Killing the Dead Read Free

fumbled with the keys to try and unlock the door.
    “Hurry” I called across, just as the first body crashed against the door.
    I knew that I wouldn’t be able to hold on for long, these undead people seemed extremely strong. I looked around my kitchen for something to help block the door. The fridge would work but I doubted that I would have the time to cross the room and manhandle it back to the kitchen door. No. I was left with little choice.
    With a deep sigh I bade farewell to my favourite knife before I reached down and thrust the blade beneath the door. A firm kick against the knife handle wedged it firmly in place, making an effective doorstop. It wouldn’t last too long, but perhaps long enough for the two of us to escape.
    “All clear, let’s go.” my companion called before she exited my home, and jogged quickly across the back garden towards the high wall that provided a barrier against entry for all but the neighbourhood cats. I said farewell to my home, my sanctuary, the place where I had lived and slept, as I dreamt of all the delightful things I would do to so many people.
    It was time to go. I stepped through the door, retrieving the keys before I shut and locked it behind me. It would take the undead some time to break through both doors. We could rest a moment and I would be able to speak to this lady. I had no real idea what was going on or where we would find a safe place.
    By the time I joined my somewhat unwilling companion, she had pulled herself to the top of the wall, hanging with just her head peeking over to allow her to see beyond.
    “We have a little time” I began, “perhaps we should introduce ourselves and you can tell me what exactly is going on.”
    She dropped down beside me and paused a moment before nodding. Then she began to speak. “The news has been saying it’s happening all over. It began a couple of weeks ago; some super bug was causing people to get sick. After a day or so the people would die. The doctors couldn’t figure out why and no drug they tried seemed to work.” She turned and looked at me, “How could you not know this?”
    “I don’t watch much TV and I was busy looking for someone who would be appropriate for my... hobby.” I replied, offering a small smile.
    “Hobby. Right, that.” Her tone gave a firm indication of how she felt about that. “The hospitals got crowded with the sick and then with the morgues all full, the hospitals were running out of space to put the dead.” She sighed and leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes.
    “My boyfriend worked at the hospital. He called me yesterday. He was scared; he said that something had changed. The people who had died were starting to come back.” She started to cry softly, arms wrapped around her body. I wondered if I was supposed to do something to comfort her.
    “He was scared. The dead people were attacking everyone. Ripping them apart and the ones they killed would get up and join them. He was stuck on the top floor of the hospital with some of the children.” She stopped talking to take the time to – thankfully – pull herself together a little. She brushed her hand across her eyes wiping away the tears before she continued.
    “The last thing I heard was someone screaming that they had broken through the doors when the call ended. He didn’t pick up the phone again, no matter how many times I called so I jumped in my car and headed straight for the hospital. I needed to know what had happened to him.
    When I arrived, it was chaos. Those... things were wandering everywhere. I couldn’t even get to the entrance. The police were there with guns and shooting at them. It didn’t seem to stop them. I saw some of the policemen die, dragged under a crowd of those monsters and ripped apart. It was awful. I panicked and drove away.” She sighed once more. “I was listening to the radio in the car; it said this was happening everywhere and that people should stay indoors. I was heading