They piled into Matt's car, driving cautiously toward the M11, hoping it hadn't already become impassable. As they passed through the outskirts of Cambridge, the streets were eerily empty, the aftermath of the night's chaos leaving debris scattered everywhere. A few crashed and abandoned cars lined the streets, shop windows were shattered and more than a few brutalised corpses lay on the blood soaked streets gathering flies. A few small groups of survivors roamed, looking disoriented, like they'd woken up from a bad dream and fell into an even worse one. Matt tried to ignore the desperate faces as they sped by.
As they approached the main roads leading out of the city, their worst fears were confirmed—traffic was already building up. Cars were lined up in both directions, many with drivers abandoning their vehicles altogether in favour of walking. A handful of traffic policemen were trying their best, but before long they gave up and joined the exodus alongside everyone else. Panicked groups were trying to force their way past, but everyone seemed equally lost.
Jake cursed under his breath, gripping the dashboard. "We're never going to make it like this."
"Keep calm," Matt said, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. "We'll find another way."
He turned off the main road, heading down narrow side streets, trying to avoid the gridlock. Every now and then, they'd spot an infected wandering between cars, drawn to the sounds of distress. In one instance, they had to swerve to avoid a group of them chasing after a small family. Matt had considered stopping, but he couldn't risk it. He tried to block out their screams as the infected caught up with them. The screams of the mother as she saw her child dragged away by the infected were worse than the screams of the little girl. It would haunt him till his dying day.
After what felt like hours, they finally made it out of the worst of the city traffic, the car speeding toward the M11. But the relief was short-lived. Ahead, the motorway was jammed with vehicles, barely moving.
"We'll never get through this," Sophie whispered, looking at the mass of stalled cars.
Jake, leaning forward in the passenger seat, scanned the horizon. "There's a service road. Take it. We can at least keep moving."
Matt followed the road, his mind racing. The infection had spread faster than anyone had anticipated. He could only hope that they could stay ahead of it long enough to find somewhere safe.
The road south was a nightmare of frayed nerves and close calls. At one point, they had to abandon the main motorway entirely and cut through small towns, where they saw the first real evidence of just how widespread the infection had become. They passed through a village that looked deserted, but just as they thought they were in the clear, a group of infected surged out from behind a house, running toward their car.
"Go! Don't stop!" Jake shouted.
Matt slammed the accelerator, veering around them just in time. The infected crashed into the side of the car, leaving bloody handprints smeared across the windows as they sped away.
Sophie let out a shaky breath, her hand clutching Matt's arm. "We can't keep doing this."
"I know," Matt replied, his voice grim. "But we don't have a choice."
As the day wore on, they continued south, weaving through back roads and bypassing towns where they could hear the distant sounds of panic. The once-calm countryside was now a place of fear and uncertainty, and the virus was spreading like wildfire. Matt kept checking the radio for updates, but the news was growing more and more grim. Cambridge had been lost by midday, and reports were coming in that nearby towns were starting to fall as well.
They pressed on, determined to outrun the infection, but the road ahead was long, and safety felt further and further out of reach.
The car sped through the narrow roads, the tension thick in the air. The silence inside was only broken by the crackling of the car radio. Matt tuned into BBC Radio 4, hoping for answers. A stern voice came through the static.
"…confirming recent suspicions that the violence is caused by an as yet unidentified contagion. Do not approach the infected under any circumstances, even if you know them. The government is urging residents in Cambridge and surrounding areas to remain indoors. The Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency and has promised the entire resources of government will be commited to restore order. Emergency services are overwhelmed. Local councils are working with Cambridgeshire Constabulary to establish safe zones, but the situation is deteriorating rapidly. The infection is believed to be spreading…"
The report was interrupted by a frazzled newscaster's voice. "We're receiving unconfirmed reports that some areas outside of Cambridge are seeing sporadic outbreaks. These include villages along the A14, heading towards the Midlands. Authorities advise residents to stay home until further notice. More updates to follow."
Matt clenched the steering wheel tighter. Jake was staring out of the window, his face pale. "Midlands? It's spreading faster than they're letting on."
Sophie, from the backseat, muttered, "It's only been a day. How can this be happening so quickly?"
The radio continued, "The Home Office has released a statement denying any evidence of a biological terrorist attack, but health officials are warning of extreme violence and urging citizens to avoid crowds. The origin of the contagion is still unknown , although it seems to spread primarily through bodily fluid . It does not appear to be airborne. Military assistance is being deployed to major cities, but resources are thin. Updates will follow on evacuation procedures. Please remain calm…"
Jake snorted bitterly. "Remain calm? Do they have any idea what's really happening?"
Matt could feel the tension growing, the weight of their situation sinking in deeper. They had only narrowly escaped Cambridge. As the radio continued to describe growing panic and unrest, the image of the blood-soaked streets and the infected tearing through crowds loomed in their minds.
The report shifted to something worse: "The infection has now been confirmed in several small towns around Cambridge, including Saffron Walden and Newmarket. The government has set up emergency shelters in unaffected areas, but capacity is limited. If you are traveling, avoid the M11 where significant congestion is reported due to fleeing citizens. Please avoid public areas and await further instructions."
Matt glanced in the rearview mirror at Sophie. "Shelters? This is way beyond what they're saying. We've got to stay ahead of this."
Jake leaned forward. "If the M11 is blocked, what's our next move?"
Matt's mind raced. "We'll stick to the back roads for now. If the infection hasn't hit the smaller villages south of here yet, we might have a shot at reaching somewhere safer."
The radio crackled again. "Reports are coming in that the military is considering a quarantine zone around London to keep the infected out, to be enacted within the next 48 hours. Officials are warning that violence is escalating across the east of England. Personnel from Colchester Garrison have been placed on high alert for potential deployment. We will bring you updates as they come."
"Quarantine zone?" Sophie whispered, fear edging her voice. "If London goes, where will we go?"
Matt didn't have an answer. The road ahead was full of unknowns, but one thing was certain: staying put would only lead them into deeper danger.
As they drove, the daylight began to fade, and with it, the feeling of safety. The infected were spreading faster than anyone could comprehend. The radio reports only served as a grim reminder that the world they knew was unraveling with terrifying speed. And all they could do was keep moving, hoping to stay one step ahead of the horror.
They had been traveling for hours now, and as they approached London, the enormity of the situation hit them hard. Military roadblocks were everywhere, soldiers checking IDs, directing refugees toward the Millennium Dome, now a large, overburdened camp.
The line of cars stretched endlessly as they reached the checkpoint. Tired and anxious, Matt leaned out of the window to speak to the nearest soldier.
"What's going on inside London?" Matt asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
The soldier, sweating under his helmet, barely looked him in the eye. "They're trying to keep the infected out, but its a bloody mess. Just get to the Dome, stay there, and wait for further instructions."
As they drove on, Jake, sitting in the passenger seat, exhaled sharply. "We're heading straight into a city under siege."