Day 44

I checked through previous posts today and realised something. I had forgotten the Tetanus issue.

Sam commented about getting a move on when she woke up so I suggested "Why not". She wasn't best pleased but we came to an arrangement. We were going to try the medical centre first. It was more than likely we wouldn't find anything but it was an attempt we had to make.

We set off after making things as tidy as possible. It was a pain as we had settled in and started to spread our stuff out. Ideally it would have been better to wait a bit longer, but I don't want to risk the Tetanus developing.

At all times I kept ahead of Sam so if I ran into danger she would have more time to react and not strain herself. The stitching was still showing no signs of breaking and I didn't want to change that.

After an hour of a slow walk we arrived at the centre. We decided to approach from the back as it is more hidden there. The door was broken in, meaning someone had already raided the area. We entered slowly. I decided it was best to have the pistol out because of how close the walls were; I wouldn't have much room with the rifle. Sam took it just in case. We went through to the nurses room's and started checking the supplies. A large amount seemed to be left untouched since the beginning of all this and a layer of dust lay upon it.

I found a few glass vials: Tetanus immunoglobulin. And I grabbed a few of the ready-sealed packets of syringes. Sam sat down and I went to her then realised I didn't know how much to give and I hadn't had any practice with needles. We began searching on my phones internet to find that information. We failed. So we began searching through the nurses notes on this subject. Eventually finding a note for the concentration I held in my hand. 2ml. I washed the vial with a small amount of our water. Then found myself unsure again. Sam took the things from me and sighed "Useless aren't you". In a flash she had completed the process: putting syringe into the vial, and injecting herself, with a wince, into her thigh "Mum's a diabetic". She smiled.

We got a secure case for medicines from the shelf and put a couple vials in of various things around the room; for all the 'just in case' situations. Then we left.

Standing on the street with my bags heavier we didn't know where to go. It was pointless to move back to where we were, but were we ready to move on?

In the end we decided to make an attempt. We moved northwards for about an hour trying to bypass Rani but eventually their numbers grew to an amount that meant that at any moment we could slip up and be seen. Sam's situation meant we couldn't really risk this. We found a place to stay and made ourselves comfortable. It wasn't like our 'home' for the last week but it was something. The stitches still held and there were no ill side-effects of the Tetanus stuff so we slept soundly for a while. Then rain came and woke me. A car of some description idly passed by with the torches keeping to the roadside. Through my binoculars they looked the same kind of men as the Dodge ones. I guessed this was their search party. Regardless two hours have passed and no further noise has been heard.

I hope you make another day

Day 43

While Sam slept this morning I held the pistol with a strange sense of awe. Yes my air rifle was decent enough but a shot from this in the world we now lived in was enough to kill anyone through blood loss, infection or even slowing them down enough to get attacked by Rani...

After a while I tried to clear my thoughts. I set out to make a holster (seeing that I hadn't collected the one from the dead man). In the end I settled with making a cone shape out of fabric and utilising a clip I had found in the house. This allowed me to also attach it to my belt for now.

As Sam awoke I realised that I hadn't actually searched the master bedroom. After giving her some food I did so. There was nothing special in clothing or gadgets until I found a box. Upon opening it I found a watch. Around the rim of the top it was a funny texture and colour. When I checked the instructions I found it was a solar powered one. I smiled at this, finally I had found a replacement for my watch. I found another box with a necklace that (from the paper with it) meant good luck, this I offered to Sam and she refused. I understood her refusal. She doesn't have the same mentality of mementos as I have. She'll take things that are useful but anything that is simply ornamental she doesn't bother with.

I checked her wound, like I do everyday. It was healing, just a bit, already and the redness was almost all gone from it. With any luck we'll be ready to move out in a couple of days. In preparation of this Sam has started moving about more and is stretching etc. The faster the better, but at the same time I don't want it to be too fast. That will only injure her.

Road news: still a number of Rani about, I would say the number has increased by 10% daily since the gunfire (after an initial 3 that day)...

Day 3

I got a bottle of water out and drank it then threw it in the bin. I tried to eat but I just wasn't interested. I told myself I would force myself to eat in the morning. I leant back to rest and fell asleep.

I woke to a noise outside. I picked myself off the floor (which it seems I had fallen over to when falling asleep) and went to the window.

A group of people were there. My eyes were blurry but I counted 7. I looked at my watch.

12.05am. A new day.

Before I talk about Day 4 I will state that details may be a little vague at times. I didn't get chance to sleep for quite a while and I hadn't had enough sleep the previous days. If I had maybe I would have reassessed things earlier and maybe things might have gone better. Regardless this day is important. It will show you that not everyone will help you. And even those who seem like they are, might not actually be helping you but getting ready to kill you.

In thinking about it, I need time to think about what needs to be said, so I will leave todays post there. My apologies.

I hope you make another day

Day 42

Today held something I didn't look forward to. You may remember that we only drink from bottled water. We had two bottles as of this morning. They lasted longer with aid of the house having a stockpile.
Ultimately we will stop, of course provided that we see others drink tap water and live for quite a while. It's not an ideal situation to get into; a reliance on a specific good. We may as well be drug users in respect to it.

So in the morning I informed Sam of the situation and gave her the rifle. We turned the walkies on and I left the house. She relocked the door and armed the alarm but I had a spare key to ensure I could get back in.

I had already been thinking about the whole issue but still wasn't totally sure which way would be the best way to approach it. Houses or corner shop.

From the house the shop was a 5minute run. That meant being away from the house for a minimum really of 30minutes. Houses were everywhere but there was no guarantee that there would be a big enough supply to last us. I decided quickly that the shop was the best idea. So I prepared for my leg's complaints and ran.

Soon enough I stopped by the shop. Uninterrupted by Rani or people before then I got the driver of the golf clubs (which I had chosen as today's weapon). I slowly made my way inside the shop. It had already been ransacked, but that was to be expected. Probably even happened on Day 1. I made my way to check fully the drinks cabinet. I sighed. It wasn't ideal still, but I pulled all the Oasis bottles down very nearly completely filling my bag. I looked around on the floor and the shelving. Success! Lucozade. Haven't really spoken about it except for near the beginning of my blogging. Basically it's useful for keeping energy levels up. Yes you will experience a low when the sugar dissipates but by then if you aren't in a safe place you'll be running on reserves anyway.

I took a quick look around for anything else that would be useful. I ended up grabbing a box of crackers.

Explanation of my searching methods: I've found looking for one thing at a time is better. Even if you find something else useful try to ignore it until you find what you were looking for. I have to do this or I just get distracted.

Using the walkie I signalled I was on my way back. As I left Rani were appearing down the streets so I made myself scarce taking a different route back. As I did I saw the Dodge. Dead in the road. Blood marks all over. Doors open. As I rounded to the front I realised it had crashed into the wall at quite some speed. The driver it seems had smashed through the wind-shield and into a wall. Not nice. His passenger had climbed out (with the trail of blood as my indicator). I moved closer, aware this was dangerous. The driver had bite marks on his right side. The passenger side. Seems their destructive nature turned on them. But still I felt sorry for this man, he obviously didn't die well. I worry he didn't die instantly from hitting the wall either.

I checked more over. A pistol, I hoped. No such luck on him, not even a radio I could use, I did find that suspect but maybe another team member had it, who was to say all people had a radio with them. Just an empty holster. I then moved to the Dodge. Checking around the drivers cabin I saw it. A pistol, the top piece was cocked back so I guess that meant it was empty (from all the films etc.) I reached in and grabbed it. I was still anxious to move on, but this could be a goldmine. I checked the glove box. One clip. I emptied the crackers from the box so they were loose in the bag. I put the pistol and clip in as their replacements.

Moving to the boot section I stepped on the wheel. A couple of bundles of cloth lay there so I opened one up. Rifle clips I supposed. I emptied these too into my box. At the very least I wasn't going to let any of their friends find themselves some more ammo from wherever they got this stuff. I suppose they kept all weapons on themselves and had no spares. Unless there were other looters... Though all ammo would be gone too wouldn't it?

I finally made it back. In the end it took me 3hours from cutting through and around enough to ensure that where I stopped wasn't viewable. I signalled my entrance so she didn't shoot me and relocked things up.

I washed my new stuff and showed it to a delighted Sam. That is until I told her where I found it.

"So you reckon that shooting was them?"

"Yeah. One's definitely dead, ones definitely Rani, but I bet there were a few more than that on the truck with these [rifle] rounds on the back"

She sighed and rolled one of the rounds in her fingers. " 'Least we got some real fire-power now eh?"

