Adrian's Undead Diary Enter the World of AUD

Damnit Shaine what do you mean thats all he could come up with at the moment!! He has had a couple weeks to figure it out...well you have LOL Thanks so much for the update. I said it once and I will say it again, love the viewpoint of a ZA from another country. You are doing great keep um coming.
 

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Good...bad...it doesn't matter. I am the mother fucker with the gun.
 

great entry.. I know there is a time difference between here and the UK but make  the update snappy.  LOL

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Professer Pinderschloss  " the human spirit is hard to kill"
  Grandmama.  " yes even with a chainsaw"

when mimes finally escape the invisible box, Hell will come with them.

http://midnightscorner.wordpress.com/ home of  The Clock runs down, Dark Tide rising, and now A Storm Before Dawn Book III,  and other storys from the Dead lands.

@Killswitch: Very good idea, you should be saving those for your story though! Thank-you for reading on it's a pleasure having you along for the ride.

@Jeff1969: Lol, I could legally be classified as a zombie at the moment, I'm using none of the little brains I have left so unfortunately it's as and when it clicks into gear. I've tried writing some days and I've just stared at the screen for an hour straight, other days I'll write nonsense for hours on end and then on one of those days I hit the jackpot and I'm happy with what I write. Thank-you for your patience and for sticking with the story, the same applies to each and everyone who reads my story.

@OKelly: You're from Tennessee so the time difference is anything between 5-6 hours, I'll get the whip out and see what the monkeys can type up... one thing for sure it won't be Shakespeare!

Hopefully I can get something up by late Saturday/Sunday afternoon.

Thank-you to those who continue to read on with this story, if you have any questions or advice for me I'm all ears.

March 2nd 2011: Part Twenty-Two

"Push, push!… PUSH!"

The constant lifting, pulling, pushing and sorting had drained everyone but the latest cage to be squeezed into the truck was affecting me the most, even with Pete giving me a hand it felt like I’d hit the proverbial wall and was ready to pack it in until I noticed that Pete was slacking off, leaving me to bare the full brunt of the weight. Pete stood howling in laughter and I could only raise a smirk, he had got me back from before, the good thing was that he seemed not to be as nervous as he was earlier in the day. The transit was full, with a bit of re-organisation, we managed to fit an ungodly amount of items into the bread van, the truck was nearly full but the back warehouse was nearly empty, shy of moving the large and mostly unwarranted items at the time. I had a feeling that if we came back and all was well then we’d be able to clear the shop floor, it would more than likely take a little more effort and time due to items being loose and that concerned me no end but that was an obstacle we would have to face. With an extra shove alongside Pete, the dozen boxes filled to the brim with cleaning products and toiletries pressed up against the other items, each box containing assortments of everyday essentials which would be substantial to our survival. More boxes stockpiled between the back warehouse entrance and the truck, another thirty five maybe forty boxes of different but decent sizes and we’d be ready to roll. I grabbed another three boxes and packed them tight, Pete followed suit but he was being cautious and was doing it at a box at a time, he wanted to do more but due to his dodgy knee I made him slow down for the sake of his own health. Before loading the truck we estimated what we would be able to get in it, the rough guesses were that the truck was no longer than thirty five feet and eight foot wide, rounding it up, there was around one thousand to one and half thousand square feet in which we could cram as much as possible into. We took into account that the other vans together would hold around a thousand square feet too. We measured this up before we went gung ho into loading and also took stock of the shop, Pete being a former estate agent and labourer put the shop front down at just under four thousand square feet. He rambled on for five minutes straight about stuff I could have cared less about at that moment but still managed to put in an appearance to indicate I did. In all of this he said we would most likely clear the shop front in one go, this made everyone happier but we still were risking a lot. Pete handed me two more boxes as I squeezed, nudged and kicked them into place, the truck was just about full. Another thing we learnt whilst loading is that the trucks ramp had two options, one was to slide it back into the truck on par with the flooring catches and the other is that it would hinge upwards and connect to the shutters should it need to. We chose upon connecting it to the shutters as there was no way of pushing it back in, it was definitely a two man job this way and although the ramp wasn’t heavyweight it was difficult to manoeuvre, with it being new it was stiff and put up a bit of resistance whilst being attached. After that was done, everyone downed tools for a moment and sat on the edge of the loading bay.

"Fuck am I tired, is this day ever going to fucking end?"

I sighed deeply as my shoulders slumped, Mother put her arm around my back and shook my hair, she didn’t have to say anything to me, I knew exactly what she meant. Pete also remarked about being tired and it was at that point when we noticed that Jake was still fast asleep, that pretty much pissed everyone off. I got up and tried to stretch off some of the aches and to address everyone.

"Right, now for the hard part."

I could tell everyone had enough by their response but I was about to give up.

"If that was the easy part then I give up now."

