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

I couldn’t stay and wait for Alex to climb. I knew the drum would have called them near.

Replacing the pistol lost to the water was easy. Pulling it from the dead body’s holster soaked in blood was not. Despite my best will, I couldn’t take my eyes from the empty cavity where its owner’s organs should have sat.

They kill every time. I said in my head. Why didn’t it devour those two earlier?

Picking my way around the truck blocking my view, I ran toward the first house but ignored it. Instead, I fixed my gaze on the wide-open door to its side whilst trying to stop my running breath from pulling in their toilet smell and the decaying flesh everywhere I looked.

Peering through the open door, I saw straight through to the garden and the place where I’d run. In my head I recounted my escape after killing the woman I once thought I loved.

Had loved. Continued to love after I’d called it off, but couldn’t bring myself to take another chance on her.

In the background I heard feet landing to the road, but soon a heavy tone in the air took my attention. It was a low hum which could be only one thing, but I took longer than I should have to realise I’d been right as we’d first approached the village; there had been a reason the army penned the creatures in.

The sound grew louder as Alex arrived at my back. She turned to the sky, using her hand to shade from the sun.

The aircraft was there, even though I couldn’t see it.

It was there even though it would be too late for us when we could make it out. But we had no choice.

We had nowhere to run and I carried on regardless. Bounding up the stairs I ignored the blood and glass on the floor whilst I couldn't help thinking how Toni would have laughed if the bombs hit as I stood over the place where I’d taken her life.

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Alex didn’t follow. Instead, she dragged furniture in a way so reminiscent, but I couldn’t recall from which place or when.

How many times had we repeated this process since the world changed? I didn’t know. I couldn’t tell. It was all I could do to concentrate on lifting my heavy legs while I thought of anything but what I would find as I entered the bedroom.

I looked to carpeted steps, their pile covered with mud from many boots, but my stare wouldn’t stay down, kept creeping to peer to the summit.

Was this the first of the tricks played by my mind? Or was the line of blood widening as it rose real?

I couldn’t remember if I’d seen it last time around. Had it been too dark when I was last here?

The question I knew I should ask was different.

Was it Toni’s blood? Should I recognise it from the colour? Did it have her delicate scent I was so familiar with?

If I had truly loved her, should I be able to tell?

I couldn’t.

Was that my answer?

With another step, I shook my head to clear the questions.

Alex still busied at the foot of the stairs and despite my legs feeling as if gaining weight or my muscles losing strength with each rise, I made it to the top and followed the blood to a pool in the centre of the landing. I had seen this before.

Raising the pistol and pulling back the slide to prime the chamber, I turned left into the bedroom, despite my fear and knowing it was the place I least wanted to go. Knowing it was the most likely location for what I sought; the keys to the van. Or at least I told myself they were what I looked for.

Darkness greeted me, the curtains pulled closed; the air heavy with an atmosphere not entirely projected by myself.

With my feet rooted to the threshold I couldn’t see any detail.

Try as I might, I couldn’t stop the chatter of my teeth, the constant vibration of my limbs and the wave of the gun as it swayed left and right to counter the buzz of my frozen arms.

Try as I might I couldn’t see beyond the bed. I couldn’t see past the mattress. My gaze lingered on the space where I’d been held. Where who knows what would have happened if Toni hadn’t come.

With one step I drew a shallow breath, my lungs stuttering to take their fill.

With another, I lifted the pistol to point into the vague darkness.

With a third, I let go of the overdue breath, my eyes closing but only for a moment before they shot wide and I surged to her form standing at the window. At least in my head.

My sudden movement stopped the shakes. It calmed my convulsions as I grabbed at the curtains and swept left and right, drawing back as light squeezed my eyes tight.

A single tear rolled down my face, hitting the carpet soaked in blood as my gaze darted between each of the littered bandages and red sodden dressings.

I saw the chaos play out. I watched myself disappear down the stairs. I watched Toni’s mother catch her in her arms and lay her to the floor, breathless and silent as she fought to find the wounds.

I watched as more joined the panic. Lights crowding, pouring their beams to the holes in her chest. Her clothes pulled up and discarded.

I opened my eyes and searched the floor, but found nothing but her drying life-force spread across the cream carpet.

Crouching, I drew in air, determined not to let more tears fall as I touched the tip of my index finger to the matted pile. In places the blood still felt sticky.

I