Six Days With The Dead Part 18

*If we have to search our whole lives, we'll get her back Liz... and then those f.u.c.kers will pay,' Imran replied.

Sister Rebecca had removed as much of Sister Catherine's blood from the stone floor as she could. Standing up she looked down at the stains that had worked their way into the stone slabs, a permanent reminder of Sister Catherine's last b.l.o.o.d.y moments. Slowly she lifted the bucket and poured the red tinged water down the sink. Tearfully, Sister Rebecca watched the water spin down the plug hole and as the last of it disappeared with a low gurgle, she covered her face with her hands and wept some more. Imran silently pulled the Sister into the embrace he and Liz were sharing and together the three of them stood holding each other as they mourned for those they had lost.

*So the Reverend and his wife did all this so they could kidnap Anne?' Nadine asked, astounded that the supposedly religious couple treated life with such little regard.

Charlie had gathered everyone in the Refectory later that afternoon to tell them why their friends had died. All signs of Mohammed's murder had been carefully washed away but Imran could still see the pool of his brother blood seeping across the floor each time he closed his eyes. Sister Rebecca and Sister Claire had made everyone something to eat but no one apart from the newly acquired golden retriever seemed to be hungry. Charlie had given the dog to Justin to look after for the moment and it had proved a good idea. While Justin was washing and cutting out the many matted sections of the poor beast's fur that refused to comb through, his mind was taken off the loss of his uncle and the horrors that they had all endured at Lanherne that day. Justin had wanted to call the dog Barry, despite Nicky pointing out that the dog was in fact a girl. Justin didn't care, as far as he was concerned she would always be called Barry, even if everyone else called her something else.

*Yes,' Charlie replied, *and it's my guess they were the ones who killed William's brother to get to his nephew, the Penhaligan family for little Alex and then James...o...b..ien for Emma, or rather her baby. They obviously kept Emma alive hoping she would give birth naturally but we came upon them on the road, they had to cut the baby out of her before they arrived at Lanherne, so their story would add up.'

*Dear G.o.d!' Sister Josephine said, crossing herself, *That poor woman.'

*So how do we get Anne back?' Phil asked. *Where on earth do we start looking for her?'

*That's the problem, they could've gone anywhere,' Liz said pa.s.sing back and forth *we've no idea where to start looking. But Charlie, Imran and myself are going to find her. We'll be leaving at first light.'

Liz didn't have to say the words, everyone already knew the three of them would either return with Anne or they would not return at all. Charlie knew Alice would argue that she should come with him, but he was determined she should stay here, safe behind the high walls. Liz knew there would be raised voices tonight coming from Charlie's room. Alice would not give up on her man without a fight.

*G.o.d! It makes me so f.u.c.king angry. We opened the doors to those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds and they do this s.h.i.t!' Liz said feeling the frustration and despair of the whole situation turning to anger in her. *And that b.i.t.c.h had the nerve to give Anne that f.u.c.king Carnglaze bracelet to b.u.t.ter her up, pretending to be nice. f.u.c.k!'

*Caverns...' came a small voice across the room.

A few people turned in Penny's direction, still unaccustomed to the young woman's mind being present. Since she had woken from the self imposed imprisonment of her mind, Penny had gone through the collection of clothes they kept in the store room and was now dressed quite differently to her usual attire. Gone was the faded print floral dress that even the dowdiest of women would have turned their nose up at, to be replaced by black jeans, work boots and a T-shirt printed with the name of a band no one would ever remember.

*What did you say Penny?' asked Lars, sitting protectively next to her. It would take some getting used to, this more aware version of the girl he has looked after for the last seven years.

*Carnglaze Caverns,' she repeated, looking at Lars. *Don't you remember Sir, sorry, I mean Lars. Don't you remember, we went to the caverns on the second day of the field trip. You took us to see the rock formations.'

For some reason, the last seven years had barely registered in Penny's mind but her memories of everything else before the Dead came, were as clear as if they only happened last week.

*Carnglaze Caverns? wait, yes I remember...' he said, looking towards Charlie and Liz. *It's a large limestone cavern with an underground lake. The council turned it into a sort of tourist attraction, you know, built a cafe among the stalagmites... had a gift shop, that sort of place.'

*The sort of gift shop that sold bracelets with crystal pendants?' Liz said, her hope rising, perhaps they had a starting point after all. *It looked brand new, perhaps that's where the Reverend and Ruth are really from and it was something she took from there?'

