Six Days With The Dead Part 2

*Hey Liz, Alice.' Cam said, nodding to the two young women as the two men reached the top of the ladder.

*I heard we had Dead visitors earlier, anything since?' He continued, looking at his bat.

His was different from the metal one Alice used. This one made of wood, had a dozen six inch nails driven through the end at various angles, making it look like an improvised medieval mace. Michael on the other hand carried a crow bar in each hand and when the Dead attacked these would smash skulls with deadly speed.

*No, it's been pretty quiet really,' Alice told him, *Anyway, it's all yours now, so we're off.'

Alice and Liz said their goodbyes, climbed down the ladder and began walking through the garden back to the Convent doorway. Running round the corner at top speed, shrieking as she ran, came Anne. Following mere seconds later, was Justin covered in mud and straw. Justin was only ten and as he and Anne were the only children at the convent they fought like brother and sister.

*Hey what's the hurry?' She asked, grabbing Anne as she almost ran into her.

Hiding behind her sister, Anne peeked out at Justin, who had skidded to a breathless halt.

*What? I haven't done anything.' She said, giggling between rapid breaths.

*Yes you did, you threw a bucket of chicken poo at me, you fat head.' Justin shouted, stamping is foot.

Justin was small for his age, but then growing up in a world without regular meals would do that to a child. With Justin's slim frame, wild sandy brown hair and large doe like eyes he had a fragile look about him, which the boy did all he could to dispel. Acting tough and putting on a brave face even when it was clear he was hurting.

Justin was only three when the Dead rose, so he was too young to remember what normal life had been like. For Justin and Anne, this was all they had ever really known. Justin had never known his mother and father, as they had died early on in the war and had been brought up by his uncle Mark. He had loved and idolised his uncle and when Uncle Mark didn't come back one day to their hiding place, his world fell apart. Justin didn't know what had actually happened to his uncle but he knew deep down he would never see him again. When the refugee convoy rolled past one day he so desperately wanted to join them but was scared. He had followed at a distance trying to stay out of sight for hours. Until, out from behind a tree a man had stepped. Holding out his hand the man had just said *wouldn't you prefer to ride in the wagon' and the seven year old Justin had fallen into his arms sobbing, the relief of finding a friendly adult too much for him to bare. The man had gathered him up in protective arms, stroking his hair while hus.h.i.+ng his tears. The man was called Rich and he and his wife, Nicky had taken care of Justin ever since. He was the child they had lost in those first few days. They were the loving uncle who just never came home. Rich and Nicky loved him as a son and he loved them as parents.

*What are you two up to now?' Alice asked, with her hands on her hips.

*He started it.' Anne whined.

*I don't care who started it,' Liz interrupted, *you don't go throwing chicken poo at people, Anne.' She said giving her a secret wink, *Now apologize to Justin.'

Anne mumbled a weak apology, looking at her feet.

*Girls!' Justin exclaimed and stomped off trying to look as much like the man he so desperately wanted to be.

The image slightly belittled by the straw and chicken droppings randomly falling to floor. As Liz watched him leave, she realised that with Justin being the only boy here anyway near Anne's age, they would probably end up together when they got older. She hoped they both survived that long, she didn't like to think of her younger sister never knowing the type of joy that she shared with Imran.

*Have you done your jobs?' Liz asked, looking down at Anne's smudged dirty face, *Well obviously you've cleaned out the chickens, sort of.' she continued picking a stray piece of straw from her sister's hair. A cheeky grin crept across Anne's face.

The two children had been put in charge of looking after the goats and chickens. Sister Catherine had shown them how to collect the eggs without getting their hands pecked to pieces and how to milk and care for the goats. Anne didn't like the goats, they were too boisterous and most of the time they didn't seem too keen on being milked anyway. Thankfully, Justin had agreed he would look after the goats and she would care for the chickens.

*Yes, I'm all done.Sixteen eggs today and three more new chicks have hatched.' She answered, kicking at a tuft of gra.s.s with her foot.

With the chickens being fed on meagre sc.r.a.ps and any bits they could peck from the yard, they certainly wouldn't win any beauty contest. But they produced a good amount of eggs and once a month the group had meat, so they couldn't complain.

