The drive to the Redwood Mega-Mart was far from comfortable. Lynsey hadn’t spoken to me for over an hour and had continued with the awkward silence in the car. Slow moving traffic only served to increase the strained atmosphere between a husband and wife who didn’t desire to converse with each other. Of course, it was me who cracked first, offering some dampened words to the woman I married many years ago.
“What’s up with you?” I enquired with all the charisma of a dead sloth.
Ignoring my question, Lynsey grunted to herself, before shuffling further to the left of me until her head was almost resting against the window of the passenger door. I cursed myself for asking such a ridiculous question. One devoid of any human emotion, one without any purpose. As if I didn’t know the fucking answer, so why did I need to ask? I couldn’t apologise to her though. That would mean surrendering and conceding defeat. Accepting that, everything wrong in our world was somehow my fault. Perhaps it was but, I wasn’t prepared to shoulder that responsibility.
Traffic leading up to the ‘Redwood Mega-Mart’ was dense. It annoyed me profoundly, mainly because we could have easily walked there. Lynsey had earlier pointed out with clear conviction, that although this was plausible in terms of distance, it wasn’t practical given the potential horde of produce we would return home with. I’d argued against the necessity of procuring yet more food we would never be able to consume, simply because it was the Christmas holiday season. Cogent as my argument may have been, it didn’t hold any weight and was simply dismissed by the jury of one. Lynsey detested my inference of Christmas merely being a ‘holiday’ and would relentlessly berate me with a profound appetite. She still loved this time of year and readily accepted the build up to the ‘magical’ day was still relevant despite it being just the two of us who would ‘celebrate’ the occasion. Personally, I don’t know why we commit to the charade. Why over indulging on more food than we normally consume in a month, why adorning our home with a series of twinkling lights, inside and out, somehow constitutes to us having fun and celebrating the season. Both sets of parents had left this world, no doubt finding peace in the other realm that they both collectively believed in and we didn’t have any children between us. No family around the Christmas Tree. No grandchildren looking into our eyes quizzically at the enormous present hidden behind the curtains at Nanny & Grandad’s house. It was in my opinion, simply just December, a month of the year blending into another. Redundant time.
Snow begins to fall upon us with an aggressively confident attitude, almost desperate to remind the world that it’s a real weather element. Windscreen wipers of the car groan like teenagers, annoyed that they must do something to assist. Yet despite the frustration, they commit to the cause enthusiastically. Lynsey on the other hand, is less than helpful.
“Oh, my days. I told you we should have gone shopping yesterday. Just look at this weather now. We’ll never get to Redwood. Why didn’t you listen to me? Why didn’t we go yesterday?” rasped my Wife aggressively.
“Tell me how we could have gone yesterday Lynsey? It was your day out with friends. How could we have possibly managed to fit this inane journey into our day?” I enquired with desperate confusion.
Lynsey’s outburst seemed to continue for an eternity before I felt that there was an appropriate opportunity to even construct a response. When she had finally taken breath, no longer dilating my airspace with bile, I found myself lost for words. I simply stared hard at the woman I loved, once. I tried to look deeper beyond the jagged lines that had formed across her aggressive appearance, somehow now twisted with anger and resentment. My mind cartwheeled backwards, desperately trying to recall the moment the two of us first met. Hoping to draw some comfort from an image of us meeting for the first time in our youth, when we fell in love. Needing to remind myself of the time that we once shared when we both loved each other. My day dream was interrupted by the sharpness of Lynsey’s bitter tongue, which shattered any recollection of tender moments. I sighed heavily, as we both had many times frequently, responding to my Wife with culture of an ape.
“Will you shut the fuck up! Please Lynsey. You’ve been going on for a what seems like an eternity. Just shut up!”
Lynsey’s face moulded into a perfect pose, as if she had become a waxwork model depicting pure shock. She offered nothing forth in response until she screamed at a pitch so high, it would terrify dogs.
“Jon!!!! You’re gonna hit…..”
CRASH!
It happened so fast.
“Are you okay Lynsey?” I asked curtly.
She nodded in confirmation, panicked by what had transpired, against the chorus of multiple whining car horns bellowing behind us. My anger and fear dismissed the unwelcome attention with a calm ease. I was ready to go against anyone right now. Let them attack me for causing a delay. I’d easily mask my fear of what was to become of this accident with mindless aggression.
Noting that Lynsey was physically intact, I hastily removed my seatbelt and leapt out from the car, almost causing another catastrophe when the driver door swung outward, forcing an enthusiastic cyclist to swerve outward against his line of projection. Hurriedly making my way round to the front of the vehicle, I witnessed the enormity of my ill-conceived driving ability, as lay prostrate across the bonnet of our vehicle, was the frame of a frail form, legs visibly bloodied but, not beyond repair. The body was still drawing breath, meaning I hadn’t killed. More importantly, I wasn’t heading to jail.
“Hey buddy, are you okay?” I enquired tentatively.
