The End of Us

by D, Hannah

  Zoe couldn’t stop smiling. It took all she had not to run or skip to them or even to jump and celebrate on the spot. They had to act like everything was natural so as not to tip off their watchers that anything was happening. They had to keep this very much under wraps, they would have a much better upper hand now over Brian’s group if this was kept secret.

  “You’re kidding!” Jeff whispered excitedly to her when she told them.

  “No! It’s completely real. We’ll all gradually make our way inside one by one instead of altogether” Zoe told them.

  “I didn’t even know my dad liked to hunt or even owned any guns otherwise I would’ve told you all” Simone told them.

  “We don’t think you kept this a secret from us, don’t worry” Zoe told her.

  They all started making their way into the depot building to discuss their new weapons and a new fighting plan.

  “I’ll go keep watch outside. I don’t want to handle a gun, I’d end up shooting myself or someone by mistake. Guns scare me” Sue said as she made her way outside.

  ‘That only now leaves four people who won’t get a gun’ Zoe thought.

  Zoe didn’t know how diplomatic and sharing the group would be when it came to discussing who’d get a gun and who wouldn’t. Zoe hoped that by bringing the other tools they could use as weapons inside as well it would make choosing and deciding who got guns that bit better. Zoe had no clue who would and wouldn’t get a gun.

  Soon enough everyone was inside the office and looking at the guns grinning over the amazing find.

  “You honestly had no idea they were stored out there?” Mike asked Simone.

  “Not a clue! My dad and brother used to take weekend breaks away and never tell me where they were going. I guess I know they went hunting now. Not sure how I feel about that” Simone said honestly.

  “I could kiss your dad and brother for being secret hunters!” Mark said to her.

  Jeff stood up and quoted the conversation down so they could start the tough decision making.

  “There are only ten guns in total. Four people will be without a gun since Sue has already said she doesn’t want one. Now I guess the easiest way is for those who want a gun to raise their hand” Jeff said.

  Everyone in the room raised their hand apart from Simone.

  “I won’t be able to handle a gun right. I’ll feel more comfortable taking one of the shears, they’re more my style of weapon” Simone said.

  “So that leaves three of us not getting a gun now. How do we decide this?” Jeff asked the group.

  Everyone looked at one anther, waiting to see if anyone would opt out to taking a gun. No one did.

  “Who knows the least about handling a gun?” Jeff asked.

  “I think all of us know about the same as each other, pretty strict gun rules for us all to own and have had practice at using guns here in Scotland, well the whole of the UK”John pointed out.

  “Me and Sophia had some gun practice when we went to a shooting range in America on holiday” Jeff said.

  “Okay, you both get a gun then. Anyone else who had some practice before?” John asked.

  Arthur and Mike raised their hands.

  “Went Clay shooting for Arthurs sixteenth birthday” Mike said.

  “Alright you both also get a gun” John said.

  “I can aim pretty good, I could take a rifle and maybe get some good shots in at both Brians group and the skin eaters” Micheal said.

  “Alright, that makes five, only five more can get a gun” John said.

  “Zoe should get a gun as well, she’s doing most of the watches with Michael” Jeff pointed out.

  “Alright Zoe, you as well” John said.

  “I’ll opt out now and just take the saw, I like the look of it and it can cause a lot of damage!” Mandy said.

  “Video games count as having practice with guns right?” Mark asked.

  “Well if they do then that means I also qualify for getting a gun” John said.

  “You both make the list as well then” Jeff said.

  “I’ll take the rake, the more we keep on talking about guns the less confident I feel taking one” Kirsty said.

  “I’ll also take myself out for wanting a gun, I prefer the rake as well” Sarah said.

  “There we have it, guns all divided up and everyone is happy, right?” John asked.

  Everyone agreed and they went up and chose which gun they would each have. Michael, Zoe, Lewis, Mark and John all took the rifles. Jeff, Sophia, Mike, Arthur and Alice took the hand guns. They all helped each other load up their guns with bullets. So far it was Jeff and Sophia who knew the most about guns.

  “Will we get a chance to practice using them?” Lewis asked.

  “I don’t think we will with us being watched and the noise alone would just draw in skin eaters” Jeff said.

  “We’ll just have to learn at the time of the fight I suppose” Zoe said.

  “Me and Sophia can teach you all on how to use them without setting them off by putting the safety on on the guns” Jeff said.

  “That’ll be better than just going into a fight using them blind” Lewis said.

  Jeff and Sophia went around scheduling people in when they would show them how to use the guns. Sue had came back in and chose the shears as well to use as her weapon.

  “Much better for me” Sue had said.

  Kirsty had offered to place one of the drills in her backpack just in case they needed it later on as an extra weapon. Sarah also took the other drill. They did like to do the same things and preferred the same weapons. It could be the beginning of a great friendship for them both.

  “What do I get?” Alex asked.

  “You keep the knife bud but remember, you’re staying away from the fighting and the bad people” Jeff told him.

  “Yeah, I know” Alex said sadly.

