It seemed like months since I last saw my wife and kids. At least I knew they were safe. More than I could say for myself. When I decided on this career I didn't really expect to be in this position. I knew it was a possibility but never really thought I'd be facing the horrors before me. All my colleagues, my mates, probably felt the same, though no-one would really admit to being scared. It just wasn't done. We all knew the risks before we signed up for the job. I kept my head down low, hoping I wouldn't be seen. There was another thirty metres or so before I could reach safety and the enemy was expecting me to make a run for it. The noise had at least faded to a hum of evil anticipation, a murmur of barely controlled excitement, the sound of hatred being channelled towards the inevitable glorious slaughter. The look of pure hatred on the faces of the enemy was almost enough to end my life. There was no need for anything else, no blows, no knives, no bullets through the head. To think that someone like me had suddenly become the target of these animals. How could any society in any part of the world descend to such barbarity? The small wooden crucifix still burned above the heads of the enemy. I could feel their eyes scanning the air above me, above the small row of upturned tables that were providing me with cover. Peeking around the table to my left I could see one of the bastards reach for something. I ducked back quickly, not wanting to give them a point of reference to target. Another glance, one of them was moving, crawling along the ground. Shit! It was now or never. I had to make a run for it before they got me cornered. I needed a distraction. A loud bell began to ring. This was it. This was the moment I had to take my chance. I drew my feet up under me, crouching low, a sprinter on the blocks. I began to count to three. On three I'd make a run for my life. There was a chance I'd still get to see my family again. I had to risk it. There was no way I could give up without a fight, I owed them all that. On three, I lunged up from behind the barricade and sprinted out of the room. I could hear the rushing feet of the enemy crashing over the obstacles I'd scattered earlier. Slipping on the shiny wooden floor of the corridor outside, I bounced off the opposite wall and regained my balance. Up ahead I could see the others, the rest of my mates heading for the bunker. Ten metres to go. The enemy were now out in the corridor, the noise - that terrible howling scream nearly paralyzing me in my tracks. "This way Pete." I could see the door to the bunker ahead. Trevor was holding it open, risking his own safety to bring me in. I burst past Trevor and rolled across the floor of the staffroom as the howling hordes thumped against the heavy door as Trevor slammed it shut. "Right, who's for tea and who wants coffee?" Trevor asked as he made his way over to the kettle. "Religious Education didn't go down too well then, Pete?" I dragged myself up off the floor, shaking my head, and flopped down into one of the high-back chairs. "Yeah. Tea for me please. Two sugars. I'll need the energy. I'm teaching them maths next lesson."