Read Online Surviving the Fall: How England Died by Stephen Cross - Free Book Online

it and walked back into the corridor.
    That’s when he heard the scream.
     
    “What was that?!” cried Ellie.
    “I don’t know…” said Angie.
    The door flung open, it was Mac. “You two ok?” he said.
    They nodded.
    “Good, stay here, that sounded like Gaz.”
    Mac backed out of the room and walked to the bend in the corridor, where four more rooms where, including where Gaz and Johnny were staying.
    First he saw Johnny, his back to him, and beyond he could make out two figures struggling.
    “Get out of the way!” shouted Mac, running past Johnny.
    Gaz was backing up towards the end of the corridor. Ed, the seemingly alive but dead Ed, shuffled after Gaz, a guttural moaning coming from his throat, filtered through the hole in his neck.
    “Back off pal!” shouted Mac. Ed paid no attention and continued to advance on Gaz.
    Mac approached quickly and pulled on Ed’s shoulder. Ed spun round and hissed at Mac, then reached for him, his jaws snapping open and shut.
    Mac swung the crowbar high and fast, and it connected with Ed’s skull. It shattered immediately, blood and white fragments of bone flying through the air. Ed wobbled, and Mac smashed another heavy blow down hard. Ed fell to the ground with a dull thump.
    Mac, breathing heavily, looked at Gaz, who said, “What the fuck?”
    Mac shook his head. “No idea, son. But I think we can assume that things are fucked.”
    Johnny’s voice came from behind, “The bugger bit me.”
    Mac turned to face him.
    “I came out of my room, and the bugger was walking up and down this corridor, moaning. I was sure he was dead, you saw it last night, right, and I freaked out a little. He started coming towards me and I tripped up.” He held up his arm where there was a large gash, the blood flowing freely. “That’s when he fell on me and bit my arm.”
    “I got him off Johnny,” said Gaz. “And then he came for me.” Gaz was pale, his pupils wide, his hands shaking.
    Mac eyed the bite on Johnny’s arm. “Let’s get that seen to, I’ll get Angie. And leave the talking to me. Last thing that poor girl wants to know is that her fella came back alive and started trying to eat people.” Mac shook his head. “Christ on a bike…”
     
    Gaz and Johnny headed down to the bar, and Mac went to Ellie’s room. He found the two women sitting up on the bed, holding each other’s hands, their eyes open and expectant.
    “What’s happened?” said Angie.
    Mac opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say.
    “Mac, what is it?”
    “I don’t know. Well, I do, but it’s all wrong. Everything is… Johnny has been bit. He needs some help cleaning the wound.”
    “Bitten?” said Angie, “what by? Some sort of animal?”
    Mac didn’t answer but glanced at Ellie. His eyes told her everything.
    Ellie’s face fell, “It was Ed, wasn’t it? He’s become one of those things? Oh my God, he’s become one of those things!”
    Angie wrapped her arms around Ellie and said, “Mac?”
    Mac nodded.
    “I’ll stay here with Ellie.”
    “Ok… no wait…” He ducked out of the room and looked up and down the corridor. Empty. “Take her to our room, and wait there. The door is stronger. Lock it. Don’t let anyone in unless they speak to you - you got that? Make sure whoever is at the door speaks to you.”
    Angie nodded and stood up with the help of her canes. She held out a hand to Ellie, who followed Angie blindly, taken over by a second grief.
     
    Downstairs, Johnny was sitting on one of the soft back chairs that lined the walls of the pub. He has his arm rested on the table, and had a pint of bitter in front of him.
    “Reckon I’ll need something stronger than that soon, this thing hurts like a bugger.” His injured arm was held out on the table. Gaz had wrapped a white cloth around it, which the blood was quickly turning red.
    “Apply more pressure, Gaz,” said Mac as he pulled a bottle of Whiskey down from one of the optics. “First, pour a load of this over