The dead are among us - Chapter 5 - Turned

Whilst Colton and Wendy are watching Brad try to tune the radio, Audrey decides to check on Beth. She walks to Beth's room and knocks on the door. She says "Hey Beth, are you okay? You seemed in a lot of pain." She doesn't get a reply so opens the door. As she walks in she trips on some bags that had been left in the doorway hitting her head on the floor. This knocks Audrey out cold. A turned Beth has now rushed at Audrey and starts ripping into her, tearing away flesh. About 30 second into this Audrey turns. She gets up and they both walk out of the, now open, bedroom door. Wendy thinks she hears a bump coming from Beth's room. She walks into the doorway and screams "AHHHHH". She slams the door at the sight of them and tries to hold it shut. Colton and Brad also join in trying to keep the door shut as Audrey and Beth start clambering against it. 

The window of the bedroom is open and faces the rear garden. Luckily the next door neighbor is in his own back garden and hears the shouts. He is a middle aged Pakistani man called Ahmed. He is slightly overweight and has a black, slick back hair style. He rushes out to the front of his property via the side gate and runs for the front door of Geoff and Ruths house. Luckly it's unlocked so opens it and enters. He can see the feet of 2 people at the top of the stairs at the bedroom they are trapped in. It is just around the corner of the landing so they are only partly seen. He sees a vase on the side and grabs it to use as a makeshift weapon. He sneaks up the stairs trying not to make a noise. Suddenly one of the stairs creeks and Beth turns and sees him. Ahmed smashes the vase at Beth's head however it does not penetrate it. Audrey also turns around to go for Ahmed.

Realising that the banging on the door has stopped, Colton, followed by Brad decide to open the door and try to help. Wendy stays in the room as she isn't very strong. She sees a cricket bat that belongs to Brad on the side and hands it to Colton however. Colton sees Ahmed battling and trying to hold off Audrey and Beth so swings his bat at them. He manages to take out Audrey with this however misses Beth. "Have that" shouts Colton. Beth lunges at Ahmed and bites him on the side of the face. He screams in pain. Brad sees this and is in shock. He panics and pushes both Beth and Ahmed down the stairs. As this happens they also hear a car pull up outside. They hear a voice shout "Is everything okay?". It's Geoff and he runs to the front door. He sees his daughter has turned and stops dead in his tracks. Tears start to flow from his eyes. He drops to his knees but grabs Beth when she tried to approach him. He says "I'm so sorry Beth, I wasn't able to protect you. I've failed as a farther, I'm so sorry."

Crawling and grasping for his life Ahmed is covered in blood. He is holding his face with his left hand where he was bit and grabs a piece of the broken vase with his left hand. He reaches for Beth and stabs her in the head. Geoff looks at him with disappointment but knows it had to happen. He lays her down and falls on her lifeless body, sobbing over his loss. Ruth walks up to console him. "There was nothing more you could do. You tried your best" she says. 

Ahmed falls to the ground and starts to shake. He is turning red and his eyes roll to the back of his head. Just as he's about to get back up from the dead he is stabbed by Colton. He'd gave the cricket bat to Brad and grabbed a knife from the kitchen. A few minutes later Josh, Uncle Dean, Kate and Luke turn up. Josh and Uncle Dean see what's happened burst out with tears. 

A few hours later the group are in the garden. There are 3 graves that they have dug with wooden crosses and a photo of each person sealed in a waterproof bag tied to the cross. Geoff talks about Beth and Audrey's life in front of the group and they look back at all the moments they shared together. Colton also says how Ahmed saved their lives as they were stuck in the house with no way out. 

Josh says "I think you don't just have to die to turn into one of them things. I think just if you're bit you turn. Look at Beth and Ahmed. They were bit." Colton agrees and says "yeah, I think you're right. It also looks like we're on our own now guys, I think we need to decide whether we stay or go though. We heard of a army camp that has been set up about 40 miles from here in Birmingham." Uncle Dean says "we could always move up to mine. I know it's not ideal but there's not many people there. We could live of the land and be out of the way." "Or we could defend this place, it's a cul-de-sac so why don't we block of the road coming in. I bet you guys didn't think of that" says Luke. Geoff agrees and says "we could put some parked cars in the way and have a lookout. I know, let's have a vote. Raise your hand if you want to go to the Army base. We don't know what's there or if it's overrun but we heard about it on the radio." Colton and Wendy raise there hands. "Okay that's 2 votes. Who votes for Deans place?" Dean and Brad raise there hands. "Also 2 votes. And who votes to stay and fortify here?" Josh, Ruth, Geoff, Kate and Luke all raise there hands. "well it's settled then. We've got plenty of food. Some in our house, some that Kate brought with her and some in Ahmed's house. To be honest I think a few of you should move into there as it's cramped in our house." They all agree and head inside as it's late.

Kate, Luke, Colton and Wendy move into Ahmed's old house whereas the others stay in Geoff's house. Josh sees the neighbors of Ahmed packing there bags and putting them into their car. He says "hey Linda, hey Sam. Where you off?" Sam replies "hey, We're off. We've got family way up north that we're going to. We don't want to risk it up here. It's a bit too close to the city and we want to make sure that out family is okay." "Okay, hope it all goes well, good luck". Josh waves them goodbye. The final house in the Cul-de-sac doesn't actually have anyone living there. It was out up for sale a while back and hasn't had anyone living there for a few weeks. Josh heads inside to get some food and rest for the remainder of the day.