Karlsson returns to the service station.

“The stores are empty.” He told us.

“Thanks for checking. Ok, huddle up.” I pull my map out.

“Alright. We are going to be passing a graveyard. I don’t know what we are going to face here. We have buildings here on one side and the graveyard on the other.” I show them the map.

“This is going to make or break if we can use the road to get any civilians out. If the graveyard has a lot of undead, we are going to have to clear it.” I give them the facts with no bullshit.

“I think that this is a gate into the graveyard.” I indicate another part of the map. “Be ready we could run into anything.”

“Understood.” Came from Karlsson. Keller just nodded.

We spend a few minutes collecting ourselves as I put the map away. Each of my companions looks grim. I think about why they are following me. I was given command true but why? We are in a level one threat event but one of the others could have made a play for command but did not. Karlsson, I think is as experienced as me. So is Mannford and the military to boot. Keller is in training so she is unsure and is following my lead.

The others I have no idea. Reading people’s emotions is hard for me at the best of times. I have gotten better but I have no idea what people are thinking unless they tell me.

I realise I am wool-gathering.

Then a thought comes to me.

“My first idea was to head up New Road after the graveyard. I realise we are going to have to check the Church.”

“Why?” Keller asks.

“Two reasons first people normally seek sanctuary at churches.” I tell her. She understands that.

“The other?”

“There might be a second breach there.” I muse. Karlsson looks at me.

“A second breach that’s not possible!” He exclaims.

“Are two threat types in a single zone?” I counter. He is thinking about that.

“Let’s go.” I say as I advance down the road.

We walk down the road and quickly pass some homes. On the right of the road is a low white wall that marks the boundary of the graveyard.

As with most things the area is swallowed in fog. The gravestones and other markers that are closest barely visible. So, we the few figures we passed shambling around. We reached a vehicle entry point in the wall.

“We are clearing it.” I tell the others the wall would not slow swarming undead so we had to go in.

The “gates” were open they were designed to impede not stop. I would say it was inviting but we all knew what was waiting for us. I lead the way. Karlsson and Keller are following.

I took the path to the left. We quickly spotted the first figure. I motioned the others to wait. Then advanced. The zombie was not facing me and I moved quicker. My axe was lifted and came down. I pulled it out and repeated. Skull, brain matter and black ichor flew in my assault. The zombie collapsed.

The Grave chill is already present and has an unpleasant resurgence. Cold spreads again through my body.

My anti-slip boots are a big help as the pathway was smooth and slick with moisture. I turned and motioned the others to come up. I move closer to Keller and kept my voice low.

“See how I did that. Fast and from behind.” She nodded looking at the broken and decaying body. “Good. The next is yours. Karlsson will guard us and I will be your backup.”

We carry on through the cemetery. Another figure was spotted and I motioned to Keller to take it out. She takes longer than I like getting into position but attacks as violently as she can. Karlsson is looking around for other dangers while I watch. She is not as tall or strong but the element of surprise carries her through.

We move up to her after the body of the zombie collapses. She is breathing hard and is covered in ichor. Her face is far paler.

“Yep. That Grave Chill is a bitch.” I speak low. She looks at me.

“Ho…how do you deal with it?” She asks as quietly.

“Experience and a whole lot of anger management issues.” I tell her deadpan. I don’t know if she believes me.

Karlsson takes the next figure which turns out to be a skeleton. We continue to rotate kills until we clear the area. A total of eleven hostiles were engaged and eliminated. Normally a good day. Today is just the tip of the iceberg.

We leave the graveyard each dealing with the more active Grave Chill in our unique way.

“The turn-off for the church is a little further up this road past about a half dozen houses.” We set up a slight incline in the road.

As we walk, I think about the community that was here. Many of the buildings we have passed are brightly coloured and well maintained. Sure, many now have signs of damage due to the present events but it was clear the locals had pride in their community. Gone now.

We reach the turnoff with a footpath to the church. We cannot see the church but the map is clear it is there. We start walking up the pathway towards it. The path was slick with moisture sloping up a hill.

We reach the building. We encountered no hostiles on the way. We are tense as the lack of monsters is disconcerting. The strain of the readiness for violence is taking its toll on me. It is also taking its toll on the others I think looking at them.

The church appeared empty from what we could see. No lights can be seen. We walked outside of the building looking for the main door. We travelled around until we found it. The door was ajar. Not a good sign. We stood looking around.