*Well, you go wash up, it'll be meal time soon.' Said Liz, ruffling Anne's hair.

The late afternoon meal was the one time that most of the Convent refugees would come together. Of course there would always be two people missing at any gathering, they still had to keep a vigilant eye out for the Dead over the wall.

As Anne ran off to wash, Liz went looking for Charlie. She was curious about their new arrival and the tale he had to tell. The afternoon sun had done little to relieve the chill from the convent corridors, its warmth unable to penetrate the thick stone walls. She eventually found Charlie with Sister Josephine and William, their new guest in the refectory. Sister Josephine sat patiently with her hands clasped together in her lap, a kind look on her face, as William tucked into a bowl of thick soup like the starving man that he was. Charlie, his muscular frame making William seem even more emaciated, sat on the table edge waiting for him to finish. As always when he was in the convent he had put the protective sheath over the serrated blade permanently strapped to his left wrist. While he waited he polished one of the four ice picks that usually sat crossed on his chest and back. Charlie liked to get close and personal when he put down the Dead. When he wasn't using the blade on his wrist, the ice picks would happily puncture skulls, destroying rotten brains within. He rarely had to remove a second pick from its webbing but it was better to have three spare, than to be in need of one and not have it to hand. As Liz walked into the room, William froze, the spoon hovering half way to his mouth.

*William, this is Liz, one of the people sharing our home.' Sister Josephine said, putting him at ease. Slowly the spoon went to his mouth, his hunger outweighing his apprehension. He nodded a greeting at her and carried on eating.

While Liz and Alice had been doing their watch duty, Charlie had taken William to see Nadine. She was the closest thing they had to anyone medical at the convent. William had been stripped and checked for bite marks. Hospitality being only for the living, they didn't want a man sized cuckcoo in the nest, biting the proverbial hand that fed them. He had then bathed and been told to shave his head and body. Lice were as prevalent as the Dead were outside the Convent walls, so all new guests had to go through this to prevent spreading their infestations to others. William had not done a very good job at shaving his head, nicks and b.l.o.o.d.y patches dotting his scalp and as he sat there in a clean oversized T-s.h.i.+rt and trousers, he certainly looked a sorry sight.

Liz came and stood behind Sister Josephine as William tipped the last dregs of soup from the bowl. Laying the bowl gently down on the table, he looked at the three figures stood around him. The solider, the nun and the young woman, odd bedfellows indeed.

*Thank you,' he said. His voice had a dry whispery quality to it, like he hadn't spoken to another living soul in some time.

*You're welcome... Charlie here, tells me he found you tied in a tree with just that poor excuse for a horse below. Travelling without a covered wagon seems very foolhardy.' Sister Josephine said, concern knitting together her brows.

*I had a wagon to start with.' He coughed, his voice box protesting at its use.

*I had been travelling with my brother Robert and his six year old son, Frankie. We had made camp in a decrepit old barn. There were no Dead around so we should have been ok. I was on first watch up in the rafters while they slept below and I swear I must've only fallen asleep for a few minutes but when I woke up...' Tears fell from his tired eyes as he covered his face with his hands.

William coughed, forcing down the emotion in an attempt to compose himself, *but when I woke up, I knew something was wrong. I could smell the blood straight away even from where I was sitting. I called to Robert but as he turned to look up at me I could see it was over. Those Dead eyes looked back at me and my brother was gone forever. He was covered in blood with a big slash across his neck. For a while I hoped Frankie had hidden himself somewhere but there was no sign of him, alive or Dead... When Robert had become slower I dealt with him and then went looking for Frankie. There didn't seem to be any other Dead about so I left the wagon and just took the horse for speed. That was two months ago and I've been searching ever since. I haven't found him yet but he was so small you see. He can't have walked that far. He needs to be with his Daddy, that's all I want, just to put him with his Daddy.' William choked out the last words as tears fell freely from his eyes.

*Hey you never know, he may have made it to one of the Outposter's homes and still be safe.' Liz said, trying to sound rea.s.suring but not believing her own words.

*Tell you what, I'll take a few people out tomorrow to the closest Outposter holdings and ask them if they've seen Frankie, OK?' Charlie said, resting his hand on William's shoulder.

