A Life Born of Ash.
Chapter 1
It all happened so quickly. You heard of stories, horror films depicting the undead that roamed freely. Driving those with beating hearts into hiding. The makeup and movie scenes, the video games we all played. We made plans, joked about the apocalypse. But we never thought it would happen.
It spread slowly at first. You would hear news broadcasts about more and more cities being taken over. More and more people falling victim to the animated corpses, only to rise from the dead and join the undead army. People started to panic, there seemed to be no way of stopping it. The end of the world as we knew it was coming to an end and fast. So fast that nobody really quite knew what to do.
A group of outcasts began organising themselves. The misfits would not succumb to the horror story turn reality. But before they knew it society was falling down around their ears. The undead were running rampant through the streets of bristol, and their plans suddenly became a reality.
Forced into action after weeks of waiting. You don't expect it to happen so quickly when it actually happens. But it does, you can go to bed on edge, and wake up to a totally different life. A life that unfortunately didn't hold much of a future for anyone.
Naomi woke to the sound of glass breaking and smoke filling her nostrils. Her sleepy mind soon sobered up, and she lunged for the cricket bat at the side of her bed. One she had kept there since this mess began unravveling, since the first broadcast.
Emily, who had been sleeping soundly next to her followed soon after. Her smaller body had leapt from the bed, knowing just what was going to happen. Tonight would be the night they left the world they once knew behind. She pulled her jacket on quickly. Both of them having slept fully clothed. Anticipating this every night they went to bed. Naomi followed suit, pausing her actions as screams filled the house, breaking the silence as if it itself were made of glass. Shattering it until nothing was left in it's wake but terror and panic. Naomi's bright blue eyes caught an eerie glow that was radiating into her dark room.
"Naomi" Emily's voice was nothing more than a strained whisper. "Everything's on fire" She said as if the site was part of a film. Just a scene that would change in a few moments to one of peace. But it wasn't going to, at least that explained the smoke. Though that didn't help the situation at all.
"Get the bags, we need to leave, find the others just like we planned" The blonde spoke, pushing her way past any panic. It wasn't the time. She had to get Emily out. Knowing Kieren would take care of her mother.
She reached for her own emergency pack, this is what they had been waiting for. Weeks of sleepless nights, weeks of waiting. The bow had finally broken and the Apocalypse was descending. Slinging it onto her back, she buckled it tightly around her waist. Watching as Emily did the same, she began moving towards her bedroom door. Safe with the knowledge that the car contained more supplies, enough for a small while.
The screams started again, this time louder. Naomi recognised the sound, it was her mother. Her heart started hammering in her chest and she rushed out of the door with reckless abandon. Go for the head. She repeated over and over in her mind like a mantra. Her senses were invaded by the heavy thudding of Emily running down the steps behind her.
The living room was in Chaos when they burst through the doors. Her mother was in a state of panic, screaming and shouting. Kieran, their old Politics teacher and Gina's boyfriend was attempting to put out a fire that was threatening to consume their living area and in turn the rest of their home. The front window had been smashed by the looks of it, but Naomi couldn't really tell what had started the blaze.
"Someone's bloody well gone and tried to kill one of those things by setting it on fire! The damn fucker just set every bloody thing else on fire!" The old Irish man swore. "It's useless!"
"We need to get out!" Emily yelled, "It's not safe anymore" And she was right. The fire would leave the house open to threat even if they could put it out. They had to get out, they had to put the plan into action.
"Kieren! You take Mom, I'll take Emily! We'll go to the place we discussed and meet the rest! If it's this bad here it's bound to be everywhere else!" Naomi reasoned.
Her hand finding the redheads before moving towards the door which luckily hadn't yet been effected by the fire. Which was spreading and quickly. The smoke plumbed and it was becoming harder and harder to see or breathe.
"Come on!" Emily called, and ushered the older couple out of the door before them. Kieran luckily had a small pistol, and Gina was armed only with a golf club. But it would have to do. Their eyes stinging and their skin blackened from the smoke they moved out of the house and into the night air. Not looking back to see the fire consume their home more and more.
The slammed their weapons into a few of the creatures on the way to the cars, but were quickly off before anything else could get close enough. Naomi's shaky hand started the engine finally and she waited for Kieren to do the same before bombing down the road.
Followed closely by Kieran and his old beater. She inwardly groaned at that, they would need to somehow steal new cars to keep themselves safe in. Two to a car, it's where they would be sleeping for the next however long. Kieran's was just not reliable enough to act as a home and a quick getaway.
No more than ten minutes later they had pulled up in front of Uncle Keith's pub. Not surprisingly they were the last of the small group there. Emily jumped out of the car and rushed to pull her twin into a crushing embrace. Clearly relieved to see she had made it alright. They shared a few hushed words, and by the body language alone Naomi didn't have to listen into the conversation to know what had happened.
It looked as if only two of the Fitches would be joining the small group.
"Right! Now that everyone's here let's get this party started" Cook all but whooped. He seemed more excited than anything. Opening the back of the van he had somehow obtained, he smirked a more than smug smirk.
"Weapons! Lots of weapons!" He shouted into the empty parking lot.
"Bloody hell, C-cook, how did you ... I don't want to know" JJ stuttered. His eyes wide as he peaked into the back of the van.
There was what looked to be a small armoury laid out on the floor.