"Yeah in emergencies. We got 11 or 14 rounds, haven't counted, that will decimate the Rani compared to my air rifle. We got to make the most of it."

We ate, she slept, I wrote. I'm watching the street for signs of movement, but nothing, all is good I suppose for now, but I want to get out of this area badly still.

I hope you make another day

Day 41

I spent most of today trying to memorise an ordinance survey map of Hereford and the surrounding areas. I made fake what if scenarios and various emergency escape plans. I haven't learnt loads of it but I think I have gotten the hang of Hereford itself. Anything more than a mile or so from the city's name I wouldn't fully trust myself with, but I have a couple more days to go through it so I'm not forcing myself too much.

Sam was able to move herself today. I'm not impressed as I told her not to. I just woke up and she was already half way down the hall. I know she feels the same urgency as I do but there's nothing we can really do right now.

My leg seems to be easing off now. The past few days of minor use seem to agree with it's stubborn nature.

Still no more noise from those people, but there were a number of Rani today. Strangely they were moving in their usual random way. Makes me wonder if whoever fired their guns got rid of that Screamer. I know it's speculation but without their pied piper the Rani would revert to their usual nature of roaming the areas wouldn't they?

Now that I have memorised the alarm code I have erased the notes on the cover. I'll replace them when I go yes, but it means people can't break in and disarm the alarm or anything like that.

Day 3

I searched for houses that I would feel safe staying in along streets that didn't seem to have power; at least the street-lights were out. I rounded a corner. I froze. I saw Rani roaming and one picked up its face from looking at the ground and stared directly at me. It didn't give chase. I wondered if they could see in the dark so I went to move away. They could.

Yes this is where I first learnt the lesson I mentioned earlier: Rani can see in any light. But they seem to have problems seeing unmoving targets in the dark.

As soon as I ran I felt my legs start to complain in full force. I looked left and right at each house in the vain attempt to see if I had missed something. Suddenly to my left I saw an open door. A house I had passed earlier. I didn't fancy going in back then because it had a cracked window which looked like it was from the inside, but I really didn't have a choice. I ran in and slammed the door. Before I stopped completely I knew I had to check everything else.
I fumbled for a torch and turned it on. I immediately checked the downstairs in a sweep. Unlocking and locking the back doors to see how long it would take me to open. I walked in the living room. Blood covered it. Though I had seen terrible things already, this seemed wrong. Almost like someone had been killed before turning. There was blood in one area and nothing was disturbed. I shuddered. I already didn't like it here but I had to check upstairs. Even as I walked upstairs it felt wrong. The stairs themselves felt different. As I reached the top I realised that it was because they too were covered in dry blood.

Banging on the front door distracted me a second.

I carried on. All rooms were checked by a glance bar one. I opened the last one. And realised.

Four bodies held by a fifth. The father had killed his family upon hearing the news. Then ended his life. It seemed strange. They were dead but none were in a state that would stop their reanimation. Could it be that they were immune, or were they not infected beforehand. If you died by the hands of another person, would you not come back? I stumbled back and slouched against the wall and found myself still staring hours later. By then the banging had subsided. Another meal must have come by.

It was now 10.12pm. I sighed. Another day almost over.

I hope you make another day

Day 40

Today was brighter.

No noise from outside at all. I still cannot get over that. The sheer silence of it all. Even walking in mountains used to have noise from life around, the wind seemed to carry it for miles, but by the time it got to you it didn't sound much of anything. I don't know to be honest, maybe it is just me thinking about it too much?

Sam tried to move today. She fell over almost straight away nearly taking out her stitches in the process. I'm concerned because that kind of injury takes weeks to heal right. We haven't got that time. Who knows when my leg will be battle ready, and worse, as usual, who knows when the Dodge men will arrive again?

In truth today wasn't that long. I got distracted by watching clouds go by. It's strange really, I never really did that when I was younger. Before I knew it hours had passed.

To be honest it's weird not to be out and about all the time; it's almost like I'm pretending that everything is how it used to be. That whole idea just unnerves me.

I would write more about the first days because in a way I want to get the details for Day 4 out in the open. They are possibly the most important to know. But my mind just doesn't want to work today; I can't think of the words to say and if I forced out the blank descriptions I fear that I would miss important details. So I apologize.

I hope you make another day

Day 39

It rained a lot today, leaving the world damp.

There was still the occasional Rani walking past the house but other than that, today was quiet.

Sam is more alert but still tired. Hopefully not much longer before we can move on, but at the very least not much longer until we can move in an emergency.

I'm almost going out of my mind with my leg and not having much to do and at the same time I don't want to write much here in case I become dependant on it.

Day 3

Walking down the street my mind was ablaze. Trying to think ahead to think of anything that made sense.
I aimlessly walked and found that I was standing near the medical centre area. I looked towards the pharmacy in the hopes of seeing another person alive. What I saw instead were smashed windows. I silently praised my luck for not staying there at the same time as praying the man was safe. I didn't want to be the last one left.
For some reason I headed left into an area I knew of but barely. I walked about for about an hour then went back to the medical centre.
Looking back I still don't know why but I decided to take a walk into the newer area of Belmont. I'd only been to a couple of places in there so I guess I just wanted to explore.

Dozens of houses were open and waiting to be ransacked by the eventual raiders (if any of that type survived).
It got a bit cold before I realised I had aimlessly walked about most of the day and it was now 6pm. I decided I wanted to find a place to sleep so changed my mindset into looking for safe places to stop.

Day 38

I woke early. Early enough to stop my phones alarm the moment it started. I checked to see if she was still alive. She was. The wound looked sore but no blood came through during the night. She stirred a little but remained asleep.

I went to the bathroom to check on something that had been bothering me. I picked up the stab-vest. The hole was in the side, and not where she was injured. The only thing that made sense was when the Rani jumped her the vest slipped round enough. She probably would have been fine if pushed straight in.

Outside the windows only a few Rani stumbled about. Following the path back to the rest of them, and their screaming piper. While searching the house for useful items I came across something I had been looking for in every house and I pocketed the two items.

I smiled when I saw that the ornamental sword set had no swords. Even though they were likely blunt people had taken them in the hopes that they would help. Strange how they hadn't taken the sheath, I guess they hadn't been in the frame of mind to think of such things.

It's strange I am. Since yesterday things have felt slower; like I have more time to think about things. Maybe it's simply down to my desire to have more time to save Sam, or maybe it is the extreme agony my leg is causing that is making things slow. I am starting to think I have severely damaged my leg this time, but I can't stop doing things as she is in a worse state than me. I can break through the pain, though it is probably not smart to. Her pain is such that she can barely move side to side.

The situation isn't great, but it's not as bad as we've been exposed to.

The most worrying thing was at about midday, just after I woke Sam for her to eat and then for me to carry her to the bathroom, there was semi-distance gunfire. In opening the window it sounded like it was coming from the area we had walked into. In the darkest part of me I hoped that the men with the dodge had faced their inevitable fate. At the same time I was horrified. That I was able to think of such things about people. Regardless of what they did or will do to us. They are some of the few living people left in this world. Worryingly they could well have been a sign of what the majority of people would go to. It's all a little too Mad Max for me.

The gunfire didn't last long. I heard no retreating or screams. We'll see I guess.

I double and triple checked the building's safety. Nothing was going to get in without me knowing. I like alarm systems, especially when the family in question writes the codes down on the actual device.

When it came to dinner I got Sam some more food to get in her and changed the bandage dressing. I then gave her one of the two items.

A small walkie talkie. Range was supposed to be up to a mile. But with how most likely no other radio signals would be about (or at the very least there wouldn't be many) the range should be maximised to a minimum of a mile, in other words, we should be able to stay in touch if such a thing happened again.

We chose a frequency and tested them, then turned it off. They were only needed in emergencies, so probably best to save the batteries in them.

She fell asleep shortly after that and I've had a lot of time on my hands to try and forget about my leg so I thought I'd try a different writing style. I don't like it too much and it's hard not to default back to writing 'normally'.

She looks better today though still very weak. Just got to hope that there’s no internal bleeding because there is seriously nothing I can do about that. I'd just stitch her stomach to her kidneys or something...

I hope you make another day

Day 37

Today started badly.
I woke and my leg still hurt like hell. But that's not what was important to me. I got my bags, and double checked everything. I moved the various furniture out of the way and walked out the front door.

I raised my rifle at the lone Rani standing in front of me and took the shot. Before it fell to it's knees I was walking through the house to the back.

