you know?”

“I promise… it’s the connection, like I had with the zombie. I have it with her.”

Once again Zack fell silent and seemed to have nothing more to say. Then he spoke. “No. It doesn’t make no sense.”

“I get it, she looks totally normal.”

He shook his head. “Why would she come here though?”

“I don’t know. She probably doesn’t know.”

“How could she not know?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know Zack. I just know that’s she got it.”

“What if you’re wrong?”

Laura thought for a while. She didn’t have time to convince him. “We left Macy down there. Let’s go down. Talk to her. I’ll ask to check her wounds, yeah? As, like, a precaution.”

“Okay, yeah,” said Zack getting up. “And what if she’s got something?”

“Then we’ll ask her to leave.”

…

When they got downstairs, Macy and Sarah were still at the table.

“Everything okay?” Sarah said.

“Yeah… Yeah… fine,” said Zack. “Macy… go upstairs. I need to talk to Sarah about something.”

Macy shook her head.

“Macy please.”

She stared at him blankly.

Zack took a breath. He turned to Sarah.

“Sarah are you injured?”

Sarah’s eyes flicked to Laura, then back to Zack.

“Yeah… my shoulder hurts… I think I pulled a muscle.”

“Okay… um,” said Zack.

“I’m okay though. I feel fine.”

“Any scratches… anything like that…” said Zack.

Sarah held his gaze for a while. Everyone waited for her to speak.

“Are you worried about me Laura,” said Sarah eventually, eyes flicking towards her.

“Yes… I’m worried. I want to make sure you’re okay,” said Laura.

“You think I’m a zombie?” Sarah said.

“No…” said Laura. “Zack checked me. I checked him… It’s just about being safe.”

“Okay…” said Sarah. “Well… what do you need to check?”

“All of you.”

“I’m not taking my clothes off,” said Sarah.

“Zack can leave,” said Laura.

“Zack can stay. You can go,” said Sarah.

“No I’m not leaving,” said Laura.

“Zack… I just do not feel comfortable doing it in front of her,” Sarah said.

“Er… Laura you can go. It’s okay. You can take Macy.” said Zack.

“No. I’m not leaving. I’ve got the right to know,” said Laura.

“So have I. So you take your clothes off first,” said Sarah.

Laura walked over to Macy and put her hand on Macy’s shoulder.

“Macy I really need you to go upstairs, princess.”

Macy only stared at her. Laura turned, headed to the worktop and pulled a knife.

“Okay Sarah, you’re going first,” said Laura, her tone suddenly cold.

Sarah stood up quickly from the table, and glanced at Zack, “Zack… come on…”

“Laura put that down now,” said Zack.

Laura took a few steps towards Sarah, who backed away.

“Wait!” said Sarah. “Okay… I’ll go.”

They all watched as Sarah took off her gloves and stripped down to her underwear. There were no visible marks.

“All of it please,” said Laura.

Sarah stayed still for a few seconds, her eyes on Laura. Then she took off the remainder of her clothes.

Laura took a few steps forward. Sarah took a few steps back.

“I’m going to check you,” said Laura.

“Don’t come near me with that knife,” said Sarah.

“Okay… Okay I won’t…” Laura put the knife down on the kitchen counter.

“I’m just going to come close enough so that I can see you.” said Laura.

She came to within a few steps of her. And looked her over.

“Well, I guess I was wrong,” said Laura, “Would you just show me your back.” Sarah did so, but kept her neck turned, so as not to take her eyes off Laura. “Just lift up your hair. Let me see the back of your neck.” Sarah looked forwards and brought a hand around to lift her hair out the way.

Laura saw her chance.

She pulled a second knife, hidden in her pocket, and ran forwards. One arm wrapped around Sarah’s neck and the other stabbed. The blade sank into flesh. She pulled it back and thrust again. Sarah screeched as her body struggled against Laura’s grip, and her hands pulled at the arm across her throat.

“Geeeeeet oooooooof!”

Laura’s arm became a piston, an endless repetition. Again. Again. Again.

She felt Zack grab her hand. She opened it – dropping the knife. Zack began to pull her away. She let him, giving Sarah one last kick in the back – who fell forwards to the floor. Zack dragged Laura into the kitchen. Sarah stood up and looked at her. She began swearing and screaming. Laura was overcome with a sense of reassurance. Somehow she knew she had done enough. Opening a door, Zack threw her inside a small laundry room. She stayed on the ground, knowing that she would have to remain there for a while.

…

Zack stood by the laundry room, holding the door shut. Sarah was rubbing her throat with one hand. A huge red stain marked her right side.

“Macy,” he shouted, “take her to Granny’s room. Go with Macy. Put pressure on the wound!”

Macy, her face void of colour, walked over to Sarah.

Sarah shot a glance at her. “I’m fine,” she said, sharply. Macy stopped and looked at Zack, as if waiting for his next instruction.

“You’ve gotta… you’ve gotta sort out your injury,” said Zack.

Sarah’s face screwed up with confusion, slowly she moved her gaze downwards to her blood covered side – seemingly noticing it for the first time. She stared, completely paralysed by the sight of it.

“Macy take her to the room!” Zack shouted again.

Macy moved to her. Sarah let out a noise of pain, a cry and gasp mixed together. She put her hand over her wound, sank to her knees and then fell onto her side – her body curled up into the foetal position.

Zack ran to her, leaving it to fate to keep Laura inside the laundry room. He came to her side and pulled off his jumper, pushing it down onto the blood. Sarah struggled, breathing unevenly through gritted teeth and groaning from the pain.

“I’ve got it. Sarah I’ve got it. Sarah move your hands. Sarah… Stop… put your hands… down.” Sarah was looking down at her body and squirming. “Sarah. Sarah! Stay still.”

“It hurts… it hurts… I don’t want to die…”

“Stay still!”

“It hurts…” She stopped squirming and bunched her hands into fists.

“We’ve just gotta stop the bleeding,” said Zack, pressing the jumper against her as hard as he could.

Her face was pale. Her eyes were fixed downwards, stuck to her wound. She closed them, grimaced, then opened them again. She screwed up her face and held her breath for a second. A tiny noise came from her, a short cry from the back of her throat. She exhaled and became motionless.

Zack looked at Macy. She was on the edge of tears. Her face was pale and expressionless. Zack looked back at Sarah. Her eyes opened, a yellow stain in each.

“Hargggggggh!”

“Shit!” Zack shouted. He clamoured off his knees onto his feet. Turning to run, he saw Macy already ahead of him, and Laura – out of the laundry room and staring at the scene before her. He ran up the stairs after Macy. Together they rushed along the corridor and into his granny’s room. He slammed the door behind him and locked it.

…

Laura watched as the zombie ran, as it whipped its head forwards and cracked it against the wall. Her heart thumped so hard it hurt. Switching Sarah to suicidal mode had been her only plan. If it hadn’t worked… But it had. And that was all that mattered.

A grim satisfaction spread through her, as Sarah continued to bludgeon herself relentlessly.

After a few minutes it was over. Laura left the body and slowly ascended the stairs, now moving along the corridor to Zack’s room. She knocked on it softly.

“She’s dead,” she said, loudly. She turned and headed to her room.

…

Macy clung to Zack. Slowly, as if unfamiliar with his own body, he walked over to the bed. His hand touched it lightly. He stood like this, frozen for a little while. Then he moved around and sat down. Macy sat next to him, staring at the floor.