The Night Shift - Chapter Seven

Chester

There are many things to love in this life, Chester mused to himself.  But nothing quite as amazing as a Hawaiian pizza topped with parmesan and aioli. Pizza that good is the stuff of legends.

"That'll be five dollars sir," The Indian cashier mumbled wearily. Chester figured that the poor guy was just counting down the minutes in the last hour of his shift.

Chester nodded and offered the man a grin in response as he fished in his pocket for his wallet. The man stared blankly at him in response before calling back to one of his co-workers in Hindi. The co-worker laughed, closing a pizza box lid down upon a freshly made pizza. Chester retrieved his wallet, pulling out his Eftpos card and swiping it through the card machine.

As he carried out his transaction Chester watched the man working in the back as he gathered a group of pizzas up into a takeaway bag and went to answer a knock on the back door. He opened it to a young man with a grotesquely thick neck beard and a pizza hut cap and jacket. The young man sauntered inside, slinging the takeaway bag on with one smooth movement before turning to head back out.

"Laters curry munchers!" The delivery man called over his shoulder. The guy working out the back flipped him off, glaring as the man reached for the door.

"Alright sir, you want your receipt?" The cashier asked Chester, extending the slip of paper in his direction.

"Nah I'm good thanks," Chester said, shaking his head. He went to put his Eftpos card back inside his wallet but fumbled and dropped it on the floor. He grimaced awkwardly at the cashier, who raised his eyebrows and walked back into the kitchen area to join his co-workers.

Chester got on his knees, and grabbed his card off the dirty floor, he rubbed the dust that had already settled upon the card. The floor really was filthy down here, he supposed that they weren't in any rush to clean it at this time of night. He adjusted his dark blazer and made to get up when a loud knock at the back of the restaurant made him freeze where he was.

"Yo Indians!" Open the fucking door," The delivery man screamed. "Fucking help me!"

Silence filled the Pizza Hut before Chester heard some frantic steps and the pushing of the metal bar that allowed the door to open. Several thumps indicated a lot of heavy objects hitting the floor of the kitchen, yet no sooner had the thumps sounded were they replaced with screaming and howling. After a few seconds the delivery man's screams had turned to silence and all that could be heard was the screams of his Indian co-workers rising above the increasing sound of snarling.

Suddenly the cashier vaulted over the counter, nearly kicking Chester in the head. The Indian man was frantic, not even noticing Chester and carrying past through the door outside. He turned right and the night was penetrated with his continued screaming. Chester thought it might be time to follow the Indian man's course of action.

The counter suddenly shuddered, something landing heavily against it. Chester quietly leaned against the back of the counter so that he couldn't be seen from the other side. A gurgling noise came from somewhere above his head, it sounded like a person was choking. Another noise was prominent as well, that of someone ripping and slashing apart meat. Something warm and wet touched Chester' head, mixing into his wispy blond hair. He reached up and felt for this unknown substance and when he brought his hands away he gagged. It was blood, freshly spilled blood.

Chester wasn't sure what to do here, he could run but he didn't know if he'd get grabbed the minute he stood up. He would have to take a look, scout the kitchen out and then decide what to do. Slowly he pushed himself up along the counter, and steeled himself for a quick glance. He laid one hand over the pizza box he'd left upon the counter and turned to look at the carnage beyond.

In the far corner by the now open rear door lay the body of the delivery man, a pile of what looked like decaying humans on top of him. They were moving about and fighting one another to each get a scrap of meat off the man's body. Chester turned his head and his breath caught; getting his throat ripped out by another creature was the Indian kitchen worker. He was the one who had been making the gurgling noise as blood had welled up in his throat and mouth when he was first attacked. The creature seemed occupied with his meal and oblivious to his surroundings. Maybe I can just sneak out of here, Chester thought to himself.

Carefully and smoothly, Chester slid his pizza box off the counter and onto the floor beside him. Then, being sure to move slowly and silently he approached the door and eased it open. The cold night air hit his face, it felt soothing and cool. Shapes shuffled about in the dark but Chester figured if he kept moving undetected he could find somewhere safe in time.

Bleep! Bleep!

No...

Bleep! Bleep!

Chester hurriedly fished his cellphone out of his pocket and turned it off, but it was too late. The damage had been done. The tearing noises stopped. A low growl sounded. Then there were the sounds of scrabbling and clattering and Chester didn’t look back. He ran straight out the door, out of the Pizza Hut and onto the street outside. But a number of creatures around the store had heard the noise of the cellphone and were turning to box him off as well. From every direction creatures were surrounding Chester who knew now he had little hope of escape.

A creature broke off from the pack and ambled straight for Chester, its growls rising in volume as it drew closer. Chester took a hesitant step back but could see creatures emerging from the Pizza Hut behind him. He took stock and looked about, the gaps had closed up and there were several creatures moving to his position. Not long and that creature would pull him to the ground and rip his throat open like he had the Indian man in the store.