The victim didn’t respond. Evidently male, approximately 60/70 years of age, he was an odd greyish/white in complexion. Eyes were sunken deeply back into the sockets positioned in his rather small skull. Panicked, I tensed at the notion I had inadvertently killed him. Lynsey gesticulated manically from the comfortable safety of the car passenger seat. As I looked at her intently, observing the fraught expression dance across her soulless face, I wondered what it was that attracted me to her all those years previously. Visual fear I could understand, yet, you didn’t need to be able to lip read to appreciate just how angry my Wife was right now.
“So, is he fucking dead?” screamed Lynsey, fear evidently hijacking her usual eloquent lexicon.
I momentarily played traffic conductor, signalling and instructing the congregation of traffic behind my stationary car, to safely weave a way through the junction. The driver of a skip waggon was none too impressed with the delays I had inadvertently caused, abusively gesticulating whilst mouthing the most unsavoury swear known as he passed by. I simply told him to fuck off.
Bringing my focus back to the body on the bonnet of my car, I acted. Deciding that shoving the body into the boot of my car, driving into an alternative reality of time and space thus never returning into this timeline, seemed to be the best opportunity for a relatively safe existence. Somewhat surprisingly, the body on the bonnet of my car, had other ideas. Awkwardly, yet assured, the previously unresponsive form of the old man, lurched forward and directed his attention toward me. Lynsey screamed from the confine of our car as the zombified being emitted an ear-piercing scream whilst salivating the foulest of dank viscous liquid from its slack jawed mouth. Terrified, I jumped backwards with the power of a kangaroo, in to the oncoming traffic, narrowly avoiding being struck by an oncoming Kia Picanto that was thankfully being driven at an unhurried speed. Darting back to my car with my heart pounding at such a pace that I was fearful of cardiac arrest, I watched dumbfounded as the wizened being shuffled passed me. My stomach somersaulted as I practically dived into the driver’s seat, before hitting the accelerator, launching my car at pace over a red-light crossing. Lynsey’s screams were drowned out by the chorus of car horns blaring to a catastrophically unconducted symphony.
Lynsey broke the uneasy silence as we again joined the subdued stretch of traffic. How I loathed the Redwood Mega-Mart right now.
“You should have called for an ambulance Jon and the Police. What happens if that ‘man’ collapsed later and then died? You could be responsible for murder. Has that not sunk through yet?”
I didn’t reply, not immediately. My mind had frosted over with fear. Despite being mortified by the act of hitting a pedestrian with my car, the first accident I’ve ever encountered in over 30 years of driving, I couldn’t shake the image of the man. I was steadfastly convinced that he was already dead, despite that not being rationally plausible. Lynsey’s remonstrating didn’t abate.
“JON. Why aren’t you listening?”
“Jesus Christ Lynsey, why can’t you just shut up, like you have done for the last how many years of our existence? Don’t you think that I’m not terrified by this situation? That guy who I hit, was not…” I tailed off, unable to complete the sentence because it sounded so incredibly stupid.
“Was not, what Jon?”
As the traffic ground to a halt, I screwed my eyes shut whilst clutching the steering wheel tightly until my knuckles turned an unhealthy white. My brain couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Lines of information were still being analysed as cerebral emergency services tried to deal with the influx of data generated.
“I think that the person/thing I hit, was already dead Lynsey.”
Probably not the best response I could offer forth but, my brain was obviously way too busy to deal with an in-depth and informative sentence structure. Still, it was accurate.
“Oh, my days, why do you always have to make fun of the worst situations Jon? You could have bloody killed someone!”
True as this statement was, I really didn’t need yet another negative assessment of my personal character traits right now. Despite the sheer mind-numbing shock of the event that had just presented itself, I was more disturbed by how much I did dislike Lynsey. I can’t recollect at what point in my life that feeling first became prominent to me.
“I think, that the guy was already dead Lynsey? He certainly didn’t seem very alive to me when he was sprawled across the bonnet. I don’t know, I mean, I’m no medical expert Lynsey but, he certainly didn’t look…..” I knew she wasn’t listening. Lynsey didn’t much these days in my opinion. Then again, I was convinced that she never did.
“You’re such a complete twat Jon. I really do despair at times.” offered Lynsey before she turned her gaze back towards the passenger window.
It was this moment that I knew our relationship was no more. The years that we’d shared together, some of them pleasurable, had now dissolved into the ether of the past, nevermore to be repeated or reproduced. I didn’t feel guilty about sitting her down and delivering my announcement, informing her that I was leaving her and wanted a divorce.
We drove onward in silence, consumed in an air of suffocating blackened emotions. Minutes away from the Redwood Mega-Mart, we passed by the now eerie sight of the Trent Industrial Road. This led to the enormously vast factory plant of the Sorrim Pharmaceutical & Chemical Ltd, currently guarded by a unit of four burly men in security uniforms. I’d seen the feature on the BBC national news program five days earlier. There had been an unexplained explosion at one of the silos, which had caused a considerable amount of damage across the plant. It struck me as strange, that most of the news reports seemed to convey so much without telling us anything factual.
