Dr. Brennan pulled out a bottle of whisky that was half-full. “Canadian,” he said. “It’s good stuff.”
John took two swigs, then filled his flask. Dr. Brennan gripped the bottle and sipped away at it, then said:
“Back in Cavan, that was my home in Ireland, there were tales, you know. Ones about monsters ready to devour you. Fairies and leprechauns that were always waiting, looming, to trick you at any turn if you weren’t careful. Stories you forget with every year that passes.”
John took a drink from his flask. “So, what happened in Clearwater? That’s where you were?”
“Yes.” He looked down. “All of a sudden, and I mean it sudden, people were running from every direction, barreling into roadways, out of shops and homes. And from what? Neighbours, friends, kids. Everyone. It didn’t matter who. They started just clawing and tearing at each other, biting, eating.” Those last few words barely came out. “A nightmare. People were transforming as fast as they were dying and I started seeing those twisted, devilish faces all around.”
He paused to gather himself. “Dreycott was the closest town so the few of us that remained thought other survivors would be heading there too. We met with with others, including that unsavoury gentleman, Henry. But looking at your doc, it’s reached you, maybe not as severely. It’s spread rampant in Clearwater, Lillibrook as well… chances are …” he trailed off.
“So how’d it all start?” John asked.
“How the fuck should I know?”
Dr. Brennan looked up and saw Sam emerge from the darkness. “You’re up, lass!
Sam didn’t say anything. She just looked at John, ran to him and started to sob.
“You s-suh-… suppose T-uh-Thomas … is …ok?”
John patted her on her back. “Look,” he said, “We just came from Dreycott and all seems fine.” He lied, the second one he told today. But he could tell she wasn’t too believing. She’s been here the whole time. She knew something happened at the Mayburn’s, now with Dr. Grayson. “We’ll be going back, you’ll see your brother soon,” he said.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Promise.” He felt guilty as the words left his lips. He stared into her eyes and in that moment all he could see was Lily. His daughter. Fear and anger held him tightly now as in an instant everything became crystalline. He hugged her as a father would a daughter, warmly and with embrace and told her what she needed to hear knowing hope was better than despair.
She stepped back, wiping tears from her eyes. “So, what is happening?” she asked
John didn’t know what to say. Dr. Brennan stared back.
“The honest answer. I’m not sure,” John finally said.
Sam didn’t press for more. She took a seat at the fire, quiet, in thought.
The night crawled on in silence. The fire crackled away.
John felt the comforting heat against his hands and feet. He looked over at Sam. She was still quiet, staring off at nothing. John could see her blackened eye. He walked over and showed her the flask.
“It might help.”
Sam looked at him strangely. “I don’t want it.”
“Alright then.”
“That’s a good girl,” Dr. Brennan said. “Too bad I’m neither,” he beckoned for the metal container.
“So, what happened there?” John asked.
She looked away to shade the side that was marred. She played with the dirt under her foot. “It’s nothing,” she said. “Tommy and I were playing and bumped into each other on accident.”
“What were you guys doing?”
“Just playing games, hiders and seekers, rounders.”
She was a pretty good liar. “Does your ma know you’re out here?”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “I ran off,” she said. For a few seconds the young girl held up firm, but her stoic face couldn’t last. She burst into tears again.
“Hey, come on now,” John said, “It’s gonna be alright.” Another lie. He knelt down to meet her gaze, at her level. “You can tell me what happened, it’s okay.”
“Me and Tom …”
“No, the real story.”
“This is!”
“Let her finish,” Dr. Brennan chimed in.
John shared a look with the doc, “Alright then, go on.”
The girl looked at both men, then said: “Me and Tommy were playing in the barn. One of us, maybe me, left the latch open and some of the animals got away. The horses and stuff. We tried to find them but we lost a couple livestock.” She trailed off.
“And … Mr. Johnson hit me and …”
She started crying. “
John put his arm around her.
“Don’t touch me!” she screamed, and shoved him back.
John looked around worriedly. “Come on now,” he grumbled. You can’t be making noise like that! Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He gave a confused look at Dr. Brennan.
Samantha stared at him. She look shocked, confused even. Without another word she got up and stormed off.
“Wait!” John called. “Sam! Stop!” Her small outline faded into the pitch black night.
John gave chase. Dr. Brennan sat stunned, at first unsure if he should give chase as well. He chose to stay back.
Through the woods, John dodged the thicket of trees and branches blindly running after the Landry girl, who he could vaguely make out in front. “Sam!” he hollered in a low shout.
Nothing.
He stopped. It was quiet save for the melody of crickets and wind rushing through the trees. Then a crack broke the silence. John followed the noise a short distance ahead of him, weaving between trees, nearly tripping on several occasions, until, finally, the thicket of forest cleared and the darkness became a shade lighter with the land dressed in moonlight. He squinted. Standing still, he glimpsed a shadowy figure ahead.
“Sam!” he hollered.
“Shh,” he heard from behind him, toward the tree-line But it was too late.
The figure turned and charged. The air carried that unmistakeable rotten odour and John knew what he had walked into. The man was fast, strong, and kept biting at his face. John kept it at distance with hard boots. He then shoved the stinking body away from him and back-pedalled. He bumped into another body, much smaller. Sam.
“Stay behind.”
“Mr. Freeman! They’re all over!”
The man lurched at them, an untrained animal. Barking commands wouldn’t do anything. He gave a sturdy kick to the his midsection again, pulled his gun, and levelled two shots, both in the chest at point blank range. The deranged man stumbled backward before charging forward again.
“Motherfuckers.”
John step backward, waited for the stinking fool to move in close, then, as he was no more than a yard or two out, he blasted a shot from his waist, barrel tilted up. The bullet pierced the chin and shredded through the top of the man’s skull. John had no time to admire the kill, he could feel bodies closing in. With Sam in-hand, he maneuvered away, low and quiet, weaving through the darkness until they were at the edge of the forest. Then he stopped up against a tree.
“Shh.”
There was a low thrumming. It swelled into a chorus of groans, low and animalistic. It grew relentless and loud, the squabble and smell was jarring to the core. The air was filled with a putrid odour. Still grabbing her hand, John could feel Sam’s rapid pulse and wondered how his own wasn’t doing the same. A small horde of shadowy-figures encroached. Sam let out a shrieking sound, which John covered with his hand.
Suddenly they were jerked back. He let out a scream in shock. The unidentified man bit at John’s neck. On reaction John threw an elbow, knocking it back. Without warning there were two, then three swarming him. John tried to reach for his gun but he couldn’t get to it. He felt the grip of his attackers. This was it. Then one peeled off.
Sam, antagonizing it, was now in its crosshairs. John kicked at one giving him space to draw his pistol and square a shot directly through the forehead of the third man wrestling at his neck. He wore trousers and suspenders was all John could think. He placed another shot through the skull of the overweight woman in a blue flowery dress that started to make her way over. She wasn’t the only one.
John cleaned up the farmer a few feet from Sam before grabbing her by the arm, knowing he needed to reload but had no ammo on him.
John looked back just once as they moved gingerly but with pace through the wooded area.
“Move! We gotta move!” he barked, as she fell behind.
They emerged on the other end breathless and scared.
Dr. Brennan jumped up, he picked up a rifle and made toward the wagon.
“Take her.”
John reloaded his guns, then started to unhitch the horses, the whole time glancing at the dark thicket expecting the swarm of undead to appear.