DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE FINISHED NIGHT AT THE FARMHOUSE

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/qLcivaXeqo

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 23

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/bMB4Mj9WVV John

John dreamt of home, his small flat, the familiar smells and the taste of an ice cold sunny D. He missed the normality of it, the feel of his cheap sofa and the sound of the near constant roadworks nearby.

His world had changed, chaos and peace walking hand in hand.

The infection had torn its way through British society, millions were dead and hundreds of thousands of survivors fought for survival in this brutal hellscape.

Nature on the other hand was thriving, deers, foxes and birds had begun returning to the lands lost to human progress.

Many animals would starve, pigeons, rats and other pests who relied on UK society to feed them would now slowly die off their numbers stabilising far lower than its preoutbreak peak.

John's eyes opened to find Sunel's hand on his shoulder, he pressed his fingers to his lips. “Come”

Sunel held out a hand and gently helped John off the bench, careful not to disturb Ember. She sighed as she turned, stirring slightly as she softly breathed.

“You've been asleep for just over 3 hours” Sunel whispered, careful of Ember and Roxy's sleeping forms. John figured it must be mid afternoon. The sun was bright outside and they had been lucky to park out under a small set of trees, its shade preventing most of the heat from baking their small camper.

John stood, stretched and held back a gasp in pain. His body was battered and beaten. No broken bones but half of his side was a patch work of bruises and cuts. John's pale skin could barely be seen through the grime and bruises.

Sunel watched John intently, then indicated for him to sit on the passenger seat in the front. “John” Sunel sat in the driver's seat, his face grimacing as his body also protested. “Once they wake up. We will need to find food and water”. John's stomach grumbled in response to Sunel's words, his throat was parched and he wished dearly for an ice cold sunny D, full English fry up and a cigarette.

John could smell the fry up cooking, the bacon assaulting his senses and he sighed as the day dream ended. He always associated caravaning with fry ups, cooking on a too small stove while everyone fought for space.

“We should head into Painswick, I saw a sign for it earlier and anyway we need to find a pharmacy” Ember said, as she sat upright staring at them both. Her red hair sticking out at odd angles, green eyes met Johns and he felt something inside him heat. John wasn't sure what he felt as he noted Roxy's small frame beginning to stir. “You two aren't as quiet as you think” Ember said as she rose, stretching out like a cat.

Sunel's eyes held an apology that wasn't needed, he nodded sincerely to Ember as she moved to the cupboards, searching for whatever was left and placing it on the table.

2 small bottles of water A bounty chocolate bar A can of beans One EMPTY bottle of Sunny D

“Not much is it” John said, kicking himself as Roxy was staring at him. Her young eyes filled with worry, Ember opened the can of beans handing them to Roxy. “I know they are cold but eat as much as you can okay?”. Roxy grimaced as she took the first spoonful of cold beans.

“We'll need to find a gas bottle and see if we can get that stove top working” Sunel said as he moved, letting Ember take the driver's seat.

Lockwood - 100 Miles West of Scotland

Lockwood sipped his tea while listening to the musing of his men, the crew of the Ark Royal had been supplemented with volunteers, ex servicemen and crews of other ships. Lockwood had asked for his small taskforce to be deployed west of Scotland. Due to ongoing American jamming of radio signals and analogue signals going to and from the UK. Communication was conducted via satellite and by ‘Relay’ across ships in the area.

“Sir, I've got a vessel on Radar, her transponder is turned off and she's sending out an automated SOS”. Lockwood picked up his binoculars and scanned the horizon, checking on the heading the radar had detected from.

“Contact bearing 067!” Lockwood adjusted, finding the small ship just over the horizon. “Get us closer, pass down the relay, responding to SOS from an unknown vessel” Lockwood ordered.

John

Of course the engine wont start, John thought as Ember twisted the key over and over. “Open the bonnet, let's take a look” Sunel said while opening the side door, letting the fresh midday air flood into the small space.

“Ember, there should be a latch underneath the steering column that opens the bonnet. Stay in the driver's seat and I'll tell you when to start it” Sunel stepped out, groaning as he limped.

John followed Sunel out, his shoes crunching on the hard gravel of the lay-by. It was hot, the air felt dry and the sun was high in the sky.

They were surrounded by a patchwork of trees, fields of wheat, grass and wild flowers. Hills were visible between the wooded areas but there wasn't anyone around. The birds chirped merrily, singing calls to each other and a light breeze rocked the leaves.

“Roxy, wait!” Ember called as Roxy stepped out behind him. She followed John closely as he moved to the front of the campervan. “It's okay, I've got her,” John called back, noticing Ember's concerned face through the window.

Sunel carefully lifted the bonnet and set to work while speaking Nepalese curses to himself. Ember remained in the front seat, waiting for his signal.

“God we need rain” John said out loud to no one in particular, the grass was browning in places and everything was just so dry. “Okay, try now” Sunel called.

John's attention got pulled by movement in the trees, he froze and slowly placed a hand on Roxy's shoulder. Gently turning her, towards the pair of deer. A doe and fawn. Roxy's eyes went wide with amazement, the only deer she has ever seen was in the Disney film Bambi.

They watched in peaceful serenity as they passed by, John took it as a sign the area was free of infected if they were here. John was surprised how close they were, he figured the breeze was preventing them from smelling them.

“Bambi” Roxy whispered just loud enough for John to hear, loud enough to tell him there was still an innocent child behind those traumatised eyes. John smiled and watched as the pair ran into the bushes. The sound of the engine roaring to life driving them into hiding.

Sunel closed the bonnet then shouted his alarm, John wasn't quick enough, he didn't acknowledge the movement in the corner of his eyes fast enough, he couldn't move in time as a pair of bloody hands fell onto Roxy ripping her from where she stood.

Lockwood

As the small taskforce moved closer, Lockwood felt in his bones something was wrong. This wasn't a civilian vessel, it was a US navy Auxiliary supply ship. She shouldn't be alone out here, there's no reason for it to be.

“Anything on the radio?” Lockwood asked as a young radio operator repeated over and over. Asking the ghost ship to respond to hails.

“Prepare a boarding party, tell the Gloucester to have a complement of marines pick me up on route”. Lockwood stood as the crew of the bridge looked to him

Gabi

“Thats it” Stevens said as the car crawled to a stop “We're lost” Stevens pulled the handbrake up, took a breath and looked around.

There was nothing for miles, just endless green fields, small woodland areas and all separated by shallow handbuilt stone walls. It was beautiful, Gabi thought, far more beautiful than the streets of Leeds.

“Where is everyone?” Gabi felt like the entire country had upped and disappeared. They didn't even see the infected on the drive down. It was like driving through a snow globe she thought, a land frozen in time. Homes abandoned, cars left on driveways and fields of wheat, corn and endless rapeseed flowers.

The only sign of infection was in more ‘Populated’ areas. Like Villages and towns.

Driving through those was like driving through a post war movie set, it was always the same. Smashed windows on homes, doors beaten in and cars abandoned across the road. Some towns were worse than others, like Tuxford. The scars of a hasty military retreat hung over the town, to Gabi's untrained eyes it was just another bunch of abandoned vehicles.

To Steven's, it was a story of failure and a company of men cut off. The tale told itself, by the scaring on the walls, roads and bodies starting to decay. The men based here had held the line for a while. Stopping the infection from spreading past however, as with other areas the infected had simply slipped past and encircled Tuxford.

The Cotswolds were similar and different, they saw a farmhouse burning in the distance and chose to avoid that burning beacon.

Ember - I know you skipped to this part

She heard the scream, the shout from Sunel and snapped to attention. She burst through the door and froze on the spot. A man held Roxy, a knife to her throat and recognition dawned in Ember's mind. He was from the farmhouse, one of the Duke's men.

Her mind sought answers, how was he here, how could she free Roxy from his grasp and who the hell was he.

John's words sent a shiver down her spine as Ember found she was gripping a small knife, she didn't remember picking it up.

“Let. Her. Go” John said through gritted teeth, he slowly stepped forward as Darren shouted “Stay back!” He raised the Kurki towards John, waving it threateningly.

Sunel crept closer, his eyes locked onto Darren like a predator waiting to pounce.

Darren stepped back, Roxy yelping as he aggressively pulled her backwards he met the eyes of the three of them as he turned his head from side to side. “All three of you step away from the campervan, I'm taking it”.

“That's not happening”, Ember coldly replied, she knew they couldn't give him what he wanted. Being trapped out here on foot was a death sentence.

Darren - Hours earlier

He had watched as the infected tore through the farmhouse, he was the first one out the front door, his cellmates following him out.

Infected and uninfected alike. Unlike the rest of the group, he had not run for the gates or attempted to get into a car. Instead he had climbed up and onto the roof of the campervan. Hiding in the darkness above as he pressed his body as flat, he listened as the Guildford three and the Gurkha made their escape. He held on for miles and miles as they escaped the farmhouse.

When the campervan finally pulled over he debated just climbing down and running. But he knew the dangers that awaited him out there, being on foot meant death or infection. He waited and waited until they finally climbed out of hiding.

He watched as the group slowly split apart, he watched as they let their guard down and then finally. He found his moment and he struck, seizing the small girl in a vice like grip.

John

His heart thundered in his chest as he stepped forward, fear gripping his very soul as Roxy's desperate eyes sought his. “Let her go!” John shouted, stepping closer now. Darren responded with a sharper grip on Roxy and dragged her further back.

“I swear to god, I will slit her throat, get out of the fucking caravan and you can have her back”. Darren's voice was slick, slimy and made John feel an uncomfortable rage.

Sunel wordlessly stood side by side with John. The pair creeping closer, John felt his presence beside him and could swear he felt the killer's instinct searching, debating and waiting for an opening.

Darren's hands shook violently as he nervously stepped further and further backwards. Silently Ember, John and Sunel pressed in. “Look, I just want the campervan and I'll leave you'll never see me again” Darren repeated in a calmer voice.

A tense moment passed between the small group, the only sounds being the scruffs of shoes on the gravel, Darren's heavy breaths and Roxy's tiny yelp's in pain.

“Look, I wasn't with them okay. I committed fraud for fucks sake and they put me in prison with rapists and murderers”. Darren's hand lowered slightly.

“Let her go” John repeated, he could sense Darren's resolve breaking, the man didn't want to do this he wasn't capable of killing a child.

Darren took a long breath, then released Roxy. Roxy ran to John, hugging his leg as he quickly placed himself between Roxy and Darren.

“Give me my brother's Kurki, now”. Sunel's began stepping forward, not giving Darren an inch of wiggle room. Darren nervously eyed the blade, then Sunel's dark eyes. He dropped the blade and took three steps back.

“I've done everything you asked, please just don't hurt me” Darren's voice turned pleading as he raised his hands.

Ember

The only thing she saw when she looked at Darren was Poppy. The way those men had tortured her, abused her and twisted her poor mind to breaking point. Poppy had chosen to infect herself rather than fall back into their grasp. Ember knew exactly the type of man who stood before her, he would do anything, say anything, to survive.

John and Sunel either understood that, choosing to say nothing or were being swayed by his act. They weren't there in the dining room she thought, they didn't see the way Darren and the others stared at her, their hungry eyes wanting to devour her, to take her and to…

Ember stepped out, walking closer to Darren as she asked “What was the name of the woman at the farmhouse”. Her voice was strong, accusation laden and Darren froze, his mind searching for a name.

“Which one?” he replied. The rage that filled Ember blinded her other senses, a kettle that had finally reached boiling point.

“Her name was Poppy” she gritted out, then faster than lightning, Ember thrust the hidden kitchen knife into his throat. Darren's mind couldn't react quickly enough as his eyes went wide.

*I solemnly swear before God and in the presence of this assembly to lead a worthy life and to exercise my profession honourably.*

Darren fell as Ember crashed on top of him, driving the blade further into his throat

*I shall abstain from anything that is harmful or injurious, and I shall not take or give any substance or product that is harmful to health.*

Over and over Ember thrust the blade into his throat, the colour draining from Darren's face as Poppy's red eyes and screams in pain flashing painfully in her mind.

*I will do everything in my power to raise the standard of nursing and will treat as confidential all information disclosed to me in the exercise of my profession, as well as all family matters in my patients.*

Ember screamed as her hands, sleeves and face became coated in blood.

*I will be a faithful assistant to the doctors and dedicate my life to the welfare of the people entrusted to my care.*

“Ember!” Ember screamed, kicked and punched as a pair of arms dragged her off Darren's still corpse. She cried out, her suppressed rage and grief spilling out in one go as a set of bright blue eyes met hers.

“Breathe” John said calmly, Ember's hands shook as she stared into the ocean eyes of Johns. This new world had taken everything from her, it made her kill when she was meant to protect, to cure, to care.

Ember's eyes glanced for a moment to Roxy, she stood behind Sunel. Her eyes filled with fear as Ember looked to her hands, the blood, the shaking and screaming. Roxy probably thought she was one of the monsters who took her mother away. John took Embers shaking hands as he gently whispered.

“It's okay, it's okay”. Ember sunk her head onto his shoulder and sobbed.

“I'm sorry Dr Bales” she whispered into John's shoulder.

Lockwood

The taskforce stopped a mile out from the ghost ship, Lockwood and a detachment of six royal marines moved closer to the US navy ship, her decks were clear and engines dark. “Something's not right here,” Corporal Higgins said. “Take us in” Lockwood called as he checked his pistol, it had been years since he had been in a frontline role. Admirals always led from the rear but no more.

With expert practiced precision they boarded the ship, Lockwood felt his age as he climbed onto the deck. The ship felt off, too quiet when there should be dozens of men working. “Lets go” Lockwood took out his pistol and slowly the squad of royal marines moved.

“Head up towards the bridge” Lockwood called, as they reached the stairs. Two flights later and they were outside the control room. Through the windows they could see nothing out of the ordinary. “Where the hell is everyone?” Higgins muttered. Lockwood's stare cut off his sentence as they ‘stacked up’ on the doorway.

“Go” Lockwood called, as he and two marines entered the small bridge. All that greeted the team was empty chairs, idle monitors and SOS beeping from the radio.

“Find the ship's log, a mission brief or anything that will identify what they've been doing or where this ship's been” Lockwood, set about opening pages on a discarded bridge logbook when they heard a crackle through the intercom.

Ember

“Ember?” She didn't respond to John's kind calm voice, she was drowning in the memories of the patients she killed, Dr Bales and now Darren. She was a nurse, she swore to do good, to do no harm and only to heal, to care.

“Sunel bring me some water over” John's voice sounded miles away, she held her eyes shut frozen with her head on his shoulders. She felt as John carefully lifted her head, then poured what little water they had onto her hands. He could not cleanse what she had done, he could not take away the crime committed.

Ember sniffed as she spoke “You're wasting water”. Her throat hurt, the lump in her throat ever present since the start, ached and felt like a golf ball.

“We'll find more”. Ember felt guilt as she watched the beads of water turn red as they rolled down her arms and onto the ground. She brought her eyes up to Johns. “I promise when we find somewhere safe, we can both have an emotional breakdown together but right now. We need to move”. John's voice wasn't angry or disappointed, he made no judgments on her actions and his promise was genuine.

“Can you stand?” John asked as Ember sought the answer from her body. Her legs and arms felt heavy. She felt the weight of her actions on her body, her mind, her soul.

John carefully helped Ember to her feet, wanting to get as much distance between her and Darren's lifeless form as possible.

“Sunel can you drive?” Sunel nodded and ushered Roxy back onto the campervan, its engine ticking over expectingly. John grunted as he and Ember limped to the doorway, he let her go first and took a final look up and down the road. Clear, no sign of infection or the deer they'd seen.

“Take us into the Painswick Sunel, we need to find a pharmacy, food and water” John sniffed at himself then looked at all of their clothes, stained and dirty. “Hopefully we can find some clean clothes too”. John fought back the single tear in his eyes as he watched Roxy's tiny hands grip Ember's. “What about the body” Sunel asked

“Leave it” came John's cold reply

Lockwood

“Help me” the voice cried out.

Lockwood held up a hand, the royal marines going taught, ridged and ready for a fight. Lockwood slowly moved to the communication station and picked up the mic.

“Who is this?” Lockwood's voice was stern, unforgiving.

“My name is Baker, Travis Baker. I'm stuck down in the medical wing. Please, you've got to help me”. The voice sounded panicked, familiar and very American.

“What happened here?” Lockwood looked out the window, onto the empty quiet decks beyond. He needed answers

“There are infected on board, they are in the lower decks. Don't make noise or they'll find you” Lockwood straightened, silently waving signals to the Royal Marines and they took position around the bridge.

“How many survivors are with you?" Lockwood scanned the decks. He and his men were in serious danger.

“It's just me” The voice sounded familiar to Lockwood, he couldn't pin down where he had heard this voice before. Lockwood pointed to a blueprint map of the ship on the wall, the man closest nodded, ripping it off the wall and silently placing it in front of Lockwood. He traced his finger over the map until he found the infirmary. “Stay calm and stay quiet, we are coming to get you”.

John

It took two hours to reach the outskirts of Painswick, the small town looked untouched from a distance. John was glad to see Ember had started to recover, this new world did not give you time to grieve or to process the events unfolding before you. You needed to move on quickly, pushing down emotional outbursts and taking the day as it came.

Painswick was deserted, seemingly untouched; there weren't any smashed windows, broken doors or bodies lining the streets. No one came out to greet them as they slowly drove down the abandoned streets. No curtains twitched, no doors flung open and not even the tell tale sprints of the infected booming after fresh prey.

“Any sign of a pharmacy Sunel or a shop?” The streets narrowed as John spoke.

“This town is gorgeous” John turned, looking at Ember and Roxy as they both pressed their faces to the side window. John breathed a sigh of relief, at her voice they had all been through their own versions of hell over the past 48 hours.

“I see it” Sunel called out as they pulled down New St.

“Okay, park outside” Ember called, as the camper rolled to a stop, the four of them all stared through the window into the pharmacy. It was remarkably normal, like it was a Sunday morning and they were yet to open.

The old grey brick walls and wide window stared back, inviting them in. John had expected the place to be looted, windows smashed in and everything of value taken but he didn't expect… nothing.

During the height of the outbreak there wasn't time for people to loot, to steal or to stock up on essentials. By the time people realised the threat the infection posed, they were ordered to evacuate and when the evacuation failed people were either playing hide and seek with the infected outside, got infected during the evacuation or to John's aching heart, people had chosen to end it all.

After 10 minutes of waiting, the group's anxiety levels rose with every passing second. John made the decision that it was safe enough to check inside.

“Okay, Me and Sunel will…” Ember cut John off sharply. “I'm not staying here, neither of you know which drugs to grab and which to leave”. John went to protest but Ember already opened the door stepping out onto the streets beyond. John looked to Sunel for a moment before he nodded “I'll keep watch, if I beep get back here quick as you can”.

Roxy hopped into the passenger seat, already searching for her I spy paper sheet John had made for her. “I'll be back,” John said as he closed the door. The streets outside were quiet, the air smelled fresh and the feel of the light breeze on his skin was a welcome one.

John looked to Ember, she was leaning forward looking through the window, her blue stained hoodie stolen from John's flat had been through it, rips and scorchmarks clearly visible. John found his eyes drifting to her jeans as Ember turned.

“It looks clear inside” Ember stopped talking and raised an eyebrow. “Were you checking me out?” John felt the heat rush to his face as he coughed out “No, no” he raised his hands innocently “I was just looking at the stains and burn marks I wasn't”. Ember just laughed as quietly as she could and opened the pharmacy door, a small bell ringing out.

“Shit” John muttered, the pair both pausing in the doorway, expecting to hear footsteps, crashing and screaming, chaos barreling their way. But the world remained silent, calm and the shop welcomed them.

“Hello?” John called out and Ember smacked his arm.

Silently they both crept through the small shop, Ember satisfied the shop was clear, moved to the prescriptions section. John awkwardly stood for a moment before Ember said “Start taking anything that looks useful, bandages, water and food if there's any”.

John put his thumb up but Ember popped her head up behind the counter and continued “John, only get the neutral smelling soaps and no shampoo unless it doesn't smell like anything and no deodorant”.

“What, why?” John asked, there was nothing more in this world that he wanted but to absolutely drown himself in soap, shampoo and deodorant. He felt and smelt awful. “I think they can smell us”. John thought about it, remembering the infected that found them in the carpark and he agreed. Sight, sound and smell was how the infected found them. Neutralising one of those senses would increase their chances of survival.

John grabbed a basket and went shopping, he went aisle by aisle grabbing whatever looked useful. Moments later, he had filled 4 baskets. Taking the entire shelf of bandages, painkillers, toothpaste and neutral soaps. He decided against picking up any of the shampoos. He could have cried when he saw the water bottles, on sale for only 25p each. Bargain he thought, “I'll take the lot”.

Ember

She was amazed the pharmacy was untouched, Ember picked her way through the drawers, taking Antibiotics, Anti depressants, Painkillers and many others. Ember's mind wandered to her time working at the hospital, the long shifts, socialising with her colleagues, that world felt lifetimes ago.

Ember looked to John, she watched as he went aisle to aisle. “John”, he stopped, looking her way. His face was still swollen, she could see he was hiding how much pain he was in. “Can you see if there's any disposable gloves and masks”. John's reply made her chuckle “You mean like washing up gloves?”. Ember nodded and thought sure those will do.

Ember walked to the counter across the small prescriptions area and pulled out a red draw. She numbly pulled out the small cartons and noticed the whole drawer was full of prescriptions ready for collection. She couldn't bring herself to take any, there was a chance no matter how minute that these people would come here or their families would search for this medicine. She carefully closed the drawer.

Satisfied with her haul, she walked back into the main shop and gawked at the now 7 baskets loaded by the door. John was taking the whole shop it seemed.

John

“Disposable gloves, where the hell do they keep disposable gloves”. John searched every aisle, if he knew what he was looking for he would have seen them instantly but it wasn’t something he'd ever brought before. John stopped and started to fiddle with random items. He picked up a pregnancy test, turning the box over in his hands. “When's it due?” Ember walked quietly next to him, John chuckled wincing at the pain in his side and replied “Just browsing”.

“Come on, let's load up what we have and get moving” John noticed Ember slipped something into her pocket but thought nothing of it.

When Ember opened the door to the camper, she came face to face with Roxy. The girl was smiling slightly and looked expectantly at the baskets John began loading. Ember dropped her basket and threw a box of painkillers to Sunel. “Take two every 4 hours” Sunel caught the small water bottles she threw at him.

Ember reached into her pocket and pulled out a small lolly. “Found this for you Roxy”, Roxy's eyes went wide as she took the small treasure. “I've got more but you have to let me have that bounty bar. Roxy nodded her agreement as Ember turned to help John pick up the other baskets.

Lockwood

They descended into the bowels of the ship, Lockwood held his pistol close as they navigated the cramped hallways. Blood stained the walls and floors. Bullet holes and spent ammo casings were everywhere. Lockwood noticed a few bodies, unmoving and still. The squad breathed a sigh of relief they had not run into any of the infected.

Descending down a second set of stairs, the sign for the infirmary indicated it was on the next right. The man at the front, a young royal marine held his hand up and indicated danger. They all pressed into the wall as he held up two fingers and pointed in the direction of the infirmary.

Lockwood knew they couldn't open fire, if they did it would draw every infected on the ship to them.

Lockwood thought for a moment, thought how to best lure them away when the signal changed to all clear. The infected it seemed, had moved on for now. Slowly they crept towards the bulkhead, the doorway sealed shut. Lockwood gently tapped on the door, three times quickly, then three times slowly and finally three times rapidly… SOS.

The door squealed as it opened revealing the scientist Lockwood has seen at many a mission briefing with NATO command. The pieces fell into place in his mind, a chain of events of exactly what transpired here.

They had broken the quarantine, received samples from the mainland and somehow the virus escaped containment thus dooming the crew. The scientist held a packet of documents and looked nervously down the hallway “Are you part of the rescue team?” he whispered as Lockwood shot him a glare to keep quiet.

Lockwood tapped the lead Royal Marine on the shoulder and pulled the scientist with him in his wake.

Lockwood wasn't sure what he heard first, the scream of Royal marine at the back, being grabbed and dragged into a room or the gunshot that burst his ear drum.

“Move now!” He commanded, his team of six reduced to five. Footsteps, all he could hear was footsteps, dozens of infected sailors, support staff and scientists coming for them.

Climbing the stairs two at a time he watched as another of his marines were dragged down the stairs into the group that chased them. God he thought, there's dozens of them. More shots rang out as the rear guard sprayed into the gathering crowd and their screaming companion. They burst onto the deck, sealing the bulkhead behind them. Lockwood instantly got onto the radio “Infected on board, say again infection on ship!”.

“Down!” One of the royal marines commanded as he pushed Lockwood, opening fire on a pair of infected charging across the open deck. “Go go go!” He roared as they clambered over the railing onto the small ladder. Lockwood reached the awaiting craft with a speed he was shocked his aging body could give him. He watched as three of the royal marines climbed down. The scientist is already on board. “Get out of here!” Corporal Higgins shouted, he took one final glance at the admiral then disappeared beyond the metal railing, battle cries and gunshots echoing in his wake.

Once Lockwood reached the decks of the Ark Royal, he turned on the scientist. “What the hell happened, why are there infected on that ship!”. The scientist shoved Lockwood back and responded “That's classified”. Lockwood felt like throttling the man, when his small radio went off. *XO here, message from relay* Lockwood brought his small radio to his mount and repeated “Wait one”.

“I'll ask you one more time, why are these infected aboard your ship”. The scientist remarked carelessly of the lives lost to both the US navy and Lockwood's brave marines. “We were studying the infection” Lockwood raised an eyebrow “For a vaccine?”. The scientist shook his head and replied “There are many potential uses for this virus”.

“Lockwood to bridge, report through relay. American supply ship lost with all hands” Lockwood took out his pistol and shot the scientist, his body falling over the deck and into the dark depths below.

Lockwood raised his binoculars and examined the deck. With horror he realised one of the lifeboats was missing. “Get on the relay now! Report the lifeboat in the water, there's a chance it's carrying infected!”

John

The campervan slowly started to pull away down the street when John tapped Sunel's shoulder. “Wait, what's that?"

Ember moved next to John as they all peered out of the windscreen. The sign read St Mary's Church Aid station.

“Whatever you are thinking, it's a bad idea” Sunel commented as he again stopped the vehicle. “We need food” John said quietly, like the church and surrounding graves could hear them. The trees surrounding the church reminded John of mushrooms, except they were green and obviously not mushrooms.

“He's right,” Ember agreed. “There would have been food deliveries, aid and probably donated clothing gathered here”.

“I don't like it” Sunel said as John and Ember slowly exited the camper. “We'll make it quick,” John replied. Already the painkillers Ember forced him to take were easing his limp.

The church loomed large as they approached across the green lawn. The heat from the sun burnt at John's neck and he regretted not acquiring sunscreen at the pharmacy. Ember walked closely next to John, her arm brushing against his as they neared the entrance.

Outside a small array of green tents had been erected with handwritten signs saying donations welcome, clothes here, food here and blankets welcome.

John put a hand on Ember's arm and stopped her from taking another step. He nodded to the first sign of infection in Painswick. A body, obviously dead a few days from the flies hoovering around it. “We should go,” Ember said as John continued walking towards the small tents. He peaked his head inside and looked back at Ember “It's clear. Lots of food, lots of clothes”. John whispered like the dead were listening to his every word.

Ember and John picked up two blankets. Loading as many cans of food, dried pastas and clothing as they could carry. “Should we look inside the church?” Ember asked as John wrapped a blanket around his haul and hoisted it onto his shoulder. “I'll take a quick look, you keep packing”. John approached the front door, opening it slightly and peeking inside. The smell hit him instantly, the sound of flies an overwhelming constant chorus of disgust. John's eyes went wide as he beheld hundreds of bodies crammed into the church.

The putrid mass sickened him, he went to close the door when a face turned to him snapping instantly, eyes red and angry. John froze as dozens turned to him. Their mouths falling open as the pile of bodies shifted. Dozens were dead, blocking the escape of those on the bottom. However, hungry eyes of the infected locked onto John as they slid down the pile of bodies. Climbing over each other to reach him.

