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the same, having been built on the sole purpose of accommodating miners and their families back when the area itself was a mining town. Jim assumed they were the same layout but having only been in 2 of them he couldn’t be sure. He had viewed a house about half way down the street around the same time as he’d viewed his. He moved down the few steps to the basement door. This one hadn’t been converted into a kitchen like Jim’s but it still had a little window to the right of the door so he peered in, cupping his hand over his eyes to block out the light. In the darkness he could make out a few shapes of boxes and old brush handles but nothing more. He tried the door. Locked again. Jim sighed deeply. Her car was still here. She left every day at around the same time as Jim and always took her car. He’d never said more than 2 words to the lass but he knew she was into gardening and loved her little Jack Russell.
    “What do we do now?” Dan already knew the answer but he wanted Jim to say it.
    “We have to get in there and make sure she’s ok.” Jim was already pushing on the door in different places to check for locks. There was one at the top and the main lock in the middle. Even if Jim had managed to pick the door lock the bolt at the top would have stopped him. He turned to Dan. “Right, I want you to go back to the other door and listen for any sounds. Let me know if you hear anything, even the slightest little noise, ok?!” Dan looked hesitant for a second and then went and sat by the door with his ear jammed against it. Jim Leant against the wall opposite the door and made a stable platform with his back and his right leg. He then lifted his left leg and gave the door a precise kick next to the handle. The door gave a little and there was a sound of splintering wood but it held. Jim’s ankle was aching from the force.
    “Sounds like a dog on laminate flooring mate. Moving fast.” Chirped up Dan from upstairs. Jim waited for a few second assuming the dog would try ripping the door apart to get to him but heard nothing.
    “Shit… Sounds like it’s trying get through a door now. Might be one at the top of those stairs. What the fuck do I do?” This was good. It meant Jim could get into the house without having to deal with the dog straight away. Dan moved from the door while he had a coughing fit into his hands. He pulled out a tissue to wipe the gunky mess off his hands and Jim saw the distinct red of blood on the tissue.
    “You ok buddy?”
    “Yeah it’s this fucking flu it’s killing me.” He said stuffing the tissue into his pocket quickly. At that moment one of the upstairs windows flew open and the next door neighbour’s head popped out. She spotted Dan.
    “Oh thank god. You have to help me. My baby girl has gone crazy and started trying to attack me. I woke up to her coughing up blood and then she went still for a bit. I thought I’d lost her but a minute later she sat back up and her eyes were like white. She tried to bite me so I ran. She trapped me up here.” She obviously meant the dog. Dan looked stunned.
    “It’s ok love, we’re...”
    “Paula.” She cut in.
    “Sorry Paula, we’re here to get you out.” Dan was taken aback by her snappiness, I mean she wanted their help and started getting pissy because they didn’t know her fucking name. But thinking about the more serious matter at hand he just brushed it off.
    “We?” She obviously hadn’t seen Jim directly below her. He stepped back up to ground level and gave her a smile.
    “You’re that army lad from next door. Don’t shoot my girl. Please. I need her.” Her eyes welled up.
    “If what you’re saying is right I might not have a choice. I’ve seen this happen already. They turn savage when their eyes turn white and attack anything that breathes.” Paula began to weep openly. “I know how you feel. I’ve just had to do the same to my boy.” Images of Rubes mangled head filled his thoughts once more and he