Ravage: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel(40)

“Into the kitchen,” yelled Carl. “There’s a fire exit at the back.”

The infected screeched as they gave chase, clambering up and over the counter in a flood of limbs. Nick and the others rounded the L-shaped corridor of the kitchen and wasted no time in gathering up against the fire exit that Carl had promised them was there. Jan leapt into the air and kicked the push-bar that crossed the door’s centre and it flew open with a clatter. The air rushed in from outside; it was crisp and cold.

“Everyone outside,” Dave ordered.

Jan stood in the doorway, holding it open and ushering everyone out. Nick waited whilst the women funnelled through, ready to shoot out right after them.

But it was then that he realised someone was missing.

“Shit!” he said. “I have to go get Margaret. She’ll still be in the staffroom.”

“Leave her,” Dave said. “You’ve got no way to reach her.”

Nick stood still, tempted to fight his way back through the kitchen and into the restaurant. But the infected were everywhere. In fact, they were rounding the corner right now and closing in on the fire exit.

Jan grabbed a hold of Nick and pulled him through the doorway. Dave immediately slammed the door shut behind them. The infected mob clattered against the other side, beating at it furiously.

It had been close, but they had all made it out, with only milliseconds to spare. Nick let his shoulders drop as he looked back at the locked door. Everyone except Margaret. We left the poor woman to die.

I’m sorry.

Everyone was huddled at the back of the steep hill, behind the café. They were currently hidden from the car park, and from the lethal monsters that were loitering there.

“We have to go,” said Dave, “before they realise that we’re back here.”

Nick shook his head. “We can’t just leave Margaret behind. She might still be alive in there.”

Dave shrugged. “You do whatever you have to, but the rest of us are getting out of here.”

Eve gave Nick a pleading look. “We have to get out of here before they find us. You can’t help her.”

“You go with everyone else,” he told her. “I’ll catch up with you.”

Eve shook her head vigorously. “No way. You have to come with us.”

“I will. Just get going.” She went to argue with him but he didn’t let her. “Just go!”

Everyone clambered up the hill, struggling through the undergrowth and heading back towards the woods they’d arrived from yesterday. Nick watched them go, but was surprised to see that Jan was still standing there beside him.

“What the hell are you doing? Get out of here.”

“I figured you could use a hand.”

“I don’t want your help.”

“Well, maybe the old dear inside does. You selfish enough to turn me away when a woman’s life is at stake?”

Nick huffed. “Fine, let’s just do this.”

He pressed his back against the building. There was no way inside the fire exit, but he knew that the staffroom had a window. If he could find it, he might be able to get Margaret out.

Jan followed Nick as he moved cautiously around the building. The keening pitch of the security alarm was deafening, which made it impossible to hear what was around the next corner.

I could be walking right into a whole bunch of them.

He stopped at the edge of the building’s rear wall and prepared himself to peek around the corner.

“Be careful,” said Jan. “Those things see you and they come at you like heat-seeking missiles.”

“I know. I’ve seen enough of them.”

Slowly, inch-by-inch, he leaned around the corner, searching for the nearest threat. He soon pulled his head back and cursed. “Damn it! There must be at least a dozen of them around there.”


Jan scratched his beard. “I have an idea.”

Nick sighed. “What?”

Jan looked upwards at the building’s roof. “It’s a single story. With a boost I should be able to get up there; create a distraction for you.”

“But, then, how do you get down again without them getting you?”

He shrugged. “One thing at a time, brother. You in?”

Nick thought about it and then nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.” He threaded his fingers together and made a platform for Jan to step on, before hoisting the large man upwards. “Jesus Christ, you weigh the same as an elephant.”

Jan dangled for a second and then heaved himself up in a finely executed pull-up. At the top, he straightened up and brushed the dust from his knees. “Only two things to do in prison,” he said, looking down at Nick from the roof. “Educate one’s mind and exercise one’s body. You ready? I’ll try and get them to follow me around to the other end of the building so that you can get the old dear free and clear.”

Nick nodded, but kept a serious look on his face. “You know we’re still going to have that conversation about what happened to Cassie?”

“Looking forward it,” said Jan as he raced off to the opposite side of the roof.

Nick waited and listened for the distraction.

“COME ON, YOU STINKING ARSEHOLES. COME GET IT!”

Nick decided that was his cue. He peeked back around the corner to see that the infected gathered there had turned around and were now racing to the other side of the building. The coast was clear.