Bradbury Falls - Part Twelve
There’s chaos on the streets with kids On Bikes and Mythic GME.
Tuesday Night.
Our backs were pressed against the bedroom door, wedging it shut. On the other side we could hear the scratching of claws, and the door shook as a dozen mindless creatures hurled themselves against it in murderous frenzy. A large crack began to form in the wood.
We exchanged a look. We couldn’t hold out much longer.
“What’s happening?” Mum said, and I could hear the falsetto note of panic in her voice.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Just don’t let them in.”
Outside came the sound of shouting followed by several screams. Police sirens drowned everything out.
“Do you think you can get out of the window?”
“But … what about you?”
She shook her head. “You go for help. I’ll hold them back.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to Alex.” Her eyes welled. “Please.” She kissed me on the forehead. “I love you.”
“Me too mum,” I held back my tears. “I’ll be back, I promise.”
I never looked back. I knew I’d lose my nerve if I did. I clambered out through the window and shinnied down a drainpipe.
The streets were in complete chaos. The air was choked with a thick yellow mist and I could see the shadows of men and women running to-and-fro. A dozen police cars were parked up on the pavement. All about me I could hear panicked shouts and cries.
Two policemen were stood beside a squad car and I caught the tail end of their frightened plea into a radio.
“… no, no, we lost it … could be anywhere …. No, no, no - this is some real ghostbusters shit sir. Night of the Livin-fuckin-Dead!”
I rushed toward the two men and pleaded with them to help my mum. As I pointed to my house I heard her scream. The two officers instantly tore across the grass and through my front door. I was just about to follow when I heard another scream from across the street.
It was Emma! In the darkness and the mist, I could just about see her struggling while a tall dark figure tried to drag her away. Instinctively I turned on my heels and ran to her aid.
d: Flight. d4+1 vs Difficulty: 8 -> 4. Fail.
But it was no good, as quickly as I ran I knew I wasn’t going to make it and all I could do was watch in despair as Emma was bundled into a car and driven away.
? Does Alex recognise the car? Likely -> Yes.
I recognised the car as belonging to Emma’s next door neighbour. A man we called The Major. That gave me a small
measure of comfort. The Major wouldn’t hurt her, right? But why drag her away like that? And where was her mum?
I turned to Emma’s house. The front door was wide open.
“Hello?”
? Is Emma’s mum still in the house? Very likely. -> Yes.
I could hear the noise of someone clattering about in the kitchen. “Hello?” I said again. “Is everything okay?”.
I tentatively entered the house. Something bumped against the kitchen door.
d: Grit. d12 vs Difficulty: 5 -> 12 (Exploding Die) + 12 (Exploding Die) + 2 -> (26). Success!
The hairs on my arms stood up and I sensed that something was terribly wrong here. Why would the Major drag Emma out like that. Where was her mum …?
I paused and took a step back. Whatever was in the kitchen was contained for now. No reason to let it out without knowing who - or what - it was.
I circled around to the side of the house and looked in through the kitchen window.
Emma’s mum was shambling aimlessly around the kitchen. Her dress was torn and blood-stained at her waist.
d: Grit. d12 vs Difficulty: 5 -> 12 (Exploding Die) + 12 (Exploding Die) + 12 (Exploding Die!) + 7 = 43. Success. (And I will probably never roll so well ever again!)
My first instinct was to rush to her aid, but something still seemed wrong. I waited and observed her shuffling, aimless movements a moment longer. And as she turned to look at the window I instantly saw the slack jawed expression and the dim inhuman light in her eyes and backed away with horror.
? Perilous Situation: What’s happening on the street? -> confusion, chaos.
When I got back onto the street all hell had broken loose. There were screams and shouts, multiple shadows moving in the mist. Windows smashing. Inhuman cries. The blue flashing police lights were the only beacons in the darkness.
I sprinted back across the street to find my mum.
? Does Alex encounter anyone on the street? Almost certain -> Yes.
? Are they friendly? 50/50 -> Yes.
? Identity -> planner, performer.
A figure suddenly loomed up out of the gloom and I jumped back in fright. Sherbet Lewis emerged from the darkness. His face was pale and terrified. For a moment he stared at me then came to his senses, “You shouldn’t be out here kid.” His eyes darted this way and that, sensitive to every noise and movement. “Come with me, we need to get to safety.”
“My mum,” I said, “I’ve got to check on my mum.”
? Does Sherbet accompany Alex? 50/50 -> Yes.
“Okay, but make it quick kid. This place has gone to hell in a hand basket.”
We crossed the road to my house. The police car was still parked up on the side of the road. It’s door open, lights flashing, a faint hiss of white noise coming from the radio.
? Is Alex’s mum still in the house? Likely -> Yes.
? Is it safe? 50/50 -> Yes.
? Action -> Suppress, information.
? Are the police still with her? 50/50 -> Yes.
The front door of my house lay wide open.
“Mum?” I said and a moment she came running out and wrapped me in a hug.
“Oh thank god!” she whispered hoarsely. She pulled Sherbet and me into the house and locked the door.
The two policemen were in the garden, throwing dead animals onto a hastily built fire.
? Has any of the adults been injured by the zombie pets? 50/50. Yes.
? Is it one of the policemen? Likely -> Exceptional Yes. (Oh no…)
After they finished adding the corpses to the fire the adults all exchanged glances.
“You need to evacuate the town.”. Sherbet told them. “And we need to go ASAP.”
“He’s right,” my mum said. “I need to keep my son safe.”
? Policemen names and identity.
-> PC#1: Ken Green. Honest, responsible.
-> PC#2: Idris Town. Empathetic, likeable.
? Is Ken the injured officer? 50/50 -> Yes.
The older of the two policemen ushered everyone out of the house and toward his police car.
“Let’s go, we’ll get you to the station.”
Scene Ends. [CF:8]
? Scene Check -> Interrupt Scene: NPC Negative (Emma) -> Imprison, hope.
As we leave Alex and his mum being escorted to the … safety? … of the police station, I’ll leave you with this question:
The zombie-apocalypse has hit your hometown. Where do you go, and why?
For now, I am Ashley Summers and this has been From The Ashes. Tune in again next week.
Until then. Stay safe.
Oh damn, it’s an even bigger escalation than I thought we are n full horror mode now. We know Alex gets out of it, but I hope some of the others do to!