Chapter 116

It looked like six regular zombies. To stop to engage me in Patel while the rest carried on past us. I didn’t give the zombie time to attack me as I lept forward, using my shield as a battering ram with the total weight of my body behind it. I collided with a zombie and the impact sent us both staggering backwards. We recovered about the same time and attacked me again by charging wildly forward, but this time, it met my axe head swinging down and colliding with its skull. The expected gore splattered everywhere from the impact. The zombie didn’t make a sound of the collapse to the floor, freeing my axe head as it went.

Looking around, I needed to get an idea of what was happening. The fight seemed balanced, with the support team engaging for and holding their own. Patel was likewise engaged and was winning his fight.

Patel was closer, so I quickly moved over and attacked the zombie from the side. It tried to turn to protect itself, but this left an opening that Patel took advantage of and quickly killed.

We both then turned and moved to aid the support team. We engaged the combatants from the back and we were able to overwhelm them.

“Sargent Patterson. Check everyone over.”

He nodded and quickly began checking his unit for additional injuries. My breathing was not very hard as the fight was surprisingly fast.

“Contacts.” This came from Davids in the rear.

“Guard the front.” I shouted to Patel as I approached the group's rear to see what was happening.

Davids, Holden and the rest of the rearguard were engaged with a similar number of zombies. I passed Hills and noticed she was ready to help, even with a broken arm. The support team was closer, so they were the first to be helped. My axe quickly made short work of the four combatants they were engaging.

By the time I’d reached the other two operatives, they had already taken down their attackers. I quickly looked over and saw no sign of injury.

“Any others?”

“Nothing yet.” Davids replied as he looked out into the fog.

“Okay. He ready there will be more.” They both nodded in understanding. Looking around, I see Patterson is checking over the rearguard to know if they have any injuries. I walk over to him.

“A few bruises but nothing major.” He doesn’t wait for me to ask and gives me the breakdown straightaway.

“Good to hear. We need to get moving again. I don’t like being stuck on this bridge.”

He doesn’t answer but is not in agreement and quickly gets everyone organised to get moving again. It takes a few minutes as Patel and I have to move the bodies in front to allow the trolley with advice on to move.

We are moving faster now, knowing that we are nearer our objective and that dangers will only increase. I knew we all wanted to get this done and get out here. This was the most dangerous time for us, as a mistake here would kill us all.

Out of the fog, I could see the banks on either side of the bridge now and we were coming to the end. According to the map, the stadium with the breach would only be a short distance away.

“Contacts.” Patel shouted out.

Looking to the left, I could see more figures coming out of the fog—time for round three.

A much larger group attacked us this time. Again, I charge forward to meet them and try to break the momentum of the attack. I collided with one and knocked it over with my greater body mass. I couldn’t follow up as another zombie attacked me from the side.

Its typical fast and brutal attack was without coordination. I quickly got my shield in the way my arm was soon throbbing from the impacts. I pushed, trying to knock off balance. It, however, latched onto the shield and held it. The first zombie attack was already back on its feet and it was time to take advantage of the situation.

It came at me from the right side and because the second zombie was holding on was holding my shield, I could not turn. Neither can I let go of the shield as it was strapped to my arm.

In desperation, I pushed forward into the clinger’s body and heaved it to my right. Catching by surprise, I managed to turn its body and block the approach of the first zombie enough that they collided.

The zombie clung to my shield but broke the first attacker's momentum. This allowed me a brief window. I loosened my grip on the axe's handle and let the handle slip through my hand until I grabbed it again. I was now holding the axe handle much closer to the head and began using it to hack away at the fingers of the zombie holding my shield.

I can go for the head as my shield was partly protecting it, preventing me from swinging my axe. The fingers quickly began flying off when I made contact with the hands. This was more difficult because the zombie pulled and twisted to get the shield off my arm. It was also using its way to try to force down the shield to expose my head and upper torso.

The pain was flaring up my arm and shoulder as I had to contort to keep it from dislocating my arm while trying to hold the shield in place. All the time I was trying to keep an eye on the first zombie began to circle, looking for another opportunity to strike.

Two against one is never good odds. Hell, even one-on-one with some of these abominations from the zone are terrible odds. I put forward again and caught the zombie by tripping it with my foot. It now falls over all my shield just in time as I twist around as the other one collides with me.

Staggering back and managing to keep my footing, my whole body is rocked by the force of the impact. The zombie had bounced off me from the impact and attacked again.

I, in turn, used my shield as a blunt weapon and began pounding at it. Each impact, whether blocked by the zombie's arms or its body, sent shockwaves through my already pain-filled arm. I had to grit my teeth and press forward.

This fight was already taking far too long.