John slammed the door and shouted to Ember as she hoisted her own blanket onto her shoulder “Ember run!”. John followed in Ember's wake, his body screaming in agony as he half limped and half jogged to the campervan. Sunel manically started beeping as he saw Ember and John running for him. He started the engine as the first infected ran around the side of the church, free from their unholy mass.

Ember reached the camper first, throwing her haul to the floor and turning to John. She gasped at the dozens of infected now charging across the graveyard. John screamed at them “Go start fucking moving!” He was metres away, Ember held out her hand pulling him inside as Sunel floored it.

Dozens of infected climbed over the small wall enclosing the church, the aid station had become a honey trap of sorts. Hundreds had fled inside the old church, attempting to escape the infected.

Kindness had killed those who hid inside, a single infected child had been let in. That child now stood by the church and watched as the campervan made its escape. It made no move to join the chase.

Intelligent rage filled eyes watched as the Campervan turned a corner and out of sight.

Ember

It must be early evening she thought as they meandered through country lanes. Ember was glad not to be driving, she picked half heartedly at the pile of clothes her and John had found. A mismatch of unwanted old clothes, too big, too small and some were torn. Still, she couldn't be picky.

Ember had asked Sunel earlier to keep an eye out for a stream or river. When he finally pulled over, she grabbed a small carrier bag and gestured for them all to follow.

Sunel sensed her meaning, nodded and replied “You guys go first, I'll watch the vehicle”. The Guildford three exited the campervan, cautious of their surroundings and approached the small stream.

Ember removed her shirt, discarding it into the grass, her jeans soon followed. She wore only a pair of John's boxer shorts he had no idea she took and a black bra.

John removed his shirt and jeans following them, he sighed as the cool water hit his legs.

“Don't get any in your mouth, it's not safe to drink” Ember stepped into the stream, the shallow cool water coming up to her knees. She bent down to Roxy and helped her into the stream.

John knelt, allowing the water to cover him as Ember searched the bag she placed on the riverbank. She passed a bar of soap to John then set about cleaning herself and Roxy.

John

He could have sworn the river turned black as he washed away the weeks of filth, he dreaded to think how bad he smelt. John remarked on his body, he had lost weight, gained muscle and felt healthier in a way. He dipped his head under the water, scrubbing at his face and hair. When he came up for air, he came face to face with Ember.

She stood over him, Roxy was nearby splashing and pulling at reeds. “Let me take a look at you”. John's face heated as she knelt in the water, gently placing a hand on his chest and following the outline of a bruise on his side. “Thank you” Ember said as her hand stopped on his chest, her green eyes meeting his. “For what?” John replied, he was very aware of his own heartbeat as Ember's eyes bore into him.

Ember just smiled and stood. “Come on, we should eat something and I'm sure Sunel is desperate to bathe as well”. Ember reached the river bank and pulled out a large shirt, she pulled it over herself, she discreetly discarded John's borrowed boxers and pulled on a pair of shorts. Ember then placed a large shirt over Roxy, as she held her hand walking back to the campervan.

John shook himself off, took out the final black shirt and jeans.

When the trio returned to the campervan, they found a snoring Sunel. Fast asleep in the driver's seat, as they all sat down he stirred. Sunel grabbed an assortment of clothing he figured would fit him, a bar of soap and a can of soup before stepping out and walking towards the stream.

Roxy crawled onto the raised bunk above her eyes tired as she wrapped herself in one of the looted blankets.

Ember sat across from John and remarked “You look better, cleaner I mean”. John smiled, “Thanks, you too. I feel like I'm lighter. I think that's the longest I've ever gone without a bath or shower”.

Ember snorted “Yeah, we noticed”.

“So where next?” John asked, his eyes naturally drifting to the half scrunched up map on the table.

“Wales” Ember sat matter of factly then continued "There's less people, more places to hide and less chance we'll run into the infected”

“We would need to cross the Severn.” John replied as he opened the map. “We could circle back north and” Ember cut him off “No, I say we go across the river Severn Bridge. It's the quickest way into Wales and not far away”.

“Wales it is” John replied.

(LAST PART IN COMMENTS)

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

Sorry about the long wait, theres been a lot happening in my personal life. Between that and work. It's just been hard.

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/BYgEt5QlDj

Day 1 if you've missed it

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/Czb9lkDtYu

Day 12

The fall of London and beginning of the end.

Ammo shortages had been reported for 2 days now, logistical teams simply couldn't keep up with the constant demand for more. Their trucks kept getting caught in heavy traffic leaving London.

The rifles manning the barricade in Hackney had not stopped all night, attempting to avoid hitting the non infected who also charged past their blockades. The lines had shattered through the night, throughout London, positions lay abandoned or were in the process of being overrun.

The Hackney barricade held firm for now, the name Maggy had been coined for the runners. Men and women who carried magazines cases back and forth.

‘Maggy!’ Steve looked up from the magazine he loaded rounds into, 5 Maggy's sat around him doing the same. They had been at this all night, his fingers ached and he was beyond tired.

He'd volunteered to be part of the ‘Home guard’ that's what the local area commander had called it. It was more like Dad's army at first but slowly. Handing out food boxes, water and making jokes with the locals about how this will all be over soon. Eventually,all of them were drafted into frontline assistance roles, Loading empty magazines from a dwindling supply of bullets.

Steve dropped magazines as he passed down the line, each soldier he stopped by said the same line ‘Thanks Maggy, two sugars for me’. The number of sugars related to how many magazines they wanted.

Steve peered over the barricade, watching as the infected fell. The sounds of gunfire assaulting his ears, there were so many bodies, the clean up crews had given up attempting to remove them. He ducked back behind taking a quick breather. That was when he noticed movement behind them, his voice caught in his throat and he tried to scream. The infected were behind them, he reached out a hand and pulled manically on the soldier's leg next to him.

‘Little busy here Maggy!’ The solder glanced behind and screamed out ‘Behind the line, Behind the fucking line!’.

John

**John** awoke to screaming and shouting outside his flat. He laid swaddled in bed, buried in blankets. Nervously he stood, walked to the window and took a peek outside. Two of his neighbours were outside arguing, glancing around he noticed a lot of faces pressed against windows. Watching the same events unfold.

‘I don't care Derek, we are leaving now! My mums got a place in Spain, we can drive there through France. Now get in!’ John didn't know these people who lived across the way from him. He'd seen them bring shopping in a few times but never spoken to them. John noticed the two little faces in the car, their tiny cheeks pressed to the window.

‘Sandra be reasonable, this isn't as bad as they are making out and you're not taking my kids to bloody Spain’. Sandra crossed her arms and looked to be counting. ‘Fine’ he relented but I'm driving.

John watched as yet another of his neighbours left. John noted that even more cars were gone.

Around an hour later, the power came back on. John moved swiftly to the sitting room and sat himself down in front of the TV then his mouth hit the floor.

EVACUATION.

A very flustered BBC presenter sits at a desk, fumbling with paperwork. She glances left and says ‘Are we live? Yes? Okay’ the presenter looks into the camera, clears her throat and begins.

‘All residents of the UK are hereby ordered to Evacuate the mainland by any means necessary’ The presenter looks to her left and nods. As if confirming the information is correct and not a hoax.

The green screen usually used for weather behind her changes to a map of the UK mainland, Red stretches to the Border of Wales. Green and Red X's mark ports and airports.

‘I have been advised areas marked in green are currently infection free. Areas marked in red are not safe. I will repeat. Only use evacuation routes marked in green. Do not under any circumstances go into infected areas unless you have no other choice’.

John stands frozen, unable to comprehend what he's seeing. ‘The entire country?’ He said out loud. ‘Even those in Scotland, Wales and the west country?’.

As if in reply the presenter continues. ‘During the night military blockades in London were overrun. The infected are moving freely throughout the capital. If you are in London receiving this broadcast, you are advised to leave immediately. Pack nothing but essentials and get out. Again Leave immediately’

‘What the fuck’ Johns heart thunders in his chest.

‘Train services in London have been restored to a limited service. Roads are blocked in some areas leaving London but I've been informed the military are working on safe routes out of London. Follow the direction of your area commander’

‘Residents North of Birmingham are advised to head to Liverpool. Residents South of London are Advised to Head south towards the coast. The royal navy is coordinating with Nato to evacuate as many people as possible. Main evacuation ports are Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton, Exeter, Torquay, Weymouth and Dover’

‘Evacuation routes in Scotland, North of England and Wales will be aired on BBC 2’.

John heard engines start outside but carried on watching the TV.

"We now go live to Tony Blair’.

Blair sat in an unfamiliar office, somewhere in New York, his face slightly sunken in and heavy bags under his eyes "People of the United Kingdom, it is with deepest sorrow and regret that I must inform you of our greatest challenge since the second world war. The threat this virus poses to our country is very real. The armed forces have done a valiant job in containing and battling the virus. But’.

Blair takes a breath, refocuses and looks back at the camera. ‘But, they cannot stop the spread. I am asking for all seaworthy vessels to take part in the evacuation effort. We are all in this together’

The irony of saying that from an undisclosed location 3000 miles away wasn’t lost on John.

‘Please, this is not a drill or a hoax. Stop what you are doing now and go. Leave your homes and head to an evacuation point. As a country we have faced many threats and risen to the occasion. Don’t be mistaken to think this isn’t a threat or that you won’t be affected. This is our darkest hour and I pray you all make it to safety’.

‘The feed cuts back to an empty chair, the presenter gone. After a few moments the screen goes dark’

John saw himself in the black mirror, he knelt in front of the TV. Taking in every detail, every word. Front doors on the street outside began to open on his neighbours' homes, not all of them. Some hesitated. Some still choose to try to wait this out. John thought of Arthur, Raj and decided he wouldn’t wait any longer.

London - Piccadilly circus.

Shortly after the BBC broadcast ended, London awoke from its slumber. Thousands poured onto the streets, they came out of their homes. Flooding into the streets, following the direction of the remaining Police and armed forces. The sound of battle was everywhere, machine gun fire, sirens and explosions. A desperate last stand and sacrifice to give people time to evacuate.

Hundreds of people walked through Piccadilly Circus, being encouraged down into the Underground, to the ongoing evacuation effort. Outside the entrance to the tube, people pinned photos to the renovation boards surrounding Shaftesbury Monument Memorial Fountain. Families wrote desperate pleas to the missing. They left messages detailing where they would go, that they loved them and begged them to stay safe.

**Sydney, leaving this here since I know you walk by here. DO NOT GO TO THE FLAT. Meet me at our shed, stay hidden. If I don't see you again, I love you. -Sam**

**Helen, I'm so sorry for the way things ended between us. It all seems so trivial now. I never stopped loving you. If you're reading this, I'll be waiting at the place where we first met. I'll make it safe for us. I live in hope. Forever yours, Graham.**

**Meet me at the place only we know - Naive**

**Gone fishing, meet you there - Jimmy**

**Seán - I hope you made it to Ireland like you said. I don't think I'm getting out of London. If you ever see this, know that I loved every minute of being with you**

**If you see Nora Fletcher from Canning Town, tell her I borrowed her leather jacket. - S**

**Arnold.. I've gone home. Please use the usual knock so know it's you. Stay safe, if not.. I love you punky**

Thousands of messages coated the surface.

The masses filled down into the Underground, the roar of trains and the sheer amount of people was deafening.

Jennifer - 6 years old.

Jennifer held her mothers hand and Roxanne her teddy in the other. She couldn’t see her father or anything around her. There were so many people pressing in on all sides, the air was stithfulling and hot. Jennifer’s mother had warned her not to let go of her hand, her father pulled her and mother through the crowd.

She hadn't been outside in 6 days, instead she had stayed in her room, watching the world outside and listening to her parents as they argued. The television, whenever it was on, always had the news playing.

If you see something that doesn't look right, speak to staff or text the British Transport Police. See it. Say it. Sorted.

Jennifer felt the ground move under her as they got onto the escalator. There were so many people, she had never known there were this many in the whole wide world. Her mother told her she had to behave and stay close. She gripped her mother as hard as she could, Roxanne swung in her other hand.

Her mother and father had many a night arguing in the kitchen about The monsters. That's what Jennifer called them, monsters not infected. She didn’t understand Infection or viruses. But she knew people became monsters by being touched by a monster.

‘Keep calm and keep moving forward, the next train is coming. Soon’ A Police officer called to the crowd, he held a SA80, it wasn’t his. A member of the former 1st Battalion London guards had given him a quick lesson and the weapon before deserting to go find his family.

Jennifer's mother knelt down and adjusted her jacket ‘Now, when the train comes. Make sure to keep hold of my hand and do not let go’ Jennifer nodded and looked at the train rolling into the station. Its windows coated in blood, full of screaming rage.

‘EVERYBODY GET BACK NOW’ the officer called but it wasn’t needed. The train rolled past into the dark void beyond. The train driver was still alive and uninfected. He would guide the train away from the evacuation effort. People stood frozen in panic, the realisation of the infected were in the tube stations now panicked them. But still they waited for the next train.

Red crosses coated the next train that rolled in, soldiers and NHS workers hurriedly worked inside, people lay on makeshift hospital beds and passengers stood in the gaps between. As the doors opened, soldiers called out. ‘Calmly board, there are more trains coming. Please remain calm. There will be room on the next one, Jennifer’s father dragged her and her mother towards the train. Her mother and father pushed forward but they couldn't fit through the pressing masses at the door. Jennifer let go of her mothers hand as she felt a hand pull her. A nurse had reached out and pulled Jennifer onto the train as her parents tried to squeeze in, the crowd was so tightly packed no one could lift their arms. A grinning nurse bent down to Jennifer and pulled out a lolly. Her face changed from a forced smile to terror as the shooting started. From above the infected had come, running down the escalators and diving into the crowd.

‘Close the doors now!’ Soldiers cried out. People on the platform surged forward trying to get on as the doors slammed shut, one by one.

Arms hammered the glass as men and women tried to get on board. Jennifer looked up at the fear filled eyes and screamed ‘Monsters, Mummy Monsters!’ But her mother wasn’t there, she looked around at the panicking patients, Nurses and Soldiers. Her parents weren't on the train. Then she looked to the doors and her mothers red rage eyes met hers. She didn’t see her father, only her mothers eyes. The train could barely be heard over the screams of the crowd.

John

John packed his rucksack with cans of soups, bottles of Sunny D filled with water, spare T shirts, kitchen knives and anything else he thought would be useful. He had changed into his \*Armour\*, placing the snorkel into his bag. He felt like time was against him, the TV had changed to a different presenter. Based in Northern Ireland, their thick accent calling over evacuation routes, Over and over. Which were open, which were now unsafe.

The country was on the move, someone had finally blown the whistle and everyone raced to the coast, to the airports and the infected followed. The same scenes played out across the country, motorways blocked up, roads gridlocked. The trains fared little better, Transporting large groups of people attracted the infected like moths to a flame. Too many trains inadvertently carried the infection behind the defensive lines set up by the armed forces.

John placed the goggles over his head, he did not feel ready to go outside. He could hear the cars, the running and shouting. He didn't think the infection was here yet but it wouldn't be long.

John opened his front door and ran downstairs, he didn't lock the door to his flat, didn't see the point. The street outside was… empty, the thud of the heavy door behind him made him jump. No one was out here, most of the cars were gone but he couldn't see anyone. John wished he could drive, wished he owned a car as he briskly walked down the street towards the train station.

The first people he saw on the street were a family of 6, the father promptly ushering his family into a large car. John thought about asking for a lift but his social anxiety stopped him. Even in a crisis such as this, he was too anxious to ask strangers for help.

Cars raced past him on the road, everyone heading south. John picked up his pace, people started to walk next to him. People carrying bags, suitcases and children. Police checkpoints lay abandoned, the officers choosing to join the crowds heading south.

John kept increasing his pace, from a brisk walk, to a jog. Others around him did the same, the need to escape pushing them all to run faster. John reached the River wey and took a moment to breathe, as the ducks carelessly moved along the calm current.

The roads near to the trainstation were clogged with people, the once steady flow of humanity now a torrent pouring in from all directions the train station.

There weren't any trains in the station yet, people waited with growing in-patience behind the yellow lines. John stood towards the wall, unable to get closer to the platform edge but he calmed himself. He had made it, the train would be here soon and they could all evacuate.

Platform 1 for the DELAYED South West train service to portsmouth Harbour

John climbed up onto a small electrical box, peaking over the heads of the crowd.

Something was wrong, he felt it in his gut, it was telling him to run. Now, get out, now!. The train limped sluggishly to a stop, half the train wasn't on the platform yet. John looked the train up and down, he couldn't see into the train, the windows were dirty and… red… he quickly looked at the front of the train and saw the driver jump out the train, shout something then run down the platform.

His cowardice act doomed hundreds.

The first infected John saw with his own eyes was a man in his 40s, wearing a blue jumper stained with blood. He stumbled out of a train carriage, falling Clumsily to the floor. The people closest to the train screamed, panicked and tried to push back as more infected stumbled out towards them. The people at the back of the crowd couldn't see what was happening at the front. All they could see was the top of the train, their salvation. They pushed forward and those nearest the train pushed back.

John stood frozen, watching the nightmare take shape. Those at the back pinning the crowd against the infected whose numbers are rapidly swelling. John pushed his way right, along the walls and away from the entrance. Crowds of people still poured in, trying to push their way onto the train.

He fought to push himself down the platform till eventually the crowd broke. People near him realising the same escape route now ran down the same direction he was.

John was not a fast runner, he was not athletic but he fucking ran. Fear giving his legs speed and endurance he did not know he possessed. Once clear of the tin roof that covered the platform, John aimed for the Fence. He would climb up the small 4ft fence and over it

He reached and felt his hands graze against barb wire. His gloves saved him from the worst of it, as he pulled himself up and over. A woman grabbed his bag. He glanced backwards and his bladder let go. She was infected, she clawed at him. Her red eyes locked on him.

John shook free, violently side to side while screaming. Finally he escaped her grasp and ran. He crossed the car park just as the crowds outside the station realised the train was not their salvation. As one, it reversed direction and onto the streets of Guildford. John sprinted for home, refusing to look behind him. People were everywhere, he shouted ‘infected, infected' to whoever would listen. People opened their doors, leaving to evacuate and the infection surged in.

John reached his block of flats and hurriedly fumbled for the keys. The front door to the building, a heavy set door always locked behind him. He could hear footsteps getting closer and closer to him. The key resisted then found purchase, John fell through the door slamming it behind him. A moment passed before John sprinted up the stairs, through his front door. Locked it, he ran into his bathroom, it did not have a window to the outside world.

John laid down in his bath, closed his eyes and covered his ears.

He had waited too long.

Normandy Beach - France

French beach goers looked on in awe as the floatilla approached. Hundreds of ships of every size, escorted by a Type 42 destroyer. This was not the first time the British had stormed the beaches of Normandy. Fishing boats, private yachts - of every shape and size. Some beached themselves, people ran onto the beaches as if the infected were still at their backs. Some more sensible drivers stopped in the shallows and people waded the rest of the way in.

French police arrived to find thousands of people now stranded on their beaches and they watched the flotilla sailing back, to bring more.

# New York

Blair had been summoned to the UN security council minutes after his broadcast. He had not informed the EU, Nato or any of their allies about the evacuation order. Instead he would force their hand, force them to take action.

An aid had informed him at 1am that the blockades in north london had begun to fall. They had simply run out of bullets, the never ending tide of rage washed over their positions and now ran freely into the streets of the capital.

Train drivers were pulled out of bed, news presenters given briefs with mere moments to take in the information before going live and Printing presses across the UK, all chanted the same word.

Evacuation

Night 23 of 28 days later. I will be doing 28 posts (Ish), each post will be one day. Starting from the first day of infection.

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Warning, please ensure to read existing parts.

The night at the farmhouse

John

Sunel shifted and whispered to Roxy, “Roxy, I need you to throw the knife towards me”. Roxy hesitated looking at John as Sunel continued. “We have one shot at this, it's okay you can do it” John looked nervously at the door, once that knife was thrown. If anyone was nearby and heard it, they could come check and they'd all be doomed.

“Wait for my signal” Sunel closed his eyes, listening to the world outside, trying to hear if anyone was nearby.

“Now”.

Ember

When the pair emerged from the basement, they found three men standing in the hallway, Ember recognised them immediately from the crowd that had gathered in the dining room earlier.

Ember knew what they wanted by the horrible looks in their eyes and hated their wandering eyes up then down her body.

“Not right the Duke keeping you all to himself” one of the men called out. “We always share”, the three sniggered as Poppy stepped back, lightly brushing into Ember.

Ember sidestepped, allowing Poppy to fall in behind her and raised her head. Ember was 5ft 7, red haired, her skin was fair, usually pale from working long hours inside a hospital but the recent weeks have begun to change her complexion.

Poppy's features were much the same, they really could have been sisters with how similar they looked.

“The Dukes expecting us” Ember lied, she reached behind and pulled Poppy's frozen form closer to her. As Ember went to step around them, a fourth man stood in the doorway blocking their path.

Ember knew they were both in danger, one wrong move was all it would take. A single misstep, a single word out of place. “Are you going to let us pass or not?” Ember steeled her voice, channeling her old mentor into her.

A large man stepped forward, Ember glanced upwards meeting his stair and pushing down the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. He leaned down, his face coming closer to hers. Still she held her ground, Ember balled her hand into a fist to stop it from shaking.

He sniffed, smiled and took a step back allowing Ember to pass. Ember stepped forward, pulling Poppy with her. She hated these men, wished they'd all burn in hell. She was about to exit the small hallway but then Ember felt her arm pull back as two men gripped Poppy.

“No please!, no not again!” Poppy screamed as Ember gripped Poppy's arm trying to pull her away from the men. “The Duke is expecting us both!” Ember roared as she shoved one of the men aside, placing herself between the men and Poppy. Poppy's hands gripped at Ember's back as she cried, hyperventilating.

“Makes no difference” the three stepped back “We'll see you tonight Poppy”. The man's voice lit a fire in Ember's blood, he like the rest of the men here were the very worst humanity had to offer and they had no right to survive when good people she had known had passed. Ember turned, placing Poppy behind her as they backed out of the room, her green eyes marking each as monsters.

John

He nervously watched as Roxy held out the small butter knife, turning as she looked towards Sunel, who then spoke slowly and clearly. “I want you to throw it at me, as hard as you can. Don't worry, you won't hurt me”.

Roxy pulled her small arm back, took a deep breath and threw. It missed entirely and rebounded off the wall. A metallic clang resounding across the barn.

“What was that?” A voice called from outside. Roxy's eyes went wide and John whispered “Hide!”. John went silent as the barndoors swung open.

“Didnt Sunel tell you about making fucking noise” , the man said through gritted teeth as he entered, he held a metal pipe in one hand as he walked towards John.

“Must have been the wind,” John replied as the man stood mere feet away from him. “The wind huh” he raised his foot, kicking John square in the chest. John's vision went wonky as the air left his lungs, he coughed trying to suck down the precious lost oxygen as the second blow landed. Then third and forth.

John couldn't breathe, he couldn't draw down breath without it being thrown straight back out again. His vision was going dark and he knew he would lose consciousness soon.

“Had enough?” The man grinning as an arm snaked around his throat, his eyes went wide as a hand covered his mouth, silencing his cry for help.

“Yes, I've had enough”, Sunel slammed the small knife straight into the man's throat. Sunel held his hand over his mouth as he choked on his own blood. It was the single worst noise John had ever heard. The man's eyes never left Johns, he was the last thing he saw in this world.

Sunel gently lowered the corpse to the floor and moved towards John. “Are you okay?”. John coughed, his ribs felt bruised but not broken. “Yeah, I'm okay”. Sunel moved behind him and began sawing through the ropes with the blunt blood soaked butter knife.

Roxy

She watched in horror as the doors opened, she held back a scream as the man began kicking John again and again. She felt utterly paralysed and useless. She was about to throw a small piece of wood when she noticed Sunel slowly crept up behind him. Roxy closed her eyes and prayed as she listened to the gargled death throws.

“Roxy” she opened her eyes, finding John standing below her. His hand resting on his side and free.

Sunel leaned against the wall, his body spent.

“Sunel, you okay?”. Sunel coughed, two days of no food, little water and continuous beatings had taken its toll.

“I need a minute,” he replied, his breath heavy. “Sorry mate, we don't have a minute” John limped towards the doorway and leaned on the frame looking towards the farmhouse, it was coated in darkness. The yard was clear, it seemed, the man who had checked on them was the one on watch. John hoped the others were asleep and didn't hear the commotion.

John looked to Sunel, he was in rough shape. It had taken all of his reserves to kill that man, he needed rest and was in no condition to fight. John snaked his head out into the yard, noticing the ladder Roxy had used and turned to Sunel. “Sunel, I need you to climb up and look after Roxy”. Sunel's eyes roamed from John to the farmhouse and he said “John, there's like 20 of them in there, you'll never free her”.

“19” John grimly grinned, nodding to the still body on the floor. “Roxy, stay with Sunel. If I'm not back before dawn. Take Roxy” John straightened, “Take Roxy and go”.

Sunel grit his teeth and nodded. “Be careful John, if you find my brother he will help you”. John sighed in relief, he was worried Sunel would try to come with him. A huge part of John would have rathered the Gurkha to come with him but there was no way he'd leave Roxy alone.

John pushed off the doorway and limped towards the looming home armed with only a metal pipe.

Roxy

Roxy watched as John approached the farmhouse, he slowly limped holding his side. She wanted to help, Ember was her friend and had cared for her in a world set on tearing itself apart. Sunel laid next to Roxy, his breaths ragged and deep. Roxy made to climb down the ladder as he spoke “Little one, it is hard to watch those do battle. When you cannot fight yourself”.

Roxy tilted her head at the strange man as he continued. “He cannot save her while trying to keep you from danger. While I cannot stop you from going down there” he coughed, clearing his throat. “I would please ask you not to."

Roxy watched as John walked straight up to the front door.

John

John looked at the door and actually debated knocking. “Probably not a good idea” John muttered while looking up. The windows on the ground floor were blocked and barricaded. If he started smashing his way in, it would be like poking a hornets nest. But, the window above the front door was open and below a small porch overhangs the door. Okay, John thought. I need a ladder or to become spiderman.

John opted for the ladder, heading back towards the barn. Sunel and Roxy's heads appeared above as he reached the foot of the ladder. “I'm going to climb in,” he whispered. Sunel looked to the farmhouse then to John. “That's risky, you don't know what you will find upstairs or if you get back out”.

John lifted the ladder and nodded to Sunel. An unwritten understanding between them, if I don't come back. Take Roxy and look after her.

Roxy

She watched as John placed then climbed the ladder, she could see how much it hurt him to climb but he did so anyway. She held her breath as John through the upper window, she held up a hand as John turned to her.

John

John took a final look back, Roxy and Sunel waved back to him as he raised his hand. Fortunately the room inside the window was empty and clear. John was thankful the window was already open and that it opened wide enough for him to squeeze through. The smell hit him immediately, unwashed bodies and feet. John shook his head, promising himself a bath, shower or hell a sponge bath after all this was done.

The upstairs bedroom was a mess, the double bed had been pushed into the corner and the floor was covered in small ‘Nests’ the ones without beds had obviously made themselves. John carefully crept across the floor, to the bedroom door. He placed his ear to the door and listened.

“Duke wants everyone in the dining room”. John listened to the footsteps as they passed but panicked when he heard the doorknob twist. John sidestepped, hiding behind the door as it swung open. “Anyone in here?” A man called out, he was mere inches away from John. John held his breath and sank back against the wall.

John watched as the stream of light spread across the room moved back across the wall, narrower and narrower until the door closed and he was submerged back into darkness.

John finally took a breath.

Ember

They had all been called into the dining room, Ember and Poppy felt like they were pressed in from all sides. A rough count in Ember's head was 18. 18 men occupied this home, including Duke Dick himself. Ember and Poppy stood close together and as far away from the growing crowd. Their pointing and jeering sent chills down her spine.

The room was set in an orange terrible glow, from the vast array of candles set on every surface.

The Duke walked into the room carrying a small bag, he made crude comments about certain bystanders and promises of rewards to others. “So lads, did you know it's Saturday. Because I didn't until I checked the calendar” the men cheered. “Do you remember last saturday, the world went to shit and we were left to rot”. The room fell silent. “They left us in our cells to starve” The Duke began pacing the room. “We broke out, we killed the pigs and we escaped”.