Lauren said, she hadn’t done much but given everything she had seen and been through, I couldn’t blame her. Skelly consoled her in the same way my mother did to me and told her that everything would be ok. She took it on the chin.

"Thanks to our combined efforts aside from one lazy fucker, we’ve done exceptionally well, I couldn’t ask anymore from you’s but I’m afraid I’m going to have to."

"We’re family, no bridge is too far."

Mother said emphasising the family part of her words.

"Sometimes it is though, especially on days like this one, the truth is, is if we don’t do this today, there might be no tomorrow. Now that isn’t to scare you but it sure as hell scares me. We are family but don’t forget we have other people with us too, if we have shelter, we can be safe, if we have food, we can live. Those are the basic principles of survival and unfortunately this is what we must do no matter how hard it seems."

I stopped for second and gave an approving nod to one and all.

"Out there is hells playground, lets make sure we don’t get caught up in its game. We’ll leave in around ten minutes, I will take the truck, Pete and Skelly will take the vans and mother will take Pete’s car with Jake, Lauren and Sheba. Any questions?"

Everyone looked at me uncomfortably with what I had just said.

"Look at me like that all you want but I’m just as scared as you are. To do this, we have to stand together, I don’t expect you to ask me how high if I say jump but I would like a little bit of trust, we’ve got this far, we can’t let it go to waste."

Silence encompassed the room.

"There is nothing I can say to make this any easier, we either do or we don’t but we can’t sit around here any longer."

"But why can’t we?"
Pete said, I knew what he meant but by saying it now put a massive spanner in the works, his knew that himself when he looked at me.

"Do you want the short version?"

"Yeah."

We had everyone’s attention now.

"Because we’d die in here. One, two days maximum."

"Yeah? How can you be so sure?"

The questions were good but he didn’t exactly back himself up, I looked to exploit that.

"I’m not being a smart-arse here Pete, but I just know. What makes you think this place is any good?"

"Well for one it has everything we need."

I hadn’t even warmed up and I got my break.

"Does it though? It’s four walls and I have no idea how sturdy they are and I don’t even want to try and put that to the test. Who knows what we’re susceptible to here, imagine a fire? Imagine if we were surrounded? This is one of the centre pieces of the estate and one of the only ways to get some shopping done in a four mile radius, do you know how much of a target that makes this place? Where are we going to sleep?, where are we supposed to clean ourselves? How do we get fresh air, walk the dog, cook even? Pete, man, I know it’s hard and your shouldering a lot, it’s ok to be scared. We know you’re a man, there’s no need to try and prove anything."

Pete thought about it for a second and looked like he’d finished with his efforts.

"I ain’t trying to prove nowt, I just don’t see why we’re risking leaving here. It’ll die down in a few days."

He lost his original point but fired back with another one which in no way was easy to answer.

"Let’s all put our thinking caps on here and take into what I said now apply that if we stood tall here and it didn’t die down. For all I know, it could and if it does I’ll put my hands up and say I’m wrong but we can’t risk it to do so. Fate is in our hands and sorry to be a cunt but if you’s want to, stay but I’m taking the truck and I’ll I come back for what I’ve fought for, with or without you’s. I roll in ten, it’s up to you if your with me."

Mother instantly became torn between us, frustrated at the pair of us as to what had just gone on.

"Stop the dick swinging and let’s get on with it. If Shaine is wrong then it’s something he’ll have to live with but for now, I trust him."

I mouthed a thank-you to her, I knew this would be the end of Pete’s resistance and the lack of anyone else helping his point further drove it home. Pete threw his hands up in frustration and gave in and told everyone to get moving then if they intended to follow me. I stopped Pete from doing anything by bringing him in close to me to have a word. I thanked him for his co-operation but he thought it was more of a jibe than me being nice, he told me to go fuck myself and swore that he’d have me over if anything happened. I didn’t rise to his angered words and left him to calm off, I understood his frustrations and worries but he couldn’t see that from me.

"We roll out soon, get yourselves geared up."

As I said that Skelly approached me, her hands trembled and she was visibly upset.

"I can’t… I can’t do it. I can’t."

"You can and you will, for yourself. You need to."

"I can’t. I’d rather die."

"You don’t mean that."

"I…do…"

"So you want to die then?"

"No."

"So why say it then? Skelly you’ve trusted me today and you know I know you can do this. We’ll be with you every step of the way, all you got to do is keep your eyes on the road and we’ll be back before you know it. What say you?"

"I… I can’t!"

"You can and you will."

"I CAN’T!"

She screamed in fear. Tears tricked down her reddened face as I grabbed her cheeks and stared deep into her eyes. She tried to look away but I held tight, I wasn’t forceful and she put up hardly any resistance. I stared deep and refused to blink, the look on her face said everything I needed to know, she could do it but she needed someone behind her to reinforce those beliefs.

