Run from the Dead: Book 2: A Zombie Apocalypse, page 24
Anna nodded. “Ben and Jill are extremely resourceful people and look over the moon that they have a full house again.”
“It’s a good job, though, isn’t it? I mean, we just turned up.”
Anna and Marcus shared a laugh, gaining looks from everyone else enjoying the garden.
“So, what now?” asked Marcus.
“Now, my brother, we prepare.” Anna’s face lost its fun, and she frowned at him as she spoke. “You, of course, need to recover first. But we have been discussing what our options are and we are in agreement that we need to be ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Anything and everything. The dead and the living. Survival too.”
Marcus raised his eyebrows. What the hell has happened to my sister? Yeah, sure, she always loved to prepare for the worst—like the shops running out of toilet rolls or not having enough petrol in her car should she need to dash off to the hospital—but this is different. I’ve never seen her look so strong-minded and confident.
I suppose I’ve changed over the last few days, as well. A zombie apocalypse will do that. Even the children. Fuck, why do the children have to change? Marcus shook his head at his own thoughts.
“What’s going through your head right now?” asked Anna.
“Nothing. Everything… You are completely right. We do need to prepare. But before that, I need to know who hit you and where I can find them?”
That bruising on her face has been done by a man with large hands.
“I can protect myself, Marcus. What we need to do is teach our children how to, as well.”
“Even Jasper and Logan? They’re only six!”
“Yes. Everyone needs to learn, because we might not be here one day. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, but there’s no way in hell I’m leaving my children without the skills to survive.”
“Jesus, Anna, you sound like some crazy off the telly.”
“I know. But you also know I’m right. It doesn’t feel especially good to talk this way but we all know it’s important. Because tomorrow, I’m going out to scavenge. It’s our life now, so we’ve gotta adapt or die. And I don’t intend on dying.”
Anna got up, said, “Meeting in Rob’s room in half an hour,” and walked over to the kids, stroking every one of them on their hair—even Mel. Anna had always been the affectionate type and wanted her children to feel her love at every opportunity, but she now carried something else, something much darker than Marcus had ever witnessed.
Maybe she’s right. Maybe we all need a bit of darkness from now on. Maybe that’s how we’re going to survive this fucking nightmare.
***
“Guys, listen up. I’ve gathered us here in Rob’s room because he can’t come down the stairs yet and I needed everyone together,” said Anna. “I think we need to start going out and scavenging. We need to establish ourselves here with more polytunnels, weapons, food supplies, and most importantly, medicines.”
“Yes, I hear that. We absolutely need to gather as much meds as we possibly can,” said Christina. “Antibiotics mainly, but we have to get to it before anyone else does or its destroyed—in a fire, for example.”
Steve threw his hands up in the air. “Oh, look, I said I didn’t mean to burn the village down. It was a complete accident.”
“So why did your eyes gleam while watching the flames, son?” said Jill.
“Mum, I thought you’d be on my side.”
“You always did have a bit of a fetish for fire,” said Ben.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” said Steve, now rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Chuckles went around the room.
“Yes, we do need to watch Steve’s pyromania,” said Anna, smirking, “but Christina is right, we have to loot as many chemists as we can before idiots damage any of it.”
The group all nodded and agreed, but everyone also looked unsure. It was Rob who spoke up first, though. “Anna, you know what happened last time. It’s a very dangerous thing to do. I can’t go yet, and that kills me. Can you at least wait until I can, please?”
Anna raised her eyebrows and slowly shook her head. “No, Rob. You know I can’t. If no one wants to come, then I totally understand, but this is something I have to do, and I have to do it now.”
“I’m coming with you, Anna,” said Christina. “You’ll need me to identify the sort of things we will need other than the epilepsy meds.”
Marcus will not like that. “Thank you, Christina. I could do with all the help I can get,” said Anna.
“Christina…” Marcus started to speak but was cut off by a look from her. He held his hands up instead and said, “I guess I’m in as well.”
Anna couldn’t help smirking again. She is so the boss there. I love it. “Marcus, don’t be silly. Your arm isn’t right yet. You can’t come.”
“I’ll be fine,” said Marcus.
“No, you’ll be a liability. I’ll go,” said Steve.
“I agree with Steve. You have to rest that shoulder, Marcus, or you’ll be of no use to anyone,” said Christina. Marcus huffed and flared his nostrils but didn’t speak again.
“Steve, you know how I feel about us going out together. If anything happens and we both don’t return, then our kids have lost everything.”
“I know you said that, but the chances of us coming back are far better if we go out together. It makes sense to hit the places hard and fast, getting in and out as quick as we can. The more people there are to do that, the better. And she’s my daughter too. I’m coming.”