Locally, we all knew about the prominence of Sorrim Pharmaceutical. After all, it was a worldwide player in the field of medical research and producer of a plethora of medicines which were cheaply available to all. Citizens of the local and, nearby community, were rightly proud to have such a major worldwide institution on the doorstep. They even sponsored the local Premier League football team.
Fifteen years ago, Sorrim Pharmaceutical regenerated the local landscape. Despite initial protestations from local-residents, this blue-chip industry, innovated and renovated, demolishing the decrepit and derelict shells of properties, providing a new vibrant industry, jobs and homes. We all marvelled at the redevelopment of a region that was simply falling into hell. They even developed the land which would see the mighty Redwood Mega-Mart chain construct another citadel for consumer flock to worship at. It brought even more jobs, income and prosperity into the community. All were happy, and nobody really took much notice of Sorrim Pharmaceutical and what it was that they did. They were simply referred to as the organisation that resurrected our town.
We eventually pulled up on to the car park of Redwood Mega-Mart at least an hour later than it would normally have taken. Lynsey was still ignoring me, prompting my inner desire to divulge my burning news right here now, in a parked car. Following a brief internal meeting, it was decided that this wasn’t the most appropriate venue or moment, to announce the intent on my part, to concede defeat in a twenty-five-year marriage. We simply exited the car in silence, seemingly still focussed on procuring items for our Christmas celebration.
Snow continued falling, as if delighted by the fact it was now a widely recognised force of weather again, after so many years of silent incarceration. I looked upward to the clouds, staring wide-eyed as the young me did so many years ago, catching the ornate white flakes in my eyes. I longed to be transported back to that time, when I was an innocent age and knew nothing of life, particularly, girls. The snowflake fell softly into my eye socket, almost freezing my retina to the point of blindness. It was melted instantly by the harsh words uttered via Lynsey’s dragon breath.
“We still need to get the shopping done Jon.”
“Of course, we do my dearest, for the world is gonna end tomorrow and we wouldn’t want to be late to the party now would we?” I replied with embittered sarcasm. It was almost as if she’d forgotten or blanked out the earlier experience in the car.
Lynsey didn’t respond verbally, electing to articulate her response via facial recognition methods. It chilled me. She looked sad and resigned, as if pained and in desperate need to convey something of significant relevance. Perhaps it was the car crash incident that troubled her? Maybe it was an expression of pain that ran even deeper? I’d felt for some time now that she thought the same way I did. Perhaps she was waiting for her opportune moment? With the grace and passion of souls who had long since passed, Lynsey and I entered the Redwood Mega-Mart together as a couple for the very last time.
Architecturally, Redwood Mega-Mart is a construction of beauty. Unlike many gargantuan retail outlets, Redwood manages to convey an empathetical connection with it’s community. Trees that inspired its name are proudly presented along the intertwined parking bays. Vastly populated gardens are situated prominently around the perimeter, proudly presenting themselves despite the annoying blanket of snow. Situated along the lower level of the building, are numerous bars and eateries, all of which offer a pleasant environment to frequent. They become more vibrant and prominent when night begins to fall. Re-cycling points are sensibly situated as are the plentiful amount of electric car charging points. I’ve heard from numerous sources, that the buildings footprint is greater than that of Wembley Stadium in London. However, there are not enough spaces to park your car in.
Lynsey and I eventually made it to the entrance, greeted by an over-enthusiastic shop assistant who is politely trying to sell reduced boxes of mince pies to anyone who remotely cares. Needless to say, we didn’t take advantage of the latest offer. I made my way dutifully to the trolley bay, aggressively wrestling free a mid-sized wheeled basket, still bemused by why we should have to forego this charade of perpetual happiness. Lynsey looked at me with a silent strained expression, as if emanating numerous reasons why she didn’t want to be in my presence. The feeling was mutual. Before we entered the Mega-Mart, I cracked, offering forth an olive branch of sorts. Despite my desire to be anywhere else other than here, sipping a beer with friends at the BCA, I conceded that futile as this shopping trip may be, I couldn’t proceed throughout in abject silence.
“So, are we going to go through this completely ignoring each other? Or, are we going try and be civilised?”
Lynsey momentarily, looked deeply into my eyes, no doubt searching for an answer.
“Civilised would be good Jon. Can you commit to that?”
“What do you mean Lynsey? I’m always civilised. It’s you that’s…….” I tailed off. Not wanting to bring forth yet another argument about who did what and when. I accept, I’m not the easiest of people to be around.
Lynsey nodded in my direction, affirming what I had presented forth. For a brief moment, I saw the woman I’d fallen in love with many years previously. Perhaps, she saw that in me?
“Okay Jon, okay. Let’s see if we can get through this together. It’s Christmas after all.”
As she passed by me, I apologised to her for everything I had done and for what I was to do soon.
Just before I followed Lynsey into the Mega-Mart, I caught sight from the corner of my peripheral vision, sight of what looked like the wizened old man I’d hit with my car several minutes before. Although I knew I could be wrong, the man seemed to be slowly and surely, staggering his way towards the Mega-Mart, his weak and feeble arms reaching outward, as if drawing him closely towards my soul. For the first time in many years, I recognised the sense of fear.
