Johnny sighed. “Thanks.”
The shredded corpse of another man lay close by. His stomach appeared torn with internal organs flayed out in a morbid display. Various shapes of pink and red flesh scattered the road around him.
“Hurry,” the old man said as we shuffled past and into his shop.
I slumped to the tiled floor in an aisle flanked by rows of orange screw boxes. Lacey stood outside with the man.
“Come on!” she screamed.
Mr Peterson arrived next, pushing Michael Harper through the door.
“Get inside,” he ordered, his grey staff uniform now splattered with claret dashes.
Michael slumped next to me, clutching his neck.
“You okay?” Johnny asked, rising to his feet.
“I think so,” Michael replied. Blood stained his hands and face. “Someone tried to bite me, but Peterson smashed him off before he could do any damage.”
Miss Greene arrived next, her dark hair matted to a tear-strewn face. Aaron Brett rushed in next, clutching a cricket bat that appeared to have been used in aggression.
“Come on, Lawro!” Peterson snapped.
“There’s too many of them,” Miss Greene retorted.
Lawro burst through the door followed by the teachers and the old shop owner, who slammed the door and engaged the shutters. Metal blinds descended as people outside stumbled up to the entrance, moaning and wailing like some kind of primitive choir. First two of them emerged, then three, and then an army. Their shadows diminished the natural light from outside, and soon they vanished beyond the protective shield which separated us all.
The Prime Minister’s Address to the Nation
Four Days after Day Zero
“My dear people, what happened to our great nation only four days ago has been a truly catastrophic act of biological terrorism intended to destroy us all and eliminate the United Kingdom from its place within the world. All of us have suffered major loss during this attack, and first let me express my deepest condolences to all of you watching for the horrors and trauma each of you has suffered during this time.
“As your Prime Minister, I have the duty to pass on all relevant information about our current situation to ensure that everyone is as informed as they can be in an attempt to keep safe and avoid further atrocities. Unfortunately, it devastates myself, my cabinet and my government to inform you that approximately seventy five percent of our population have been infected with what we call the ‘Non Compos Mentis Virus,’ or NCMV. The NCMV was introduced into our atmosphere in the heart of London, having been released via the bomb’s destination on Charing Cross Road. The virus exists outside of the human body for approximately two minutes before dying and can only exist for longer periods inside a human host. The virus attacks the brain, causing its host to revert to some kind of primitive life form. Once this state has occurred, the host eats and sleeps, and does nothing more. Unfortunately, the virus causes extreme aggression, causing anyone who is infected to become unstable and violent. Everyone infected will prey on, attack and eat any person who has not been in direct contact with NCMV. The infected are aware of those around them and can pinpoint anyone who does not share the same virus. The virus itself can only be transmitted through exchange of bodily fluids. In this case, bites are the single most common way of contraction of NCMV.
“The virus also attacks nociceptors in the body, meaning that the infected will not feel most of the pain and trauma inflicted upon them. Therefore, they are unlikely to stop unless they are destroyed.
“Please understand that I, along with the rest of our government, am doing as much as is physically possible to reduce any further risk to the last quarter of our population, to you, my people. Our friends from the United States and around the world have sent military support to help us in our hour of need. Power has been earmarked as essential and most grids, stations and other outlets are protected by a military presence. All restrictions have been lifted. Electricity and gas will be available without the fear of it running out within your home. Water is also under our supervision, but it is highly recommended to be boiled before consumed. Communication has been greatly affected by this atrocity. At this moment, we are striving to find out why land lines and mobile phones have become redundant we are working to re-establish our country’s telephone networks as soon as we can.
“Since the outbreak of this terrible virus, we have been working around the clock to research, learn and pass on our findings to you, the remaining population who have survived such a barbaric and historic attack on our country. Our findings have been discovered by various tests conducted at governmental facilities. There are also various safe zones being established up and down the UK, again guarded by military personnel.
“Life within the United Kingdom will never be the same again. Please, all of you, stay safe and vigilant. Watch and listen to local news that will inform you of government assistance in your area.
“Please also think of those who obtained this information which I am able to share with you. Many of them lost their lives to do so. God speed to you all.”
Eight Days from Day Zero
The hardware shop in which the school cricket team and their teachers found themselves had been converted from an old Victorian house on the outskirts of a small market town. The entrance greeted patrons with two aisles filled with various nuts, bolts and fittings all housed in open, orange boxes. To the right, you found yourself browsing the plumbing section which led down to a key cutting counter. The counter then stretched down into an area full of trade and
