Jack slowly took the squad car around the car park and neatly manoeuvred it into a space. It was late autumn, most of the leaves on the trees had gone, leaving behind the odd crimson brown stragglers and a carpet of mushy dead vegetation beneath the twisting branches.

Jack let out a sigh.

Why the hell do we do this Mark? He said in a subdued moan.

No idea mate but hey, theres nothing like ruining SOMEONES night.

Jack let out a vague nod before pulling the keys out of the ignition.

This is where control said the disturbance was? Mark said puzzlingly

Yep, Crystal Spires commercial estate.

Jack quickly opened the car door and stepped out, pulling on his shirt as he did so which had gotten caught in his stab vest. He let out a breath of air and produced a small torch from his utility belt. He then looked over to his duty partner Mark who was awkwardly reaching in the back of the squad car.

Mark you after the Hi-Vis Jackets?

Yeah, I left them behind the seat.

Jack stood there impatiently watching the seemingly incapable officer fidget behind the car seats.

Leave them Mark, this place is dead, were not going to need them.

Mark removed the upper half of his body from the car and stood up, moaning as he did so. He then wandered over to Jack who was now holding the illuminated torch in his left hand.

So is this a possible Breaking and entering? Mark said in a puzzled voice.

Meh, disturbance is all we where told, could be anything I suppose.

Mark was the kind of guy who asked too many questions, then again so was Jack. Both had gone through Police college together and had been best mates ever since, they where often referred to as one person by their colleagues as they where rarely seen apart. Jack however was the one who took charge, he was a quite person, never said much sometimes however people took advantage of this, which had often led to him being a little too easily wound up.

Ill radio in, Mark said.

6523 to Control, were on scene.

Jack stopped in his tracks as the operator replied, Received over the crackled radio. He then took a loot around, the place was your typical post working hours retail park, rectangle in fashion with an empty car park in the middle, shuttered up shops surrounding all but one face, which led back to the public road.

This place is empty why the hell are we wasting our ti.

Marks words where haltered dead in their tracks when the sound of a shuffling footsteps could be heard from behind them. Jack quickly spun round to face the direction in which the squad car was parked. Sure enough a lone, dark figure was slowly etching its way towards them.

God damn drunk. Mark said with ease.

Jack pointed the torch towards the figure as his partner calmly walked towards the groaning stranger, It was then Jack almost jumped back in utter terror as the light lit up a bloody face.

JESUS! Mark gasped

The man seemed to have a gaping whole where the left side of his face should have been, stringy sinews and veins hung with a dried crimson trickle running down his cheek. The sight looked like something out of a cheap B-movie horror film.

Sir!? Mark said while putting his hands on the figures bloodstained shoulder.

Jack was already on the radio to control:

This is 7893 I need immediate medical assistance at Crystal Spire retai-

His communication was cut short as Mark let out a blood-curdling scream.

Get him off me!

The man seemed to have Marks hand locked in his mouth; the almost helpless officer was reaching for his ASP as Jack came running, CS Gas spray in hand.

Let go! Jack shouted before spraying the deformed face with the potent CS spray.

The effects should have been immediate, but nothing happened Mark had managed to unclip his ASP and without warning brought it down on the mans head. A terrible crunch could be heard as the baton made contact with the skull, the figure slumped to the floor with a squelch.

He fucking took a chunk out of me! Mark said while clasping the bleeding wound on his right hand.

Jack crouched down next to the once again darkened figure and placed his hand on the lifeless figures neck, he then began to search fruitlessly for a pulse.

Jesus, hes dead! How fucking hard did you hit him!? You painted the pavement

Mark looked down at the lifeless figure, the tarmac around his head was covered in a sticky crimson red and bone fragments littered the ground.

Jack pulled himself off the ground and moved the radio mouth piece up to his face.

Control I need immediate assistance here, Mark has had a nasty chunk taken out of his hand We also have a downed suspect.

Mark slumped the ground. Holding his hand as he did so and began to sob.

My careers over, Im facing prison time for this mess and who knows what disease that crack head had! He yelped while looking at the bloody wound on his hand.

He then managed to contain himself and looked up to face Jack, who now seemed to have a desperate look on his face.

I cant raise headquarters Jack said bleakly.

Just at that moment, the sound of dragged footsteps could be heard echoing in the distance

--------------------

Part 2 coming up tomorrow

Note: For those of you that dont know what a Police ASP is heres a picture:



Most forces in the UK use them, with exception of the Metropolitan Police Force who still use wooden Batons.

This post has been edited by Radman on August 14, 2005 07:09 pm

Cool. More ! meh like it.

Real nice, you have talent for police\zombie stories. So your other one died?

Jacks head darted towards the relenting sound of shuffled steps, he counted five persons coming from the direction of the squad car however more where seen on the road opposite. All of them seemed to be slow and laboured in their walking.

Shit, we need to get out of here... He said in a panic stricken voice.

Mark didnt reply, he was too busy watching the mob advance towards them. Jack grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him up.

We have to go! Jack affirmed.

Both of the now petrified men ran towards the car and ultimately the crowd, Jack fumbled clumsily to find the keys, a few agonising seconds passed as Jack snapped them out of his right trouser pocket.

Come on! Open the door Mark screamed, as the moaning of the crowd grew louder.

Without hesitation Jack placed the keys into the car door and unlocked it. By now two of the disfigured people where just a few feet away, groaning as the relentlessly approached the two terrified officers. Jack dove in the drivers seat unlocking the back passenger door as he did so Mark wasnt far behind. With a roar the Peugeots 307 engine burst to life, Jack put the gear into reverse before smashing his foot to the floor. The tires skidded for a second or two and then raced backwards, Jack swerved hard sending Mark flying in the back seat.

Go, go! Mark shouted.

Jack drove the car out of the retail park, the mob had now grown in number and he didnt want to stay here any longer.

See if the Main Street channel is still working.

Jack fumbled with the radio controls and let out a sigh

No, Im going to switch to Sheffield headquarters.

He played with the dials again and the radio came to life with a burst of sound.

-who are reading this transmission get to Sheffield north headquarters, civil unrest is sweeping the nation, we have lost contact with outlying stations.

Mark reached for his radio and began to shout down the microphone, but the channel was flooded with ingoing calls, there was no way hed be able to get through.

Shhhh. Jack dictated.

All armed response vehicles, please make your way to Sheffield North Police Headquarters, were setting up a defence plan in the area.

Christ How bad is this thing? Mark muttered.
As the car continued to drive down the deserted road, the streetlights began to flicker before going off and on for brief periods.

I think were losing the power grid. Jack uneasily said.

Mark began to fidget in the back seat; it was obvious he was in discomfort.

Your hand?

Yeah Painful. Mark replied.

Theres a first aid kit under my seat.

Mark bobbed his head down and began to ruffle about, he then produced a green box with the typical white cross on the front. He then opened it and began to treat the sticky crimson wound on his hand. Jack continued to look at the empty road ahead, but kept glancing back at Mark every few seconds or so in the drivers mirror.

Im going to keep to the back roads until we hit town. Jack said.

By the sound of things were in for one hell of a night

This post has been edited by Radman on August 16, 2005 07:48 pm

that was good