It was clear to me now that Edgeware Road was becoming a death trap. I pushed on and saw that there was a turn up ahead. Some vehicles were successfully creating turning space for themselves and going down these side roads, and this was in turn creating space for others. I walked quickly on, as I was as keenly aware of the dangers of road vehicles as much as the walking dead. It was quickly becoming apparent that vehicle access through the city would not be possible soon without great risk, or indeed at all, as I was already seeing multiple vehicles in the street and across the pathway where accidents and crashes had already taken place. My pace quickened as the chaotic scenes of Edgeware fell further behind.

The roads I walked through now were residential. Large hulking housing estates were on either side of me. I noticed some people on higher floors were observing me from their balcony or their open windows. My ears were attuned to all sounds now and I had settled into a state of attentiveness without panic. My body had been put through the wringer so far today and I was satisfied the crash injuries were not proving to be a hindrance thus far. During this section of my walk I became aware of my hunger. It was now late afternoon and I had not eaten all day. I could feel a vague headache rising and my stomach was already growling. Thirst was a real issue too. Losing my food from my backpack had been a real setback and it did highlight the need to get supplies as soon as I could.

I had to assume at this point that regardless of how widespread within London this had become, or whether perimeter cordons were successful in stopping the spread, the area in which I had found myself was lawless. There was a Tesco express store coming up on my left. I approached and saw that it too was shut. At this early stage I had yet to see any looting. The civilised part of me was reluctant to be the first to breach this, but the primal instinct to survive was strong. I stood before the store and quickly assessed my options.

I found a loose house brick on a garden wall, stood back from the store front and after a moments hesitation flung it at the store window. I had to shield my face as the brick ricocheted off the window almost hitting me. Reinforced glass.

"That ain’t gonna work, mate."

I turned around and it was a young man holding a hammer.

He strode up to the window and quickly smashed the same spot of glass six times in succession before the glass shattered. He kicked in the frontage creating space to step through, and after a quick look each way along the street I entered too, my back pack already off my shoulder and unzipped.

The store was dark, but with just enough natural light through the window to see. The young man was boisterous and noisy and seemed concerned more with cigarettes than food as he vigorously attacked the metal screen with the hammer, behind which the cartons were kept.

I moved quickly down the aisle and found what I needed - protein bars, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, beef jerky. I ripped off any excess packaging and stuffed into my bag as much as it would hold. I grabbed two litres of water and a can of energy drink. I exited the store as fast as I could with the sound of the young mans hammer continuing to pound off of the metal screen.

I looked up at the sky and thought I had maybe two hours of daylight left.

The hammering stopped and I could hear cursing behind me. It looked as if the young lad could not penetrate the security screen.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement and looked down the street. Someone was coming towards me, and as he came closer I could tell from his face he was one of the undead. To my horror I could see he was sprinting. As the young man exited back through the shattered window pane the zombie hit him at full speed.