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

My last effort sent the downpipe ringing as it released the last of its grip, clattering against the brickwork as it fell to the ground.

I lay face down against the rough surface, drained, empty and savouring the solid roof beneath me.

My breath calmed with each intake until I thought of Toni left behind, guilt pounding in my chest that I didn’t go back for her.

Scrabbling to the edge, not taking in my surroundings, I stayed low. Leaning over, my breath caught as I reared back at the distance to the ground below. It was only three storeys, but enough to send my head into a spin even before I’d processed the movement between the buildings.

Soon the bodies gained definition and I realised it wasn’t the ground in motion. Still wandering aimless as before, they’d grown in number with a low hum radiating with the same stench we’d left behind in the corridor.

I pulled my head up, my vision extending across the distance, past the trucks and the Land Rovers and the scattered weapons. Nausea rose up through my body with a great sense of dread when all I could see were the infected. What hope could there be if the lorry loads of soldiers had been overcome so easily?

The horizon ran out before I could see what I wanted, but relief came in the form of gunfire, distant at first; the best sign there was still resistance out there.

Close gunfire replied. So close. I shook with its force, until hope rose again in my chest as I realised it came from below, the sound bursting from the window.

Then came Toni, her body rearing back as she fired again from the pistol in her hand. With her precious pack slung on one shoulder, she swung it under her arm as she climbed out of the window backwards into the nothingness.

I pushed myself out into the air as far as I dared, just below my ribs and reached down, letting my arms drop.

“Grab on,” I said and she gave a start, sending her balance off, but I took her hand as it flailed, the other pushing the gun into her waistband before reaching up to take my other hand. A great smile sparkled on my face as we touched, my grip encircling her wrist. Together we scraped and shuffled sideways.

Clear of the window, I felt strong again. I felt ready to help drag her up, confident as she gripped me tight, shuffling her feet along the wall as I scooted back, anchoring my torso to grip the shallow ledge. With her feet flat as mine had been, she climbed higher and I knew soon we would be safe and together. I could hold her in my arms and we could take our time to think. We would have all the time in the world to wait and contemplate the right moment to make the next move to escape the chaos.

Toni climbed higher, my gaze locked to hers, her speed increasing as a scream seared through the air from below.

I peered down as a dark flash burst from the window.

I expected to see the shape fall to the ground. I didn’t expect Toni’s body to go tight, to pull against me so hard as I took her full weight, dragging me down.

It all made sense when my gaze fell on the snarling beast lined with dark veins, its claw-like grip around Toni’s ankle as it swayed, its mouth snapping wide and its other hand clawing at the air.

20

With no time to think, no energy left to slow their weight from dragging me from the roof, I felt no movie-like surge of inhuman strength rising within me to pull them both up.

My options were clear. Save myself, sending Toni to her death, or be dragged down so all three of us could be dead together.

“Let the bag go,” I shouted, as it swung at her shoulder. It would make no difference, neither did reaching for the gun. She’d have to let go of one of my hands to do so.

Her eyes just stared deep into mine in reply.

I lingered longer than I should.

I knew there would be no miracle.

I knew the creature’s grip would hold longer than I could keep mine whilst staying anchored to the roof. Only as a shot rang out somewhere in the far distance, did I snap out of my hopeless stare.

My joy seemed greater than it should; the creature’s weight felt no more. I looked down, watching as it fell, my stare catching on a cloud of blood drifting in the air.

Toni scrabbled over the edge of the roof before the slap of the creature's body hit against the concrete.

Dragging her the last few paces from the edge, I gripped her tight around the waist as I collapsed, exhausted, to the flat of my back.

Our breath heaved as she buried her head in the crook of my neck with her body coming to rest on my side, much like she had as I’d woken on the couch beneath us.

With breath slowing, a low background hum took over and it felt as if the building beneath us shook. When I couldn’t stand the noise anymore, I spoke, my words sharper than I’d intended.

“Tell me everything,” I said. “Full disclosure.” My hands dropped from around her back and I tried to sit, but she gripped around my shoulder, holding me tight.

“Stay down. That sniper might change his mind. If he figures out who we are, we might be his next target.”

I hadn’t connected the distant shot and the puff of blood which saved us, not having considered the cause before now. Another shot echoed through the air.

“He saved us,” I replied, pausing when I