"You can and you will."

"I can and I will."

"That’s all I can ask for."

"That’s all I can ask for."

Skelly brushed my hands away and ran off in embarrassment, I felt sorry for her and a bit of a twat by doing that but I attested to myself that it would make her stronger, she had shown me glimpses since I met her and she just needed a good push in the right direction. I thought about how to play it out once we left, I knew they’d be more zombies out there and it would be getting difficult on the main roads which would be our biggest risk as far as I could see. It was only then that I realised that I had a good hand at my disposal, I whipped my phone from its pocket and dialled up the old fella in the tower block, it took a few rings to get through.

"You up?"

"Yeah, have been for a good hour now, where are you?"

"You right?"

"As rain, where are you?"

"Still below you, thought you would have seen me?"

"Nah, not looked out of the window since I went to sleep but I’m guessing you would like me to?"

"If you wouldn’t mind."

"Got nowt else to do."

I heard him groan as he got up and made his way to whichever window he was going to use, I listened intently for other noises but there was none, I felt reassured in that he’d at least be safe for the time being.

"So where am I looking then?"

"Well all around would be a good start!"

"Alright smartarse."

The phone went silent for a few brief moments, I could faintly hear him cursing.

"You sure you want to know?"

"Ain’t a case of that, I NEED to know."

"You ain’t going to like it."
Granddad explained that the zombies were out in force, well he didn’t use the term zombie he just referred to the them as those things. He said that as far as he could see the estate had turned to shit, cars, remains and zombies littered the main streets. He said by a rough count that there were easily five maybe six hundred spread out. He was right, I didn’t like it one bit but it was useful information to have. The good news what came out of it all was that the back car park of Dragel’s was still devoid of the dead and the crossover at Turson Road was relatively clear too but would more than likely become congested if activity picked up around there. He also mentioned that the news was going batshit crazy over what was happening and it dominated every channel possible. He excused himself of the phone as he wanted to make another cup of tea to sit in front of the television and try and make some sense out of all of this. He wished me well and told me to look out for the family no matter what, he reassured me that his position was ok and that he would be too before the phone disconnected. Seizing the moment I lit the phone up again and tried desperately to reach through to Jenny but once more it rang through, my stomach panged and my chest tightened at the thoughts of what might be happening to my son, I dreaded to think that I’d never see him again… alive. Pete snapped me back by shouting across the loading bay.

"Are we doing this or what?"

He snapped with impatience, the shotgun sat beside him in the bread van. It didn’t seem like a good idea for him to have it but I doubted he’d be that stupid to use it for wrongful means.

"Gimme five more minutes, get things ironed out yeah?"

"We do this or we don’t, don’t mess us about!"

"If I mess about, we’ll die, so go on ahead if you please."

Pete daggered me, I wanted to move just as quick as he did but with the new information I had I wanted a quick think. Skelly nervously got into the transit van and muttered to herself in the mirror, gearing herself up. I gave her a big smile and thumbs up which seemed to give a little more confidence within herself. Mother had only just been able to move the lazy piece of shit also known as Jake but not without a fuss, his eyeballs hit saucer size when he learnt that we’d be going outside. I eyed him at the passenger seat but he wanted nothing to do with me, instead pretending to rub his eyes and check himself in the mirror. Lauren kept herself occupied by wafting money in fan like order whilst Sheba peered out of the back window wondering where we were heading next. I went past each vehicle and asked them to park in the car park until I had locked Dragel’s securely and give them a heads up. All agreed with various levels of acceptance. With that I rolled up the shutter and waved them forward.

"Roll out!"

And roll on whatever we faced next…

Well worth the wait, love the way it's all playing out and looking forward to more.

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Life, Death.....I am the difference

Great addition,loved it.  you really ought to consider. writing something to publish. well I guess for your monkeys to publish LOL.  thanks look forward to the next installment.

 

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Professer Pinderschloss  " the human spirit is hard to kill"
  Grandmama.  " yes even with a chainsaw"

when mimes finally escape the invisible box, Hell will come with them.

http://midnightscorner.wordpress.com/ home of  The Clock runs down, Dark Tide rising, and now A Storm Before Dawn Book III,  and other storys from the Dead lands.

@Streetdoc: Thanks for the kind words and for sticking with the story.

@OKelly: Publication... me? Sure if they want a big book of nothingness, I'll take the cheque. The monkeys can do as they please as long as they still work for peanuts for me. Thank-you for the kind words but your story is more suited for publication.

Thank-you to those who continue to read on.