*Thank you... even if he's one of the Dead, I just need to know,' William said, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Charlie gave a sad smile and got up to leave the room. Catching Liz's eye he nodded towards the door, wanting her to follow.

*We'll have to warn the Outposters that there's some bandit activity in the area at the moment.' Charlie said.

*Sorry, what do you mean, bandits?' Liz asked, confusion stopping her in her tracks.

Charlie turned to Liz and said, *Since when have the Dead slit someone's throat? And he said himself there were no signs of the Dead before, or after his brother died. So unless we've got a six year old psycho on our hands who killed his own father, then my guess is it's bandits.'

*But what did they kill Robert for? They even left his horse' Liz couldn't understand some people in this Dead world.

The Living had enough odds stacked against them as it was, they really could do without bands of outlaws thinking life was so cheap, especially now that it was in such short supply.

*Who knows, Lizzy,' Charlie said, as they continued walking down the corridor *some people are just looking out for number one, some people are scared and some people are just plain angry.'

*Angry at who?' Liz asked.

*Angry at those who survived, I guess. They think, why did this person deserve to die and this person deserve to live. And I guess it's just all got a bit mixed up in their heads. We've all lost somebody, if not everybody, and it hurts. Deep pain like that affects different people different ways. Some let it out and deal with it, while for others it turns inwards and consumes them like a cancer until all that is left is the pain.'

They continued down the hall in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Friends and loved ones long gone, suddenly remembered. Ghostly memories, appearing to tease their healing wounds. Not looking where they were going, they both walked right into Nadine as she came round the corner. As usual she had her nose in a book.

Nadine had an amazing memory. Anything she read would be squirrelled away in her brain and could be called on when needed. When the world had changed Nadine had hidden away in her bookshop. With the shutters down and reading by candle light, she escaped the horror of the world outside. Leaving behind the death, that only metres away tore the world to pieces, she found comfort between the pages of book after book. After two weeks the screams outside her closed world became less and less frequent, until she rarely heard anything at all. With all her food now gone and the water no longer working, she knew she would need to leave her sanctuary sooner rather than later. Looking out of the small back window, trying to build up the courage to leave, she noticed, across the roof tops, the back of the small supermarket, one of its skylight hatches was ajar. Thinking it was as good an opportunity as any, she grabbed her holdall and the hammer from a tool box. She didn't know if she would be able to use the hammer on anyone but the satisfying weight in her hand gave her some comfort as she crept along the roof to the hatch. She spent forever straining her ears, listening for any movement within. Once she was convinced it was safe, she lowered her slim body through the hatch to the shop below. Miraculously, she found herself in the stock room. Holdall by holdall, slowly over the next three weeks, she emptied the stock room of everything she might need. She lasted in her world of books for another eight months reading and committing to memory everything she thought would be useful in this new world. Books on survival, books on herb law, books on farming and animal husbandry, they were all consumed by her thirst for knowledge. But when one day she heard the lorry coming down the street, she knew it was time to leave her haven and venture into this new Dead world. She stayed with various small communities over the next few years, hoping to help them build something new but each time fleeing with a few other survivors as the Dead overran them. She was one of the few inhabitants at the convent that hadn't arrived with Charlie and his caravan of survivors. She had been travelling from village to village through Devon and Cornwall with Bryon, a fellow survivor from a community that had fallen to the Dead. They had come upon the Lanherne Convent quite by chance and the Sisters had taken them in. Behind the high walls she felt safe, hidden away from the Death outside. Finally she had found her new bookshop, her new home.

Once Charlie had found out her talent for retaining information, he had made it his mission to find some medical books for her. When the Dead had first attacked, the bitten were taken to hospitals only in turn to come back Dead themselves. Hospitals became blood baths, wiping out most of those with any medical knowledge overnight. Nadine was the survivor's last chance to have some of that knowledge back. It had been decided, her only job at the convent was to absorb as much as she could from the medical texts Charlie brought her. She was to be their doctor and she was doing her d.a.m.nedest not to let them down.

*Oh Christ, sorry,' Nadine said as she bent down to pick up the book, *not looking where I'm going, again.'

