The Church - Part 3
The Search Begins...
I didn’t sleep last night; I couldn’t eat this morning; with the dread filling me up I can hardly breathe.
Before we are to set off everyone is called together for a prayer. Reverend McKay talks about how "we" needed our "flock" to grow, that this was the start of the new world; this is where society would be reborn.
Several of the congregation were starting to cheer. After weeks of grief and despair people now had something to believe in, something to make them forget, even for a just a little while, the horrors which were just beyond these walls.
Wayne was not watching the Reverend, he was watching us. He was figuring out who was fully with this new order and who was yet to be converted. I started to do the same but as I looked back to the front I saw that Wayne was now staring at me. I could tell he knew.
As the meeting breaks up I join my fellow "volunteers", we are probably the best of a bad bunch; we are all between 30 and 40 and considering the circumstances are in fairly good condition, in physical health terms at least.
Steve is an impressive figure of a man, well over six feet tall. A builder before this started and the main architect of our Church defenses. Peter and George were just normal non descript guys.
Wayne calls us over- "Right guys, here’s the plan; a few people will start making a racket by the main gates. They will do whatever is necessary to get all the zombies around to the front. When this is done we will use the rope ladders to drop down the rear wall and make our way to the supermarket. I just want a quick look around for now, see how things are and then get back here all within an hour. Any questions? No? Good, now go and get yourselves kitted up. We go in fifteen minutes"
Kitted up is a bit of joke, we are all given a rucksack which contains water, a little food and a torch. Nothing which should be of any use for this little jaunt outside; but can be useful if we can’t get back as quickly as planned.
Next are the weapons- our primary one is a home made six foot long spear, not for throwing but ideal for keeping the zombies as far away as possible. We are also given a couple of kitchen knifes, I certainly don’t want to get close enough to use these, the spear will be the one for me. Oh I longed for a machine gun like in those Hollywood movies, the gun blazing and mowing down dozens of those monsters in one sweep.
We wait by the rear wall for the signal, there are people spaced out all along the top of the walls to check our route is clear. We can now hear the diversion, lots of screaming and shouting but we can’t make any of it out due to the distance between us. After a few minutes we see the raised arms to tell us now to go, I look at George but he is shaking like a leaf. I also see a wet patch on the front of his trousers grow and grow.
As the other guys throw down the rope ladders I grab George by the shoulders. "Come on man" I plead "Pull your self together, let’s get this done so we can get back as soon as possible. If we all look out for each other we’ll be okay". He gives me a nervous smile and nods his head. I don’t know how much it helped him but to be honest it sure helped me.
We scramble down the walls and as soon as we land we arm ourselves with the spears. It’s all quiet, we move off straight away. The supermarket is about fifteen minutes away, we had previously decided to go the longer way round as we wanted our return route to be a quick as possible, just in case.
The roads are empty at first but we soon enough see our first zombie. It’s about a fifty yards in front of us just standing there in the middle of the road looking at a house; perhaps it was its own house. It suddenly seems to sense us; it turns around and starts to stumble towards us with its arms outstretched and its hands already grasping open and closed to catch its prey.
"Fuck this" Wayne mutters "we are not running away, lets sort this shit head out"
He starts to run at the monster; his spear out in front like a medieval knight with a lance. There is a sickening thud as the spear flies through the zombies’ mouth and out of the top of its head. The spear breaks in two with the force but that doesn’t stop the sheer look of delight on Waynes face. He is laughing as he looks down on his now twice dead victim. He seems to have enjoyed that a bit too much.
We move off quickly and within a few minutes are at the supermarket car park. No sign of any movement so we start to head for the main doors. We all stop at the same time; we can see smoke from the roof.
"It’s not smoke" Steve explains "its exhaust fumes, someone is running the emergency generator. The tanks usually only last about 24 hours so it must be getting refuelled as well".
We must move fast, we need to make contact but where there is life there must also be zombies.
As we are nearly at the doors we see a sign painted on the wall which rips out all our hopes just as they were starting to swell.