*Now don't jump to conclusions Liz,' Charlie b.u.t.ted in before she convinced herself and the rest of the group that's where the couple had taken Anne. It couldn't be that simple. *You're just clutching at straws, you know that.'

*Yes, I know I'm clutching at straws, but that's all we got' she snapped at him, instantly regretting her tone.

*If I remember correctly, the cavern only has one entrance and that had thick metal railings cemented into the rock with a gate in it,' Lars said, looking to Penny for confirmation. *Would make a pretty good place to set up home and with the underground lake being fresh water too, that's another thing in its favour.'

After much debating among the group, Charlie finally relented and it was decided that rather than just wander the countryside hoping they would come across the Reverend and his wife, they would go to the Carnglaze Caverns first and work from there. Lars showed them on the map where the caverns were and Charlie estimated it would take most of the following day to get there, as long as they didn't run into any other trouble on the way.

Anne, exhausted and tired, had cried herself to sleep only to dream of her friends reaching for her with Dead hands and hungry mouths. As the cart b.u.mped over a particularly large pot-hole she was jolted awake. Momentarily forgetting where she was, it wasn't until the Reverend thrust a small bottle of water at her, that she remembered what had happened.

*We're not monsters...' the Reverend had told her when he finally removed her gag, hours after they had left the convent that morning, *but you had to be saved from them. With the others you will be part of a new Eden. By being born with no stain upon your soul, the Lord has blessed you.'

Anne wasn't sure what he was talking about and didn't care, she just wanted to go home.

*My sister's going to kill you,' she said, coldly.

She knew it was not just the empty threat of a scared little girl. She knew it as a simple fact, Liz would find her, and these people would pay for what they had done. With a crack, the Reverend's hand sprung out and slapped her hard across the face.

*I think this one has been with them too long, Ruth. She spits in the face of G.o.d,' the Reverend said, the hate coming off him in waves.

Ruth, pulling on the reins, stopped the cart and turned to her husband, her blue eyes as harsh as ice.

*You will not strike the child, Nathan,' she said, her calm tone full of command. *She, together with the infant will be tested like the others. Only the Lord can truly look upon her soul and judge her worthy. If she is found wanting, the Lord will know it and cast her down into the pit to writhe for eternity with the others who dared to hide their putrid sin behind the mask of an innocent.'

*Yes Ruth,' he replied, looking a little ashamed of his action.

With a small nod, Ruth turned back to the road and resumed their journey. Anne didn't like the sound of being tested and wondered how they could possible test a baby, barely a few days old.

Taking the bottle from the Reverend, she tried to see if she could get any clues as to where they were headed. From the colour of the light coming through the front view slit, Anne realised she must have slept the afternoon away. The strange murky light of dusk had descended upon the countryside and, as the sun finally dipped out of sight over the horizon, Ruth pulled the cart to a stop for the night. They would be many miles away from the Convent by now and with no idea how to get home and completely weaponless, she knew she would just have to accept her situation and wait for Liz to come for her.

*Eat,' the Reverend said, pa.s.sing her a piece of dried meat.

The meat tasted dry and had a smoky almost dirt like aftertaste, but as she hadn't eaten all day she forced herself to eat it.

*What about the baby?' Anne said, looking over at the unusually quiet infant, wrapped tightly in a cloth.

As Ruth was obviously not the baby's real mother, Anne wondered what they were feeding it. Whatever it was, Anne thought it plainly wasn't agreeing with the child. It lay motionless with flushed cheeks.

*Never you mind about the baby,' Ruth said, climbing into the back of the cart with them. Reaching up to remove a bottle from a box, Ruth began to drip a watery white liquid over the infant's lips. Anne could tell from the odd earthy smell the liquid gave off, that it was not milk.

*She must be drugging the poor baby to keep it quiet,' Anne thought to herself, as Ruth replaced the bottle once the baby had swallowed a few drops. She then took some water and forced the baby to swallow some, keeping it hydrated, if not fed. Ruth and Nathan then began to pray. Anne didn't know if it was the low monotonous repet.i.tion of their prayers making her drowsy but despite being asleep for most of the afternoon, she could feel her eyes drooping heavily. As the last piece of meat fell from her limp hand, she could feel herself drifting into an unnatural sleep. Anne realised through her stupor that whatever drug they had used on the baby must have been put on the meat too.

*She would have to be careful in the future, these two were tricky,' she managed to think to herself before her mind became jumbled and fuzzy. She tried in vain to fight against the drug coursing through her small body but before she knew it, she was back in her dreams and so were the Dead.

