Devouring The Dead (Book 1) (26 page)

Brad returned to Tom and sat cross-legged on the floor.

“Right, this is what’s going to happen. First of all, sleeping here tonight? No. Your pyjama party is finished. In about ten minutes, we are going back out that door. You’re right, Jackson, they did follow me here, so I’m guessing there must be at least a dozen of those things by the back door already. If we wait until tomorrow, or any longer, there’ll be a hundred of them, maybe more. It’ll be worse than the city, as we’ve no way out. I’d say there’s no secret tunnel out of here.”

“So how then?” said Jackson. He was hoping that
Benzo would come down soon. They didn’t have long left.

“It’s pretty simple really. It’s a trick I learnt from my father. He served in Iraq, the first time around. You see
, Saddam used to create these human shields by surrounding himself with people; women and children in particular. That way, you’re hidden and protected from the enemy. My father taught me a lot.”

“So we’re going to be a human shield for you? Are you crazy?” said Jessica. “No way, that’s ridic
ulous. Where are we even going? What do you plan on doing when you get out of this church?”

“Well
, for starters, no, I’m not crazy. I think it’ll work pretty well actually. For me at least. Any of those zombies come for us, they’ll take you lot first. Don’t worry, you can have weapons to defend yourself. I don’t want you dropping dead before I even get out of the church yard. Secondly, I want to go home. That’s the grand old U S of A for any of you imbeciles who weren’t sure. So I guess the airport, it is.”

“And if I refuse to help you?”
said Jessica.

“Then I may as well put a bullet in your head right now
, darling. If you come with me, then you’ve got a fighting chance. It’s a slim one, admittedly, but it’s all you’ve got right now.”

Brad smiled as he lowered the gun at Jessica.

“All right, fine. Like you said, what choice do we have?” Jessica realised she had been gripping Rosa’s hand tightly all the time Brad had been talking and let go.

“
Right,” said Brad getting up. “I think about ten minutes is enough. Go find something to defend yourself with. Oh, everyone except for you, Christina. You’re going to keep me company. When you’re all ready, meet me back here. I’ll be watching you. It goes without saying, don’t try anything stupid or Christina and Tom here will be sucking bullets.”

Jessica, Rosa
, and Jackson, took Caterina and they gathered together what they could lay their hands on. As they walked out of earshot of Brad, Jackson told them that they had to try and delay him.

“
Benzo will surely come down soon. When he does, be ready. It’ll take Brad off guard and we may only get one chance at this.”

“And if it doesn’t work? What will we do out there in the dark? How will we know where to go?” said Rosa
taking Jessica’s hand again.

“Once we’re outside
, we abandon him,” said Caterina. “He might try and shoot us, but if we all run at once in different directions, he won’t know what to do. There’ll be so many of those zombie things, he won’t have time trying to get us, he’ll be too busy fighting them off. Plus, it’s dark, so he won’t be able to see clearly. The second we’re outside, we split.”

“But where to?” said Jackson. “I wouldn’t know one street from another round here.”

Caterina pulled her mobile phone out.

“Follow me, I know where to head.
I know what Christina was talking about. I can get us to Limehouse station and from there down to the marina. As long as there’s a boat, or something we can get down the river on, we’re home free.

“My phone has got a torch on it.
I’ll turn it on as soon as we’re outside and you just follow the light.”

“Won’t the zombies follow it
, too?” said Jackson.

“I think they’ll be too busy trying to eat Brad, don’t you?
I don’t think they have the intelligence to figure out what we’re doing. If they follow the light, well...I guess we just have to take that chance.”

“When you can, Cat, tell Christi
na, Tom too if you get a chance,” said Jackson. “The second we’re outside, we split up and run. Anywhere you can. Run for it and follow Cat’s light. It’s the best idea we have at this stage.”

“Fuck, we’d better get ready for this,” said Jessica.

They broke off into pairs, Caterina and Jackson taking the west wing, whilst Rosa and Jessica took the east.

“I’m sorry about before,” said Rosa as they searched through a bookshelf.

“What about?” said Jessica.

Rosa pulled Jessica quickly into the shadows and kissed her.
Jessica briefly kissed her back before withdrawing. Rosa’s hands reluctantly left Jessica’s waist.

“You’re messed up, you know that?” said Jessica pushing her away.

“What’s the problem?” hissed Rosa. “I thought that’s what you wanted?”

“Yeah,
no, I don’t know. Not now, anyway. You were right before when you said it’s not right. We’ve a madman waving a gun around and you want to make out? Just keep looking for something we can use, Rosa.”

Rosa sulked back to the corner to look for a weapon
or a picture, anything to distract her from her thoughts. The way Jessica looked at her, she had thought there was something there, some connection between the two of them. She had been wrong before though, and wondered if she had got it wrong again. It was probably just the stress of the situation.

