Free The Afflicted: A Zombie Novel by Russ Watts

close, and inches from the bottom, hands appeared, groping, feeling for life. Evan and Amane pounded on them with the golf clubs, breaking bones, mushing deadly hands into the ground whilst Joe held the switch down until the door finally closed, sealing them in. Decapitated fingers lay strewn over the dirty ground and Evan kicked them to a corner, disgusted. Joe flicked another switch, fluorescent lights flickering to life above them, lighting the room in a yellow glow.
    “Where are we?” said Amane, looking round. The bay was largely empty. A truck was to their right, a couple of empty refuse bins and boxes to the side and in front of them, a tall, windowless, brick wall with a solitary door. The metal grill was rattling and shaking as more zombies continued to pile up against it, eager to get in.
    “You ok ay?” said Evan to Amane. Her face was flushed with colour now and he was relieved to see she seemed more alert and alive. She nodded and flashed him a quick smile.
    Joe went to investigate the truck whilst Evan and Amane sat down, gathering themselves. Karyn sat too, holding George close, thinking her own private thoughts, feeling the warmth of her son’s body against hers. She smelled his boyish hair and was grateful he was still with her. George said nothing.
    Evan and Amane sat in silence, listening to Joe start the truck. Evan had propitious thoughts of escaping. Take the truck, crash through the metal barrier and get everyone away from this prison. Get himself back to his family. Joe turned the engine off and climbed down from the cab.
    “No good. The gas tank’s empty.” He sat down beside the truck and looked around at the faces staring back at him. He felt guilty for bringing such bad news, as if it was his fault the truck was useless.
    Karyn cast fierce, teary eyes around the group and stood up. “How secure are those doors, Joe?”
    “Not secure enough,” was his reply. It was not what she wanted to hear.
    “I would suggest we try that way,” said Joe, looking at the door into the warehouse. The metal grill holding back the zombie horde was rattling back and forth violently. The sounds of murmuring and groaning outside grew louder with every second.
    Evan and Amane got up and approached the door leading into the warehouse. Evan put his ear to it and listened.
    “I can’t hear anything. I’ll go in first .”
    Evan exhaled and turned the door-handle with a measured, steady hand. Amane gripped the golf club, knuckles white, sweat beading on her forehead. Casting it open, Evan ventured in a few feet. The warehouse was lit up by more overhead fluorescent lights that only exacerbated Evan’s headache. It was lined with rows and rows of boxes stacked on metal shelves. To the right, there was a small office: empty.
    “Looks safe. I can’t see any other doors.” Evan came back to the doorway. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone here, but me and Amane will sweep around and check, see if there’s anyone else in here.”
    Evan wasn’t worried about who they might find inside, just whether they were alive or dead: or both. He and Amane disappeared inside, leaving Joe waiting with Karyn and George in the loading bay. Locked in silence with nothing but the sounds of the undead just feet away, it was a painful five minutes for both of them. Joe could think of nothing useful to say to Karyn, nor she him. They were both thinking about Lucy. After a few minutes, Evan appeared back in the doorway.
    “I t’s clear. We should be safe. Come on.” Angry, Evan looked intently at Karyn who was avoiding his searching eyes. She would have to wait. Evan went back into the warehouse followed by a weary Joe.
    “Go on George.” Karyn ushered her son through the doorway and looked back at the metal pull-down grill that was keeping the zombies at bay. As George disappeared inside, leaving her alone, she listened to the moaning and growling sounds outside. How had it come to this? Rolling back her sleeve, she looked