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

17

The metal handle stopped spinning as it reached my feet. With the noxious smoke dispersing, a stocky figure appeared at the door which was somehow still on its hinges. A gas mask wrapped around the figure’s face and a short rifle tracked up in our direction.

Toni leant back on her elbows where she’d fallen, her brow lowering as she stared at the figure taking tentative steps across the threshold.

His look shifted to meet mine. A deep but muffled sound came from behind his mask. The words seemed as if not meant for us.

He took a step forward, shifting the weight of the backpack on his back with his gun still on Toni.

Another figure arrived from behind. At first look they were identical.

A burst of gunfire lit up the corridor. Muffled shouts followed as if from all around.

Anger rose in my chest. These were the people who had done this. These were the people who had beaten Toni.

An urge to let my guard down built. I wanted the rage back, wanted the animal hunger to return so I could defend myself, defend Toni, despite the consequences. But I couldn’t feel it build.

The second man stood with his shoulder at the doorframe, peering around a shallow angle out into the corridor. The soldier in the room shouted something whilst shaking his head, but I couldn’t catch the meaning through the mask as his chest heaved with the effort.

Behind him followed a heavy chemical odour, the burn of plastic thickening the air. A great line of splattered blood criss-crossed his dark, earthy uniform as if an artist had flicked a brush.

The inside of his mask misted, the words muffled with the race of breath through the protruding filter.

Gunfire in the corridor wouldn’t let me concentrate. All I could do was stare back wide-eyed at his noise, shaking my head, the point of the muzzle snapping between us.

His hand stopped steadying the machine gun. Instead, he hurried to unclip his helmet, dropping it to the desk as he flicked his view between the two of us. His aim soon settled on me.

Holding the rifle in one hand, he pulled off the mask and dragged in air. His short dark fringe ran with sweat rolling down his red face and his bloodshot eyes flicked open and closed, frantic to rid the sting of salt.

Gunfire burst down the corridor.

The rifle’s report at the door surged through me and I flinched in its direction, not sure where I would see the gun pointed. The lack of pain could have been a delayed reaction, but no, the aim peered down the corridor and another volley rattled off as I stared, my feet fixed to the floor by indecision as to which threat they considered the worst.

I looked to Toni out of the corner of my eye. She seemed calm, locking eyes with the soldier as he shook his head, muttering under his breath.

“Stand up,” he’d been saying all along. “You’re coming with us,” he said, his words robotic, rehearsed, but with no conviction.

The unmasked soldier drew my attention back as he spoke whilst moving deeper into the room. With a high voice and pink features, he looked so young; so much younger than me. The shake in his voice betrayed his recent loss of innocence.

 “Stoppage,” came the muffled shout from behind the other’s mask.

Our guy’s eyes lit up, face alarming and his head rearing back as he heard the click echo from the rifle.

I glanced to see the solider at the door raking the slide at the side of the weapon, pushing forward and pulling back. Each of us watched as his motion grew more frantic, staring as he disappeared in a blur of movement, his scream quickly muffled to leave only the echo of the rifle hitting the floor.

I looked to the boy soldier to make sure he’d seen it too.

He stared back, reflecting my disbelief. I couldn’t tell if sweat or tears ran from his eyes.

Toni didn’t pause. Her hand pushed the pistol in a slide across the floor before grabbing at her rifle.

Our eyes locked. I knew she’d seen it. Seen it there, a shadow darting past the doorway, grabbing the masked soldier and he'd gone.

“Aim that weapon somewhere else,” Toni’s sharp voice boomed.

I turned towards her to see her standing at my side and I followed the aim of her rifle to the young soldier’s dripping face, his mouth hung wide, his face turned from the corridor. The gun dropping in slow motion.

Sound came from the corridor. A noise I couldn’t at first describe, but soon I recognised something heavy being dragged across the carpet.

The young man and I froze, the shake of his head his only movement, his eyes pleading in her direction.

Toni continued to point the rifle at him, motioning with her head towards the doorway.

“Do your job, soldier,” her voice bellowed like a drill sergeant.

His eyes unblinking, I could see his indecision. He gave no reaction to the dark mark appearing at his crotch as he snatched a look between the gun in her hand and the corridor, then to the window at his shoulder.

“Soldier,” Toni screamed, but he stepped to the glass and peered down, all with the noise in the corridor multiplying.

I watched his eyes go wide as he peered lower, watched as he let the short machine gun down on its straps.

Toni turned her gun to the rising activity beyond the door, but I couldn’t keep my stare from him as with the pant of his breath growing ever faster, he unclipped the top of his holster and drew his pistol whilst shaking his head.

“No,” I said, slowly standing with my hands reaching towards him. “What’s your name?” I whispered, keeping my voice