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

Clear of the front garden, I looked in the passenger wing mirror and watched as the Cords slowly turned to follow. I watched as they overcame the bodies Andrew had dropped.

Checking in front, I saw the empty road and peered left out of Andrew's window. It was clear.

I looked back through the rear-view mirror and let out a breath as I saw the squashed faces; Lane, the old guy and Cassie in the back.

I relaxed against the fence panel, settled into my seat with my breath slowing until Cassie's scream ripped through the air, slamming on the brakes as a gunshot flashed from the back and sent my ears ringing.

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Andrew and I burst out through our doors. The fence panel flew out to the road as I jumped. Freezing in my stride; I stared back at the creature I'd seen from the house. Its matted dark hair swung wild with its long stride towards us.

A gunshot exploded from the other side of the Rover. I turned, grabbed the rifle from down the side of the seat and dropped to my knee. Despite being scared to take the time, I looked through the sight and lined up the shaking iron.

As I pulled the trigger, I hit the target again and again.

Andrew's shots filled the spaces between mine. Too soon the creature dropped to its haunches, leaping to the air and out of view.

I shouldered the rifle; the abomination was gone. I rose, running to the back of the Land Rover, my gaze cast along the line of Cords who I knew would catch up too soon.

By the rear doors, I followed the trail of thick blood splattered in wide marks across the tarmac. A shot went off from around the side before I could look up; before I could round the corner.

All I could see was the plume spraying through the air and the body rolling to Andrew's side, the back of its head an open mess, the white of sharp bone poking through flesh.

Blood covered Andrew's arm. He'd been hit, bitten, his face contorted in pain. Had it not been for the chaos at my side and the screams of panic in the back of the Land Rover, I would have rushed to his aid.

Ripping the door open, Ellie's face ran with tears as she was pushed towards me. I searched in the darkness, desperate to find what had happened. I caught her before she fell to the tarmac, her face, clothes, everywhere I looked were sprayed with blood. A handgun skittered after her, stopping just before it dropped.

I took a left-handed hold of her and pushed my right into the darkness of the passenger compartment. Grabbing what I felt first, my hand came back with the scruff of the old guy's collar.

I had him out to the road with no complaint, pausing only as I saw the jagged gunshot wound in the front of his face.

A shot went off but not from inside. It was Andrew and I turned. The Cords were going down with every new round, but still there were around twenty left, making their steady progress towards us.

My hand went in a second time and found the arm of McCole's camouflage fatigues. Pulling as hard as I could, I soon realised most of his head had been left behind.

I dragged his body to the floor, blood trailing after, the veins sticking out from what I could see of his skin.

I only had time to guess that McCole must have turned as I drove. Someone had taken action, but the bullet had unintended consequences, taking the old neighbour too.

Screams continued to issue from inside and so did the rounds from Andrew, until I heard the soft click of the empty chamber, the subtle noise mixed with the screaming chaos.

My reach into the darkness found another, but what I had was so light I felt panic race up my spine when I thought I'd found just a part of someone.

My face lit up as I found it was Tish, her weight suddenly heavy as Jack clung on. I pulled them both out and Ellie took control of the pair, helping them steady to the road and herding them around the side, whilst being careful to move their view from the pair of gruesome bloodied bodies at my feet.

With my fourth reach I had to turn back, letting go of the cloth I'd taken in my hand, the moans of the walking dead creatures so close.

A hand grabbed at my coat but I could do nothing but walk away; had to raise the pistol and let fury burst from its muzzle.

With each round I took a step forward, issuing a terrifying, angry scream without my command; despite the water in my eyes rounding out my vision, each shot hit square in their heads.

As the gun clicked, telling me it was all over, I put the last three down, emptying the bullets from the rifle.

I went to turn back, but had to take a breath, forcing myself to twist. As I did, I saw the old woman bent down by Andrew, her hand ripping his shirt from his arm. The gun lay down at her side.

To the right, Ellie had the two kids facing in towards her, her arms wrapped tight around their backs. No one else had emerged from the Land Rover and still there was Zoe and Lane, but I could barely bring myself to think of Cassie unaccounted for.

My knees and feet slipped on the vehicle's slick floor, my eyes still not adjusted to the dark, but my gaze soon locked with Lane's, following his hands held tight around Zoe's throat.

Her eyes were blinking faster than I thought possible. Moments later they stopped altogether and she slumped forward. I switched back to