Chapter 4

The engine room was loud. Machines hummed and clanked. The floor shook under their feet as the train sped through the tunnel. Jennifer stood near the door, her metal pole tight in her hands. Ken was next to her, holding his wrench. The others—Chloe with the baby, Marie, Monsieur Dupont, and Pierre—stayed behind them, close to the walls. The banging on the door was loud now. The infected were outside, hitting the metal with their fists. The door shook but held.

Jennifer's heart beat fast. She could hear the growls through the walls. They sounded angry, hungry. The small screen by the door showed Car 1. Shadows moved fast. White eyes glowed in the dark. The infected had taken over the car. Passengers who didn't run were gone now, turned into more of them. Jennifer swallowed hard. "How strong is this door?" she asked.

Ken tapped the metal. "Strong," he said. "Steel. Locked tight. But they're not stopping."

Chloe rocked the baby. It was quiet now, sleeping in her arms. "Will they get in?" she asked. Her voice was small, scared.

"Not yet," Ken said. "We've got time."

Marie sat on the floor, holding her belly. Her face was sweaty. "How much time?" she asked.

Ken checked his watch. "Twelve minutes to Bordeaux. We just need to hold on."

Pierre laughed, sharp and loud. "Hold on? They'll break through! We're dead!"

"Shut up," Jennifer snapped. "You're not helping."

Pierre glared at her. "I don't care. I'm not dying for you idiots."

"Then leave," Jennifer said. "See how far you get."

Pierre didn't move. He crossed his arms and stayed quiet. Monsieur Dupont leaned on his cane. "We must stay calm," he said. "Panic makes it worse."

Jennifer nodded. She liked the old man. He was smart, steady. She looked at Ken. "What's the plan if they break in?"

"Fight," Ken said. "Then run. Back to Car 1 if we can."

"Fight with what?" Pierre asked. "A pole and a wrench? We're done."

Jennifer held up her pole. "This works. We'll make it work."

Chloe lifted the broken seat arm she'd found. "I've got this," she said.

Marie held her water bottle. "Me too."

Monsieur Dupont smiled. "My cane is old, but strong."

Pierre rolled his eyes. "You're all crazy."

Ken ignored him. He checked the screen again. The infected were slamming into the door now, not just hitting it. The metal bent a little. "They're strong," he said. "Too strong."

Jennifer's stomach dropped. "Can we block it?"

"With what?" Ken asked. He looked around. The engine room had machines, pipes, a small tool shelf. Nothing big enough to move.

The train jolted. The lights flickered. Everyone froze. The hum of the engine got louder, then softer. "What was that?" Chloe asked.

"Tunnel," Ken said. "We're deep in it now. No stops."

The lights flickered again, then went out. The room went dark. Chloe gasped. The baby woke up and cried. The banging on the door stopped for a second, then started again, louder. Jennifer couldn't see anything. She held her pole tighter. "Ken, the lights!" she said.

"Working on it," Ken said. His voice came from the left. She heard him move, then a click. A small flashlight turned on. It was weak, but it lit the room a little. Ken held it up. Shadows danced on the walls. "Backup power," he said. "Main lights are out."

"Why?" Marie asked. She sounded scared.

"Don't know," Ken said. "Maybe the engine. Maybe them."

The banging got harder. A loud crack echoed. Jennifer turned. The door bent inward. A hand—a bloody, torn hand—pushed through a gap. The growls were close now, right outside. "They're breaking it!" she yelled.

Ken grabbed his wrench and swung. The hand pulled back, but another took its place. "Get ready!" he shouted.

Jennifer stepped forward. "Chloe, stay with the baby. Marie, behind me. Monsieur Dupont, you too."

Chloe nodded and backed up, holding the baby tight. Marie stood, shaky, her water bottle ready. Monsieur Dupont moved next to her, cane up. Pierre stayed near the wall, doing nothing. Jennifer didn't care. She focused on the door.

The metal groaned. The gap got bigger. An infected face pushed through—white eyes, bloody mouth. It snarled, reaching for them. Jennifer swung her pole. It hit the head hard. The infected fell back, but more came. The door cracked wide open. They poured in.

"Fight!" Ken yelled. He swung his wrench at the first one. It was a man, tall, with a torn shirt. The wrench hit his chest. He stumbled but kept coming. Ken hit again, this time the head. The man fell.

Jennifer swung at another—a woman with long hair. The pole smashed her shoulder. She growled and grabbed at Jennifer. Jennifer pulled back and hit again, aiming for the face. The woman dropped. "They don't stop easy!" Jennifer shouted.

"Headshots," Ken said. "Hit the head!"