  Zoe hadn’t even noticed Alex slipping into the room when they were all discussing the weapons. Zoe also didn’t like the fact that Alex was sad he didn’t get a dangerous weapon to kill someone. She was prepared for Alex one day killing skin eaters without feeling bad about it but she wasn’t prepared for him to readily kill other humans. Zoe would’ve spoken to him herself but she knew this was a conversation for Jeff to have with his brother. Would be better coming from him.

  “When will I pencil you in for some practice?” Jeff asked Zoe as he came up to her.

  “Well whenever your schedule allows it” Zoe said to him.

  “You know I have some availability now?” Jeff told her.

  “I’ll take it” Zoe said to him smiling.

  Jeff took her hand and led her out of the room and into their own office bedroom. Zoe was happy that she was finally getting some alone time with Jeff, even if it was just for gun practice.

  “So where do we sta..” Zoe started to say.

  Zoe didn’t get to finish her sentence before Jeff’s lips were on hers, one hand grabbing her neck and the other hand circling around her waist. Zoe’s arms went up and around Jeff’s neck, her fingers brushing through his hair.

  Zoe hadn’t expected Jeff to kiss her like this. She should’ve guessed he may have wanted to kiss her after offering her gun practice so suddenly.

  Jeff pulled away from Zoe after a few minutes breathing hard. Zoe was breathing hard as well, feeling a little dazed and light headed.

  “Sorry, I just had to do that. It’s been a while since we were alone together” Jeff told her smiling.

  “Well, this time I like being caught off guard, better than being frightened when you jump out of nowhere” Zoe told him laughing.

  “I’ll keep that in mind” Jeff said as he bent to kiss her some more.

  Zoe leaned into him as their kiss started to deepen. Jeff’s hand moving to her back to pull her closer to him, moaning into her mouth. Zoe felt herself being pushed into the wall behind her, her hands moving to Jeff’s t shirt to pull him closer to her, Jeff’s hands moving to her hips. Zoe began to moan into hi
s mouth as she gripped his t shirt. It wasn’t until Jeff’s hand began to move under her t shirt and she felt his hand on her side move in close to her bra that she broke off the kiss.

  “We should stop. Take this slow” she panted to him.

  “Yeah, you’re right. I got carried away” Jeff replied to her.

  “You weren’t the only one” Zoe breathed.

  Jeff let out a breathy laugh as moved his hand out from under her t shirt and rest his forehead against hers.

  They stayed like that for a few minutes, both of them trying to catch their breath. Zoe was beginning to think that she must be crazy to have stopped it going any further, with the ever impending fight looming from Brian and his group and the skin eaters they really didn’t have the time to wait and take it slow. Just as Zoe was about to say fuck it and start kissing Jeff again and have sex with him Jeff moved off her, giving her a peck on the lips.

  ‘Damn it Zoe! Now how long will I have to wait?’ Zoe thought to herself angrily.

  “You really are hard to stay away from and keep my hands off of” Jeff said to her.

  “I can say the same about you” Zoe told him.

  “I’ve been wanting to feel you against me again for days. I miss sleeping beside you at night” Jeff told her.

  “Yeah I haven’t been sleeping too great without you next to me” Zoe told him.

  Jeff smiled at that and went and picked up the guns that they had placed on the floor when their kiss got deeper and Zoe was against the wall. Zoe knew she would be thinking about that kiss for days or until they got to kiss like that again, hopefully taking it further next time.

  “So let me show you how to work a gun” Jeff said, pulling Zoe from her thoughts.

  “Hmm..yeah that would be good” Zoe said.

  “Pull you from some amazing thoughts of me there did I?” Jeff winked at her.

  “You’re so full of yourself you know that” Zoe laughed, trying to hide her blush.

  Jeff laughed and handed Zoe her rifle. It felt heavy, heavier than what Zoe was expecting. Jeff reached over and flicked a switch.

  “Safety switch on the gun so it doesn’t actually shoot” Jeff told her.

  Zoe nodded her head and waited for Jeff to tell her how to use it.

  Jeff was a pretty good teacher about guns. He knew how to aim, where everything was and what to press to shoot. He warned Zoe she had to hold the gun properly when shooting or she could end up breaking bones in her wrist.

  ‘Using the gun is just as dangerous as being on the other end of one’ Zoe thought.

  “There, easy as that, trying lining your eye up to aim with the gun” Jeff said to her.

  Zoe put the gun up against her shoulder, her eye following the gun down to the point where the bullet would come out of and lined it up so that it faced the window ledge. She could see the part where she wanted to shoot and how easy she could shoot it from the angle she was holding the gun.

  “Seems pretty easy enough” Zoe told him.

  “Knew you’d grasp it quick” Jeff told her.

  Zoe felt proud of herself for grasping how to handle a gun so quick. Jeff seemed impressed with her as well. When she looked at him she caught him smiling at her.

  “What is it?” Zoe asked him.

  “Nothing, I’m just glad I’m found a girl who knows how to handle herself” Jeff told her.

  Zoe began to blush again and tried to hide it.

  “Hey, stop. I like when you blush” Jeff told her as he leaned into kiss her again.

  Just as Zoe was melting into the kiss the door opened.