Ember looked for an exit, the bodies in this room. They were too close, she could sense the attention on her and Poppy the anticipation of what came next. “So, to celebrate our freedom, I'm going to give you all a gift”. His eyes shot to Embers, dark and menacing.

He emptied the bag onto the table and Ember's blood went cold.

John

There was no one else upstairs, he was sure of it. John gingerly opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Carefully tiptoeing towards the landing. He could hear the voice from below chanting “Put it on, Put it on”. As John peered over the bannister he caught movement in the corner of his eye, a man had just exited the bathroom. Before he had time to register, John tackled him.

Silently the pair rolled across the floor, a dull thud echoing through the ceiling but drowned out by the chanting. The metal pipe was knocked out of John's hand and slid across the bathroom floor. John had never been in a proper fight before, yesterday being his first and he had been beaten to within an inch of his life. He fought with the desperation of knowing if he loses, Ember would likely die and Roxy would be alone. John pinned one of the man's arms as they rolled, his other pushing into John's face. John gave up on defence and went on the offensive, wrapping back hands around his throat. He kicked and punched at John, desperately trying to get out from underneath John. The man's eyes now begging, pleading for his life as John squeezed harder, denying him precious oxygen.

The man kicked out once, twice then moved no more. John rolled off, feeling that part of his soul had blackened. The man who haunted his dreams would soon have company it seemed.

Ember

Ember stared in disbelief at the clothing on the table, it was lingerie. The men's chanting got louder as Poppy held close to Ember her cries now audible to her ears. Ember looked to the Duke whose eyes stared back with a hellish hunger.

They needed to leave, now. Ember had seen enough, she would rather die than give these beasts what they wanted. Ember pushed Poppy towards the doorway then turned towards the wall.

She moved quickly, swiping her arm across the top of the phone table sending candles and a bottle of whisky flying. The bottle smashed, its contents hitting the small flames and carrying to the surrounding surfaces. Men screamed as flames licked at their legs. A wall of fire separated the women from the crowd of men.

Ember grabbed Poppy's hand and dragged her along the wall, avoiding the flames. “Put this fucking fire out!” The Duke roared, his eyes met Embers over the flames and he spoke with venom in his voice “Get that bitch”.

They ran down the hallway, there was no backdoor this way and no escape. They had moments before the men put out the flames, already they tore down curtains and smothered the flames. Ember looked to the dark door to the basement and to the hallway. There was nowhere else to go, Ember forced Poppy through the door then slammed it. Latching it closed from the inside.

John

What the fuck is happening down there, John thought as he exitted the bathroom, the body, his crime of damnation in his wake. He saw the bright flash and heard the blood cruddling roar in pain as men burned. He knew it was Ember living up to her name's sake. Two men appeared at the bottom of the stairs, their eyes locking on John. “Oh shit” John said as he turned, half limping, half running down the hallway.

John entered a different bedroom to the one he crawled into through the window and slammed the door. Leaning his body weight against the door, he held the door handle as he felt someone trying to turn it. After a moment, the door shuddered against the boots of the men trying to kick it in. John scanned the room as he lent against the door, one window no other way out. The window was open, there wasn't even a closet to hide in. John braced himself harder against the door, throwing his full weight against it.

Ember

It didn't take long for them to realise they were hiding in the basement, Ember lit a candle descending into the darkness. Poppy stayed close to her heel. “Theyre gonna get in here” Poppy whimpered, tears flowed freely down her face as Ember turned. “Is there any other way out of here?” Poppy sniffed, barely containing her coming panic attack and replied “No”.

The door cracked from above, muffled shouts getting louder as the old wood began to give way. Ember searched for a weapon, anything to defend herself. She refused to go quietly, she refused to surrender herself to these brutes willingly. Ember found only a small broom, she leaned it against the wall and snapped it in half. Offering the second shorter half to Poppy. Poppy's hands shook as she took the piece of wood. Ember opened a cell, looking inside and then turned. “Poppy, I want you to get in here and stay quiet. Maybe they won't find you” Ember was lying, it was more like, they wont find you first so maybe you will be spared from the worst of it.

Poppy looked to Ember, her kind green eyes lit up by the singular candle. Poppy was never strong enough to defend herself, not from the infected that chased her down the motorway, not from the men above who had taken everything from her and she wasn't strong enough to defend herself now. Ember turned her back to Poppy, pointing to the farthest point at the back of the cell “If you stay back there there's a chance they won't".

Ember's words were cut short as she fell forward, her knees scrapped across the ground as she fell. Ember landed with a roll and turned, finding Poppy standing in the darkened doorway. “It's the only way, please don't make any noise, don't let me find you” Poppy said as she slammed the door, the lock clicking in the pitch darkness.

Ember stood, unable to see where the door was and called out “Poppy!, open this door, what are you doing”.

Ember, Clumsily ran her hands along the wall finding the door. There was no handle or latch. No way to open from the inside, she pressed her ear to the surface of the door. Hearing the basement door above cracking and finally giving way. She hit the door once, hurting her hand then remembered Poppy's words. “Don't let me find you”. Ember's blood turned to ice.

Poppy

She wasn't strong enough, she was never strong enough. They had taken everything from her and she would give them no more. Poppy opened the cell, Rams red eyes visible by candlelight. He stared out beyond the Iron bars that contained him. Poppy had never seen the infected stand so still, seemingly so calm.

Poppy met Ram's eyes and struck a deal with him. “I need your help one last time Ram”. His sudden jerky movements startled her but she stepped closer. “They are coming and we need to save my friend”. Blood dripped in horrible chunks from Ram's mouth. His eyes locked on her.

She hesitated for a moment as Ram moved closer to the bars, he didn't reach for her yet, he knew she wasn't in range.

Poppy closed her eyes, she thought of her mum, her dad and her friends. She thought of Sunel and Ram before he got infected. She remembered how these men found them on the round, ambushing them and overwhelming the two Gurkhas with sheer manpower. “Forgive me” Poppy Then did the unthinkable, she thrust her arm between the bars and Ram sunk his teeth into her arm. Poppy screamed, screamed as he tore into her arm. His grip was like a vice, refusing to let go.

Ember

Ember heard the booming footsteps as the men descended into the dark basement. “Come out you fucking…”. The man's insult was short as Poppy tackled him, she would have the vengeance she sought. “Fuck shes infected, get back, get back!”. Ember heard as Poppy's teeth sunk into one of the men, she placed her hands over her ears and crouched as she felt the ground shake. Ten of the men had descended into the darkness, the thin hallway prevented their escape as one by one they turned. A voice from above called to them and the screaming intensified as the growing number of infected crashed into the hallway above.

John

He knew the sound of infection, the desperate boots on the floors trying to cause him harm turned into pleas of mercy to let them in. John could hear the charging footsteps through the door, the desperation spreading like wildfire. John let go of the door, slowly took a step back then he sprinted for the window.

He saw as the door finally opened, a man with fear painted on his face locked eyes with John. His body crashed sideways as an infected tackled him screaming. John climbed out onto the porch roof quietly closing the window behind him. He watched in awe as men ran out of the house and into the courtyard, infected giving chase. Panic crept up his spine as he climbed down the porch, preparing to enter the front door.

Ember, he had to find Ember. Slowly, he tip-toed through the front door, the glow of fire was visible in a few rooms. Candles had been knocked over and began to catch everything around them. John covered his mouth, staying low as the smoke filled the space. He couldn't see the infected or the men but he could certainly hear them. The men had abandoned each other, in a fashion of ‘Every man for himself’. Many had run upstairs, barricading themselves in bedrooms as the infected pounded on the doors to get in. Others had run into the courtyard, opening the gates and fleeing into the fields beyond.

John coughed as the smoke got thicker, he dared not call out, dared not draw the attention of the infected. He raised the iron pipe in his hand preparing for a fight as a woman passed by in front of him. Her stark red hair the same as Embers, through the smoke he whispered “Ember”. Her head jerked towards John and his heart shattered. Her face was covered in blood, her features dulled by the thick smoke but he could see her red eyes, not the green he had come accustomed to, the ones he'd been learning to admire, to rely on.

She was infected… A lump caught in his throat as the word “No” slipped out, so soft and broken.

The moment lasted a split second before she charged, John narrowly avoided being tackled as he ran down the hallway and through a dark door. He saw the stairs leading down into darkness and slammed the door behind him. Quickly, he used the iron bar to jam the door closed as the infected woman pounded the door. “I'm sorry” John said as he leaned his head against the door “I'm so fucking sorry”.

Roxy

Her and Sunel laid as flat as they could as the infected ran out into the surrounding fields, chasing down the fleeing prisoners. A few had tried to get to vehicles but with the infected hot on their tail. They'd either abandoned the attempt or had paid dearly. The flames and the smoke were slowly rising through the home, the downstairs glowed in a brilliant orange. Roxy closed her eyes as she saw a man escape through the window, only to be dragged back inside screaming and begging. As the flames engulfed them all.

Where was John, where was Ember! Roxy watched the flames grow larger, her small heart fracturing with every passing moment.

John

John carefully descended into the darkness, the glow from the gaps in the door above barely lighting his way, it smelled awful down here. Fresh blood mixed with human waste and rot. Fortunately for John, none of the infected had stayed down here and they all had climbed the stairs to hunt. Unfortunately for John, he was trapped down here and between the flames and infected. Neither was a nice way to go.

He thought of Ember, her Red eyes locking on his and he slumped against a door. “I'm so sorry Ember”.

Ember

She heard someone outside the door, Ember stood back, fearing the infected had returned for her or worse… The Duke or one of his men came to claim her. Ember heard muffled cries and a voice she recognised. A lump caught in her throat as she forced herself to call out.

John

“John?” John's heart rate picked up as he heard a familiar voice through the darkness. “Ember?” He called back, was he imagining this he thought.

“John, I'm here! I'm in here!” John followed the voice, finding 7 closed doors, he walked between them. Listening until he was certain he found the right door.

John felt for a handle and pulled open the door. The candle barely breached the darkness as Ember's face appeared, her eyes green and tears falling freely from her cheeks. After a second, a familiar form wrapped around him. Her arms squeezing him so tightly it hurt. He breathed her in, careless of their surroundings, careless of the flames and infected above. “I thought you were…” John's voice cracked as Ember pressed her forehead to his “It wasn't me, it wasn't me” Ember cried. Time stopped as they held each other, Poppy had stopped pounding on the door, seeking easier prey.

“Is there another way out?” John asked, breaking their embrace. “No, only the basement door”. Ember replied grimly. John looked around, his eyes searching the darkness until he spotted a small glow in the corner. “What's that?” John gently placed his hand on Ember's cheek and turned her face. Right in the corner, an orange glow dimly leaked through a crack in the ceiling. As they stepped closer, they realised it was a trapdoor, it smelled of old coal. “Quick find something we can climb on” Ember commanded.

John limped over to the pile of discarded wooden furniture and passed it to Ember. Seconds later, he helped her up to reach the trapdoor. As luck would have it, the old farmer who lived here before had forgotten to lock the old coal chute. Although it had not been used in years.

Ember peeked out, the house was in flames, its light a beacon for miles. The yard was clear for now as she called back “It's clear” John pushed Ember up and then followed her up himself. He panted as they knelt in the courtyard. The sound of wood burning and collapsing echoing around them. “Where's Roxy”. Ember asked as she put a shoulder under John supporting his weight.

“Barn, over there” John pointed as they both slowly moved across the yard. John could feel his strength was spent, his body's adrenaline stores finally running dry.

Ember

She felt tears on her cheek as Roxy's head popped over the entrance to the loft, the relief on her face. “Lets get them down” John whispered, coming alongside Ember, Sunel appeared next to Roxy. Ember hesitated for a moment looking at John but he simply nodded "He's with us”.

Sunel gently lowered Roxy down into Ember's awaiting arms. Sunel came next, climbing over the ledge lowering himself as much as possible before letting go. John attempted to catch him but they both fell to the floor. In any other circumstance Ember would have laughed.

“Get to the camper” John was clearly in pain, she could hear it in his voice. Sunel and John lent on each other as they limped to the awaiting campervan. Ember held Roxy in her arms, the smell of smoke was thick in the air.

The morning light, only now beginning to turn the morning sky a brilliant shade of blue and pink. Ember opened the camper door, waving the group inside when she saw the Duke. His angry beautiful face locked onto them.

He was walking towards them from the second barn. Flames were now catching on its roof and he had a shotgun in his hand.

“You fucking bitch” he cried as the first shot rang out. The shell missing, and impacting the wall behind them. The Duke took a few more steps and raised his weapon. The group froze like deer in headlights. The shotgun clicked as he pulled the trigger, its ammo spent and empty.

The Duke snapped the shotgun forward, cursing them as Ember threw Roxy into the open door. “Fucking bitch” The Duke cried as a familar red haired woman tackled him from the side. Ember watched for a few breaths as Poppy beat him again and again. Punching and biting. Her trance was only broken by John who grabbed her arm and forced her into the front seat.

“Go fucking go!” The campervans engine sputtered as highlights flickered. Revealing dozens of infected drawn by the flames and sounds. They charged through the gates, seeking the source of this chaos. “Start!” Ember shouted as she hit the dash, the engine roared to life as she put her foot down. The infected gave no chase, instead running for the house, the barn and the men who attempted to run after the campervan, their pleading cries falling on deaf uncaring ears.

Hours later

Ember pulled over, the signpost reading Painswick 5 miles. She was exhausted, they all were. Roxy had fallen asleep on one of the benches, her soft snores causing John to laugh silently.

“You two get some sleep, I'll wake you in a few hours,” Sunel gestured for Ember to squeeze past him and allow him to sit in the driver's seat. John laid on the other bench, Ember silently crawled in next to him. Taking his hand in hers and placing her head on his chest. Neither of them spoke, not needing to label or to talk about their relationship. John simply wrapped an arm around her and let sleep take them.

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

Just to got edit it and check the grammar and ill post it tomorrow.

Photo is just a random farmhouse.

If you've no idea what im taking about check out below!

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

​

Day 23 of 28 days later. I will be doing 28 posts, each post will be one day. Starting from the first day of infection.

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 22

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/xgd8hYSH5d

Day 23

Roxy

She watched from the shadows, the farm was silent as the grave, noise was forbidden during the night. She glanced back and forth between the two barns then to the farmhouse beyond. Ember had been taken there, John on the other hand had been dragged into the barn, unconscious and bleeding. The men were nowhere to be seen, all of them choosing to retire for the night. While they claimed to rule this new world, even they feared the infected that hunted at night.

Roxy thought back to how they beat John and to the screams from Ember as they pinned her. These were bad men, that was for certain and if they caught her… Roxy shook her head, found a small butter knife and slowly moved to open the door.

She had to find them, they were all she had.

John

John pulled against the ropes on his arms, trying in vain to loosen them. His mouth tasted like iron, his jaw and side hurt like hell but he had to get free.

“Save your strength” John looked to the man in the corner, his dark eyes meeting John's. The man kneeling on the other side of the room was a gurka, a fierce warrior restrained against his will. John let out a long breath through his nostrils noticing the acrid stench. John pulled harder, his mind racing with the horrific thoughts of what could be happening to Ember and what if they found Roxy…

The ropes creaked, as John struggled to pull forward, the muscles on his shoulders and back strained, they were stronger than before the outbreak. He, like the other survivors in the country, was changing, adapting to the new world.

“You can't help them if they kill you and trust me” The man leaned forward, revealing a face covered in bruises, cuts and dried blood.

“They will kill you”.

John froze and really looked at the man, who was he? and why was he in here?.

As if sensing John's question he replied. “My name is Sunel, I have been here for two days now”.

John stopped pulling on the restraints and allowed his body to relax. He could taste blood, his head was pounding.

“They took us on the road, Poppy, my brother Ram and I”. John silently listened as he went on. “The first night, they took Poppy to the House” he nodded his head at the wall, indicating the general direction of the farmhouse.

“I have not seen her since we arrived.” His eyes filled with guilt and deep regret. “They came back, beat me for making noise and took Ram”. John felt sorrow for the man as his eyes fell to the floor.

Roxy

Slowly, carefully she crept across the gravel drive, focusing on her every movement, careful not to make noise, her tiny steps barely a whisper across the driveway.

She peeked through the first set of barn doors, finding a single candle light illuminating the small barn. Boxes, water bottles, beer and an assortment of food packets. A few men could be seen laying down on the ground, piles of hay, old cardboard and blankets becoming their mattresses. No sign of John or Ember, Roxy nervously looked at the house again, then crept to the second doorway. There were no holes to peek through, no lights under the door. Roxy tried to pull the doors open but they were latched closed. Her eyes followed the door upwards as she sought the latch, it was too high.

She pressed her ear to the door and listened, Roxy could hear one man's quiet voice. She couldn't make out what he was saying but decided she needed to see who was in there. Roxy walked around the barn, searching for a way in, her small fingers following the rough brick surface until she reached a ladder. It felt like climbing a mountain, her small frame struggling to reach the bars on the old creaking ladder. The Sun started to crest the horizon as she crawled into the small loft space.

John

John and Sunel noticed the creaking of the floorboards at the same time. “Quiet now” Sunel whispered as he leaned back into the shadows. John's eyes scanned the roof, trying to identify where the sound was coming from. John tensed as a small head peered out over the loft space. John closed his eyes and said a silent prayer of thanks. It was Roxy, he grunted. Trying to make her understand, stay hidden and stay safe.

“Friend of yours?” Sunel leaned forward, the emergence of him from the shadows nearly made Roxy bolt, her head moving backwards but she held her ground. John nodded, looked to Sunel and then to Roxy. He's okay, he signalled.

Roxy looked at John, both of them unable to speak, the fear in her eyes burned at John's very soul.

“Have you got anything sharp up there?” Sunel asked. Roxy held out the butter knife, the morning light reflected gently off its steel surface. Sunel leaned forward and was about to ask her to throw it to him when he heard a noise.

“Hide now girl” Sunel whispered “Do not make any noise”. Roxy looked to John who was nodding for her to move back.

They all froze when the sound of voices growing closer pierced through the wall. Breaking the silence of dawn. “Little one” Sunel whispered “You must not let them see or hear you”. Roxy took one final look at John, then slid back into the loft as the doors opened.

The large barn doors lazily opened, allowing dawn light to chase away the shadows. John's eyes stung as brilliant light hit his eyes.

“Good morning” Darren called, he held a kukri and delighted in the glare from Sunel. “What no insults today Sunel?” He fiddled the knife from hand to hand. “No promises of a slow death?”.

The man smiled and looked at John. “Well, that's a surprise” he looked John up and down. John was filthy, his clothes covered in dirt and dried blood. “We had bets on if you'd wake up or not”. He grinned admiring his handy work on John's bruised face. “Looks you lost me a bet boy”.

“So, I guess you want to know why you are still alive”. Two more men walked in, hoisted Sunel to his feet and dragged him outside. “But that comes later”. Darren knelt down, his eyes coming level with Johns. “I'm going to remove this gag now, if you scream I'll slit your throat”. The Kurki came to rest on his throat as Darren's other hand pulled the gag over his head.

“Good” Darren stood and walked out. The doors closed behind him.

Ember

She listened to the sounds of the house rising, from her darkened closet she could hear the laughter, the bullying and sounds of pushing.

She expected the men to come for her during the night, to drag her out and to do whatever they pleased. But they had left her locked away, when the door finally opened. It was Poppy who stood in the doorway, a new split on her lower lip was visible. Ember's mouth opened to plead for her to let her go but was cut off by Poppy's finger shushing her “Don't”.

Poppy silently took a step towards Ember and closed the door behind her, submerging the two back into darkness. She walked to Ember and helped her to her feet.

Ember thought about headbutting her, pushing past and attempting to escape. But, it was clear Poppy wasn't here willingly and Ember doubted she would get far with her hands zip tied behind her back. “The Duke wants you to join him for breakfast”. Poppy said in a dull rushed voice.

Ember raised an eyebrow, “He what, if that animal thinks I'll play house he's got another thing…”.

Poppy shook her head and leaned forward, “Don't refuse” she whispered.

Ember's examining eyes looked at Poppy, really looked. Her red hair, the same shade as hers matted and knotted. Her eyes, green as Embers, they could have been sisters, even Ember saw the similarities.

Bruises barely starting to heal were visible on her cheek, neck and wrist. Ember felt sympathy for her, she could only imagine what she had been through at the hands of these animals.

“You can't escape” Poppy whispered, "Don't try, if you do they'll” Poppy stopped talking and looked at the floor. Her breaths are short and sharp.

“How long have you been here?” Ember whispered, careful for any listening ears. Poppy just shook her head and gestured for Ember to follow. Ember couldn't deny the rising panic and fear in her stomach as they stepped out of the relative safety of the closet.

Poppy guided Ember down the hallway and into a bathroom. Buckets sat by the toilet and bath. “Take care of your needs, the bucket on the left is for washing yourself”. She pointed to the one on the right “That one is for anything else”. Ember cringed as Poppy locked the door and cut the zip ties at her back.

Lockwood

Lockwood stepped onto the HMS Ark Royal flight deck and knew he was home. She finally had returned after making the long journey home from Australia, her decks were disorganised and most of her crew had been let go, most leaving to find if their families had escaped with the exodus. Very few would find the answers they sought.

Lockwood was slowly gathering what remained of the British fleet, single handedly rallying a broken nation. After his call with Tony Blair and what remained of her majesty's government. He sought to prepare for the eventual retaking of the British mainland. It was all anyone spoke about, radios, newspapers and news presenters.

How can the UK mainland be retaken once a vaccine has been found?

“If” he corrected

Lockwood mused as he looked out beyond the blue surf. East, he looked east out over the Atlantic and to home.

If they can't make a vaccine he thought, it means waiting to see if the infection would burn itself out. Its victims slowly dying from dehydration, starvation and internal hemorrhaging.

Lockwood kicked a small loose bolt off the edge of the ship and into the ocean below. “What if the virus mutated and somehow became worse”.

“What if Nato loses its nerve and refuses to commit to an invasion and eventual retaking of the mainland”.

Ember

The Duke smiled from ear to ear when Ember walked in. “My my, you two could be sisters, I didn't realise how alike you are”. The Duke's eyes roamed and Ember felt bare. She wanted to lash out, to scream at him but 4 of his men stood watching. There was nothing she could do and he knew it.

“You would definitely be considered the better looking beautiful sister, what a prize”. The room laughed in agreement, Ember wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

Ember noticed their holdall was on the table, its contents had been carefully laid out, precisely placed apart. The Duke fiddled with the meager contents, each item flashing memories of her time with Roxy and John. John's flat seemed months ago now.

“So, what is your name?” The Duke sat at the table's end, his cutlery and plates laid out in an almost OCD like fashion. He could have been a super model, his dark striking eyes stared back at Ember and she found herself subconsciously moving backwards, away from him but she felt the presence of the men behind her and steeled herself.

“Where is my friend”. Ember asked flatly, her eyes scanning the room for signs of John or Roxy… If she wasn't here.

“Friend?, not a lover, partner or husband?” The Duke sipped at his wine glass and continued. “So the little girl wasn't yours I take it” Ember's eyes shot up, meeting the Duke's. “I mean to say, if she was yours. You would be shouting, screaming and fighting to get back to her. We've seen it before”. The men sniggered

“Poppy be a dear and make me some eggs you know how I like it”. The Duke's eyes moved back to Embers. They were cold and uncaring “and oh, you still haven't told me your name”. Poppy froze midstep, turning to Ember, her eyes pleading.

“Why does it matter what my name is? Yours obviously isn't The Duke”. The room fell silent and the shadows seemed to pull in closer towards the man sat at the end of the table. “Would you rather us bring your friend in here and ask him?”. He held up a sharp knife, turning it with expert precision. “A finger or two and he would tell us his darkest secret”.

“You beat my friend, left behind a little girl and locked me in a closet all night. Forgive me if I don't feel like introducing myself”. The Duke's head slowly leaned sideways. “Irish” a man stepped into the room from the shadows. “Go to the barn and bring me the middle finger of the man tied up”.

“Left hand and make it quick” The Duke drank more of his wine.

As the man moved for the doorway, Ember's voice cracked as she spoke “You can't be serious”

“Make it two fingers Irish and bring them here once you are done”. The Duke called out, As the large bulky man reached the doorway, the floorboards creaking their deadly warning she shouted “Ember, my name is fucking Ember okay”.

The heavy set man stopped in the doorway and turned, meeting first Ember's eyes then to the Duke's.

“Good, you are learning,” the Duke pointed at Poppy. “You can make breakfast now Poppy and don't break anymore eggs”. Poppy silently walked into the kitchen while more men began to file in, filling the spaces of every wall.

Ember couldn't bring herself to look at them, instead she only counted the boots, trainers and shoes. There were over a dozen now, Ember brought her eyes back up to the Dukes.

“So, What do we do with you?”. The Duke wasn't addressing Ember, he was addressing the now gathered crowd in the room. Their laughter sent a chill down her spine, rocking her very core.

John

All the while the barn doors were open, John stared out to the edge of the farmhouse, he could only see one window. Wooden boards and fabric had been thrown over them. Ember was in there he thought, going through god only knew what and he… He was tied to the post, forced to watch, to guess and to await his fate.

He dared not look up, even when there was no one around. Roxy had hidden herself well, John half hoped for the girl to run. To find another group, another bastion of safety and to leave him.

“I lost twenty cigarettes because of you”. Darren leaned against the open door frame, John noted with annoyance he was eating a chocolate bar the Guildford three had looted earlier.

“Why are you doing this?” John took great care to not lace his words with anger, taking another beating was not on his list of things he needed right now. Darren pulled out the half scrunched packet of cigarettes given to John by Raj. 5 left.

Orange flame lit up the man's eyes as he replied “We have a job for you” he smiled and continued “Worlds ours now boy, best get used to it”.

“The woman I came here with. Whats…” John took a breath. “What's going to happen to her?”.

Darren took a long inhale of smoke, relishing in the moment of silence that passed between them. He coughed, as finally let go of his breath. “Shes ours now, don't worry. The Dukes said hands off” Darren turned meeting John's eyes.

“For now”.

Ember

“The rules are simple”. The Duke sat back lazily, as a disappointed crowd began to file out of the room. “You cook, you clean and you treat my men”. Ember held back her frown, knowing this was not the time.

“These Dullards don't seem to understand the long term repercussions of not having medical care”. Ember could hear the intelligence in his voice, why was he part of this group and how the hell was he in charge.

“A simple cut could kill a man as easily as a bullet if left untreated” Ember realised he obviously liked the sound of his own voice, she found herself grinding her teeth at the sheer arrogance of it.

“What of my friend, the man I came here with?”. Ember was trapped, she knew as much. These men would never let her go, not willingly but if John could leave, he could take Roxy with him and they could…

Her thoughts were cut off as the Duke's fist hit the table, a glass shattered from the impact. “You do not ask questions, you do not make demands” He shouted, slowly the Duke raised his hand, finding blood tickling from a short gash. “It seems nurse, you have your first patient. Clean this up”. Ember hesitated for a moment, unsure if she wanted to get anywhere near the man before her.

“I don't make it a habit of asking twice, Ember”. The Duke held out his hands as blood slowly dripped onto the hardwood floor. The items from the holdall were still spread across the dining table, including the penknife from John's flat. Ember's hand hovered over it for a microsecond before the Duke interrupted. “I can promise you this Ember, if you try anything. I will tie your friend to a lamppost and make him scream until the infected come to tear him apart”.

Ember picked up the bandages and set to work.

British History Museum - London

During the fall of London, a few dozen had sheltered inside the grand museum. Its displays, statues and stolen relics now sit abandoned and unseen in these dark days.

Cut off from evacuation, the group of survivors had fled to the top floor of the museum, using weapons forged in wars fought hundreds of years ago. They fought off the few infected that found their way inside, the barricades on the stairwells had held back the tide but food and water had run out days ago. Many had descended the stairs, promising to return with water, with food and to find help to evacuate them.

None ever returned.

Adams' throat was parched, all he could think about was water. He needed a drink, his head pounded with the worst headache he had ever experienced and he knew he wouldn't last much longer. He listened to the silent fight in hallway over, one family fought another the accusation of hiding water on their silent cracked lips.

Adams forced himself to stand, blindly walking towards the south stairwell. He needed water, infected be damned he would sell his soul for just a sip. No one guarded the barricades, most were too weak to stand. Their bodies in the final stages of dehydration but the fear of infection, of a painful death at the hands of those below over rode their survival instinct.