The mood in the Redwood Mega-Mart seemed tense as soon as I entered it. Not because of my presence I hasten to add. But, there was clearly an uncomfortable undercurrent emanating throughout. It was ridiculously busy for a start. In order for me to catch up with Lynsey, I accelerated through the automated doors at pace, smashing my waywardly wheeled trolley directly into a stationary trolley belonging to a young Mother. The sickening metallic crash, almost catapulted the incumbent tiny child upwards from the supposed safety of the baby/toddler chair it was uncomfortably sat it. Naturally disturbed by the collision, the young mother leapt forth towards her small child, whilst firing me the most unsavoury of looks straight into my eyeline.
“I’m really sorry.” I proclaimed loudly.
“I didn’t see where I was… I hope… Shit, I’m sorry. Is the little one okay?”
The young mother said nothing that was legible amid the shrieks of anguish.
Lynsey sprinted back towards me as the young mother reassured her child, ensuring that he/she was indeed okay. Clasping the startled youngster tightly to her chest whilst calming he/she down in the way that only a mother can, she nodded curtly in my direction to confirm that all was well. Lynsey glared at me, unable to offer forth any words. I felt like such a shit.
When all had calmed sufficiently, the young mother made her way forth into the belly of the Mega-Mart. Lynsey gesticulated at me via a rather odd mime routine before we got back on track, she didn’t say anything, and I reciprocated, not wanting to renege on the arrangement made only a few minutes previously. I discounted sharing with her, the notion that I thought I’d seen the old guy from the crash earlier, believing that it would potentially escalate past realms of reasonability.
As we moved further into the Mega-Mart, I had a strange sense that all was not well. One of those feelings that you simply cannot articulate but, you know it’s there. I wasn’t sure if it was the supposed sight of the ‘dead’ old man, the unbalanced structure between Lynsey and myself or, the ridiculous volume of people here in the Mega-Mart, where there were literally hundreds in my opinion. People, so many lobotomised people, dutifully shuffling along the aisles, collecting objects of irrelevance having long since forgotten what purpose they hold. Everywhere I looked, I could see the dead of the consumer society. Zombies, generated from the vision of corporate greed, salivating over every cheap deal offered to the masses whilst blinded into submission as to it’s relevance. Arguing and fighting over the right to consume the final morsel presented. Welcome to the Mecca of consumerism and the valley of the damned, occupied by thousands of blood sucking consumer zombies. As Lynsey and I walked further through the chaos, I took advantage of a reasonable priced and discounted offer on sturdy metal tipped snow shovels, informing Lynsey that this could be extremely handy this winter. Plus, it was a very good price.
The Security Guard positioned at the main entrance, appeared to keep an interested and watchful eye on my initial movement in the Mega-Mart. I didn’t understand why but, as Lynsey and I wandered forth, I made sure to sarcastically wave at him. I really wanted to talk to Lynsey and express my fear. She was zoned out though, focussed on collating the items on her handwritten shopping list.
I noted with interest, that the automated double doors served as both an entrance and exit, questioning the logic of this design in the event of an emergency. Whilst conducting my brief review, I saw the old man I’d hit earlier, shuffle through the doors. I instinctively reached out to Lynsey and grabbed her arm but, she shot me a look suggesting that she wasn’t up for conversation. I had to warn someone but, who? I dutifully followed Lynsey onto the escalator which lead to the upper level of the mall as we headed to the clothing section.
Perhaps, this was a blessing in disguise. For as we reached the upper level, all hell broke loose below us.
Despite being in the middle of the upper level, the sounds of pandemonium travelled, becoming audible quickly. Screams punctured the airwaves, indicating that there was clearly a situation causing a severe level of consternation. Although, one that hadn’t been broadcast over the in-store tannoy. I looked over at Lynsey, her fearful facial expression confirming the sounds weren’t confined to my imagination. Spinning 360 degrees on the spot, I noted that a small number of shoppers had also heard the commotion, although only a small minority it would seem. Terrified wailing wrestled for dominance over confused shouting, before blood curdling, agonised screams won the contest. It was abundantly clear that something was far from right on the lower level.
I raced over to the railings which ran along the edge of the mezzanine upper level, where I was able to view the lower level entrance/exit doors. I recoiled quickly, unable to comprehend what I’d just witnessed. Several other shoppers joined me, equally dumfounded by what they saw, causing one of them to vomit violently over the ledge. Redwood Mega-Mart was under attack. Besieged by an army of zombies, busy feasting on the flesh of anyone who’d been caught by surprise.
Chaos erupted around me, as I stood transfixed, watching helplessly as the security guard was ripped apart and eaten alive by at least five beastly abominations from hell. Fear and survivalist instincts kicked in as I surveyed the ensuing madness for sight of Lynsey. Thankfully, she’d not moved an inch and was still clutching the handlebar of the shopping trolley in fear. I ran across to her, aggressively buffering others out of my way, as the atmosphere continued to turn even more toxic and fearful.