In her late thirties, Nadine had an appearance that Charlie thought of as bland. There was nothing in her face to bring her either merit or scorn. Short dull brown hair, over a perfectly average set of brown eyes, small straight nose and adequately shaped mouth. But it was her mind that was truly beautiful. He was glad she had Bryon to talk to. At least he could hold a conversation with her without feeling like an idiot. Charlie didn't know if they were romantically involved but having been through so much together for so long, it was hard not find comfort in someone you had trusted with your life.

*Just refres.h.i.+ng some details,' Nadine said as she showed Liz the cover of the book she had been engrossed in. It was a book on midwifery. *It's all very well knowing what to do, but doing it is going to be a lot different from reading about it.' she continued.

One of the Outposter's had a wife who was due to give birth within a few weeks and Nadine was expecting them to arrive at the convent any day.

*Oh yes, for Emma O'Brien, she was huge the last time I saw her,' Charlie said, *she'll pop at any moment.'

Liz had met Emma on a few occasions, despite the couple deciding not to live within the Convent walls. She had been a nice enough woman if a little harsh.

There were half a dozen outposts dotted within a forty mile radius of the Convent. People had chosen all sorts of defendable strongholds and the type of stronghold varied as much as the people who lived in them. There was a salvage yard, another lived in a castle ruin and another a police station. Anything that could keep out the Dead, worked. Some people just thought they could only put their trust in themselves, when it came to protecting their family and Mr O'Brien was certainly one of those. Liz thought that if he hadn't been worried about the labour, then she doubted Mr O'Brien would be bringing his wife to see Nadine at all.

*Well I promised our new guest, Mr Parker, that I'd have a bit of a look around for his nephew when I do the rounds and I might as well go get Emma and Daniel at the same time. It'll take a few days, to get there and back. We'll pa.s.s at least two of the outposts on the way there so I can check on those too, warn them there may be raiding parties in the area.' Charlie said, picturing the circular route in his mind's eye.

*Raiders?' Nadine asked, looking slightly nervous.

*Charlie thinks it may it may have been some raiders who killed Mr Parker's brother,' Liz said, *but don't worry they'll have a hard job getting in here.'

*Well I hope so.' Nadine said as she opened her book, still looking a little worried.

Like all survivors she had had to kill the slow Dead to save herself more times than she cared to remember, but going up against someone armed and alive, she doubted she would come out on top there.

*Anyway,' she continued *I'm going to finish up with this and I'll see you at dinner.' She began walking off, already lost in the pages of the book.

*Who are you going to take with you tomorrow?' Liz asked Charlie, as they resumed walking.

*Well,' he began, *I thought...'

*I'm coming with you,' she interrupted, *no arguments. You need someone you can trust to watch your back out there, particularly if there are raiders about.'

*Well if you let me finish, I was going to say you and Imran should come,' he said looking a bit irritated.

*Well OK, that's alright then.' Liz said, a little disappointed she hadn't had a chance to list her reasons. The argument over before it began, *We'd better go tell Imran, so he's ready for tomorrow.' she continued.

*That boy's always ready,' Charlie said, a smile on his lips *and you'd better break the news to Anne, you know how she gets when you have to go outside.'

Even at her young age, Anne understood her older sister had responsibilities to the group. Not that she worried any the less, when Liz left the safety of the Convent. She had seen too many people say goodbye to loved ones and have them never return. It didn't matter how good you were with a weapon, the outside world was a dangerous and unpredictable place.

They eventually found Imran and Anne together in the room he shared with his brother. Anne now washed and clean, sat on Mohammad's bed watching Imran repairing some of his arrows, her large eyes intent on taking in every detail. Imran had promised to make her a bow of her own and more importantly, teach her how to use it with deadly accuracy. The room was similar to their own, except where she and Anne had their bunks drawn close together the brothers had theirs against each wall. On the floor in between the beds a small faded prayer mat had been laid. Stained and looking a little worse for wear, Liz didn't know if Imran and his brother continued with their prayers out of belief or simply as a connection to the family they had lost.

Looking up as she they entered, Imran smiled at Liz. A natural open smile.

*Hey, and what brings such a lovely lady to my door?'

But before she could say a word Charlie spoke.