Jessica shook her head and pulled a large figure of Jesus from the wall. He was cast in solid iron, arms and legs spread e
agled as if on the cross. It felt heavy, meaty, and she weighed it up in her hands. It would suffice. She thought about Tom up there at the nave, at Brad’s feet. He had taken a beating and Christina had a gun to her head. Yet, all she could think about was how Rosa tasted. Was she as selfish as people thought? Maybe.

“Five minutes,” shouted Brad. He saw the others skulking in the shadows and knew they were plotting against him. He also knew they wouldn’t do jack shit, not whilst he had a gun over their friends.

“Take that shit out of your mouth,” he said to Christina. She pulled the balled up socks out and threw them on the floor. She choked and spat a glob of disgusting saliva onto the floor.

“You know we should put that mouth of yours to good use,” said Brad. He sat on the floor
opposite her. He had made her sit beside him and the unconscious Tom.

Christina closed her eyes and her body went stiff as Brad trailed the gun up her body. The
gun pressed against her stomach before Brad drew it up between her breasts, its cold nuzzle sending shivers over her as he brought it up around her neck and left it hovering over her lips.

“Open your mouth,” he whispered.

She shook her head. Her eyes were still closed and the taste of metal on her lips made her want to vomit.

“You’re not going to do this for me?” said Brad
, pushing the gun against her closed mouth.

“No.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. Finally
, he could see what he wanted; the fear in her eyes, etched across her face as clearly as the striations a plane leaves across a crisp blue sky. He took the gun away and unzipped his trousers.

“Then you had better do this instead,” he said motioning with his gun from her to his crotch.

“Please, Brad, I don’t...”

He cocked the trigger and motioned to her once again. She could see he had an erection and she felt sick.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a little stressed right now. It’s been quite a day, what with nearly being killed and all. So let me put it another way. If you don’t, I’ll just blow you away and say you were trying to escape. So quit complaining and just do it. Don’t act precious. Like you haven’t sucked a cock before. If I feel teeth, I’ll blow your brains out, simple as that. Then Tom’s. So what’s it to be, Christina? You gonna blow me, or am I gonna blow you?”

Christina crossed herself and
crawled forwards to him. She put her hands either side of Brad’s waist on the cold stone floor. She could feel the gun again, this time pressed against her temple. Fighting back the urge to cry, not wanting to give him the satisfaction, she lowered herself down and with one hand took his erect penis out. She closed her eyes once more and he pushed her head down. She nearly gagged as he thrust himself inside her mouth.

“Thank you
, Jesus,” said Brad quietly as he held the gun to Christina’s temple. He looked up at the wooden carving that towered over him, the Son of God watching as Christina was forced to perform fellatio on Brad.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

  
Benzo looked through the crack in the door, incredulous. Brad was alive, and he was pissed. Benzo had come down from the steeple, casually winding his way down the staircase until he’d heard strange noises coming from the church. Fearing the zombies had broken in, he quietly slipped into the vestibule and opened the door, just a crack, enough to see through. He had seen Brad giving Tom a good beating. Brad was waving a gun around and the others were sat with their hands on their heads. What was happening?

Benzo
had listened as Brad explained how he had survived the crash and what they were going to do next.

“He’s mad,” said
Benzo under his breath. When Brad sent the others to search for weapons, Benzo realised there was precious little time left to do anything. He knew he had to do something though; if Brad took them outside, they would all wind up dead. There were thumping noises now coming from the kitchen. So Brad had been right, the dead had followed him. Maybe it was better they leave now. If they stayed, how many would be at the door by morning?

In the dark store
room, Benzo crouched down. What could he do? If he rushed out there into the church, Brad would be surprised, but then what? Would he shoot him? Would he tie him up, leave him here to die? Benzo had always gotten on well with Brad, but he’d flipped. This wasn’t the same Brad he had worked with and shared a pint with. This Brad was nasty, cruel: sadistic. And what was that comment about Amber about? Benzo was finding it difficult to accept the new order, but he had to; his friends’ lives were depending on him.

“What would dad do?” he said.
In the darkness of the storeroom, he looked around for help. Boxes, books, chairs, nothing of use; surprise was his only weapon. Benzo returned to the door. Brad held a gun to Christina’s head. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but he knew the scene and how it would play out. He watched as Brad forced Christina’s head down and Benzo turned away, sickened and shaking with anger. How could Brad do this? Benzo was so angry and frustrated that he wanted to charge in there and kill him.

‘Control it,’ he thought.
If I charge in there like an elephant, Brad will probably shoot me in surprise. Or Christina. Or maybe everyone.