Rob nodded. “Well, I’m feeling much better about this already.”
“What about me?” said Mel.
“And me?” said Jack.
“Guys, we need people here as well to help protect the kids. Jack, you’re not quite 100 per cent yet, so it would be foolish to try doing anything. Mel, I need you here helping Marcus, Ben, and Jill with the kids and setting the stuff up like the polytunnels we bring back. It’ll be heavy work, but it’s so important.”
Mel snorted out her breath before reluctantly nodding her consent. There’s no way I’m deliberately taking out a fourteen-year-old girl. She may be tough, but she still needs our protection. And I don’t think Marcus or Christina would have allowed it, anyway.
“I know there are plenty of chemists in Hull, but what about the hospital?” said Christina.
“I’m not so sure that would be a good idea,” said Marcus. “That’s where the first victims were taken. It’s got to be overrun.”
“I know that, and yes, I would like to check it out for personal reasons, but it’s also going to give us the best haul of medical supplies. Only crazy people will have attempted to loot there,” said Christina.
“Exactly, you’d be crazy to try it,” said Marcus.
“I think Christina is right. We could come up with some kind of plan to draw any of the dead away first, then head on inside. If we approach it right, we could get everything in one go,” said Anna.
“Fire. That’ll draw them away,” said Steve.
Anna raised her eyebrows at him and suppressed a grin. “Yes, fire is definitely one idea, Steve.” Anna patted him on the arm, and he rolled his eyes again. “I say we do it, but as safely as we can.”
Marcus shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. “I really hate you guys doing this. Not to mention the fact that the hospital is right in the thick of everything—housing estates and near to the city centre. It’ll be hard enough just getting there.”
“Well, I have an idea forming on how to get there and what to do when you do,” said Ben. “I know I haven’t been out there much yet, but I get the gist of it.”
“Right, so we hit the hospital, then,” said Anna, a slight grin on her face.
Epilogue
Jessica crawled through the ventilation system as if it was made for exactly this: a child of only seven years old trying to move around a building, unseen by the dead.
She paused, hearing the beasts running through the corridors nearby. If they heard her, then they could trap her somewhere for days. She could not let that happen again. I don’t want to listen to them trying to get me. And I was so hungry and thirsty last time.
The threat passed, so Jessica continued on towards the canteen. She had set off a toy in the A & E department to draw the dead before crawling through the narrow tunnels to the cafeteria so she might be able to eat.
Packets of crisps, chocolate bars, and bottles of water and pop were the only things she could open that hadn’t gone off yet. I don’t mind eating junk food. Mummy wouldn’t have liked it, but at least I’m finding something to eat. She filled her bag as quickly as she could, then crawled back into her tunnel. If I ever leave this place, I promise I’ll try to find something greener like you used to give me, Mummy.
The little girl crawled into the room that was locked and in the dark. They never find me in here. If I just stay quiet, they might never be able to. Jessica smiled to herself, then opened the junk to eat well that night.
Far off screams sometimes rang out, but they weren’t as frequent as they had been in the first days. That nice lady nurse, Suzie, didn’t scream when they got her. She was very brave. She told me to cover my eyes, but I peeked and saw what the nasties did to her. I wish she was still here. I wish she was still here. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I wonder if anyone else is still alive or am I completely alone now?
Jessica wanted to cry but no more tears would come. Instead she curled up on the floor in a blanket she had found and went to sleep.
To be continued…
Books By This Author
Run from the Dead: Book 3
Are there worse things to run from than the dead?
Amy knows all too well about the evil that lurks behind closed doors and not just the flesh-eating kind. Kidnapped and traumatised by her ordeal, she is picked up by a group of survivors when she escapes.
Estranged couple, Steve and Anna, are no longer fighting amongst themselves but have a common enemy fighting the dead. In this crumbled civilisation, they are accustomed to helping those in need, but helping strangers isn’t always the safest option.
They are all realising there are worse monsters out there.
Steve can fight the dead. But when the living becomes more of a problem, he must learn to overcome past traumas to protect his ever-growing family.
How much do good people need to battle just to stay alive?
A Note from the author
I really hope you enjoyed this book. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
If you would like to stay informed about my news as well as anything and everything else I will be producing then please visit my website for full details. You can find it at:
www.joannenundy.com
Also feel free to contact me on my Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram or Tiktok (all details on the website) as I would love to hear from you.
If you did like this book then please pass on its details to others who you think would love to read it. Thank you in advance to anyone who does and keep looking out for more books in the series.