March 2nd 2011 - Part Twenty-Three

Mother, Pete and Skelly all parked one behind the other in the back lot and made no attempt to provide cover for themselves or myself, instead choosing to remain seated tight awaiting the next move. It was a fools mistake and if anyone around had initiative then they would and could have been in serious trouble, luckily there were no immediate threats, the car park was just how it had been for most of the day, relatively safe. The truck roared as I slipped through its gears and trudged it into the dead centre of the car park distancing myself from the other three vehicles whose occupants only looked on. It made the least sense leaving the loading bay wide open but it was in full view and it saved time. From parking I rushed across and got the store on Lockdown, I had taken the precautionary measure of making sure the front entrance was fully secure and locking the managers office up to possibly preserve the camera system should anyone make a play on it, it would at least serve me in knowing who and what I might possibly have to face. I brought the shutters down and locked the four positional points hidden under caps in the frame work.

Walking back up the path I placed the keys back into the pocket I had put every other key I had amassed today, jingling my hand through them all I pulled out the keys to Stu’s associates cars where I had stored the weapons they had left behind. I could see Pete getting flustered and frustrated sat in the bread van but he was safe for the time being so I let him sweat on it. I pulled out and held as much as I could in one hand, a few bats spilling to one side and thudding off the tarmac, this prompted Stu’s undead friends to try and start their act up again but I was having none of it, I ignored them as made my way to the vehicles. Not a word was said as I handed each of them a baseball bat, they knew what they were for and how they were to be used, there was no point wasting breath over formalities, Pete reluctantly snatched the one I handed to him and slapped it hard on to the dashboard, sweat poured from him at a phenomenal rate and I wondered if I had actually sent him on the verge of a heart attack. The rest of the items I had were dumped alongside Skelly in the transit van, she acknowledged my presence but kept her eyes firmly in front, scouting around. I returned to the car and retrieved the final few items and dumped them with Skelly once more, she took note of the handcuffs and appeared to be extremely uncomfortable around them so I removed them from her presence and clipped them around my holster belt, all I needed now was a badge and I’d have been an officer. (Lol, it was what I wanted to be when I grew up, I still haven’t so maybe there is still time… nah.)

With that I signalled to everyone for another minute or two and went to the car for a third time but this time I used it as a makeshift blockade so it would make it slightly harder for anyone with a vehicle to get into Dragel’s, I thought about the possibility of moving the other car adjacent to it but it would only have been a waste of time, if anyone really wanted to get past, they would no matter what was in the way. I stood in-between the truck and the other vehicles, we were finally ready. Their windows wound down to hear what I had to say.

"Are you ready?"

It was met with apathy on the whole except for Pete.

"We’ve been ready, if it wasn’t for you faffing around we’d be home and dry by now."

Still I gave him no rise, I knew he’d calm down eventually but for the time being I left him in the state he worked himself into. Maybe I had messed around a little but I reasoned within that I had took the safer approach.

"Whatever. I will take the truck up and over Turson Road, wait at the crossing and listen for three beeps, if you hear three beeps immediately pass over, from there Skelly will take the lead. Pete you trail her and mum, your behind Pete and I will follow lastly. DO NOT stop for anyone or anything, it isn’t worth it."

With that I hopped in the truck and started it up, I took out the radio and tried to reach through to Melanie. At first there was no response but I heard a faint voice crackle over the noise of the engine.

"Melanie?"

"…"

"Melanie? Are you there."

The voice came through again very lightly, it was Melanie but I couldn’t make her out too well. I fiddled with the radio as I chugged the truck slowly off the car park and onto Turson Road.

"Melanie, if you can hear me we are on our way back meet us outside with Marco and Edna, if she’s there, we’ll be five minutes."

The voice crackled back within seconds, the only things I made out were that Edna wasn’t there and indicated that someone was there. I wanted to change up and lead the way but I remained composed, if I went in last I may get a better perspective of what awaited us. I reached the cross-roads noticing that the others weren’t too far behind. Creeping across at snails pace I looked around to my left looking up the road towards the roundabout and seen nothing but carnage. Masses of zombies had made their way down the road causing physical destruction en-route, bodies lay left, right and centre and a group of twenty were making their way down at a fast rate. I edged the truck into the middle and bibbed three times furiously, my reasoning being that they truck would block out most of the view so the others wouldn’t be too frightened or be put off their mission to make it to the kennels in one piece.

Skelly must have known that something was afoot, she took charge and rallied the transit van straight across, Pete though had other ideas, he followed my way and crept across, rubbernecking the situation which didn’t help him in the slightest. Pete came to a standstill just behind the truck and ignored me when I bibbed repeatedly. The noise attracted too much attention and every zombie in earshot now knew where another meal could be found, the pack moved in closer and closer as Pete still didn’t move. I could afford no further time to risk anything and like a fool I hopped out of the truck. Skelly thankfully noticed that we hadn’t followed her and reversed back a little so I waved her back up to the truck she pulled up in rapid fashion and I took the rope from her. She was wild eyed and petrified, I tried to reassure her that it would be ok but I got no response, she just kept her eyes on the road and tapped the steering wheel rhythmically. I called her name a few times but she didn’t answer, she did give me a knowing nod when I asked her to just take mother’s car forward with her and stick together, I slammed her door shut with a thank-you as I made my way past Pete to the vehicle my mother was in. Jake had sunk himself into the leg space and rocked back and forth with his hands over his eyes, Lauren had taken to hugging Sheba and my poor mother was in a wild flap over what to do, I got her to roll her window down amidst the panic.

