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

knew there was no chance of getting through, I pulled open the door, jumping down and squeezing into the bush to scrape down the side, followed by Shadow. The others were out too, Cassie helped by Alex.

I rushed around the side to catch her when her step faltered. With my arm around her waist, I guided Cassie back up straight as we shuffled sideways between the cars, crunching cubes of glass under our shoes.

I worried for Shadow’s feet as he snaked between the cars, but nothing seemed to hinder his pace.

As we approached the head of the roadblock in the distance, a sudden thought turned me around to see none of the others had thought to pick up any of the supplies.

“Shit,” I said. “Fuck.” Cassie stiffened under my arm. “No one’s brought any of the food.”

The others turned back, looking at each other before settling on Mandy at the back of our trail.

“Don’t look at me. I’m not your mother,” she said.

Stuffing down the anger, I thought about telling her to head back as we waited, then wondered if I would wait at all. Then at least she’d realise how grateful she should have been for coming along for the ride.

Cassie’s soft voice drew away my anger.

“Leave it,” she said. “It’s not her fault. None of us can think straight.”

She was right of course. None of this was like anything we were used to. Each of us were having so many first experiences, how could we react right every time? Our punishment would be hunger and thirst if we couldn’t find anything to replace it, but I took solace that it had been so long since we’d seen any undead.

Without further word, we walked along the open road. I tried to ignore the thought of being so exposed, whilst listening out into the silence broken only by our steps. I heard no hum of traffic, no scurry of animals in the hedgerow. No call from the birds.

We walked at a slow pace for what I guessed could have been an hour and with the sight of the sea and a roundabout, we’d found civilisation again, just without the people.

At a petrol station we came across a queue of cars lined up at the pumps, maybe ten at each. The numbers on the tall sign were dark, and I guessed the cars were out of fuel when the pumps ran dry or the electricity went out.

“Will you guys wait here?” I said, looking to their faces.

“Yes. Go,” Cassie said, and untucked herself from my hold.

Just before I turned away, I looked to Alex who nodded back.

Jogging to the petrol station, I glanced in through the glass door at the shop and turned away at the sight of blood splashed across the floor just inside, instead peering at each of the vehicles. Some still had the nozzles plugged in. Each had their doors wide. Who shuts up their door when they have to run for their lives?

Checking the first, the keys were still in, the orange light coming on as I turned the ignition, with the needle sitting under the lowest line.

I moved to the next, looking past the blood sprayed across the four by four’s white side and the pump strewn to the road with the scent of fuel. With no keys, I moved to the next.

Glancing back to the road, each of the five still stood staring in my direction. Mandy watched with hope and I drew a smile as I saw Cassie standing with Alex near and her head raised, peering in my direction.

The next car, a Ford Focus, had keys. The tank was three quarters full and the engine started on the first attempt. I tried not to wonder why the owner hadn’t raced away when they had the opportunity.

***

I revelled at the speed, driving a hundred miles an hour down the empty roads potted only with the occasional car abandoned to the side. No one had the will to check them out; instead, we stared at the impact damage or the burning embers as we passed in the widest possible arcs.

With the town behind us, I slowed at junctions only to make sure we headed in the right direction. The road became a dual carriageway separated by a barrier and with our speed growing, so did the hope we were on the last leg of the journey and the next roadblock would be the last. On the other side would be a friendly army and their trucks to take us away; their guns and great numbers set to keep us safe.

I tried not to think what would happen if they recognised Jess, or if they had the same orders that had been given to Commander Lane and his crew.

The roadblocks continued to come and go and we skirted around the haphazard cars in lines and through walls smashed through with big trucks, bumping our way into fields to see vast lorries abandoned to the side with massive front-end damage.

Arriving in the town of Hayle and with the call of hunger, we stopped at a small trading estate and a bunch of shops; clothes and a coffeehouse. A pharmacy and supermarket. The carpark deserted, save for a battered old Ford Escort with its bonnet up.

I drove slowly into the expanse of tarmac and across the front of the shops with each of us peering in, stopping only when no one gave voice or warning of something seen.

Leaving the engine running and the door wide, Jess joined me, both of us looking to the horizon as we turned on the spot.

Shadow jumped out, peering around, but he waited by the car as if protecting the others when we walked away.

Jess opened the shop door, and I half expected a bell to sound. The place stank, but not