Joanne Nundy, Run from the Dead: Book 2: A Zombie Apocalypse
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“It’s a good job, though, isn’t it? I mean, we just turned up.”
Anna and Marcus shared a laugh, gaining looks from everyone else enjoying the garden.
“So, what now?” asked Marcus.
“Now, my brother, we prepare.” Anna’s face lost its fun, and she frowned at him as she spoke. “You, of course, need to recover first. But we have been discussing what our options are and we are in agreement that we need to be ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Anything and everything. The dead and the living. Survival too.”
Marcus raised his eyebrows. What the hell has happened to my sister? Yeah, sure, she always loved to prepare for the worst—like the shops running out of toilet rolls or not having enough petrol in her car should she need to dash off to the hospital—but this is different. I’ve never seen her look so strong-minded and confident.
I suppose I’ve changed over the last few days, as well. A zombie apocalypse will do that. Even the children. Fuck, why do the children have to change? Marcus shook his head at his own thoughts.
“What’s going through your head right now?” asked Anna.
“Nothing. Everything… You are completely right. We do need to prepare. But before that, I need to know who hit you and where I can find them?”
That bruising on her face has been done by a man with large hands.
“I can protect myself, Marcus. What we need to do is teach our children how to, as well.”
“Even Jasper and Logan? They’re only six!”
“Yes. Everyone needs to learn, because we might not be here one day. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, but there’s no way in hell I’m leaving my children without the skills to survive.”
“Jesus, Anna, you sound like some crazy off the telly.”
“I know. But you also know I’m right. It doesn’t feel especially good to talk this way but we all know it’s important. Because tomorrow, I’m going out to scavenge. It’s our life now, so we’ve gotta adapt or die. And I don’t intend on dying.”
Anna got up, said, “Meeting in Rob’s room in half an hour,” and walked over to the kids, stroking every one of them on their hair—even Mel. Anna had always been the affectionate type and wanted her children to feel her love at every opportunity, but she now carried something else, something much darker than Marcus had ever witnessed.
Maybe she’s right. Maybe we all need a bit of darkness from now on. Maybe that’s how we’re going to survive this fucking nightmare.
***
“Guys, listen up. I’ve gathered us here in Rob’s room because he can’t come down the stairs yet and I needed everyone together,” said Anna. “I think we need to start going out and scavenging. We need to establish ourselves here with more polytunnels, weapons, food supplies, and most importantly, medicines.”
“Yes, I hear that. We absolutely need to gather as much meds as we possibly can,” said Christina. “Antibiotics mainly, but we have to get to it before anyone else does or its destroyed—in a fire, for example.”
Steve threw his hands up in the air. “Oh, look, I said I didn’t mean to burn the village down. It was a complete accident.”
“So why did your eyes gleam while watching the flames, son?” said Jill.
“Mum, I thought you’d be on my side.”
“You always did have a bit of a fetish for fire,” said Ben.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” said Steve, now rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Chuckles went around the room.
“Yes, we do need to watch Steve’s pyromania,” said Anna, smirking, “but Christina is right, we have to loot as many chemists as we can before idiots damage any of it.”
The group all nodded and agreed, but everyone also looked unsure. It was Rob who spoke up first, though. “Anna, you know what happened last time. It’s a very dangerous thing to do. I can’t go yet, and that kills me. Can you at least wait until I can, please?”
Anna raised her eyebrows and slowly shook her head. “No, Rob. You know I can’t. If no one wants to come, then I totally understand, but this is something I have to do, and I have to do it now.”
“I’m coming with you, Anna,” said Christina. “You’ll need me to identify the sort of things we will need other than the epilepsy meds.”
Marcus will not like that. “Thank you, Christina. I could do with all the help I can get,” said Anna.
“Christina…” Marcus started to speak but was cut off by a look from her. He held his hands up instead and said, “I guess I’m in as well.”
Anna couldn’t help smirking again. She is so the boss there. I love it. “Marcus, don’t be silly. Your arm isn’t right yet. You can’t come.”
“I’ll be fine,” said Marcus.
“No, you’ll be a liability. I’ll go,” said Steve.
“I agree with Steve. You have to rest that shoulder, Marcus, or you’ll be of no use to anyone,” said Christina. Marcus huffed and flared his nostrils but didn’t speak again.
“Steve, you know how I feel about us going out together. If anything happens and we both don’t return, then our kids have lost everything.”
“I know you said that, but the chances of us coming back are far better if we go out together. It makes sense to hit the places hard and fast, getting in and out as quick as we can. The more people there are to do that, the better. And she’s my daughter too. I’m coming.”
