Pushing Up Gravestones – Chapter 20

Smoke drifted from houses and flats long
since burned out. A few derelict cars were strewn around, dead drivers were in
some. It was pitch black down the alley ways. Monsters holed up in there for
sure. Rory made the group run on, he wanted distance between them and the gang.

“Rory we have to stop, my legs are
killing!” Ferrah was complaining again as the group moved fast through the
deserted streets. Denise looked over to her with a look of mild contempt

“If Tina can keep going I’m sure you can
too!”

Ferrah’s cheeks flushed even redder. She
puffed as she spoke still struggling to keep up. “Where’s the gun Denise?  Did you lose it?”

This time Denise reddened up she dropped
back a little. “It was mayhem in there when Rory saved us, how was I supposed
to get to it? Anyway where is the bat?” She spoke just loud enough for Rory to
hear.

Rory still had hold of Tina’s hand. “Come
on Tina, just a little further!” He stopped as they neared a street corner. He
put his finger up to his lips and motioned for the girls to crouch down.
Gingerly he peered around the corner to look down the street.

“Shit!” A group of zombies stood in the
middle of the street, jerkily looking around shuffling this way and that. He
peered again to confirm what he saw. “Bastard shit!” He looked down at Tina.
“Sorry honey, I shouldn’t swear.” She held on tight to hand, not wanting to let
go and just smiled at him with her grubby face. Rory looked around across the
road he spotted an open window in what looked like a basement.

He hunkered down next to them. “Ok see the
window over there?” They all nodded. “On three I want you to sprint over there
to the window. Open it and get in. Don’t wait for me; I will be right behind
you believe me.”

He looked around and found an old beer
bottle. “Just the thing!” He moved back to the girls. “Ok on three, ready?”
Both Denise and Ferrah nodded but Tina grabbed his hand again.

“Don’t leave us Rory, please don’t leave!”
He gave her a quick hug. “I’m not leaving sweetie, hold Denise’s hand now and
stay with her. I will be with you all soon.” He nodded for Denise to grab her
hand. “Ok ready. One . Two. Three Go!” Rory stepped around the corner and threw
the bottle as far over the Zombie pack as possible.

They turned like lightning at the noise
behind them, quickly zoning in on where the noise came from. Rory stood
watching the pack, his rifle up in his shoulder. He turned to look at the
girls. Denise was through the window and Ferrah was passing Tina through.

Jesus
hurry the hell up!

The pack had turned away from the noise and
moved back to their original positions. He looked back just in time to see
Ferrah’s feet disappear into the building. He backed off looking for a way to
the window without being seen. Keeping low he moved behind a car.

His rifle slipped from his back knocking
into the side of the car. Rory froze. Very gently he brought the rifle up in
front of him again and looked through the car window.

“Shit!”

The mob were running in his direction, he
could hear the slapping of their feet on the pavement and road. There was
around twenty feet of open ground between him and the window. He knew if he
went for it the Zombies would find the girls too. He closed his eyes, kissed
the rifle then turned and pointed it in their direction.

They were closing in rapid, around twenty
as far as Rory could guess, anyway more zombies than bullets. He pulled the
butt in tight, not wanting to miss.

Automatic fire assaulted his ears, he hit
the deck hard. Rory could see the zombies getting peppered from where he lay as
four men moved out of the shadows. Two fired while two others moved forward.
Then they stopped and fired while their friends moved forward of them. From his
vantage point he could see the men destroying the whole group. “Fire in the
hole!” he watched as two threw things into the crowd.

The explosion was deafening, he saw the
flash, then just smoke. Rory took this as his chance to run. He sprinted to the
window. Sprawling over twice in his haste. Denise was at the window beckoning
him in. He passed the rifle through. For a split second he thought about
shouting to the men, he was sure they were soldiers. But after what had just
happened to the girls he knew he couldn’t trust anyone. He climbed through and
gently closed the window.

Ferrah looked at the window. “Who was
that?” Rory shook his head. “Haven’t a clue, army I think. Are you ok honey?”
he was checking Tina’s arms and legs. She hugged his waist. “I’m fine. Thanks
for coming back!”

He smiled. “Hey, I told you I would!” Tina
grabbed his hand tightly. Ferrah walked over. “I’ve scoped out the room, looks
like its Zombie tight. The door has been nailed shut so the only way out is
through the window!” Denise cut in. “Yeah and I have found some knives, they
are pretty sharp so they should be ok!” Ferrah shook her head. “Wouldn’t a
chair leg have been better? I really don’t want to get that close that I have
to use a knife!”

“Oh is that right? Well why don’t you look
then? Instead of doing a two minute scan of the room and telling us everything
is fine!” Ferrah laughed. “I think our safety is more a priority that weapons
at the moment, what do think Rory?” Denise turned. “Yeah what do you think?”

Rory was oblivious to them both. He and
Tina were talking sat down underneath the window. Tina was crying. “I don’t
want to turn into one of those things! They are horrid. Please Rory don’t let
me turn!” Rory moved towards her and hugged her. “Hey honey pie, you won’t
turn. You’re like magic, I have seen people with bites. They turned quick, you
haven’t. You’re special, a one off. There’s nobody like you in the whole world
probably!”

He kissed her forehead and wiped away her
tears. “Anyway I’m not letting anyone get near you again. I promise.”

“You really promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“Stick a needle in your eye?”

Rory smiled. “Well, not if I don’t have
too!” Tina smiled and nuzzled into his jacket. “Get some sleep sweetness,
Rory’s here to protect you!” He gently rocked her as she fell asleep. The two
older girls looked at each other both embarrassed at the way they had acted.

Rory fell asleep sat against the wall with
his rifle by his side cradling Tina’s head in his lap. The two girls sleeping
on old clothes they found in the basement. Light streamed through the window of
the basement waking the four early.

“We have to get to the base, I recon it’s
our only chance!” Rory was looking out of the window as he spoke. “I thinks
it’s clear, I can’t see any movement out there.” Wait here while I look. He
climbed out of the window and looked up and down the road. He could see no
movement at all. The zombies from last night were in pieces, the four soldiers
had really gone to town on them.

He jogged back to the window. “Come on
let’s move fast while it’s clear!” he helped Tina through then both girls. Tina
held his hand again as they moved ever forward to what they hoped was
salvation.

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