I made my way slowly round the house's back-streets. Soon however I heard the Rani rushing to the scene I had left. I disregarded this for an hour or so before taking to the main roads. My sole purpose today was to find at least a trace of Sam.

At about midday I arrived at the scene we had first encountered the Rani the day before. Around the corner stood a few dozen Rani and, lo and behold - the Screamer, or at least A Screamer. I couldn't quite tell at the distance. I had a shot for it, but I didn't want to risk anything. So I turned and tried to assess which ways we took in our escape.

It all came clearly in remembering when I turned. I stopped at one corner near a small playing area. Sam's food bag lay on the ground but no sign of her. I looked around remembering I carried on running straight on.

I couldn't shake the feeling, however, that this is where we split up.

I walked a bit further forwards and found myself stumbling over a small area. Looking down I saw a pothole.

I realised that as I ran here I looked back and Sam was looking back. I turned back forward and saw that a group of Rani were about to cut us off. If we hadn't been at the speed we were we would have to change route.

I had looked back BEFORE that pothole area. If she had fallen over she would have had to have taken the playing area as an escape.

I took another look around and walked back a bit to pick up her bag, leaving a Mars Bar on the street so I could backtrack there if I needed to.

I headed over to the other side of the playing area, and through some trees. This opened to another grassy area. About 50feet in front of me lay a half eaten Rani. It had an arrow in it's leg and a couple around it that looked like they had been pulled out. Moving closer I saw they hadn't been fired but thrust into it. And the remains of one stuck out of it's skull.

At least she was around there somewhere.

I thought the most likely area she would run would not be the way we came as Rani could have been coming from there. In fact the most likely thing would be she would try to catch up with me. So I headed left.

It was quiet here for a while but I paused. This way was one of the ways that Rani had been flowing the day before... I would have to be very careful.

As I edged round a corner I saw a car smashed into a wall so I had to go around it (climbing over is far too loud). When I got round I saw a pool of blood which was only partially congealed, but no body. I looked around and saw the car had also taken part of a fence down. The blood centred around there. It trailed off towards some houses.

As I walked past I checked one after another. After five I found one had blood on the door handle area. The door was locked. I had to break a window to get in.

I braced myself.

I walked in and saw blood trails up the wall of the staircase so I headed up and followed it further. As I entered the final room I looked around and saw her. Blood everywhere. She was unconscious and I rushed over. She had a serious wound in her lower abdomen which was slowly pulsing blood. She had tied clothes around it and that may have helped for a while, but it wasn't helping much now.

I dropped my bags and rushed out of the room and searched all the drawers. I eventually found cotton and a needle I hoped would do the job.

I ran back into the room and shook her awake.

"Sam! Wake up!"

She stirred and mumbled

"I know you are still there, so I'm just saying this is gonna hurt a lot okay?"

Another faint response.

My hands shook as I tried to thread the needle. Eventually I managed it. I pulled her down from her semi-sitting position so it would be easier for me to stitch her up. I rummaged through my bag in an attempt to find the things I had been randomly finding and putting with my medical things. 'Iodine?' I thought. 'I must have pulled it off the shelf somewhere I guess'. I pulled up her tops and and washed the wound with a swab coated in the stuff. When the majority of the would was clean I grabbed the lighter she kept from her bag and poured some iodine on the needle before placing it over the flame. When I was satisfied it was done I let it cool a second before attempting the stitch. The blood was back but I didn't think it mattered all that much. I pinched the skin. I pushed the needle through. She screamed. I held back my gagging for the process. After possibly the longest quarter of an hour I've ever had I had stitched her up. I went to the toilet with some water, I stared at my hands thick with blood. I threw up. I washed my hands. I went back to her and I washed off the blood and got her wound covered with some bandages. I stripped her of her bloody clothing and put her in some of my spare clean things then put her in the master bedroom next door.

I began to tidy things up in the room and tried washing as much as I could get away with. The bloodstain looks like it's going to stay on the floor, bag and clothes though...

I secured the house a bit and grabbed some food to take upstairs.

I sat next to her in the bed and fell asleep just when the pain in my leg started coming back.

I woke to her nudging me

"Hey" I smiled

"Hey" she weakly replied

"I'm sorry I left you"

"Don't" she managed.

I got up and offered her some bread, thinking it was best she didn't attempt much. She barely managed it

After a while she laughed a bit looking down her top "You could have at least got rid of some of the fat"

"You know it didn't occur to me"

"Why not?" she laughed a bit more

"Too much else on my mind I guess"

"True" she looked up at me. "Thank you"

"How did you manage it?"

"When I ran through the playground thing I had one run right at me, so I fired an arrow at it and it didn't stop, to be honest the bow was a bad idea in the open... I grabbed an arrow and pushed it in by hand it fell back a  bit so I took a few more and did the same and it fell... I thought I was still being chased real close so I ran to try to catch you. I pushed myself over the car and the moment I landed one of them rammed me. I fell onto the fence. And it did this" she gestured over the wound, "at the same time the Rani propelled itself too far and rolled along the ground. I just pulled myself off and just tried to get away from it, ending up here. I shut up shop and collapsed in the room... Hang on I'm in different clothes..."

"You'd prefer the bloodied clothes I take it?"

She frowned a little "That whole incident is repeating itself a bit too much isn't it"

"To tell the truth? Yeah. It's not as fun as I thought it would be ya know"

She was still very pale and sweating but she looked better. I checked the wound and the stitching looked like it was holding.

"What’s the verdict Doc"

"It's holding, and I'm not surprised I did use nearly a whole thing of thread in you to make sure, just try not to move much"

After more banter and a few jokes about my leg we sat in silence. She was terrified and showed it in gripping my arm tightly. I was too. If we were attacked, by anyone, we couldn't go anywhere without her being in a world of pain and danger. This inspired me to get up and clean the blood trails outside the house as best I could.

When I sat back down I said "You know we're gonna have to go to the hospital yes?"

"Why?"

"The fact that you impaled yourself on a metal spike could mean you have any number of diseases in you. So We're going to have to give you at least a tetanus shot. It won't show now, but it will in the next week if you've got it"

"Awesome" she sighed.

"Other than that we have to hope that you haven't got any internal bleeding. If you do I don't think I can do anything for you. I'd probably make it worse..."

She nodded, then, shortly after, she fell asleep, still tightly holding my arm, still terrified.

Today ended well... Or more accurately, better than it started.

I hope you make another day

Day 36

I don't know what to do.

Today went bad really quickly. We rounded a corner and there were hundreds of them. I felt Sam tense up next to me and we started edging backwards, but it was too late.

We ran.

Through streets, houses. Round corner after corner we came up against more.

Next thing I know she's not next to me. I didn't know how long it had been since I had seen her. I stopped and looked back; there was no way I would be able to go back for her, not with that many coming for me. I whispered a small prayer to something hoping and turned back.
I knew where I was. Chance was playing a cruel game with me. I was back to the street I was in on Day 2. I decided the best bet was to head for the garage area that I went to before. I ditched my main food bag and ran. When I got back to the garages I chose to climb over the fence instead because I could backtrack more safely for a while, but when I climbed over and jumped off I landed awkwardly on uneven ground and pain shot through my leg.

I stood up, barely, and heard the Rani hitting the fence. I picked up my bags again, picked up the spare arrows for Sam's new bow and readied my rifle. I took a breath and ran back in the general direction we had been the last I saw her. I had to find out what had happened but each step hurt more and more. I just felt the adrenaline running out and fear for myself subsiding.

I ran for about an hour and a half in and out of the streets, but I couldn't take any more, I think I wasn't even concentrating as I'm not really that far from the garages...

I broke my rules and broke into a house and went immediately to the top floor to try and survey the area. The part I had run to was slightly higher than the rest so I could see the Rani circulating. But it didn't help. They were moving to at least 5 different areas in roughly the same number.

But my god the number of them... I couldn't bring myself to even start counting.

I'm laying on someone’s bed right now. And I doubt I'll be able to sleep at all. Every time blood pumps through my leg I feel increased pain.
The problem is I know I'm going to have to move again tomorrow...

I'm writing this so she knows I'm still alive.

I'm barricaded in this room, even the bed is against the door...

I'm taking some sedatives so I hope I'm not allergic... Maybe then I can sleep...

Sam please let me know you are okay.

I hope you make another day

Day 35

Today we came across what was left of four bodies. Three were together and the other was slightly away from them. I know it sounds strange but the one by itself looked different to all the dead bodies I have seen. It almost looked like this person hadn't tried to run away.

