The Night Shift - Chapter Nine

Alyssa and Michelle

Hot tears fell fresh down Michelle's face, strangely disconcerting in the cold night air. Her legs ached and the cuts upon her hands still stung where the glass had dug into them. Michelle's long brunette hair clung to her, tangled and loose. There was a hole in the back of her shirt, she could feel the wind against her skin.

Michelle doubled over, trying to catch her breath again but struggling to regain her energy. She'd been running since her house had been completely overrun and now Bishopdale Mall was in sight. Northlands was still a long way off by foot but she hadn't had the opportunity to get to her car when she fled her home.

Home. She could never go back home.

A few minutes ago she had been lying in her bed, absorbed in Orange is the New Black when the screaming started. A woman was begging someone to leave her alone just out on the street; her cries had been cut short abruptly. Then the howls began; bloodcurdling screams that just couldn't be human.

She got out of her bed and slowly approached the door. The sounds of chaos outside were deafening. She didn't think the sounds were so close, perhaps out on the street but not by her house. So when the front door splintered and the sound of glass crashing onto the hallway floor reached her ears she froze, in a state of shock. Bodies hit the floor as they poured over one another, hissing and growling. A door opened and slammed. Olivia screamed. Her Mum screamed. Then there was another noise...meat being ripped off bones. Biting and tearing.

Suddenly her door burst wide open and her Mum fell into the room, kicking the door closed behind her. She had scratch marks all over her arms and face, with a particular nasty bite mark near her ankle. Her Mum was disoriented, gazing wildly about the room. Finally her eyes settled upon Michelle and she seemed to focus a bit better.

"Get the window open," Her Mum gasped; her throat hoarse.

"What's happening?" Michelle asked, eyes wide with fear.

The bedroom door shuddered under a sudden push of weight, they were all moving around the door now. The sound of biting had stopped. The hinges groaned audibly as bodies pressed against it in the hallway outside.

Michelle's Mum pulled out one of the drawers from her dresser, dumping the clothes upon the ground. She limped quickly across the room and used the empty drawer to smash the window open. The howls beyond the door grew in response, the top hinge burst off the wall.

"You have to go, Michelle," Her Mum urged, dragging her closer to the window.

"Mum stop it," Michelle yelled, trying to pull away. "Mum you're bleeding! Stop! Stop this! We need to help Olivia, I heard her scream! Mum!"

Michelle's Mum whirled to face her daughter, her face devoid of colour. Her mouth moved as if she wanted to yell or scream but couldn't decide what to do; couldn't find the words to make Michelle flee into the night. She sobbed once and then the door split in two.

Creatures piled in on top of one another, frantic in their hunger for the meat before them. Michelle's Mum motioned at the window one last time before charging at the swarm herself. She swung wildly with the drawer, splintering it upon the head of a creature that had just gotten to its feet.

Michelle watched petrified for as long as she could, but when her Mum knocked the second creature back she turned for the window. She ran, trying to avoid the glass as best as she could, though small pieces jabbed at her toes. She grabbed the window frame to pull herself through and almost screamed from the pain of the glass that stabbed at her hands. Balling her hands into fists she dived through the open space; her shirt ripping slightly in the back. She turned back and immediately leapt out of the way of a swiping hand. A creature hung out of her window, snarling and reaching for her. She couldn't see her Mum at all.

Michelle fell back, crawling away from the window. She was lost in her own head, thoughts scattered. What was happening? This wasn't real. It couldn't be. She had to get away; right now.

The world outside her house seemed slower, like everything was falling apart in slow motion. A dog trotted by her with what looked like a bloodied hand in its mouth. Cars moved past at breakneck speeds, packed with people and the remnants of their lives. A man was trying to use a garden rake to push a creature away from him. The head of the rake broke and blood followed.

Her phone glared to life at one point, she hadn't even felt the weight of it in her pocket. She remembered glancing at the screen, seeing the text from Sasha. Now she had a destination, a purpose. She'd made a lot of ground, Bishopdale Mall was right ahead and Northlands was still a fair distance off. She could make it, she had to.

Michelle hadn't heard the roar of the approaching motorbikes, nor had she heard the drunken whoops and hollers of the men upon the bikes until it was far too late. A gloved hand smashed against the back of her head and she was sent sprawling to the curb. Burnt rubber filled Michelle's nostrils as she struggled to get her bearings.

"The fuck?!" She managed to croak, her throat hoarse.

One of the riders dismounted from his bike, staggering slightly. The biker had no helmet but wore a thick leather jacket and baggy pants that suggested he was a serious rider; the bikers behind him were dressed in a similar manner. Maybe they were part of a team or even a gang of bikers. As the dismounted biker crouched to eye-level, Michelle assessed him. He was well built and intimidatingly tall; he stank of cheap alcohol. His face was rough, unshaven with grey eyes that looked deadlier than his friendly grin would have you believe.

"Dangerous time to be out alone," The biker spat to the side. "Where you heading?"

Michelle remained defiantly silent, starting to get up from the curb. The biker leaned in, shifting his weight slightly and allowing his jacket to hang open. A long carving knife was visible within and the threat was all too clear. She sat back down in the gutter slowly, not breaking her eye contact with the biker.

