Zed Days (Book 3): Zed Days III Read online

  Zed Days - Book Three

  By Nick Harland

  Kindle Edition 2018

  Copyright © 2018 by Nick Harland

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in relevant and critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination. Whilst based loosely in a real life locale all specific locations such as houses, shops, or businesses are described fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, places or events is entirely coincidental.

  Other Titles

  Zed Days Series

  Zed Days Book One

  Zed Days Book Two

  The Last Alchemist Series

  The Last Alchemist: The Great Bear

  The Last Alchemist: Smugglers Cave

  The Last Alchemist: War

  For more information about the author, other titles, new releases, and to sign up for updates about upcoming titles and other opportunities go to;

  http://www.thefantasywriter.co.uk/

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One – Unexpected News

  Chapter Two – Ice Hockey

  Chapter Three – Doctor, Doctor.

  Chapter Four – Accident and Emergency

  Chapter Five - Theatres

  Chapter Six – Goodbye Doc

  Chapter Seven – I Bloody Hate Supermarket Carparks

  Chapter Eight – Hybrid

  Chapter Nine – If they ever start working together.

  Chapter Ten – Smash and Grab

  Chapter Eleven – Weaponised

  Chapter Twelve – Let’s stay positive shall we

  Chapter Thirteen – Leaving

  Chapter Fourteen – Barbeque

  Chapter Fifteen – Sleeping with the Enemy

  Chapter Sixteen – Don’t leave me

  Chapter Seventeen – The Mission

  Chapter Eighteen – The Bunker.

  Chapter Nineteen – Guns and Ammo

  Chapter Twenty – Demolition

  Chapter Twenty One – Flying lessons

  Chapter Twenty Two – Smoke on the Horizon

  Chapter Twenty Three – ‘Hi’

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Well, I’ve done it again. I’ve survived for a few more weeks and my life is still better than it was before it all happened, the Zombie apocalypse that is. I thought it was time to start book three as the last one was going on a bit and where we left things seemed to be a natural break. In case you’re picking up and reading this book and haven’t found the two books that came before it, I’ll summarise, very briefly, what’s happened so far. I’d be disappointed if you are just finding this book, and not the others, as it probably means I’m dead and the base has been ransacked or something. You may even have killed me if I turned into a Zed, but we’re not sure if that can happen to me or not. It’s more likely you stepped over my rotting corpse somewhere, but as usual I’m getting side tracked.

  A little over two months ago there was a Zombie apocalypse and for whatever reason, I survived. After a week I found Eve who is older, smarter, fitter, and sexier than me, and we hooked up. It was awesome. Then we found some other survivors, including Esme who is younger, smarter, fitter and sexier than me. Then three of us hooked up because, what the hell, it’s an apocalypse, and life is almost certainly short. We found others including Andrea who used to work in a lab with Esme, but she got bitten and turned into a Zombie. Some of the Zed’s talk, and as they’ve been colonised by microscopic aliens They aren’t actually the living dead. Andrea decided to stick around and see if she could come back. She, or rather the Zombie inside her, started talking recently. Just before I finished the last book Esme thought she saw Andrea smile when we said something that would only have pissed the Zombie part of her off. We think maybe she could be able to regain control of her body.

  We’ve found quite a few others from local airports because we worked out that if you were flying when it happened, the initial wave of aliens couldn’t get to you. We have a pretty good base in a large caravan sales place and we had just cleaned out an old chemical factory site for another base. Half of the group were just about to leave for the new base when Eve’s psycho husband, who survived by being in a fire suit with breathing equipment, attacked us with a few friends. It was all very tense and we lost two people. Eve got shot in the side, but not badly, and she’s tough so she’ll be fine. We finally killed him and his mates but he shot up several of our vehicles before we got to him.

  I stopped the last book with Eve just having just got shot and us having to drive all the way down the A19 to meet another group of survivors who wanted to join us. I’ve missed out a ton of important facts, like we have an injection that stops you turning if you get bitten, but if that bothers you, take the time to find the other books. They will probably be around here somewhere, or you might be able to find the laptop I’m using to type them.

