Plague Of The Revenants by Edward Chilvers Read Free Book Online Page B

and hurried across a meadow towards them before screeching to a halt. There were three of them, a young woman and two older men. I could see at once they had been in the process of looting the place for food, as evidenced by the beaten up old truck standing just outside the front door, half filled with provisions, when they had been surprised by three revenants from outside. They looked as though they were trying to ward the creatures off with sticks, and all seemed afraid to make the decisive blow. As I watched I saw the woman pushing the revenant away with what seemed to be the handle of a broom but it fell back towards one of the men who tried to get out of the way but not fast enough to prevent the creature from seizing hold of his clothing and latching its teeth into his arm. The man let out a cry. Blood spurted into the air. The other man now cried out in turn and swung his own stick at the revenant but instead of finishing it off he instead appeared more concerned with releasing the creature’s teeth from the grip of his doomed comrade. Meanwhile none of them were paying attention to the other two revenants who now lumbered forwards to surround them. This was fast turning into a catastrophe before my eyes. I had no especial wish to make friends but in that moment I decided I just had to intervene.

I strode purposely across the meadow, deciding not to rush. Two of the revenants saw me approach and turned their attentions towards me which at least brought the other survivors some time. I swung the hammer hard, without hesitation, smashing into the skull of the first revenant and turning his head into a bloody pulp before he had hit the ground. I did not hesitate as they had done. These beasts had to die. I was hoping my actions would somehow spur the others into action but instead they leapt back fearfully, seemingly as afraid of me as they were the revenants. The remaining two revenants turned and advanced towards me at once. I swung the hammer again but the blow only parried them away and brought me a few seconds. I cried out to the others for assistance but the bitten man staggered away whilst the remaining two just looked on at me aghast, as if frozen to the spot. I retreated to the start of the meadow. The revenants followed me. I strode forward once more and they lined up to take a hammer to the skull. When they were both on the floor I brought the hammer down twice more to ensure they would not be getting up again. I looked up. The three others were regarding me with horror. The man who had not been bitten staggered away and vomited heavily upon the ground.
“Are you insane?” Demanded the woman fearfully.
“Insane?” I repeated, my blood up. “You’re the ones who were trying to push the damned things away with sticks.”
The woman seemed about to argue but at that moment the uninjured man stepped forward. “You came along just in time,” he said breathlessly. “My name is Farrow, this is Kit and our companion here is named Block.” He motioned towards their stricken colleague before turning back to me. “How long have you been out here?”
I suddenly found myself extremely wary of the living, having not set eyes upon a living soul whom I trusted since this whole business had begun. Come to think of it many years had gone by since I had met somebody of whom I did not feel the need to be wary. Nonetheless I was tired and very hungry. These three survivors, on the other hand, were well fed and what is more they had wheels. I decided to demur Farrow’s question for the time being. “Never mind that,” I told them. “You want to thank me? Give me a lift back to wherever you’re staying. I presume you’ve got all the food you need?”
“Well we’re certainly not going to stick around here until their friends show up,” replied the woman, nodding her head towards the remains of the five revenants.
“You’re welcome to come with us,” said Farrow, shooting her a worried glance. “We’re