Dead & Alive (Book 1): Survive (2 page)

This mission is too important, so if at any time you feel he is not up to it, then you have our support to take command,” she told Jack. He sat there for a moment in silence and then had a giggle to himself, “If his command decisions place the Section at risk, I would take command, and honestly I don’t care about support. I am a solider I took an oath.

My past is my own, you have my word this mission will succeed,” Jack stated. The middle-aged man smiled, “You're right, he is the right man for this job,” he said to Captain Jenkins.

“Thank you Jack and the best of luck for tonight,” she said while indicating he could leave. Jack stood and saluted the Captain and walked out of the door.

“Is he as good as they say,” the middle-aged man asked the Captain. Captain Jenkins looked at him, “He is better than good, he is why we chose this Section for this mission,” she replied. The middle-aged man looked on, “Should we have told him?” he asked.

“There is too much at risk, telling him would jeopardize everything," she replied. “Shame we will lose him, but I guess it is a necessary loss,” he said while putting his laptop away.

“The helicopter will be here soon to take us back to base, we should leave,” Captain Jenkins told him while walking to the door.

Jack walked with a concerned look on his face, he knew something was not right, but he knew even if there was a small chance of a cure then it was his duty to find it.

He walked through an open hatchway entering a huge area; it was full of vehicles, food, weapons, and even sleeping bags. This is where all of the army personnel on board slept, he walked across the deck and could hear arguing coming from the area where his Section slept.

He walked over; he could see everyone was there except for the Corporal, typical he thought to himself, at a time like this he should be here with his team

. “OK, EVERYONE SHUT UP!” Jack shouted at them all.

Jack moved to confront his team. “So what’s all this?” Jack asked all of them. “Sir, I…” Private Walsh started to say, but was interrupted by Jack, Jack looked at the soldier in front of him, Private Walsh had a shaved head and a baby face, he looked far too young to be a solider, “I have told you, call me Jack not Sir, Josh Walsh” Jack said while winking at him.

Josh smiled, “Jack, I’m sorry, but this mission is a joke,” Josh told Jack. “You all feel like this? “Jack asked, looking around at the team.

They all stood there looking at Jack with a worried look on their faces. He looked at the team. Michael was big and strong with not a hair on his head.

Bray made him laugh; and loved the fact he was a little chunky with shabby hair and had the attempts of a mustache growing on his face. It reminded him of his former drill sergeant. Sarah, if she was not a soldier she would ha been a model with her looks and blonde hair, finally Andrew, he could make you laugh all day, he had the brightest ginger hair and beard around, Jack always made a comment that he was a walking target glowing in the dark.

However, Jack was growing tired of the silence, “Josh Walsh, Elle Atkinson, Michael Ross, Bray Murray, Sarah Lewis and Andrew Reid, listen up.

This mission is a joke, but we are not here to debate, we are here to follow orders and we have been ordered to travel to hell and rescue someone who can give us our home back,” Jack stated to everyone. “Any of you want to say no to that?” Jack continued.

The team looked at Jack, “Damn, you should be leading us Jack,” Elle Atkinson replied. “Now, Now, Corporal Frank Adams is our leader and we follow him to hell and back,” Jack replied with a touch of anger in his voice.

The team laughed at Jack’s comments, Jack smiled at his team, “OK, we only have a few hours so we should get ready,” Jack told all of them. “All of you go and get some food and myself and the Corporal will meet you there,” Jack told the Section. The team started to walk away towards the mess hall.

Private Elle Atkinson waited a few moments so she could speak to Jack alone, “You know we would follow you anywhere,” she said to Jack, he looked Elle in her dark brown eyes, she had the cutest little smile, Jack had always found Elle very attractive, and under any other situation would ask her out, but she was forbidden fruit. “I am honored, keep an eye on the team for me, try, and keep things positive,” Jack asked her. Elle smiled at Jack, “No problem,” she replied, she then walked away to catch up with the team.

Jack stood there for a few moments, “Damn you Frank, you should be here,” he whispered under his breath and then set off in search of Corporal Adams.

In the command room, Corporal Adams was leaning over a tall desk looking over the detailed maps Captain Jenkins had given him, “I hear you and your team will be getting off this ship tonight,” A man’s voice said behind him.

Corporal Adams was stunned; he turned to see Commander Groves approaching. “Commander, this mission is Top Secret,” Corporal Adams said in a sarcastic voice.

