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

beyond the garden fence I watched as a creature stooped low to the grass and, as if seeing me, it rose high and gave a cry like a wolf howling to the moon.

82

Still, they waited in the line, each turning as I came down the stairs and watched my expression. There was no chance they could have missed the terrifying call, despite the rumble from the crowd outside and the evil smell penetrating through the walls.

I beamed back. If ever there was a time for a positive attitude, it was now. A few faces responded, Lane and Andrew's lifting, Cassie beaming as she looked back. McCole was unmoved as he leaned heavy on Lane's shoulder, his face downcast and growing paler with every moment.

I gave the order and stood to the side of the back door, waving Andrew out with his handgun peering ahead. Zoe and each of the kids followed; I read from their expressions their intrigue to see where we were off to next.

Lane came after with a rucksack on his back. McCole followed, his good hand on Lane's shoulder. He couldn't lift his leg enough and tripped on the step, separating from Lane and falling headfirst out the door.

Rushing to his aid, we had him the right way up, watching as he nodded he was still okay and exclaimed that the bruise on his head was nothing compared to the throbbing pain beneath the bandage he'd used to slow the fall.

Cassie offered a shot of morphine but pulled back from reaching around to her pack as he shook his head for a second time.

Lane took the lead again, going much slower this time and taking care of each crack in the concrete while checking up at Andrew, who hurried them forward and beckoned them towards the open back door, whilst each moment he swapped his glance to the road.

It wasn't long before everyone had squeezed in. Cassie took the last space next to McCole, resting his swelling hand on her lap. Our eyes met through the glass as I shut the back door, taking great care not to make a sound.

“It'll be okay,” I mouthed and she nodded, beaming back.

Andrew took the passenger seat; he'd share the front with the old guy's wife while the husband would have to take his chances in the back.

I jumped in the driver's seat, crunching broken glass under my feet, trying to ignore the slow procession only a few strides away.

They hadn't turned yet. I looked through the door window and remembered the missing glass. I was out again, crashing my foot against a fence panel, each snap causing more attention than I needed.

The shape wasn't right, but it would have to do. They were turning our way now, changing course with their mouths snapping open and closed.

Back in the seat with the rough fence panel at my side, I pulled the door closed, no longer any need for the silence. I didn't have time to settle in, leaning heavy against the panel blocking the space of the window.

I took a breath and the engine started first time. In the back, the low murmurs stopped and I watched in the mirror as all faces peered forward until the adults distracted the children's glances.

Revving the engine, I let the clutch out. None of the creatures moved to the side. A triangular path didn't open, but the Land Rover had no trouble dropping each in the way below the line of the bonnet.

With the suspension barely rocking as the wheels crushed bone, I saw our chance. The crowd was surging towards us, leaving a space where the old guy and his wife peered wide-eyed through a crack in the door.

“We're not going to have time. Drag them in, you'll have to do all the work for them,” I shouted over my shoulder.

Excitement grew in the rear and children hunched as they stood and were pushed further in so Lane could get to the back door.

Andrew readied his hand on the handle and I pushed the accelerator as far as it would go. Flesh slapped against the front, fingernails scraped along the paintwork.

I leaned as heavy as I could against the fence panel, giving more pressure as I felt the grab of hands scratching as fingers tried to get a hold. Still those in the way disappeared underneath in droves.

The cottage door was opening as we grew near, but a Cord clung to the bonnet, refusing to be dragged to its second death. Instead, entangled in the grill, its fingers, hand and arms slapped against the bonnet as it flailed its arms for our flesh.

I started the count from ten.

At five, we'd cleared the main group and I shifted the wheel left and right, the passengers gasping with each turn like they were on a rollercoaster. Still, the trapped Cord wouldn't dislodge, clinging on for what it called a life.

On three, I smashed through the old guy's fence, hitting a post square on the centre grill, but not before it dropped the body and dragged it underneath to give back my full vision.

On one, I slammed the brakes, stopping with the couple standing in the middle of the Land Rover's length.

The back door flew open, Cassie and Lane out. Andrew jumped from the passenger seat. He turned around, raising the gun, his expression bunching as he fired a salvo.

He didn't stay fixed for long and like a member of an elite Israeli snatch squad, he had the woman off the floor. Her calls couldn’t hide her surprise as she slid across the passenger seat while he paused a second time, firing two shots in our wake, then crushed up against the her to share the seat.

I revved the engine for fear of stalling and without looking, drove off as hard as I could when