Chapter 81: Milkman of Human Kindness

"Sun's coming up at Abel," Sam says, "and with the dawn comes the mind controlled forces. Oh, good. Looks like they've got a mangonel today. They must've nicked it from that medieval village. That'll be fun... Hm. I think Lou's got something clever planned for them today-some sort of arrangement of hidden noisemakers along a single path, so it'll look like she's repelling the zombies, so they'll think she might be bolting with the ZRD."

"Smart," I reply.

"Well, everyday we buy you is a good day, right? And we've heard good news from Tony in London. You remember him, right? I think he had some weird crush on you."

"Only because I look like Chrysalis," I grumble, cringing at the old memory.

"Yeah... it's really weird, remembering you have like, two doppelgängers... at least two, and they're both dead..."

"Which can only mean I'm n-" I start.

"A-anyway, he's marshaling the resistance there to guarantee you a clear path to the Comansys building. I still can't stop thinking of that thing as the ice cream cones," He chuckles. "Jody's been really helpful too. Told us a few back routes in and out of the city she used with her dodgy contacts. So, as long as the professor can actually fix the thing-"

"Don't say it," I say quickly.

"Right. Right. Don't want to jinx ourselves. Maxine, Runner Five, follow that foot path ahead, through the park."

"This way, Professor," Maxine says as we starting bearing down the stone path that has now-dead weeds sprouting out of the cracks. It's overgrown, and the few pieces of playground equipment that are still standing are rusted and old. It's actually quite creepy, even as the sun slowly makes its way back into the sky.

"Is it safe?" Pro. Downes asks, frantically looking around. "The-the zombies..."

"It's fine. Sam said the route to the Comansys lab looks clear. We shouldn't have any trouble."

She nods. "The quicker we get there, the quicker I can repair the power pack, and I can go home and put my feet up."

"It's okay for some, huh?" She mumbles.

"Pardon?"

"I said, uh, the park's nice."

There's a rustle in the grass, and Pro. Downes tenses. I eye the trees wearily.

"What was that?" The dark haired woman murmurs fearfully.

"Minor update," Sam says. "Couple of zoms closing in on your position. Just a couple of shamblers. You could out-walk them, to be honest."

"I got it," I say, grabbing my axe as I see three zombies stumble through the trees, their dead eyes focusing on us. "Best not let their moans attract any more zombies."

I start to walk towards them, but I pause when I hear the professor gasp.

"Oh, God. I'd heard about it, but I'd never seen them. They're hideous."

"It's okay," Maxine says. "Just keep moving this way while Five deals with them. Come on."

She stays frozen in her place, even as I axe one in the head. There's a sick crunch as the blade cuts through skin and bone. It's been awhile since I've done this. I'd forgotten how their body jerks when the axe cuts through the rotting brain.

The corpse falls to the ground as the others still stumble towards me, hands outstretched and jaws hanging open.

"The flesh is falling off them in strips. They stink like the grave. Oh, God!"

I look back at her for just a moment. "Doc, calm her down before her screams alert more zoms."

"I can't do this. I can't do this!"

"Professor, calm down!" Maxine demands as I axe another zom, this time decapitating it. The head rolls along towards the footpath, near Pro. Downes's feet. She screams and dashes off. I kick the last zombie away, not wasting the energy to kill it as Maxine yells at the fleeing professor.

"Wait! Come back! Ah, damn it! We need to get after her. Come on, Five!"

I put my axe back onto my back and rush off, leaving the last zombie to snarl and try to stagger after us. It fails.

Pro. Downes races through the trees, ignoring our cries for her to stop. I can feel my blood beginning to boil out of frustration. This is why I didn't want her to come with us in the first place. She isn't used to the outside world. For the last five years she's been living in a fantasy, a make-believe world where everything's still okay, where the world is still intact.

She isn't used to this bleak reality where the undead roam. If she'd have just listened to us... but I've found Comansys people think they know everything because they're so bright and clever.

I almost laugh. Cleverness can only get you so far.

"Professor, slow down!" Maxine calls out.

"For an old biddy, she's bloody nippy," Sam says. "She's not too far ahead though. Five, you go to the right. There's some clear ground that you can use to get ahead of her and cut her off."

"I'm going to die. I'm going to die," The Professor mutters as I run around the trees, quickly catching up to her. I'm right beside her. With a little more speed I'll be able to get ahead of her, but there's an opening in the patch of trees separating us. If I can reach that, I can tackle her down as she passes the opening.

