In The End Box Set | Books 1-3 Stevens, GJ (story books to read TXT) 📖

I looked back at Toni, her eyebrows raised in a solemn communication.

Sorry, but thanks for answering my call, I guessed, turning away.

Yes, I’d come to her rescue on the flimsiest of information, but what good had I done?

My situation was so much worse. Pumped full of drugs, or whatever was in that syringe, I’d lain unconscious for who knows how long and had to swallow hard as I tried not to think of what they had done while I’d been out cold. It was bad enough to know I’d been bitten and one way or another I was changing, the first symptoms of which were eroding my humanity.

At least Toni still had her life. Battered and bruised, broken maybe, but she would recover. The future was less certain for me, I knew that much; put down like a rabid dog, or locked in a cage for however long I had left.

And Dan. Poor broken Dan. I watched as he rocked back and forth on the plastic seat. What had they put him through before they’d forced him into the room with me? What had broken him so completely?

I daren’t move closer to comfort him and stood, breathing through my mouth and took small steps across the room, ignoring the soldier’s words.

“Miss, please stay away from the prisoner,” he said, turning my way.

I carried forward my advance, standing my ground as his wide-spread hand blocked my path and he stepped in to follow. Looking him up and down I tried not to linger on his pistol. A Glock 17. A weapon I’d learnt to handle; trained by my Israeli bodyguard on a six-month stint covering the peace process in Jerusalem.

I saw his pouches packed full, guessed which one should hold the ammunition. I could smell a packet of chocolate on the other side that would melt in the building heat of the room. Only as he copied my look did I sit back down.

He’d got the wrong idea, but I’d found a way out.

Closing my eyes, I let my mind drift, turning away from the thought of food and of urges I needed to satisfy.

I thought of my parents sitting in front of their TV, each with a glass of sherry and a box of chocolates spread across their laps. Still, the scents rolled in and I knew the four women would be standing in front of me as I opened my eyes, their perfumed notes exciting the thin hairs along the inside of my nostrils. I could almost see the cocktail of scents in the air, their flavours becoming distinct with my attention caught by one in particular. An undertone of burnt caramel.

There they were, silhouetted against the lamp and after shooting a look to Toni to find her watching on, I closed my eyes, but couldn’t help opening them again, their words already losing definition as I looked at each of them with a growing desperation to know which one would make a great dessert.

I glanced again to Toni to see her shallow nod and I stood, feeling saliva pour from my glands, the liquid hot in my mouth as I tried to concentrate on their words, but at the same time kicking myself for checking with her.

She was no longer my keeper. She never should have been.

“Karen,” the tallest of the four said, with a high-pitched voice she tried to keep quiet.

Blonde hair flowed down each side of her red, perfect cheeks, her curves hidden by the white coat which hung high off her chest. I only noticed her hand held out as the other three gazed down.

I held mine out too, hers so warm. My breath rose and the knots in my shoulders I hadn’t noticed relaxed as if she had a healing touch.

“Where do you work? I’ve not seen you around,” she said, her face alarming as she yanked back her hand. “You’re freezing.”

In unison each of their eyes went wide, fixed on my hand and then my face.

“Do we…” the tall one said, but stopped herself as she stared down at my bare feet. Before I could find my sweet treat, she’d pushed up my left sleeve and then my right, rearing back at the already healing bite wound.

“She’s infected,” she screamed, almost tripping over her feet as she hurried backwards.

The world slipped down a gear, their shouts slowing as if their batteries had drained. They moved back with a speed like they were stuck in treacle, the screams building as my arm fell to my side. The game was up; their widening faces told me all.

I had just enough of a chance to catch a glimpse of Toni’s face as it fell, before I spotted the soldier’s moving gaze.

He showed his skill and had his rifle up. With his head turning side to side, the fat in his cheeks carried its momentum as he checked twice either way that his decision would be right.

The first bullet was easy to dodge, the round fired in a panic and like a fly, my body and brain were on overdrive whilst time had sped for those around.

The second bullet grazed my arm, sending pain along its short course before twanging off the wall. A third ricocheted twice before one of the women fell to the floor in the corner of my vision.

I hoped it wasn’t in the sweet taste of pudding.

He had the Glock out as I closed the distance. I saw it too late and heard the trigger operate the first internal safety pin, felt the second vibrate through my temple, knowing the third noise would be the sound of my brain exploding.

12

I expected the end. Perhaps it would be a good way to go.

A clean kill. Over and done with before I could