As the Light Dies (61 page)

“Oh shit!
”
he said
,“
I forgot about that! Nice one Leann
,”
he said taking it from her. It was the heavy steel pole used for breaking up the build up of ice in the freezer.

“
Good thinking
,”
he said
,“
just do
n’
t disappear again ok, I got worried for a second there
.
”

“
Ok, sorry
,”
she said and Andy continued
,“
Ok, so the
y’
re inside, we gotta be fast and w
e’
ve gotta be quiet.
C’
mon
.
”

Nodding in the darkness Leann snuck in behind Collin as Andy eased open the swing door and looked out. The only figures he saw were the other side of the glass, outside. He leaned back and said
,“
All clear. Go straight across to the first aisle ok. Stay close and be quick and quiet, those fuckers are fast
!
”

Andy stood watch for Leann and Collin as they scurried straight ahead in to the end of the empty pet food aisle, then he followed. Safely across Andy looked at them both and said
,“
W
e’
ll skip along the aisles one at a time to the end of the shop ok
.
”

They both nodded.

“
Then w
e’
ll run up the end aisle, pass between the tills, hop the barrier and run for the stairs ok. The lift wo
n’
t be working so do
n’
t even think about it. Just get up those stairs as fast as you can and get to the overpass, and w
e’
ll use it to get next door
.
”

Both Collin and Leann nodded in agreement; they knew exactly what Andy meant.

Something clattered to the floor an aisle or two behind them making them all jump.

Andy nodded at them both and said
,“
Ok. Time to go
!
”

He got up and looked round the edge of the aisle, it was clear. He rounded the end of the shelves and disappeared in to the next aisle holding the steel pole up defensively and whispered back to them almost instantly telling them that it was safe. Leann went next and then Collin copying And
y’
s every move. The gurgling calls were horrendous, they were rebounding off the walls and aisles inside the supermarket. Loud crashes started to ring out as the infected people poured in looking for them, banging in to things and knocking things over.

Andy Leann and Collin hurried along hopping from aisle to aisle in silence as the noise followed them. They reached the second to last aisle, once they turned around the next one it was a straight run up the aisle, cross over to the tills, hop the barrier, then run for it along the glass shop front to the stairway that led up to the overpass across to the Eastgate Shopping Centre.

The loudest crash yet reverberated through the shop followed by a crescendo of calls as Andy attempted to check the coast was clear to hop the last aisle.

“Jeez!”
he said and jumped back.

“What the hell was that?”
whispered Leann.

“
I dunno, but it was too close, were running outa room! Are you guys ready to go for it
?”
he asked. Leann and Collin nodded as more glass smashed nearby. As it did Andy took out his key fob and pulled out the longest key and held it up for the other two to see and said
,“
Ok, anything happens to me,
I’
ll throw the key to whoeve
r’
s closest to the doors ok? So be ready for it
.
”

“
We will
,”
said Leann.

“
Good! Now get ready to absolutely leg it once we pass the tills. I
t’
ll only take one of them to see us and tha
t’
ll be it. No second chances. Whatever happens run like hell and do
n’
t look back ok! No matter what happens. Whatever you can hear or think you can hear you just keep on going OK
!
”

Both of them nodded their understanding then he stood up and peered around the corner of the aisle again. It was clear so he looped around to the last aisle in silence and whispered back to them that it was clear. Leann checked the way was clear and followed right behind him and joined him. Collin took a deep breath and peered around the edge of the empty shelves looking down the length of the supermarket. It was clear. He moved out watching as he backed up and the swing doors the
y’
d just come through burst open and slapped against the walls as they flew open and a group of discoloured figures rushed out into the shop and continued straight ahead down the same aisle they had. Collin froze!

He was scared more would pour through any second and h
e’
d give himself away by moving. He could
n’
t believe what h
e’
d seen, some of them had terrible wounds while others looked perfectly normal apart from their mottled discoloured skin. And
y’
s hand clasped around his arm and pulled him round behind the next aisle.

“
Christ Collin
!
C’mon!”
said Andy
,“
you ca
n’
t do that, you ca
n’
t just stop out in the open like that and watch
!
”

“
Sorry
,”
said Collin nodding.

“
Right
!”
said Andy
,“
le
t’
s go
!
”

He nodded towards the tills and started jogging towards them. The noise of trampling feet thundered along close by sending goosebumps over all three of them. Leann was certain they were in the aisle behind them, and expected the hoard to round the end of their aisle any second and cut them off. Collin felt the same but in reverse, he kept looking back waiting for the dark figures to pour around the bottom of the aisle and chase them down. They reached the end of the aisle and faced the tills just ahead of them across more open ground. Andy crouched down edging forwards and looked around the edge of the aisle and quickly flinched back. He took a breath and without saying anything to the others he leaned forwards again.

