George (Book 1): The Long Road Home Read online

  As I made my way through the door, Will was coming up the corridor.

  “Nia just realized that she had not told you how to get to the food hall so she sent me up for you,” he said as way of hello.

  “Morning Will, thanks I think I would have gotten lost with all these doors.”

  “This way,” he said turning back the way he came from. “Listen, before we get downstairs, I just wanted to say thanks for looking after Nia last night.”

  We walked down the stairs to the corridor below.

  “I didn't do anything, we just talked for a bit and then we went to sleep,” I answered him honestly.

  “Yes that's exactly what I meant when I said thank you. But can you lay it on a bit for Deacon, about how you enjoyed her but want a bit more? Maybe then he will let you keep her a bit longer. I'll explain more after breakfast.”

  We stopped outside another closed door, I could hear lots of voices coming from the room and the clanging of plates and cutlery. The door was the same as all the rest apart from the writing on it. ‘Canteen’ it said. How could I have missed this last night? I wondered.

  “Uh yeah of course,” I said not quite understanding what he meant.

  We slipped in through the door to what looked like a typical canteen area. The room was large, the walls were plain white and there were eight or nine long tables scattered around. A few of them had small groups of men sat at them eating what looked like scrambled eggs and talking loudly. The noise was deafening.

  “Come on,” Will said leading the way to a serving window. I saw that Nia’s job that day was to serve the food and that a guy in front was not happy at the small amount she had given him and was causing a fuss. I also noticed Deacon was watching the exchange, so I made eyes to Will, who understood and got a quick glance at Deacon also. He gave me permission for whatever I was planning with the slightest of head nods.

  “Hey lady, just give him some more eggs, God damn it,” I said with as much vehemence as I could muster, slamming my hand against the wall for effect.

  Nia’s head snapped up, her eyes wide, I'm not sure if it was fear or shock in them but a tidal wave of guilt washed over me.

  Nia quickly regained her composure and gave the man three extra scoops. Satisfied he turned to me and smiled a smug smile. I forced myself to smile back. When it was my turn she gave me three scoops of eggs without meeting my eyes, her hands shook as she put the eggs onto my plate.

  “I'm sorry,” I whispered.

  “I know,” she whispered before walking away out of sight and another woman took over the serving.

  I seemed to get Deacon’s approval as he asked me to sit at his table for breakfast. Will sat next to me.

  “No supply run today Will, the weather is awful and with such low visibility I don't want to risk it. So could you show George here, around the factory and how things work. Maybe in a few days we can do the chemist run?” Deacon asked.

  “Ok no problem,” Will replied.

  Deacon had finished his breakfast and got up to leave. “George, if Nia gives you any trouble, just send her to me and I'll sort her out for you ok?” He said this so nicely I was almost fooled.

  “Thanks Deacon, I can handle her, she won't be any trouble, but I would like to keep her a little longer,” I said returning the calm smile, even though my insides were anything but calm.

  He paused for a second staring at me, as if trying to read my thoughts but then nodded and left with two huge guys by the side of him.

  I ate breakfast quietly trying to plan my escape. That's all I could think of was Kelly and the kids and how they were coping without me. I planned to have a good look around after breakfast and make my escape that evening.

  For the rest of the day I kept busy, helping out in the kitchen a little, getting to know the layout of the inside a little better.

  At dinner we sat at the same table, with Deacon and his right hand man. We didn’t really talk, just ate our food and listened to Deacon go on about the women and how they were only useful for a handful of things.

  “Once they are no longer useful, we set them free, right boys?” a few of them laughed.

  I had a feeling that setting them free was not as nice as it sounded and my mind flashed back to that woman outside the gate yesterday with most of her body eaten. I wondered if she was once part of Deacon’s group.

  I just forced myself to smile and nod along, trying to fit in.

  After dinner that evening I walked outside around to the back of the warehouse and made my way to the gate, I didn’t really have a plan as such, just get out of this place alive and try to get back to my family as quickly as possible. I would make it up as I went along.

  I was just pushing back a little bit of fence that I had noticed was loose at the bottom when Will called my name.

  “George? What are you doing out here in the dark?” he asked, suspicion all over his face.

  “I uh, was just checking the stability of this bit of fence. I planned to tell one of the guards to keep an eye on this bit as it looks weak.” I stood up straighter and puffed out my chest hoping to portray confidence.

  Will’s eyes flickered to the fence and back to me, turning his head from side to side to make sure that nobody was listening. “George I know you’re desperate, man, I do, but desperation gets you killed. You’re no good to your wife and kids dead, now are you?”

  I shook my head no, hanging it down and slumping my shoulders in shame and disappointment, admitting defeat.

  “Good. Now, let’s get back inside, I need a darts partner.”

  I had no choice but to follow him back inside, my first attempt at escape was a failure. I wouldn’t have done so well anyway. I had not taken any food, water or even a weapon out with me. No, I decided, I would plan better and go tomorrow night.