It felt like hours to Adam as he crawled over the barricade, finally descending to the level below. He needed to get to the souvenirs shop, where they sold bottled water and fizzy drinks. God, he thought, he would kill for an ice cold oasis. Shadows moved aside as he stumbled into the small shop, gifts never to be sold were scattered on the floor while others lay untouched on the shelves.

Near the counter he found what he sought, the first gulp felt heavenly. His parched mouth and throat greedily absorbed the tepid water.

Adam downed 3 bottles of water stopping only when he felt like he was going to be sick. Already his body was recovering, like an engine receiving fuel. He felt his arms and legs seemingly woke up and the headache fading to a mere echo. Reality hit him as he realised where he was, silently he picked up as many water bottles as he could. Placing them into two white carrier bags, he couldn't carry it all himself but once the group above had a drink. They could follow him down here and bring it all up.

Adam felt the stare of every shadow as he walked back towards the stairs, he bit down a scream as he looked out across the entrance hall. There were bodies, dozens of bodies. In his dehydrated state, he had not noticed them as he nearly walked over them. The smell of rot, old blood and god knows what else assaulted his every sense.

“Christ” he whispered, bringing a sleeve to his nose. The sound of his voice echoed across the hall, to the ears of a woman leaning against the wall. Her red eyes opened slowly as she gasped for breath. She, like him, was extremely dehydrated but she was too weak to stand. She weakly tried to move but her body wouldn't, couldn't rise. Adam wisely chose to head back upstairs.

He couldn't believe how much he had missed in his dehydrated, delirious state. The bodies and the smell. The fact he hadn't fallen over one of them on the stairs was a miracle in itself. Adam started to climb over the barricade, trying in vain to not make noise as he did so. He dreaded to think how much noise he made climbing down it earlier. He could see the top of the stairs and he thanked whatever god was watching over him.

Part of the barricade gave way as he climbed, falling onto the lower parts. Adam froze, slowly shifting his weight onto a chair thrown into the barricade for good measure.

He glanced behind himself, thankful to find no one following him. Adam placed a hand further up and pulled himself up onto the very top of the barricade. His breaths were ragged and deep. Made it, he thought.

Adam grunted as he felt the tip of a spear thrust through his stomach. The bags in his hands fell, spilling forth dozens of small water bottles they bounced between upturned furniture and back down the stairs. He was face to face with a man, fear deeply ingrained in his eyes. Adam tried to speak but words failed him, he coughed once blood slowly pooling below him as the darkness claimed him.

John

John ignored the nagging hunger and thirst settling over his stomach. He worried for Roxy, if he hadn't eaten then neither had she. The sun had long begun its descent when two men dragged Sunel out of a van in the yard. John watched in disbelief as they dragged him back into the barn and tied him up. Sunel offered no resistance, he looked too exhausted to offer any. His shirt was torn, large scratches had torn across his chest and back.

“What did you do to him?” John asked, watching as Sunel sat back. The men just laughed and said “It's your turn tomorrow”.

The doors closed with a loud thud, the shadows creeping forward to reclaim most of the small space. “Sunel you okay?” John whispered. Sunel took a long breath and replied “I've had worse”. John couldn't see his face anymore but could see the torn shreds of his shirt and wounds beneath.

“What did they do to you?” John asked.

“Bait” Sunel coughed, shifting his body to face John. “They use us as bait to draw the infected away”. “They what?” John couldn't hide the surprise or volume from his voice.

“Keep it down”, a voice called from outside.

Sunel shook his head and continued “They dropped me outside of a shop, you have to make noise so the infected follow you”. John's heart raced at the very thought of the nightmare.

“Once the infected follow you, you have to keep them away until you hear them use their car horn three times” Sunel shifted trying to get comfortable.

“They let you go? Why didn't you just leave” John knew the answer and finally understood why they took Sunel's brother. They would kill him if he didn't return or worse.

Use him as bait.

Lockwood

“Radio signals!” Lockwood dropped his tea cup, the ceramic mug shattering across the deck. He rushed over to the frantic radio operator as he intently tuned between frequencies. For days now, Nato had been blocking analogue signals from broadcasting to and from the UK mainland. The top brass deciding the world did not need to hear the desperate pleas for evacuation.

*My name is Megan, if anyone is out there please help. I'm trapped in the Start Point Lighthouse. I'm running out of food and water. The ships passing won't acknowledge my hails and I can't risk turning the light on. Please, please help me*

*Hello? Hello? Is anyone there please, the infected are outside. I'm calling from St. David's in Wales. Please, I can hear Irish radio stations, there are children here please we need help*

*I don't know if anyone can hear this but I'm trapped in East Meon Church. The infected are trying to get in. Somebody please help*

Dozens of calls sounded over the radiowaves, dozens of desperate souls calling for help that would never come and soon their batteries would run out.

*The answer to infection is here*

Lockwood straightened, “The answer to infection is here?”

Ember

After she had wrapped the Duke's hand in bandages, he ordered her to be given ‘the tour’. Again it was just her and Poppy.

The farmhouse was bigger than Ember had first realised, the other building snaking in odd directions, as extensions decades in the making moulded together. There were at least 8 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a sitting room, drawing room, dining room and kitchen. All the windows on the bottom floor were barricaded against the infected. Some of the upstairs were as well but not all.

Poppy didn't speak as she walked from room to room. Ember following silently in her wake, the men occupying this home jeered at them every time they entered a room. The Duke had declared Ember “Off limits”, he understood the value in having a nurse on station. Sadly Poppy was offered no decree of protection.

Poppy paused at a black wooden door, her hand shaking violently as she reached for the handle. Ember's heart dropped when the door swung open to reveal stairs leading down in a pitch dark basement. Poppy lit a candle, sat on the small shelves on the right hand side, looked over her shoulder and said “Stay close to me and don't get within reach”.

The basement

Ember held her nose from the smell, she could nearly taste the air. It was that thick. As they reached the bottom step, the basement opened up into a large area. It encompassed nearly the whole footprint of the home. Minus the countless extensions.

8 wooden doors lined the walls and when Ember went to speak. Poppy turned and put her hand in Ember's mouth. She shook her head violently, the fear in her eyes told Ember to flee immediately.

Poppy leaned in close and whispered “The two doors on the left” she pointed. “They have infected inside… A woman they found on the side of the road… after they were done the Duke mixed infected blood into her wine to see what would happen. They forced her to drink it down here then threw her in there before she turned” Ember gasped. Intentionally infecting someone with the infection was paramount to murder in her eyes.

“The other” Poppy sniffed. “The other is Ram, he was, he was my friend” Ember looked between the two too thin for her liking doors. She felt at any moment, they would burst open revealing the blood soaked monsters inside. “We can only speak freely down here, the others… they don't come down here”. Poppy's voice cracked slightly and the pain in her voice called to the caring nature of Ember.

Behind each of the doors was a set of iron bars Poppy had explained. Ember wondered at the dark history of this home if he had 8 cells in the basement. Poppy opened one of the doors and they both peeked inside. Red eyes in the darkness glared back, Poppy lost her nerve and closed the wooden door.

“I'm so sorry for what you've been through” Ember whispered, Poppy stood there numbly, silently sniffing, holding back tears. “Poppy, you've got to help me escape from here. You can come with us”. Poppy stepped back, accusation in her eyes and said “I have nowhere to go, the infected will find me and I can't leave Sunel. They would kill him”

Ember knew her time was limited, they would soon question where the two women were and come looking for them. “Poppy” Ember placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. “My friend, what will they do with John?”.

Poppy's eyes dropped as she replied, “I don't know”

John

He watched the sunlight fade through the gaps in the barn doors and the gaps in the rafters. Roxy shifted above, her head slowly appearing above. Her eyes were heavy, full of worry and fear. “It's okay Roxy, it'll be okay”.

Roxy's head turned, John's eyes following the direction. When Roxy looked back, John could see she was holding back tears. “Shes okay”.

Sunel's voice gently cuts into the moment. “John, we need to find a way to escape tonight. I don't think I will make it back from being bait again”. John nodded and replied “I don't think I'd survive one day of that”. Sunel nodded solemnly.

John looked up, meeting Roxy's fear filled eyes. The darkness now begins to hide her features, he steeled himself for the night ahead as he asked “Roxy you still got that knife?”

Gabi

They'd been driving for hours, bypassing large rows of stationary traffic. Gabi switched the radio on, not because there were any broadcasts but just to fill the silent space.

Her and Steven's had not spoken in hours, silent grief not given time to air itself was on their lips. Finally Gabi asked.

“Where are we going” she watched a sign for the Cotswold pass by but made no comment.

Stevens took a breath and replied “I don't know, Wales maybe, see if we can hide in the hills or mountains”.

They pulled over into a lay-by, Stevens switching off the engine and looking to Gabi. They both knew it was a bad idea to stay here but it was even worse to drive at night.

“I'm sorry” That was all Gabi could bring herself to say as they stared out into the naked night.

The next part will be a Nighttime special. I started writing it and realised it will be long enough to justify its own post.

Night at the farmhouse

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

For those still following this series thank you, for those who just found it thank you.

Sorry its taking longer between posts guys, been spending a lot of time with family and helping my father plan his funeral. Hes in good spirits and is advocating for me to write a book. I've shown him some of the comments left by you all and I'm thankful to you all.

I feel like the infected would really struggle to identify people disguised like this

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 21

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/tSi66UCg1H

Day 22

John

“John”. He dreamt he was swimming, swimming away from the emerald green lands and into the dark blue.

“John!”. The voice called from shore, a woman's voice, so familiar, soft and kind.

John's eyes opened to find Ember shaking him violently. “I'm up” he replied groggily, as Ember's hand slammed over his mouth silencing him.

“There's people outside”, she whispered fear leaking into her words.

John sat up, he saw Roxy sat on the floor across from him, her eyes wide and fearful. “Are they infected?” John asked, slowly moving closer to the door.

He peeked through the small peephole they left in the cardboard. It was daylight, very early morning he thought but he couldn't see anyone. “You sure there's people out there I can't see anyone” His eyes scanned for movement.

“Either you step out or we will drag you out”. A voice called from outside.

Not infected, John thought but not good either.

“Don't think about trying to drive off, the gates locked and there's no way out”. Ember moved to their holdall bag, searching for their golden ticket. The pistol, their one way out.

Ember managed to pull out the magazine and to her horror. She saw it was empty. John knew the moment she made eye contact with him. “Fuck” he said through gritted teeth.

“Im going to count to three” the voice commanded. “One”.

“Lets get out of here” John said, throwing open the curtains to the driver's cab. Through the windscreen, John counted 6 men, the one at the front he knew instantly. He smiled at John, laughing loudly as recognition hit.

“I told you the world's a small place now boy”.

The prisoners John thought, the ones back at the house. How the fuck did they find us?

Ember moved in next to John and slid onto the driving seat. The men outside whistled, one of them held up a box of tools grinning. Ember twisted the key in the ignition and nothing. She tried again, twisting harder as panic filled her chest.

“Two,” the man repeated.

“It won't start, it won't start” Ember tried again and again. “We'll make a run for it,” John said, turning to Roxy.

“No threats this time boy?” John turned, finding only 3 out of the 6 men remained in front of the camper now, the rest had spread out. “No ammo I assume?”

“Do you really want me to finish counting to three, boy?” The man's voice was laced with the sound of victory. “We are only going to take everything” he looked at Ember and smiled. “Everything you have”.

“2 and a half” The man was enjoying this, enjoying their torment.

“I'll step out first, you and Roxy make a run for it”. John tried and failed to keep his voice from cracking. “What?” Ember replied. “You two have to make a run for it, when I say go. You go”. John put his hand on the door handle, holding the empty gun with the other. “Go”.

John kicked open the door, waving the gun around as 4 men circled in around him. “Go!” He shouted as Ember climbed out his now open door holding Roxy.

“Put down the gun boy, we know it aint loaded”. “Fuck you” John growled, slowly turning trying to avoid any of the men getting behind him.

“Let go of me!” Ember shouted, John looked for only a moment and saw that two men had pinned her, Roxy was nowhere to be seen. That moment was enough for the man closest to act, John's vision cracked red as he felt the whip of a crowbar on his back. He stumbled forward into the awaiting arms of two men. The group seized upon him, kicking, punching and beating John to within an inch of his life.

Red and black flashed across John's vision as he suffered through blow after blow. He felt the air leave his lungs as one of the men kicked his stomach and he felt his skin split as a boot hit his side.

“Where is the little girl?”, one of the men asked. John's vision slowly darkened, as he held onto consciousness.

“Find her and we will take them back to the Duke. He will want to taste the goods first”.

The last thing John saw before darkness claimed him was Roxy's face as she peeked out from inside the camper. He willed her to understand. “Stay Hidden”

Harehills

Gabi slept like a log, the Wilsons had left Gabi dinner outside her door, when she got back late last night. Most of Harehills cooked what little food they could over small portable gas stoves. They were limited in number and no one wanted to risk lighting a fire just in case it drew the infected.

Mr Wilson, a kindly old gentleman who was around 85, he had promised to wake her at 5.30am and he was to Gabi's annoyance true to his word.

“I'm up” Gabi replied to the sound of the stick hitting the door again. “Want a brew dear?” Mrs Wilson said, her voice coming from below. “I'm okay thanks”. Gabi quickly dressed, throwing on borrowed clothes from neighbours and army issued green socks the Steelbacks had given her.

Mr Wilson was sitting in his chair, while his wife hummed a tune Gabi did not recognise from the kitchen. “Ah good morning Gabriella” Mr Wilson was always so polite and kind to her. “I had the neighbour's boy get into the attic for me. Here”. He gestured to an old looking bag, a WW2 standard issue green messages bag, on the side was written; ‘Pvt. P. Wilson, Leeds Rifles’.

Gabi walked over and picked up the bag, carefully examining the old material. It was in remarkable condition she mused, someone had lovelingly taken care of it over the years.

“Thank you” Gabi said as she slung the bag over her shoulder, she knew better now then to try to refuse Mr Wilson and his endless gifts.

“I put some biscuits in there, no chocolate im afraid” Gabi turned to find Mrs Wilson stood in the doorway. “I remember the first time I saw that bag, I wanted to burn it” Mrs Wilson's voice softened and she continued. “But it brought back my Pete, he always said it was lucky”.

Gabi felt the weight of this invaluable gift on her shoulder. “I want it back after all this is over” Mr Wilson, leaned forward and said “I'm loaning this to you but in exchange. I want you to find me some condensed milk, the long life stuff you find in a can”. Gabi smiled and replied “I will”.

Gabi fiddled with the strap of the messenger bag as she walked to the barricade. Most of Harehills was awake, she thought as one by one she passed them.

“I need you to find me an asthma inhaler, my son's one is running out”. A woman said in passing, Gabi took out a notepad and began to write a list. Tampons, Toothpaste, Paracetamol, Antibiotics, baby formula the list became longer and longer. Gabi made a point of writing every request down. No matter how small, she would try to find it for them.

A group of 7 waited for Gabi at the barricade. At their front stood Sergeant Steven's, he smiled as she approached.

He took up a chalkboard and wrote; That's an old bit of kit.

Gabi didn't have a chalkboard to reply so instead leant forward and whispered into his ear. “Mr Wilson loaned it to me, I have to find him some milk in exchange”. The lack of distance between them sent a thrill through her.

Stevens lightly tapped his board and wrote; Me, Gabi and Smith will head out first. He showed it to the gathering silent crowd. Gabi thought of the North Barricade. It was her watch last night but thankfully. The man 3 doors down said he would cover her shift.

Very few had volunteered to go beyond the barricades, Stevens had decided he would lead a small team to scout the area and to assess the risk of sending out larger groups. He knew they needed supplies to survive and he needed the people of Harehills to pull their socks up.

Smith was a good soldier and a hard bastard at that, he hesitated at letting Gabi come but she insisted. And hell, he couldn't say no to her.

It felt like a different world as Gabi descended the barricade, standing on the other side. She found fear creeping into her bones as Stevens nudged her to move. Their first target were the homes right at the end of the street.

Stevens' plan was to loot the houses at the end and work their way back. He also hoped he could spy the next street over and see the corner shop the locals had mentioned. If they could reach that corner shop, they would have enough supplies for weeks.

Slowly, they crept down the street. Smith in front, Gabi in the middle and Stevens leading from the back. Around them, lay quiet abandoned houses. Some doors had been left open, others were closed. Gabi was thankful that there was no sign of battle or struggle. They had spotted a few infected far off from the barricades before but none had come close, not for a few days now.

The three reached the end of the street, stopping at the first house. The door was open, Smith crept forward and peeked into the home. “It's clear,” Smith whispered. Stevens moved past Gabi and entered the home first.

Smith and Gabi hesitated a moment, looking at each other until Smith whispered ladies first then they both followed inside. There was a smell about the house, Gabi couldn't put her finger on, they were greeted by a lightly painted hallway which led onto what Gabi assumed was the kitchen, stairs to the left and the sittingroom to the right.

“Smith Kitchen, Gabi stay put”. Smith raised his machete as he moved forward. Stevens opted to take out his knife.

Moments later, they both returned. “All clear” Smiths reported. “Kitchens fully stocked, definitely worth the trip”. Stevens smiled and looked to Gabi, “Go take the essentials and Smith check upstairs”. Gabi entered the kitchen and immediately noticed the old dried stain on the far wall. Blood, old blood that had browned and died in the heat. She set to work, finding batteries, water, Prulifloxacin, baby formula and evaporated milk. She smiled while holding the milk. Her deal with Mr Wilson was complete. She froze when she heard a sound through the ceiling.

Roxy

The moment the two men had seized Ember, she ran. Not for the woods but for the campervan. They had not noticed her, the men were too interested in Ember and John

She watched helplessly through the windows while they beat John to unconsciousness, she met his eyes and knew she had to hide.

Ember screamed, shouted and swore. It took three of them to pin her down and zip tie her hands together. “Get that campervan running and put these two inside”. The man with the crooked noise commanded.

“What about the little girl?” Another asked. “Fuck her, if she wants to stay out with the infected thats her choice”.

Roxy looked for a place to hide, they were coming. She lifted up the sofa cushion and chose to hide in the cavity inside the bench sofa. She held her breath as the men entered.

“Fuck me Darren, look at all this. Been shopping, have you love?” Ember grunted as she was pushed inside, Roxy looked through a tiny gap in the bench and saw as they dragged John's unconscious and limp body through the door. “Tie him up, hands and feet. The Duke can decide what to do with him”.

“Hes bleeding, let me help him. Please” Ember begged. They pushed Ember onto the sofa, one of the men aggressively shouting in her face.

“Shut your fucking hole or ill shut it for you”.

Ember continued “Please I'm a nurse, he's badly hurt” Embers voice was cut short by a horrible crack, Roxy felt the impact through the sofa. One of the men had struck Ember.

As the engine started, Roxy remained silent, as did Ember. She could see the side of John's face, red,swollen and covered in blood. He was unmoving but she could see he was breathing.

Admiral Lockwood.

“How the fuck did it spread to the Isle of man?” Lockwood demanded from a room of Nato leaders. “The quarantine was supposed to be air tight”. Lockwood couldn't help but see the irony in his words as the previous day he had ordered the quarantine broken to evacuate the Vanguard. He had even ordered her to remain hidden so he could orchestrate more evacuations.

“We don't know the how or the whys. All we know is that somehow the infection crossed the sea”. The room fell silent as they displayed aerial photos of the Island. Lockwood cursed himself, he should have ordered the islands closer to the mainland evacuated. “We estimate most of the islands inhabitants are infected now” the projector switched off.

There were tens of thousands of refugees on the isle of man. They stood no chance, the island was too small and Nato would be unwilling to offer an evacuation. The pragmatic and rational side of his mind knew that even his shadow fleet couldn't evacuate anyone off the Isle of man.

A man who Lockwood described as a living weasel stood. “I studied the infections spread across the Isle of Man. It is a deeply violent and effective virus”.

“You sound like you admire it” Lockwood snarled, he could feel his blood rising. “Yes, in a way, it's a beautiful virus. Its only weakness is its delivery system”. The man pondered for a moment and Lockwood felt his hands ball into fists. “If it was an airborne virus, it would make a potent weapon. Its a shame we don't have any samples”.

Gabi

Gabi stopped what she was doing and looked to the ceiling listening intently. She had definitely heard a thud, a loud one like something or someone hit the floor.

“Smith” She heard Stevens whisper from the bottom of the stairs. What followed, froze her to the spot.

She heard and felt in her chest, the Loud thunderous footsteps, moving towards the stairs at a frighteningly fast speed. Stevens' calls stopped as a now infected Smith came crashing down the stairs. Stevens took Smith head on as they fell backwards into the sittingroom and out of sight. As they fought a child came into view, her red eyes locking onto Gabi's. Gabi moved left, reaching for the large rolling pin as the girl charged. Her mouth was still oozing with Smith's blood. Gabi fell over, her shoes unable to get the traction she needed on the tiled floor. Before her mind could react the child was on her, Gabi's hands caught the girl's throat as she pushed her away.

Gabi struggled as the small girl wiggled and attempted to get closer. Although infected, it was still only a child's strength attempting to spread its deadly disease. The girls arm rapidly beat at her, as her teeth broken and bloodstained displayed in angry brilliance.

This was a nightmare was all she could think, a fucking nightmare. Where was Stevens she thought, god if he's infected. Then any moment now, he and Smith will come in here to finish what the girl started. The girl thrashed as suddenly her head was pulled back, Gabi released her hold as Stevens thrust a knife into the girl's jaw and upwards. The professionalism of the kill sent chills down her spine. Stevens gently lay the child on the floor, regret and grief in his eyes.

“Gabi, are you okay?” Stevens' knife was raised, poised ready to strike. Gabi coughed out a breath she hadn't realised she held and said “Yes, I'm okay”.

Stevens stepped forward, pulling her to her feet. He was coated in blood, his face was clear. “Are you hurt?” He paused examining her body, his hands patting her sides. “No, no just had the wind knocked out of me”. She panted.

“We're going back to the barricades, come on”. Stevens grabbed her hand and they both froze at the universe's reply.

Distant gunfire.

Roxy

She focused on her breathing, keeping it silent and short. Roxy didn't dare risk moving, she suppressed her fear and urge to cry. She listened to the men, listened as they jeered over Ember. Ember had remained silent, as they drove on and on.

The men descended like locusts on their supplies, taking and eating whatever they wished. Roxy hated them, hated almost as much as the monsters who took her parents. She looked to John, he was still yet to move. “Please” she whispered, her eyes stinging but John didn't reply.

Roxy froze as Ember silently tapped the bench with her foot four times. *I am here, i am with you*.

The fall of Harehills

Gabi and Stevens ran to the front door, Stevens looked through the peephole first then grabbed Gabi's hand. Dragging her upstairs, silently they found a window that faced the street and Gabi's heart broke.

While all eyes were on the south barricade, awaiting their return. The watchman on the north, who covered Gabi, had fallen asleep. Too late had the man woke, he could not react in time as 1 then 2 then 3 climbed over the barricade. They seized upon him, muting his cries of alarm and spread out into the streets. By the time people realised the infection was inside, it was too late. Neighbour attacked neighbour, doors closed too late as the infected smashed through homes.

By the time the remaining steelbacks and volunteers tried to mount a defense. It was too late. People ran for the barricades, attempting

to climb out to escape the infected. Only to find more infected climbing up the barricade from outside, sealing the trap shut.

Stevens watched helplessly as dozens of infected sprinted past, he was powerless to stop the ones who dragged down his men who valiantly held the line. “We need to leave”. He still held Gabi's hand, her face pale and frozen. Watching as more and more infected climbed into Harehills. “Gabi” he pulled her arm “With me now”.

She felt nothing as they fled through the back door, over fences and through gardens. Her mind was unable to comprehend what was happening. They reached a landrover, part of a neat line of vehicles hidden away by the steelbacks. Gabi refused to look back as they sped south out of Leeds, she closed her mind off to the grief and pain.

Ember

Ember examined John from a distance, he was still unconscious and bleeding from a wound on the side of his head. She hoped it was just bruising and no broken bones. It was very likely he had a concussion and she hated that she couldn't help him.

She had felt movement from inside the bench and knew it was Roxy. She pleaded silently for her to stay silent. Ember knew what men like this were capable of and in this world, there was nothing to stop them.

She had no idea how long or far they drove for. Ember remained silent for most of it, not from being struck but from realising it was not only her at risk.

Ember carefully tested the zip ties against her wrists, they were a firm hold but she had wiggle room.

Slowly they followed a red van, weaving in and out of abandoned cars and debris on the road. Ember didn't recognise the village names or any of the landmarks. She suppressed the rising knot in her stomach, she feared what would happen to her, John and Roxy if they found her.

“So, you're a nurse?” One of the men grinned at her, his eyes lingering. Ember silently met his eyes, forcing back the revulsion and growing lump in her throat. “Yes, I'm a nurse”. She glanced at John for a moment then back to the dark haired man, his brown eyes showing an intent Ember wanted to crawl away from.

“Ain't you gonna ask why?” He looked Ember up and down. Then continued “Ain't gonna ask what we want from you and where are we going?” he lent forward and snatched a bag of quavers from the pile of supplies. “I know what you want”, Ember's voice came out dull, neutral and uncaring.

The Farm

The rolling green hills of the Cotswolds drew visitors from the world over. Majestic green fields showing the remarkable beauty of home.

Many had fled to the farms, country homes and had barricaded themselves inside. The infected ran freely across the fields, roads and country passes. But they were not all that hunted these lands.

The prisons of Dartmoor, Winchester and others had been abandoned. Many prisoners died of dehydration in their cells, left by their caretakers but some. Some had escaped, seized upon the guards as they fled and took into the countryside. The world was theirs for the taking and they took whatever, whoever they wished.

People screamed as they, not the infected, kicked in their doors.

Ember's eyes stung as they pushed her out of the campervan, there was nothing for miles. Nothing but hand built stone walls, winter wheat and the odd barn. She turned as they dragged John's limp body outside, dumping him onto the gravel with no care. How many hours had he been unconscious now, she feared he wouldn't wake up, part of her wished he didn't.

“String him up in the barn” Two men dragged John across the gravel drive. “And take our new Nurse to the Duke”. Ember stumbled forward as one of the men grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the modest farmhouse. She turned to see them close the large wooden gates, the farmhouse and two barns made part of a grey walled compound. The walls were high enough to hide activities from curious infected eyes.

Ember passed by parked vehicles and discarded waste on the ground. She sagged back away from the looming farmhouse but a firm hand pulled her forward. She estimated at least 20 people lived here, occupied here, she doubted this home belonged to any of these brutes.

Ember resisted as they pulled her through the front door, panic finally winning out as the door slammed behind her. The curtains were drawn, candles illuminating the dark interior. She cringed as the sounds of male voices through the wall, angry and excited.

Ember fell forwards, landing harshly on her knees and came face to face with possibly the most handsome man she'd ever seen.

He sat at the end of a dining table, eating what looked to be scrambled eggs, he smiled as picked up his wine glass.

“Well well Darren, who is this lovely lady?”. Ember looked around the room, candles covered every surface and the room smelt of wax.

“Picked her up down south, remember those people I told you about, the ones who got my brother infected. Well” he sneered “I found them”.

“Well, that's most unfortunate for them” The Duke's smile faded as he finished his glass. He coughed expectantly as a woman quickly stepped forward from the shadows, her eyes heavy and her left cheek swollen. She refilled his glass, her hands trembling as she poured. “Thank you Poppy”, the woman froze as he raised a hand lightly touching her cheek. “So”, his hand lowered, resting on the table and Ember felt his full attention turn to her.

“Who might you be?” Ember's eyes met Poppy's, the fear in them told Ember exactly what she needed to know. The man known as Darren beside her answered, "She's a nurse”, the Duke's smile reached his eyes as he said “Excellent, we've lots of work for a nurse”.

John

John had the worst headache he'd ever known, the voices had stopped now. They came and went but the darkness was constant. When consciousness found John, he heard Ember's voice, a crack and dark laughs of amusement.

John's arms were bound above his head and he was on his knees. His shoulders ached from holding his limp weight and sighed with relief as he fully shifted his weight to his knees.