I thought about it and the only thing that made sense would be the Screamer I saw. Maybe these four were together and one saw the Screamer, believing it to be somebody who was hurt. They moved over to them, and were set upon so fast that they couldn't react, and indeed so fast their friends didn't make an attempt to run.

I guess if they really were together then the utter shock and horror of seeing your friend mauled would freeze you for a moment.
A moment frozen in this world normally leads to your last.

Still no trace of Rani along this path. The more we tread here the further we go from our goal. But at the same time it's been quiet, and we've been sleeping. I suppose it's not overly smart to both sleep at the same time, but we don't have much of a choice if we want to be moving all the time we are awake.

Frankly my leg is beginning to hurt a lot. I hate how no matter what my right leg still won't get stronger; I've always had issues with it.
At the rate it is going we will need to take a couple days rest soon.
I bet Sam will voice annoyance of putting things off, but at the same time I think she may be relieved to just relax for a while.

I've been thinking over what I said yesterday. It is truly strange how it only takes a moment to realise such a thing. I've been thinking about my family and friends and former life and I'm not as stricken with guilt as I thought I would. I take solace that in me my family lives on, and in me my friend's antics live on.

I'm coming to realise that the end of the world wasn't the end of everything. It was just like the change of a century, the changing of the guards, the changing of Parliament. Things change. And no matter how much emphasis we place upon them; no matter how monumental they seem, in the end they are just a term we use to explain something that happened.

The end of the world doesn't mean the end of humanity. It just means the end of that way of living.

Potentially we can just start again. Start anew. Potentially... But anything can happen. My life might end. The plan might fail. But that will just mean Plan A is over. And we start again. Start anew...

Maybe I should stop sitting in people's expensive armchairs. I contemplate more than I should, and I tell the story of my past less than I promised.

I hope you make another day

Day 34

As I write this it hits me with great irony that both in Day 3 and now I am showing a stark contrast in behaviour.

Back then I wanted to just find safe refuge and get back to what I know.

Now? Now I am actively seeking the unknown.

I can put any number of excuses to that.

That if it is unknown there may be important things there.

The places I know aren't particularly safe anyway.

I'm being adventurous.

I'm being reckless.

I've exhausted all possible other routes.

I'm in the mood for going East today

Etc.

But no matter how you coat the truth. The bitterness still remains. The real reason we are headed there? Luck. Pure and simple. Until yesterday I didn't even realise that I was headed in that area. In the past month everything has changed so much and I've had to focus on so many little details that I've actually forgotten what things look like.

Last night I calculated where we actually travelled the past couple of weeks. I actually walked within eye-shot of my own home. How can I not notice my own home. The place I have lived all of my life?

Sam suggests that there are other things on our minds right now. Should the end of the world really mean we lose all we were.

I've just realised how ironic I have been.

This is hard to express now. So bare with me, I'll do the best I can.

I've spent the entire time I have been writing this claiming that I have put my life before all this in a corner somewhere and don't intend to pick it back up.
But if I really hide it, then what do I have left? I just have empty words of what I claim to be. It is true that my actions the past month have defined me and shown me what path I want to follow but my actions were based upon the person I was before all of this... I see no other way but this:

My name is Peter. Before all this I had a job, brothers, parents, a dog, my dad had fish, I had friends, I had creativity and inspiration but not enough dedication.

Before that I went to college. I spent too much time distracted and didn't get the grades I could have gotten.

Before that; school. The same thing happened there.

Before that; nursery. I learnt the basics of life like finger painting.

Before that; pre-school. I cried. A lot.

Before that; I was born...

My life. In six lines.

Within all of that I learnt everything that has defined me. I am now a person and not just a child. Each person I met and ever will meet is etched upon my soul and will forever define my future self.

It's funny. I came up with that line years ago to explain to people the importance I place on every meeting.

Back then every day a thousand people defined who I was, but now, only one person and a lot of Rani do...

A tip. Don't lose who you are.

As cliché as it sounds, our souls are really all that separate us from the Rani no matter what you try to say.

I hope you make another day

Day 33

The Sun broke the weriness this morning. Cold in the shade and warm in the light. Good old British weather. Almost enough to forget all that has happened... Ha yeah of course it could.

Interesting thing today. I was scanning through the walkies frequencies again and the static clicked off and on again. I looked at the note I made on my phone (literally on with a razor blade) and the frequencies match.

I've decided to keep it on and tuned to that frequency for a while with one headphone in my ear.

More positive news! Sam is back to prime form again meaning we can move more. We decided to move for the camp in the next few days. But we have to stock on supplies first. Again food is running a bit low, the main issue is we can only carry so much each.

We've been discussing that fact and we are trying a new method. Today we acquired new bags. Sadly I am stuck with a Barbie one, but the point is to store the majority of food in these. We will also store a couple days worth of 'emergency' rations (i.e. ones that don't go out of date for years) in our other bags. This means if we get chased and are losing ground we can drop the food and carry on running. Worst comes to worse we can double back later and retrieve remnants of whatever was in there.

The main good thing about this is that I am seeming to be able to carry a heck of a lot more than I did to start. I barely was able to run for 20minutes with a bag and a half. Without realising it I have been carrying two bags, both of which are arguably over-packed right now. I can't hazard a guess, but it's got to be a decent figure. I may have to search for a back friendly bag soon. Ideas?

Sam swears blind she heard a bird today. I frowned at her for this, but worryingly I actually heard it too. This takes me back to the concern that birds may be able to carry whatever turns us into Rani. Obviously this is a vague concern; mainly because we don't know why we turn. But still I guess I could take a positive from it; that maybe at the time the bird was safe enough to tweet amongst the trees.
But I do hope it has no Rani-bretheren, I don't fancy being in some twisted Alfred Hitchcock comes George Romero movie.

Other than that we were only accompanied by our footsteps and idle chatter. We stopped at a house to rest for lunch and I suggested not to.

"Been there, I think I left the fridge open when I left" was my reason. 'trust me to remember that now' was my thinking.

We moved on, there's still plenty of houses right now.

Day 3

Feeling was really starting to come back into my body. It no longer burned. It ached from my chest down with my arms occasionally pitching in a complaint or two.

But at the same time I didn't want to stay in the house. I needed to get out. To find others. I couldn't stand being alone. I knew I would make mistakes, and if no one else was there I wouldn't have anyone to save me from myself.

I unpacked my bags, and checked all the things I had. Then put them back in more tidily so they were more comfortable to move about with.

I stepped outside the front door and closed it just enough that the wind wouldn't open it again, but that someone with intent could get in. Just like it had been left for me.

I looked around at the three main paths I could take. One had the Rani in the car. One had the Screamer. The only other choice was back the way I came. At least this time I could admire the travelling and get to grips with where I actually was.

Though as I left I had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something.

I hope you make another day

Day 32

It rained today. Admittedly only for half an hour or so, but we haven't had a real dose of rain since this started. Hopefully it has cleaned the street a little bit.

Due to the location of the house and the foodstuffs it had we decided to stay here for another day. Upon searching we found a bow and a set of arrows. They appear to be reasonably cheap. A hobbyist perhaps. Other than that nothing of true note.

Day 3

9:46am

I sat with my head in my hands trying to wipe the memory of the nightmare away. After quarter of an hour I gave up, stood up and stretched.
I walked to the cabinet and tried to move it, but I was so tired. My arms and legs still burned like they did the night before. I couldn't muster the strength to move it, so instead I sat beside it crying for a while.

Eventually tears stopped and I was left just staring at the wall. I felt my resolve forming. I started to learn what I wanted to do. I wanted to find as many people as possible and find somewhere to live. I didn't care about the cause of the reanimation, all I cared about was not falling to it any time soon.

I stood up and with all the strength I had in me I pulled the cabinet out of the way. It dragged so slowly that I started to feel new pain. The pain of lifting something dozens of times too heavy. But I got there. I stumbled down the stairs and pulled open the doors in my way to the fridge. I grabbed at things and gorged myself. I threw up, washed my mouth out with cola and tried again. I hadn't eating properly in 2 days and I had exerted a huge amount of energy. I knew I needed the food. At the fourth attempt I succeeded in keeping the food.

I walked to the lounge and looked out the window, biting on a block of cheese. I hated the taste and it's always made me feel slightly ill, but it was the only thing that I could keep down ironically.