Back at the convent, Liz lay gently in Imran's arms as they both tried unsuccessfully to sleep. Even now she could feel him crying silently next to her. His pain mirrored in her, was made even more unbearable because there was nothing she could do to ease his loss. Liz looked over at the small empty bed next to the one she currently shared with Imran, the blankets still unmade and rumpled from Anne's previous night's sleep. Slowly she reached across to touch the pillow laying askew on the bed. Desperate to feel some mystical connection to her stolen sister but feeling only the physical pillow instead, she vowed to herself and to a G.o.d she sometimes doubted was even there, that this bed would not remain empty for long.

*I'm coming, Anne,' she thought to herself, *I'm coming.'

DAY 6.

Liz's dreams that night were haunted with searching and a sense of painful loss. She would see herself running through endless dark corridors, frantically searching for her sister, who's cries echoed distantly amongst the shadows. When her eyes finally opened, the pain followed her from her dreams to sit in her chest, like a weight threatening to pull her down into despair. She could feel Imran breathing next to her, his very presence giving her the strength she knew she would need if she was to get her sister back. With Imran and Charlie at her side, they could do the near impossible, and not only find Anne in a landscape of the Dead, but also make the Reverend and his wife pay for what they had done. Imran had cried and mourned the loss of his brother long into the night, finally falling asleep in her arms in the early hours. Gently swinging her legs over the side of the cot, trying her best not to wake Imran, she looked back at the man she loved, surprised to see him looking up at her.

*Sorry, did I wake you?' she asked, stroking his face softly with her fingertips.

*No, I was only dozing really. Anyway, the sooner we're up, the sooner we can get Anne back from those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds,' he replied, kissing her hand.

The sad smile on his face doing little to hide the obvious pain lurking behind his eyes still red from crying.

Once they had both washed and dressed, Imran and Liz made their way down to the kitchen. It seemed to Liz, despite everyone's attempt to wash away the carnage that had occurred the previous day, she could still smell the coppery tang of spilt blood in the air. When they entered the kitchen, Sister Rebecca was standing by the range cooking porridge as usual, but Liz could tell something had changed within her. Looking up at them with red puffy eyes, Sister Rebecca could barely manage to keep the brittle smile on her lips. Watching her, Liz noticed the Nun's eyes being drawn to the large dark stain on the stone floor, a permanent reminder of Sister Catherine's pointless death. Liz decided she was going to suggest that perhaps they should use the bottle of bleach they had found in the supermarket van, to remove the stain from view. They were all too aware of the loss they had suffered yesterday, they didn't need another reminder staring them in the face every time they came into the kitchen.

*Phil and Richard are digging the graves, just outside the wall, over by the tree line,' Sister Rebecca said sadly, as she placed the bowls in front of Liz and Imran. *I don't know if they'll be ready before you go this morning.'

*That's alright,' Imran said, meeting her gaze. *I've already said my goodbyes to Mohammed. We can pay our respects to those we've lost when we return. Getting Anne back is the top priority now.'

With an understanding nod, Sister Rebecca turned to fill two more bowls with the warm porridge for Alice and Charlie, who she could hear coming down the corridor.

As they entered, Liz knew she had been right about Alice arguing her point to come with them, what she hadn't foreseen was that Charlie would relent and let her. Even now Charlie's anger and annoyance at the stubborn woman by his side, was written all over his face. Alice must really have worked a number on him to get him to change his mind, and deep down, although she wanted Alice to be safe, she couldn't hold it against her. If the tables were turned, she certainly wouldn't accept being left behind either. After all, this may be a one way trip. If Anne wasn't at Carnglaze Caverns, who knew when they would be able to return to Lanherne.

*So I guess you're coming too,' Liz whispered to Alice as she sat down.

*d.a.m.n right I'm coming,' she replied, the resolve in her eyes quite evident. *I told him either I travel with you or I follow you in Williams cart, the choice was his.'

*Not much of a choice,' Charlie said, sitting down next to her.

*So what's the plan?' Imran said, eager to get on the road.

*Well, I think for this trip, as well as our usual weapons, we should take some of the guns too. Now that we know there are no raiders in the area after all, I think it makes sense that we go as well equipped as we can,' Charlie replied, between mouthfuls of porridge.