“Relax Frank; we are all on the same side. Besides, they have to tell me when a stealth helicopter is disembarking from my ship and I have to disable all the ships tracking systems, so relax,” Commander Groves snapped back.

They both stood in silence for a moment and were then disturbed by another voice, “There you are!” a voice said. Jack entered the room, “Jack, I have just been going over the maps,” Frank told him.

“Frank, it’s a ten-minute walk. We will be fine,” Jack replied. Jack looked over to Commander Groves, “Hey Johnathan, everything ready for tonight?” he asked.

Johnathan Groves looked at Jack and chuckled, “All is ready Jack, whatever it is you’re doing be careful out there, remember we have our poker game Friday nights,” Johnathan said.

Jack laughed, “Be back before you know it. “Do me a favor and give me a few moments with Frank?” Jack asked. “No problem, see you tonight,” Johnathan replied. He walked out of the room, knowing Jack wanted privacy he closed the hatch behind him.

“Jack, I would appreciate you calling me Corporal or Sir in front of other superior officers,” Corporal Adams told Jack, Jack turned to Frank with an angry expression, “I would appreciate you, looking after the team, Frank!” Jack snapped.

“Why, what is there a problem with them?” Frank asked. “They have all just been told their own lives are worth less than one Doctor,” Jack told Frank. Frank looked lost for words, Jack knew Frank did not mean any harm; he was just not that experienced in command, but his father was a general and used his power to help his son into command.

“Look Frank, when it comes down to it, all we have is each other out there, we all need to know we can trust the person next to us,” Jack told him in a polite voice.

Frank gave an awkward smile, “You should be leading this team, not me,” He told Jack.

“You are in charge, and I have your back. Just make sure the team knows you have their backs too,” Jack replied while placing his hand on Franks shoulder.

“I know you cannot tell me the details Jack, but you have done this kind of mission before right?” Frank asked.

Jack stepped back, “No mission is ever the same Frank, but I have been to hell before,” Jack replied. Frank tipped his head in gratitude to Jack; Frank knew Jack had a past and that his military file was sealed.

Frank could only imagine what Jack was before he joined the Section. “Thanks Jack,” Frank said. Jack smiled, “No problem, Sir” Jack replied.

Frank laughed, “Jack, call me Frank,” he smiled. “Come on, Frank, the team is getting something to eat and then we are prepping for our mission, come on let’s join them,” Jack replied.

They both laughed and left the room together to join the team.

The team was all sitting around a table in the canteen; the table had food all over it.

They were all laughing and telling obscene jokes to each other. Elle noticed in the hatchway, Corporal Adams and Lance Corporal was entering the room, “ATTENTION!” Elle shouted to the team.

The Section started to stand, “NO! no, not necessary, sit down, you mind if we join you/” Frank asked. The Section looked shocked, Private Ross was the one to answer, “Of course', Sir,” he told him.

“Thank You Michael,” Franks replied, both he and Jack sat and joined their team. There was an awkward silence until one of the team broke the silence, “Sir, are you looking forward to getting off the ship,” Private Lewis asked.

Frank looked towards Lewis, he looked at this short blonde haired, blue eyed woman, “Frank, please call me Frank,” Frank replied.

Jack smiled, but jumped in, “Only when we are in private, understood,” Jack told them.

That really broke the silence and everyone laughed. Jack nudged Frank, “Nice work,” Jack whispered to him. Everyone was smiling and enjoying the meal. Frank sat there looking at his team and he smiled.

The landing deck of the ship was empty; all personnel had been restricted to their quarters until 22:30, just inside the hanger bay the Section waited for their ride to arrive. You could see the team was nervous; they were all dressed in black uniforms.

“OK, everyone double check your weapons and kit, I don’t want to have to turn back,” Jack told them all. “Where the hell is all the gas masks?” Bray asked.

“We have been informed since this is non-hostile, they are not needed, so only basic supplies are to be taken,” Frank told a worried group.

Frank looked around the team, “Everyone, I just wanted to say something. I am not very good at this sort of thing, but I wanted to say you are the best I have ever worked with, stick together, follow orders, and we will be back here in 24 hours,” he told the team. Private Bray Murray started to applaud, quickly followed by Private Andrew Reid and the rest of the team, all except for Jack.

Jack had moved to just outside the hanger, Frank noticed and walked over to him. “You OK?” Frank asked. Jack smiled, “I’m good, just anxious to get this thing started,” he replied.