Benzo
felt hopeless. What could he do? If he went into the kitchen and opened the door, the dead would rush in and cause Brad a major problem, but it would jeopardise his friends too. He couldn’t retreat back up the steeple and do nothing. He may as well slit his friends’ throats now himself if he did that. He decided that the best course of action was to surprise Brad. He would hide in the kitchen and when Brad came in, jump him. Brad had the gun, but Benzo had the element of surprise and he
had
to make it count. He could hide behind the door and pounce as soon as he saw Brad coming.

Benzo
opened the door to the kitchen quietly. To his shock, the thumps he had heard were not coming from outside but inside. Reggie threw himself upon Benzo and grabbed his neck.

“Get off, what the hell are you doing?”
Benzo tried to push Reggie off but he was heavy. They rolled around on the kitchen floor. As they fought, they clattered into the shelves and benches, knocking jars over and a bottle fell to the floor, smashing into pieces. Reggie tore a chunk from Benzo’s cheek and he screamed.

* * * *

“What was that?” said Brad. He pushed Christina off and zipped his trousers back up. Christina spat once more onto the dusty floor and grabbed Tom.

“Please
, Tom, wake up,” she said. Tom murmured incoherently as Christina shook his shoulders.

“Who the fuck is in there?” shouted Brad.

Jackson, Caterina, Jessica, and Rosa all came running. Tom was stirring and Caterina bent down over him.

“Is he al
l right?” asked Jessica.

“Yes, just help me get him to his feet,” said Christina.
As they picked Tom up, Caterina whispered to Christina the plan to escape.

Brad pointed the gun squarely at Christina as Tom sagged over her shoulder. “What the hell is going on in there? You said this was it, there was nobody else. Who haven’t you told me about?”

“Nobody,” said Jackson, “it must be Reggie, he must have woken up.” Jackson took a few steps casually toward Christina, trying to put himself between her and the gun.

“You said he was infected
. If he’s woken up, then who’s doing the screaming?” Brad was shouting loudly, the gun trembling in his unsteady hands.

“Reggie’s infected? What?” said
Christina.

“Oh God,
Benzo,” said Jessica.

More crashing and banging came from behind the door and then it stopped.

“I’m going to see,” said Jackson.

“No, you stay here,” said Brad. Jackson thought about trying to grab the gun
. He was only a few feet away from Brad but it was risky. The gun could go off with Brad so out of control like this.

“You
,” Brad said to Rosa. “You go. If you don’t come back in one minute I’ll shoot Christina.”

“Brad, let me go, it’s not safe.” Jackson took another step toward Brad.

“Please, Brad,” said Jessica.

Brad pointed the gun to the ceiling and fired. The blast drew a curtain of dust down upon them and the shot pierced the silence like a pin bursting a balloon.

“Last chance,” said Brad.

“It’s al
l right, Jess, I’ll go,” said Rosa. She approached the door and took a look back over her shoulder.

“I’m waiting,” said Brad.

Rosa pushed the door open and stepped into the dark storeroom. The candlelight from the church lit the gloom and she could see the room was empty; boxes and chairs, but no Benzo.

“There’s no one here, I’m going into the kitchen,” she called out.

Rosa pushed the kitchen door open and saw two figures on the floor. Reggie was face down with Benzo sat on his back. Reggie’s face was mushed into the stone floor, blood curdling around his broken skull. Benzo still gripped Reggie’s head, his fingers entwined in Reggie’s matted hair.

“
Benzo?”

Rosa walked to him slowly, quietly
: carefully. Benzo got up and leant on the worktop.

“I had to, he was...he was infected. He just attacked me. I couldn’t get him off and then...”
Benzo reached up to his face and touched the wound on his face.

“He bit me. He fucking bit me!
”

From the church
, they heard Brad calling out, asking what was happening.

“
Benzo, he’s got a gun. If we don’t go in there, he’s going to shoot Christina. Probably everyone.” Rosa spoke in a hushed whisper.

“
Right, then, let’s not keep him waiting,” said Benzo.

Rosa
finally reappeared with Benzo and Jessica gasped.

“
Benzo, you’re hurt, what happened?”

“Never mind that,” said Brad. “What about Reggie? You finish him off?”

Benzo walked directly toward Brad as Rosa returned to Jessica’s side. Brad raised the gun at Benzo.

“Hold it
, buddy, that’s close enough.”

Benzo
stopped when the gun was inches away from his face.

“Brad
, you shit, what are you doing? There’s no need for all this. I wish you had died back there on the bus. I went back to look for you, you know?”

“Shit happens, buddy.” Brad looked at
Benzo’s bleeding cheek. “Looks like Reggie got a chunk out of you.”

Benzo
nodded and sighed. “Looks like the end of the road for me, eh, Brad?”