Liz knew she wouldn't be taking one of their precious guns, it would simply be a waste in her hands. Unlike Imran, she just didn't have the eye for long distance aim, and despite Charlie teaching her the basics, it was a skill she could never truly master. And anyway, she preferred the delicacy and intimacy of her blade. Alice, on the other hand had the steely determination it took to use a gun with finesse, as she had proved yesterday, taking out Adrian's reanimated corpse. Alice had told Liz once, that her father used to go pigeon shooting when she was a younger and had often taken her along as some sort of father/daughter bonding exercise. Not surprisingly, the exercise hadn't really worked on the teenage girl, who just wanted to be out with her friends, but it had given her a skill that had proved priceless in this new world and she thanked her long-gone father for it.

With their breakfasts eaten, the four of them each gave Sister Rebecca a hug goodbye, just in case.

*Bring her back to us,' Sister Rebecca said, as she hugged Liz tightly.

Liz was sure it was just her imagination but the nun seemed smaller and more fragile today. As she held her in her arms, Liz couldn't help but wonder how the Convent was going to pull themselves back up from this attack. After so long living in safety, many had got used to thinking that the horrors that engulfed the rest of the world, were somehow now avoidable or magically kept at bay by their high walls. So, to be forced to confront the reality of the Dead so close to home, had proved a shocking wake-up call to many.

*Don't worry, we will,' Liz said, looking deep into the nun's eyes to rea.s.sure her.

A few minutes later, Charlie had retrieved the hand guns from the weapons store, together with their small supply of ammo and given one each to Imran and Alice. Giving them both a quick refresher on how to use them effectively, he reminded them that the guns should only be used as a last resort. Not only would they attract the Dead, but they would also give their position away to the Reverend, and who knew what the madman would do if he knew they were launching an attack. Once he was sure they knew all they needed to about their new weapons, they joined Liz outside.

Lars and Penny had already harnessed Delilah and with Duncan and Liz they loaded up the supplies needed for the journey. Of course if their trip to the caverns proved fruitless, they would have to improvise on the road but at least they had enough to last them a couple of days, if not a week if they were careful. It would take some getting used to, seeing Penny move with purpose and talking coherently to Lars. Liz hoped she would get the chance to get to know this new Penny. From what she had seen so far, she was a likable and intelligent young woman, keen to learn the ways of this new world. Already she had become friends with Duncan, her inquisitive mind finding a common ground with the engineer's creative way of thinking.

*You know, if you attached convex mirrors to poles at the corners, you wouldn't have to lean over to see if any of the Dead were there and you could see round the corner too. Didn't they have them on buses so the drivers could see what was going on.... any old buses around here?' Penny said to Duncan, as she handed him the last of the boxes to put on the cart.

Duncan had taken an instant liking to this new Penny. She literally saw everything with a fresh pair of eyes. Things that they had put up and had just accepted as they were, she questioned the reasoning behind, and even tried to come up with alternative solutions.

*Right, so are we almost ready?' Charlie asked, b.u.t.ting in. *We want to get off pretty soon.'

*Yes,' Duncan replied, *I think that's about the last of it.'

*Right then,' Charlie said, climbing into the cart to give the contents a quick once over for himself.

A few minutes later he popped his head out of side hatch, satisfied all was in order, and he called over to Phil and Richard, who had just come in for a break in their grave digging.

*Look I know it's a lot to ask, but with us gone, you two are the best fighters the Convent will have here. I want you both to look after everybody, keep them safe' Charlie said, looking from one to the other.

*Sure thing, Charlie,' said Phil, laying a big muddy hand on Richards shoulder. *Between the two of us, we can keep the Dead at bay and everything ticking over'.

Richard only nodded his reply, saying nothing. Phil had seen how his brother's death had effected Richard and had really only asked him to help with the graves to keep him busy and his mind occupied. Phil believed there was nothing like doing something physical to keep your mind off your problems, and apart from the shaky start, when Richard had literally battered a wandering Dead woman's head to a pulp with his club, it had gone well. Charlie's eye's flicked from Richard to Phil, his unspoken question answered with the slightest nod from Phil, indicating he would take charge and not to worry about the rest.

After twenty minutes of checking and double checking, Charlie thought it was about time they were on the road. In the chill of the early morning light, everyone staying behind at the convent came out to see them off. Despite the hugs and tears, many of the people waving goodbye to their friends, secretly felt apprehensive about their own future at Lanherne. If the four of their best fighters left, perhaps never to return, what would the future hold for those left behind.

*You will get Anne and come back, won't you?' Justin said, tears filling his eyes, as Liz knelt down to pull him into a tight hug.

The two children had grown very close, and although they bickered and argued like siblings, just like brother and sister, there was a love beneath it all that tied them together.