  I’ll start off on the morning after finally killing Eve’s psycho ex-husband, having got Eve back and patched her up. We managed to find Lulu, the cool modified Range Rover we initially had, but had to give back to Eve’s husband before he attacked us. Again, do yourself a favour and read the other books!

  Chapter One – Unexpected News

  Esme and I slept on the bed you make up from the chair part of the caravan, as Eve needed the space on the fixed bed to lie out flat and move when she needed to. She woke up even more angry than she had been when we went to bed, ‘Fucking bastard. Take me to him so I can kill him again.’

  Esme was brave, she got up and sat on the bed next to her, ‘I take it it still really hurts then, have you taken a painkiller since you woke up?’

  Eve started to shout but managed to calm herself, she knew it would only hurt more, ‘NO, no.’

  I came over and sat on the other side of her, handing her a bottle of water and a pill from the side, ‘Like you said, it’s only a flesh wound and the doc’s pretty confident it will heal just fine. It’s gonna be a week or two at least before you’re Zed killing again though, and there is nothing we can do to change that.’

  Pressing her hand over the bandage wrapped around her waist and shuffling to sit up a bit, wincing as she did, she repeated, ‘Fucking bastard.’

  Esme smiled and said, ‘Yes, but now he’s a dead fucking bastard and we have no more enemies we know of out there, except the 6 billion Zeds of course, and that feels pretty good. I hadn’t realised how much it was bothering me knowing he was out there, until now.’

  Eve smiled but it was brief and then her face dropped, ‘But we lost people, the Captain and Mike, and he’s fucked up a few of our best vehicles even if we do have Lulu back.’

  Esme replied, ‘Yes, and there is no easy way to live with that, but before you start to blame yourself because he was your husband, just don’t. This is an apocalypse and we’ve done well. It’s horrid to lose people, but considering the gear they had and the element of surprise, it’s a miracle we only lost two. Also, you’re lucky to be alive or not much more badly injured. We can’t replace the people we’ve lost, but it’s like you said yourself before we set out to try and find him, now we have Lulu back, a few more decent guns, a decent amount of extra ammo, and the threat is gone. We can’t replace Mike or the captain, but we can use the new gear to make sure we don’t lose anyone else. Now, you know we have to go, we have a long day, and you know that you have to stay right here. You might as well get the swearing and complaining out of the way before we go find us some breakfast.’

  Eve opened her mouth a
nd I could almost see the expletives vying for position on her lovely lips, but they never came. Her face softened and she put her hand on the side of Esme’s face, ‘Just bring that sweet ass back safe and look after the lout will you, his shoulder’s still not right.’

  I said, ‘Right here you know.’

  Eve looked at me like she was looking at a puppy and said, ‘Yes baby I know you are, but the adults are talking for a minute.’

  I signed and Esme giggled, ‘And there’s the Eve I love. Yes, I’ll bring my sweet ass and the lout back for you to play with later. I’m sure we can find a way to have a little fun while you’re stuck in bed for a while, slow gentle fun, but fun none the less.’

  Looking at us both more seriously Eve replied, ‘Seriously though. I know Mike said they were good people, but keep yourselves safe. Who are you taking with you? I was a bit out of it with the morphine last night and to tell you the truth don’t remember a damn thing.’

  I was feeling left out so I jumped in, ‘We’re taking Lulu. Ben, Izzy and Chris are coming in the Q5. Bill didn’t think he could get the rig going without a new radiator and it’s too far to take the tipper truck. I think it’s on its last legs anyway. We have the winch on Lulu so one way or another we should be able to clear any blockages. There are no really built up areas close to the A19 south of here so there shouldn’t be any hordes. We’ll be fine, but yes we’ll be careful. If you want to see us back today we need to go though.’