I run just a bit faster, getting closer and closer to the opening.

"Now!"

I reach the opening just as she passes. I throw myself at her, grabbing her arms and tackling her to the ground. She twists and turns, but I hold fast onto her arms.

"Stop struggling!" I demand.

"Get off me! Get off me! Let me go!"

"Just calm down," Maxine says as she manages to push me off her. I grunt as my body hits the snow. Pro. Downes stands up and looks around frantically.

"They're going to kill us. We have to keep moving!"

"I was handling those shamblers. Even if I wasn't going to axe them, we could've out-walked them," I reply, standing up and dusting myself off. I pause at the sound of snow crunching. That zombie I left behind is too slow to have caught up with us already, and it sounds like multiple feet.

"Uh, Sam? What's that sound?" I ask.

"You've got trouble..."

"What now?" Maxine groans.

"Your kiss chase with Professor Braveheart here caused a ruckus, and now there's a couple dozen zoms heading towards you-fast ones."

"How long until they're on us?"

"Uh, right now, you've got three minutes tops, so you'd better get moving."

"Way ahead of ya," I say, grabbing Pro. Downes's arm. "Come on. Move."

She doesn't resist as we start to run, the growls and snarls growing louder and louder with each passing second. Still, I keep my hand on her arm, just in case she decides to run off again. God, how can someone be so stupid? Does she not realize how important this mission is? I wouldn't guess so, since she thought her wall around the compound would keep her and everyone in there safe from Moonchild. It's almost as if she doesn't see how small she really is.

She's important to us, but only because she can fix the ZRD. But in this world, where she's done nothing to help humanity to survive, she's practically worthless. Sure, she's smart, but a lot of people were and they still died. I don't get how she thinks she's any different.

We keep running, and my hand itches to grab the gun on my hip-the gun that, I suddenly realize, isn't there because I never put it in the holster. I left it on the table in those labs in the Henley compound. I regret doing so, but in the back of my mind I know that a gun wouldn't help much anyway, since the sound of a gunshot would only draw more attention to us, which is the last thing we need.

I crane my neck to look behind me, and in the distance I can see multiple figures, all slumped and deformed, matching the inhuman noises coming from them.

We never do catch a break, do we? Zombies, then Van Ark with zombies, now Moonchild and zombies along with that too.

They aren't close, but we can't afford to slow down. We actually really need to speed up.

But it's hard when Pro. Downes isn't used to running. Even at this pace I can hear her breathing becoming labored and heavy. A sinking feeling settles in my stomach.

This has gone from bad to worse very quickly.

"How're we doing,  Sam?" Maxine asks, earning a small whine from the radio operator, as if he's been dreading the question because he doesn't want to give the answer.

"Not great. The zoms are closing in."

"Professor, we have to speed up."

"I-I can't," Pro. Downes wheezes. "I just can't. I can barely keep up with this pace as it is."

"We either speed up or we die!" I yell. "Your choice!"

"I can't do it," She cries.

"Yes, you can. Suck it up and keep going." I tug on her arm, my actions not at all gentle. Gentle isn't what's needed right now. Pro. Downes has been coddled and held all that time in her compound. She has had gentleness since the apocalypse began.

I am not dying today because she's feeling a bit winded.

"Five, she looks like she's about to faint," Maxine says, but I roll my eyes.

"As someone who's literally fainted on missions, and has felt like so on multiple missions, I can tell you she'll be fine. We've not even been running an hour!"

"If she passes out, we won't be able to carry her to the labs, and if she dies, everything we've worked for will have been for nothing." Maxine pauses, waiting for a reply, but I don't give one. "Sam, we need somewhere to rest. Do you know of anywhere-"

"The Leander Club," Pro. Downes interrupts, and Maxine blinks.

"What?"

"The Leander Club-a boat club, by the river... near here."

"Uh, yeah... it might just have to do. As far as I know, that's the only place near here," Sam says, and the professor nods vigorously, her eyes lighting up at the idea of resting. I sneer at her.

She'd never make it out here in the real world.

"Not far. Not far," She says breathlessly. "This way."

•

"Come on! Come on!" I yell, pulling harshly at the doorknob. It doesn't budge, even as I yell and kick and scream. My panic spikes when the zombies' moans get louder.

Maxine comes running around the side of the building, Pro. Downes following behind her.

"Please tell me you found another way in."

She shakes her head, eyes wide. "The side door's locked too."