A rumbling noise came from the sky; a helicopter cut through the clouds in the night sky and approached the ship. “Here we go,” Jack, said aloud.

Commander Groves came into sight from the hanger bay, “You all set,” he asked them as the helicopter landed on the light deck.

“As ready as we can be,” Frank replied. Jack turned to the team, “Mason, Walsh, Atkinson, Ross, Murray, Lewis, Reid, time to leave!”

Jack shouted to them. The team walked out of the hanger and ran towards the helicopter; the pilot exited the helicopter and guided the team to their seats.

“Ready, Jack,” Frank asked. “Give me a minute, I want to speak to Johnathan quickly,” Jack replied. “OK, be quick,” he replied and run towards the helicopter himself

. Jack walked over to Johnathan, “If something goes wrong and we don’t make it back, do me a favor, and make sure they do not send anyone else after us,” Jack told him.

Johnathan looked at his friend and placed his hand on Jack’s shoulder, “I expect to see you on Friday for our poker game, I need to win some of my money back,” he said with a smile.

Jack laughed, turned, and started to move towards the helicopter. Johnathan shouted out, “HAVE FUN!” Jack turned, “I ALWAYS DO!” he shouted back while saluting his friend out of respect.

Jack boarded the helicopter and within seconds, they had taken off. Johnathan Groves looked to the sky and watched the helicopter disappear into the darkness. “Good luck,” he whispered under his breath.

INTO HELL

As the helicopter neared its destination, the Section all looked out over their former homeland. It was pitch black, only the natural light from the moon and the stars shown over England. This once thriving over populated country was now a graveyard.

The pilot spoke over the radio to Frank, “We are two minutes out, once we land you have thirty seconds to disembark,” the pilot told him.

“Understood, what is the plan for picking us up?” Frank asked. “In exactly 24 hours, have a place for me to land and light it with your flares. I will only pass over once, no flares and you’re on your own,” the pilot said sternly. Frank did not respond to the pilot. Frank indicated to Jack with a thumb up that they were almost there; Jack put his hand up in response the rest of the team got themselves prepared to go.

The helicopter started its descent; it touched down on the grass. “OK, LET’S GO!” Jack, shouted, within seconds the team had disembarked and moved clear of the helicopter blades. Frank was the last one out; he closed the door behind him and banged the side of the helicopter to indicate they were clear. Frank joined Jack, “Here we are,” Frank said to him. They both looked up and watched as the helicopter flew away. “Home sweet home,” Jack replied to Frank.

They had landed in the middle of a park, looking around the pure darkness made it hard to see too far ahead, the grass was overgrown; this made walking difficult as the wind blew a cold breeze. There were trees in the distance, beyond that a black fence which surrounded the park.

“OK, everyone we are moving out so take this nice and slow,” Frank, told the team.

All the team started to move away, “Wait! Make sure your weapons are ready,” Jack told all of them while he looked concerned while they checked their main guns, which were the basic Assault Rifle Carbine.

“Speaking of weapons, why do we even need them,” asked Bray Murray. “Have you ever seen a hungry dog?” Jack replied. Bray looked all around in curiosity and fear, “Fair point,” he replied.

The team started to tread their way through the long grass, moving towards an opening in the fence. Jack was looking around and looked more concerned than everyone else did.

They reached the fence, stepping off the grass onto concrete. The gate on the fence was wide open, Jack was first to move outside the park with his main gun raised. The team quickly followed him all with their guns at the ready. Jack was still looking around, there was abandoned cars scattered around the streets. The weeds and the grass already starting to cover the concrete ground, there was debris all over the roads and pavements. Windows on near buildings had been broken; litter flew around in the wind.

“OK, remember the virus is still present in the bodies. So stay clear,” Frank reminded everyone.

Jack continued to step forward, Frank noticed Jack was uneasy and approached him. “Jack, did you hear me? Be careful of the bodies,” he told Jack softly.

Jack moved forward a few feet, “Millions died here,” Jack said aloud. All the team heard Jack and moved closer to him. Frank was starting to get concerned about Jack, “We know Jack, it’s tragic, but we have to be careful, “Frank told Jack in a concerned voice.

“No, you do not understand. Millions died, so where are the bodies?” Jack replied in a worried voice.

All the team started looking around, Elle was the first to speak out, “What the hell,” she said.

