Read Online Ravage: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel by Iain Rob Wright - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Iain Rob Wright
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“And?”
“No good. There were sick people everywhere; bleeding
and half-naked, making those terrible screeching sounds they make. It was
a blood bath. I turned around and left no more than five seconds after
getting there – was a complete death trap. In fact, there’s a gal named
Pauline I picked up from near the hospital just in time. She had a group
of maybe a dozen crazies right on her heels. Lucky I got to her when I
did. She’s still with us, couple rows from the front. She’ll tell
you herself that the hospital is a no go.”
Nick felt defeated. People were sick and even the
hospital couldn’t help, apparently. How was the situation ever going to
get better when there was nowhere to go, no one to take control or offer
assistance?
“How about a police station?” Nick asked.
Dave shook his head. “The cop shop is in the town
centre and the main roads to town are all blocked up with traffic.”
“Then where?”
“Well,” Dave began. “One of the folks I picked up
earlier had the idea of finding an Army base or something. They tend to
be out in the countryside where things might not be so bad.”
Nick nodded. “If anyone can deal with a shit storm
like this it’s the military. Where is the nearest base?”
“That’s the problem. No one has any idea and the
guy who originally suggested it took off on his own to find his family.
So keep an eye out for any road signs that might help us. I’m going to
head towards Nottingham. See if we can find the Sherwood Foresters or, at
the very least, a petrol station that isn’t overrun. The Foresters are a pretty
big regiment, right?”
Nick shrugged. He had no idea. He looked out
at the road ahead and was glad to see that it was clear for the time
being. There might finally be time to take a breather. Although the
chance to sit and think things through in detail, to reflect on the day’s
terrible events, was not something he was looking forward to.
James…
Deana…
“You mind if I take a seat, Dave? I’m dead on my
feet.”
“Take a load off, my friend. If I need something,
I’ll let you know.”
He went over and took a seat beside Eve. The girl
was currently leant up against the window, examining the scenery as it rushed
by.
“I’m filthy,” she said without turning away from the
window.
Nick stared at her. “What?”
She stretched out her legs to show the mud that covered
her jeans from the ankles to the knees. “Look at me. I need a
shower. Need to wash my hair. It’s disgusting.”
“Big picture, Eve. People are dead, or at least in
much worse shape than you. You can clean yourself up later.”
“Don’t talk to me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re my fucking dad, or something.”
Nick felt himself snarl. “I’m not your fucking
dad. My only child died this morning on my goddamn kitchen floor, and all
you can do is moan about some dirt under your nails.”
Eve folded her arms grumpily and grunted. It was
obvious she had no interest in speaking to him unless he was ready to indulge
her complaints.
Fair enough . Guess there’s no reason for
us to be bosom buddies now that our life-and-death experience is over.
She can go back to being a stroppy teenager and I can go back to being an
adult.
Nick rose up from his seat and switched over to the
other side of the bus, taking a seat just in front of a middle-aged woman in
the tattered remnants of a grey blouse. A colourful scarf lay on the seat
beside her. It was covered in blood that seemed to merge with the floral
pattern. He smiled at the woman as he settled into the threadbare cushion
in front of her.
“Hey,” she said to him wearily. “Welcome to the
hell bus.”
Nick chuckled, but it contained no mirth; it was a mere
social instinct. “Well, I for one am glad to be a passenger. Beats
being where I was before Dave picked me up.”
The woman nodded. “It’s not
“No good. There were sick people everywhere; bleeding
and half-naked, making those terrible screeching sounds they make. It was
a blood bath. I turned around and left no more than five seconds after
getting there – was a complete death trap. In fact, there’s a gal named
Pauline I picked up from near the hospital just in time. She had a group
of maybe a dozen crazies right on her heels. Lucky I got to her when I
did. She’s still with us, couple rows from the front. She’ll tell
you herself that the hospital is a no go.”
Nick felt defeated. People were sick and even the
hospital couldn’t help, apparently. How was the situation ever going to
get better when there was nowhere to go, no one to take control or offer
assistance?
“How about a police station?” Nick asked.
Dave shook his head. “The cop shop is in the town
centre and the main roads to town are all blocked up with traffic.”
“Then where?”
“Well,” Dave began. “One of the folks I picked up
earlier had the idea of finding an Army base or something. They tend to
be out in the countryside where things might not be so bad.”
Nick nodded. “If anyone can deal with a shit storm
like this it’s the military. Where is the nearest base?”
“That’s the problem. No one has any idea and the
guy who originally suggested it took off on his own to find his family.
So keep an eye out for any road signs that might help us. I’m going to
head towards Nottingham. See if we can find the Sherwood Foresters or, at
the very least, a petrol station that isn’t overrun. The Foresters are a pretty
big regiment, right?”
Nick shrugged. He had no idea. He looked out
at the road ahead and was glad to see that it was clear for the time
being. There might finally be time to take a breather. Although the
chance to sit and think things through in detail, to reflect on the day’s
terrible events, was not something he was looking forward to.
James…
Deana…
“You mind if I take a seat, Dave? I’m dead on my
feet.”
“Take a load off, my friend. If I need something,
I’ll let you know.”
He went over and took a seat beside Eve. The girl
was currently leant up against the window, examining the scenery as it rushed
by.
“I’m filthy,” she said without turning away from the
window.
Nick stared at her. “What?”
She stretched out her legs to show the mud that covered
her jeans from the ankles to the knees. “Look at me. I need a
shower. Need to wash my hair. It’s disgusting.”
“Big picture, Eve. People are dead, or at least in
much worse shape than you. You can clean yourself up later.”
“Don’t talk to me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re my fucking dad, or something.”
Nick felt himself snarl. “I’m not your fucking
dad. My only child died this morning on my goddamn kitchen floor, and all
you can do is moan about some dirt under your nails.”
Eve folded her arms grumpily and grunted. It was
obvious she had no interest in speaking to him unless he was ready to indulge
her complaints.
Fair enough . Guess there’s no reason for
us to be bosom buddies now that our life-and-death experience is over.
She can go back to being a stroppy teenager and I can go back to being an
adult.
Nick rose up from his seat and switched over to the
other side of the bus, taking a seat just in front of a middle-aged woman in
the tattered remnants of a grey blouse. A colourful scarf lay on the seat
beside her. It was covered in blood that seemed to merge with the floral
pattern. He smiled at the woman as he settled into the threadbare cushion
in front of her.
“Hey,” she said to him wearily. “Welcome to the
hell bus.”
Nick chuckled, but it contained no mirth; it was a mere
social instinct. “Well, I for one am glad to be a passenger. Beats
being where I was before Dave picked me up.”
The woman nodded. “It’s not
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