Cars littered the street. Remnants of people lay around them. In one case it looked like a Rani was actually stuck in a car about 400 metres from me. I crossed that path off of my movement plans.

I finished the cheese and turned around for a moment. I realised this was a persons home. Their life was being shown through the items they had purchased and the way they had lived. I scratched my head and went to look for more food to eat. Musing on the idea that someone once thought these bricks were all that were important and if they were here now, they would realise that there is so much more to life.

The way I saw it then there were 3 things

1) People

2) The world

3) Yourself

Ironically this end of the world actually meant that Earth itself might actually start to recover what we have done to it. But at the same time it has put the other two on the list on the endangered species list. I chuckled at the concept. My opinion has slightly changed now, but that is to be covered and explained later.

I hope you make another day

Day 31

It was cold last night, and it was chilly this morning. I'd prefer to have the heating on, but as Sam rightly says; if we change anything in any house we are in then people can tell that people have been there.

It looked to be a bleak and dingy day. It was. We moved through the streets unheeded to find a better place to stay; more secure, more vantage points, more 'home comforts'. Eventually just as the sun was setting we found it. A house with no broken windows, and upon inspection, it was clear and safe. So we locked up and settled. We both needed sleep.

Day 2

8:52pm. I stared at this beast slowly moving down the road. I was so intent on it I realised a number of small details. Trainers, shorts. Walking a slightly skew line across the road. Matted hair that glistened in the light of the lamp post.
Another scream. At least it was past 9pm now. Pity that it would mean that I wouldn't be getting much sleep on this day.
Then at the furthest of my vision I saw another Rani staggering towards the screamer. When it finally reached her it slowed to a shamble fast enough to keep up with her.
by the time she had left my view it was 1:08am and she had picked up a few more followers

Day 3

I thought about what I had seen, and even in my semi-delirious state I was concerned. A pied-piper of the Rani or some sort of horde leader? Neither rang well in my mind. Though even to today I haven't seen another.
I guess certain criteria are needed to make one of them (I think the easiest way is to dub it a Screamer considering that is what distinguishes it from other Rani).
I collapsed into bed with the sounds of her fading from earshot.

That night I slept restlessly, waking in sheet sweat frequently. Nightmares of my days crept up on me. The faces of the dead rushed past my face. The quite possible death of my parents, brothers and most likely my wider family seemed to dawn on me while I dozed. Occasionally I would wake with hearing a noise and I sat bolt upright for minutes at a time, straining my ears to hear something, before succumbing to sleep again.

Eventually I woke and in somewhat of a daze made my way out of the building. I followed the road for a couple of hours with my hands tightly grasping my bags in case I had to run.
I rounded the wrong corner however and there the Screamer stood. She turned upon hearing me and I saw, in daylight, the horror of her. She had scratched half the skin and muscle off of her face and pieces of it peeled down to her neck.
She made that inhuman noise again and from nowhere dozens of Rani descended upon me. I ran and ran, eventually ditching my bags just to keep ahead of them, but still more came from every alley, every street. I found myself backed into an alley which ended in a 7foot wall. It towered above me and I made the jump. As I pulled myself up I felt their bloodied hands on my legs pulling me down. I fell and felt them rip me apart inside. Excruciating pain. Then darkness. I woke again in the bed struggling to breathe. The time was 9:46am.

I was tempted not to mention the dream. But in the end I have. Why? Because for the most part it explains why I am like this. For some reason my mind tells me I know the worst to come, so all I need do is concentrate to make sure that it doesn't happen for as long as possible. Since then I haven't gotten distracted (excluding the Day with Sam) and my temper has been more controlled.
All I can think is that it is a defence mechanism. All I care is that it has helped me survive.

I hope you make another day

One Month

One month on. What has happened?

The world ended, and what has risen from it's destruction but more death.

I would say the dead walk amongst us, but really they are not the dead. They are reanimated-sapians. Reanimates, or Rani. Whatever the hell you want to call them, they are our cultural and physical stopping stone.

You know your friends, your family? These things, they aren't them. It is the same as seeing a rabid dog. They have the same ferociousness as a mother animal defending it's young against a predator, but they never back down, or give up. Their attention can only be distracted by an easier or more plentiful meal.

Come night or day their eyes will always see you. The only exception is at night if you blend into darkness and do not move they struggle to see. And don't be fooled by their shambling stance, for when they awaken they charge unremorselessly, out pacing lesser men.

I don't begin to understand how or why they work. Hell I don't know how I managed to survive, or even how this disease, virus or, dare I say, evolution occurs. And I don't care.

I am a survivor and I am not alone. I have found a number of people who braved the first days; though their story is not told here, nor is my part in theirs. I have not yet made my remembrance to them. However I have one such person beside me. Sam. We met by chance, and by luck we stayed together. Funny thing is that we never asked one another's last names. I suppose that it doesn't matter now; that we must take what family we can.

Though this does not mean that all people will ally themselves. Be warned! Some fear strangers. Some want their own way. Some are exploiting this apocalypse for their own gains. Some will rob you, some will kill you, and all the space in between is up for grabs.

My journey? It started a day before everyone else’s, but I didn't know right then. It led me around in circles, getting chased again and again by the creatures we become. I found people, they left in a hurry. Some people found me, and I left quicker. Then I found Sam, and now we move together from Rani, and those who seem to pursue us. The truth? It's not the best experience in my life, but my mind seems to love it. For the first time in my life I am not overwhelmed by thoughts, I think clearly, precisely. I excel in this life, but at the same time I preferred it before the end. I had family, I had time to relax.

After the first week wideband radio conversations died. Maybe because people had run out of power, or maybe they had all found one another. There is another choice, but death isn't a pretty topic to talk about.

A couple of radio stations set a final message that gets played on the hour every hour and other than that their system cycles through all the music they have available. Other stations are dead, and some have noises that come over the waves; groaning and mumbling, the signs that Rani stand near the microphones.

My purpose has always been to explain my life in the hopes that any little thing that I have done may spare a life. Be it yours or your friends. I give lessons that I have learnt, and I give ideas on things I have seen. Obviously in the end the choice will be yours. Your decisions now weigh more, as each choice you make defines a larger percentage of the population than it used to. Whereas it used to be around 0.0000001% of the population that anything affected. From what I've seen, it could be anything from 0.0001 and up. That figure sounds drastic, but it is based upon seeing about 15-20 people alive since Day 7. So each choice you make should reflect what you want for the world. Please remember that in all that you do.

And so, I sign off, as always;

I hope you make another day

Day 30

Day 29

I put my phone down and moved over to Sam. She had sweat pouring down her and she looked restless. I decided to wake her up. As I did she lashed out and screamed, hitting me in the jaw. As I recoiled she put her arms around me and started crying saying she was so sorry.

After a few minutes she sat back and I could see that look in her face again. She had a secret that was burning away in her, and she had just realised that I had known that for a while.

"I'm sorry. I should have said..."

"What are you holding from me Sam?"

She just looked at me for a while and sighed. "I'm bi-polar... I, I didn't think it would affect me now things have changed. I haven't had my medication since I was separated from my family. And it never was bad, I mean it affected me but I could always cope"

Some things made sense then. Distraction techniques: playing with the carpets in the shop.

"So it flickers on and off? How manic and how depressed do you actually get?"

She stared for a moment "It varies. Sometimes it's really bad, other times it's not. I went through a really bad patch once and that’s why I got put on medication. But before I would just go OCD on things then feel a bit sorry for myself for a day or two"

"I know that it is difficult, but if you feel like you are slipping away a bit, you need to say. Else you could be risking our lives. Okay?" She looked down, stifling tears. I leant forwards and hugged her "I'm not having a go okay, I just need to know because if you aren't in the right frame of mind to be out there then we need to wait, or I need to be extra vigilant."

She sniffed a few times, "okay. I'm sorry"

I stood up and went to get my bag, then walked back and opened it up. "Any of these what you were on?" She gasped. I hadn't shown her the contents of my primarily medication filled bag. Then rummaged through and looked at me with a disappointed face and said "no such luck"

We spoke more, but there is no need to go into that.

We both sat with our backs against the wall, out of sight from anyone outside and fell asleep against each other. I woke at 6am, turned my phone off and went back to sleep. We were both woken by a noise outside about 2pm. For a moment I thought 'Oh not again!' then realised this was slightly different. I moved to the window as Sam tidied her stuff up a bit more and prepared my bag, but I motioned her to stop. She moved over to me and looked out the window.

We saw a group of people around a car, moving it out of the way for their van. Sam was jubilant. More people.