"Oh, God," I breathe, my muscles tensing, everything in me screaming to run right now, get as far away from the sounds of the undead as possible, but I stay planted as Sam stutters out what I'm guessing is an attempt at assurance.

"Uh, you're-you're fine," He says shakily. "The zoms are still a few minutes away, and those oars look like they'd make sturdy weapons. And you still have your axe, don't you, Five?"

"No, no," Pro. Downes wails. "This is useless! What are we doing here? What am I doing here? These undead monsters have taken everything-destroyed it all!"

Maxine's eyes go wide with shock before they harden in anger. "Seriously? 'Destroyed it all'? Have you seen your home? You've got a lot more than anyone else I've met recently. You are rich, Professor, and congratulations! You still found a way to make that count for something."

"The money doesn't matter," She sneers, and the doctor scoffs.

"Says the women who never had to worry about it."

"I was never interested in the money," She argues as I look around, searching for something, anything that might buy us more time. "There were four of us: ex-Comansys, but we'd known each other since Prep school. We used to meet here all the time. Gordon, he'd come up with a way to tweak skin cells so that they grew into liver cells, or kidney cells! Can you imagine? Of course all that ended when the world got turned upside down. I don't even know where Gordon is now... or Peter or Sebastian."

I run around the building, hearing the snow crunch under the feet of the undead, the branches of dead trees rustle as they walk by, getting closer and closer to us.

I only pause my run around when I hit something with my foot. It skirts across the snow, and while I'd usually just assume it's a rock and keep going, I pause only because if its odd length and girth. There's no way it could be a simple stone.

"Couldn't they have joined you at Henley?" Maxine asks.

"It all happened so quickly. I couldn't get into touch before the gates were closed... but I'm sure they're alright."

"You could have tried to find them."

I pick up the object, wet from the snow, but easily recognizable.

A flashlight. I recognize the brand. It's one of those survivor flashlights. They were really popular in America. I don't know if they were as well known here, but I'm certainly glad someone dropped it.

"I wish I had tried to find them," Pro. Downes says with a sigh, "but you can't save everyone."

"Please turn on. Please turn on. Please turn on," I mumble, flipping the switch, grinning widely when the light flashes on.

Because if the light still works, then that means every other function this baby has works too-including the alarm designed to signal distress.

"That doesn't mean you can't help anyone," Maxine argues. "All of you in there, shuttimg yourselves away, you weren't just protecting yourselves; You were hiding, making sure no one found out about your little safe haven, not even your friends. You kept it all to yourself.

"Do you know what I like about this country, why I was so glad when Paula asked if I could move here with her? Because I couldn't bear how doctors I knew at college had got so rich off the back of injecting fat from wealthy people's butts into their faces. That's not why I got into medical care, and I couldn't bear being part of a system that made the divide between the rich and poor worse everyday. But you're a part of it too. You've got dollar bills for blindfolds."

I grit my teeth as I fiddle with the buttons, trying to remember just which one turns on the alarm. Each guess is wrong, only causing the flashlight to blink or change to different colored lights. My heart rate quickens as the moans and growls continue to get louder and louder. I can see the zombies through the trees, and worse...

They see me.

"Seb, Gordon, Peter-all of us back at school were surrounded by money. All those braying, rugby playing morons bought their way to success, pushed us around! But it wasn't like that for us!"

"But I'm guessing your parents paid for you to be there."

"They were paying for the privilege of getting rid of me. They didn't want to think about me too hard. I was an-an odd child, you know. My friends and I kept ourselves busy-science club, computer club, and it all paid off. But all my research, all my work... it was never about the money."

"If you say so."

"Yes!" I exclaim when I finally hear the loud, repetitive alarm sound off from the flashlight. I throw it as far as I can away from the building, the sound traveling along with it. The noise should buy us some time, even if it's just a few minutes.

"And truly, I am sorry if I... pissed you off," Pro. Downes says as I run over to them. Maxine simply laughs, although there's a dryness to it.

"It's okay."

"Maxine, Five," Sam cuts in, "I know the Professor needs to rest, but you can't stay here. Whatever Five found distracted the zoms, but it won't last long and they'll be closing in fast."

Maxine nods, her brows furrowing together. "Alright. Forget the club. We need to move. Are you ready to go, Professor?"

"Not more running," She whines.

"Yes, more running."

"Wait. Over there," She gasps, pointing to a boat by the jetty. "Can zombies swim?"