“We need to get out of here Lynsey. Somehow, and fast.”
“What’s happening Jon? I couldn’t believe what I overheard…..” screamed Lynsey.
“I know you’re not going to believe this but, the Mega-Mart is under attack…” I tailed off, my brain still unable to deal with what I’d witnessed.
“Zombies Lynsey. We’re being fucking overrun by zombies.”
Lynsey’s face collapsed in shock as I confirmed what she’d overheard, prompting her to dry-wretch puke. Grabbing the snow shovel from the trolley, I took hold of Lynsey’s arm, pulling her from the malaise.
“Come on Lynsey, we need to fucking move and fast.” I shouted with fearful authority.
She looked at me with a combination of fear and confusion, as I protectively ushered her forward. Lynsey’s features softened slightly, her large brown eyes widening with a sweet affection as she allowed herself into my hand, matching my anxious pace. I was only too aware of what a bastard I’d become. How I’d failed her as a lover, husband and human. She would have freedom from me soon. Irrespective of this, there was no way I was going to see her perish in this hell.
Redwood Mega-Mart continued to descend into hell around us. Shoppers situated on the upper floor began to fight amongst themselves, desperate for an opportunity to obtain freedom. I guess this is to be expected. Normal behaviour for any animal that becomes threatened in their habitual environment. Fight or flight syndrome wears many a mask. So many shoppers were kicking the shit out of each other by the lift entrance. Men and women, most likely couples, were engaged in brutal fist fights as they battled for the right to take the first flight downstairs, directly into the heart of mayhem and death. Personally, I didn’t fancy the odds of survival via that mode of descendance, preferring to take our route down the escalator. Zombies were situated at the foot of it but, they didn’t seem too active and had dispersed. This presented a small opportunity for escape. At least, that’s what I thought would be a reasonable option.
Embracing Lynsey in a way that had become unknown of for some time, I ushered her along to the overcrowded escalator. She was naturally apprehensive of this venture, as was I. Communicating this to her, changed the way she looked back at me. Perhaps, I have learnt so much about my wife far too late in life? Pushing, shoving and aggression ensued as fellow passengers bustled uneasily, desperate to escape no matter what the cost. I embraced Lynsey, bringing her small frame into my considerable size, shielding her from the ugliness around. Sadly, I still couldn’t rediscover my wholehearted love for her. Several shoppers who couldn’t be bothered to wait for the lift or escalator, tried to jump to the lower level. Panic will induce irrational, crazy actions at times. It didn’t end well for them, as the distance between the two levels was far more significant than appreciated. As the sliding stairs motored slowly downwards, we watched horrified as many bodies landed on the lower level floor with a sickening crunch, limbs broken outward at precarious angles. Lynsey amongst others, closed her eyes as the grounded, stricken shoppers become a bountiful feast for the zombies who reached them first. As the escalator continued its descent to the ground level, two terrified couples in front of us decided to turn face and barge their way back up the steps, leaving Lynsey and I first in line for the ground assault. I could sense the tension and adrenalin mount throughout my body as my grip on the snow shovel tightened. Fingers coiled around the wooden shaft as I began to become one with my weapon. I was ready for the battle ahead. Ready to fight for survival. As the escalator neared the floor, two zombies caught sight of us and slowly began to advance forward in our direction. Fearful screams and a plethora of curses were released into the air behind me as we drew nearer but, I blanked them out in preparation for the fight. Lynsey squeezed my arm tightly pinching her nails into my skin, momentarily interrupting my focus. I turned to her briefly.
“You need to let get go of me now Lynsey. Stay right behind me and move as quickly as I do. Understand?”
She looked at me blankly for a few seconds, somewhat shocked by my new-found level of confident authority, before silently nodding in affirmation. Lynsey released her vice like grip on my arm and took a couple of small steps back as we approached the ghastly form of the zombie heading towards us. I breathed in deeply, inhaling everyone else’s share of oxygen into my lungs before exhaling with a gung-ho battle cry.
“Okay folks, this is it!” I shouted with a mixture of authority and fear blended in my voice.
Everything seemed to freeze for the briefest of moments. I know it didn’t but, it was almost as if what transpired happened in slow motion. Similar to those action movies where the filming is artistically slowed down a little to emphasise the dramatic inference. Then, I let out a dramatic roar, the brief time dilation regulated itself and everything went fucking crazy. Surging forward before the escalator had come to reach the same level as the floor, I charged at the zombie thrusting the snow shovel outward as if it were a spear. Angling the shovel almost at head height and with aggressive momentum behind me, the shovel connected accurately with the intended target, neatly cleaving the zombies blistered head from its neck, causing its body to fall limply to the ground. Trampling over the body with pace, I swung the shovel round powerfully and gracefully at the second zombie, separating most of its skull in half. As it teetered on the spot, I jumped forward propelling the shovel downward into the exposed cranial cavity, smashing and twisting before what was left of the diseased head had been severed from the body. Lynsey was stood a metre behind me as the other shoppers on the escalator ran forth in various directions. There were more zombies on the ground floor than I had originally expected and despite my heroics, I felt a slight sense of resignation creeping in. As Lynsey stood shaking on the spot with understandable fear, a female zombie sprang from out of nowhere and launched an attack at my wife.