  Eve smiled and nodded and we sat with her for a quick breakfast of, as usual, dry cereal. I really miss milk. She kissed us goodbye without further comedy or complaint and we set off. Esme seemed fidgety and nervous but I figured it was just because of the trip without Eve. There hadn’t been many trips where things might have been different without her gun skills. Although we knew Chris was good, and we were taking a decent amount of ammo, he just wasn’t Eve. The actual reason for her nervousness hit me like a baseball bat in the guts.

  We made it to the A19 without event and we were cruising along when she said it, no warning, no preamble, she just said it, ‘I think I’m pregnant.’ I was, I hope understandably, speechless.

  Then, when I didn’t reply immediately, she blurted, ‘It’s ok, you don’t have to be happy or sad or anything really. Obviously it’s not ideal circumstances, but I’m happy, you know how much I like kids.’

  I got it together enough to reply and said what first popped into my head, ‘I guess if you’re happy, I’m happy. I never thought….I didn’t realise. I mean I know how it works of course but…’

  She put me out of my misery, ‘It’s ok, really. I wasn’t exactly prolific, but I had the depot injection. Amongst it all it never crossed my mind that I was due another one shortly after the world more or less ended. I think subconsciously it crossed my mind, but I thought we were all going to die, so it wouldn’t be an issue. Are you really ok with it?’

  I had had a bit more time to process and I put my hand on her thigh. ‘I am, at least I think I am. My main concern is you, having a baby without a hospital or a doctor could be dangerous, for you and the baby.’

  Esme nodded, ‘I know, and it scares me too, but people had babies before hospitals and doctors, and I’m sure we can scavenge some books. It’s about time we hit a hospital anyway and I’m sure Gary can help us work out what we need to scavenge. Since he spoke about what could happen to him with his cancer if he did turn into a Zombie, I’ve been curious if they’re affected by disease. Have ones on ventilators or in comas all come round, and are just fine, as Zombies anyway. What about ones with cancer or knackered lungs?’

  Alongside the head-fuck of thinking about being a father, talk of Zombie physiology was a little too much, ‘I don’t know and right now I don’t care. Right now we need to deal with you being the way you are, and we need to work out how to tell Eve. I don’t think she feels the same way about kids as you do, but she does love you, and I think the threat to you will upset her.’

  Esme nodded again, ‘I know, that’s why I decided to tell you first, so we could get or stories straight. We should be able to find a pregnancy testing kit to give us a better idea of dates. I know I’ve only missed one, and it’s early days, but in my heart I just know it. Right now I’m fighting fit and it will be a few months before that changes. You guys are going to have to trust my judgement about when I have to go on maternity leave from Zed killing. I want this baby and I’m not going to put me or it at any more risk than I have to, so don’t worry. The moment I think it’s affecting my judgement or performance I’ll stop. I don’t want to put you guys at risk either.’

  We drove on in silence for a while, both pre-occupied with our own thoughts, then Izzy was on the radio, ‘We’re making good time and there are a few opportunities I think we should consider on the way. There is a smallish petrol stop coming up without any other shops or anything, so it also sells food and stuff. There can’t be more than a few cars and a couple of staff. From what I’ve seen, you guys don’t have many proper fuel cans and we don’t have much spare oil or coolant.’

  Esme looked at me and my mind flipped back into Zombie survival mode, it was a relief from its recent departure, ‘Awesome idea. We’ll pull in and you follow us. Don’t do anything unless I say so and make sure your doors are locked and your seats are in the upright position.’

  There was a snigger through the radio, ‘Yes captain.’

  The petrol station wasn’t as empty as we had hoped. I guess given a minute more I would have known that would be the case. When people had started to feel ill, the ones who were near the turn off pulled in. The entrance lane was jam packed and there had been a few fender benders. I slowed right down and went past the entrance lane, then took a wide arc on the road and went in via the empty exit lane. Even after all this time it felt weird driving the wrong way down a road.

