Zombiestan

of families they had lost, and of the uncertainties ahead. Mayukh didn't realize when he dozed off, and when he awoke, the glowing hands of his watch told him it was three in the morning. Swati was fast asleep just inches from him. He took out his mobile phone and turned it on. It was useless as a phone but in the glow of its screen he took a look around the room. Hina was sleeping next to Abhi, a hand over his chest, and David still seemed to be outside. He then moved the glow over Swati's face. Her cheeks were still streaked with dried tears that she herself must have shed after Mayukh slept. There was a swollen bruise on her forehead but despite that, Mayukh thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He would have loved to linger on her face for longer but she stirred in her sleep, and he hastily shut the phone off and lay down.

He lapsed into an uneasy slumber when a tap on his shoulder woke him up. It was David.

'Come on, you have to see this.'

He followed David out, crouching low and then taking cover behind the podium outside the door. What he saw shocked him.

In the pale moonlight, he saw five men standing just a hundred meters from the bookstore. In any other time, they may have passed for a group of friends just shooting the breeze, but at this unearthly time of night, and with their black turbans, there was no doubt as to who they were and what their agenda was.

'David, do you think they know we're here?'

David asked him to crouch lower.

'It's much worse than that. A few minutes ago there were just two of them.'

As he spoke, the true extent of the problem facing them became more apparent when one of the men waved to someone in the distance. As Mayukh watched, four more figures joined them. They made no move to attack the bookstore but just stood there, watching and waiting. A few minutes later, six more joined the group. Mayukh watched as one of them pointed straight towards the bookstore. He could not hear what was being said, but the group took a step towards the bookstore, moving together.

Mayukh turned to David.

'What the hell is going on?'

In the moonlight, he could just make out David's face, and the soldier's eyes seemed to betray a hint of uncertainty.

'They're learning. I'll be damned, but they are actually learning and adapting. Go and check the back door and see if they are there.'

Mayukh scrambled to the back door and after moving some of the furniture wedged against it, peeked outside. He heaved a sight of relief when he saw nobody outside. He was about to go to the front entrance and pass on the good news to David when he heard the first gunshot.

***

When the figures began running towards the bookstore, David realized he had to react. His assault rifle was resting against the top of the podium and with the night vision scope on he had an excellent field of fire. As good a shot as he was, it was hard to hit moving targets, especially when the only shots that counted were head shots. So he emptied his magazine and was rewarded with only four head shots which put his targets down on the ground. The others continued running towards him. He picked up his gun and retreated inside the store, closing the door behind him, just as Mayukh reached him. The two of them began moving shelves and tables against the door, trying to barricade themselves in. The sound had awakened Hina and Swati, who shouted out aloud.

'What's going on?'

In the darkness, Mayukh edged towards her and said the three words that electrified her into action.

'They are coming.'

In a split second Hina and Swati were up and helping to move furniture against the door. Mayukh glanced at Abhi to see that the boy had somehow managed to sleep through all the chaos.

Then the banging on the door began. First it was the hammering of a single fist, and then it was joined by a multitude of others as the door shook and threatened to give way. David was crouched in front of the door, his assault rifle at the ready. Mayukh stood a foot behind him, his handgun raised in his shaking hands. Before he had retreated inside the bookstore, David had picked up his Claymore anti-personnel mine and brought it inside, placing it just a few feet inside the store, and activating it. As the door began to give way under the onslaught, he cried out aloud.

'Get back and take cover behind something!'

Mayukh went and hid behind a bookshelf, and found Swati there. She was holding Abhi, who was awake now and sobbing. The boy sensed Mayukh nearby and stammered.

'Are they the bad men? I'm scared.'

The boy's plea put a new resolve in Mayukh and he knew then that whatever happened, the monsters outside the door would not get to Abhi till they got through him. He may have not done much spectacular with his life till now, but if his destiny lay in dying to protect a little boy who somehow seemed to trust him, so be it. He aimed his gun at the door as it burst open.

The Claymore exploded with a deafening roar, sending hundreds of pellets in a deadly arc, slicing through the first few creatures through the door. The prone figures did not get back up, but Mayukh realized that in their place, many more were clambering in through the open door. A flashlight suddenly turned on, and Mayukh realized David had just illuminated their targets. The two creatures first in through the door seemed to flinch at the sudden explosion of light, and tried to cover their eyes with their yellowed and bleeding hands when David fired. Mayukh joined in, firing again and again, aiming for the heads. He had no idea if he hit anyone or anything, but he just kept pulling the trigger, Before he knew it, he heard the clicking noise indicating his magazine was empty and he put another clip in the gun as David kept up a withering fire. Four more of their attackers lay in the doorway but others seemed to climb over their prone bodies and entered the store.

'Back!'

On David's command Mayukh pulled Swati and Abhi towards the rear of the store, firing as he went. He saw one of two of the creatures stumble, but he knew that short of a head shot, he would not stop them, and even then, it was a matter of minutes before they would resume their attack. They were fighting a losing battle, and Mayukh and David both realized it.

The flashlight was now rolling on the floor, casting eerie shadows on the wall, and Mayukh saw David bring the butt of his rifle down hard on the head on one attacker before he too retreated into the store. He could hear Hina screaming nearby but in the darkness, he had no idea where she was.

Mayukh felt along the bookshelf behind him till he found Swati's hand. She gripped his hand tightly and he could hear her whispering to Abhi telling him that they were playing a game like hide and seek. He couldn't see the boy in the darkness but was amazed at how well he was holding up. He could hear feet shuffling through the darkness as more of them entered the bookstore. He almost screamed when he felt a hand touching his shoulder.

'Relax! It's me, David. Try and get everyone to the back of the store and out the back door.'

Mayukh felt David and Hina brush past him, and he leaned down to whisper to Swati what the plan was. Swati was about to move back when Mayukh felt Abhi hold his hand. He whispered to him to follow his sister, but the boy would not let go.

'I'm only going with you.'

Mayukh tried to hush him but it was too late. He heard an inhuman growl as their pursuers realized where they were. He told Swati to move to the back and that he and Abhi would be right behind her. Holding the boy's hand in his left hand, Mayukh took out his gun and crept along the bookshelf. There was a pandemonium of noise in the store as their attackers trashed one bookshelf after another trying to look for them. Mayukh felt something cold and clammy against his right hand. He let go of Abhi's hand and brought up his flashlight to see what it was.

He found himself looking into a yellowed, bloody face with a turban tied on top of its head. He seemed to be as surprised as Mayukh and took a step back, before baring his deformed teeth and emitting a howl that sounded like an animal in pain more than anything any human being could produce.

'Jiiiiiiiiiiiiihaaaaaaaaaaa..'

Without conscious thought, Mayukh brought up his gun and fired twice into the creature's face. As he went down, Mayukh realized any pretense of stealth was now useless.