Rob nodded. “Well, I’m feeling much better about this already.”
“What about me?” said Mel.
“And me?” said Jack.
“Guys, we need people here as well to help protect the kids. Jack, you’re not quite 100 per cent yet, so it would be foolish to try doing anything. Mel, I need you here helping Marcus, Ben, and Jill with the kids and setting the stuff up like the polytunnels we bring back. It’ll be heavy work, but it’s so important.”
Mel snorted out her breath before reluctantly nodding her consent. There’s no way I’m deliberately taking out a fourteen-year-old girl. She may be tough, but she still needs our protection. And I don’t think Marcus or Christina would have allowed it, anyway.
“I know there are plenty of chemists in Hull, but what about the hospital?” said Christina.
“I’m not so sure that would be a good idea,” said Marcus. “That’s where the first victims were taken. It’s got to be overrun.”
“I know that, and yes, I would like to check it out for personal reasons, but it’s also going to give us the best haul of medical supplies. Only crazy people will have attempted to loot there,” said Christina.
“Exactly, you’d be crazy to try it,” said Marcus.
“I think Christina is right. We could come up with some kind of plan to draw any of the dead away first, then head on inside. If we approach it right, we could get everything in one go,” said Anna.
“Fire. That’ll draw them away,” said Steve.
Anna raised her eyebrows at him and suppressed a grin. “Yes, fire is definitely one idea, Steve.” Anna patted him on the arm, and he rolled his eyes again. “I say we do it, but as safely as we can.”
Marcus shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. “I really hate you guys doing this. Not to mention the fact that the hospital is right in the thick of everything—housing estates and near to the city centre. It’ll be hard enough just getting there.”
“Well, I have an idea forming on how to get there and what to do when you do,” said Ben. “I know I haven’t been out there much yet, but I get the gist of it.”
“Right, so we hit the hospital, then,” said Anna, a slight grin on her face.
Epilogue
Jessica crawled through the ventilation system as if it was made for exactly this: a child of only seven years old trying to move around a building, unseen by the dead.
She paused, hearing the beasts running through the corridors nearby. If they heard her, then they could trap her somewhere for days. She could not let that happen again. I don’t want to listen to them trying to get me. And I was so hungry and thirsty last time.
The threat passed, so Jessica continued on towards the canteen. She had set off a toy in the A & E department to draw the dead before crawling through the narrow tunnels to the cafeteria so she might be able to eat.
Packets of crisps, chocolate bars, and bottles of water and pop were the only things she could open that hadn’t gone off yet. I don’t mind eating junk food. Mummy wouldn’t have liked it, but at least I’m finding something to eat. She filled her bag as quickly as she could, then crawled back into her tunnel. If I ever leave this place, I promise I’ll try to find something greener like you used to give me, Mummy.
The little girl crawled into the room that was locked and in the dark. They never find me in here. If I just stay quiet, they might never be able to. Jessica smiled to herself, then opened the junk to eat well that night.
Far off screams sometimes rang out, but they weren’t as frequent as they had been in the first days. That nice lady nurse, Suzie, didn’t scream when they got her. She was very brave. She told me to cover my eyes, but I peeked and saw what the nasties did to her. I wish she was still here. I wish she was still here. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I wonder if anyone else is still alive or am I completely alone now?
Jessica wanted to cry but no more tears would come. Instead she curled up on the floor in a blanket she had found and went to sleep.
To be continued…
Books By This Author
Run from the Dead: Book 3
Are there worse things to run from than the dead?
Amy knows all too well about the evil that lurks behind closed doors and not just the flesh-eating kind. Kidnapped and traumatised by her ordeal, she is picked up by a group of survivors when she escapes.
Estranged couple, Steve and Anna, are no longer fighting amongst themselves but have a common enemy fighting the dead. In this crumbled civilisation, they are accustomed to helping those in need, but helping strangers isn’t always the safest option.
They are all realising there are worse monsters out there.
Steve can fight the dead. But when the living becomes more of a problem, he must learn to overcome past traumas to protect his ever-growing family.
How much do good people need to battle just to stay alive?
A Note from the author
I really hope you enjoyed this book. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
If you would like to stay informed about my news as well as anything and everything else I will be producing then please visit my website for full details. You can find it at:
www.joannenundy.com
Also feel free to contact me on my Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram or Tiktok (all details on the website) as I would love to hear from you.
If you did like this book then please pass on its details to others who you think would love to read it. Thank you in advance to anyone who does and keep looking out for more books in the series.
Joanne Nundy, Run from the Dead: Book 2: A Zombie Apocalypse