Slowly, John opened his eyes. It must be just before Sunset or Sunrise. He wasn't certain, groggily he pulled on the ropes that held him but they didn't shift.

A cloth had been tied around his head, gagging him and muting any calls for help. John's mind snapped back, images of Ember shouting got off me and Roxy's fear filled eyes and he pulled forward, straining the bonds that held him.

Ember, Roxy what happened to them. John aggressively pulled and pulled until he heard a soft quiet voice.

“Stop moving, if you move. They beat you, if you make noise they beat you”. John's eyes followed the sound, a man was tied up in the corner. Short in stature but broad shouldered. John grunted, unable to form words through the gag. “They won't return till morning, they'll all be in the house. They took her there”. The man paused, sorrow entered his as he said “I'm sorry”

John's heart stopped.

Roxy

Roxy listened as they unloaded the campervan, the men taking whatever they wished and leaving what they didn't. Roxy held her breath every time they entered the camper, she prayed to whoever would listen to not let them find her.

Once the sun set and she was certain no one was near. She emerged from her hiding place, the camper had been ransacked. Rubbish littered the floor, some cupboard doors had been broken off and Roxy's teddy was nowhere to be seen. Carefully she looked out the window, the moon illuminating the grey dull buildings. She couldn't see anyone, only faint whispers of candle light from the farmhouse.

Roxy looked out every window, eventually risking climbing into the front and looking out the windscreen. She couldn't see Ember or John, or any of the men who had taken them. She had heard them saying to take John to the barn and Ember to the house. She saw what they did to John, saw the way they had beat him senseless and she hoped he was still alive.

Ember

Ember was thrown into a closet, her shoulder crying out in pain as she hit the wall. “We'll be back for you in the morning, now be a good girl and keep quiet”. The door closed with an audible click and locking sound.

It was pitch black, the only light coming from the gap at the bottom of the door. Ember listened to the voices of the house as they quietened down. She slumped against the wall, her eyes not leaving the doorway.

She knew they would come for her soon.

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

Thank you for reading, let me know you're thoughts in the comments.

Just want to say thank you to those who continue to send me kind supporting messages, giving advice and how they coped in similar situations. Genuinely I love you guys and I hope you enjoy the story i'm telling.

6 to go.... About time for a special aint it?.

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 20

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/6GsksrQ0vO

Day 21

Leeds - Harehills

Gabi

Gabi looked out over the top of the barricade, to the streets outside. The hastily barricaded borough of Harehills lay abandoned and deserted. Gabi was part of the night watch, she and three others sat in darkness, no lights or torches were allowed. Too late had the survivors of the UK realised the infected were more active at night. The candles, torches and creature comforts to push back the darkness had now become deadly beacons seldom used.

During the failed evacuation effort, remnants of the Steelbacks had arrived in Leeds, they found the garrison had evacuated with most of the population towards Liverpool. However, groups of survivors had been left behind. The steelbacks who were commanded by a certain Sergeant Steven's, organised with the help of the local remaining fire service, builders and residents of Harehills itself. Together, they built barricades and quickly established a safe perimeter. There was no great battle nor storming of the barricade; instead the residents of Harehills wisely chose to hide.

Multiple streets had been barricaded against the infected, anyone living near the barricades was in the *Quiet zone*. People walked around with chalkboards fastened around their necks. The rules were simple, near the walls or outer perimeter; No talking, No lights and No noise.

Gabi watched the rising sun, she always felt safer in the light.

Below, one of the Steelbacks walked along the barricade, coming to a stop below her. He waved up and tapped his wrist. Gabi nodded, gathered up her belongings and climbed down. The man smiled, handing her a bottle of water and tapping her shoulder. Before he climbed up and took over the position. Everyone inside the barricades contributed, from cleaning to preparing food, building barricades and manning them.

They called Gabi an offcumden - Outsider. She wasn't the only one, there were dozens of people who fled to Harehills, running away from the infected or like her had been picked up on route by the steelbacks.

Gabi wanted to sleep, she was tired and hungry. But Instead, she walked up the street towards the home the Steelbacks had chosen as their HQ. It had become the new Town Hall. Every home on the street was boarded up, curtains closed and not a peep of sound. You could have been mistaken in thinking the area was abandoned. But, that was the point, to hide in plain sight away from the infected.

She didnt knock as she entered the Steelbacks HQ. The house was cramped, all the homes on the street were. 15 Soldiers lived in this small 2 bedroom home and it certainly smelled like it.

The kitchen had become Sergeant Stevens office, hand drawn maps of Harehills and random MRE's covered the kitchen counters. The fridge had been removed and added to the barricades.

Stevens stood, drawing on the map of Harehills, further expanding and strengthening their perimeter. “Morning Gabi, how was the watch?” Stevens wore camouflage trousers and a blue shirt kindly donated by a neighbour. “All quiet on the western front” Gabi replied, she walked to the boxes of MRE's and began to open them.

“Are you really going to open every single one of those to see if there's a chocolate bar in it?” Stevens asked, not looking up from his drawings. The Steelbacks had come to refer to Gabi as the chocolate thief. They didn't mind, the Steelbacks admired her, her steeled resolve and willingness to man the barricade side by side with them had earned her honorary Steelback status.

“When's the meeting?” Gabi asked as she discarded yet another plain oatmeal digestive. “15 minutes”, Stevens shook his head and reached into a kitchen drawer. He pulled out a Twix bar.

Gabi noted the location of snacks as he handed her the bar. Stevens knew he would have to move the snack stash… again.

Gabi walked into the dining room, finding two volunteers laying out chairs facing towards a large chalkboard, Harehills had been drawn on it. Areas near the walls had been circled with QZ (Quiet Zone), areas further into Harehills were considered safe to talk in the open but people rarely did. Choosing to talk in homes or use their chalkboards.

A list of rules accompanied the map;

No talking after dark

No lights after dark

No one on the streets after dark

No shouting at any time

Absolutely No talking in the Quiet Zone.

And finally

DO NOT WASTE WATER

Water was a huge issue for Harehills, given the lack of it. No one had planned for running out of water as the barricades went up, there was always the unconscious assumption that this would all be over soon.

Gabi took a seat at the back of the room and waited for the meeting to start.

“We need to start searching the area outside of Harehills,” Stevens said, while he looked over the small gathering. He scanned the room, ensuring to meet all of their eyes, ensuring they all heard him. The general murmur in response was fear and failing urgency.

“People we are very nearly out of water and once that happens” Steven's knew if they ran out, they would all turn on each other, neighbour would accuse neighbour and this community would tear itself apart”

“Once that happens, we will be in some serious trouble”. He had to sugar coat it, and had to keep them all calm. “We need volunteers to go outside the barricades and to bring back water, food and medical supplies”.

The murmur from the crowd increased in volume until Stevens tapped a stick on the chalkboard. Pointing to No shouting.

“Its too dangerous to go out there” a man called

“Every group will be accompanied by a Steelback”

“There are infected everywhere, it's not safe and what if they follow whoever we send out there home?”

A good question he thought. “Infected activity has fallen and we haven't seen any at the barricades for a couple days now”.

“Where are they?” Another good question he thought. Where the hell were the infected, for the last For two days they seemed to have given up and disappeared.

“What matters is that they aren't here. We can't waste this opportunity”. The murmuring began to change to a voice agreement. Stevens looked at Gabi, she was chomping down on the twix bar, seemingly bored with the meeting.

“If there are any volunteers who are willing to go supply run, make yourself known and be here before Sunrise tomorrow”. With that the meeting adjourned.

John

The night in the camper had been a quiet one. John watched the sunrise, debating what the day would bring. Slowly he fiddled with the pack of cigarettes Raj had left him, he had 9 left. John wasn't a big smoker, he maybe had 1 or 2 a day. The thought of finishing the pack depressed him, the last connection to a man he considered a friend.

Light washed over the carpark, but John's view was limited by the trailer they had hidden behind. From what he could see it was clear, as clear as it was yesterday when they pulled in. John flinched as he saw movement in the corner of his eyes. Roxy had silently moved up next to him, her hair sticking out at odd angles.

She was too young to be going through all of this he thought, she had lost her parents and now was forced to travel with two strangers she barely knew. The fact Roxy wasn't screaming and crying made him realise she was probably braver than he was.

She was deeply traumatised, that much was clear. The only time either of them had heard her speak was when she cried out ‘No’. Roxy crawled up and sat on the driver's seat, half looking at the world outside and half looking at John.

John knew as much about kids as he did about women.

John looked at the small Teddy she held close and noticed the name tag. He whispered, careful not to wake Ember. “So is Roxy also the name of your teddy?”. She looked at him, her knowing eyes searching for understanding in his. Roxy's mouth quivered slightly, she wanted to speak. Wanted to tell John her real name but she couldn't will the sounds to come out. Not without seeing the red eyes of her mother glaring their murderous intent.

Ember stirred softly, rolling over, she occupied one of the bench beds nearby in the camper. “There's no way that's comfortable”, John whispered to Roxy. Ember lay at an awkward angle, her soft snores filling the still morning air. John found his eyes drifting back to Roxy, her sorrow filled eyes looking to the floor.

John thought for a moment, remembering the game of cards her and Ember played. Then spoke. “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with T”

HMS Vanguard - North Atlantic

Captain David Russel stood on the Vanguards bridge, sipping a scalding hot cup of tea. Bureaucracy had saved them from the fires of Operation Sunset, the repairs to the Vanguard had been made weeks ago. However, due to strict safety standards she could not be listed as fit for service until officially signed off. Most of her crew had left to find their families during the evacuation but a small number, Captain Russel included, had stayed aboard. A small skeleton crew, not enough to man battle stations but enough for them to leave port.

During the evacuation, some of the locals and families of the men, based nearby. had fled for the port, its high fences and potential for evacuation. An irresistible lure, however, all they found there were unmanned positions and the skeleton crew of the Vanguard. Once the infected found the port, they had closed all hatches and observed strict isolation.

Lockwood had ordered Captain Russel to depart immediately, to join the evacuation effort but after the bombings in Portsmouth and the destruction of most of the royal navy. He opted for them to play dead in the water, it seemed Nato command were dubious about bombing an idle nuclear powered submarine.

When Lockwood's encrypted order came through, they departed without delay. The usual crew complement of the Vanguard was 140 to 150. She carried nearly 300. All of them crammed like sardines in the metal coffin.

“The oxygen scrubbers are working overtime, she's not designed for this many people” Chief Adams stood on the bridge, covered in oil and muck. The man had not been able to clean himself for 5 days. “Shouldn't be much longer chief” Russell took a long sip.

“Lockwoods coordinates are coming up” the helmsman called. Chief Adams dismissed himself, wading through the crowded hallway. “How the hell did Lockwood even escape Portsmouth?” the radio operator said to the helmsman. “Well, I heard he…”

“Stow it and take us up to periscope depth” The captain commanded, cutting the conversation off.

The seas above were calm and the sun shone brightly, it was almost idyllic. A lone ship stood against the deep blue, her engines and transponder off. On paper she was The Nova, a Netherlands based cargo freighter but in reality. She was part of Lockwood's shadow fleet. Lockwood and the remaining volunteers from the royal navy and merchant marine had sought out ships. Quickly replacing their crews and disguising them for use in secret evacuations.

“Take us up,” the captain cheerfully remarked.

John

Ember awoke to muted laughter and odd nonsensical words. She peered over her blanket to John and Roxy. The pair were in the front seat as Roxy maniacly pointed a finger at the windscreen.

“Is it a gate?” John asked, Roxy smiled, shaking her head. “Oh come on give me a clue” Again Roxy pointed at the window and down. “Ah I know what it is,” John smirked. “Grass!”. Roxy again tapped the windscreen, shaking her head. Roxy had a piece of paper in front of her. The letters of the Alphabet had been drawn to allow her to play.

Ember couldn't tell if John was faking not knowing or genuinely didn't know.

Ember yawned and stretched like a cat woken from its slumber. Both Roxy and John turned to her. “What time is it?” She asked in a groggy voice. “Maybe 7 or 8am, the clock on the dash is wrong. I'm not sure how to change it”. Ember's eyes went wide, John held his breath as he turned.

John's blood went cold as he looked at Roxy, her eyes wide and her finger pointed at M on the paper. John followed her small digit as it raised slowly, pointing out into the carpark to a woman. Her skin covered in filth, her hair matted and torn. She twitched, her head snapping from side to side as if she was tasting the air.

Ember slowly moved to the driver's seat, easing Roxy towards John. “I don't think it's seen us,” John whispered, as Ember placed a hand on the ignition. The woman began convulsing, falling to her knees. She spewed forth a great flood of deadly infected blood.

A second infected slowly walked out, coming to stand next to her. His eyes searching, his head up tasting the air. “Smell,” Ember whispered, the realisation hitting her like a train. “Fuck me, they can smell us”. The trio dared not move as a third, then a fourth then a fifth joined the now gathering crowd in front of them. “We've got to get out of here now” John said through gritted teeth. Roxy had retreated further back into the camper van and John slowly reached for his bat. His eyes never left the group now assembling before them.

Ember and John knew, the moment they started the engine the group would charge. Ember's hand shook as she gripped the key, preparing to turn. John started to count in his head… 1… 2… suddenly they heard a loud thud on the back of the camper and that was enough. The engine roared to life and as one the rabble moved. They pushed and shoved each other out the way, desperate to reach them first. Ember's foot hit the floor as she turned. Aiming for the gap in the crowd. Roxy screamed as the infected impacted the windows and both sides of the campervan. The underpowered engine struggling to make an escape, tyres squealed as they crossed the carpark.

More and more came, some wore clothes, torn and ragged covered in unspeakable filth. Others were naked, their skin blackened and blistered from fires unknown. “They just keep coming!” Dozens ran in from every direction. Ember picked up speed, 20, 30, 40 as she sought to rejoin the motorway.

HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY YOUR NEXT WELCOME BREAK IS 56 MILES. The sign mocked.

Ember looked into the side mirror, seeing a crowd of 40 to 50 infected behind them. Slowly the crowd stopped chasing them, their rage filled eyes watching the camper creep into the distance.

Gabi - Harehills.

Gabi had stayed up all day, trying in vain to reset her sleeping pattern from the nightshift. She had a room over with the Wilson family across the road but instead chose to spend her time with the Steelbacks. There always seemed to be something to fix, a game to play and she generally just preferred their company.

“So Gab's” she hated that nickname and men of the Steelbacks knew it. “You're coming along on the shopping trip tomorrow?” Private J. Smith sat on a lounge chair, fiddling with a rubix cube. His eyes intently focused on the puzzle.

“Of course she is, she wants to hoard all of the mars bars”. Gabi picked up a cushion, throwing it at Corporal Jones. He smirked from his chair and called out; "She's just smitten with the Sarge pal”. Gabi felt the heat in her cheeks as she went red in the face, they were right of course. She couldn't keep her eyes off him and from the moment she first saw him she knew she was interested.

He held a kindness only for her, treated her not only as an equal but as a partner. “Sarge is smitten with her too I bet, never hides chocolates for us”. The sitting room door opened, revealing a bemused Sergeant Steven's.

“Oi gossip girls, stand too. Been reports of activity near the barricades” He nodded to Gabi, her cheeks still red.

Admiral Lockwood

Lockwood paced the room, the briefing wasn't for another 20 minutes but it wasn’t the briefing he was concerned about. His mind was occupied with the Vanguard and the Nova. Had they escaped quarantine? Did Nato discover his plot and bomb both ships?

He needed answers but those would have to wait. He turned and listened to the faint knocking on the door. “They're ready”. Lockwood straightened his uniform and proceeded into the meeting room.

Lockwood had one thing on his agenda today, he would press the issue of supply drops for the survivors scattered across the UK mainland. More and more communities had been spotted by reconnaissance planes. Lockwood processed limited resources to supply survivors.

The meeting started well, more pockets of survivors had been found.

Below are estimated populations of some of the hold outs.

Farnham Castle Estimated population 200

Fort George Estimated population 200

Reading Football stadium population 100

Holy Island population 200

Harehills population 100 - 200

Tower Blocks in London, various locations Estimated population 300 to 500.

Tilbury Fort estimated between 200-300

As the list went on, aerial photos were displayed of the scattered communities. Lockwood felt a sense of pride that against all odds, large groups had not only survived the outbreak but had fortified their positions. The vast majority of survivors still hid in their homes, cellars or on rooftops in the cities. Food and water would be running low soon, they needed help and they needed it now.

Lockwood stood and walked to the head of the table, behind him the projector displayed a map of the Orkney islands. They had for now, escaped being hit by the infection but like the rest of the UK mainland were under strict quarantine. “We need to start air dropping supplies, food, water, medicine and even weapons”. The room remained silent as Lockwood continued. “The Orkney islands are uninfected, we could evacuate them or better yet reinforce it and prepare for the operation to retake the mainland”.

John

Ember slowed the camper as they approached the outskirts of Swindon. For the last 20 minutes, she had been slowly weaving through the abandoned cars on the motorway. “Weird how most of the doors are left open” John's eyes scanned the empty cars, most had now useless belongings stacked on top and inside. “Hundreds of cars, thousands of people and they're all just gone”. Ember imagined what happened here, how it was likely the infection had reached Swindon as the refugees tried to escape past it.

As they approached the Badbury Roundabout. It became clear, the roads leading north were unpassable; a lorry had overturned, blocking further access north on their side of the road. “I guess we could head for South Wales, maybe cut north later on?” Ember had no idea, she was guessing at this point on which direction to take. “It's going to get dark soon” John said, worry and fear creeping into his voice. Neither of them wanted to be on this motorway after dark, the carpark this morning haunted their thoughts.

The infected could track them by sight and sound. To hide seemed easy enough, stay out of sight and keep quiet. But smell, how do you avoid the infected sniffing you out? John's thoughts were interrupted by a small bump in the road.

As the sun began to set they reached the Tormarton Interchange, Ember switched on the indicator and pulled off the M4. “I'm going to take us off the motorway, see if there's somewhere close we can sleep tonight”.

They avoided going anywhere near the small village of Tormarton. The signage showing it was only a few miles away, instead John pointed out a small metal gate, leading into the woods. “Pull up here, I'll open the gate”. John quickly jumped out, he looked in all directions, noticing Ember and Roxy doing the same. It was quiet, the only noise was a cool breeze lightly hitting the trees. He walked in front of the campervan as it pulled into the small forest, the sun was setting and darkness slowly crept in. John closed the gates behind them, just in case he thought, just in case someone was following them.

They opted for a spot that had cover from the road and surrounding area. It was light enough outside the woods to see but inside the thicket, pitch darkness.

John unfolded the bed, placing down a blanket and pillow for himself.

The trio sat in the coming darkness, afraid to talk or to move. They flinched at every creak of the trees, John's mind tortured him with images of infected hunting them at night, surrounding them and breaking through the windows and doors. Earlier in the day John had taped sheets, cardboard and tin foil onto the windows. He hoped to block the view into the campervan just in case an infected were to look in but the only thing he had achieved was to make it too dark for either of them to see.

“Soon as the sun's up, I say we head into Wales” Ember whispered from the dark. “What about the Lake District, your parents could be there?” John whispered back.

“Too dangerous, there's less people in Wales. We could head into the hills. No one is up there but goats and sheep”. John scoffed, a muted laugh.

“I'll take the first watch,” John whispered. He listened then felt as Ember and Roxy climbed into his small bunk. Yeah, I'm scared too, he thought as Ember tucked in beside him, Roxy laying next to her on the edge. John laid back and listened to the wind, to the creaking of the trees and to the slow calming breaths beside him.

Outside, across the country. The infected emerged to hunt.

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

Sorry for the long delay. I hope you enjoy. Comment below your thoughts.

Thank you to the Moderators for putting up with my spam and allowing me to post my fanfic here.

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 19 if you missed it

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/3SR6Mf3Ehb

Day 20

A guilty man ran through the forests of England, a man on the run, a man with a gun.

The infected gave chase, the trees mocked his pace, the soldier had fallen from grace.

Silently and with cruelty certainty, the world whispered to him.

“Murddeeerreer, Murdeeereeerrr”

He had not stopped running for 2 days. Every time he stopped, they came. When he tried to catch his breath, they came.

He could not sleep, he could not eat and he could not escape his fate.

“Murdererrrrrr”

The voices called to him, getting closer and closer. Footsteps sounded, from here and there. Every direction screamed attack, he opened fire, spraying his remaining ammunition in a circle screaming “Leave me alone!”.

Murderer, Murderer, Murderer.

He fell to his knees and cried to the heavens “I was under orders, I was under orders!”. He had got his team killed, they joined the ranks of infected, they joined the ones who chased him even now.

This was their land now and he was their prey.

Delta 6 Actual began to pray.

John.

Time froze as the Embers' eyes met Johns, he saw the moment hope had left her eyes. He knew he couldn't save her but by god would he try. Ember kicked out with her feet but felt herself slipping lower into its grasp. John shouted wildly, pulling with all his strength but it was a losing battle. Ember yelped in pain as the infected below her violently shook her leg from side to side.

Ember bit back a scream, she felt like she would be torn in two, her heart hammered in her chest, she knew John couldn't save her. Ember's green eyes met Johns, her vision going clear as she fought back the tears. He had to let go, she thought, if she got infected there's a chance she… she might infect John, she might infect Roxy. Ember loosened her grip slightly, John reacted instantly.

“Hold on!” John snarled, he was fighting with every ounce of his strength. Roxy's tiny hands wrapped around Ember's arms, Ember looked at the small girl, her eyes raw and red from tears. Roxy's tiny grunts filled her ears as she also pulled with all she could muster.

“Kick the fucker!” John commanded, Ember's mind flashed back to Dr Elizabeth Bales and she heard her voice. “Kick like a mule girl!”.

And so Ember did.

She kicked hard with her free leg, blindly aiming at the infected, her trainer impacting over and over. She felt its nose shatter beneath the assault but still it held her. Still she slipped lower.

“John” his eyes slipped to hers again, the grief on his face was devastating. “You have to let go John” Ember slipped lower, the hand on her ankle gripping harder. “No fucking chance.” He pulled harder, willing his body to draw upon its final reserves. “John, please,” Ember's voice cracked. A cry of “No!” broke Ember's resolve, the dam of tears shattered. It was not John who had spoken, it was Roxy, her young voice filled with grief and fear.

John looked up and to his horror, saw two more infected, they did not hesitate as they charged through the doorway. The force of their impact into the foul beast that held Ember loosened, just for a moment, that was all John needed, he screamed, roaring his defiance and lifted. Ember's shoe slipped off and fell into the infected grasp. But that was all they would get this day. John fell backwards, unable to stop the momentum. He impacted the wooden floor with a soft thud.

Ember wrapped her arms around John, refusing to loosen her grip on the lifeline that just pulled her out of the fire. She closed her eyes and cried in relief. Fear and adrenaline froze the pair, John's arms slowly wrapped around Ember and then Roxy who joined the pile on the floor.

They lay there for hours, silently listening to the infected wreak havoc below. None of them spoke, they all closed their eyes. Silently praying for the fear to end, John focused on the sounds of Roxy and Ember. Their short breaths and the feel of Ember's head on his chest.

Ember listened to the strong beat of John's heart, she had shifted slightly allowing Roxy to lay beside her.

Against the odds, the Guildford three fell asleep, huddled and scared in the dark.

Father Sedgewick Thorne

The dark figure watched with glee as his flock broke through the windows and doors. Soon he thought, soon my flock will grow larger.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” He whispered to his flock. The bells rang and rang. Calling his flock home, he counted and named the new ones who flowed into the church.

"Sleep on now and take your rest," The unholy priest said, as he closed the thick wooden doors. Once again placing the large wooden beam across it. He looked to the house, he didn't see the newcomers exit with his flock.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” He walked towards the house, its windows and doors battered.

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

(SHAPE) Mons Belgium.

Generals gathered in their masses. Representatives from Nato had joined the meeting. Everyone was here for the same reason, to learn Nato's long term plan for the UK and the infection.

“Will our British colleagues be joining us today?” A hawkish American general asked, a vast array of medals on his chest.

The doors opened and in walked Lieutenant Williams, followed by Admiral Lockwood. “Sorry we're late”. The room went silent, it was assumed Lockwood died in the evacuation. An air of uneasiness hung over the room, the men at this table were amongst those who ordered the strikes.

The British military at the last count numbered just under 4,000 the rest were considered MIA. No one wanted to say dead or infected. So the official listing's remarked over 95% of the Military as missing in action.

Lockwood took his seat, his presence dominating the room.

The lights dimmed and a projector started up. “As you all know, we've been sending in recon planes and taking satellite photos of the UK. The infection has peaked, sadly most of the UK population has been lost”.

Lockwood coughed, men awkwardly shifted in their seats.

“We have found dozens of holdouts across the country” The projector changed to a far shot of Fort Tilbury. This fort was occupied early during the epidemic, see how they've reinforced their position. “God there must be hundreds of them in there” A man remarked.

Lockwood leaned forward, “Why wasn't I informed of these holdouts?”. The Hawkish general met Lockwood's furious eyes. “We are sharing the intel with you now”. The projector clicks, showing Holy Island, “see here this community has managed to cut themselves off from the mainland, they built a barricade on the entrance to their island”.

The next shows Leeds, “In Leeds, they seemed to have barricaded the residential streets in Harehills”. The proceeding slides so activity behind the makeshift barricades.

“Gentlemen counting those suspected hiding in their homes or far out in the country. We estimate between 500,000 to 2 Million remain uninfected”. Lockwood stood, “We need to start supply drops immediately, without help these people will starve. We can help them hold out until the infection burns itself out. There are already reports of infected persons succumbing to their wounds, exposure, dehydration and starvation”. The room fell silent, they all stared at Lockwood.

“The military quarantine is clear Lockwood, no one in and no one out”. Lockwood stood, his chair violently falling behind him, he made no move to pick it up as he stormed out of the briefing.

Uijt jt Mpdlxppe, Kbjmcsfbl jt b hp. Sfqfbu Kbjmcsfbl jt b hp. Wbohvbse jt dmfbsfe gps efqbsuvsf

Dpqz uibu. Wbohvbse pvu.

https://www.theproblemsite.com/reference/mathematics/codes/shifted-alphabet-code

John

John awoke first, noticing dawn light leaking through the old roof. The house was quiet, no more shuffling or banging sounds from below. John glanced down, Ember and Roxy sleeping on each side of him. He wasn't quite sure what to do, gently he shook Ember, her eyes shot open meeting Johns. She sat up, after a few moments of remembering where she was. She leaned over to Roxy, waking her while shushing.

How long had they slept he wondered, it didn't feel like long judging by how tired he was. John leaned past Ember peering into the room below. The floor was covered in blood, dirt and god knows what else.

“It's clear” John whispered, he turned to Ember and Roxy. Neither of them spoke, they both looked nervously at the hatch.

"Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?” The voice from below called. “This fucking guy again” John turned looking to Ember “Sounds like he's downstairs”.

They listened to the footsteps as he ascended the stairs, the dark figure checked each of the rooms. Then stopped, he noticed Ember's discarded shoe on the floor, his eyes followed the wall upwards to the attic hatch.

"Woe to those who hide deep from the Lord their counsel, whose deeds are in the dark…” John had enough, “Okay we're leaving” John stood, he had to bend down slightly due to the low roof. “Gotta be another way out of here”. John felt around for another hatch, cringing at the creaks from the floorboards.

Father Sedgewick Thorne

He watched the hatch, waiting for it to open. Waiting to see his new disciples, patience he thought. They cannot stay up there forever.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways…”

John

“There isn’t another way out” Ember and Roxy stopped their search, turning to John. “We can't go down that hatchway John. There's a good chance the infected are still in the house or worse”. John couldn't help but agree, the man downstairs was still shouting and rambling. Soon his voice was sure to draw infected. “I'll go down first,” Ember said solemnly. “Like hell,” John responded. Ember sharply turned and looked at John.

“Theres another option”, Ember thought back to that last syringe, hidden deep in the holdall. Ember had said it so quietly, she assumed John didn't hear it when he replied.

“You drive, I knock remember” John looked down to find Roxy pointing at the roof to a small hole. John knelt by her and gently nudged her aside. He took a peek through the small hole and could see trees outside and distant hills. “This is our way out” Ember crawled over and took a peek. “I can see the roof above the kitchen”.