"I'm afraid you can't be that positive Sam"

"What?"

"Those down there. They are Day 4."

She went quiet. She knew some of what happened, and knew none of it ended well.

We waited for a long time and saw their struggle. Eventually a Rani rounded a corner. I sighed and got my rifle and opened the window a little. Just enough to get the shot, and I waited in hopes they would see it. It got closer and closer until it picked up their scent and made the groan now familiar to us. "Crap", I took the shot and the Rani fell over.

In the same instant the Day 4 people looked at the Rani, then to where I was. 'I guess this will prove their worth' I thought. I went to get my bag to ready myself to meet them again and I heard the van engine. Rushing back to the window I saw them racing down the street, past the car they just moved.

I looked to Sam, still at the window, who said "point proven".

Ungrateful idiots. They already owed me, and they screwed me over again. I guess I should be thankful it was less this time

Regardless, now we had to move. The shot would either attract Rani or the Dodge men (as it has become easier to refer to them as).

So we finished packing up and started moving on, just as Rani started to appear out the front. Again we slipped out of the back and into the alleys in search of another rest stop.

The travelling was uneventful; Now we rest again, and the look has gone from Sam's face. Another has replaced it. A look of questioning. Of how I seem to know the answers to any question she asks. The answer to that look sadly lies in the life before all of this, and I care not to enter those thoughts again.

I hope you make another day

Day 29

Yesterday has taken it's toll on Sam, she's exhausted and making mistakes, but she isn't sleeping either. She'll get over it; I did. She's asleep right now, but not deeply and she keeps stirring, grumbling and then falling off again

But still she keeps avoiding eye contact, and every time I catch her looking my way I see a look there I don't like. One which threatens her sanity... My time spent staring at the Rani that day... At the same time that it has broken me, it started a process. A path that I have followed since. Every time I see one I know it was human, and somewhere inside it still is, but I know it is like a dog. It may be a pet but if it's life is threatened it will attack. Sam reminds me of then. There's something unsettling about that notion.

I've been thinking about our plans and what we could actually do. The SAS camp is a priority still with it's military equipment. But what if it is overrun or all the good stuff has been taken? It is a second priority to find another place to set ourselves up. I know a few possibilities, but is it really a good idea to trap ourselves in so much?

From today's travels and the encounters we had with Rani concerns me as well. Their numbers still seem to grow substantially... That, paired with Sam's diminished concentration caused us problems. We had so much contact today and so many close shaves that we had to do possibly the most awkward thing we have done so far. So to simplify it for my sake, a full body check to make sure no part of us was touched by Rani. At the same time that I wanted to rush over it I knew I couldn't; Sam got way too close today and I wasn't even sure if she had been hit at all. Then when it was reversed and she checked me I understood her shiftiness while I checked. It is very unnerving. But at least it may have made her realise that we will have to do that more and more if we mess up more frequently.

No further sign of our pursuers as of yet, but we know they are out for us, or at least people in general, still...

Day 2

I woke with the faint shine of a light outside across my face. I had slept through a number of hours, and checking my watch, it now read 8:12pm. However it was still the same day, and I had only slept a few hours. I was so exhausted why had I awoken?

I went downstairs, just about managing to move the cupboard and slide past it, after washing my face a bit to wake up fully. I checked the fridge and took out the light. It was dark but I found some things to eat. I just sat on the floor eating and I heard a noise. Very loud. Very close. I waited. 10minutes passed and it happened again. I looked at my watch 8:31pm. It must have been that waking me up, but I didn't know what to do. In silence I waited again. Staring at my watch. 8:41pm; the noise, closer.

I was confused, I just couldn't figure out what it was. An alarm would happen more than just once every 10minutes and it didn't sound like anything I knew. I crawled along the floor and up the stairs. I pushed the cupboard back and looked out all the windows and eventually I saw it. One lone Rani, slowly walking.

Even to this day I haven't seen it again. It walked almost normally the difference being indescribable. It didn't limp, though it clearly was missing a huge part of it's leg. In fact the only reason I knew it was a Rani was half it's leg just was not there (the side, not the bottom of it).

I was bewildered as it was looking around like we do, not shuffling and having sharp neck movements to face direct noises. I stared for a few minutes and it made the noise again. An inhuman noise.

Day 29

I'm going to have to stop. Sam is concerning me too much

I hope you make another day

Day 28

Day 27

As I lay in the darkness beneath the curtains I heard it. The noise I had already learned to fear. They were here in their truck. I prayed that they were just tracking the Rani.

Under my breath I just whispered "please miss us just once more"

I heard shuffling then a hand grasped my leg. Sam. she shuffled up to my side and the pale light from outside lit up her face. Her face full of fear. I knew I had to look out just in case they were there. I grabbed the bag by my side and pulled it up. Sticking my hand in I rooted around for the mirror I had taken. Folding it out I stuck my arm up and did my best to find a good angle and did so very quickly. No movement... empty? Waiting for something?

"We're going to have to move I think" I said.

"Yeah... I thought you might say that..." she replied, looking slightly like she was grimacing.

"You up for it?"

She nodded and moved off slowly as I kept watch. A flash of binoculars reflected in my mirror and in an instant I knew. They knew where we were.

I got up and slung my bags to my shoulders. Uncomfortable, but it wasn't a time for that now. I threw the rifle's strap over my other shoulder.

I rushed over to Sam and touched her back. She tensed for a second then turned and, still faintly lit by the light outside, nodded. Fortunately she had learnt from me the importance of packing all away in the evening before sleep. We took off out the back door.

With the exception of only the occasional lit road that we passed we stuck to the alleys, and remained shrouded in darkness. But we knew that every second without a torch was another second closer to running face first into a Rani. Even so I couldn't shake the sound and feeling of them. Why do they insist on pursuing us? We shot their man true, but before that they were after us. They didn't know, but they were.

It occurred to me then, I don't know why. With the state of him in ASDA... It was highly likely he was killed hours after we had left... Maybe say 12hours. Then allowing for time that the men chased other people... It was possible that he was initially killed by the very ones chasing us.
'Wait though' I thought, 'could I be slipping into constant paranoia? Shake it off dammit! Focus! Last time you lost concentration you almost died!'

I looked at my watch.

Day 28

Still we ran. Now we had been for over an hour. Not as fast as we had at times but still at a pace. Sam lead as she had the close range weapons. I kept the rifle gripped in one hand just in case.

In true form I lost concentration for a second, meaning I bumped into the back of Sam. She stood silently still and gestured towards some building. I tried in vain to see any movement

"Do you think that will do for tonight?" She asked

"Why I think it would" I smiled.

After a while we selected the correct place and settled in. No more details there I'm afraid. Frankly simply because I AM afraid, (not just a turn of phrase).

We checked our supplies and all important goods.

All intact, all there. One of my rules had saved the day again

When Sam finished she looked sidewards at me "Don't be a smartarse here, I know" she chuckled

We settled down and took shifts watching out the window. We had to come up with a new plan, but first we had to hide. And that's what we did, all day even now she watches as I rest. I won't explain how we cover all windows, you don't need to know right now, but soon I will explain.

I hope you make another day

Day 27

There was a strange crackle when I was flicking through the bands on the walkie. Almost like someone had just switched off from broadcasting. I'm making a note here to remind myself to keep an eye out for this.

The Rani number is growing, Sam counted at least 70. I counted over 100 before I gave up. We may end up stuck in the house for a while.

Day 2

As I lay there passing in and out of consciousness I heard the Rani smashing against, it seemed, all sides of the building. I remembered a lot of things from my life, but they aren't things I want to remember again.

After what seemed like an eternity the Rani paused. I heard a noise outside and all of a sudden it sounded like they all gave chase to something else. I somehow managed to pick myself up and drag myself along the walls to the front window, only to see a faint glimpse of a Rani rounding a corner a fair distance up the road.

I stumbled back, and collapsed onto my new safe-house’s bed, and fell asleep.

You may ask how I have run into so few people. Why wouldn't they stay at home and wait out. You forget it started on a weekday. Children at school. Family at work. Most people would be out of the house when it all kicked off. True you would claim, but Day 1 was a Saturday. But Day -1 wasn't. It was only declared the start, it wasn't the real beginning. Though my friend was the first official victim there would have been others that day, else it would not have spread. Some people would already flee. Some would flee only when the reports began, by then there were those on the streets and children playing with friends.