Frank was now getting concerned himself, “We should keep moving,” he told everyone.

Jack started walking with the team following close behind. They reached the edge of a building and turned the corner. “What is that?” Michael Ross asked, pointing ahead of him.

The team looked and could see a dark figure moving. The team started to move forward towards the figure.

“HELLO?” Michael shouted out.

Jack quickly reacted, “Michael, shut up!” he said angrily.

As the team got closer, they could see the dark figure was a person on their knees crouched over a dog. The team got within ten feet of the person, Jack lifted his fist, indicating to the team to stop. Jack continued to move forward slowly, “Excuse me, are you OK?” he asked the dark figure. The dark figure began to turn; as it came into view, the person was smothered in blood.

“Oh my god,” Michael said while defying orders and running to the person. As he got closer, he could see that it was a woman, long blonde hair stained in blood, half her face rotted away.

Jack shouted to Michael, “STOP!”

As Michael stood in front of the woman he could see her fully, time seemed to slow down at that moment. “What the fuck!” Michael uttered under his breath when seeing the woman up close. In a split second the woman lunged at Michael, she pushed her head into his neck and sunk her teeth into his neck. Tearing the flesh from his neck, blood sprayed out. As Michael fell to his knees trying to grab his neck, the woman came into focus for everyone.

Blood poured from her mouth with bits of Michael’s flesh still hanging from her lips, her face was shredded skin, maggots were crawling in her open wounds, and her stomach was all torn open with her intestines hanging out. Jack looked directly at the woman’s dead eyes. Jack raised his gun, but before he could fire two shots echoed past him and hit the woman in the chest, she fell to the ground. Jack turned to see Frank was holding up his weapon. Sara Lewis began to run towards Michael, but Jack grabbed her, stopping her.

“What about Michael?” she asked Jack scared.

A groaning noise came from the woman, she started to move and get back to her feet.

“WHAT!” Frank shouted with a look of shock on his face.

Jack pushed Sara back towards the rest of the team, he raised his gun, and shot a single bullet at the woman hitting her in the throat, she still kept coming. Jack stepped closer and shot again, this time in the woman’s head. She hit the ground hard her head bounced off the concrete ground and cracked open.

Jack moved over to the woman to make sure she was staying down this time. Convinced she was dead, he turned his attention to Michael. With his hands still covering the open wound on his neck, blood was still gushing out, he was shaking, and his face grew pale as the blood drained from him. “Elle, Andrew, here now!” Jack shouted.

They both ran to join Michael and Jack, “We need to get him off the street,” Jack told them. Elle and Andrew covered his wound with bandages from their vests and picked him up.

Before they moved too far a loud scream echoed out, Jack shot round to see dozens of dark figures approaching them, Sara stood there screaming while raising her gun, but fear took over and before she could take a shot she was over run. The rest of the team tried to get to her, but it was too late, Frank ordered them to step back.

Frank watched as those things tore into the flesh of Sara’s body. At that moment, more of the figures moved towards them, groaning louder as they got closer. “We have to move, NOW!” Jack shouted.

Frank and the rest of the team ran over to Jack, “What do we do?” asked Josh.

Jack and Frank looked around the street and noticed a shop on the far side of the street, “There, everyone in there and block the doorway,” Jack pointed to everyone.

Elle and Andrew carrying Michael started to run towards the shop. Frank was still standing in the same place looking at Sara. “Frank, Come on. Nothing we can do for her now, “Jack told him. Frank did not respond, Jack grabbed him by the arm and pulled him.

Frank looked at Jack; he noticed Frank was as white as a ghost. Jack pointed to the shop, “In there,” Jack told him. Frank moved towards the shops. Jack took one last look back at Sara, many of the figures were still all over her body, and two of the dead were ripping the flesh from her face, Jack noticed one of the figures tearing out her eyeball with its teeth.

“I’m sorry,” Jack whispered, before running over to the shop himself.

Josh forced open the door of the shop, he went inside with his gun raised making sure the store was safe. “It’s clear,” he shouted back to the team.

Gunshots were echoing as Jack and Frank stood shooting at the figures trying to slow them down. With the team now inside the shop, Jack looked up to the shop sign and noticed a metal shutter. “Frank up there!” Jack shouted, pointing at the metal shutter.

Looking up Frank also noticed the shutter, both ran to the doorway and reached up, grabbing the bottom of the shutter, with force they dragged it down shutting them all inside. The figures just walked into the shutter, banging and trying to find a way in.