Two more came in. One went for Marie. She screamed and swung her bottle. It hit the infected's arm, doing nothing. Monsieur Dupont stepped in. He jabbed his cane into the infected's eye. It howled and fell. "Like that?" he asked.

"Yeah!" Jennifer said. "Good!"

Chloe stayed back, guarding the baby. The little one cried loud now. The noise made the infected turn. Three of them rushed toward Chloe. "No!" Jennifer yelled. She ran over, swinging her pole. She hit one in the back of the head. It fell. Ken got another with his wrench. The third grabbed Chloe's arm.

Chloe screamed. The baby almost fell. Marie ran over and smashed her bottle on the infected's head. Water splashed everywhere. The infected let go, dazed. Jennifer finished it with her pole. "You okay?" she asked Chloe.

Chloe nodded, tears in her eyes. "Yeah. Thanks."

More infected pushed through the door. Five, then six. The room was too small. They were everywhere. Ken fought hard, his wrench red with blood. Jennifer stayed close, hitting anything that moved. Monsieur Dupont swung his cane, slow but steady. Marie helped Chloe guard the baby.

Pierre watched from the corner. He didn't move. Then an infected—a big man with a ripped jacket—came for him. Pierre yelled and ran. He pushed past Marie, knocking her down. The infected followed him. Pierre grabbed the door to Car 1 and opened it. "I'm out!" he shouted. He ran into the dark car, leaving the door open.

"Pierre, no!" Jennifer yelled. The infected from the engine room chased him. More came from Car 1, pouring back in. The group was trapped now, surrounded.

"We can't hold them!" Ken said. He smashed an infected's head, but two more took its place.

Jennifer looked around. The tool shelf was empty. Machines blocked the back. The open door to Car 1 was their only way out. "We have to run!" she said.

"Where?" Marie asked, standing up.

"Car 1," Jennifer said. "Then forward."

Ken nodded. "Go! I'll hold them!"

"No," Jennifer said. "We stick together."

Ken shook his head. "Someone's gotta slow them. Get the others out."

Jennifer didn't like it, but the infected were too close. "Okay. Be fast."

Ken swung his wrench at a group of them, pushing them back. "Go now!" he yelled.

Jennifer grabbed Chloe's arm. "Come on!" Chloe held the baby and ran. Marie followed, limping a little. Monsieur Dupont moved slower, his cane slipping. Jennifer helped him. "Hurry!" she said.

They reached the door to Car 1. It was dark inside, the tunnel's black walls pressing in. The flashlight Ken had dropped rolled on the floor. Jennifer picked it up. She shined it ahead. Shadows moved—more infected. "Keep going!" she shouted.

Ken stayed in the engine room. He fought hard, swinging his wrench. The infected clawed at him. One bit his arm. He yelled but kept fighting. He pushed them back, giving the group time. Then he ran after them, slamming the engine room door shut.

Jennifer led the way into Car 1. The car was a mess. Seats were empty or torn. Blood stained the floor. A few infected wandered near the back. They turned when they heard the group. "Run!" Jennifer said. She swung her pole at one that got too close. It fell.

Chloe stayed close, the baby crying again. Marie helped Monsieur Dupont move faster. Ken caught up, his arm bleeding. "Keep moving!" he said. "Next car!"

They reached the door to Car 2. Jennifer hit the button. It opened slow. The infected from Car 1 were coming, fast. "Inside!" she yelled. Chloe went first, then Marie and Monsieur Dupont. Jennifer waited for Ken. "Come on!"

Ken swung his wrench one more time, knocking an infected back. He ran through the door. Jennifer followed, hitting the close button. The door shut just as the infected reached it. They banged on the glass, but it held.

Car 2 was quiet. No passengers, no infected—yet. The group stopped, breathing hard. Ken leaned against a seat, holding his arm. Blood dripped on the floor. Jennifer shined the flashlight on him. "You're bit," she said.

"Yeah," Ken said. "Hurts."

Chloe's eyes went wide. "Will you turn?"

"Don't know," Ken said. "Not yet."

Monsieur Dupont sat down, tired. "We must watch him," he said. "Just in case."

Jennifer nodded. "We will. But we keep moving."

Marie rubbed her belly. "How far to Bordeaux?"

"Ten minutes," Ken said. "Maybe less."

The train shook again. The tunnel's darkness pressed on the windows. The banging from Car 1 got louder. Jennifer gripped her pole. "We rest here," she said. "Then go."

Ken nodded, wincing. Chloe rocked the baby. Marie sat next to Monsieur Dupont. They were safe for now, but the tunnel wasn't done with them. The infected weren't done either.