KEEP OUT, WE ARE HEAVILLY ARMED, ALL TRESSPASSERS WILL BE KILLED, YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER WARNINGS
"I’m not giving up now" exclaims Wayne "we just need to talk to them, explain what’s going on. Come on, let’s try the doors".
When we are only a couple of feet from the main doors a small metal flap opens on the wall.
A startled Wayne proclaims "We are here in peace and in the name of our Lord the almighty, can we speak to whoever’s in charge"
We got our answer straight away; a crossbow bolt came flying out of the hole. It hit George in the forehead; he was dead before he even hit the ground.
Instinctively the rest of us dive for cover, out of view but also looking around for other firing points.
"Shit, shit, and shit" I mutter to myself.
We have been lying here for about five minutes, half trying to think what to do next and half looking at the body of George. Steve suddenly starts shouting to us and pointing towards the car park.
I move position to see better but it’s not a sight I wanted to see. Making their way through the lines of cars is between fifteen and twenty zombies; they will be upon us in less than a minute. We can’t stay here; we have to risk the crossbow bolts; we have to get through that infested car park.
"Run" I scream "Let’s get the hell out of here!"
We jump on top of the cars, moving from one to another, this keeps us as far away from them as possible. Those rotten hands desperately trying to grab us as we pass them by.
We run all the way home, the sentries spot us and have the rope ladders waiting for us; we get back in safely. I collapse to the ground with exhaustion and fear; I need to be helped to a seat to recover. Wayne tells us to rest while he goes and reports to the Reverend. Now that’s going to be an interesting conversation.
After an half an hour the bells started to toll; a mass was to be held in the memory of George.
During the service I can see in people faces that the failure of the mission has badly effected morale. The Reverend is trying his best, using all his skills to get everyone back on track; but he is failing.
I startle myself, where are the three shocked guys? no one is allowed to miss mass. Where can they be?
I then remember what was said earlier-
"They will do whatever is necessary to get all the zombies around to the front".
There is no better way to attract zombies than use live bait!
Before we are to set off everyone is called together for a prayer. Reverend McKay talks about how "we" needed our "flock" to grow, that this was the start of the new world; this is where society would be reborn.
Several of the congregation were starting to cheer. After weeks of grief and despair people now had something to believe in, something to make them forget, even for a just a little while, the horrors which were just beyond these walls.
Wayne was not watching the Reverend, he was watching us. He was figuring out who was fully with this new order and who was yet to be converted. I started to do the same but as I looked back to the front I saw that Wayne was now staring at me. I could tell he knew.
As the meeting breaks up I join my fellow "volunteers", we are probably the best of a bad bunch; we are all between 30 and 40 and considering the circumstances are in fairly good condition, in physical health terms at least.
Steve is an impressive figure of a man, well over six feet tall. A builder before this started and the main architect of our Church defenses. Peter and George were just normal non descript guys.
Wayne calls us over- "Right guys, here’s the plan; a few people will start making a racket by the main gates. They will do whatever is necessary to get all the zombies around to the front. When this is done we will use the rope ladders to drop down the rear wall and make our way to the supermarket. I just want a quick look around for now, see how things are and then get back here all within an hour. Any questions? No? Good, now go and get yourselves kitted up. We go in fifteen minutes"
Kitted up is a bit of joke, we are all given a rucksack which contains water, a little food and a torch. Nothing which should be of any use for this little jaunt outside; but can be useful if we can’t get back as quickly as planned.
Next are the weapons- our primary one is a home made six foot long spear, not for throwing but ideal for keeping the zombies as far away as possible. We are also given a couple of kitchen knifes, I certainly don’t want to get close enough to use these, the spear will be the one for me. Oh I longed for a machine gun like in those Hollywood movies, the gun blazing and mowing down dozens of those monsters in one sweep.