"Just go with Skelly, forget me and Pete, just go."

"I…I…But."

"Just go please, we’ll be fine."

She tapped me on the hand before moving past Pete bibbing her horn as she joined up with Skelly. The two slowed to a crawl trying to keep within distance of what was going on and some safety. The zombies edged in closer as I got to work with the rope, the tow bar on the front of the van was easy business but there was a hitch attaching it to the truck, I slipped as I pulled the rope out fully trying to test if the knot would be capable. I writhed on the floor entangled in the mess as I watched the zombies creep ever closer with each second. As I pulled myself up the zombies had just reached the van and began pounding its left hand side, my heart raced as I met eyes with Pete, he wasn’t scared stiff exactly but close to, I pounded my fist on the windscreen and shouted for Pete to regain some focus but there seemed to be nobody home, the zombies turned their attention straight to me and hustled their way between the small gap between the truck and the van, they desperately clawed out and came close on more than one occasion as I hurried an awful type knot to the truck. My heart pulsated with each and every zombie which piled up against the side of the truck, one or two I could deal with, the group at a distance, that too but being next to the ever growing lust fest for my skin made me sweat buckets and panic in fear, yet I still managed to maintain composure. I had just gotten the knot done when the hustle and bustle pushed two falling zombies through the gap, they fell atop one another and made for me, their outstretched arms just missing my coat and jeans. The next few seconds were a blur as the next thing I remember was starting the truck, it lurched forward as I put my on the peddle, slamming it down with authority hoping it would take charge, it did but only for a few seconds, Pete hadn’t taken his handbrake off and the truck could only inch itself and the van forward pulling and straining with each attempt I tried.

The rope evened out for the pull and in turn served as a hurdle toppling a vast amount of zombies, it bought a few short seconds but they began trying to return to their feet not long after. Pete still had got the message and sat staring into the distance. I had no choice but to get into his van if he was to be saved. Taking my trusty cleaver from the dashboard, I wiped my brow and threw myself into the breach. I was target number one for the zombies, they could sense I was fresh probably from all the sweat. Instead of meeting them in the middle I gave them a wide berth and moved past the van goading them into following. It was a big mistake as a plentiful number of zombies were in various stages of making their way down the road, Pete might as well have painted the side of the van with a ‘fresh meat’ slogan, we had to survive but the odds were dropping by the second. More zombies approached from the left side of the van adding to the tally I had amassed in them following me. I made way back towards Turson Road leading the pack on but keeping my footwork in check. A group of fifty bayed for my blood, arms flailing wildly, some even knocking their undead competition to the floor which in turn took out a few more, they stayed in a pack mentality which gave me a small window of opportunity but it still was a massive risk. Twenty five zombies, at least, held presence at the van but most were on the left hand side, the few that remained on the right posed a significant threat but with a bit of agility and guile as well as a couple of hard slashes with the cleaver I managed to get by to the van door, it was locked. Pete didn’t comprehend the pleas and the zombies made their way back towards me, in a last resort I took the cleaver to the side window shattering it inwards and all over Pete, he snapped his head round in fear to meet my angry glare.

"The fucking handbrake… NOW!"

Pete just stared at me as if I spoke in tongues, the zombies encroached closer and closer.

"PETE, THE FUCKING HANDBRAKE! FOR FUCKS SAKE!"

As I said this I repeated smashed the cleaver off the remaining shards of glass left in the framing, as well as doing some superficial damage to the cleaver, glass specks scorched and scratched Pete’s face bringing him from whatever daydream he was encapsulated in and he mechanically took the handbrake off and gripped the steering wheel. The pack were half way to making it back but some of the ones what remained close by edged dangerously near. A quick side-step fooled another zombie into eating tarmac as I jumped back into the truck and pulled away with gusto, we had just about managed to live, I cursed Pete to the high heavens as I bibbed Skelly to move on forwards…

great chapter loved it.  provided me some entertainment while waiting for the insomnia to go away LOL

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Professer Pinderschloss  " the human spirit is hard to kill"
  Grandmama.  " yes even with a chainsaw"

when mimes finally escape the invisible box, Hell will come with them.

http://midnightscorner.wordpress.com/ home of  The Clock runs down, Dark Tide rising, and now A Storm Before Dawn Book III,  and other storys from the Dead lands.

Just caught up with the last two chapters...Great Job!
 

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Good...bad...it doesn't matter. I am the mother fucker with the gun.
 