“Lynsey, get the fuck out of the way.” I bellowed with primeval anger and fear.
She dived down to her right and scurried behind shelf unit that was proudly displaying an array of budget vegetables. I swung the shovel forcefully at the small zombie, catching it directly in the face. The force of the attack caused her to tumble backwards to the ground and as the zombie pathetically began to scramble to her feet, I brought the shovel down hard against her thin neck, decapitating it with ease. As the decayed body lay lifeless at my feet, I noticed the badge on her bloodied blouse that announced she was Stacy Green – Receptionist – Sorrim Pharmaceuticals PLC.
Lynsey clenched my arm tightly again. It struck me as ironic, that my Wife should demonstrate a significantly profound expression of emotion right at the point of our potential demise. My illusion was dramatically altered with familiar reality.
“Where the hell did you learn to fight like that Jon? I was terrified that you would get us killed.” she rasped with charm and grace of a coiled viper.
“You’re still breathing though aren’t you Lynsey? Besides, I’ve watched a couple of zombie horror films in my time.” I replied sarcastically whilst urgently surveying the situation. It didn’t look good.
“We need to move now and fast.” I barked, not allowing any time for a debate.
Lynsey followed, her face indicating that it was with a measured level of reluctance. It was noted but, I’d not yet reached the point where I could happily leave my wife behind, no matter how much of a pain in the ass she was.
We ran quickly into the next available aisle that wasn’t occupied by zombies or shoppers in pitched battles against the undead invaders. It was a welcome moment of freedom, allowing us a small window of opportunity to draw breath and recollect. I spoke first, which was quite a unique experience.
“I’m pretty sure this invasion, is something to do with the explosion at Sorrim Pharmaceuticals.”
“Why on Earth do you say that?”
“The third zombie I killed, she had a Sorrim badge pinned to her blouse. Plus, we just passed the remains of God knows what, that was wearing a Sorrim overall. You know, an engineer or something. Somebody who worked in the fucking core of the plant.”
Lynsey appeared to readily digest the information I’d shared, piecing together the little tit-bits of information previously gained either heard in conversation or via social media.
“Okay. So, presuming you’re right Jon. What the fuck do we do now?” she screamed.
“Right now? We run the fuck down this aisle as quickly as we possibly can.” I bellowed at the sight of four zombified chemical plant workers stomping their way towards us.
Lights above us began stutter and surrender their life, contributing further to the anguished nightmare we found ourselves placed. As we ran at pace, zig-zagging through the Mega-Mart maze, we encountered so many dead. Admittedly, most were zombies but, so many innocent shoppers littered the aisles, it was incredibly hard to comprehend. I had no idea if we would survive. I kept on going, dragging Lynsey along behind me in the hope that we would make it out the other side. Yet, there was a sadness gnawing away inside me, one that caused me a considerable amount of discomfort. I was convinced that the zombies that were rampaging through the Mega-Mart were the very same lost souls who perished during the explosion at the Sorrim Pharmaceutical Plant. The same explosion, that was so very quickly covered up the local authorities not to mention The Government. It was rumoured locally, that over 200 industrial employees had been unaccounted for during the tragedy. Yet, the Sorrim Pharmaceutical Ltd Chief Executive and local MP, had denied any loss of life during the incident. Nobody could get close to the plant unless they were authorised at a presumably ministerial level. Families of the missing workers held vigils at the approach to Trent Industrial Road, hopeful that they would receive some comforting news. None of them ever did and they were eventually moved away by the security company who were employed to further erect the wall of silence. I like many others, read the articles and watched the news reports, thankful that it didn’t directly affect our existence. I know now how fucking wrong we were.
Lynsey and I kept on running throughout the nightmare scenario. I acted as a battering ram, deflecting hysterical and aggressive shoppers out of our path whilst trying my utmost to avoid the deprived foulness of the blistered undead that lurked around, whilst desperately trying to find an exit. As we entered the crisps & snack aisle, the enormity of this despicable attack took full hold of me, scaring me within whilst burning my soul to a cinder. Three zombies had taken the young mother whose trolley I’d inadvertently collided with earlier, consuming her healthy young flesh before our eyes. Her agonised screams tore through hell itself as they vanquished her life. My rage filled teary eyes scanned the periphery, ceasing at the sight of another zombie eating its way through the scant remains of the tiny being that was previously occupying the baby seat. I fell to my knees, Lynsey’s ghostly screams piercing the world behind me, as the solo zombie devoured the baby’s arm, before biting cleanly through its neck, finally extinguishing the brief life it had experienced. My rage discovered a new level of anger festering from within me, projecting its poison through my body quicker than a bite from the most venomous snake known to man. I reacted instinctively, leaping forward at the child eating abomination, swinging the snow shovel with all my strength at its throat, hoping my aim would provide the instant kill. It didn’t. The shovel annoyingly lodged itself into the zombie’s shoulder, forcing me to wrestle awkwardly with the shaft. As I twisted my grip, desperately trying to pull the shovel free, I could feel the wooden pole begin to weaken. With one final effort, I let out an angered and pained roar, freeing the shovel before jousting it directly through the zombie’s neck line, decapitating it. Only, I didn’t stop there. Despite hearing Lynsey’s hysterical screams in the background and her desperate instructions ordering me to flee, I kept on pounding the shovel into the headless and lifeless body of the malevolent zombie, breaking the shovel in the process. Exhausted, I finally relented and fell to the ground, allowing myself only moments before the three other zombies launched at me. Scuttling backwards on all fours, I managed to narrowly escape their grasp, before spinning back round onto my feet. I ran, bellowing at Lynsey to do the same. But, my instruction came too late. In my haste and anger, two zombies had pounced on Lynsey from behind and were already satisfying their lust for her blood and flesh. I had failed her for the final time.