  My hopes of escape over the next week quickly washed away with the heavy rain and thunder storms. Deacon deemed it too dangerous to go out because of visibility and flooding cutting off roads. So I spent most of my time with Billy and Will, showing me around and introducing me to the other men. They introduced me to Lewis and John a couple of mechanics who obviously looked after the vehicles to make sure they were in good condition and able to leave quickly. They were great guys and anyone who looked closer could have seen they were a couple in love. When I asked Billy about it later he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Deacon doesn't like gays so they are not allowed to be. They each have a girl staying with them. They stay together in one room but as far as Deacon knows they are with the girls and not each other.”

  “Oh I should have guessed it would be something like that. How sad,” was all I could think of to say. “Why don't they just leave?” I asked Billy and Will.

  “Once you are in with Deacon you are in for life,” Will answered. “You thinking of escaping George?” Will asked jokingly but the look between Billy and him was anything but funny it was serious.

  “I do need to get back to my family, so yeah I suppose,” I admitted.

  Will just smiled at me. “Come on George, Billy and I are doing perimeter checks, you can help. We need to check the fence for holes and weak points,” Will said, giving me a pointed look before leading the way.

  We walked around the edge of the property like he said checking for holes and weak points in the fences and gates. This was great as it showed me extra exits and other weak points. I noticed that the bit of fence that I had checked out was still loose, that meant hopefully something was on my side. I would have to be careful around Will though, as this may all be an act; he could be waiting for me to attempt something before telling Deacon on me. The perimeter checks also gave me an opportunity to check out the guard stations and see what their changeover times were.

  During this time, I also found out that Deacon’s favorite number was 180 because he loved to play darts. Being pretty good at darts myself, I used this talent as a way to get into his good books. It meant I had to spend more time with him and his two heavies than I wanted to but I did get into his good graces. This meant I was left alone to do whatever I wanted to do in the days as long as I was doing something to help. This normally consisted of helping Will do the rounds, checking the safety of the place both inside and out, helping Nia out in the kitchen, so I also got to meet the other women, and helping Lewis and John with odd jobs in the garage. With Deacon now quite fond of me I also got to ‘keep’ Nia to myself, which meant keeping her safe. We had been getting along great although she still refused to tell me anything about her past.

  The weather started to clear up after about a week of me being at the warehouse and Deacon along with Will’s help, agreed and arranged to do a supply run to a pharmacy they knew of, that they believed had not been ransacked yet.

  The night before the supply run, Will came to my room to give me the details of the run.

  “Hey George, can I come in?” Will asked.

  “Of course,” I said moving away from the door.

  He followed me in and closed the door behind him. “Hi Nia, you ok?” He looked at her with love in his eyes and I wondered for the hundredth time what the deal was with these two.

  She looked pointedly at me and Will nodded his head.

  “Yeah I'm fine uncle Will,” she said smiling.

  “Ah that's what it is, I have been wondering,” I said, smiling fondly at them.

  “We guessed as much. Thanks for being good to my niece George, I appreciate it and so does she,” Will said.

  I nodded. “Wish I could help all the women who don't want to be here though,” I replied.

  “Well, you and I are going on a supply run tomorrow to that pharmacy I told you about. Now, I know you are going to think that this is a great time to escape and make your way back home but you would be wrong,
” he advised.

  He was right that's exactly what I was thinking, I could be home by tomorrow night with Kelly and the kids all snuggled up in that big bed of ours. “What? Why not?” I asked.

  “Because we need your help. I have a plan to get us all out of here and take down Deacon at the same time. Are you in?” he asked, the desperation was clear in his voice.

  “To be honest Will, I have come to care for you and Nia and maybe even Billy, but I need to get home to my own family NOW!” I said I was desperate to get back to them, to be in Kelly’s arms again. “I can't wait another few days to get the plan in action then carry it out, I'm sorry,” I said, feeling deflated.

  “Please George, if the plans go right, I can get the people that I care about, out of this hellhole. You will get to your family much quicker and safer in one of Deacon’s jeeps, don’t you think?”

  He gave me a sly grin, knowing that this would change my mind.

  I thought about it a little and decided that he was right, a car or truck would definitely increase my odds of getting back to Kelly and the kids quicker and safer. Plus, with Deacon out of the way, I would not have to worry about him coming after me and finding out about my family.

  I nodded. “Ok I’m in,” I told them, receiving huge smiles from both of them.

  The next morning, I followed Will to Deacon’s table, the guy I had come to know as Tony sat next to him.

  Will sat down on the opposite side to Deacon and I sat down next to him and opposite Tony.

  “Hey Will, George, we were just discussing the run today to get some medical supplies. I’m thinking a four-man team just to even things out, watch each other's backs you know? What are you good at George?” he said, pushing his empty plate away and gesturing to a woman I knew as Sally behind him. She came over quickly, I had not even seen her standing in the shadows. She was stick thin, her short muddy brown hair hung limply around her face in a badly cut bob. Her face was gaunt and her grey eyes were sunk into their sockets.

  She gathered his plate and empty cup with shaky hands, obviously nervous and scared. Just as she was about to move away, Deacon moved quicker than I thought was possible and grabbed her arm causing her to cry out in surprise. “I would like another coffee,” he said.

