Five Days (Part Two)
Day Four
Handles 4.30am
Grim. You there?
Grim
Still on the move. Trying to find a way.
Handles
What's happening?
Grim
Way more dangerous than I thought. Soldiers everywhere. Mobs of people on the streets.
Grim
Found heaps of survivors in a bowling alley.
Handles
What are they doing?
Grim
Just laying low. Waiting for a chance to get out.
Handles
Have you heard from Henry?
Grim
Nothing for a while.
Handles
Any sign of the Army getting out yet?
Grim
None. Seen helicopters overhead and there's been a series of big explosions to the north.
Grim
Pretty sure that there's fewer of them where you are.
Grim
Are you at the carpark?
Handles
Yeh. Got Mika with me and a few others we found on the way.
Grim
Is that a good idea?
Handles
Had no choice. They just followed us.
Grim
Everyone likes a good plan, eh? :)
Grim
Still going to wait?
Handles
Hell yeh. Not going anywhere until you and Henry get here.
Grim
Thanks for that.
Handles 6.15am
Henry? You still out there?
Henry
Had to hide for a while but on the move again.
Henry
Got fire all over. Seems almost deliberate.
Handles
What do you mean?
Henry
Huge plumes of black smoke. Survivors using it to move east.
Handles
Towards us?
Henry
Yeh. Only direction away from Army.
Handles
How long do you think you'll be?
Henry
Can't say. Lots of others with me. Hopefully not long.
Henry
Do you have any food there?
Handles
Some. Got a few people out looking for more.
Henry
Great. Feeling a bit peckish.
Grim
Peckish?
Henry
Hungry you idiot.
Grim
Well I am peckish also. Leave some for me.
Grim
See you soon.
Mika 1.03pm
Got hungry people here Handles. More coming in from the burbs.
Handles
Is there anywhere close you can look for food?
Mika
I think we passed some shops down on Manchester. Could try there.
Handles
Take some people with you. Don't get seen.
Mika
No worries. Don't feel like being shot today.
Mika 3.26pm
Nothing at the shops. Seen a church a few blocks down. Could find something there.
Handles
Be careful. I can hear helicopters. Keep out of sight.
Mika
Don't worry I'll be careful.
Handles 8.43pm
Dark as hell. Where are you Grim?
Grim
Only a few blocks west. People still there with you?
Handles
Yeh. More coming.
Grim
How's that?
Handles
All of them had their phones. Ringing friends, family.
Handles
They've been turning up all day.
Grim
Crap.
Handles
What?
Grim
Army's on the move. Heading your way.
Handles
Shit.
Henry
Anywhere to hide in the carpark?
Handles
Upper floors maybe. Beyond the third level we should be out of sight if we lay low.
Grim
Get them moving. Only two minutes max.
Grim
How many floors on that carpark?
Handles
Five. I think.
Grim
Enough for everyone?
Handles
Should be. Must have hundreds here.
Handles
Mika has them on the move. Kids and all. Surely they won't shoot?
Henry
I've seen some heavy shit going down Handles. Anything is possible.
Henry
Good luck.
Grim
I'm going to follow the trucks your way. See if I can get to you.
Handles
Try and get closer but don't get seen.
Grim
No problem.
Handles 9.15pm
Grim. You still there?
Grim
Watching from the trees.
Handles
That was close.
Grim
Closer than you think.
Handles
Why?
Grim
Couldn't see any of you from here. Officer was about to send a team into the carpark when they all ran back to their trucks.
Handles
What happened?
Grim
Dunno. But it sure saved your bacon. Huge flashes to the north.
Grim
Looks like a battle raging.
Grim
Explosions lighting up the town to the north and west. Burbs are going up.
Handles
I'd say a good reason to get moving.
Grim
I'll only be a moment. Just having something to eat.
Handles
Bring it with you. We'd better get going.
Grim
Sweet.
Henry
Leave some for me.
Grim
...
Henry
Another group of survivors coming your way.
Henry
I'll show them where you are.
Day Five
Grim 1.48am
When are we moving?
Handles
Few minutes. Henry has found more survivors.
Grim
This is daft. Must be two thousand people in this carpark.
Grim
How are we ever gonna make a stealthy exit?
Handles
What do you want me to do. Leave them here?
Grim
I don't know. Maybe we should.
Handles
Our responsibility now Grim. No options.