The creature loomed before him, a cold hand reaching for Chester' arm. A brief moment of hesitation followed before Chester swung out with the pizza box, connecting with the creature's head and sending both it and the box crashing to the ground. Already it was hissing and writhing, trying to get back to its feet amid the pizza sauce and melted cheese.

Aw pizza no, Chester groaned internally.

The creatures seemed filled with rage now that Chester had attacked, maybe they just enjoyed a meal that fought back or maybe they just sensed easy prey. Either way Chester knew this was likely the end. He crouched low, ready to charge into the crowd and risk his life for the chance of escape.

A sudden whine caused Chester and the creatures to pause, instantly a large green bus drove through the mass of creatures that had gathered in front of Chester. The doors for the bus sprang open and the rotund elderly driver gestured at Chester, who sprinted inside and heard the hiss as the doors closed behind him.

"You got the 3.50 adult fare?" The driver asked Chester, as he pulled away and drove through the large group of creatures.

"I...what?" Chester stammered, a hand already reaching to his pocket for his wallet.

"I'm just yanking your chain boyo," The driver chuckled, extending a hand in Chester' direction. “Name’s Gary. Though the boys on the other buses call me Gaz."

Chester reached forward and shook Gaz's hand, it was a strong and sweaty grip. Gaz was clad in the black and green of the bus driver uniform, the uniform itself was drenched in sweat much like Gaz's hands. The man had a heavy build with a large pot belly; he looked like he was strong though and not entirely unfit. Gaz also had a kind face that was lined with wrinkles that outlined his grin. Chester guessed the man would be in his late fifties, though he couldn't be sure.

"I'm Chester,"

"So where you heading Chester boy?" Gaz asked.

"I-I suppose I'm going to my family," Chester stammered.

"Can I get you to them?" Gaz looked up at Chester, a spark of determination in his eye.

"They're out of the city, the Rangiora area," Chester said with a grimace.

"Bit of a stretch lad," Gaz said, sighing and looking down at his dash. "The tank's already low, she wouldn't get us far enough. We might get lucky and hit the highway but I don't fancy walking that far on foot do you?"

"I could try," Chester murmured uncertainly.

"No," Gaz shook his head. "Look out there. You have those things, the creatures out there tearing people to shreds. Few minutes on your own in the pitch black and you'd be a goner. So would I. Your best hope is in here, the bus can plow through these things like nothing."

"Are you trying to get to your family?" Chester asked hesitantly.

"Not any time soon I hope," Gaz chuckled. "My folks been dead for a few years now. My wife...Angie liked the smokes; I did too back in the day. Twenty eight years I loved that woman, still in love with her."

"Do you have any kids?" Chester prompted.

"Kids...Ah well that there is a story," Gaz nodded, his vision clouding over for a moment. "Look Chester boy do me a favour and check up on the guy in the back for me will you? He was pretty shook up when he got in here and I haven't had a chance to talk to him since."

Chester glanced back and noticed that further into the bus, leaning against some seats was the cashier who had fled the Pizza Hut a few minutes before him. He looked distant, his eyes red and irritated as if he'd been crying. There was blood over his uniform and yet the cashier himself seemed uninjured. He looked to be playing with a chain that was about his neck but Chester couldn't see very clearly what it was.

"Yeah I'll go check on him," Chester said with a nod.

"Good, tell him we'll be at Northlands mall soon enough. Then we can evacuate with everyone else."

Chester turned and pulled himself past the seats and along the rails towards the young Indian man, lurching with every shudder of the bus as it rolled over more bodies. He wondered if what Gaz had said was true, if the bus really could manage to move through all these creatures. He could see that the bus was a large vehicle but it was being rocked violently the more bodies it hit. This could only go on for so long before the journey came to an end.

"Hey," Chester called to the cashier. "You okay?"

The cashier tucked the chain about his neck back under his shirt before meeting Chester' gaze. His eyes were set firm, a toughness that appeared unbreakable. Of course Chester could understand why, he'd seen his co-workers die but he'd lived. Alone, he had escaped certain death.

"My boyfriend," The man said slowly. "The man in the kitchen...is he…?"

Chester realised what was being asked and quickly shook his head, lowering his gaze. The young man clutched the back of the seat before him and hung like that, his teeth grinding together. Finally he let out an anguished cry, screwing up his eyes and looking at the ceiling.

"I'm sorry," Chester whispered.

"What is this curse?" The man moaned. "You lived! You saw him die?"

"Yes."

"You let him die?!" The man screamed, grabbing Chester by the shirt and slamming him into a window.

"Calm the hell down!" Gaz yelled from the driver's seat.

"I didn't let him die," Chester yelled, pushing the man's hands off of him. "He was already dead. One of those things had him on the counter, ripping his throat out. I couldn't help him when he was already dead."

"You didn't let him die..?"

"No," Chester said firmly. "He was dead. I saw it, couldn't stop it."

"I loved him," The cashier whispered, drained of his spirit.

Chester looked at the man helplessly, he had no idea what to say or how he could help. He took a seat near the cashier and gazed out to the middle distance. He thought back to the Pizza Hut, the kitchen hand gurgling blood on the counter. Could he have saved him? No, absolutely not. There was no reason to feel guilt for surviving but it was there nonetheless.