Ember moved back, Roxy following in her wake as John laid on the floor pointing his feet towards the lowest part of the roof. Tiles cracked and fell as he kicked a hole through the roof. There was no chance the man downstairs didn't hear this but John didn't care. This was a way out, they could climb down the rooftop down onto the flat roof above the kitchen and down into the garden.

John poked his head out of the hole he made, looking like a meerkat scanning for predators. He climbed out onto the roof, scanning the surrounding area for threats and to his surprise. He saw nothing. He had expected dozens of infected, in his deepest nightmares he expected to see the man dressed in black somehow commanding them. Instead he saw only a curious magpie, the bird probably wondered what all the fuss was about.

“It's clear” he called back to Ember and Roxy. Carefully they joined him on the roof, the dry air a welcome change from the stuffy attic. The trio shimmied their way down the tiles towards the flat roof. John went down first, it was only 6 or 8ft to the flat roof but the way he shuffled down, made it seem much further. He glanced back up, Ember and Roxy standing awkwardly near the edge.

“Give her to me” John called up, Ember picked up a protesting Roxy and passed her carefully down to John. Roxy, squirmed as John placed her down next to him. She stood behind his leg, staring up. “Okay now you”, he held up his arms. Ember turned and climbed down slowly, allowing John to half catch her as she descended. Her ankle was sore, she had a slight limp but could keep up. “I need to find a new pair of shoes,” Ember said as John helped her stand upright. “It's on the list, right below a bottle of Sunny D”.

“Well, that was the easy bit,” he mused. The three of them crouched and walked to the edge of the roof. John couldn't believe there wasn't any infected around. Where the hell are they? He peared over the edge, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Ember slowly walked beside him, holding Roxy away from the edge. The grounds were clear, the car exactly where they left it.

The hair on the backs of their necks stood to attention as his sleek venomous voice resounded across the garden. "Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.” The priest walked out from the bashed in kitchen door, staring straight up at them with reverence and longing. Roxy hid behind Ember, Ember moved subconsciously towards John.

The man's eyes were only for Roxy. "Do not wander in the dark, little lamb. The night is full of teeth, but my fence is high.”.

“Can you climb down on your own?” John asked Ember. “We're not splitting up," was her instant reply.

“Take Roxy and get the car started”. Ember looked between John and the Unholy priest, their eyes now locked onto each other. “No chance, we stay together and that's final”.

"You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday." The priest turned, with growing horror John realised he was walking towards the front doors of the church. He wasted no time climbing down into the garden below, holding his hands up for Roxy then for Ember.

“And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.” The hellish priest was shouting now, mere metres from the doors, they buckled as the infected excitement threatened to break through. Ember reached the car first, opening the drivers side as John opened the passenger side. He placed Roxy on the front seat and turned to the fence. “Start it up!” John ran towards the fence, throwing the panel out the way with such force.

"Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in.” The doors sounded, buckling the infected now entering a frenzy. Desperate to hunt, Desperate to kill.

The car started, John ran out in front waving Ember on. John watched in twisted horror as the priest lifted the wooden bar and opened the doors wide.

The priest expected his flock to swarm past, to part around him like the red sea to spread the word of his god. Instead, they washed over him like a tsunami, punching, kicking and biting. Too late did reality hit the priest, too late did he call for help. His screams followed the Guildford three as they pulled away. Back into the country, their search for sanctuary continued.

They headed north, following the winding open country roads, Ember watched nervously as their fuel tank metre moved towards empty.

They slowed to a stop as the M4 came into view. Ember slowly drove around the Wickham interchange. Two choices lay before them. Head East, back towards London or to head west. Towards Wales.

“London or Wales?” Ember asked as she turned off, heading for Wales. “Wales it is then”. John smirked, neither of them would ever go anywhere near London again. Not even if the Americans launched an invasion, cleared the city and attempted to repopulate it.

Membury Services - M4 westbound.

The motorway was empty, no cars in either direction. They had expected, well something but not nothing. Ember refused to go above 40mph, just in case something jumped out at them but she needn't have bothered. The road was empty, not a soul in sight. “We need fuel,” Ember repeated, bringing John's attention back to her. “There's a service's up ahead, we can pull in, scope it out and see if there's a way we can get fuel”

“Scope it out?” John teased, “Take a look, have a gander, oh whatever I'm pulling in now”. Silence filled the car as they drove into the services, Roxy had woken up and pressed her face to the window.

The carpark was mostly empty except for two cars and one of those camper vans rich people like to use. They stopped to examine their surroundings, the humming of the engine the only sound, John wound down the window. Fresh air, lacking any foulness filled his nostrils and he looked towards the miniature shopping centre. “Where's the garage?” he asked while looking around.

“Further up, do you want to take a look inside?” Ember stared nervously at the small building. “No honestly if it doesn't have a completely glass front, that shows exactly what's inside and shows me it is empty and clear. I'm not going in there” John nodded. “Head for the petrol station, we'll scope it out”. Ember nudged John at his harmless comment and pulled around to the empty petrol station.

The station was also empty, the speed of the virus had meant those with vehicles fled without stopping, leaving behind untouched fuel reserves and precious food stocks. There had been no time for looters or anarchists to ransack shops. No time for families to stockpile food to hide in their homes.

“Looks empty don't it” John said, examining the garage shop. They needed food, their stomachs had been having a quiet conversation ever since they left the priory from hell.

“You know the drill, keep the engine running”. Before Ember could protest, John walked towards the front doors. Three times he circled the building, three times he checked through every window and opened doors. He frankly refused to go in without ensuring it was infection free. Gingerly he entered and gasped. It was a gold mine, the shop doors were left unlocked, probably by a fleeing employee unconcerned with locking up when the country went to hell.

John stepped back outside and waved Ember over. Ember parked right in front of the doors, counted to 10 and opened her door. Roxy tried to follow but Ember held up a hand, “Stay here for just a moment” she spoke too late as Roxy moved to climb out the passenger side, chasing after John and running into the shop.

“Roxy!” Ember whispered, chasing after her. Ember carefully entered the small shop and whistled. Food, so much ultra processed food. She found the guilty pair by the drinks section. John held a bottle of Sunny D, downing its sweet nectar and Roxy held a fruit juice. She was chewing at its lid, trying to open it. “That's just pure sugar” Ember grumbled as she reached them. Roxy held up the bottle to Ember, who opened it for her and handed it back.

An hour later, the three sat on the shop floor, surrounded by open packets of food and empty bottles. John had acquired two empty jerry cans and placed them by the door. “I don't think we can get anything from the pumps but we could try draining those two cars in the carpark”. Ember said while looking towards the carpark. John took another long drink of Sunny D and replied “You never know, there could be keys to them”. He thought back to how he got the keys for the ford, sat outside and shuttered.

The trio let their food settle, before they got back into the car and reversed into the carpark. John stepped out, trying the locks on the two parked cars. He sighed, both were locked and the keys could be miles away. Ember rolled down her window and pointed to the camper van. “You're not gonna check it?”. John shrugged and walked over, he peeked through the windows ensuring it was clear then knocked. After a long moment, he tried the door. It swung open with ease, John stepped inside. The camper was small but would easily fit the three of them.

John walked to the front seats, the driver's cabin connected directly to the back. To his shock, there were keys hanging out. John thought back to his singular driving lesson and attempted to start the vehicle. “Yes” John roared, seeing the fuel gauge nearly full.

“You're not going to believe it,” John said to Ember as he climbed out. Ember only stalled the camper four times, trying to drive back to the garage shop. Once they parked near the doors, they loaded up food, water, a map, sunny D, batteries, torches and anything else that looked useful. Ember managed to find a pair of trainers and spare clothes in the camper van.

Overall John thought their luck was up.

As the sun set, they opted to spend the night in the carpark. They moved the camper into the far corner, hidden behind an abandoned HGV trailer and keeping them out of view. They left the keys to the ford on the seat. It had a little fuel left and would be enough to help the next soul that stumbled onto this oasis.

John took first watch. Ember laid on a sofa, Roxy to both their surprise had opted to climb the ladder and sleep in the bunk above the driver's seat. Her soft snores filledl the silent camper.

“Thank you” Ember said, her quiet voice carrying to John's ears. John looked to Ember, her green eyes dark and staring into him. “I meant to say it earlier, thank you for not letting go”.

John didn't reply, he just nodded and went back to staring out the window. Ember watched him for a while, then closed her eyes. Exhausted, sleep claimed her.

Sorry for the delay, things aren't going well in my personal life but i stayed up late typing this up. Posted this around 1.30am. Let me know what you guys think

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

Day 20 soon

I'll be honest and say i cried a bit while writing this.

I hope you enjoy it.

If you are not up to date on the series ive been doing Johns story 1-28 days. I would suggest reading from Day 1

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

# Embers Story

Day 8

North London

Ember had barely stopped for 3 days now. She essentially lived at St Thomas hosiptal. The infected were in the streets of London, military barricades and soldiers were everywhere. The times she did go home, back to her tiny 1 bedroom flat, she had to walk through three different barricades and checkpoints.

Rifles could be heard in the distance, the army and the police held the line for now. But it felt like every day they got closer. You needed special permission to be on the streets, NHS workers were given special permissions by local area commanders.

Ember kept her head down and her hood up. The glare of the morning sun hurt her eyes, it was 8am and she had been working for 22 hours straight. Only stopping when the head of the intensive care unit ordered her home to sleep. The army ran a limited bus service, transporting essential personnel around London. Ember sat alone at the abandoned bus stop, she'd never heard London so quiet. Other than the sounds of distant battle.

She stood and waved down the lone red bus as it approached. As it pulled into the stop, Ember counted the occupants, civilians in high vis, NHS workers sat nervously while soldiers stood at each of the doors. Whenever the bus stopped, they stepped off first accessing the would-be passengers and ensuring the local area was clear.

“ID please ma'am” Embers tired eyes met the drivers, a man in his late 40s. “Uh, yeah sorry here” She lifted her NHS issue ID tag. The driver quickly examined her ID and handed it back. “Thank you”. The sincerity in his voice surprised Ember, London bus drivers had a reputation of being a bit blunt, ushering people on and off as fast as possible.

Ember sat down across from a man who smelt like smoke. His name tag said Steve, essential volunteer worker but below it there was another. A hand drawn note that simply read \*Maggy\*. The man looked up at Ember, noticing her name tag and nodded his respect.

Day 10

As Ember walked into the hospital, she noted the dozens of vehicles parked outside, taxi cabs, ambulances from hospitals she didn’t recognise, trucks and cars. There was even a funeral Hearse, its coffin removed and replaced with 2 tightly packed patients. Ember entered the lobby, finding soldiers and police assisting patients towards the exit.

She walked to the desk.

“What's happening?”. She asked an overwhelmed receptionist, who seemed to be talking into three phones at once. “I don't know, they turned up this morning. Their ordering all patients to be moved to hospitals outside of London”. Ember paused and looked around, a great tide was leaving the hospital and soon there would be nobody left.

“What about the ones in intensive care? The ones that can't be moved”. Ember looked to the stairs, there were so many who simply could not be moved. “I don't know Ember, I'm sorry I've got to go” the receptionist stood up from her desk, following the crowd now exiting the hospital. Ember turned, walking up to a police officer who seemed to be louder than the others. He ushered the slow moving crowd outwards.

“Who do I speak to about the patients in intensive care, if we are to evacuate them we need specialised ambulances and only certain hospitals outside of London can”. The police officer cut her off. “Walking wounded only”. The words hit Ember like a physical blow to the chest. “There are another dozen people in the intensive care ward who cannot be moved!” Ember's voice cut through the chaotic exit and everyone turned to her.

“You can't just leave them!” She shouted. The officer pulled Ember aside into a hallway and away from the onlooking crowd. Ember's fierce green eyes faced up to the officer. “The frontline against the infected won't hold out for much longer”. He took a breath and continued. “You need to leave, it's not public knowledge yet but you need to leave, do you understand?”. Ember glared at him, “I'm not leaving these people to die, someone has to stay and care for them”. She turned and walked away.

Ember entered the intensive care ward and was greeted by silence and empty halls. There were no staff, no receptionists running errands and processing paperwork. Everyone was gone, either evacuating with the patients of the hospital or leaving of their own accord.

One by one, she checked on the patients and some were awake. Asking where everyone was and what was happening. Ember refused to lie to them, she was honest with them all. The staff had been evacuated, most of the patients went with them and she was the only one left. She didn't know if their families were coming to get them or if there would be a future evacuation of them.

She moved as many as she could closer together. Filling the empty wards and rooms so her rounds were shorter. Finally, around 9pm she went to visit her friend, her mentor. Dr Elizabeth Bales.

Elizabeth was 63 years old and she had stage 4 cancer. She had worked at multiple hospitals including the one she had come to die in. Even now Ember felt like her student, Ember had told her of the situation, how she was the only one left to care for them. Embers voice began to break even before she started to talk.

“There's so many patients, I don't know which medication to prescribe for some of them. I'm scared, I'm doing this all alone and I”. Ember's voice broke. Tears now flowed freely down her cheeks, she was completely overwhelmed and out of her depth. Elizabeth reached up, her gentle frail hand brushing away the streak of tears while Ember sobbed. “Get me a wheelchair girl, I'll not watch you do this alone”.

“What?” Ember croaked out, her voice shaken. “You can't, if you push yourself too much you'll…” Elizabeth gently withdrew her hand and brought up a tissue. “Ember, I'm already dead. Let helping you be my last act”.

And so they worked, Ember pushing Dr Elizabeth Bales around the wards, Dr Bales bedside manner was light years ahead of Ember's. She had a kindness and understanding of death. She related to her patients in a way Ember could not.

On the 11th they continued their work, two patients had passed peacefully in the night. Ember had wheeled them out, covered them in a blanket and placed them into a private room Locking the door. It was the most she could offer them given the circumstances. The power was intermittent at best and she couldn't risk using an elevator.

Dr Bales sat upright on her bed, Ember had adjusted the pillows so she could sit comfortably. She looked to Ember who slept in the seat next to her, her head nestled on the hospital bed. Dr Bales listened to the sound of Gunfire, it was closer, much closer now. “Ember" She gently placed a hand on Ember's shoulder. Groggily, her hair sticking out at odd angles, she slowly came back to consciousness. “Ember, you need to leave”. Alertness dawned in Embers eyes and as she went to reply. “What, I can't leave you, what about the other patients. You can't treat them without me”. Dr Bales spoke, her voice so gentle and pure. “Listen to me, you need to go to the medicine cabinet and get 5 bottles of \*Redacted\*. Give 20 ml to each patient. It will put them to sleep”. Ember stood suddenly

“What, that will, that'll” her words came out confused and broken. “Ember, it's a far sight kinder to what awaits them out there”. Ember took a step back, her hands shaking violently. “I can't, you can't ask me to do that”. Her eyes started to sting. She blinked tears away rapidly. “Ember” Dr Bales took her hand. “Please, do this last kindness”.

So Ember did.

Numbly she went to each room, she asked the ones that were conscious and aware. They all agreed, thanking Ember for her kindness, they cried when she explained there would be no pain, only a long dreamless sleep. An older woman kissed Ember's hands, after she administered the lethal injection.

Broken, in both body and soul. Ember returned to Dr Bales, the sun of the 12th day bathing the woman in golden light. Ember ran to her and collapsed onto her lap. Her tears and cries soaking the sheets. “I know” She whispered “You did them a kindness Ember”.

Ember held the final syringe in her palm. She raised her head looking Dr Bales in the face. “Oh sweet child” Dr Bales hand gently stroked Ember's face. She raised her other hand and it held an empty syringe. “Go now child” Tears ran down Elizabeth's face, she sweetly smiled.

Ember walked from the room and down the hallway. Her heart and soul shattered. She held the final syringe in her hand and half debated using it on herself. A familiar beep broke her trance, then another. A heartbeat monitor, slowly she turned following the noise.

She came across a man hooked up to a vast array of life saving equipment. The last time she passed this room, the electricity had cut out.

She knew about this patient, he was a bicycle courier, he got hit by a car and had been in a coma ever since. She checked his charts, he had been placed under observation just in case he woke up. Ember looked at the life saving equipment, then to the man before her he would not wake, not without help and there was none to be had. “I'm sorry” she said as she moved to switch off life support. Slowly, she removed the breathing apparatus, its dull hum forcing precious air into his lungs.

His chest lay still, the heart monitor showing his slowing heart, she turned to leave when suddenly. He breathed, his chest rising and falling as he battled to stay in this world.

Ember turned, watching him as his breaths became steady and regular. She decided at that moment to allow the man a chance to wake. She set to work, hooking up the largest IV bag she could find and then rigged it to the slowest setting possible. His body was in a coma so it would use minimal resources to sustain itself. Ember finished her work, then moved to the door. As she locked it, she whispered, “Good luck Jim”. Then slipped the key under the door.

Ember exitted the hospital and to her surprise she saw people. Dozens of people, hurriedly moving around. A group of soldiers ran around the corner, narrowly avoiding Ember as she stood in amazement. One of them stopped, noticing her scrubs. “You, are you a doctor?”. Ember shook her head “I'm a… I'm a nurse”.

The soldier nodded “Good, you'll do then, we have evacuation trains filled with the injured”.

“They're evacuating London?” Ember asked, panic reaching into her chest.

“They're evacuating the country,” the soldier replied.

Day 20 will be next.

Thank you

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 18 if you missed it! https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/rmvkbwNSaO

Day 19

For the first time in a week. John slept soundly, when he awoke his senses were instantly assaulted by the stale priory air, that smell never leaves a place he thought.

Roxy and Ember weren't in their bed. The light outside revealed it was likely mid morning or even just before mid day. John stood, feeling every bone in his back click back into place. He gave the sofa a vengeful stare, promised he would turn it into firewood. He found Roxy and Ember in the kitchen. Plates lay neatly piled by the sink and he noted the opened box of ReadyBek sat unattended on the far side.

“Did I miss breakfast?” Roxy instantly climbed down from her perch on the bar stool, running to the kitchen counter as Ember followed. “She's saved you some”. John could not hide his grin as Roxy walked to him, handing him a bowl of the lumpiest porridge he'd ever seen. “Roxy made breakfast for us this morning, I've already eaten mine. I told her to make an extra big bowl for you”. This was it he figured, this would be Ember's way of punishing him for yesterday.

John sat and ate quietly, watching as the pair went back to playing cards. Roxy slammed her hands on the table, as Ember laughed. “Snap again Roxy, you're good at this game”. John sneakily stood, reaching for the bottle of water and adding extra to his bowl. Softening the concrete readybek into something edible.

John finished his breakfast, placing his bowl by the sink. “Any idea on the time?”. Ember just looked at him and replied “Why, you late for something?”.

“Just curious as all, not sure how long I've been asleep” John twisted his back, trying to stretch out. He could feel the awkward knot of muscle, the sofa had done a number on him. “I'm gonna take a look around, see if there's anything useful in the house”. Ember looked up and before she could speak. Roxy's hand slammed onto the pile. “You little cheat,” Ember laughed.

“This place is a museum”, John opened yet another chest. Finding yet more bibles, yet more robes and cushions. There were no weapons, no batteries or tools. The upstairs bedrooms and single bathroom were the same. Old wooden beds, with mattresses thinner than a sofa cushion. “I get that priests are minimalistic but this is ridiculous”. John examined more useless items, more dark wood wardrobes filled with robes and moth eaten coats. John decided to check the old bathroom again

“Whoever designed the green avocado toilets needs to be shot” John mused as he opened the cabinets. Out of habit, John turned the tap and to his shock, found there to be water pressure. He locked up, gotta be a tank in the attic. Well, he thought. I found a new area to explore.

John found the ceiling hatch in the 2nd bedroom from the left, he used a walking stick to poke the hatch out of the way. “God I hope there's no spiders”. He said quietly as he climbed into the attic, it felt like climbing into a sauna full of dust and old furniture. Whoever lived here certainly had an affection for dark wood furnishings. For the next hour John went through every box, cabinet, nook and cranny. Nothing by items for the pyre he thought. John gently moved the lids, checking the four water tank reservoirs in the attic. Full, they were all full.

When John finally walked downstairs, his only finds of note being a walking stick and a few candles. He noticed an eerie silence, as he entered the kitchen. He was suddenly pulled down by Ember, she placed her finger to her mouth and pointed to the window. “There's someone outside, couldn't see if they were infected or not” Ember whispered.

John peaked over the counter, looking at the man standing in the garden. He wore all black, a long robe and a white collar around his neck. “Christ, I think he's a priest” John said as he slipped behind the counter again. “What do we do?” Ember asked, Roxy had tucked in beside them both. Silently listening.

“Has he knocked or tried to talk to you?” Ember looked at John “No Roxy pointed him out while we were playing cards, we ducked behind the counter. I'm not sure if he saw us”. John peaked over, the man had moved to their car and had taken out a note of paper. Smiling, he wrote for a long tense moment then placed the note on the windscreen.

Tony Blair

“Come in” Tony had come to see the Queen at Rideau Hall, Ottawa Canada. The Canadian government had agreed its use for the royal family while they were in residence. “You're majesty” Tony bowed.

“Prime Minister” Given the situation and the state of grief that every British citizen was in. The Queen's words were clear, they spoke with the power of hundreds of years of legacy.

Tony had been dreading this meeting ever since they tricked her to evacuate. She had protested to no end over the Atlantic and had threatened to dissolve parliament if she was not returned to London. Her father had stayed on even during the blitz, when London burned around them. She would have stayed until the end.

“My sources tell me you ordered the evacuation against the advice of the Americans, the French and the UN”. Tony kept his eyes to the floor.

“3.4 million of 59.4 Million. Not even ten percent of the country was evacuated before they bombed the evacuation effort”. Tony looked up at that, this wasn't common knowledge, the official story was the infection had got onto the evacuation ships and Nato forces had bravely sacrificed themselves to stop the spread.

“I have come today to tender my resignation, I can no longer lead a government in…”. The queen cut him off, her usually calm voice raised and full of grief. “You will do no such thing, Prime Minister. Our people are scattered and need stability”.

“I failed” that was all the prime minister could bring himself to say. “I failed to act quickly enough if I just” the queen raised her hand silencing him. “Duty, you have a duty to those that remain. Do not fail them and do not fail me”. The queen reached for a bell that wasn't there, she went to call for a servant who was left behind. Instead she stood and said. “Same time next week minister”

John

The stranger had disappeared as quickly as he appeared. John and Ember had looked out every window of the large home and could see nothing. The only proof of the man's existence was the note on the car. “We should ignore it” Ember said meeting John's eyes, he knew what she was about to say and who would be going out to get said note.

“For all we know John, this could be his home and that note is telling us to leave or else”. Roxy sat silently in the corner, wary eyes attempting to follow the conversation. “I'll be quick, pick the note up and run back inside. For all we know, he could be trying to help us or hell just wants shelter”. Roxy shook her head, she had seen that man last night. He walked outside with the monster, without fear and something screamed at her. That man was dangerous.

John stood at the kitchen door, wearing his armour, snorkel and goggles. Their plan was simple: step out, get the note and get back in. John felt like an astronaut at an airlock, he was about to enter the deadly void beyond. John carefully opened the door, peaking out the sun hurt his eyes and the warmth outside compared to the old home was incredible. “Close it behind me” John said through the snorkel. He carefully walked towards the car, his head on a swivel. John expected an infected to come barreling out of the bushes at him, his nerve felt like it would break.

He plucked the note off the windscreen, then jogged back to the doorway, Ember opened the door wide as he approached. The door closed as quickly as it opened.

John was out of breath from jogging only ten metres, it felt like one hundred. “Did you get it?” Ember asked, she resisted the urge to snatch it out of his fisted hand. “Yeah”. John opened the note and began to read.

*You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God.*

“What the heck does that mean?” John said while removing his goggles, the snorkel lay discarded on the counter. “I think it's from the Bible. Answers our question about if he's a priest or not”. Ember set the note down and looked at John, “We should leave, now. I don't think we should stay here tonight or any longer today”.

John couldn't help but agree, this place, that man just everything felt wrong. But… They had shelter here, food, water and relative security. If they head back out now, it will be a rat race to find another house or form of shelter before nightfall. They barely escaped last time, it was sheer luck they found this place.

John and Ember were both uncertain they discussed where they could drive to next but in truth neither of them knew where exactly they were. For all they know, they could be doing a huge circle all the way back to the blood soaked streets of Guildford. Not only that, the fuel tank had dropped below a third. How far would they get before they ran out?

There were too many risks, too many uncertainties and the clearest option for now, was to stay put.

Roxy stood with her back to the wall, watching them talk. She couldn't help but think about her parents, they had had arguments like this late into the night.

Do I stay or do I go now?

United States 6th fleet - Bay of Biscay.

“We've intercepted dozens of small craft attempting to cross the channel. We have a strict media blackout order and journalists who refuse to play ball will be detained”. Five men sit in a meeting room aboard the USS La Salle.

“The shoot on sight order hasn't been rescinded, continue operations under the assumption this order will stand”. The 6th fleet had been reinforced, other theaters having their positions reduced to further tighten the noose on the British Mainland.

“What of the remnants of the British fleet? Not all of it was destroyed, some were outside the quarantine zone”.

“Their government has ordered all remaining forces to Canada”.

“Their likely going to folded into the Canadian armed forces or disbanded”

“Any word on the remaining trident submarines?”

“HMS Vanguard had been docked in Scotland for repairs, sadly radio communication has been cut off but she's suspected lost with all hands” The man shuffles the papers in front of him. “The Victorious and Vigilant are being escorted to our naval facilities on the east coast”

“And HMS Vengeance?”. The man pauses, flicking through his heavy stack of papers. “Shes heading to the Falklands, something about dissuading Argentinian ideas of demanding the islands”.

John

They decided to stay another night, one more night but they packed ready to leave at a moment's notice. “Once we are back on the road, we will need to go to a petrol station” Ember helped John place furniture in front of doors and low lying windows. “Will we be able to get fuel there? I mean the powers off”. John asked.

“No, I mean well maybe we can. They should have empty petrol cans there and we can drain car tanks on the go”. John raised an eyebrow at that. “I saw it in a movie once” Ember quickly replied.

John felt a tug on his leg and looked down to Roxy, her face pale and full of fear. She pointed at the door, after a heartbeat. Three slow and deliberate knocks, One for the Father, one for the Son, one for the Holy Ghost.

John grabbed his bat, as Ember moved Roxy behind her. The trio stared silently at the door, frozen in place when a further three knocks came. Louder, more forceful and they held their breaths.

“Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee." The voice called out, it sounded kind and sweet in the most awful of ways.

John and Ember looked at each other in confusion. Before they could even think of a reply the strange voice continued.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” The man's voice felt like venom to their ears, Ember held Roxy closer.

"Do not rob God of what is rightfully His. The law is written in blood and stone: You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Hand him over, or face His wrath.” The voice was closer, like he was leaning through the door, speaking directly to their deepest nightmares.

John had realised it before Ember, the figure outside was insane, likely he lived in this very home and the neighbouring church with blocked doors was his. “Give me the firstborn” John repeated, looking at Ember then to Roxy.

John walked to the door and willed strength into his voice. “I'm sorry if we broke into your home, we will be gone by morning. We meant no harm”.

A moment passed, the shadow of the man in the window appeared closer. “Give me the girl. God is hungry.” Roxy gripped Ember's leg hard, Ember's face was of dumbfounded shock. This man had lost his mind or he had always been a nut job. She thought.

“Fuck off” Johns blood was up, his heart beating steady, his every instinct telling him. This man is a threat, this man is dangerous.

The man pressed his face against the frosted glass window. "The tongue is a fire, full of deadly poison. Let us cleanse it first.” The man continued after a moment. his voice turned sinister. "If you will not walk to the altar, you will be dragged to the slaughter.”

With that, the stranger departed, leaving into the surrounding woods.

“I say we leave now, fuck it” Ember said as she watched the dark figure fade into the shadows of the setting sun. “We can't risk travelling at night” Ember knew John was right, their headlights in the dark would ring the dinner bell for any infected for miles.

“I'll take the first watch, you and Roxy get some sleep”. Ember laughed, “like I'll be able to sleep with that creep lurking in the shadows”. “All the same, I'll take the first watch”. They decided to try sleeping in the kitchen, it was closest to the exit and therefore the car.

John leant against the wall, closest to the door. Ember had dragged a small mattress into the kitchen for her and Roxy.