All I could do was run and I did so with tear filled eyes. I ran through the remaining shoppers whilst dodging the masses of the lumbering undead. I kept on going, trying to find a safe-haven, where I could rest and compose myself. I’d noticed that many of the shoppers were heading towards the Mega-Mart service bay, indicating that there was a possible exit point, which made sense. It was still several aisles and countless yards between where I was and where I needed to be but, that was my only aim as it had always been. I managed to make it through to the hardware aisle before I collapsed to my knees through exhaustion. It had been too much, and I needed to take stock. I cried hard and openly for the loss of Lynsey. This wasn’t the way our life, her life was meant to end and if fucking hurt deeply. Although, not as much as I thought. I felt that my emotion and remorse was based on the tragic loss of Lynsey’s life and not that of a marriage ending, yet, it made me feel sick and angry in ways that I’d never experienced previously.
Dusting myself and my thoughts down, I focussed in the brevity of the moment. The zombies, what did I know about them? First hand evidence suggested that they were Sorrim Pharmaceutical employees. Secondly, whilst incredibly aggressive, the zombies were physically weak in structure. I’d managed to decapitate at least four of them with just a snow shovel and had caved in their heads with minimal effort. Thirdly, there was no blood or viscous liquid emanating from the wounds I’d inflicted. Leading me to conclude that I would be okay so long as I didn’t get bitten. Fourthly, why the fuck is any of this relevant? Maybe it will be to someone if I ever survive this horrifying ordeal. Also, another note to self, whilst I ran through to this very point, I noticed that the security guard who I’d earlier witnessed being devoured and killed by zombies, was now a slave to the undead himself. The process of death to re-animation took no more than thirty minutes to complete. Whatever shit was happening at Sorrim Pharmaceuticals Ltd was surely above any reasonable level of public knowledge.
Feeling focussed again, I surveyed what remained of the hardware selection. Given that it was winter, and Christmas was almost upon us, I was quite surprised at the offering of garden tools available and, that there was anything left at this point. I took a metal spade and a serrated saw, both of which required age ID verification at the check-out. Reconciling that this was the least of my worries, I took stock of the weapons and made my way forth, noting that the fresh meats aisle was the obvious one to avoid.
Carefully and with a new-found ability of stealth, I managed to make it to the ‘cheese and dairy’ section without too much effort. This particular aisle offered a quite straightforward route to the service bay, ergo, an exit. Hunching into the smallest ball my considerable frame could make, I watched silently, as a zombie launched a surprise attack on the beefy guy who was shamelessly filling his bag full of foreign cheeses. For reasons unknown, I remained silent and motionless, quietly observing as the zombie chewed mindlessly at the muscle-bound oaf’s neck and shoulders, forcing his veins to spray blood artistically over the wall. I don’t know why I didn’t immediately intervene? Contented from it’s feed, the slave to the undead released it’s hold of the lifeless body of its prey, allowing the well-built frame to fall heavily on to the bloodied floor, before shuffling silently along the aisle. I maintained my inconspicuous silence, studying the abomination as it moved. Noting the Redwood Mega-Mart badge pinned to the uniform, I learnt that the zombie was previously known as Rachel and that she was a queue buster, whatever the fuck that was. More importantly, she was another tragic victim of this invasion. It was at this point that another nagging thought entered my mind. This is 2018. How on Earth, has nobody reached out via social media or via their phones, alerting the outside world to the catastrophic situation occurring at Redwood? Why aren’t the Police or armed forces converging on this location to save us? How have we been ignored? I’m not going to lie, this has been the worst fucking shopping experience of my life and if I ever get through it, I’m certainly going to make quite an aggressive complaint to someone.