In a way it's strange. The only time my mum gets overtime, and the only time my dad has to go to work to catch up on a project, as well as my brother having an issue with computers causing him to work at the weekend. It seems almost coincidental when I look back. Fate? I really don't want to think any more about family...

But other people? Maybe there are those shut up tight in houses, afraid and cowering when me and Sam pass. We don’t enter locked up houses; it would mean creating a gap in the security as it were. So we leave places open as we find them for others, if there are any...

But enough. There's noise outside, I will continue tomorrow.

I hope you make another day

Day 26

This morning we saw Rani coming down the road, so we have decided to remain here for the day instead of having to avoid them all day. It does give me the chance to catch up on explaining things.

Day 2

I collapsed again and waited to catch my breath. It eventually slowed and I felt achy but relaxed. I looked at my watch. 10.45am. I sighed. Somehow I had to get away from these things.

Upon standing up I realised their noises had attracted a number of others. Surrounded, alone, scared; I didn't know what to do and I just paced back and forth. Before I knew it I was thirsty, and looking again at my watch it was now 11.30 and the Rani were not backing down. How could they maintain their ferocity for such a length of time?

I thought as hard and as quick as I could. The only two plans I could come up with were:

• Take a running jump and see how far I got
• Balance my way across the fence and try to climb through into the house

Neither seemed good. One relied on luck. The other required my balance, then body strength. I thought about it and wondered; my luck HAD been pretty astounding the past couple of days, could I push it further, or was this the limit?

I took a deep breath again and looked all around. A choice of semi-green land or the way I came. I knew both ways vaguely. I decided on the road. Mostly due to my knee was killing me as it was (bad knee you see) and I didn't want to risk injuring my feet by a bad placement on rough ground. I exhaled. I ran. I leapt

I landed (13), almost to my knees. I pushed out with my arms as I leant forwards so that I wouldn't fall down and face death.

Then I realised something quite profound. I didn't know what was around that corner; I didn't have an alternate route if there were more of them. I didn't plan ahead. I made a note to think ahead much more clearly. I remembered that once I did a calculation years ago, and that there were something like 600-700 people per kilometre squared. Behind me were 100-200 Rani, and although a km squared is quite big, it's not massive.

I had to ditch them somehow. But for the moment I just ran. I ran again until my lungs were burning. I ran again until my legs felt like lead. I ran until my vision started to fade. Through and around cars, trees and bushes until somehow I was concentrating so badly I ran into the door of a house. Those moments are unclear to me, but I faintly remember looking behind me for an instant, I must just have been running faster than I thought I was.

The door was open. I stepped in and locked the door. The place was a mess; it looked like people had left in a hurry. I grabbed everything I could and threw it at the door. Then I checked all over exits and secured them.

I went upstairs and made sure all windows were shut. I wasn't going to die like him. Then I used the rest of my energy to pull a wardrobe out of a bedroom and lay it blocking the path up the stairs. At the least it would give me time.
I checked the loft moments later with it occurring to me. Nothing there and no chance of anything getting there.

I then lay there almost passing out. Time: 1.14pm. I had run breakneck speed for the best part of 2 and a half hours.

I heard bashing at the doors and their groans, but I was too tired to move. Too tired to care.

I hope you make another day

Day 25

You may question why I gave my position of rest when something like yesterday happened.

Here's the trick. I didn't. We didn't stay at Woolworths, we stayed at our favourite house by Asda.

We even took the opportunity to take a few more supplies.

We heard gunshots last night. It's hard to tell where from but it couldn't have been anywhere else but the main part of town. Did they know, or guess? Speculation doesn't do anyone any good...

Day 24

We reached the corner where the church lay and Sam went towards Woolworths but as I was still holding her hand I led her down the other road.

She had a bewildered look on her face for a moment but ten minutes of running stood us before the house we had stayed before.

When we settled in I explained the reasoning of fear and concern.

We raided ASDA again, but with clean, almost military precision, grabbing clean copies of the clothes we wore, replenishing my ripped t shirt. We moved to the food area to find something that wasn't there before. A man, dead. I was certain he hadn't been because it was the same aisle that me and Sam got stuck at the end. Less than 5metres away lay the last vestiges of the Rani I took out.

He was missing parts of himself but he was mostly there; the only reason for this could be a larger group to follow. Sam was retching, but I was restrained. I'd seen worse on my days before meeting her. I moved closer when I saw something. A necklace. I pulled it off.

"Shit..." I whispered

"What?" Sam enquired

"I knew him. Barely, but yeah I met him on that Day I said about."

"You still haven't told me about the 4th."

"Not yet."

We got food and moved out shortly after. I added a trinket to my lucky band. In memory...

Day 25

Our movements aren't erratic, but they won't be easy to follow.

Our discovery yesterday means that people are still around, just hiding.

We've put off going to the camp though it is only a days real walk. It is a real risk going somewhere that neither of us are accustomed to. It's a dream, and I know the longer we put it off the less chance of getting the goods, and the more chance of having a nightmare occurs. But at the same time, even nightmares turn to light when there's enough of you...

In truth I'm torn. The more we have the safer we are, but the more we have the greater chance of loss and hurt... Like... him in Asda. He left others in this world.

We travelled around a bit, and found a safe enough place to stay. It's secure even after almost a month.

A strange little thing that has been happening more and more since this whole thing started is that I really look forward to looking through people's belongings. Most likely they are long since reanimated anyway I suppose. It allows me, and Sam since she started getting into it, to relax and think about other things; like how they lived and dressed, and what they did...

Any item I take I either put back, or use, in memory of the people. I just hope I will do their memory justice.

I hope you make another day

Day 24

At least a large number of them cleared out today so we took the initiative and moved in thinking there couldn't be many left and we could easily evade them.

It was about midday when we got to the officer entrance as it were. But we stopped. We heard movement and turned to see one man opening the back door of a riot van. How could we have been so stupid to miss or overlook that?
He turned to face us and a smile crept across his face, mainly from looking at Sam.
I raised the rifle at him ready, and he just laughed

"You going to use that on me boy?"
I didn't respond. He moved closer and I raised it to his head and he backed off a moment.
"How about you hand over the lady and I let you go" His hand reached behind his back slowly.
"How about you stop moving else I'll blow your face off" My heart was pounding so hard I found myself breathing slower
He laughed some more and went to move his hand sharply from behind him, I pulled the trigger blindly, then re-cocked in an instant and pulled again. He went down screaming in pain.
I had hit his neck and had taken a reasonable chunk out of it. In his hand lay a knife at least 10inches long. I wondered if it was still classified as a knife at that length. I moved forward and Sam swung low with a golf club changing his screaming to whimpering.
I immediately went to the van and success. Half a dozen stab vests, 4 riot shields, a couple of tazers and a box of batons.
I grabbed the tazers and threw one to Sam, unspeaking. Then she came round so she could have a better look at what was on show as well as keeping an eye on him and the building. The shot would definitely attract someone. So in haste I grabbed four stab vests, two riot shields (passing one to Sam) and I shoved a few batons into my belt. As I began to move off Sam also grabbed what looked like webbing for putting things in. She went to move towards the path we came from, but I had decided to run down to the fire station. Or at least make it look like we had. As we reached the end of the road, we doubled back along St Owens street. Racing past the town hall then Shire Hall.
As we ran I think it dawned on Sam we were returning to Woolworths for another night. We raced there and secured ourselves like before. We arranged our items out. I discarded a few batons. We only needed one each, but we decided on two just in case as they weren't too heavy as to make us struggle. We also kept all the stab vests. Not only would they help us. If we found anyone else it would be useful for them. We practised gearing ourselves up using the webbing to store things like the batons, as well as threading the riot shields through them, decreasing carry weight as well as covering our backs. We practised taking them off quickly for emergencies until a couple hours later we rested; updating all batteries and checking our supplies.

"Jesus Pete" Sam spoke after a while of resting "What have we done"
"He had a knife, I thought he had worse" I had instinctively felt bad that I had shot a man, let alone one who couldn't have hurt me that instant "In my defence, he would have held us there until his mates came you know that"
"Yeah, but we left him to die"
I hadn't thought of that "We can't think like that now, I know it makes me a bad person, but if we go back we'll die. Most likely his friends or the Rani will find him. Anyway I'm pretty sure I missed the artery in his neck else it would have pumped out a lot more"
She just looked at me and sighed
There was silence again, which I cut, "Look; I don't like it. If you really want we can go back..." She shook her head "Then we got to stay here tonight. Tomorrow we'll plan to go to the SAS camp and start our journey"
It's a cold night again tonight, so we're under a cover and nestled together. Damn this day didn't go well.