There are a couple of people in that convoy that I would have left at the store..lol

Nice work Shaine you had me shouting " just drive and leave the fucker there!!" at the screen ..lol

 

Very good

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killswitch - Posted 2 Days Ago

 

There are a couple of people in that convoy that I would have left at the store..lol

Nice work Shaine you had me shouting " just drive and leave the fucker there!!" at the screen ..lol

 

Very good

 

Shaine must be a very calm and understanding person to actually write this story. I think if I was writing it I would want to beat the hell out the guy when he stopped on the bridge. I have been in some quite a few life threatening situations throughout my life and may of them others were present and froze. Made me want to turn my weapon on them and shoot them in the ass to get them going because their actions were endangering others that were there in the mix with us. When the bullets start firing everyone (well at least the sane) is scared. You have to push that in a little box in your mind and open it later and piss your pants and puke then.

 

 

 

 

 

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Good...bad...it doesn't matter. I am the mother fucker with the gun.
 

Another great update and cliffhanger, keep up the good work.

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Life, Death.....I am the difference

I started reading it ages ago and always had to drop it. Now I found the place I had left off and I've caught up! It's interesting how your writing style and the story has improved with time. I love the main character - he is way too 'not give a fuck' and less 'saviour' and that is why I enjoy this. It's more realistic. Not everyone is perfect and someone has to do the ugly work. 

I can't wait for the next entry. Too bad there is no better system at announcing when a side fic is up, because I usually fall back :/

Thank you so much for writing this and making it available for everyone (ME) to read. Great work!

P.S. I hope everything is going better in your personal life and I wish you the best of luck with your kid. 'Tis sad :l

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                            Death and Destruction. It's the name of my Trade.

                              Read my AUD FanFiction story I. Am. Alive. here.

@OKelly: Thank-you for the kind words and thank-you for reading on. Insomnia... I know that bastard all too well. lol

@Jeff1969: Thank-you for the kind words and thank-you for reading on. I'm not always calm when I write, anger and passion is good for me to open up on some days, knowing as and when to use it is the key. No doubt you'll be hearing from me soon, I've got to catch up on the tales of good 'ol Leroy sooner rather than later.

@Killswitch: Thank-you for the kind words and for reading on, you've been very supportive of me from the very start of this and stuck with it even when there has been times of inactivity, I am proud of myself that I have kept you invested in this story, I hope that doesn't come off as boastful because I don't mean it in that manner at all. As for those two, damn right but I once heard a proverb, leave no man behind. That can be ignored in some cases though?

@Streetdoc: Thank-you for the kind words and for reading on.

@DinaRaven: Thank-you for the kind words and for reading on. Aside from reading these comments here your wait is no longer! Hopefully each and every reader has a different viewpoint about the main character, I try to adapt and convey many different emotions and turns that we face in everyday life in this story, it's still a work in progress but I will continue on this avenue as I go along. Also I don't think my writing has got any better just the story is opening up with each chapter. I apologise for losing track on your story too but I promise I will get round to reading it. As for me and my son, nothing will ever break the bond or the love we have but the ex is trying her best to do so, I wonder if she has ties with the devil? (Lol) I'm weathering the storm and it is getting worse but I know I will succeed eventually and my sons life will be better for it. I hope all is well with you and yours. This applies to each and every reader.

Sorry if the 'thank-you for the kind words and for reading on' passage seems generic but I really mean it. I thank each and every one of you who view my story.

March 2nd 2011: Part Twenty-Four

The truck pulled the van behind it but not without resistance, instead of taking note and steering the vehicle, Pete let it drift, fortunately for the pair of us, speeding was not an issue. This continued all the way to the cul-de-sac, aside from trying to avert a crash and cursing Pete to the high heavens I continued to note the surrounding area, panic was onset and a few household had already tried to get out of dodge. The thing what concerned me most was that zombies had now made their way along the inner streets, I noticed this due a massive blood-bathed patch outside a house, there were no victims or signs of life but something had definitely gone on. Skelly brought everything to a halt as we turned into the cul-de-sac, my eyes shot around in so many directions trying to scope everything out that I sent myself dizzy, what caught my eye was that the end house right next to the turn in for the kennels had its door wide open, no marks or evidence of anything suspicious but I remained cautious in light that a vehicle was still parked on the residences driveway and it was untouched. I got out of the truck, machete in hand and went straight over to Pete, his face was whiter than a sheet and his eyes told me he wasn’t all there, this wasn’t the time for messing about and I let Pete know that.

"What the fuck are you playing at eh?"

Pete stared blankly forwards.

"Seriously now, get your fucking head in the game,"

I left him with that ringing between his ears and approached Skelly as she had gotten out of the transit and stood talking at the car mother was in. Skelly looked just as pissed off as I was whilst mother had nothing but looks of concern across her face.