  “Yes of course, I'm sorry I did not offer you one,” she replied shakily, forcing a smile onto her lips. “I’ll bring one right out.” He let go of her arm, there was now a red Mark there where he had been holding her so tight.

  It took all of my strength not to hit him in the face with my coffee mug.

  He turned back to me. “Just can't get the help I need these days.”

  His face was challenging me to say something, his eyes flicked to my death grip on my coffee mug and back to me.

  “I understand. I'm sure they can be trained though. Now, back to me, I don't really have any skills, other than I'm strong and fast and a trained first aider. I'll be happy to go out on a run today.” I forced a smile and then filled my mouth with the delicious eggs, to stop me from saying more.

  “Great stuff,” he said, getting up. “Will and Tony will set you up and give you a list of what you need to get. Tony and Adam will be going with you also, meet in what? Forty-five minutes?”

  I felt Will stiffen at the name Tony although he nodded at Deacon and agreed that we would meet them outside at the suggested time.

  “Anything I need to know?” I asked him suddenly nervous to be going outside the safety of the walls. At this point I wasn't sure what was worse Deacon or the zombies.

  “Well, we will be going into town to a Pharmacy. We have done a drive-by and it looks relatively untouched. If it has two floors, the medicines are up on the second floor.” Under his breath he added, “Watch out for Tony, he would probably be the one to stab you in the back rather than help you.”

  “Ok, good to know.” I let out a huge sigh. Why couldn't things ever be easy for me?

  “Don't worry I'll keep an eye on you, come on let's get to the supply room,” Will said patting me on the back. He got up and left his plate on the table, I did the same not wanting anyone to think I was soft.

  I followed Will back out of the room and to the right, all the way to the other end of the corridor from the stairs. The door to this room had a number lock. Will typed in the four-digit code 1697 without trying to hide it. He stood aside and let me pass by him and into the room first.

  I was shocked at how much ‘stock’ they had. Shelves lined the walls and down the center of the room was a huge shelving unit. The shelves on the walls held a variety of weapons, I saw handguns, grenades, big heavy looking guns although I had no idea what any of them were called. The shelves in the back of the room on the wall were full of boxes of ammo there were also some large, black plastic crates on the floor also filled with ammo. They looked like the crates the guys moved from my small local shop. What was that guy into??

  The shelving units in the middle of the room were full of food, cereals, rice, noodles, tins of fruit, soup, beans and spaghetti were plentiful as were the breakfast bars. There were boxes of washing powder and washing up liquid. The end shelf was empty, I assumed it was for the medicines we were getting today.

  My family could do with so much of this stuff, I wish I could fill a bag full and take it with me, but I had to remain as normal and inconspicuous. Nobody could know what I planned on doing today.

  “George have you ever used a gun before? Or would you rather stick to a knife?” Will asked me checking out a handgun.

  “Only once, my father in law took me to a gun range. To be honest I wasn't very good but I'm eager to learn,” I admitted, especially now, as to be able to shoot a gun and be good at it in this new world was a definite must. “I'll take my knife as well though, just in case,” I added.

  “Yours is still in your backpack, I left it in there in case you needed it. Things can get rough here, quick,” he said.

  He handed me a similar hunting knife that I tucked into my waistband. “This will be a good beginner gun for you.” He showed me the basics, how to knock the safety off and reload. It seemed pretty easy although I wasn’t sure how I would do once out there face to face with zombies. Will, then grabbed four small bottles of water from a box on the ground, four cereal bars and two apples. He gave me half and a small backpack to put them in. He led me through another small door that I had not noticed before. The room was about as small as a janitor’s closet. It was full of clothes. “Women's on the left, men's on the right. Shoes on the floor.” There were also a few boxes on each side for toiletries.

  “Better go check in with Deacon,” Will said.

  I led the way through the door.

  “He’ll be in his office,” Will said.

  I carried on in front, through to the reception area and off to the right was Deacon’s living quarters. Deacon and Tony were talking low to each other and they did not seem happy. Adam was off to the side and looking awkward.

  “Hey guys, everything ok? Shall we get going?” Will asked walking confidently toward them.

  I was slower, more on guard, nervous about the trip.

  They stopped talking. Deacon shook his head no to something Tony said and the look Deacon gave Tony was enough to stop anyone from talking. “Got the list right here,” Deacon said waving a piece of paper. “Each team has a different list. Will, you and Adam go together, here is your list and George, you go with Tony and here is your list. Ok?”

  I moved closer to Deacon and took the list. Ours had all toiletries on it:

  Deodorant

  Toothpaste

  Toothbrushes

  Shampoo

  Conditioner

  Shower gel.

  Plasters and bandages

  Antiseptic cream, wipes.

  Soap

  Sanitary towels

  Tampons

  Condoms

  Baby bottles, food, teethers Etc.

  Anything else you think is important.

  I read and re read the list and nodded my head. I passed it to Tony for him to read but he held up his hands. “You find the stuff I will be your backup ok new guy,” he said almost too aggressively, as if challenging me.

  I ignored him and turned to see Will and his partner Adam had both finished reading their list and Will was tucking it into the front pocket of his jacket.