  We got close to the forecourt and there was a horde milling around the fuel pumps. It looked like most of the ones from the cars jammed on the entrance way had decided to get out and join the party. There were a few dead bodies and a few dead Zeds as well. There must have been over thirty in the horde and I stopped just before the forecourt, not so close the Zeds would swarm.

  I radioed the others, ‘It was a good thought, but there’s too many for us to clear by hand. There isn’t any room for ploughing, so I think we should just leave it.’

  Esme grabbed the radio out of my hand and said, ‘Just wait a minute guys.’ Then she dropped the radio and glared at me, ‘That’s the not the Brad I know and love and you know it. You’re already being cautious and that’s not going to work. I still have to survive long enough to have the baby and unless you’re on form that might not happen. Even I can see the solution here and even if you’re in denial, I know you can too. Now get a grip, tell them the plan, and don’t forget who’s the fastest runner.’

  She was verging on angry and it was scary. She was right of course, the plan had flashed into my head before I’d dismissed it. I said, ‘Ok, but I’ve only been a prospective father for a few minutes so don’t be too hard on me. It’s going to take a while to get used to.’

  Esme leaned over and kissed me, ‘I’m sorry, I’m getting used to it too, and that was a bit harsh. Of all the risks we take this is pretty low grade, so go ahead.’

  I picked up the radio, ‘Sorry guys, new plan, I’ll explain my hesitation later. We’re going to back up to where this exit road joins the dual carriageway and then Esme’s going to get out and walk up to the forecourt with an M9 and make them chase her. They should bottleneck on the exit ramp and the moment Esme jumps into your car I’m going to charge them. Then you’re going to follow us and mop up. There will be some stragglers, but with cover from Chris we should be able to handle them hand to hand.’

  Izzy came back on the radio sounding a little hesitant, ‘Ok, if you’re sure. If you’re not sure we don’t have to do this, it was just a suggestion.’

  I smiled and replied, ‘No I’m sure, honest. It was, and is, a goo
d idea. Like I said, I’ll explain my initial uncertainty later and it’s got nothing to do with this particular situation.’

  We backed up and Esme kissed me before getting out with an M9. I watched her walk calmly up the exit ramp towards the horde and I had to concentrate to slow by breathing down. I hadn’t been that nervous for weeks. Esme reached the forecourt and slowly aimed the gun towards the horde. There was a single shot, then Esme turned to run with the horde close behind her. A moment later the hairs stood up all over my scalp and the nightmare came true. I was on the gas even before I saw it. A Sprinter quickly broke from the pack and Esme was fast, but there was no way she could out run it for more than a few seconds.

  Luckily Lulu was fast too, and Esme raced passed me before the Sprinter launched itself. Esme practically scrapped the side of the car as she ran passed, and the moment she was clear I steered to cover her escape. In a moment of slowed time and clarity I could see the Sprinter look between Esme and me and make a decision. It was going too fast and I was too close for it to easily change course around me, but it was too far away to jump for Esme. It decided to jump anyway and I admit I was impressed that it managed to clear Lulu completely, despite her height. There was very little room between me and the forecourt when the Sprinter jumped so I slammed on the brakes and tried to control the car while looking in the wing mirror.

  In the moment I had I could see that Ben and Izzy had followed me and that they were slowing down and throwing a door open. The Sprinter had landed in a pile on the road between us and I rammed it into reverse and floored it again as the rapidly approaching horde reached me. The front of the horde hit me before I could get up enough speed to escape. Although I could hear them on the mesh covered windscreen, I was twisted in my seat looking through the back window and trying to control my rapid reversing.

  I saw Esme get into the Q5 and although I thought Ben would follow suit and reverse, he didn’t. Luckily my confusion only lasted a moment as I saw him steer to the edge of the road, two wheels on the grass verge clipping the bushes growing there. It could so easily have gone wrong, but I stayed calm, or at least I wasn’t so panicked I screwed it up, and I steered to the other side of him so we would pass on the road. The Sprinter was stuck in the middle of the road between us and by the time it got to its feet it had no time to react. I was almost sorry for it… almost.