Three tills down from them a group of the badly discoloured people were pulling apart one of the tills. They were smashing it to pieces with their bare hands like psychotic maniacs. He leaned back and looked at the others just as what sounded like an entire aisle crashing to the ground rang out close by followed by a sudden gust of air that blew passed them!

Andy leaned back and said
,“
The
y’
re tearing a till to shreds for whatever reason three aisles down, and the rest of the shop by the sound of it! W
e’
re just gonna have to take our chances guys. Ther
e’
s nothing else for it. If we wait here the
y’
ll find us before too long, probably within minutes
!
”

Collin and Leann nodded.

“
W
e’
ll crawl across to the tills one at a time. Then w
e’
ll all run for the stairs together, as fast as we possibly can. As soon as any of us stand up behind the tills, the
y’
ll see us, if they have
n’
t already. So w
e’
re best all going at once, all together, ok
!
”

Collin and Leann nodded again.

“
I
t’
s the only way
,”
said Andy
,“
when w
e’
re seen we already want to be running like the wind ok? And never mind making any noise, it wo
n’
t matter after that, just run as fast as you possibly can
.
”

Another almighty crash rang out making Leann flinch, she looked at Collin and he saw the sheer terror on her face and could only imagine that he looked the same. Andy pulled out the keys and handed them to Leann pulling out the key sh
e’
d need to open the doors to the overpass deciding it best she took them. He told her that h
e’
d try to fend off any attackers with the steel pole if he had to, so it was best if one of them could get ahead and get the doors open while he tried to buy them time. Then he looked at Collin and told him to use the ornamental plant pots that lined the corridor and stairs in their defence if he needed to. Collin and Leann listened carefully to Andy and when he finished said they were both as ready as they ever would be. Andy thought they looked like scared mice that had just been cornered by a big cat, and he sympathised with them because he felt exactly the same.

“
Ok
,”
he said
,“
you go first Leann, then Collin, and then
I’
ll follow. Tha
t’
s the way w
e’
ll go all the way ok! And Leann, you just concentrate on getting to that door ok. Nothing else, just keep running ok. Do
n’
t hesitate and do
n’
t look back
,
ever!”

Leann swallowed hard and nodded trying not to think about Thom, dreading that it might happen again. Then Andy looked at Collin
,“
You ok
?”
he asked.

“
Yea
,”
said Collin with a nod.

“
Ok then le
t’
s go
,”
said Andy and Leann moved up front and looked around the corner.

She was scared to her core at what she saw. She leaned back again, she did
n’
t want to go, she could
n’
t!

“
Do
n’
t think about it
,”
Andy whispered
,“
just look straight ahead. Focus on the till and nothing else ok. Then just go for it.
I’
ll be watching them the whole time, and if they make a move
I’
ll let you know. You do
n’
t have to worry about that. And if I yell run, you know what yo
u’
ve gotta do
.
”

She nodded and tried again.

She looked at the tills that she was aiming to crawl between trying her best not to look at the group of infected people demolishing the till just along from her. A shiver run down her spine and that was her trigger. With one deep breath she went for it!

She slid herself out from the aisle looking at nothing but the tills. Part of her was unable to believe what she was doing while the other part still could
n’
t believe the situation.

She was out in the open - vulnerable!

She pushed all thoughts away and kept going, inching forwards bit by bit, little by little. Andy kept an eye on the infected people as they carried on tearing the till to shreds as she reached the other side unseen. She pulled herself in to a crouching position between the two tills and looked back at Andy as white as a sheet. Andy gave her the thumbs up using both hands and turned to Collin who was already in place ready to go shaking like a leaf. They both nodded at each other and then without hesitating Collin took off just as Leann had, his heart pounded hard in his chest feeling like it was trying to bounce him up off the floor as he crawled across aiming for Leann. When he was close enough Leann reached out and grabbed his arm and pulled, sliding him the rest of the way in between the tills and out of view.

“
Yo
u’
re safe
,”
she whispered as his feet cleared the edge of the tills, and he got up on to his knees thanking her and they both looked back at Andy.

He was holding the steel pole out in front of him motioning to Collin, wanting him to catch it. Collin understood and nodded getting ready, he was petrified he was going to drop it or miss it and bring the infected down on them. Andy used three outstretched fingers to count down so Collin was ready at the same time as he was, and when there were no fingers left he threw the pole hoping that the rabid figured were too well occupied tearing up the tills to notice.

Collin counted with Andy feeling sweat trickle down the small of his spine and then Andy threw the pole. Collin did
n’
t have time to think, he just reached out with both hands open wide and caught the pole quietly. The infected group did
n’
t budge from the till, they had
n’
t drawn attention. Andy took a deep breath and double checked that it was clear enough for him to cross. Some of them had moved on to the next till along now though. One closer!