*I need to visit some of the Outposters tomorrow and also bring Emma O'Brien back so she can have her baby here. It'll take a few days, so I want you and Liz to come with me.'

Instantly the smile dropped from Anne's face, a worried look already replacing it.

*Now don't look at your sister like that young lady,' Charlie said *you know as well as I, that with the three of us the Dead won't stand a chance. We'll be fine.'

Imran, catching Liz's eye, knew there was more to this trip than just bringing Emma back. He was about to ask what, when Liz gave him the slightest shake of her head, the question dying on his lips. So it was something they didn't want to worry Anne about, he was intrigued.

Liz went and sat down on the bed next to Anne.

*Come on, you know we have to do this. You don't want Emma having her baby alone with no one who knows what to do, do you?' Liz said as she pushed some of sister's unruly blond curls behind her ear, *I promise we'll be as quick as we can, and as Charlie says we'll only be a few days'

*Three days tops.' Charlie added.

*Yeh, three days tops,' Liz continued. She could see Anne wasn't happy about her going but she was a sensible girl for her age. She would understand this needed to be done *Oh and I'm going to ask Alice to keep an eye on you, so there's no more chicken poo moments'

Charlie raised a questioning eyebrow.

*Don't ask,' Liz said, getting up, *now off you go with Charlie, it's almost meal time.' she said gesturing for her to leave.

*Come on half pint, let's leave these two love birds alone for a few minutes.' He said as he gave Anne a wink.

Giggling, all worry momentarily gone, Anne followed Charlie out of the room. As they walked off to the refectory, Liz could hear her sister making loud kissing noises and the low rumble of Charlie's laugh.

Imran put down the arrow he was holding and pulled Liz down onto his lap. She slipped off the harness that held her sword and putting her arms around his shoulders, looked deep into his dark eyes. Seeing the love she felt, reflected back at her, she leant forward. Eyes open, their mouths barely touching, feeling each other's breath on their lips, they knew they belonged together. Imran lifted his hand to cup the back of her head, his fingers entwining in her short hair, his other hand pulling her closer to him. And then he kissed her, softly at first, then building as a hunger overtook them both. The world fell away and all Liz could feel was Imran. He was everything. His lips, his tongue, the rapid beating of his heart mirroring her own. Then pulling back briefly and with desperate hands he lifted her t-s.h.i.+rt over her head. Liz arched towards him as Imran caressed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, nipples and stomach.

*Mine...' he mumbled, claiming her body with his kisses as his hands ran up and down her back.

*Yes, mine.' Liz echoed, as she pushed him back on the bed and began to pull at his clothes.

The need to feel his skin against her body adding speed to her nimble fingers, as she unb.u.t.toned his s.h.i.+rt. His slim muscular body called out to her with a desire they both needed to be satisfied. Soon they were both naked in each other's arms, making love and exploring bodies with hands and mouths, a demanding pa.s.sion consuming them both. When they were done, they lay entwined in each other's limbs. A sheen of sweat covering their spent bodies, their rapid breath and beating hearts slowly returning to normal. Imran delicately stroked her arm as she lay across him.

*I do love you, Liz.' Imran said in barely a whisper.

She turned her head to look up at him and to her surprise she saw tears p.r.i.c.king his eyes.

*What's the matter?' she said, cupping his face in her hands, concerned.

*I'm scared,' he said, *I love you so much, I don't think I'd be able to cope if something happened to you'

*Oh you moron,' she replied, smiling, as she kissed away the tears *I'm not going anywhere, promise'

As she looked deep into his eyes, they both knew it was a promise she had no right making, not in this world of Dead. With one last soft kiss, full of both love and an unspoken sadness, Imran sighed.

*Come on lets go get something to eat.' He said as they untangled their limbs and dressed.

As they were about to leave the room Liz stopped him. Putting her hand on his chest she could feel the slow steady rhythm beating within.

*Promise.' she said, seriously looking up at him.

This small beautiful woman in front of him. This woman who had made life in this c.r.a.p world bearable for him. This woman he knew he would kill and die for. This was the woman he loved with all that he was.

*Promise.' He replied, covering her hand with his.

After a brief pause he took her hand in his.

*Come on.' He said as he led her back down the hall to join the others.