"I know a few people, who know a few people. Let's just say good ol' mumsy finally did somethin' right" Cook said with a hint of venom laced in his words.
"Everyone should have at least one gun and a knife" Freddie pipped up. Leaning into the back of the van to pull out a holster with a pistol in it and a belt of clips. "That's me done, Ef?" He spoke as he holstered his new weapon, pulling out a knife held securely in what looked to be a thigh strap. He got to work fixing it to himself.
"Yehyeh" Effy drawled, her voice just as bored as it had ever been. But she followed his lead. Soon everyone was equipped with at least one pistol, extra amo and a knife.
"We'll have to raid a rifle store, and a supermarket. A few camping stoves and some cans of beans isn't going to get us anywhere, and we need to get new cars, start siphoning off petrol." Cook spoke again. Clearly appointing himself he leader of the band of misfits.
"Katiekins! You have a choice to go with Blondie and Emilio or Gayjay and Cookie, your choice but either way your car is going to Pops and Gina" Cook ordered.
For once Katie didn't argue. Her tongue hadn't delivered a quick and harsh lashing she normally would have. "We need to raid a clothing store too" She said simply, sniffing back tears that had been discreetly falling up until this point.
"No offence Katie, but right now isn't the time to be worried about shopping" Naomi drawled, trying her best to keep any sarcasm out of her voice, for Emily's sake.
"Don't be dense bitch, we're going to need spare clothes, it's almost fucking winter you twat and none of us have anything more than a couple of t-shirts and maybe one coat. We're going to die of cold if we don't get some more to at least sleep in. We are sleeping in our fucking cars for god knows how long you daft cow" Katie finally unleashed her fury, and once again Naomi was the target.
"Looks like Emily didn't get all the brains" Effy piped up with the slightest hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
"Katie's right, there's a small shopping mall not far from the city. It should be far enough away to get to safely and if we move quick we could get there tonight before anyone else thinks of it" Emily added, lacing her fingers with Naomi's. Giving the blondes hand a light squeeze.
"We should be able to pick up at least a good bit more supplies, I do believe they have a boundary mills" Gina added, her voice not all together even just yet.
They were lucky they had begun putting the plan into action as soon as the reports had started. It was the only sensible thing the group had every done, they all knew it too. If they hadn't they would have been caught with their pants down like most people in the world. They knew what they had to do, and for the most part how to do it. What nobody really knew is where to go, nowhere was particularly safe anymore. Everywhere had been over run.
"All right me chums, let's get going before those flesh munchers come get us" Cook ordered. "First, move everything for Pop's banger to Katiekins' car. It's not much bigger but it's more reliable. Petrol too!"
With that the group got to work. JJ and Thomas keeping watch their eyes straining against the darkness for any sign of anything coming their way. Threat or not, they needed to be aware of everything around them now. Survival mode had kicked in well and good.
Panda and Effy checking supplies through. Making mental lists of everything they hadn't got and would need. Going from car to car and checking through the bedding and food everyone had managed to store up. For the most part it was good. But Katie was right, they needed more for the winter or there would be no way they would survive.
Cook and Freds going over what weapons they had still un-taken. Counting a few Glocks, a few standard hunting knives and a pump action shotgun which Cook soon claimed as his own. They didn't really need to hit a weapons store, but it would be helpful. They didn't know what the undead were like, if they were anything like those that had starred in so many films. What they did know was that nobody really knew how to shoot a gun, let alone aim and kill something trying to eat them.
They would need extra's, silencers and scopes. They would need to be entirely self sufficient, and soon. They would have to learn, and learn quickly. This wasn't a video game, or a film you could shut off. This was now a fight for survival.
Katie and Emily had worked together to get all of Katie's supplies into the back of Naomi's camper van. Yes, Naomi had a camper. The pair stayed close to each other. Drawing comfort in the knowledge they were both still alive and still together. Well aware these next few weeks would be the hardest, but once that was over, they would be alright. They would keep each other safe. Their small make shift family would fight together to stay alive.
Naomi and Gina moved everything from the old banger into Katie's car. Naomi stealing glances in Emily's direction. Her bright eyes taking in her girlfriends features everytime they could. She had nearly lost Emily once, and the determination had set in with that mind set. She would keep Emily safe, she wouldn't let herself loose the redhead. With the small pistol holstered to her waistband, tucked neatly under the plaid shirt she had worn to bed she would keep the redhead safe. She would do everything to keep them all safe. This was it, this was what was left of her reality.
Kieran had managed to siphon everything out of his own car, and into a gas canister. Katie had a full tank, and the extra fuel would come in handy. He felt safer in knowing at least they would be able to drive for a while without needed to re-fuel.
It was quick work, and soon they were all ready to go. Each stood in their respective groups of two-three near their vehicles.
"Right, JJ and I will lead the way. Gayjay here is going to be our navigator man. We're going to take the back roads, avoid everyone as much as we can. Can you all do that?" Cook spoke again.
A sea of mumbled yes' met him, and he nodded happily at the response.
"Right ya wankers let's go then!, we'll scope it out when we get there, but don't stop until we do you got it? We'll collect as much supplies as we can, keep an eye for abandoned trucks or vans. Those are what we need" He yelled, throwing a fist in the air before climbing into the front of his van. Soon followed by JJ.
Soon the small convoy was on it's way. Invading in on the darkness, scared yet still unafraid. They hadn't even had a taste of what was yet to come. Nothing was certain anymore.