Tawny stared through the window at the group of wasted trope children. “Right, I guess we’ll give this place a miss then—”
Mercy straightened up, “What are you talking about? Wherever there’s kids there’s food and supplies. Parents always make sure their kids have everything. I got some good supplies from that place on the Upper East Side. I bet this place is no different.”
“Parents are parents wherever you go. It’s the toughest job on the planet, raising a kid. I’m glad we ain’t got one with us, especially not now. Beats me why anyone would want that responsibility—” Tawny turned her attention to the rear door. “We’re not gonna get in through here, that’s for sure. What about forcing a window?”
Mercy examined the window frames, “No, there’s a risk of breaking the glass, that would make too much noise. There has to be another way in—”
Tawny pointed at a conservatory further along. “There’s hatch in that day room’s roof… we could climb up and check it out.”
“Come on then, I’ll give you a boost,” Mercy answered.
Five minutes later Tawny was on the conservatory roof. She pried open the rusted hasp lock and dropped down to the floor inside. She unlocked the external conservatory door and let Mercy in.
“Good job Tawny,” Mercy whispered. “Let’s see what we can find—”
They pressed up against the internal glass door and peered into the adjoining room.
“It’s the dining hall, looks empty. You ready?” Mercy asked.
Tawny hefted her M4, “Always—”
Mercy pulled on the handle, the sliding door moved along its rail with a slight grating noise, then it stopped.
Good enough. Just wide enough to squeeze through—
Mercy stepped through the gap. The sun emerged from behind the clouds at the same time, illuminating the dining hall through the glass conservatory roof. The floor was coated in a thick layer of dust.
No footprints, no one’s been in here—
Mercy stepped aside letting Tawny in. She pointed at her chest then at the serving counter. Tawny nodded.
No broken glass—
Large double doors were on the left. Mercy pressed up to them, listening.
Nothing—
Mercy slid the top and bottom door bolts home. She edged her way closer to the serving area, a large serving hatch took up space in the wall. Dishes and cutlery were neatly stacked on shelves behind the counter.
Tawny stepped around the counter to check on the far side of the room. She waved at Mercy giving the all clear signal. Mercy turned her attention to the serving hatch.
There must be enough tables and chairs in here for about fifty kids. They’d either have prepared the food on site or used a local supplier. So, there should be a kitchen behind here—
Tawny joined Mercy at the hatch. “Nice and easy, slide it open—”
Mercy gripped the handle and opened the hatch six inches. A stale, musty smell wafted out. She shone her torch through the gap, her light reflected off dusty stainless steel surfaces.
Good… the kitchens. What is it with the dust in this place? Where the hell does dust come from anyway?
Mercy tapped the hatch with the barrel of her HK45 pistol and waited.
Nothing—
She glanced at Tawny then fully opened the hatch. Kitchen worktops lined both sides of the room. A large island with cookers and burners occupied the centre area. Mercy pointed her torch at the rear of the kitchen, illuminating a further set of doors. She raised an eyebrow.
Could be the food store—
Mercy climbed up onto the bench and swung through the hatch into the kitchen. Tawny followed. They made their way through to the back of the kitchen and reached the rear doors.
Mercy read the sign on the first door: FREEZER ROOM.
No use—
The ghost of a smile crept across her face as she shone her torch on the second door: KITCHEN STORE ROOM.
OK, so this’ll do… here’s hoping—
Mercy gripped the handle and listened. Satisfied, she opened the door and shone the torch inside.
Hell yeah—
The store room’s shelves were laden with tinned food and bottled water.
Tawny let out a low whistle, “You can say what you like about what they did to their kids, keeping them undead, but they sure knew how to prepare for the end. There must be enough food here for months—”
“Not to mention what they had in those freezers next door—” Mercy said.
Tawny pressed into the room, she brushed against a shelf. Her jacket caught on the frame and jerked her back. A glass jar fell to the floor and smashed, spilling a quart of pickled gherkins all over their boots. They froze.
Goddammit Tawny—
A sharp bang came from the other side of the kitchen doors. Others followed and soon the whole building was alive with shouts and wild screams.
“Quick, grab what you can and let’s get the hell out of here. That sound will carry outside, it’ll attract others—” Mercy said. She unslung her pack and began filling it with food.
Chapter 19
Entrapment
Mercy lifted up her food laden pack and passed it through the serving hatch to Tawny. The double-hung half door at the other end of the kitchen splintered and the top lock gave way. The upper half swung inwards on its battered hinges and a spiderlike child-trope crawled over the lower door. It was followed by others, surging up and over the partial barrier, a tide of death.
“Mercy, move, like fucking now—” Tawny yelled. She reached through the hatch and grabbed Mercy by the shoulder, wrenching her across in one swift movement.
Mercy landed on the floor and sprawled beneath the counter.
Tawny slid the serving hatch shut, “Go on, get the bags into the conservatory. I’ll hold this shut—”
Mercy grabbed the two packs and ran to the conservatory door. She shoved the bags through then squeezed herself into the gap. A burst of gunfire came from behind, she turned to see Tawny emptying a magazine through the open hatch.
“Tawny get over here—” Mercy shouted