"See it's like this," The biker began, staring slightly behind Michelle. "We were thinkin' maybe you come with us. We'll keep you safe, the boys and me. Maybe you can make it up to us when we get where we're goin'. Maybe you thank us along the way."

The biker moved quickly, grabbing at Michelle's leg and pulling her towards him, He tried to move closer but she managed a swift kick to his chin, throwing him back. He let go, swearing, and staggered back clutching his chin. Michelle was already getting to her feet and scrabbling away but she was too slow. The biker slammed his fist against the back of her skull and with an audible cry of pain Michelle fell onto the footpath.

The biker's mood had turned deadly, he withdrew the carving knife from his jacket as the other bikers jeered at Michelle. She could taste dirt in her mouth mixed with something else. Was that her blood? Everything seemed to be getting brighter too; maybe she was concussed. She rolled onto her back in time to see the biker falter in the glare of oncoming headlights.

An aqua Nissan March slammed heavily into the biker, who was thrown clean over the bonnet and landed on the footpath a few metres away. Both of his legs were at awkward angles and his gaze was set upon Michelle as blood ran from his mouth. She took a second to catch her breath, scarcely believing how lucky she was. She'd almost died, gutted and been left upon the side of the road.

The door of the March was thrown open and the strawberry blonde girl inside frantically gestured at Michelle, who was already getting to her feet.

"Lys?!" Michelle exclaimed in shock.

Alyssa was almost unrecognisable with the blood that covered her face and matted her blonde hair. At least she didn't appear to be cut up like Michelle was. It's not her blood. Michelle shivered at the thought. Like her Alyssa was dressed in casual clothes, though they too had been coated in blood. Alyssa was deathly pale and seemed out of breath, her eyes darted quickly between Michelle and the bikers by her window.

"Get in!" Alyssa yelled at her.

Michelle ran for the passenger's seat and slammed the door behind her. Already Alyssa had the car moving away from the bikers and back out onto the road. Something slammed against the rear window, shattering it instantly, Alyssa swerved, nerves ruling her for a second while Michelle hunkered down in the passenger seat. Finally she chanced a look behind them to see the bikers huddled around the body of the man who had attacked her only seconds ago.

"Is he dead?"

Michelle turned to face Alyssa, almost alarmed by the sound of her voice. Something wasn't right, Alyssa was shivering or...shaking? She seemed to be barely holding it together and yet she was speaking so calmly.

"I-uh, I think so," Michelle replied.

Alyssa nodded, drummed her fingers against the steering wheel briefly. Suddenly her hand moved as if to turn on the radio, but she changed her mind. The AC? No. The window? Yeah, that's what she needed to do. Let the window wind down, let the smell of blood waft away.

"I didn't even know it was you out there," Alyssa suddenly exclaimed. "I mean you see a group of guys standing over someone like that then you do something. You'd do the same, right?"

Michelle nodded.

"So when I see him standing over you like that I just hit him. It was the best thing to do. The best thing..."

Michelle wound down her window and stuck her head outside, feeling the cool breeze while drowning out the horrible sounds all around. There was a car with its lights on crashed right through the front of a house. As she watched one of the creatures lumbered past the car and snarled at her as they drove away.

"What's going on?" Michelle's voice rung hollow.

"I don't know."

"Do you have a plan?"

No," Alyssa laughed, but there was no joy in it. "I got in the car and I just...drove. I just had to go, there wasn't a choice. When those...things were on my street we didn't even know at first. It sounded like someone was knocking at the door so my Stepdad went to check who it was and this thing just knocked him down as soon as he opened the door. Then they all started swarming over his body. My Mum ran right for him but it was pointless, she couldn't drag him out and they got her too. I was frozen and then Sam grabs me and he's got Grace and we're pushing right through the crowd. I was looking right at Grace thinking we were going to make it and one of those things bit into her neck. Blood was just spurting and it...it just...completely covered me. Well Sam pushed me towards my car and I was already pulling my keys into my hand. I got in and turned to see two of them eating Sam right beside my door. So I just drove..."

"I'm sorry," Michelle mumbled back, but she meant it. God how much she meant it.

"I didn't mean to kill that guy, you know."

"I know."

"There's been too much death already..."Alyssa trailed off, losing focus again.

The road ahead seemed to be blocked by a large green bus, though it looked abandoned. The back doors had been opened and there was a lot of blood upon the street. Something about the bus seemed really off to Michelle, something they weren't seeing. Alyssa tilted her head to look for incoming traffic and made to turn into the oncoming lane to pass the bus.

"Uh, Alyssa maybe we should-"

A crowd of the creatures lumbered out past the bus to block off the lane, making straight for the car. Michelle yelled in alarm and pulled back in her seat. Alyssa turned hard on the wheel and the March started skidding around, turning away from the creatures. But they were going too fast, starting to mount the curb and driving straight towards a street pole.

Michelle squeezed her eyes shut as the pole rushed forward to meet them. Without a moment’s hesitation she moved to the side and shielded Alyssa's body with her own. The impact was sudden and her forehead smacked violently against the wheel. Skin broke immediately upon contact. Hot blood ran down her face. Everything was going dark as the creatures howled and Alyssa screamed her name.

Written by Ciaran Findlay

Edited by Nicole Campbell and Blair Findlay