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

kitchen floor, it was like seeing into the past; the moment frozen when the staff dropped everything to run for their lives.

Following Shadow with his nose high in the air, then to the floor and back up again, I stepped with caution through the rooms on the ground floor, reassuring myself with every lungful of stale air.

Anxiety rose as Shadow raced away, only to calm as his feet padded against the tiles to return to my view. Back in the wide reception, Mandy stood to the tall glass, staring out across the darkened ruined city whilst Cassie lay on the sofa where we’d left her. I guessed Alex and Jess must have been on their own exploration.

After pushing the reception chairs between the revolving glass doors, checking twice they would no longer move and the single glass door to its left remained locked, we made ourselves comfortable in the kitchen, digging out the last of the fresh ingredients at the back of the cupboards and the cuts of meat not too warm in the silent fridge.

It hadn’t been long since they’d run from this place. Two days, I could only guess.

We ate in the restaurant amongst tables littered with half-eaten meals, glasses smeared with lipstick and wine to hint at the timing. Even Cassie perked up enough to take a few mouthfuls between sips of water.

With the meal complete, I stared out of the wide windows and into the darkness of the night, whose glow seemed alive.

Alex appeared once we’d eaten, a frown hanging heavy on her face. Following her to the kitchen, I left Cassie and Mandy with their feet up in the lounge and Shadow sleeping off his meal. Finding Alex raiding the cupboards, she pulled what she could from the stores, but most were catering packs too large for the road.

“Is she okay?” I asked. Alex knew who I meant, peering back, not able to hide her concern.

“She’s gone next door. To the offices.”

“Alone?” I replied. “We need to stick together.”

“I didn’t get a say. We’ll make another broadcast at first light,” she said, turning back to her search.

“She won’t be able to get back in. I’ve blocked the front door.”

“I’ve got a feeling she won’t be back until the morning.”

She held my gaze, her hand twisting the black watch on her wrist as she rearranged the giant tins at her feet. I left the conversation there, knowing her reluctance to say anymore, and that’s when I knew she’d seen the same signs I had.

My thoughts turned to finding a place for us to sleep, knowing it would be a busy day tomorrow, not least of which would be to figure out where we were going.

We didn’t have the pick of the rooms. With no power, the electronic locks held closed, but as I arrived at the top floor, the signs of panic were everywhere. Cleaners had abandoned their carts, wedging doors open; others stood wide, blocked from closing by abandoned luggage.

Choosing the furthest down the corridor, I settled Cassie down, pulling the covers over her clothes.

Leaving only for a moment, I told the others of the rooms, returning with Shadow at my heel, pausing as I watched Cassie’s breath already settled into a rhythm.

***

Peering through the great windows, I watched as first light crept up the horizon, its glow broken only by the rising dark lines of smoke across the view.

After laying Cassie on the bed last night, I’d torn down the net curtains and pushed the upholstered chair to the window. Wrapping a blanket around my shoulders, I’d intended to watch over her, but had fallen asleep in an instant with the relief I didn’t have to tell her about the children until the morning.

Twisting in the seat, I watched the mound on the bed stir. Shadow laid at her feet with his paws in the air.

Stretching out a stiffness in my neck, I wrapped myself tighter from the cold and turned to the windows. As darkness melted away, I stared to the pickup with its front wheels in the great crater I’d only seen after it was too late. Looking along the rest of the road littered with so many holes, I knew the way would be impossible for anything but a tank to navigate.

My mind turned to where we should head and with no clue as to where the children were being held, our only option would be to go north and see how far we could get.

My slow gaze caught on the buildings missing from the skyline and the rubble in their place with smoke rising from the remains. The scene reminded me of black and white images of the blitz, minus the people rallying to help.

I turned to the sound of movement at my back, smiling toward Cassie who sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes as Shadow righted himself. She peered around the room as if unsure of where we she was, before looking to see she still wore the clothes she’d had on since we’d met.

Her frown bloomed to a glorious smile, sending joy surging through my body, but about to rise and walk to the bed and take her in my arms, I knew this was the time.

“The children aren’t safe,” I said, regretting the words as they came out.

Cassie squinted in my direction as her smile fell away.

“How do you know?” she said in a dry voice.

“Jess knows the doctors. They’re not looking for a cure. I know how it sounds. I know you’re alive because of what they gave you, but they’re not safe and we have to find them.”

“How are they not safe?” she said.

“They’re going to be experimented on,” I said, knowing there was no easy way to put the words across.

I watched as her breath raced, her chest pumping