"What do we do about him?"

Skelly asked, grating her teeth.

"Dunno what we can do with him, maybe give him a slap?"

Mother gave me the sternest of looks, you know the one where they feign severe disappointment? Yeah that one. It was the truth, having Jake and now Pete in their states equated to dead weight. It sounds harsh but they offered nothing at the time and caused more difficulties than they were worth, that’s not to say I couldn’t understand why they behaved in such manners but it was neither the place or time to be doing it. Jake to me was a lost cause from a young age and I had no confidence in him to be anything other than himself but Pete… I was hoping it was just a faze or at worst a period of weakness. Mother awaited an answer.

"You need to speak on out to him, he loves you more than anything, he should get through this and I’ll… we’ll support him but he needs to make the effort today. I can’t thank him enough for what he did earlier but he nearly cost us our lives with that stunt he’s just pulled, if he breaks any further we’ll lose him."

Mother didn’t like it as I told it but we agreed it was the best course of action for Pete, we’d reel him in but he had to meet us half way and there was to be no soft approach. Skelly didn’t like what was proposed until I said they’d be no soft approach. I quickly went on to say that we’d all need to toughen up a little but understood exactly why people would be like this given the circumstances. It wasn’t the time to give a lecture even though I wanted to, I told mother that once we’d broke ground at the kennels that she should talk to Pete and try and get him going. As we talked about who would lead the way down a loud scream came from within a fifty to a few hundred and fifty yard range, it was a women’s scream and it echoed throughout the cul-de-sac but we couldn’t exactly pinpoint where, Skelly thought it came from the kennels, mother swore it came from behind us and I only caught the echo. Pete clearly had heard it and jumped out of the van and back into reality or so it seemed, he clambered out swinging the shotgun wildly. His eyes bulged with the pressure he was putting on himself as he swung around commando style, in truth he hadn’t a clue. I pulled Skelly down behind of me and told her to either get on the other side of the car or back in the transit, she scuttled back to the transit keeping close to the bodywork, mother ducked her head and called for the rest in her car to do the same, with that she asked me not to harm Pete but I made her no promises.

"Pete, put the fucking gun down will you!?!"

He didn’t seem to react to what I said, instead he began moving towards the houses.

"PETE!?!"

He still didn’t take notice. I carefully approached him and got close, only the Mossberg was between us.

"Pete, give me the gun and go back to the van. I won’t ask again."

His eyes rolled all over the show, he wasn’t giving me much attention that was for sure.

"I can’t…"

"Why not Pete?"

"They’re here."

"I know Pete, they are everywhere."

"You don’t get it, they are here."

"What the fuck are you talking about Pete?"

He looked a little lost when I asked him that, still I had to go along, the Mossberg was still pointed directly towards me.

"I can smell them."

I couldn’t laugh at him in that state but couldn’t believe how he’d deteriorated into such a mess in a short period of time.

"Pete the only thing I smell is the shit in your pants!"

"Shaine, call me crazy but I can there’s one in that house, I know it, I can smell it."

Pete pointed to the end house with the door open. He was crazy but he was right in a sought of manner, I knew there was something in there too but Pete was acting out and putting us at further risk.

"I told you, I already know. I will deal with it later."

"Not later, we need to do it now."

Pete went to walk past me letting the Mossberg drop by his side, I got my moment. I grabbed the Mossberg and forced it upwards, across Pete’s throat, I’d caught him with the element of surprise. I forced him back with little effort and made sure his back bounced off the transit. We faced off with me being the aggressor.

"I’ve had enough of this bullshit, now we end it. You have a women who loves you in that car there and people who care about you, me included but you’re making it very hard in my case. That’s three times today you could have killed me, intentional or not, I’m not allowing you to do it again. I don’t want to put this on your shoulders but it has to be this way, if you truly love my mum then you’ll stop with the fucking games. You get me?"

Pete had never seen this side from me before, we had never crossed bad words, argued, nothing at all but he pushed me too far today, way too far. If it wasn’t for my mother I don’t think he would have been around so to speak. He seemed to have come back to us once again and nodded in the little space I gave him, I was the rock and he was between a hard place, mentally and physically. I took the Mossberg down and pointed to the van, to which Pete climbed into dejectedly.

"Thank-you, this ain’t personal but you can make it if you want it to be. As of now, no more shotgun and if there’s any more games, messing about or trouble without reason… well I don’t know what I’ll do. I don’t like myself when I’m angry and today is an angry day, tomorrow… it could be worse. Do you really want to cross this line again ‘cos I sure don’t. Like I said Pete, I like you and I do care about you but shit like this makes it that much harder. I’d appreciate it if we can resume normal service because my old lady will be getting the shakes sooner than later if this doesn’t quieten down."

Pete nodded once more and wiped his brow free from the waterfall of sweat that drenched his forehead.