He said it with such a cool level tone, that Brad was caught off guard. How could he be so calm knowing he was dying?

“Well, you’re not done yet. In fact, we were just leaving. You can come with us for now. When you’re done, I won’t let you turn, I’ll put you down.”

Tom was conscious now and Christina was
quietly filling him in: Reggie, the escape plan, Benzo, and Brad’s growing psychosis.

Benzo
shook his head. “No, Brad.” He took a step forward so he was within touching distance of him.

“
Benzo, we’re leaving. Your wrestling match with Reggie will have brought more of those things. We can’t stay here,” said Brad.

“He’s right,” said Tom. “We have to leave.”

Benzo shook his head again. “Not all of us have to leave. You see, Brad, I’m infected, which means in a few hours I’ll be dead. It’s a pisser, it really is, but I’m not going down without a fight. I’ve got nothing to lose now.”

A smile spread across
Benzo’s face. Jackson realised what Benzo was planning. He’d lost the element of surprise, but he had another weapon now; the infection. Jackson looked at Christina and nodded.

Benzo
and Brad stared at each other. Suddenly, Benzo jumped forward and grabbed Brad’s arm. The gun fired and a bullet whistled past Benzo’s ear, ricocheting off a stone gargoyle and embedding itself in the cross above the altar.

Benzo
and Brad tussled on the floor. Brad was trying to get the gun back to face Benzo, who was busy trying to bite Brad anywhere he could.

“Let’s go, now!” shouted Jackson. “
Those gunshots will alert more of the dead to our location. Cat, your light?”

She flicked on her phone. Jackson, Christina,
Caterina, and Rosa, ran to the storeroom.

“We need to take the weapons!” said Jessica. She frantically grabbed
some of the crosses and candle sticks they had gathered up earlier. She quickly tossed them to Rosa who handed them around.

“
Benzo!” said Tom, looking for an angle at which he could join the fight and help. Benzo was still struggling with Brad on the floor. Suddenly the gun went off again and the bullet shattered the tall arched window above them. As pieces of glass fell around them, Tom saw his chance.

He lunged and grabbed Brad’s arm.
Brad was unable to hold off both Benzo and Tom, and finally relinquished his hold of the gun. Brad rolled away and the gun skidded across the floor. They all stood up. Benzo was panting and coughing.

“Unlucky
, buddy, you didn’t get me,” said Brad wearing a wicked smile. Benzo hadn’t been able to bite him, but had managed to end up nearer the gun. He bent down and picked it up. He raised it at Brad.

“Oh
, come on, you’re not going to shoot me, Benzo,” said Brad, sweating and dirty.

Benzo
stared at him and kept the gun pointed at Brad’s head.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

The smile faded from Brad’s face as he realised Benzo might just do it. “I can help you. I...I can help you fight those things out there. Come on, buddy, don’t do this.”

“Is that what Amber said to you
, when you killed her?” he said. “Or Chloe? Who else, Brad? I saw what you did to Christina.”

“What does he mean?” said
Caterina.

“Nothing.”
Christina gripped the heavy golden candelabra in her hands and looked at the floor. She pressed her teeth together and pursed her lips.

“Let’s go
, Benzo. It’s going to be swarming with zombies in here a minute,” said Tom. Benzo lowered the gun and then passed it to Tom.

“I should
n’t come with you, I’m infected. I’m a liability now.”

“Fuck that. You’re coming with us for as long as you can. We’d be dead if it wasn’t for you. Go to the others. We’re getting out of here, together.”

Tom took the gun and Benzo joined the others at the storeroom. They were watching from the doorway, waiting for Benzo and Tom. They had one item each to defend themselves; Christina and Caterina held solid candle sticks whilst Jackson and Jessica held thick crosses. Jackson told Rosa about the dustbins by the back door. They were metal and had solid lids with handles; they would make perfect shields, and once outside, she was to grab both. Jackson was praying the zombies outside wouldn’t have converged too closely to the church door.

“
Ain’t that sweet,” said Brad getting to his feet and walking toward Tom. “You’re gonna take Benzo with you, even though he’s infected? What about me, you gonna leave me here?”

“No, I’m not
gonna leave you here,
buddy
,” said Tom. He pulled the trigger and shot Brad in the left leg, just above the knee. Brad screamed and fell to the floor clutching his leg as blood spurted out.

“You fucker, Tom, you dirty fucker!” Brad shouted through gritted teeth. The pain soared th
rough his body as he sat on the floor holding his bleeding leg.

“I’d say there are two bullets left, wouldn’t you
, Brad?” said Tom pointing the gun at him.

“Please, Tom, don’t.” Brad looked at him with pleading eyes. “Don’t kill me, I’m sorry, I’ll help you. Please
, buddy, please.”