*I promise, we'll all be back,' Liz replied, knowing deep down as the words pa.s.sed her lips, it was a promise she may not be able to keep.

Glancing up into Nicky's eyes, she knew the woman knew it too.

*And by the time we get back I want this old mutt fully trained, so you can wow Anne with your tricks, ok?' Liz continued, as she gave the dog sitting at Justin's feet a quick scratch behind the ear, getting her face licked for her troubles.

Liz tried not to think about the Dead flesh the dog had been recently living on and discreetly wiped the dog saliva from her cheek.

Once all the goodbyes had been said, Liz, Imran and Alice, joined Charlie in the cart waiting by the main gate. With a last wave, Liz closed the back hatch on her friends and wondered if she would ever see any of them again. Sitting next to Imran in the dim light of the covered cart, Liz couldn't help but pick up the map again and trace their route to the caverns, for what seemed like the tenth time.

*We will get her back,' Alice said, as she leant across to place her hand over Liz's.

As she spoke, Alice's soft smile didn't quite reach to her eyes, betraying her words of comfort somewhat for Liz. The fact that Alice had insisted she come with them, despite her hidden reservations that it may be a one way trip, only showed to Liz the strength of her feelings for Charlie. She had given up a life of relative safety and comfort for one fraught with possible danger and death, all to be with the man she loved. If the whole situation hadn't been so desperately tragic, Liz would have found it romantic.

Outside they could hear Cam shout a final farewell, as he operated the winch to open the outer gate. With a flick of Delilah's reins, Charlie moved them forward, beyond the comforting safety of Lanherne, and out onto the long tree lined lane winding past their fields of crops. Before the convent disappeared from sight, possibly for ever, Liz moved aside one of the spy hole covers to catch one last glance of the place they had called home for the last year. Up along the walkway, she could just make out the many waving figures and then as the cart turned a corner, the convent was finally hidden from her view. With a sigh, she slowly moved the cover back into position and looked at Imran.

*Well, that's that then,' she said, resting her head on his shoulder, fighting back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her.

Liz knew it wasn't so much the fact they were leaving the convent that upset her, after all she had spent much of the last seven years moving from one haven to the next. No, it was having to face the unknown ahead of them. The worst part was that somewhere Anne was alone, scared and waiting for Liz to come for her. With all that she was, Liz prayed that she wouldn't be too late, and if she was, then there wouldn't be a camp or blockade in the world that could keep her from her revenge.

Anne rose slowly through the fog of a drug induced sleep to feel the Reverend shaking her awake.

*Wake up child,' he said, his voice stern and uncaring, his large hands gripping her small shoulders tight enough to leave bruises.

Fighting her way back to a consciousness, she somehow knew she didn't want to confront, Anne looked up at the Reverend. Try as she might, she couldn't seem to keep the figure looming over her in focus. To her muddled brain the whole scene seemed part of a strange dream. The unreal quality of it all, only helped confirm the heaviness of her limbs and the giggles that threatened to escape her.

*Be careful,' Ruth snapped at her husband. *It'll wear off eventually. Her system just needs to break it down at its own pace, try to give her a little water.'

The Reverend, doing as he was told, unscrewed a plastic bottle of water and held it to Anne's lips. It wasn't until she felt the cool wetness. .h.i.t her tongue, that Anne realised just how thirsty she was. Still in a half dream state, Anne thought the simple rain water to be the most refreshing and wonderful thing she had ever tasted. She wanted to keep on drinking until she was full to the brim of this pure elixir but, no sooner had her mind grasped the idea than the Reverend pulled the bottle away and the thought drifted from her mind like down on the breeze.

Anne didn't know how much time had pa.s.sed and she couldn't be sure if she had simply dreamt about the thirst quenching liquid but when she finally woke, her head seemed to thump painfully in time with the rolling of the cart wheels. Now that she knew they were prepared to drug both her and the baby, she would have to be on guard in front of the Reverend and Ruth. If she pretended to be asleep perhaps they would let something slip that might prove useful to her, but no sooner had she decided on this plan, then the Reverend kicked her hard on the thigh. Yelping in pain, Anne's eyes shot open.

*Don't you try to fool me, girl,' he said, a sneer on his face. *The Lord see's all and whispers of your sins.'

The Reverend leaned in close to her, his face close enough to her own that she could almost feel his breath on her lips.

*And child... he has whispered to Ruth and I, telling us of the great many sins of Man. Man who spat in the face of the Almighty and by His hand were cast down to writhe like maggots in the s.h.i.t of their own making.'