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

notched and paint flecked from years of hard labour. I could think of so many ways we could use the sharp tools.

Shaking my head, I tried to clear the thoughts when I saw the metal step ladder sitting in the corner at an angle, its length too great to fit flat to the wall. It would be perfect to bridge the gap. Perfect for Alex to climb out. All she had to do was rise from the pile as long as her heart still beat in her chest.

I saw movement in the room at the bottom of my vision, not in the centre as I expected. A boot rose and fell as it tried to mount the pile, but somehow it couldn’t get high enough, couldn’t coordinate its movements.

Why was Alex standing at the edge of the room? Were those the boots she’d been wearing when she fell?

I crept further, despite knowing I was already overhanging the beam and gambling how far the rot had affected the structure.

With the improved vantage, I regretted my movement, regretted the blood-soaked trousers connected to the boots. I regretted the second pair of legs joining at their side and the realisation surged through my chest.

It wasn’t Alex but a creature from upstairs, or fresh through the front door. Now the pile below me rose. Another groan added to the low moans already filling the air.

Alex’s short hair came through the rubble dusted with white as she sat up, her face covered in plaster, giving her an even more pale complexion, her features much like the creatures at her front. The only colour came from a line of bright red dripping from a wound to her forehead. If she hadn’t died from the fall and turned, she would soon fulfil the fate unless I did something.

Scrambling to my feet, I took little care with their placement. Clenching my teeth, I wrapped my hands tight around my chest and jumped.

71

I’d like to say I fell with grace, keeping an elegant line while the chipboard crumpled, not waving my arms wild at my sides as I abandoned the previous second of planning.

I’d like to say I didn’t scream, not turning the air blue as I cursed in a shrill call.

I’d like to say I watched the fall. Stared with my expression fixed. A picture of composure as the floor raced towards me, watching as I knocked the ghouls off their feet instead of arriving to curse the slap of the ground to my knees; broken bones only prevented by the crack of plasterboard catching my fall.

Alex stood as I raced to my feet, knowing either side the creatures would climb to their own; their slow, toddler awkwardness my only advantage.

Fists balled, I stepped forward, my glare fixed on her dazed expression, seeking hope, recognition. Searching for any sign of humanity.

She blinked.

I racked my brain for meaning. Was this only a human action? Had I seen the creatures blink? The dead ones at least?

“Speak,” I shouted, knocking her sideways as I jumped over the mound, my hands landing on either side of the cold metal ladder.

Still, she hadn’t uttered a word as I swung the awkward load whilst separating out each half and thrusting it to the floor. My feet were already to the second rung as it landed, swaying to the side with each rubber shoe resting on the uneven ground.

Back on the roof, I crawled to my front, twisting and turning, scraping my chest across the sodden board as I landed. I peered below, anxious with my hands to the top rung and ready to hoist it high if Alex didn’t have the will to follow.

She stared up, mouth wide and coughed.

The dead didn’t cough.

“Alex,” I shouted, her stare snapping to her side.

The creatures were on their feet, teetering for traction on the edge of the rubble.

Alex blinked. I saw recognition, her upturned expression as she looked at me.

“Alex,” I shouted again, ignoring the harmonising calls.

She turned, twisted sideways, face alarming as she caught the sight.

Grabbing the rungs, she sprung alive with action, her feet kicking as pallid hands reached out to her dust-ridden clothes. Slapping away hands before they could get a grip, dust rained down as she climbed to the edge to follow my lead. Spreading herself thin, she scrambled to the roof.

I turned away as soon as I knew she was out of their reach. Pulling at the aluminium, yanking hard from their grip.

Hands reached high and I pulled. Alex’s plaster-coated hands joined mine and together we swatted clawed fingers before the ladder clattered to the roof as we let go.

Our breath took time to settle and we lay with our backs to the felt, staring skyward, cursing each deep pull that drew in the foul smell.

Alex rose first and pulled up the ladder from the roof.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you what I was doing. It was stupid,” she said as I got to my feet, careful to rest each where I knew the beams ran beneath.

I shrugged and spoke with my voice low.

“Let’s work as a team. But it wasn’t that stupid. At least we got the ladder.”

Nodding for a moment, her movement stopped as her glance fixed down the hole. I followed her look, my gaze ignoring the bloodied creatures still clawing towards the opening, instead fixing on the shape of the gun frosted in a white dusting.

I let out a deep breath before I spoke.

“We need to be careful.”

“I’m sorry,” she said and I turned away.

Alex joined me and together we held a side of the ladder each, carefully lowering across the gap to the next flat roof. Our grips held until the angle grew too great, its length too far for us to do anything but hold back the