Neither of them spoke as the darkness slowly swallowed the room, John kept looking out the window, his eyes moving from the phantoms he saw dancing round the trees, to the barred doors of the church. “Do you hear that?” Ember asked careful not to wake Roxy.

“Hear what?” John focused his senses, hearing what he thought was a dull buzz.

11.55pm

A deafening boom shattered through the night air. Again and again the church bells rang, loud and echoing through the valleys beyond.

The stranger had filled the bowels of the small church with infected. He had used his generator and the church bells to lure in the locals. Nearly two dozen were trapped inside, the priest would've let them roam the lands if it wasn't for yesterday being a Sunday.

He had watched the three of them arrive last night and saw it as a sign of faith. More and more would join his flock.

“We've got to go now!” Ember roared then as if in answer suddenly the lights came on and the music kicked in. Ride of The Valkyries, they both stood dumb struck in the now fully illuminated kitchen. The doors of the church brust open, the fathers flock now free. In mere moments they were hammering the windows and doors.

“What do we do!” Ember shouted over the blasting music. “Attic, theres an attic! Come on!” Ember picked up a shell shocked Roxy whos eyes were wide at the monsters trying to get inside. The trio ran up the stairs and into one of the bedrooms John had explored earlier. John moved a chair to the centre of the room, stood on it and held his hands out for Roxy.

He launched Roxy skyward, she yelped as she cleared the hatch and fell into the attic beyond. John then turned to Ember “You're next come on!” He held out his hands.

“The holdall, it has the car keys, i left it downstairs!” John shook his head and replied “Forget it, come on climb up”. Ember's reply came as she ran out the room “Get up there and look after Roxy I'll get the keys”.

“Dammit Ember!” John cursed her as she ran out of the room. He debated chasing her but looked to Roxy. Her face peaking over the trapdoor entrance. “Its okay” he replied as calmy as he could. John climbed into the attic, Roxy lent over snd pulled on his shirt. Trying as she would, to pull John into the attic. They both turned, watching the doorway where Ember ran out of.

11.57pm

Ember

What the hell I am doing, she thought as she ran down the stairs. Glass sprayed across the kitchen as more bloody hands came through windows, the music had stopped thank god but the infected were nearly through. Embers speed meant she slid across the tiled kitchen floor, she caught herself and picked up the holdall slinging it over her shoulder.

As she began running back towards the stairs, the front door gave way. Revealing the largest man she'd ever seen. His red eyes locked onto her, his entire body seemed to be covered in blood. Like he had bathed in it.

Ember took the stairs two steps at a time as she climbed, she didn’t hear she felt the moment the large infected male hit the bottom step. His booming footsteps mere moments behind her. Her heart hammered, as she reached the top landing. She could see John, he hung out of the loft hatch. “Come on!” He roared.

Ember slammed the door to the bedroom, then threw the bag to John in a smooth motion. He quickly discarded it behind himself then held out a arm. Ember heard the door crack as she took a step up onto the chair and reached for John. He pulled with all his might, her upper body had now passed the hatch just as the door suddenly burst open. Embers green eyes met Johns, he held her tight, attempting to pull her up those final few feet.

John looked on helplessly as the infected man rammed his way into the room, Embers legs kicked at air helplessly as John pulled her up. He gritted his teeth, praying to anyone that would listen for just a little more strength. Embers arms had wrapped around Johns, he felt the panic coursing though her veins. “Come onnnn” John said as he gritted his teeth.

Ember gasped and her green eyes went wide with fear as she felt a hand wrap around her ankle.

12am.

Thank you to those that messaged me privately, I'm so grateful for the kind words of support.

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

I hope you guys enjoy this one. And also, check the comments

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 18

Dark forces moved across the kingdom, covered by the shadow of the night.

Two black hawk helicopters flew low and fast over the land below. They would not stop to aid those poor souls who lit signal fires, fired flares or just shouted to the sky. They were here for one purpose. To make safe the UK's array of Nuclear reactors. Almost all modern reactors had built in safety features, to prevent meltdowns and potential escape of deadly radioactive material.

All reactors in the UK had initiated a safe shut down, all except one.

Containment was their mission, containment and to buy time until the infection burned itself out or until a cure was found.

Dungeness B is a twin-reactor Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) nuclear power station on the Kent coast. The control rods which would stop the nuclear reaction in its tracks had not been deployed. The automatic systems, remote access and back ups had failed. A team had to be deployed on the ground, the plan was simple. Get in, diagnose why the control rods had not deployed, make necessary repairs and extract.

Were it so easy… The Black hawks circled above, overlooking the darkened building and reactor complex. Soldiers tensed and prepared as the helicopters descended. "We can't risk landing, you'll have to rope down," the pilots relayed through the radio. “Copy that Razor's Edge’’.

One by one the Deltas deployed, finally being followed by the scientists and engineers. They had to move fast, in their briefing it was mentioned that the sound of the helicopters would likely attract the attention of local infected. Standing orders were to shoot on site, whether they be infected or not.

Two by two they came, moving through doors and darkened hallways. The auxiliary power could be brought online using the back up generators, this would bring parts of the facility back online. ‘Take the next left’ the scientist whispered. As one with fluid grace, the team moved.

‘Its Locked’ the front man called, they had reached the generator control room. ‘It's not locked, it's been blocked on the other side, kick it in’. The team leader demanded.

‘Hello? Is someone out there?’ The team paused in their tracks, listening to the voice beyond the door. ‘I can hear you talking, who's out there? Are you part of the rescue team?”

‘There's a survivor in there’ the scientist remarked. The team leader of the squad stepped forward and spoke in a clear monotone voice.

‘Yes, we are part of the rescue team. Open the door’

Silence fell across the would be invaders as they listened to the barricade be taken apart, one item at a time.

The door clicked and a man wearing a Hi Vis jumpsuit stepped out. ‘I'm glad to see you, I thought I…’

A silenced round pieced the man's skull before he could finish. ‘Christ, he wasn't infected’ the engineer called out. His disgust hanging in the air.

The team leader dismissed his distaste and ordered him to ‘Get the power online’. The man then looked to his men, ‘Team two with me, everyone else stay here’ he pulled the scientist with him as they continued further into the facility. The team leader held up his hand and as one their group split in half, half staying with the engineer and the rest moving to the control room.

The hallways and stairs were endless, littered with paper and discarded items. The power station was fully manned when the infection made it beyond the fence line. British engineers had made a valiant attempt at keeping the power running even as the infection surged through the halls.

‘End of the hall, on the right hand side that's the control room’ The scientist called from the middle of the pack, a wall of silenced SMG's surrounded him. However, it did nothing to calm his nerves or silence his instincts to flee this accursed land.

As they reached the vast array of control consoles, display screens and strange display symbols the soldiers did not understand, the lights came on. Slowly the dull buzzing of electricity, monitors and computers filled the air. ‘I need a minute to take some readings and find out why the rods haven't deployed’.

‘Get on with it’ The team leader turned and walked to the window. ‘Team one this is reaper 6 actual, move to our position over’

*Contact, contact!* The radios blared out. "We have contacts, say again infected inside the building!’. Distant gunfire echoed down the halls, fear gripped the men.

‘Team one report’ The now nervous man held his radio close, listening for a reply but none would come. He turned to the scientist and murmured ‘Move this along, we will have company here soon and I'd prefer not to be here when they arrive’.

Minutes passed, the anticipation of battle in the air would have broken other men but these were battle hardened warriors. Their nerves hammered steel.

‘Got it, rods are moving’ the scientist moved to another screen, showing the rods slowly descending.

‘Thats our que gentlemen, head to the evac point’ The captain held a finger to his ear and called out a final time. ‘Team one, objective complete. Head to evac point Alpha’.

The men made a hasty retreat, back through the building, heading out towards the pick up point. Parts of the facility glowed in artificial light as the diesel generators burnt the last of their reserves.

“Razor's edge, Razor's edge. This is reaper 6 actual, return for extraction. Mission complete, I say again mission complete”.

No reply would come on the radio and there would be no return of the helicopters. The military quarantine of the Kingdom was complete. No one out.

John

John walked around the ground floor aimlessly during the night, while Ember and Roxy slept in the sittingroom. John wondered what was happening to the rest of the world, wondered if the Americans could stop the outbreak in their own country and if help would ever come to this country. Surely the world would rally together and find a cure. John knelt before the front door and looked out to the twilight dawn overshadowing the driveway. We just have to survive until help arrives.

Moments later, John returned to the sittingroom, deciding to spend the rest of his watch in the comfy chair in the corner. When he noticed a small figure by the display cabinet. John grew fearful for a moment but with great relief, realised it was Roxy. She was holding one of the family photos Ember had held earlier and she examined it closely.

Roxy turned, looking John in the eyes. They weren't the traumatised eyes of someone who had seen too much. They were the eyes of a child, scared and alone. Wanting their parents and the safety that entailed. She sniffed, placed the photo exactly where she found it. Straightening it so the display was unaltered, it would stand as a memorial to those above.

*Knock Knock*

Roxy moved faster than John thought possible, as she moved back to where Ember now stood. John looked to the front door with horror, someone… something had knocked. It wasn't his imagination, they all heard it.

Ember pulled out a kitchen knife, ushering Roxy to stand behind her and John slowly raised his bat. The silence was broken by the sound of a further three knocks. Not infected he thought, the infected don't knock in patterns. They'd be trying to rip their way through the doors and windows. If they were out there.

John looked at Ember, her face slowly appearing thanks to the dawn light leaking through the top of the curtains. She shook her head as he pointed his bat at the door. John understood what she meant, they don't know who is out there or what they want. It's likely they will draw the attention of the infected or John swallowed. They could be here for more sinister reasons, he thought of the car, the life line it has extended to them and grimaced. A working car was worth its weight in gold.

The letter box opened, John jumped to the side hiding from view as Roxy and Ember ducked behind the sofa.

“Don't make us kick the door in” A harsh voice called. ‘This will all go easier, if you just let us in’. John moved to the window, risking it all to take a peak outside. Four men stood in the driveway, two by their car and the other two near the doorway. The four men wore matching grey sweatpants, blue T shirts and grey jumpers.

Ember moved next to John and nudged him to move aside. She looked out for a moment then quickly moved back to the holdall set aside with their meager belongings. “What is it?” John asked, as Ember increased her frantic search. “They're prisoners, I've seen that clothing before” Ember pulled out the handgun, the memory of the young soldier flashed momentarily in her mind before she turned to John and handed him the handgun.

*I don't keep it loaded, son. You'll have to find ammo as you go.*

“You have to talk to them, tell them to leave or else you'll shoot them” Embers' quiet voice came out frantic and rushed. “What?” John wondered what the hell he would say, he'd never been a threatening guy, hell he'd never even had a fight in his life. John hesitated looking to the front door then to Ember's now steeled eyes. “John, you cannot let them in here” Ember looked for just a moment to Roxy. He understood.

“I'm going to count to three” The man outside boomed, his voice far too loud for the world they lived in. “I'm here” was all John could think to say. He coughed and again repeated “I'm here, what do you want?”

“Finally, some fucking common courtesy. It's rude to ignore guests at your front door and ruder still to not invite us in”. A moment passed before the man continued.

“Are you going to leave us out here in the cold or are you going to OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!”. John took a step back, his hand shaking. He glanced to his side, seeing Ember and Roxy backing up against the wall.

“What do you want?” John replied, adding a deeper tone to his voice and fighting with all his might to stop it from cracking from fear. “Ah, an intellectual like myself I see, well Boy” The man beyond the door exaggerated the word boy, adding a sting to it John didn't appreciate. “I want you to open this door, invite us inside and we can work out the rest”.

“I'm not opening this door, there are other houses up the road” John examined the pistol, racking his mind for every action film he'd ever seen. Trying to find the right words to say, words to drive them away. “I have a gun”. Out of every catch phrase and threat that crossed his mind out of the depths of those 80's action films. That was the best he could come up with.

“Oh do you, Boy?” John heard the man step closer to the door. “Well, thats awfully fucking convenient isnt it?”. A moment passed before a boot hit the door.

Negotiations have broken down.

John watched in horror as the door shuddered on its hinges, the wood seeming to bend with every kick. He looked to Ember, who now stood with their holdall on her shoulder. Roxy holding tight to her leg. Ember whispered “we go out the back and run”. John knew if they ran now, the men outside or worse would catch them. They needed to get to the car, it was the only viable escape route. The noise would draw the infected, that was certain.

John took a breath before doing something Ember would certainly kick his arse for later. He opened the door.

The door swung wide and before the men outside could react. John fired the pistol, a single round barreled out, missing the four men and hitting the workshop across the driveway. Time seemed to stand still as they all stood staring at each other.

‘Get fucking back” John growled. The men retreated, as John pointed the weapon at each of them in turn. “Away from the car” one of the men stood nearer to the car than the others and smiled. ‘I said fucking move!’. His smile faded as he walked backwards with the others. Their arms raised to their chests. Ember moved quickly past John, carrying Roxy to the car. The men whistled as Ember moved past, she refused to look their way, refused to have anything distract her away from the only thing that mattered. Escape.

John slowly walked around the back of the car, Ember already inside leaned over and opened his passenger side door. The engine spluttered to life. “Don't follow us,” John announced. His eyes meet them each in turn.

“We'll find you again Boy, worlds a small place now and…” the man stopped mid sentence and as one the men turned and ran towards the house. John's eyes followed them for a moment until Ember's voice broke his trance she shouted “John get in!”.

The infected had come, two men and a woman, their clothes torn and bloody. They sprinted through the now open gate, murderous intent on their faces. The two male infected followed the four would-be raiders towards the house, the last man of their group being closed outside the front door. His pleas of ‘Let me in’ soon be cut short. The woman had eyes only for John. He quickly ducked inside the car as she reached towards him. Her full sprint took the windmirror off as she crashed into the now moving vehicle. Pulling out the gates, John counted dozens, fucking dozens of infected. All sprinting towards them and to the house behind.

They had all been drawn by the gunshot, an unintentional invitation to all nearby infected. The engine groaned as Ember aggressively pressed it for more power, more speed to escape. From over the hills and far away they came. More and more blood soaked bodies, their red eyes searching. “Fuck me”, John shouted as a old man collided with the passenger side window, heedless and uncaring of the damage caused to himself. A disgusting red trail of blood left in the man's wake.

“Hold on!” Ember shouted as they drove. John noted the sign *Welcome to Hannington, please drive carefully*. Shit John thought, the entire village heard the gunfire and had come straight for them. If the local parish council witnessed Embers *Careful* driving through their village. They would have called for an immediate meeting, the Guildford three roared through the narrow lanes as they made their escape.

Deep in the hills near Rhayader - North Wales

Their farm was miles away from anyone, it was said Cadiff could be nuked and they wouldn't have heard about it for years. But they all had heard of the infection. The farm originally had a staff of twelve, now reduced to two. Eira and her Grandfather. Since the outbreak, her list of daily chores only got longer and longer. As more of the farm workers left to be with their families.

Eira started her daily chores by making her grandfather breakfast, the electricity shutting off had little effect on them other than the loss of creature comforts. They owned a wood stove, wood furnace for hot water which was drawn up from a well. They were as self-sufficient as one could be.

After breakfast, she tended to the yard animals, the goats knocking into her with mischievous intent as she walked towards the chicken coup.

Eira missed the farm hands, her friends. She considered them all family, it would be harvest season soon but she figured most of it would be left in the fields. She would pick what she could, storing it away like her grandfather had taught her.

‘During the war’ he would say, as he taught her how to store food long term. She would live off the land, they both would.

Eira sat among the goats after completing some of her growing list and watched the low flying jet glide across the hills. She waved as it went directly over her and into the lands beyond.

Tangley church

John

John and Ember drove for hours, winding country roads and green fields their only company. They found the infected lingered near towns and villages. Generally staying in the area they were originally infected in, as if a faint memory of who they used to be remained. This was the case, unless they found an unfortunate soul to infect.

“We need to stop” John hated the words as they left his mouth but they couldn't risk driving at night. The headlights would become beacons to the infected, drawing them like moths to a flame.

John spotted the spire of a small church and signalled Ember to pull over. “You can't be serious” Ember eyed the church and gave John a sideways glare. Roxy peered over the backseat to see why they stopped and even she gave John a look that spelled *Really?*.

“Or we could try that house, next to the church” Ember pointed out. “It's certainly less creepy,” John mused. “I guess it's my turn to knock again huh”.

“I drive, you knock” Ember touched his arm before he stepped out “Be careful”. John looked back to find even Roxy's eyes filled with concern. John's throat felt tight as he took the pair of them in. The past few days of traumatic events had forged a bond between the three of them.

“Keep the engine running” John stepped out, donned the snorkel and lowered his goggles. In an act of Déjà vu, he approached the front door, this time opting to look through the letterbox first while knocking. The home was clear, the door unlocked. He stepped inside and called out “Anyone here?” After a few seconds of silence, he decided the home was clear. John put his thumb up to Ember, signalling it was clear and that he was going inside.

A priest obviously lived here he thought, it smelt like a priory and had that old church feel to it. The furniture was bare basic and dated, very dated. The house was huge, at least 6 bedrooms and a large downstairs living area.

Once John was certain the house was clear, he walked back outside and back to the car. “Its clear, the place is huge. I think I can take down part of that fence and you can reverse the car right up to the house. At least it'll hide the car from view. Over the next 30 minutes, Ember and John worked to dismantle a section of fence. After which they reversed the car into the front garden. They loosely placed the fence back, ensuring it could be easily moved in case they needed to leave.

As the sun set, they decided to set up camp in the downstairs bedroom. Ember and Roxy took the small double bed in the corner and John the old sofa. The old building had wooden shutters on the inside, probably left in place as decoration of a bygone era. They closed them all, wrapping the home in eerie darkness. Neither of them spoke about who would go first on watch. The three of them had barely slept for days and this ancient sanctuary felt safe enough.

Jennifer

Jennifer slipped out of the bed, careful not to wake Ember as she crawled to the edge. John's snoring regularly woke her, it was unfamiliar and alien to her ears. She tip-toed to the door and quietly slipped out into the dark house beyond. This wasn't the first time she had explored at night, John had caught her this morning before the monsters came.

Jennifer did not fear the dark, not anymore she only feared the monsters. The ones with red eyes, they had taken her mother and father.

Jennifer followed a faint glow of moonlight, its beam leaking through one of the wooden shutters. She climbed onto a chair and looked out the window through the hole. The garden beyond was dark, dimly lit by the moon. Then Jennifer saw them. A dark figure moved through the bushes, they wore all black. Jennifer thought it was a monster but then it stopped. It stood by their car for a few short moments, examining every detail.

The figure then turned and walked unconcerned into the naked night.

Jennifer crept back into bed with Ember. The woman wasn't her mother and did not pretend to be. She had saved Jennifer that day on the London underground. Ember had taken her with her when she had every right to abandon Jennifer.

She looked to John, he had sheltered them, protected them and also had every right to abandon them both. He wasn't her father, her father was brave and strong. John was… well he was John.

Jennifer held her Teddy Roxy close, it still faintly smelt like her mother.

https://buymeacoffee.com/maizematt

I just wanted to say thank you for your kind words on my last post. Its bringing light to a very dark time in my life. I hope you enjoy this one.

Thank you

Edit, I just looked at my Buy me a coffee page after a spam of emails. Thank you, its much appreciated. I'll hold my hands up and say i cried when I saw the comments. Thank you it means so much

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/CuBIzfLEPW

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 17

He had slept in, John woke up on his hallway floor alone, his front door was wide open and a breeze flowed through. Ember had left, John searched his flat and found she had taken the keys, Roxy and all of John's supplies. He ran his fingers through his hair, panicking and hyperventilating.

‘Fuck, fuck, fuck’ he was descending into a meltdown he would not recover from. John kicked an empty tin can out of frustration and froze. The can impacted the wall with a mighty crack. The sound was like a beacon, here I am, come get me.

The doors downstairs exploded open, John's instinct screamed at him and he ran to his front door, trying desperately to close it. But it wouldn't budge. John screamed as he pulled and pulled, the door seemed anchored open.

Slow footsteps approached up the stairs, revealing a blood drenched figure his head coated in red. His crimson eyes locked onto John as he marched up the stairs. He couldn't move, he was paralysed, glued to the spot by a mysterious force as the man he killed slowly moved towards him. His mouth open, blood flowed out in awful chunks as he seemed to be trying to form a word.

John's eyes opened, he was laid on the floor of his hallway, a blanket had been thrown over him and a pillow placed under his head. The front door was closed and sealed. The flat was in relative darkness from the curtains being pulled tight. He had to stand up, he had to confirm this was real and not another dream.

As he stood, he touched items at random and placed his hand on the wall to steady his shaking legs. Grounding, he was trying to ground himself. This is real he thought, this is real.

‘Morning’ a quiet voice called from the corner. Ember sat with her back to the wall, Roxy's head nestled on a pillow on her lap. ‘Morning’ he repeated. ‘Shit, sorry i think i slept through my watch’

‘Its okay, I fell asleep too. Think I've been awake for over an hour or so’ Roxy stirred in her lap, the muffled noise pulling her from her sleep.

‘You ready for this?’ Ember asked, meeting his eyes with her own. Green John noted, her eyes were green. ‘Yeah, I'll just pack a few bits and we can head out’. Ember nodded

He walked into his bedroom, suddenly feeling like this would be the last time he was ever here. What would he take, what would leave, he thought. They needed room to carry as much food and water as possible. They didn't have time to load up the car with his belongi

ngs. The infected wouldn't stand aside and wait for him to finish packing.

He grabbed his old holdall bag and started to pack. Clothing, their remaining food and water. The radio, tooth brush, tooth paste and bars of soap. ‘This isn't a holiday you idiot, he whispered to himself’. Next he walked into the kitchen, taking knives, forks and spoons. No point taking plates or bowls.

Tea towels, lighters, spare candles and a deck of cards. John picked up his frying pan, he could make it fit in the bag but would they need it he mused. ‘Take the frying pan and a saucepan for boiling water, plus any rags we can boil them… oh you put tea towels in’ Ember had crept into the kitchen, she assessed the contents of the holdall and removed some of the clothes.

“We can't overpack, take the bare essentials only, do you have any spare batteries or torches?’ John nodded, opening his junk draw. Ember walked up beside him and quietly whistled. There were junk draws found in most kitchens but Johns was a rare find. ‘Jesus’ Ember said as she moved the assortment of items around. ‘How the hell do you even close this draw?’.

‘With great effort’ John replied. Much to John's annoyance, he pulled out spare batteries, 2 small penknives and a wind up torch. Immediately placing them on the counter, wondering how he had forgotten to check this draw. Ember moved in next, pulling out a pair of scissors and a sewing kit. ‘Perfect’ she placed the sewing kit into the holdall and walked out of the kitchen with the scissors.

John knew what was coming as soon as he saw his bedroom door close. Moments later, Ember and Roxy emerged wearing some of John's clothes. Now butchered and cut down to size. Both Ember and Roxy stood in a patchwork of his clothes. He noted with horror, that Ember was wearing his favourite Hugo boss shirt. Its sleeves and hem were cut short to fit.

Ember held a fist full of rags, the cut up remains of his favourite shirt. She placed them into a medium sized saucepan and into the holdall. ‘I think that'll do it’ she said. John hoped to god Ember wouldn't cut up anything else he owned. He found himself looking longingly towards his xbox and game collection. There would be no point taking it and it would just be empty weight.

‘So what now?’ He couldn't hide the nervousness from his voice, it was one thing prepping to leave but it was entirely another thing to actually leave. ‘Should we check Arthur's place before we go?’ No Ember replied, ‘there's enough weight in that bag and we need to move fast’.

Cambridge

The streets of Cambridge were quiet, discarded riot shields and batons lay abandoned where they fell. Bodies lined the streets, the infection here had finally started to burn itself out. Few survivors remained, fewer still would live out the coming weeks.

London

The streets of London had been overrun by the infected during the evacuation effort, the street belonged to them now. Any survivors left had wisely sought higher ground, barricading tower blocks with trolleys, furniture and anything they could get hold of. Many fled onto roof tops, watching from above as the infected stalked below.

Hunger and dehydration would soon force survivors to descend from their sanctuaries in search for water. You can go weeks without food and many would. But water, water would force many out of hiding now.

It had not rained in weeks, exacerbating an already dire situation.

Gina lay on her front, carefully looking over the edge of the rooftop, Somerfield stood like an oasis in the heat of the desert sun. Two days, two days she had gone without water. She wanted to cry at the pain in her throat, the harshness of every breath. It was now or never, she knew that by tomorrow morning she would be too weak.

Liverpool

Liverpool Harbour had been heavily bombed during operation Sunset. The smoke still hung heavy in the air two days later, thousands had been incinerated in the firestorm. Both infected and uninfected.

Scotland

The population of Scotland had been thrown to the wolves, some fled to their homes in the Highlands. Hiding away in the endless Glen's. All organised military resistance to the infection had faded away, positions lay abandoned and checkpoints unchecked.

John

John wished he had paid attention to which neighbour owned what car, Ember and John had no idea which car the key would fit. ‘What if it's a spare key for the one they took?’’ John whispered to Ember as they scanned the street.

Ember just looked at John, her eyes portraying the same fears as John. He grimly smiled and looked back to the street outside.

‘It's been clear all morning, I guess this is as good a time as any’ Ember stepped back, Ushering Roxy to put her shoes on. John felt like he had swallowed a lump of iron, it was one thing planning to leave but it was entirely another to finally act on these plans. Part of him still expected the power to switch back on and for a BBC presenter to give the all clear.

But no signal would ever come.

John dressed in his armour, grimacing at the red stains and grime. It covered his knees, sleeves and boots. Ember and Roxy both stared at him in bewilderment, waiting for him to finish *Suiting up*. ‘What?’ He gritted through the snorkel. He could have sworn Roxy smiled, Ember just shook her head.

John unlocked his front door, leant forward and peaked his head out checking right and left. John took a deep breath then finally stepped into the hallway. Ember and Roxy followed close behind, they felt closer than his own shadow.

They stood on the top of the stairs, the door below blocking most of the light casting in from outside. ‘There's one in the bottom floor flat, well at least I think there is’ Ember poked John hard in the back. She didn't need to voice her reply, he knew she would have shouted ‘Now you tell me!’.

Slowly they crept, the three of them taking silent breaths as they inched their way down the stairs. John kept his bat raised, his eyes watching his neighbours door. Scenarios ran through his head continuously, what if the door burst open and an infected came charging out. Where would they go, could they get back into his flat in time? Could he have killed someone else, he had reacted on pure instinct the last time.

None of them spoke as they reached the door leading to the street, for fear of disturbing the dark presence behind door number 4. Ember bent down and picked up Roxy. Nodding to John as he placed his hand on the handle. The door opened with no fan fare, no squeak or sound. John felt there had to be someone looking after him as they stepped out into the street beyond.

Ember poked him, pointing at the first car on the street. The one closest to them, a silver Honda civic. The three of them moved quickly and quietly to the car. John found himself looking in every direction, every alley, door and window. His mind played cruel tricks of faint movement. Ember walked to the driver's side, trying the handle while holding Roxy.

Locked

Ember tried to insert the key into the door lock but to the dread of them this wasn't the car. Next one he nodded, Ember was already moving her pace increasing. They had two options remaining. A Red ford fiesta flight and an awful looking Skoda. They reached the Ford first, Roxy had buried her head into Ember's shoulder, her breaths quiet and steady. John wished he could hide as well, his heat was beating a million miles an hour.

Ember tried the door, the key slipped in and John's heart sang. Then dropped into a black abyss as he saw movement. A man, looking to be in his 40's ran for them. Waving his arms.

‘Don't leave me!’ The man shouted, John felt the words piece the air and their quiet escape shattered. In response he heard crashing and banging. Seemingly from every home, every window and door. ‘Hurry’ he said to Ember as she unlocked the door with an audible mechanical click. Ember opened the driver side door, almost throwing Roxy inside ‘In the back now!’ She called as Roxy climbed through the gap. Scrambling to hide behind the seats.

John hesitated for a moment, looking at the man running down the street. His panicked shouts signalling to all of Guildford the prisoners were attempting a breakout. ‘John get in!’ Ember shouted, her fingers shaking trying to start the car. "We can't just leave hi…’ John's words caught short in his throat as he noticed the wave of rage approaching. It seemed the infected had answered the man's call and were rapidly approaching.

