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

I rose back to the top step, leaving the bottle to rest on a bookcase in the landing before hurrying down the stairs with the smell of charred meat filling my lungs.

“Barbecue,” I said under my breath as I peered out of the window to the thin wisp of white smoke.

Following the smell through the kitchen and into the dining room, I found the long table set for eight places with everyone but Zoe sat down as she moved around the table, forking out food to each setting.

All eyes turned to me as I entered; even Shadow took his stare from the plate of food as it moved around the room. At his feet, a bowl already stood empty.

Cassie sat between Andrew and Ellie, smiling in my direction, only turning away as Zoe filled her plate.

“We found a full freezer. It thawed, but the stuff at the bottom was still cold,” Andrew said, a half smile filling his face.

“Who’s watching?” I replied, my mouth not curling up as it filled with saliva. “There’s one out there,” I said, looking between the faces.

“Just one?” Andrew replied.

I nodded.

“The doors are locked and everyone is here,” he added, looking around the table. “It’ll be fine while we eat,” and attacked his food with his knife and fork, sounds of pleasure issuing from his mouth.

I knew he was probably right and I also knew too well the pull of the food on the table.

“Why didn't anyone wake me for my turn?” I asked, still standing in the doorway.

“You needed the sleep,” Lane replied, to nods around the table as he cut the food on McCole's plate.

I watched a grin appear on Cassie's face and she looked me straight in the eye, biting her bottom lip as she dipped her head; it hadn't been a dream.

Shadow joined me at my side as I took the seat at the head of the table and ate like it was only the second proper meal I'd had in days.

Despite being able to finish my plate, I let Shadow take the last of the prime meat and watched him gulp it down, barely chewing as I ran my palm down his black coat.

Last night was where it all changed, but the first real change came only moments later.

A fist, not heavy but firm, banged on the front door.

Lane, Andrew, McCole and I shared a look, pausing before we jumped to our feet, knocking the table as we rose.

The three of us who were able had the same thought, grabbing table knives in our fists as we ran to the front door.

“No, no, no,” came the voice from the other side as I struggled with the door, finding it double locked; we didn't find a key last night.

I shrugged my jacket on and gingerly opened the back door, a gust of wind rushing across my face.

With Andrew at my back we crept around the corner, my hand fumbling in the pocket for the handgun, only then remembering I was the rifleman now.

Nearing the corner and brushing down the side of the Land Rover, I could hear a low moan in the street and saw Cords ambling in the distance. The procession shared the same pace, slowing rolling down the street. I turned back and glanced at Andrew, silently confirming with a shake of my head they hadn’t been there a moment ago.

At the front was the old man I recognised from across the road, banging at our door and repeating the same word.

“What's wrong?” I asked, letting my fist down, despite the shotgun cracked open in the crook of his arm.

As he saw me, then Andrew at my back, his eyes opened wide, his free arm reaching out.

“What's wrong?” I repeated.

“The smell, the smell,” he said.

I stopped moving but didn't need long to figure out he was talking about the food smell still only just dissipating.

“It's drawing them in.”

I turned again, looking behind me. Although the creatures still ambled slowly, they were getting close and another pack was coming from the other end of the row of houses.

“Shit,” I said, turning to Andrew. “We've got to go and quick.”

Andrew disappeared down the side of the house and I turned back to the old man.

“Listen,” I said, trying to calm his continued repetition. “We need to go now,” but when he didn't react, I built my voice up.

“We've found a safe place, a hospital a few miles away. The military are there, they'll help. You can come with us if you want?”

We didn't really have the room but would have to make do. I couldn't leave these people here when we could give them hope.

He stopped talking; stopped repeating his words and eventually nodded with great enthusiasm.

“Go back to your wife, get ready and we'll come and get you,” I said, and watched as he turned, hobbling across the road as the horde drew in from either side.

By the time I was back in the house, thanks to our planning last night, everyone was queuing up at the back door with the supplies in hand, Lane helping McCole to line up whilst handing me the rifle.

“The old couple from over the road are coming with us,” I said, and despite everyone knowing there was so little room, no-one voiced any other opinion.

Before I gave the signal, I ran upstairs, looked out of the front window and lingered on the group merging in the middle. I tried to count, grouping each in ten, but stopped as I got to fifty. At least they were only the slow creatures; a dream to deal with compared to what might have been.

I kicked myself as I checked the back room. Staring out