The second zombie was back on its feet and coming at me from my left. This now worked in my favour. As it charged forward, my axe met it as I turned my body to avoid a collision.

I only scored a glancing hit and shoulder, but with me moving, I had both in front of me now. This was very important as neither noticed Patel coming up from behind them.

He round saw to the back of the head of one, causing the other to see what was attacking them. This gave me the opportunity I needed. I moved forward and introduced its head to my axe.

Looking at the situation around me, I saw that the support team was under control. Hills had moved up from the beach sealing team and the other wounded to help. Davids as well, from the rear with several others and together, they had taken down the remaining zombies.

Patterson hadn’t waited for instruction and was inspecting everyone for additional injuries. He looked over to me and shook his head in a negative to tell me there were no other significant injuries. I knew there would be a lot of bruising and shock injuries in the fight because I was feeling right now. The chill added to the adverse effects and every encounter added to it.

Davids was walking towards me. Patel returned to the front of the group to monitor the fog.

“Three attacks in less than 10 minutes.” He stated the obvious as if it meant something.

“The joys of working in a zone. What can you say?” There was not much I could say. We both knew that those were unpredictable at the very best of times.

“We are close to the bridge now, so that we will be attacked more often.”

“That’s a given. What is your point?”

“I’m thinking that me and Agnes should move forward to give you and Harold a chance to rest.” He made it sound like he was doing me a favour. This close to a breach, I could see what he wanted. He wanted to lead the team to the breach and oversee the sealing of it to claim the glory. Looking at him for the first time, I could see what always put me on edge about him. He was a glory hound. In my opinion, the very worst type of operative you could have especially leading a team.

“Thanks for the offer….. but no.” His face briefly lit up before I shut him down. “We will continue as you said; we're almost there.”

Before he could say anything more, I moved away and went to see Patterson.

“How is your team?”

“Zone and chill exposure are beginning to take their toll. Not even counting the physical toll of lugging that thing around.” He pointed with his thumb at the sealing device.

“It all combined is a bitch.”

“Amen to that.”

Hills is next for me to see. She is standing talking to a tech who is part of the sealing team. He departs as I arrive.

“You good?”

“As well as can be expected. The chill is aggravating my arm.” She motioned with the split and bandaged arm. We knew each other too well to bullshit each other.

“Good to know. We are almost there.”

Looking around, I visually inspect everyone, happy with what I saw. I head back to the front of the group.

“We ready?” I called to Patterson as I loaded a red flare shell into my gun.

“Ready.” He confirmed. I pointed the gun into the sky and fired.

“Let’s go.”

The red light was affecting the fog as it had all mission. We started walking towards where the stadium will be. The number of wrecks and abandoned vehicles increased as we crossed the bridge to the other bank. This slowed us as we had to move some out of the way. We carried on until the dual carriageways had a section that linked them.

“We need to cross the barrier section here.”

We had reached the part of the mission that would be, ironically, the most physically difficult. A wide concrete barrier was between the two multi-lane roads filled with sand. We have to transverse this to reach the stadium—the flatbed trolly has multiple wide planks of wood on top to aid us. Climbing up onto the barrier, it would be a bitch to do.

“Get the planks down. We have not long before dark and I want this to be done.” Patterson was motivating the tired group.

“Davids, you and Holden on this side. Patel with me on the other.”

It took about half an hour to get the sealing device across as it was large and heavy. But it was done with everyone but the guarding operatives helping. I let everyone rest as I consulted my map. The remaining water and food were consumed as we knew this was nearly over.

“That slip road there. This gate is the route we are taking up that walkway.” The fog was now showing the outer sections of the stadium. Davids and Patterson were looking at the route I was planning.

“That will get us up to the raised section outside the stadium. Then through the stadium to the pitch and the breach.” Davids was looking at the vague outline of the building.

“And then we finish this.” I added.

“Right, get up! Nearly there!” Patterson began ordering. There was a lot of groaning, but we were soon moving again.

A gate was located in the roadside steal fence barriers at the bottom of the ram. We were going to have to push the flatbed up. The gate protested being opened as the moisture was rusting it, but it relented.

“Patel and I will check up the top wait here.”

We walked up and looked around. The stadium was an evacuation point when the city fell and the area showed it. Scattered about were tents, supplies and god knows what else. Not as many vehicles as I feared.

“Ok. We are good. Go down and bring them up.”

Patel nods and heads down.

“Enter the stadium there. And we get a straight run to the pitch.” I spoke to myself. I was picturing what was ahead.

“Push! Just a few more meters!”

The flatbed was brought up with Davids, Holden and Patel bringing up the rear. Patterson nodded to me when it was finally up. I pointed to our entry point and we set off.