"Good thinking," Maxine praises as we rush to the little rowboat. I grab two oars as we go, and as soon as we get into the boat I start rowing, going down the river, listening and watching to make sure they don't get too close. The river is large, and zombies aren't the best swimmers, but it's an apocalypse, and surprises lurk everywhere.

So I push myself to go as fast as I can, only faltering when I hear Sam giggle through my headset.

"I know this is like, a life or death situation, but this kind of reminds me of that boat race we had with New Canton awhile back. Do you remember that, Five? Me, you and Jaime were in a  boat against Nadia and some of New Cantons runners."

I blink, the old memory of what happened forever ago hitting me like a train. "Yeah! Yeah, I remember. We had to rescue Nadia after she fell in the water with zombies lurking by the banks."

"Yeah, and we had to make a stop near an island full of zoms so Jaime could get some bandages for Nadia, but we couldn't stop rowing because we didn't want zombies to get near the boat, so me and you just rowed around the island with Nadia while Jaime looked for supplies." He laughs. "God, the blisters I got on my hands after that. I don't know how you did it so well. And, I mean, you rowed that boat a lot longer than I did."

"I'm used to putting myself through pain," I reply, the muscles in my arms and back beginning to burn. My face burns too, from his compliment, but I ignore that. "But I'm glad you actually took the oars to give me a break every once and awhile. Plus it was nice to see you break a sweat for a change."

"Oh, you like to see me sweat, do you?"

"It's a good look for you, I will admit that," I say, biting my lip and making myself focus on something other than the memory of him in that black t-shirt rowing the boat so I'd have a rest break. "So, have we lost the zoms?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. Looks like it. They were cut off by another river joining the Thames. They've shambled off, looking for easier prey."

"Good," Maxine says before looking at Pro. Downes. "Everything okay?"

She looks up from ZRD in her hand. "Hm? Oh, yes, fine. I was just checking to make sure the device hasn't taken any more damage. We really should've built these to be a bit more sturdy."

"And you're deciding this now?"

"Sorry."

"Forget about it. If we get out of this, you can buy me a drink." She scoffs and shakes her head. "What am I saying? You can buy me a yacht."

"You're approaching the right coordinates," Sam says. "Keep an eye out."

"There it is," Pro. Downes says as I row the boat towards the shore. "Do you see it?"

We step out of the boat, careful not to slip and fall into the freezing water. Maxine and I share a look when we see just what she's pointing  at.

"A sewer outlet?"

"We disguised the entrance. Couldn't just have anyone wandering in. Oh, I do hope they've got a kettle there. I fancy a cup of tea." She walks over the the entrance, pushing a small button near the cover of the outlet.

"Identify yourself," An automated voice commands.

"Pro. Angela Downes with two visitors, requesting entry."

"State entry code."

"Sweat pea, nineteen, Albany."

The door disguised as the outlet cover unlocks.

"Identity confirmed. Welcome to Siedcast, Pro. Downes."

She pulls open the door, and instead of the sewer tunnel, we see a hallway, with tile floors and clean, white walls. White lights flicker on, and while Maxine and I stare in awe, the Indian woman beside us rushes in, giving us a raised brow.

"Inside, quickly."

We obey, shutting the door behind us. She leads us down the hallway into the labs, the ZRD in hand. Pro. Downes heads over to her workbench. It's clean and tidy, albeit a bit dusty. She opens one of the drawers nearby to retrieve some tools, mumbling to herself a bit before telling Maxine to go into the kitchen down the hall.

"See if there's a kettle," She says, her eyes not leaving the device.

"Why?" She asks.

"I told you. I'd love a cup of tea, but I want to get started on repairing this device. There should be everything you need in the kitchen."

"Alright, but you do realize this tea has been here for... never mind. I'll be back."

She leaves the room, and Pro. Downes continues to grab our tools and equipment to start on repairing the device. The way she moves around her work station is smooth, relaxed. She acts as if she's never left, even though everything in here is covered in a thin layer of dust. I guess some things you just don't forget. Although really, the more I look at the labs, the more I realize it looks very similar to her labs at the Henley compound.

After this we'll be on the road again, and she'll be back in her compound, safe and sound without a care in the world. I wonder if she knows how good she has it. I mean, did any of us realize how good we had it when the world was still normal?

Maxine's little scolding from earlier may have knocked some sense into her... but I doubt we'll ever see her again after this. She'll go back to her life and we'll go back to ours. But if I'm honest, it's probably a good thing. She couldn't survive out here and I know there's no way anyone at Abel could live that kind of life, not after working hard to survive everyday for just about five years.