I hope you make another day

Day 23

Yet another wasted day.

Another concern is we only have food for a few more days. We could go out easily and get more, but I don't want to take my eyes off these guys. For all I know they are aware that we are here and are just waiting for us to leave. I'd rather postpone that encounter as long as possible. If all else fails, we've decided that on Tuesday we make a run for more food. T-2days then.

Day 2

I was then faced with a choice. Where to go? I figured if any of my family were still alive they would be at home now. I would also be able to pick up some more of my stuff. So I took a right and started walking. When I got to the end of Tesco property I was faced by a sight I didn't expect nor want. A dozen or so Rani loitered the road. I sighed, knowing that I couldn't go any further. I turned and took a second look (12) and I'm so glad I did. One Rani had noticed me and was making for me, entrancing all the others like a pied piper. I ran. If I hadn't turned the sound of their running would have come too late.

In seconds I had cleared my way through to the other footpath exit. As I rounded the low metal fencing I glanced to my right. I had gained a lot of ground from them in a really short space of time but I still didn't fancy my chances against that number.

I ran back past the medical centre, and back past the first houses and my little hideaway running deeper into Newton Farm. I didn't know it extremely well but by now my chest was burning and I wasn't really thinking about what I needed to do. As I neared the end of another road I grabbed a lamppost and held onto it to breathe for a minute. Looking around I couldn't see the Rani any more, but in the close distance I heard them. A groan of monsters unlike anything I had heard before. Then a groan from the direction I had been running, but this was much closer...

"Oh shit" I managed between heavy breaths. Before I had gotten my energy back I saw one come running round the corner and realising I was there. I turned the other way and the group I had been running from was there, but now in a much larger number. I took the third and last path available. As I ran I remembered that this way were garages, and sure enough it was a fenced area with the tops of the fences level with the garages. I had no choice but to try my luck. I once thought it would be fun to be able to parkour, but now I wished that I had taken the time to learn how. As I got to the garages I aimed between two; at the brickwork and lead with my right foot onto it, trying desperately to reach the roof and get a strong hold. Somehow I did, but I was in a bad place still. I had only a faltering hand grip to lift myself up on. I tried lashing out with my legs, and I heard them coming. I had a moment of clarity, and I put my legs either side of the brick panel and used that to push myself up more. I repeated the movement when my legs were fully extended and finally my upper body was on the roof and I started to pull myself up. I felt them trying to grab at my shoes but I knew I had to keep calm; if I didn't my legs might dangle that little bit too much and they would pull me down.

I knew I was now trapped up here, with slowly more and more Rani surrounding all sides of the block, but I was exhausted, with the adrenaline now running out. I must have passed out, because when I next looked up the sun was much higher. I looked at my phone in instinct forgetting it was dead, then took a watch out of my bag, and put it on. It was an hour out as I hadn't been using it since Daylight Savings last switched, but with a little thinking, and switching to the correct time. It read 10.42am.

Looking over the edge at the increasingly agitated Rani I said, "Jesus, it's going to be a long day isn't it"

I hope you make another day.

Day 22

Another day, more waiting, it seems they are loading up some of the riot vans as well as their truck, most likely they'll end up taking everything, but we just can't take the risk of trying to steal from them as they are...

Me and Sam have gotten into a good routine of watching, occupying ourselves with trying to see who can spot the smallest details. It's a bit of fun, but it's helping my focus more and I'm slowly noticing more and more about the world and what is happening. I'm seeing most of the Rani before the shots now, so I'm ready for it. I think that skill will be useful in later days.

Day 2

I leapt at the fence and badly climbed over. I haven't ever been the most energetic child, and I don't think I ever will, but I managed it and as I steadied myself on the other side I turned to see the thing slam into the fence and have a half surprised look on it's face until it carried on trying to reach me. I had a look over it and saw it was seriously injured, including having no calf muscle at all. I guessed that would have been the wound that converted the person to the monster.

I turned to the considerably closer Tesco store and walked there. The lights were still on, but most of the store was ransacked, with products all over the floors, and, worryingly, blood smeared alongside it. I shuddered thinking of seeing the woman die yesterday, already forgetting how it felt with my friend only a day before that.

As I walked in I paused and felt a horrible chill down my back. My mum worked here, I didn't know how I had managed to forget, but I had.

I was here already, I had to go, I just told myself I probably wouldn't recognise her anyway.

I went to fruit aisle and was just looking for anything without blood on it, in the end I just couldn't bring myself to eat it, just in case, so I went for bread, breaking open a sealed loaf and eating most of it. I then made for the snacks. I knew they wouldn't be healthy, but the point was that they’d give loads of energy and were light. I would have to get any healthy food when I could at other times.

I was tense throughout, as I expected Rani to be at every corner. But luckily (11) they weren't. It took a while before I found out it was because they would chase each other occasionally, and most likely others had been here the day before and been chased themselves. I guess there would be some out the back in the storage area, but I didn't know what that layout was, so I didn't want to risk it.

So I left.

I stood facing the outside world with a slow breeze. This world smelt, sounded, and looked different. All I had ever learnt was to live in the world we once had, and this? This was so different that I had nothing to base it upon. The movies didn't show how to survive in my situation. They showed how to survive if you were lucky enough to drive out, or be completely isolated when it happened, or even to run into people who would help you, just not straight away, but if you pleaded, they would relent.

I was dazed by this thought. How can I get through another day, let alone my life.

I suppose then I didn't know what I now do. How cliché... But it's true. I learnt quickly to rely on instinct and think a full day ahead. Those two things are the real things that have kept me living. All those other notes are an aside to my life and my morals.

I snapped out of my daze, took the deepest breath I could of the world and tried to think of where to go.

I hope you make another day

Day 21

Day three of our stakeout here. Me and same are taking shifts to make sure one of us is always awake.

From the looks of them inside and over the radio, it looks like most of them are moving out for a while. It could mean that we could get in and out without being spotted, let alone having to deal with a bunch of them...
But we still have to wait, and it's strange, its a different pace of life now; slower and subdued. Obviously ignoring the occasional shot ringing out that scares us to death but which is only the idiots taking shots at Rani who get too close.

Day 2

I was hungry, the supplies he had given only lasted a night, and I couldn't bring myself to eat his food. I knew it was a bad idea, but I had to get to a shop. It was either Tesco or a corner shop nearby. I figured that Tesco was slightly closer, and was larger with more escapes so I could probably get out if there was a problem.

When I left his house it really hit me. How quiet everything was, not even birds were calling. I had only really heard, or rather not heard I guess, this when walking on the Brecon Beacons. In a strange way it was beautiful, but at the same time it was haunting as I knew deep down this was wrong. I made it slowly to Belmont Medical Centre which had a pharmacy next to it. With the door ajar I knew something had happened there. How? Because they have those auto close door things. I edged in to find it clear, but the bracket on the door had been broken, hence the it being open, this was obviously deliberate. I hesitated, but knew that they'd have some powerful stuff here which I may have needed later on. Luckily (10) a note was posted listing a few things for what I could only guess was a new employee. Including drugs that contained morphine. I grabbed a bunch of each thing, including things that I really shouldn't discuss, because they may come in handy later, and I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise would I?
As I turned a shadow loomed in the door

"Get out!" it shouted "and drop the gear"
I didn't move. I did however see something start running for this man. I shouted and ran for him, and he obviously didn't hear me correctly. He struck he down and stepped forward, and in doing so saved his own life. The Rani rushed into the door instead of him and stumbled back, and in the same instant the man slammed the door in it's face knocking it back.

He pulled me up and looked me up and down "Keep the pills and get out"
"Sorry but that thing is out there" I almost laughed
"And it always will be unless it has something to chase off. Now you ruined my base, so you will fix it"
"Please don't, I don't want to be out there alone. Can't we kill it? Get it away like that?"
"I'll tell you what, I don't like the look of you, and seeing that the world has gone to shit, I think I get to choose who I hang out with."
"Surely not? If the world is ending we can't choose our friends, we could be the last two alive ever"
"And I would rather die than spend it with you"
He picked me up by the neck of my clothes and dragged me to the door, opening it and throwing me out. I would have run back but by then the Rani was up and kicking.
I had no choice. I screamed a... I'll say 'thank you' for this purpose... to the man in the building and ran faster than I did the day before, straight down the alley knwoing I'd have to climb over a fence at the end.

Thinking about it, knowing my luck that man is probably working with these guys...

I hope you make another day