"You good to go or do you want pulling?"

"I’m good to go."

"Are you sure?"

I said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Yeah, I’m sure. Look I’m really…"

"Don’t you even use the S word, I don’t want to hear it, say it to my mum, say it to anyone else but not me. I get it, you weren’t all there…"

"It’s not like that, its…"

"Pete, were wasting time again, you ragged on me for this but I ain’t doing the same I’m just making a point. When we have the time, we’ll talk but let us move past this and get on."

"Yeah, I understand but I just gotta say, there’s something in that house."

I just shrugged my shoulders at him as if to say I wasn’t repeating myself or the conversation we just had and untied the rope from the front of the van. I walked past mothers car and just nodded at her, she already knew what had gone on, Skelly did too as I saw her peering in the wing mirror, I gave her a thumbs up and got waved over to her.

"Is he cool now?"

"I hope so, I can’t be doing with that again."

"You can say that again, are we moving now?"

"Yeah, I’ll take the lead, I heard that scream and if it’s on our patch I’ll deal with it."

Skelly looked at me funny before telling me to take it easy, she said she’d heard more screams and it seemed to be coming from the kennels but she couldn’t say for definite. I shouted everyone to get ready and went through what I confirmed with Skelly and then jumped into the truck. I put the Mossberg on the dash and thought how lucky I was not to have been shot by Pete or how he’d not fucked everything up. I was worried about his mental state and hoped he would overcome it rather quickly as it would be another strain on the ever-mounting pile I already had. My main concern is that our little show had exposed us to peering eyes but it was something I had to put to the back of my mind in that moment. I started the truck once more and rolled ahead of everyone, just as I was making the difficult and sharp turn in on the drive I saw Pete making an effort as rolled the bread van slowly behind the car mother was in, his face still painted a lost man but his actions gave him a small reprieve. The truck grated over the mixed mud and poorly laid gravel shuddering the cab with its unevenness.

"Fuckedity fuck!"

As I got to the gates my mind rolled back to just a few hours to before on my first arrival at the kennels, stood in the middle or the path were two people, one undead, the other in a bit of bother, further ahead from those was what appeared to be a youngish family. A woman with two toddler girls and a little boy no older than ten, they all were huddled together as the man in bother tried his best to fend the undead off with an all weather brush. It kept the distance between them but that’s all it managed to do. I slowed the truck to creeping pace and then honked the horn to gather the attention to me, it worked. The zombie slowly turned and made its way towards the truck as I continued to honk, the man made haste over to the women and children never turning his back, he kept hold of the brush too even with the same stance he used it for fending, the family welcomed him to them as some sort of safety barrier but I knew he was not related to them. The zombie had made it to the truck but I was in no rush to meet it, instead I reeled it in to me as lent out of the cab window egging it on with insults of a profane nature, something irked me about the whole situation and I was still angry over the debacle with Pete. I timed it to perfection as he went to lurch at the cab door I swung it open smacking the zombie to the floor spraying it with blood from its busted mouth. I went to draw the cleaver for the kill but my anger overpowered me and turned me into a monster, I grinned maniacally as I swept the zombies arms preventing him from getting up before I launched into an uncharacteristic and primal attack. I kicked and kicked and kicked at the zombies head and hardly cared who watched, with every punt I put more effort in, my energy seemed endless and even though I broke sweat I kept going, grunting and cursing. I heard the women scream stop over and over again but I ignored her words, it wasn’t until Skelly launched an unsuccessful tackle on me that I did stop. She tried wrapping her arms around me to restrict movement but jumped back as I continued to kick through a small gap in-between her legs. She and the woman loudly begged me to stop, they asked a few more times until their voices became clearer in my head and I realised what I had done. I threw my hands up and let everyone know I was now calm, looking around, all eyes were on me, some teary, some aghast but mostly in a state of shock. I huffed for breath as my actions caught up with me. I looked down and surveyed the damage done, the zombie was now completely lifeless, its facial features beyond recognition and its neck was rubbery and flexible past its means. Inside I was horrified and knew I went too far but I felt no remorse, in a sick sense, I was happy that I let out my frustration and anger on one of them and not an actual living human being. Mother had got out of the car and went to come near but the brutality of the scene made her throw up, somehow though she showed more concern for my welfare than her own. I told her the same thing I bellowed to everyone in earshot, I was fine. I offered no apologies as stood facing the group who had no doubt brought their troubles into our realm…

great one, loved reading it. thanks for the work shaine.

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Professer Pinderschloss  " the human spirit is hard to kill"
  Grandmama.  " yes even with a chainsaw"

when mimes finally escape the invisible box, Hell will come with them.

http://midnightscorner.wordpress.com/ home of  The Clock runs down, Dark Tide rising, and now A Storm Before Dawn Book III,  and other storys from the Dead lands.