Elle and Andrew lay Michael on a desk; they rushed round him trying to help. They pulled bandages from their kit and tried to push against his neck trying to stop the bleeding. Michael looked lifeless, he had no color in his face, and blood covered his uniform. Elle was trying hard to help, her eyes filled with tears and emotion over her face. Everyone stood looking as Elle tried her best to save her friend but it was too late.

She continued to try, shouting at Michael, Fight, damn you, fight,” she cried.

Jack walked over to her, “Elle,” he said gently. Jack put his arm around her shoulders as she cried.

“No, we have to help him,” she said.

“He’s gone,” Jack, told her.

She started to break down, Jack pulled her in close, and she threw her arms around him, burying her head into his chest as she cried.

As Jack and Elle stood holding each other, Frank looked over the shop, he could see it was a furniture shop. Tables, sofas, bookcases were all scattered around the shop. “Sara?” Josh asked.

Frank looked at Josh, “NO!” he simply replied. Josh turned and punched the wall; Bray fell back against the wall and dropped to the floor.

Elle had calmed down, she let go of Jack and smiled at him, “What the hell were those things?” She asked everyone.

Jack moved over to the front of the shop to look through the tiny holes in the shutter. “Cannibals!” Andrew shouted out, “They have to be cannibals, the virus must have made them crazy,” Andrew continued saying.

“WHAT!” Bray shouted out.

“CANNIBALS!” Josh shouted in a confused voice.

Frank stepped in, “Stop shouting, we do not know anything,” he told them. “Zombies,” a voice calmly said.

Everyone turned to the direction of the voice, looking at the front of the shop everyone knew it was Jack. “Come on be serious,” Frank, told him.

“Come on, zombies are not real, they are monsters in stories,” Andrew replied.

  Jack turned to look at Andrew, “What else can they be?” he asked sarcastically. “They are probably just something that we have not thought of yet,” Josh spoke out in a scared voice.

“Frank shot that woman in the chest, I put one in her neck and she still kept coming, then I put one in her head and down she went,” Jack told them, while getting angry.

“Seriously Jack, stop it,” Frank told him. “Frank, her intestines were hanging by her fucking knees. So she is either a Zombie or she has taken dieting to a whole new level,” Jack replied in anger.

The room went quiet, Jack moved towards the team, “Come on we have all seen the film Night of the Living Dead, “Jack said jokingly, trying to make them calmer. 

“So what do we do?” Elle asked. All the team looked at Frank, he looked uncomfortable, “Erm, I don’t know,” he replied.

Jack looked at him in anger. “We keep going; the plan is still the same. Get to the Doctor and wait for a ride out of here,” Jack told everyone.

“How are we going to find him with all those things out there?” Bray asked.

“He sent the signal, which means he is somewhere safe, we just have to get to him,” Jack replied. “That’s the plan,” Frank said aloud.

Jack was not impressed with Frank, “We need to move,” Jack told him. “There must be a back door out of this place,” Jack continued. Everyone began to steady their nerves and check their weapons. Andrew moved over to Michael’s lifeless body to get his gun he leant against the wall. Andrew stood over the body feeling guilty for not being able to help his friend; he leant down to pick up his bag.

A groaning noise echoed in the room, Andrew looked up as Michael’s eyes opened slowly; his eyes were all misty and bloodshot. “Michael,” Andrew spoke. Everyone in the room turned to see what was happening.

Andrew dropped his bag and moved closer to Michael, “HE’S NOT DEAD!” he shouted out. Andrew started to touch Michael.

“NO!” Jack shouted

. Andrew turned his head to look at what Jack was shouting at, with that Michael lunged at Andrew sinking his teeth into Andrews face. Michael sunk in his teeth and ripped a chunk of flesh from Andrews face; Andrew stood and turned to the group screaming in pain and blood spraying out. Looking at Andrew, his upper lip and most of his nose had been ripped from his face. Blood gushed down Andrews’s front.

“SHIT!” Josh shouted out.

Jack raised his gun, looking at Michael, who was now sitting up and started to stand up, within seconds a bullet shot through his head, Michael slumped backwards. Andrew fell to his knees screaming in pain. Elle started to rush to him, but Frank pulled her back.

“We have to help him,” she screamed. Josh and Bray just stood glued to the spot they looked at Elle. Frank held Elle back; she screamed again, “We have to help him!”