The Virus by Lee, Damien (summer books txt) 📕

fingers striving to find a hold on the ledge. She heard Ben cry out as she plunged into the darkness.

14

A gnawing feeling of regret ate away at Frank as the trio entered the garage. On the one hand, he was glad Henderson was going to die, whether it was at the hands of the zombies or slowly wasting away. But he couldn’t help feeling remorse for cheating himself out of the killing blow. The guard had put him through so much during his time inside. He felt it only right that he should have been the one to kill him.

“Right then, where’s this office?” Gus said, making his way through the gloom. The windowless room offered no light to aid the prisoners. Frank squinted, trying to penetrate the darkness with his gaze. The wailing of the corpses seemed distant, yet he knew they may not be alone in the room. With this in mind, he remained still, listening to the fumbling of the others as they blindly made their way around.

“Haven’t they paid their leccy bill?” Gus continued. “Zielinski, go find a light switch.”

Frank remained in the doorway, twirling Henderson’s baton as his eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. He listened to the two men, one on either side of him as they groped their way through the garage. A metallic crash came from the right-hand side.

“For fuck’s sake!” Gus cried out in pain. “Zielinski you twat, where’s the light?”

“I’m looking for it.”

“Well, hurry up.”

Frank looked around the room. His eyes had not fully adjusted to the dark surroundings, but he could make out two great shapes in the centre of the garage and an office to the right. He looked around and found a light switch on the wall next to him. He flicked the switch, protecting his eyes from the harsh glare.

“It’s about fucking time,” Razor said as light burst from the fluorescent tubes. He squinted at Frank. “Well done, Frankie. All we need now is sunglasses.”

Frank walked down the small steps and followed Gus towards the office.

“Right then, where the hell are these keys?”

Razor swept a handful of paperwork off the desk before prying out the first of two drawers. Frank turned to a board on the wall and noticed two sets of keys hanging from hooks. Leaving Gus to his search, he took one set and made his way back.

“Are we off then?” Zielinski asked.

“I am,” Frank told him. “Gus is still looking for the other set of keys.”

“We’re not going together?”

“I’m not going to the army base if that’s what you mean.”

“Then where are you going?”

“I don’t know yet,” Frank replied. He unlocked the door to the prison van and jumped behind the wheel.

“How the bloody hell did you get in there?” Razor garbled from the office.

“Check the wall, Gus,” Frank called as he started the engine.

“Ah-ha. Come on, my little Polak friend, we’re off.”

Frank watched him leave the office and unlock the second van before jumping behind the wheel. He rolled down the windows and readjusted his seat.

“So where are you headed, Frankie?” Gus shouted as the engine roared to life.

“Far away from here.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. Listen, if you change your mind, our army base will always be open to you.”

Frank nodded, rolling his eyes.

“As long as you haven’t been bitten,” Razor added.

“You’re too kind.”

Razor turned to the Polish man as he jumped in the passenger side. “And what do you think you’re doing, Zielinski?”

“What?”

“We can’t go until you’ve opened the shutters, son. Go on, on your bike.”

Frank watched Zielinski jump from the vehicle, mumbling to himself as he made his way over to the chain pulleys in the corner. The way the vehicles were positioned, Frank would have to wait for Gus to leave before he was clear to exit the building. He sat back as Zielinski began opening the shutters.

“C’mon, put your back into it,” Gus bellowed, beeping the van’s horn. The Polish man obeyed, heaving on the chains and sending the shutters soaring high. Sunlight filled the room, blinding the three men and illuminating the hoard of undead as they spilled into the garage.

“Fuck me!” Gus roared. He put the van in gear and lurched forward. “C’mon Zielinski you soppy twat, shake a leg.”

He sped past the man, mowing down the crowd. Frank watched as the van bounced and jolted over the road of corpses with Zielinski in pursuit. Eventually, the Polish man jumped on the back step of the van, holding on tight as Gus made a sharp turn.

Frank put his vehicle into gear as the succession of crushed corpses began to rise. He sped forward, cutting them down for a second time. The van rocked as he made his way over bone and flesh until the road of bodies was displaced by smooth asphalt. He followed Razor’s route and soon caught up to the fleeing prisoners.

“Took your time, Frankie,” Gus yelled through his open window. “Where the hell’s Zielinski?”

“He’s on the back of your van.”

“Cheeky fucker. I suppose I better let him in.”

The two vans slowed, allowing Frank to take in the route ahead. It seemed to lead out onto the main road, which stretched far out into the countryside. The only obstacle between the prisoners and freedom was a large chain-link gate.

“What the fuck are you playing at?” Zielinski snapped as he jumped beside Gus.

“What? I didn’t fancy becoming zombie-chow.”

“So you left me?”

“Hey, I’d rather give them some scraps of Polish dog-meat, than a slab of fine British beef.”

Gus patted his stomach with glee. Ignoring the glare from his passenger, he leaned over towards Frank’s van. “So where to now?”

 “Through those gates towards freedom I guess,” Frank replied, his eyes fixed on