Windows broke around them, bloody forms climbing through, careless of the deadly shredding of their bodies. John looked to his neighbours windows, two. There were two of them, struggling to climb out of the sittingroom window. Their red eyes locked onto him. He debated actually running back to his flat, to his sanctuary but the roar of the pitiful 1.2 Engine snapped him back to the passenger seat.

They both refused to look at the man, who was desperately screaming for help as they started to drive away. He was too far away, he now had dozens of infected chasing him and had nearly doomed their own escape. ‘Please!’ the stranger cried, as he valiant sprint finally gave out. John made the mistake of looking and watched in horror as two figures dragged him to the ground.

Ember floored it through abandoned streets of Guildford, John could have sworn he saw people in the windows of homes, flats and on the roofs. Their desperate pleading eyes, begging him to stop the car, hands and faces pressed flat to the windows before curtains closed blocking them from sight. They couldn't stop, the infected who now owned the streets of Guildford gave chase, thankfully no cars blocked their way as they exited Guildford. Heading West down Broad St, into the green hills and villages beyond.

London

Gina, quietly removed her makeshift barricade away from the fire door, she tried not to think about the begging voices and hands pounding on the door as she moved item after item. It was survival she told herself, survival that had driven her not to help the people who pounded on the door, begging her to let them in. Their desperate cries had turned into awful screams of pain then worst of all. Silence.

Gina held her ear to the door, listening to the stairway beyond. Nothing, there was nothing. She had convinced herself it wasn't selfish what she did, sealing herself on the roof and refusing to let anyone else up with her. But their screams haunted her every waking moment.

Gingerly she opened the fire door, the smell of blood and stale air leaked out, finally able to escape. The door groaned its discontent as she pulled it, only being able to be opened halfway.

Blood, there was so much blood. It covered the floor, the walls and the ceiling. God the ceiling she thought. The voices repeated in her head again *Let us in* *The infected are coming* *Please!!*. She struck them from her mind, ‘I had no choice’ she pleaded.

Standing in the doorway, she looked down the stairs. Darkness saturated the descending steps, covering more of her heinous crime. Gina wished she had a torch, wished the lights worked and wished she was anywhere but here.

Gina froze on the top step when she heard a noise from the dark depths below. Hesitating, she called out, maybe someone had survived, maybe they could help her.

‘Hello?’

Footsteps, shuffling and what she could only think was disgruntled breathing echoed up the steps.

‘Oh god’ she realised with mortifying speed that the stairwell was a sealed area. In the event of fire, heavy fire doors would stop the spread and keep it contained. The fire doors did their duty well, containing dozens of infected. Their stomping footsteps became a thunderous charge as they ascended towards the light, towards her.

Gina stepped back out and attempted to close the fire door but the door resisted. Karma, it seemed, had a score to settle.

Gina abandoned her attempts to close the door when she saw the first familiar face appear on the steps below. Her rage filled eyes only for Gina. These were her work colleagues, her friends. She had doomed them all.

Gina ran to the edge of the rooftop, looking down again at the streets below. She had no way out, no escape or place to hide.

Gina stood on the edge and turned, facing her colleagues as they sprinted towards her. Gina closed her eyes.

John

John and Ember had driven all day, avoiding large towns and any kind of settlement. They found going near a town meant the infected of the area would rush out to greet them. Like tour guides offering a free tour.

‘Any idea where we are?’ John asked as they pulled over. Green hills and open fields surrounded them on all sides. The last road sign John had heard of was Basingstoke. ‘No idea, I've never driven out this way. I lived in London all my life, I never really used my license once I got it’ Ember stretched out, she was tired and they both knew they needed to stop soon.

A drive that usually took a little over 40 minutes had taken them just over 4 hours, due to sticking to smaller B roads and country lanes. Occasionally they ran into traffic jams, a reminder of a failed evacuation effort and the tragic end of those attempting to get away. The infected were everywhere, a constant reminder to keep moving and to find somewhere safe to sleep tonight.

John noted the name of the small village ahead, if it could be called that at all.

Ibworth.

‘Pull over’ Ember shot John a look but slowed to a stop. ‘What is it?’ She asked while her head seemingly rotated like an owl. Stopping made them both nervous, every time they did. An infected would come sprinting down the road shortly after, drawn by the engine or it just happened to be in the area.

‘These houses, I don't think there's anyone in them and there's so few of them. Could be a good place to stop for the night’. Ember nervously looked around, Roxy stirred in the back. ‘I don't know about this’ Ember looked at the house where John was watching.

A small wall surrounded the home, covered by a tall bush. The wooden gates lay open, almost inviting them in. ‘Reverse into the driveway, go slow and just park outside the house. We can wait a few seconds, if nothing happens we can look inside’ John fished out his bat from the backseat. ‘John, I don't know about this, maybe we should keep going’.

Ember slowly reversed up the driveway, carefully watching the windows and doors of the house. As if expecting them to burst open and for the infected to come running out. But, the house stayed quiet, the only sounds were of the engine and the small stones on the driveway. Protesting against their disturbance.

‘Okay, keep the engine running if there's trouble just… don't leave me behind unless you don't have a choice’. Ember just frowned at John and told him to be careful. Roxy, now fully awake pressed her face against the rear window. Examining the modestly sized home.

John stepped out, closing the door quietly behind him. The air was clear, in that way countryside air is compared to the smog filled haze he was used to. John first peaked into the workshop/ garage on the right hand side of the driveway. An assortment of tools, car parts and just general junk filled the space.

‘Hello?’ John called, as he readied himself to run, looking back to the car and meeting the eyes of both Ember and Roxy. Their faces pressed to the glass. After a few moments, he decided the workshop was clear. Using hand signals, he and Ember had never discussed; he told her he would now check the house. Ember and Roxy just tilted their heads at him and quietly looked to where he pointed. The front door of the home.

The curtains were all closed on the house, as he crept towards the front door. John pondered what he would do if there was someone inside, what if there's an infected, what if there's dozens of them. He took a deep breath as he reached the door, John went to try the handle but paused. This is someone's home, there's a chance they could be still in there. John kicked himself as he gently knocked, placing his ear to the door. The silence beyond revealed nothing.

John knelt down, peeking through the letter box. Nothing, nothing but a darkened hallway. Leading to stairs and a room he could just see the doorway to. John whispered through the letter box ‘Hello?’.

No reply, no sound of shuffling or moving footsteps. John tested the handle, locked, he pushed the door slightly seeing if it would give way. It did not. John realised he would need to kick the door in as he took a few steps back, he heard a knock behind him. Ember was knocking on the glass and pointing down. ‘What?’ He whispered back, Ember shook her head and again pointed down, mouthing a word he couldn't make out. Ember rolled the window down and quietly said ‘Door mat’.

‘Ohhh’ John knelt and lifted the mat and revealed a spare key. Should have checked there first, he thought. The door eased open, John wished he had worn his snorkel, it gave him a strange level of comfort afforded from its limited added protection. He peaked inside, the air was stale and had a slight foulness to it. It seemed he didn't recognise, John again called. ‘Hello? Is there anyone here?’

The house remained silent as he edged his way inside, signalling again to Ember in that mysterious sign language. Ember just shook her head.

John slowly searched the downstairs, no signs of break ins or disturbance. It was a modest sized home. Sitting room, large kitchen, dining room and downstairs loo. All clear he thought, as he headed for the stairs. He ascended, the smell becoming stronger especially as he hit the landing. 4 doors encircled the landing, one door had Alex on it, decorated with small pink flowers, another had Billy on it, small footballs and dinosaur stickers. The third door had Mummy and Daddy on it, small pieces of paper pinned to all over. Children's paintings, John thought.

The last door had a bath sticker on it, small bubbles had been painted on the blue door. The smell John realised came from the bedrooms, slowly opened the parents rooms and peaked inside. Two pairs of feet stuck out, the skin pale and fading. John silently closed the door and looked again at the children's doors. The familiar smell coming from their rooms as well.

The small family had not been able to evacuate, instead their parents made an impossible choice of mercy. So they held a final family meal. Cooking their children's favourite meals, reading their favourite bedtime stories before retiring to their beds after such a perfect evening. Their parents had laced the blackcurrant juice with *REDACTED*, to ensure their children would never wake. The parents kissed their children goodnight, wishing them sweet dreams and that they would see them in the morning. The parents shared a bottle of wine, before climbing into bed and embracing each other as the *REDACTED* took effect.

John slumped against the wall and slid to the floor. The story told itself, this family had opted to give their children a final kindness rather than face the darkness and live in a world of fear. John looked to the stairs, imagining the car beyond and to Roxy. Could he make the same choice for her, sure he didn't know her but was this kinder then their current predicament. John wiped the tears from his eyes and stood.

Carefully Jon entered each of the rooms, pulling the duvets up and over so they covered the bodies laid peacefully in bed. Their eyes closed as if they had fallen into a deep sleep. He opened windows in each of the rooms, he silently apologised to the parents and asked if it was okay if they stayed the night. John went next to the bathroom, taking towels and sheets. Placing them at the bottom of each of the doors, to stop the smell of the decay spreading further into the home.

John didn't know any prayers or what to say so instead opted to close his eyes and say ‘I'm so sorry’.

John walked out to the car, Ember and Roxy's eyes following him. "It's clear, just stay downstairs and don't go upstairs," Ember gave him a puzzled look and went to ask why but John cut her off. Giving Roxy a side glance. ‘Just don't’.

They set up shop in the sittingroom, John had closed the wooden gates leading onto the property and walked the large garden. The wall continued all the way around, the only gap being the gates they used to enter.

Ember raided the cupboards, finding dried pasta, snacks and an assortment of sweets. She gave a gleeful Roxy a lolly and ushered her back into the sittingroom. John returned to find Ember stood in the corner of the sitting room, examining the array of family photos. She turned to John, she held up a photo then looked to the stairs. John grimly nodded, she was asking if they were up there. Their ad hoc sign language was improving.

As the sun began to set, they moved the sofas in the sitting room around, facing them away from the doorway and they would act as a last barrier if the infected found them in the night. John volunteered for first watch, he wouldn't be able to sleep knowing *They* were up there anyway. John had placed a chair next to the sitting room window, a similar set up to his flat he mused. Peaking out the curtain, looking at the car and empty driveway.

The world seemed so quiet and normal. Sure, hell had descended upon the world but outside of the infection. Nothing had really changed. The sun rose, birds sang and nature carried on.

Ember pulled up a cushion, sitting near John. ‘I never asked, do you have any family or friends. Somewhere we could go?’ John paused and felt shitty. Why hadn't he asked that of Ember first.

‘No, my parents died years ago and my friends are probably gone now’. Ember handed him a chocolate bar, one of the ones she found in the kitchen and replied. ‘My parents owned a house in the lake district, I didn't really talk to them before all this’ She gestured to the room. ‘I don't even know if they are still alive’.

‘We can check if you want." John had no plans and no idea where to go. The idea of having a direction appealed to him to no end. ‘I wasn't going to push’ Ember looked at John, his features fading in the dimming light.

‘Get some sleep, I'll wake you when it's your watch’

Hey guys, I'm sorry for the delayed releases. Things have been happening fast in my private life. Sadly my father's cancer is extremely aggressive and its weeks.

I will keep writing this stories as I'm finding it helps me channel and occupies my mind.

I apologise if the writing quality has decreased. Please give me feedback and ill improve on the next one.

Index

https://www.reddit.com/u/maizematt/s/BYgEt5QIDj

Day 1 if you missed it and this is the first youve heard of the series.

https://www.reddit.com/r/28dayslater/s/dZxSxP1an5

Day 16

Dublin - Republic of Ireland

The president of the Irish republic stood in a room of his peers. A dark meeting, baring dark tides.

‘We need to stop these small boats coming across the Irish Sea. If a single infected crosses those waters’ a man called

‘Would you have our men open fire on women and children?’ another replied

‘We would be dooming thousands, the Americans have it wrong. There is still time to evacuate people’ a minister stood

‘It's not worth the risk, a single infected is all it would take to bring our doom!’ another said

‘Gentlemen’ The president stood, ‘this isn't the UN or the screaming halls of Westminster. This is Ireland, we will not turn our backs on those poor helpless souls fleeing for our shores but neither can we stand against Nato's quarantine’

‘Then what will we do?’ The crowd of men asks

"We will shelter those that come, we will greet them on the beaches with blankets, food and open arms’. The president sat

A cheer went out from some in the room but the vast majority stayed silent.

Fear gripped the Irish nation, they did not have a large military to enforce quarantine or the manpower to suppress an outbreak. The Americans claimed they would help but they had seen that ‘Help’ during Operation Sunset.

John

John dreamt of a land burned to ash. He stood alone in fields of grey and red. His home, his country, had been reduced to a wasteland. He looked down and screamed. Around him were thousands of bodies, pools of blood flowed into great rivers.

He shook his head, trying to pull away from this nightmare. His hands coated in thick deep red blood, John tripped on a body and fell backwards. The red liquid flowed over him as he screamed, a familiar form moved towards him. The man he killed, his eyes full of rage and vengeance.

‘John’ called a female soft voice, a hand gently touching his shoulder. His eyes opened to find Ember, kneeling next to him.

‘It's your watch’ John had never been so thankful to be woken up in all his life. Groggily he answered ‘Got it’. As he sat up, he watched as Ember laid next to Roxy shushing her as she slipped in next to her. It was between 3 or 4am John thought as he took up position next to the window. He peaked out, immediately noticing the body of the soldier covered in red and the man he killed. Its form on a sickening display. The twilight of dawn allowed only their outlines to be seen but John felt he could have found them in the dark.

It was silent outside, dead silent. No wind and certainly no rain. The air inside was stithfilling, the faint sounds of breathing occasionally reaching his ears. John wondered when was the last time he let anyone in his flat, hell he thought. He didn't even own a cat. ‘Pets’ He whispered. He hadn't seen any pets, no chorus of whining cats singing in the night. Nor the angry bark of dogs. John hoped beyond hope they couldn't get infected.

John felt parched, his throat dry and cracked. He made a final check to ensure the street was clear then walked to the kitchen. He didn't have much water left, he grimly acknowledged, if it was just him. He could stretch this out a week but the three of them. Two or three days max, he grabbed his sunny D bottle, currently filled with water and imagined its sweet orange tang as he drank. He could only taste a sweet whisper of it.

Roxy was standing in the doorway, she had followed him out there. Wordlessly staring up at him, he lowered the bottle from his lips and awkwardly smiled. Her eyes followed the bottle. ‘Oh, sorry’ John unscrewed the lid of a second bottle, sat on the counter and gave it to her. ‘I'm John’. Roxy's eyes met Johns, for just a moment before she began to drink.

John remarked on the hardness in her eyes. The youthful, curious gaze had been ripped out and replaced with the long stare that soldiers develop from too long on the frontline.

Roxy handed the bottle back to John then wordlessly, returned to her makeshift bed next to Ember.

John felt a stab of what he felt could be sorrow or pity for the child for what she had endured, what hell had she seen and experienced coming out of London. John took up his watch by the window again, noting the glorious colours spreading across the dawn sky.

Exeter - Devon

The city was in flames, thousands of infected ran through the streets, for 2 days now the fires had raged. Consuming all in its path, people sheltered in their homes, even as their roofs caught fire. They waited until the heat from the fires began to blister their skin before running into the street. The infected were on every corner, seemingly waiting for their prey to be smoked out of hiding.

Exeter was supposed to be part of the new frontline, a rally point for the scattered western forces to regroup, dig in and prepare for evacuation. Instead as they prepared their defenses by land, the bombs came by sea and air.

Members of the 22 SAS regiment had been part of those remnants, they had fought their way from the outskirts of London to the grounds of Exeter Castle. The castle had been brought back into service to help coordinate the evacuation and served as a rallying point.

Sergeant Major Williams sat on a garden chair overlooking the burning city of Exeter. From his perch in the castle, he could hear the moment the lick of flames forced people out of their homes and into the awaiting arms of the infected. He grimaced at every scream, he and his men had *Beefed* up the defenses in and around the castle. He felt certain the infected couldn't get in but they had no way to combat the coming fire storm.

Soon, they would have to make the same choice. Stay and burn or attempt to break out. This wasn't his first command, nor his first rodeo with the infected.

After the bombings he had expected some form of radio communication to confirm new rallying points, to give them a direction to retreat to but every frequency was nothing but static. Repeated attempts by him and his radio operator to contact units in the local area and his own commanding officer were met with silence.

They were on their own.

John

John felt rude for staring, as Ember and Roxy stirred. His eyes quickly looked elsewhere when Ember noticed his attention. ‘Anything happen?’ she asked as she stood. John took a shallow breath then answered ‘No, all quiet on the western front’.

‘Western front?’

‘Sorry, It's a film from the 70s’ John replied.

Ember raised an eyebrow then walked out to the bathroom, Roxy following close behind her. John settled back into his position when he remembered the lack of plumbing, he was too socially awkward to knock on the door to tell them not to use the toilet as it won't flush. The end of the world is disgusting, he mused.

‘We need to empty that bucket, sooner rather than later," Ember said as she emerged from the darkened hallway. ‘I know, it's a problem I'm working on, I think we should just empty it out of the windows in the communal area’ John said.

‘So what's your plans?’ Ember had sat down on the sofa, staring directly at John. ‘Plan? erm I don't really have one, I mean I tried to leave during the evacuation but ended up right back here’.

‘We can't stay here," Ember said in a quiet tone, her voice clear and seemingly calm. ‘If we stay here, the infected will find us or we will run out of food and water’. She was right and John hated her a little for it.

John looked out the window again at the empty street. *We*, he thought. They had stayed here a single night and now there was a *We*. The saying always went, there's safety in numbers. But he was a loner, his few friends had moved on and away from the area. Not to mention his neighbours.

‘Where would we go’ Great, John thought

Even he has started using the word *We* now. ‘Can't go back to London, it's chaos there and completely overrun’ Ember replied as she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to iron out knots and make herself look half human.

‘We can't go south to Portsmouth. The evacuation has ended, hell the radio said the infected made it across the channel’ John recalled, still scanning the road.

‘You hungry?’ Ember asked, changing the subject as John was about to reply he realised she was talking to Roxy.

Roxy stood beside Ember, her wide eyes staring at John. ‘Okay’ Ember said in a soft voice. ‘John, what about you, Do you want anything?’

‘Sure, I can eat’

A crashing sound from downstairs, bolted the three of them to attention. John looked back outside but he couldn't see down to the windows downstairs. Not from this angle

Up the street, two infected sprint directly for their building, effortlessly smashing their way into through the windows leading into the bottom floor flat. ‘Ember holds a finger to her lips, staring at John’ a silent message between them.

*Don't fucking breathe*

John spotted a small Ginger cat running out from their building and into the alleys beyond. Fucking cats he thought, his neighbours must of left a window open and a cat got in.

They all stood in silence, afraid to move listening to the infected wreak havoc below. The words Ember said echoed in his head ‘We can't stay here’ she was right. In more ways then she realised, John should have left with Arthur and Raj. Tomorrow he thought, tomorrow morning they are leaving this flat and probably Guildford behind.

His eyes met Embers and it seemed she had come to the same conclusion.

Exeter - Devon

The fires are getting close, a tired looking soldier repeated to Sergeant Major Williams. He was right, they had a few hours at most. The smoke already hung in the air, blocking their view of most of the area and clogging their lungs.

Williams assessment of the situation was this; If they want to survive this, the 9 of them need to squeeze into a small Land Rover. They could fit but it would be tight. At last count, there were over 50 civilians inside the small fort, hiding in the main building. But they refused outright to entertain the idea of leaving.

If he and his men attempted to escape by opening the now barricaded iron gates, they wouldn't be able to seal them behind them. They could try leaving on foot, lowering themselves down over the wall in a quiet place and exiting on foot but the infected roamed the area in their thousands. No amount of stealth would hide them forever.

If they stay, they gamble with the firestorm. Maybe it will burn itself out before it reaches them. A solid plan he mused, however, people below trapped in their homes in the direct path of the blaze, had made the same gamble and paid dearly for it.

It was not the first time he and his men had abandoned civilians, secret raids in classified countries to extract classified VIPs but this. This wasn't some unknown dark corner of the world, this was home and these were their people. They had no moral deniability of following orders to fall back on. No higher command telling them, it's all part of a bigger game to sacrifice this village to save 100 more.

It was just them.

The world decided their move before they could. ‘Sergeant Major!’ His men shouted, their voices steady and zoned in. Williams reached the walls and looked down the road. Surprised to see hundreds of infected charging the gates, hell half of them were on fire!

‘Open fire!’ He roared. And as one his unit responded. Burning hands, arms and eyes gripped the gates. Shaking them violently. Williams felt a pang of panic in his heart, it was the demons of hell. They had come to the surface to take him themselves.

The crowd was burning, the infected did not feel pain as they stormed the gates, their numbers swelling against the hailstorm of bullets hitting them. The old gates groaned as they finally gave way,infected climbing over the hastily built barricade. Flames catching on all they touched.

This was a scene of nightmares, 6 of his men now formed a crescent moon around the gates. Firing desperately into the living blaze, his men did not break as the infected approached. The whites of his men's eyes slowly turned orange. Their uniforms began to catch in the blaze but still they fired as the flames crept up their legs.

Williams armed two grenades, roared and charged the gates of hell themselves.

John

John and Ember sat leaning against opposite walls while Roxy slept. The noises from downstairs had quietened down however the streets outside were now teaming with infected. The noise made from the home wreckers below had drawn in a few dozen. John and Ember had silently agreed not to risk looking through the curtain fearing even the barest slither could get them spotted.

John was wearing his armour, his goggles placed on top of his head ready to be worn at a moment's notice. He mindlessly fiddled with the snorkel, Ember wore one of John's spare jackets. It was thicker than her jumper which lay discarded and bloody on his kitchen floor. She had torn up some of John's shirts, to his great annoyance, to make makeshift masks for her and Roxy.

As the sun began to set, the only noise was the sound of their breathing, their only view was the dark outline of their bodies and the shine of their eyes. Ember moved closer to John, sitting next to him. Close enough they faintly whisper.

‘Do you own a car?’ Ember quietly whispered, being extremely cautious of volume.

‘No, even if I did I couldn't drive it’

Ember took a shallow breath, their options were limited. Her and John had come to the same realisation. ‘What about your neighbours’

‘Arthur only had the one car, he took it with to France. The couple downstairs had two cars. They only took the one’ John remembered that day, when the couple he barely knew argued in the carpark and left to find their family.

‘The keys are probably downstairs still, I can't see why they'd have taken them with them’ Ember continued ‘If we can get those keys, I can drive us out of here’.

John's heart filled with a slight tang of hope before he remembered who occupied the downstairs flat. ‘We don't know how many there are in there, plus what if their front door is locked. I can't exactly kick it down, it' ll draw all of Guildford’

Ember nudged him ‘Keep it down, look there might be a spare key underneath their door mat or above the door frame. We wait until the infected leave and we go in and get out’

It all sounded so simple, get in, get out and don't get seen. ‘What if the infected in there don't leave’ John was now questioning the completely foolproof plan that had absolutely no risks. ‘What if by some miracle we find a key for the door, get inside and find the car key. Only to find the cars got no petrol’.

‘Then we get petrol’ Ember responded, her voice cracking slightly. Even though she knew this was insane, what choice did they have? It was not if the infected found them, it was when.

‘That gun, is it loaded?’ John asked the dark form next to him. She had disappeared into the shadows.

‘I don't know, that soldier, our driver. He handed it to me when we bailed out of the truck. I've never shot a gun before’ Ember paused, allowing a few breaths to pass between them. ‘Have you?’

‘No, the closest I've come to shooting a gun is when I played Halo or at the funfair’ John thought of the underpowered Air rifles they used at the fairs, he was a terrible shot and didn't imagine he'd be much better with the real thing.

A few hours passed in silence, neither of them slept. Instead their senses attuned to the outside world. Waiting for the *Thud* or screams that the infected had found them. It never came.

‘It's quiet down there’ Ember remarked ‘I think they could be gone’ or they're sleeping, John thought.

‘We don't know what the dawn will bring, I don't think our luck will hold for another night. If we are going to do this. We should do it now’ John knew Ember was right.

‘I'll go’ John wasn't a brave man and he was unsure why he was volunteering now. ‘The flat should be the same layout as mine, minus the furniture’

Ember crawled towards the window and peaked through the curtains. She waited there for a few heartbeats then crawled back. ‘No one's out there, the street looks clear. Don't know if there' s anyone inside the flat though’

‘Okay’ John breathed deeply and attempted to psych himself up. Ember crawled to the front door and opened it. They both cringed at the smallest creaks. ‘Close it behind me, I'll knock silently three times. That's our signal’

The door slowly closed as John crept through the hallway. He was aware of every noise he made in the dark spade. His light footsteps, his breath through the snorkel and his nervous fingers on the bat.

John reached the stairs, the faint light from the moon shined through and his natural night vision showed him the outlines but nothing more. Carefully he walked down the stairs, feeling out every step to ensure he didn't fall. He began to worry the infected would hear his beating heart. His chest ached from its manic unwavering beat.

John reached the neighbours door and placed his ear to it. Every ounce of his being commanding his heart to stop pounding in his chest so he could hear the faintest sound. After what felt like an eternity, John decided the must be empty or whoever is in there is asleep… Do the infected sleep?

He knelt and felt underneath the door mat… Damn her she was right, a spare key had been placed in the most obvious place. John had to force himself to breathe as he inserted the key, the mechanism seeming a million times louder than it ought to be. The door creaked open and John again fell to his knees. He crawled through the threshold, holding his breath. Worried that even the slightest sound would give him away. The ground was wet, which concerned John. He dared not to think that he crawled through.

John prayed his neighbours weren't anything like him when it came to keys, John just dumped them on whichever surface was closest. Often spending minutes angrily searching for them later on. John reached what he assumed was a phone table and reached up with his hands. He would grab anything that felt like a set of car keys and get the hell out.

Lady luck it seemed was on his side, a bowl was resting on the phone table and it had exactly what he sought. As he gingerly lifted the keys, he heard a shuffling sound from what he assumed was the sittingroom, if their room usage was the same as his.

He was not alone, John held his breath, his lungs protesting against the sudden cut off as he slowly edged towards the door. The dark figure was moving around the sittingroom, its movements sudden and untamed. It reacted to every small sound, dip of the tap and gust of wind. John became extremely aware of every noise he made.

Slowly, so fucking slowly John crawled towards the door. The loose set of keys held like a vice in his hands. All they have to do is look into the hallway and he was fucked John thought. His lungs screamed for oxygen but he was far far from the surface.

As he crawled back over the threshold, part of him wanted to crawl straight back upstairs and hide. But he knew, he had to close the door. He had to keep them confined to this flat only, if they got into the communal area. There would be no escape.

John stood and slowly pulled the door towards himself. His eyes on the darkened entrance to the sittingroom. He waited for the glowing red eyes to appear, for a monster to charge him from the darkness. The door quietly clicked shut and John finally allowed himself to breathe.

Ember had her ear to the door, listening for movement. Listening for a signal, she heard 4 knocks. That wasn't the signal she thought back to their conversation and was cut off when she heard a rapid 3 knocks. ‘He forgot the signal’ She half smiled and opened the door.

John crawled through like a man, who had just found dry land after years at sea. ‘Got em' he wheezed. Placing them into Ember's hands.

‘There's one in the sitting room down there, it didn't see me but we need to be careful when we leave. It's likely stuck in and will only come out when it hears a noise’ John took off his Goggles and Snorkel. Placing them on the floor next to him. He took silent deep breaths, trying to silence the anxiety attack trying to break through his defenses.

‘Why the snorkel?’ Ember asked, obviously sensing his discomfort and trying to calm him.

‘Goggles stop blood going in my eyes and nose’ He breathed and continued ‘Snorkel, stop it going in my mouth’. John wasn't an asthmatic but suspected this is what an attack felt like.

‘It's the only reason I didn't shoot you’ Ember replied, settling back against the wall.

‘Thanks’ John was not only thankful for her not blasting his head off but for also spending time with him now. Trying to talk him down.

‘Get some sleep John, ill take the first watch. We can talk about leaving in the morning’ John laid his head against the wall, within seconds he was fast asleep. His body finally ran out of adrenaline and crashed hard.