“Right. We need to do this.” I said looking at the doorway. I don’t want to go in there.

“What do you think will be in there?” Karlsson asked.

“No survivors.” I keep my focus on the door. “I will lead the way stay close.”

“Right behind you.”

We enter the building. The inside is surprisingly undamaged. The long walkway with the seating benches on each side pointed you towards the breach. This explained the appearance of the different types of creatures we were encountering.

“Keller.” I motioned her to come up to me. She obeyed my request.

“That there is a breach. Have you encountered one?” I asked her.

“No.” She answered look at the breach afraid.

“We are not going near it. If we enter the sphere around it, we will attract every undead in the area.” She looked at me alarmed. “We record the location and carry on with the mission. Remember your training.”

We turn and head out of the church. The effects of entering the sphere are avoided but we had a brush with it. I gather the others around me and pull out the map.

“We are going back the way we came in. From there we head up the road. To this junction.” I showed them the direction. “Then we turn onto Bridge Street and go along the road across the Glentogher River until the turn off of Gort Road.”

Keller nods at the route we are going to take. Keller is not paying attention.

“Keller, you with us?” I ask her.

She blinks coming back to us. She looks at each of us turning red.

“Sorry!”

“Keller you cannot afford to lose focus.” I told her. I think my tone conveyed my feelings of irritation.

“Yes…. sorry!”

I decide not to push the issue. I look back to the map.

“We need to find the base camp support team and the RCT. If they are anywhere, they will most likely be near the first base camp further up Gort Road.”

I put away the map and we head back the way we came. The fog and damp air made everything dull in the weak light.

We reach the main road without incident. Keller seems more with us as we walk back. Hopefully, she can get herself into a headspace that allows her to function as an Operative. I must remember that this is her first time under combat conditions and a lot is being asked of her.

I decide to continue up Chapel Street to the next junction rather than head back as it is the same distance. We progressed along the road with the signs of violence increasing sharply. This is where most of the local civilians had lived and most had died.

Around us was the debris of those trying to escape. Bags and personal items were scattered across the road. Windows were smashed and vehicles abandoned. Blood splatter was present but was slowly erased by the moisture. No bodies.

The air was even more heavy and depressing here. The evidence of so much death was not something that leaves you unaffected. It was a stark reminder of why we have to do this job.

I look to the others. Karlsson is handling it. He is focused and scanning around. Keller is not. She is being drawn back to the debris on the road. Empathy is a good thing, I think. I have little of it myself due to how my mind is configured. I cannot connect with people on that level. Hell, I have a hard enough time reading emotions in others. Here and now, it is a liability.

Before I can say something. I hear a faint whisper behind me.

I spin around looking for the source. Ready for anything.

“See something?” Karlsson whispers over to me a few tenses seconds later. I turn to him he is also ready for action.

“Thought I heard something.” I turn back looking in the direction I thought the sound came from. All I can see is the fog quickly reducing my sight of the buildings and few vehicles.

I keep scanning for about another thirty seconds and then relax. Nothing presented as a threat. Karlsson moves up next to me.

“Zone getting to you?” His tone is jovial but I know the concern that underlies it. The more time spent in a zone the greater the chance of snapping even for us.

“Today I think it’s getting to all of us.” I tell him.

“Yaa. This is a hard day.” He nods in agreement his accent thicker than before. “Not far now to the base camp. Check it and then we are out.”

“Roger that. Let’s keep moving.” We continue a little further until we reached the junction that connects to Bridge Street. The brightly coloured buildings around us continued as we went deeper into the town. The colours are damped by the zones fog.

Bridge Street slops down towards the river. We will need to follow it until we reach the bridge. From there we will only be a short distance from the base camp.

“Contact!” Karlsson shouts.

I spin to see five of the ape-like creatures charging down the road from deeper in the town. I move up and stand next to Karlsson with Keller close behind. They reach him first.

He quickly begins back peddling as they try to surround him. Keeping his shield in front of him striking out at any that are getting too close. I quickly join the fray.

I strike with my axe. Again, and again. Blood flying from impacts and my axe is pulled from bodies. The creatures turn and try to attack me some blows land on my shield. I don’t stagger but they have some force behind them.

The whole fight becomes a blur as we fight. I suddenly realised that we are the only ones standing. The creatures are strewed around dead. I look at the others Karlsson appears fine. Keller’s face shows she is in pain.

“Where are you injured, Keller?” I ask.

“I… think my arm is broken”