"You guys are lucky you got there when you did," Sam says. "I can see a group of zoms wandering by right now. They'll be gone by the time you finish, I think."

"How tough is that entrance door?" I ask, causing the professor to look up for a short moment.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry. Siedcast was built to take a direct hit from a nuclear missile."

"That's uh... good. I'll try to remember that," I say as Maxine returns, brining a cup of tea along with her.

"Here's your-"

The ZRD rings.

"There. It's done," She says, and Maxine sets the tea down, forgetting it completely.

"You fixed it?"

Pro. Downes stands, her eyes still on the device. She hands it to Maxine with a sigh. "For the moment."

"For the moment?" I repeat.

"I didn't have a replacement part. It's held together with solder, so the power pack is unstable. When you turn it on, make sure it counts."

"How long will it run for?" Maxine asks.

"Long enough, I hope. A few minutes, maybe. But every time you use it, you risk accelerating its failure, so as I said, make it count."

"Uh, yeah. Maxine, Five, talking about time..." Sam says, trailing off, and we're already heading back down the hallway. I'm surprised he doesn't hear how our wet, snow covered shoes squeak against the floor.

"We know. We know. Thanks, Professor. Now let's get you home."

The door opens, and I shiver at the cold wind that hits my face.

"Oh, looks like it's going to be a nice day," Pro. Downes says, stepping outside and looking at the sun shining down. It sadly gives no warmth to us. "Little trip on the river should be just-"

"Professor!" Maxine yells as a zombie lunges at her from behind a tree. I grab my axe, rushing forward and swinging. The blade lodges into its skull, gray blood splattering as the corpse falls to the ground.

"Sam!" I yell, breathing heavily.

"Sorry! Sorry! I didn't-I didn't see them!"

"Them?"

I hear it before I see it. And when I see it, I then feel it.

Thankfully it's a hand instead of teeth. But still the hand has my left arm, with teeth coming forward to sink into my skin. I swing my axe with my right arm only, jumping back as the zom falls, screaming the entire time.

"Five! I-I'm sorry! There's more coming! At least a dozen, a-and they're all fast! I'm sorry!" Sam screams.

I grab the professor's hand and run.

•

"Sam, we can't get to the boat!" Maxine yells. "There's zoms all around it. We need an alternative route now!"

"I'm trying! I'm trying!" He's frantic, terrified, but still his yelling is annoying because we're the ones that might die! "Uh, there! At your ten o'clock. See that path?"

"This way, Professor. Quickly."

"Just-just give me a moment," She gasps, slowing down. She slips in the snow, hands grabbing at nothing in attempt to stay upright. I reach out to grab her, but miss. She rolls down the bank, half her body splashing into the water. She yelps in pain, grabbing at her left foot.

"Professor!" Maxine yells.

"My foot! My bloody foot!" She cries as we rush toward her. I grab her arm, trying to pull her up, but she resists.

"Get up! Get up!" I yell, but she shakes her head.

"I can't! It's no good! I-I think it's broken."

Maxine bends down, pulling back Pro. Downes's soaked sock and shoe to reveal swollen and red skin. She cringes. "Damn it. The device-maybe we could use the device to scare off the zombies."

"No! No, don't waste it!"

"We can't just leave you." We all look up when we hear dogs barking along with the moans. "What's that?"

"It's the guards from the compound. They're headed your way," Sam says, and the professor grabs Maxine's arm.

"I'll be fine. Leave."

"You can't be serious," I reply.

"Five, listen to me," Sam says. "Guards, zombies, either of them seeing you and Maxi is bad news. You have to move now."

"He's right," Maxine says. "Thank you, Professor."

She nods, her eyes still shining with pain. "Good luck. Now listen. If you do get to London, the interface might be a bit of a problem. It's not designed-"

She's cut off by gunshots.

"Move, damn it!" Sam screeches.

"Okay! Just tell us where to go!"

"Just turn right and keep running! It'll lead you to the road to London. Just-just go before you get yourself killed!"

A/N: Here you go guys! Did you enjoy this chapter? Let me know with a vote and a comment! Also I'm excited to announce that we have just about eight chapters left in this book. I think everyone's glad this part of the story is nearly over. But don't worry, there's definitely gonna be more books... heh. Anyway, thank you all for reading! Have a blessed day!