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

“Jess,” Alex called, as the figures covered the distance in the blink of an eye.

Despite the Chinook so close, almost on the ground, sending the downwash of the rotor blades to batter us all, Jess replied.

“Go. Run. Quickly,” she called through the turbulence, reminding me that as soon as they’d taken to the sky, they would leave us behind, unarmed and almost certain to die.

55

JESSICA

I shook my head toward Alex, not able to battle against the fierce noise whilst trying to hide the desperation at being trapped by Toni once again. If she knew how I felt inside, Alex wouldn’t willingly leave my side.

All I had left was to hope that I could make a difference when I got to where they were taking me, although I knew it was likely she would have planned for every eventuality.

Still, I had no choice but go with them for the sake of the children, for any hope of there being a future for me, forcing down any fear that I could make this entire thing so much worse if I gave Toni what she needed.

But I couldn’t just ignore the fact that once the helicopter landed, it would be over. I would be hers.

Either way, someone else would take the pain and perhaps it wasn’t my decision; maybe fate should have been the one to decide. Startling myself, I realised for the first time I was about to let someone else have control.

With the helicopter coming so close, holding steady in its descent, I spotted the soldiers coming towards us, knowing there were so few left of their number.

The helicopter pivoted around, turning, almost in touching distance so when the wheels hit the ground we could run inside, taking to the air and be gone from this place to safety and to hope I could stop the kids from going through what I had endured.

Toni would show me how to control myself, despite the progress I’d made. She would show me how to stop the hunger altogether and I would have time to think about what to do next. How to take back control. And find Alex again.

56

LOGAN

With the building at our backs no longer able to protect us, I looked instead on the river to our right, remaking the choice I’d hoped we’d avoided. Glancing the other way and toward the pained calls and the wet, wrenching sound of a soldier being ripped apart, I turned away as another stumbled with a creature landing to drag yet more to the ground. There were so many everywhere I looked.

As the helicopter’s wheels touched the ground, I grabbed out at hands on either side and gripping tight I led everyone forward, along the building and toward the river.

Alex soon let go, pulling off the rucksack and holding it in her hands, jumping over the edge without hesitation and was quickly swept along by the torrent, her head under the brown water. I tried to let go of Mandy’s hand but she gripped tight. As I looked her way, she called out through the whirl of turbulent air.

“I can’t swim,” she shouted, her eyes bulging as she shook her head.

Panic surged and I chanced a look to the rushing creatures at our backs and the last of the soldiers running to the helicopter, hoping I would see them take each of the creatures down before they flew away with Jess, and the pilot of the hovering gunship would forget any orders he might have to leave no witnesses.

Cassie flashed by at my side, followed by Shadow going under the murky water. I thought about his wound and the pain he must be in and the concentration needed to kick his legs under the surface.

“We’ve got no choice,” I shouted to Mandy. “Hold my hand. I’ll keep you safe.”

She nodded, then we both turned to the fast flow, drawing a deep breath and holding tight to each other’s hand as we jumped.

I listened to her squeal through the short fall, before we were engulfed, freezing water stealing my breath, but all I could think was keeping my grip. As the rush settled around me, the chill took hold; I tried to kick my heavy legs, willing myself up through the water and pulling against Mandy’s weight as she seemed to sink lower, dragging me down. With my hand going numb, along with the rest of my body, I could just about feel my grip against hers as my lungs screamed for air.

The next moment, Mandy’s grip wasn’t there, her hold gone, the downward drag slowing and I pulled my heavy arm up. Her touch was gone.

Moving my arms around in a circle, I sought her out, but with my energy almost spent, my will draining as the cold penetrated, I could do nothing more than to save my own life.

With water rushing me along, somehow I broke the surface, gasping for air and spitting out the earthy water as I searched for her.

I couldn’t catch my breath, unable to will my lungs to pull deep. I tried calling out, but the cold stole everything I had. I tried turning to search but it took all my energy to stop my trainers and clothes pulling back down into the water as I rushed along.

“Mandy,” I tried again, but was rewarded with a mouth full of foul water I couldn’t help but swallow. There was no sign of her.

With my breath still shallow and racing, I grew weaker with every moment, shivering as the rush of water seemed to settle, carrying me along as the last words I’d said to Mandy went around in my head.

The flow of water turned me facing back to where we’d jumped. Panic rose as I watched the remains of a figure hit the helicopter’s