adventure?”
“Yup,” she nodded, “I am.”
Steve looked at her in seriousness . “Sarah, remember what I said about the bad people? Well there's a chance we might run into some. If we do, you might see me do some horrible stuff, but I want you to keep yourself close at all times, do you understand?”
Sarah sighed . “Dad, I watched the news, I know what they're saying and I know what’s going on. I’m scared but I know that you will save me if anything bad happens. Oh, and my Mum too.”
Fuck ! Steve hadn’t figured on Sarah being so aware of the situation. Over the days, Claire and Steve had spoken on the phone and he had reassured her that Sarah was safe but that he didn't think it wise to travel the streets; she should stay with him until things were under control. Though her mother was distraught and wanted her child home, she understood and agreed that Sarah should stay with him. There was no way that he was going to tell her of the latest plan until he was sure of what to do next.
He hadn’t lied to Sarah , but to avoid her from freaking out at the contemplation of the dead returning to life, he had left that bit out and replaced it with ‘bad people’. Now she brought her mother, Claire, into the equation.
“ Okay, Sarah, once we get to aunty Jen’s, we’ll phone your mum. Okay?”
Sarah looked up and gave a big grin , with thumbs up again. “And Roy too.”
Steve rolled his eyes . Fuck sake, now I’m going to be rescuing her mother and her mother’s boyfriend too. I’m gonna get fucking killed in this, he thought.
Picking up the back pack and placing it by the front door, he adjusted his belt, removing the hammer; he figured that it was best to have a weapon in hand, ready.
“Remember what I said , Sarah. Stay close to me at all times.”
They moved. He deliberately shielded her from the stares of the dead old man and his wife who had now joined him at the window. He felt a chill as they passed them and he avoided looking into their dead haunting eyes again. Sarah never moved more than a few inches away from his backside, keeping herself tucked in, safe behind her father’s body.
They made it away from the flats and headed across the main road for the h ousing estate that backed the nature sanctuary. The estate was a mess. Houses looked abandoned; smashed windows and doors hanging from their hinges helped to complete the look.
Here and there he saw people hanging out of windows , warning them that the streets weren’t safe and that they should get indoors and stay there. Steve just waved and kept moving. Even though he wanted to take them up on their advice, he had to carry on with his plan. It was no longer about what was best for just him and Sarah.
His palms were sweaty and he continuously adjuste d the grip he had on his hammer as they walked. Whenever possible, they stuck to the middle of the road, allowing advanced warning of any threat from the houses to the left and right.
Sarah did a s her father had instructed and stayed close.
Their eyes darted from side to side and with every few steps, Steve would glance back over his shoulder, making sure nothing and no one was following.
Deep in the housing estate they came to a junction. They needed to head straight across, but as was his new habit, Steve wanted to check the street to the left and right before exposing themselves as they crossed.
They both crouched and made their way toward the junction along a low wall, stopping every few steps to listen. Steve heard it first ; crashing and banging was coming from the street to their left. The sound of something slapping and beating against wood mixed with another sound, the steady low hum of the infected. The sound sent shivers through Steve and he could feel panic grip him. He had heard it on TV, but in the flesh it was more haunting, yet almost sad.
Now and then the sound of a desperate mournful wail would come from within the sounds of the infected. Like the voice of a
“Yup,” she nodded, “I am.”
Steve looked at her in seriousness . “Sarah, remember what I said about the bad people? Well there's a chance we might run into some. If we do, you might see me do some horrible stuff, but I want you to keep yourself close at all times, do you understand?”
Sarah sighed . “Dad, I watched the news, I know what they're saying and I know what’s going on. I’m scared but I know that you will save me if anything bad happens. Oh, and my Mum too.”
Fuck ! Steve hadn’t figured on Sarah being so aware of the situation. Over the days, Claire and Steve had spoken on the phone and he had reassured her that Sarah was safe but that he didn't think it wise to travel the streets; she should stay with him until things were under control. Though her mother was distraught and wanted her child home, she understood and agreed that Sarah should stay with him. There was no way that he was going to tell her of the latest plan until he was sure of what to do next.
He hadn’t lied to Sarah , but to avoid her from freaking out at the contemplation of the dead returning to life, he had left that bit out and replaced it with ‘bad people’. Now she brought her mother, Claire, into the equation.
“ Okay, Sarah, once we get to aunty Jen’s, we’ll phone your mum. Okay?”
Sarah looked up and gave a big grin , with thumbs up again. “And Roy too.”
Steve rolled his eyes . Fuck sake, now I’m going to be rescuing her mother and her mother’s boyfriend too. I’m gonna get fucking killed in this, he thought.
Picking up the back pack and placing it by the front door, he adjusted his belt, removing the hammer; he figured that it was best to have a weapon in hand, ready.
“Remember what I said , Sarah. Stay close to me at all times.”
They moved. He deliberately shielded her from the stares of the dead old man and his wife who had now joined him at the window. He felt a chill as they passed them and he avoided looking into their dead haunting eyes again. Sarah never moved more than a few inches away from his backside, keeping herself tucked in, safe behind her father’s body.
They made it away from the flats and headed across the main road for the h ousing estate that backed the nature sanctuary. The estate was a mess. Houses looked abandoned; smashed windows and doors hanging from their hinges helped to complete the look.
Here and there he saw people hanging out of windows , warning them that the streets weren’t safe and that they should get indoors and stay there. Steve just waved and kept moving. Even though he wanted to take them up on their advice, he had to carry on with his plan. It was no longer about what was best for just him and Sarah.
His palms were sweaty and he continuously adjuste d the grip he had on his hammer as they walked. Whenever possible, they stuck to the middle of the road, allowing advanced warning of any threat from the houses to the left and right.
Sarah did a s her father had instructed and stayed close.
Their eyes darted from side to side and with every few steps, Steve would glance back over his shoulder, making sure nothing and no one was following.
Deep in the housing estate they came to a junction. They needed to head straight across, but as was his new habit, Steve wanted to check the street to the left and right before exposing themselves as they crossed.
They both crouched and made their way toward the junction along a low wall, stopping every few steps to listen. Steve heard it first ; crashing and banging was coming from the street to their left. The sound of something slapping and beating against wood mixed with another sound, the steady low hum of the infected. The sound sent shivers through Steve and he could feel panic grip him. He had heard it on TV, but in the flesh it was more haunting, yet almost sad.
Now and then the sound of a desperate mournful wail would come from within the sounds of the infected. Like the voice of a
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