We wait by the rear wall for the signal, there are people spaced out all along the top of the walls to check our route is clear. We can now hear the diversion, lots of screaming and shouting but we can’t make any of it out due to the distance between us. After a few minutes we see the raised arms to tell us now to go, I look at George but he is shaking like a leaf. I also see a wet patch on the front of his trousers grow and grow.
As the other guys throw down the rope ladders I grab George by the shoulders. "Come on man" I plead "Pull your self together, let’s get this done so we can get back as soon as possible. If we all look out for each other we’ll be okay". He gives me a nervous smile and nods his head. I don’t know how much it helped him but to be honest it sure helped me.
We scramble down the walls and as soon as we land we arm ourselves with the spears. It’s all quiet, we move off straight away. The supermarket is about fifteen minutes away, we had previously decided to go the longer way round as we wanted our return route to be a quick as possible, just in case.
The roads are empty at first but we soon enough see our first zombie. It’s about a fifty yards in front of us just standing there in the middle of the road looking at a house; perhaps it was its own house. It suddenly seems to sense us; it turns around and starts to stumble towards us with its arms outstretched and its hands already grasping open and closed to catch its prey.
"Fuck this" Wayne mutters "we are not running away, lets sort this shit head out"
He starts to run at the monster; his spear out in front like a medieval knight with a lance. There is a sickening thud as the spear flies through the zombies’ mouth and out of the top of its head. The spear breaks in two with the force but that doesn’t stop the sheer look of delight on Waynes face. He is laughing as he looks down on his now twice dead victim. He seems to have enjoyed that a bit too much.
We move off quickly and within a few minutes are at the supermarket car park. No sign of any movement so we start to head for the main doors. We all stop at the same time; we can see smoke from the roof.
"It’s not smoke" Steve explains "its exhaust fumes, someone is running the emergency generator. The tanks usually only last about 24 hours so it must be getting refuelled as well".
We must move fast, we need to make contact but where there is life there must also be zombies.
As we are nearly at the doors we see a sign painted on the wall which rips out all our hopes just as they were starting to swell.
KEEP OUT, WE ARE HEAVILLY ARMED, ALL TRESSPASSERS WILL BE KILLED, YOU WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER WARNINGS
"I’m not giving up now" exclaims Wayne "we just need to talk to them, explain what’s going on. Come on, let’s try the doors".
When we are only a couple of feet from the main doors a small metal flap opens on the wall.
A startled Wayne proclaims "We are here in peace and in the name of our Lord the almighty, can we speak to whoever’s in charge"
We got our answer straight away; a crossbow bolt came flying out of the hole. It hit George in the forehead; he was dead before he even hit the ground.
Instinctively the rest of us dive for cover, out of view but also looking around for other firing points.
"Shit, shit, and shit" I mutter to myself.
We have been lying here for about five minutes, half trying to think what to do next and half looking at the body of George. Steve suddenly starts shouting to us and pointing towards the car park.
I move position to see better but it’s not a sight I wanted to see. Making their way through the lines of cars is between fifteen and twenty zombies; they will be upon us in less than a minute. We can’t stay here; we have to risk the crossbow bolts; we have to get through that infested car park.
"Run" I scream "Let’s get the hell out of here!"
We jump on top of the cars, moving from one to another, this keeps us as far away from them as possible. Those rotten hands desperately trying to grab us as we pass them by.
We run all the way home, the sentries spot us and have the rope ladders waiting for us; we get back in safely. I collapse to the ground with exhaustion and fear; I need to be helped to a seat to recover. Wayne tells us to rest while he goes and reports to the Reverend. Now that’s going to be an interesting conversation.
After an half an hour the bells started to toll; a mass was to be held in the memory of George.
During the service I can see in people faces that the failure of the mission has badly effected morale. The Reverend is trying his best, using all his skills to get everyone back on track; but he is failing.
I startle myself, where are the three shocked guys? no one is allowed to miss mass. Where can they be?
I then remember what was said earlier-
"They will do whatever is necessary to get all the zombies around to the front".
There is no better way to attract zombies than use live bait!
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