Grim
Great. Just great.
Mika
Found some more food.
Handles
Where?
Mika
Supermarket two blocks down.
Handles
Can you bring it back here?
Mika
Sure. Enough for about a day. Enough to get out.
Handles
Need any extra help.
Mika
No. Got help. Found some more survivors.
Handles
OK. Bring them back and we'll go.
Ellena 2.13am
Is that Handles?
Handles
Yeh. Who are you?
Ellena
Ellena. Trying to organise the evacuation of survivors.
Grim
Internet says you're the enemy. Why should we listen to you?
Ellena
Shouldn't believe everything you read.
Handles
Where are you?
Ellena
Small town called Burkitsville. Just south along the railroad.
Handles
I know it.
Ellena
Plenty of food and outside the quarantine zone.
Handles
How do we get there?
Ellena
If you're still at the racecourse you need to go south, then west to the tracks.
Ellena
Follow the line south and you'll be out.
Henry
What about the Army?
Ellena
They're busy in midtown. They won't be bothering you.
Grim
How do you know that?
Ellena
New arrivals tell us everything. Do you have food?
Handles
Just got some. Enough to walk out at least.
Ellena
Great. Remember. Go west then south along the tracks.
Handles
Why should we trust you?
Ellena
Because at the moment I'm the only one in this world that wants to keep you breathing.
Grim
Good point. Definitely one worthy of consideration.
Mika
Are you sure we can trust her?
Handles
No idea, but if south is safer we should go for it.
Grim
She is right about the fighting.
Grim
I'm on the roof and I can see flashes all over midtown.
Handles
Then we should get going.
Handles
Me and Mika will lead. Henry you make sure nobody strays. Grim you take up the rear.
Henry
Sounds like a good job for Grim.
Grim
STFU Asshole. Why do I have to be at the back?
Handles
Because you're good at it.
Grim
Since when?
Handles
Since I said you were. Keep any stragglers with the group. OK?
Grim
Geezus.
Handles
Let's get going.
Mika 3.07am
Found the tracks.
Handles
See anything?
Mika
Nothing. Ellena was rght about the way being clear. No Army, no Police.
Handles
Great. Henry?
Henry
Here.
Handles
Pass the word. We'll use the tracks to go south.
Henry
Great. I can't see anything in this light.
Grim
Better hurry. I can hear trucks.
Handles
Are they coming this way?
Grim
Dunno. Distant. Probably at the carpark.
Handles
Well if they are, they'll be able to track us here.
Grim
Good reason to move faster.
Handles
Agreed. Henry, Mika. You hear that?
Mika
Passing the word.
Henry
Ditto.
Grim 4.16am
Handles?
Handles
Yeh?
Grim
Trucks on the move. Using the access road. Getting close.
Handles
Damn. See that factory.
Grim
The one with the three stacks?
Handles
That's it. Make for it. We should all be able to get inside.
Henry
It'll be tight.
Handles
Better than being found out here in the open.
Henry
Copy that.
Handles 4.21am
Grim. You see anything?
Grim
Trucks are on the other side of the tracks. Can see lights. Shadows moving in the dark.
Grim
They're searching the line further south. We're gonna have to lay low here for a while.
Handles
OK.
Henry
Factory was a good call. Nothing like a few thousand people suddenly disappearing.
Grim
LOL. Army must be scratching its collective head. Hold on. Movement at the station.
Handles
What now?
Grim
Flares to the east, near the river. Trucks moving off. Soldiers running.
Ellena
Have they gone?
Handles
Yeh. How did you know?
Ellena
Trying to get you out. Saw an opportunity.
Ellena
Still a few miles to go. Up for it?
Handles
Just a few minutes. Found some food here. Will get moving in ten.
Ellena
Don't take long.
Ellena
Any of that food still walking?
Handles
Most of it.
Ellena
Good. Tell your people not to eat the dead ones if they can help it.
Mika
Why?
Elenna
Too much will make you go berserk. Have to keep a clear head if you want to get out.
Moses 6.55am
Handles. You there?
Moses
Don't know if you're still alive. I hope you get this.
Moses
Wherever you are, don't go south. Reports of a massive infected herd following the tracks.
Moses
Two thousand strong at least, making for Burkitsville.
Moses
They're using their cell phones to communicate. Don't know how but they are.
Moses
Dammit Handles. Why don't you answer?
THE END
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