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

“Funny enough there wasn’t any there.”

“It’s a shame we’re not in Manchester. I know a few places where you can get them.”

“Okay, smart arse, you know your guns. I get it. Stop trying to impress me.” He jumped into the back as Tina appeared beside Lisa.

“They’ve emptied the car, now they want their weapons.”

“Right, you take this, and this.” He passed a shotgun and rifle to Tina. The teenager disappeared from view as Frank retrieved two boxes of bullets.

“Two boxes each?” Lisa muttered. “How many have you got?”

“Loads, but they won’t be able to carry many.”

He passed the shotgun and rifle rounds to Lisa along with two handguns. He watched her walk back around the side of the van before he retrieved two boxes of handgun bullets. He jumped from the lorry and made for the others. It was then that movement in the distance caught his eye. He watched as a HGV turned onto the road leading up to the farmhouse.

“Looks like our food has arrived.”

 “We want more than this,” Ben said, rattling the boxes of bullets.

“Are you going to war or something? That’s more than enough.”

The thunderous roar of the HGV grew louder as Ben stepped closer to Frank.

“We want more than this. I didn’t risk my life for four boxes.”

“Six, actually,” Frank said, handing over more handgun bullets. “And you’re welcome.”

“Hey, Glen!” Amy yelled. She held up a hand for him to slow down, but the signal was lost on the driver as he ploughed on. “Glen!”

Amy stepped back as the lorry drew close. The rumbling engine caught the attention of the rest of the group.

“What the fuck is he doing?” Frank snapped.

They watched in horror as the lorry sped off the road, striking the transit van. The white van tipped onto its side as the HGV roared past.

“Glen!” Lisa bellowed.

She rejoined the rest of the group as the lorry smashed into the farmhouse. The foundations crumbled around the solid metal frame as it finally came to a halt. They looked on as the upper level of the building collapsed. A plume of dust and grit burst high into the air as bricks and mortar rained down on the lorry. The group retreated to a safe distance as the rubble scattered around. Only a small section of the house remained intact.

“I’m going to kill that little prick.”

Frank marched forward as the driver’s door swung open. Glen fell from the vehicle amid a cloud of dust. Despite his distorted view, Frank fired twice into the smokescreen. A shriek told him he had hit his target.

“You shot him,” Amy gasped, running to Glen’s aid. It was as she neared she realised he was long dead. Despite the dust clouding her view, the unmistakable growl within was all she needed to hear. She turned away as Frank approached his vehicle. He looked out to the road as he went, his breath seizing in his lungs.

“Oh, fuck!”

The rest of the group turned and followed his line of sight towards the crowd that was making their way across the field.

“That idiot has brought them right to us,” Lisa stammered.

“Ben, we have to go,” Amy urged, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him to the sports car.

“You three, get in the back, now!” Frank snapped at the remaining trio. Tina obeyed and rushed towards the rear of the lorry.

“What about him?” Elaine asked, pointing towards Glen. “You’ve injured him, we can’t leave him behind.”

Frank looked past the couple at the downed man. The dust cloud had cleared, revealing the crawling figure it had previously concealed. They stared at Glen’s eager eyes as he tried to rise, but the bullet in his leg prevented him from using it. Collapsing in a heap, he began dragging himself towards them. He stopped as a loud bang accompanied a bullet in his head.

“Problem solved,” Frank said, lowering his handgun. “Stay with him if you want. If not, get in!”

He strode toward the cab of the lorry where Lisa was already waiting.

“Was he a zombie?” she asked.

“Apparently.”

Frank put the lorry in gear and spun the wheel. The wide circle proved time-consuming as the horde of undead drew near. He watched the sports car race down the track ahead of them, past the approaching zombies.

“Looks like they got the better deal,” he said as the lorry was finally facing the right way.

“How? We’ve got the guns.”

“They’ve got the food.”

“Not all of it.” Lisa moved her legs aside, revealing four bags of cans and boxes in the footwell.

“You really are a master thief, aren’t you?”

“Sure am.”

“But they still have the fast car.”

“We’ve got durability. It’ll take a lot to smash this thing up.”

“They don’t have Blob and Blubber to contend with.”

Lisa looked at him thoughtfully. “Okay, they have the better deal.”

As they looked ahead, it was clear the crowd would cut them off. They sprinted across the field as the lorry trudged on.

“Things are going to get bumpy.” Frank said.

The zombies spilled onto the track ahead of them. He aimed the handgun out of the window, firing in quick succession. Two of the creatures fell, but the bullets whizzed past the majority. Frank continued to fire with one hand on the wheel. A few more stumbled as the gun clicked empty. He sat back in his seat as the sea of undead roared closer.

“Hold on!”

He pushed the lorry harder, speeding towards the crowd until at last, they collided.

The impact shook the LGV more than he expected. The vehicle slowed as the countless bodies fell beneath its wheels.

“Faster!” Lisa cried as the lorry’s speed decreased.

“I’m trying!”

He had no idea how many corpses he had crushed, but the sheer number they still faced was enough to