The bus took a sudden turn onto Harewood road and Gaz gave a hoot of joy at the thought of only being a couple of minutes from Northlands. He hadn't paid attention to the growing volume of abandoned cars, nor did he notice the motorbike in the middle of the road that wedged itself under the bus' chassis. It was only when the motorbike lurched the bus to a direct stop before a crowd of the creatures did Gaz curse the bus that had seemed so safe a moment ago.

As the bus screeched its halt, Chester was thrown off his feet and onto the floor. His head cracked against the hard plastic coating of the bus floor. Chester clutched his head and rolled, slowly pushing himself back onto his feet. Time seemed to have passed as the bus was shaking from the weight of bodies already pressing against the sides. Chester could see the cashier at the back of the bus, scrabbling to open the emergency exit to the roof. Meanwhile Gaz was at the front, holding the doors closed with all his weight and clutching a fire extinguisher in his hands. The rear exit doors were right in front of Chester, only a few creatures hovering by it.

"Chester boy!" Gaz yelled. "We can get out of this, we can! I'll keep them at bay if you open the rear doors on my mark. You up for that?"

"Don't listen to him," The cashier hissed. "We are goners if you attempt his fool plan. Here, help me wedge this thing open. We can get onto the roof and climb past these things!"

Chester sighed heavily, his head still clouded by the fall and the howls of the creatures. Every way he looked he seemed doomed, Gaz's idea was risky but the cashier's would only get them as far the roof, after that they'd be stuck on top of the bus still surrounded by these things. Still it seemed a lot safer than what Gaz had proposed.

There was another way, Chester mused as he looked up at the door in front of him again. He didn't have to wait for Gaz's signal to open it, in fact he could open it right now and make a break for it. There were very few creatures about the door, most had gravitated to the windows by the cashier or the front door where Gaz was. This could be Chester' chance.

But then, Chester mused, leaving now would be rude.

Chester grabbed the back of a chair and pulled himself to his feet, yet staying low to avoid detection by the creatures. He glanced up at the red button that was Gaz and his' escape plan, he could only hope it would work. A sudden thump as more bodies hit the front door made Chester start with fright, though he could see Gaz was still holding it together for now.

"You ready Chester boy?" Gaz called, straining to be heard over the bashing of bodies upon the door.

"Yeah I'm ready," Chester yelled back, steeling himself for the rush to come.

"You're both fucking insane," the cashier cried out, slamming his fists against the emergency exit but to no avail.

"Alright," Gaz said solemnly. "Let 'em loose."

Chester rushed and pushed the button to open the rear doors, grinning with satisfaction as they opened with a hiss. Gaz stepped back from his doors allowing them to burst inwards under the strain of the creatures. As the first one began to clamber on-board and towards Gaz, he aimed the fire extinguisher point blank at the mass. A fast onslaught of frothy foam flew out and struck the group of creatures, shunting them back briefly under the pressure. As the extinguisher began to run empty Gaz threw the extinguisher at the nearest creature and ran for the rear doors.

Chester and Gaz leapt out of the doors, thankful at the lack of creatures in this section. However a couple had already broken off and were heading towards them. Chester launched into a sprint, leading Gaz down Greers road and away from the threat of Harewood road. It was only when a loud scream pierced the night sky that Chester turned to look back.

Back at the bus the cashier had attempted to follow Chester and Gaz at the last second. He'd been pulled to the ground by a couple of creatures and in a few seconds was surrounded completely. Flesh had been torn apart like paper, and entrails consumed.

"You killed me too!" The cashier managed to shriek before his hysterics were cut off by a creature ripping out his throat.

Gaz had run a little further up the road to where a side street began, he waved Chester over. He jogged towards Gaz, thinking about what he'd just witnessed. He knew that the cashier's death wasn't his fault, but it was a terrible thing to hear yourself cursed as someone died. Even to witness as much carnage as he had this night was more than Chester could bear, what had happened to the world?

A cold grip about his leg tipped Chester' momentum and he suddenly found himself sprawled face down on the asphalt. There was loud shouting from Gaz in the distance but it was drowned out by the satisfied growling of one of the creatures. Chester could feel a cold hand gripping his ankle and the weight of something pulling itself towards him. He glanced back and saw a creature that had lost the lower half of its body. Entrails and coagulated blood ran in a trail behind it as it came ever closer to Chester.

Chester kicked the creature, and again, and again. It wouldn't relent, still it came ever closer. Its mouth opened to reveal black gums and rotted yellow teeth. Things seemed to slow as it loomed over Chester' leg, about to bite down. It was the claw of a hammer lodging itself in the back of the creature's head that freed Chester of the creature's grasp.

He looked up to see a figure drenched in coagulated blood and entrails, two smaller figures just behind them. The figure peered down at Chester and dislodged their hammer. It was all Chester could do to stare up in shock.

"It-it's you," Chester gasped.

Written by Ciaran Findlay

Edited by Nicole Campbell and Blair Findlay