With the aisle clear of zombie interest, I sprang from my hiding place and despite the physical discomfort, I ran to the loading bay, brushing aside the heavy hanging plastic sheets that somehow shield the exit point, before finding myself in a warehouse full of neatly stacked boxes of varied consumable products. Scanning the immediate area, I noted that it appeared clear of zombies and human life for that matter. A sense of excited encouragement began to swell through me, acknowledging that I’d almost made it out of this hell, alive. I noted that the huge grey metallic shuttered service doors were tightly closed internally as was the emergency exit located to the left of them, evidencing that there wasn’t a convenient way to enter the Mega-Mart from the outside. I made a mental note to self, that this was quite a considerable design flaw and would include this in my email of complaint. I decided that the emergency exit door was the most obvious route of escape and made my way to it somewhat cautiously. I could just about hear the feint sounds of terror emanating through from the main hub of the Mega-Mart and I wished the poor souls well in their battle for survival. I’m not a hero and I had no intention of rushing back in to the melee Bruce Willis fashion, trying to save those who needed help. Sometimes, you simply must appreciate your own life and then fight to survive.
I made my way toward the exit still tightly clutching my makeshift weapons, hoping that I could make it outside without interference. I’d almost reached my goal, before a zombie jumped out from nowhere, blocking my route. Stood in front of me and blocking my exit was Lynsey. Put more accurately, what stood before me was once was my wife but, is now a creature of the damned. My stomach turned inside itself at the sight of the woman I’d loved for many years, bloodied and zombified. Her arms reached out towards me as she shuffled forward, no doubt desiring my flesh. The open wound on her neck and shoulder looked aggressive and should have been pumping blood outward given the depth of the incision but, there was nothing, other than stains on her shirt from the initial attack. Her face had become grey, sullen and blisters were forming around her lips and eyes, which had lost any traces of human life. I felt my hands instinctively grip hard on the shafts of the garden tools I had at my disposal and whilst I didn’t want to acknowledge the thought that had entered my head, I knew what I had to do. But, it felt so very wrong. Whilst I knew that Lynsey and I were no more and that I’d planned to tell her I wanted to separate, I’d not considered this eventuality.
Lynsey lurched slowly towards me, no doubt sensing my fresh blood. I took a measured step back and drew my weapons forth, instantly discarding the shovel so that I could allow myself a full grip on the handle of the serrated saw. There wasn’t one iota of this confrontation that felt good to me. I found myself blurting out a stream of words at her.
“Hey Lynsey. I’m so fucking sorry about the way this has come to be. I’d really hoped that I’d been able to discuss this with you amicably.”
My zombified wife simply grunted as she slowly made her way towards me.
“You see, sadly, I don’t think that you and I are fixed with the until death do us part aspect of vows. I’m really sorry Lynsey but, I’m leaving you and I want a divorce.”
I delivered my announcement to Lynsey as I’d planned it previously. As the words reverberated within my skull, I realised just how awful they sounded. I was such a massive prick and I knew that. I just, wanted Lynsey to be happy and I felt she could be if she wasn’t burdened by my dead weight. I loved her once, as did she me but, that was many years ago. I raised the saw above my head and advanced at Lynsey with pace. Through tear strained eyes, I severed the head of my wife cleanly from her body, killing her once more. As her headless body fell to the floor, I finally realised what an unpleasant person I’d been to her. How I had been truly ‘undead’ and how I’d never deserved her affection, love and time. I’d planned to do the most unselfish act that I’d ever offered forth to Lynsey, by allowing her freedom from me. I wanted her to live the life that she’d dreamt of, I wanted her to live. Now, she was completely free of all hell and I was so very sorry.
With the zombie vanquished, I slowly made my way to the emergency exit and opened the door to freedom, instantly met with soldiers in Bio-Armoured suits. They aggressively took my weapons before taking me to a mobile screening unit, where my human authenticity was quickly ascertained, before they let me go freely. Despite the horrendous ordeal endured, nobody reached out to me. I was simply checked and then binned, left alone to deal with this shit by myself. I shuffled, like a zombie through the plethora of official bodies and news-reporters who’d massed outside the Mega-Mart, snarling violently at anyone who came within one foot of me. There was no chaos or panic on the outside. It was calm and measured, with everyone who was relevant knowing their place. People from Sorrim Pharmaceuticals were present, most notably, executives. Some of them wanted to ‘talk’ to me. I told them to fuck off. They looked at me up and down before acknowledging that this was probably the wisest thing to do.
Numb, terrified and in mourning for my wife, I finally found the car in the lot. Slumping behind the steering wheel, I allowed a tear to cascade down my face in memory of Lynsey. I vowed never to forget her.
Bringing the engine of the car abruptly into life, I left the Redwood Mega-Mart with indescribable ease, wondering whether any of the facts of the zombie massacre would ever find their way into the living world. I as I sped away out of the parking lot, I caught sight of the Christmas wreath that Lynsey had nestled underneath the passenger seat. Emotion overtook me, and I cried, wishing her a Merry Christmas, before driving onward into a new life.
The End
[bctt tweet=”OCTOBER TERROR 2018 Short Story Award – Entry #57 ‘Supermarket Battleground’ by Paul B Morris – Enjoy all this terrific, disturbing material you have in your hands, lots of horror stories at your disposal for your dark delight and vote!” username=”theboldmom”]
On October 23rd we’ll close submissions and open a poll for the readers to choose their favourite one! You’ll have a week to make your choice and on October 31st we’ll announce the winner!!!