  “Oh god, sorry for interrupting. Uh Jeff it’s time to teach me how to use the gun” Alice said.

  Zoe and Jeff both broke apart and looked to Alice.

  “It’s alright, lets go into the kitchen and I’ll teach you. See you later Zoe” Jeff told her.

  “Yeah see you” Zoe said blushing again.

  Zoe could hear Alice giving Jeff the third degree about them as she and Jeff walked off to the kitchen, it made Zoe laugh.

  It was already dark outside and Zoe had the night off from keeping watch and she knew exactly how she was going to spend her night off.

  Sleeping.

  She hoped that Jeff would come and join her tonight so that she might get a full nights sleep.

  Chapter 13

  The sunlight streamed through the blinds into the office. Zoe felt the heat hit her face and slowly opened her eyes.

  Jeff was there, lying beside her, snoring softly, lost in his own dream. Zoe lay there and studied his features, the curve of his nose, the small dimple on his chin, the way his hair flopped slightly on his forehead. Zoe felt like a stalker just lying here staring at him but she couldn’t help herself, she also couldn’t help the smile that was spreading on her face.

  Zoe didn’t even hear Jeff getting into bed with her last night, she must’ve been exhausted. Zoe also knew that she’d had a deep sleep because Jeff had slept beside her last night.

  Zoe decided to get up and see what had to be done today and if there was anymore movement last night from Brian and his group or from skin eaters. She got dressed and stole one last look at Jeff sleeping before quietly slipping out the door.

  “Morning Zoe, breakfasts sitting out in the kitchen” Alice said.

  “Thanks Alice, do you ever sleep? You always seem to be awake” Zoe asked her.

  “Hmm.. five hours is enough sleep for me, chef life and all” Alice said with a sad smile.

  Zoe gave her a sad smile in response and made her way into the kitchen for some breakfast. There was only John in there who gave her a small wave from the dishes he was cleaning. He was humming a tune to himself, it seemed a pretty upbeat tune to Zoe.

  Porridge was the breakfast this morning. Zoe didn’t mind, in fact Zoe couldn’t remember a time before the epidemic started that she was able to sit down for a meal that wasn’t something out of a takeaway box at stupid o clock in the morning. She was enjoying having proper food. Zoe was taking the small enjoyments as they came.

  It didn’t seem like many people were up and about this morning yet. Zoe didn’t even know the time but she was guessing it was about six in the morning, not many people willingly got up at that time.

  Zoe guzzled down the rest of her porridge and went to go wash her bowl.

  “I’ll do that” John said to her.

  “You sure?” Zoe asked.

  “Yeah, I’m here cleaning anyway and I find it pretty relaxing cleaning dishes.”

  “In that case the bowl is all yours!”

  Zoe handed the bowl over and left the kitchen to go make her way outside to see who had been on watch and to get the update from whoever it was. All the doors to the separate rooms in the building were all still closed, everyone still seemed to be asleep, there weren’t even any murmurs or whispers coming from behind any of the doors.

  Zoe walked outside and found Michael and Simone on watch. They were chatting away to each other and leaning in close to one another, completely oblivious that Zoe had walked outside and was standing behind them. Zoe cleared her throat to make them aware that she was standing there.

  “Oh hey Zoe! Didn’t notice you come out” Simone said with a blush.

  “Yeah sorry, seems that most people don’t notice when someone walks out the building” Zoe said with a laugh.

  “Watching everywhere but that door” Simon said laughing as well.

  “Anything new on Brian and his group?” Zoe asked.

  “Nah not a lot, one more person joking at the front of us so that make nine in front and eight watching us from the back” Michael told her.

  “And the skin eaters? Anymore made their way here during the night?”

  “Few more, easy enough to take out. Not too many to really worry us” Michael said.

  “Good, you both go inside for food and sleep. I’ll take over the watch” Zoe told them.

  “Well Alice already fed us but I could use the sleep” Simone said.
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br />   “Yeah me too” Michael yawned.

  They both stood up and went back inside whilst Zoe took over. Zoe picked up the binoculars and looked through to see how many of Brian’s group were awake and watching them. There were only three awake and watching.

  ‘If there was only one awake during the night we could easily take them’ Zoe thought.

  That wouldn’t be likely though with this group. They were too smart to have only one awake during the night in case anyone or skin eaters snuck up on them.

  Zoe put the binoculars back down and looked around the depot. Zoe didn’t want to leave this place with it’s good set up. They’d all made this place like home now, they were actually too comfortable to leave believe it or not. Zoe slid herself down the seat and made herself comfortable, letting the sun fall across her face as she let out a sigh.

  “Hard to believe that it’s the first of August today” Mike said as he came to sit next to Zoe.

  “Wow, the first already?” Zoe asked.

  “Yeah, time is flying by, three and a half weeks since this epidemic all started” Mike said to Zoe.

  “And so much has happened in those weeks” Zoe commented.

  In three and a half weeks Zoe had been chased and nearly eaten by the skin eaters, found a group of people who have now became her friends, found a safe place for them to stay and now to have it nearly taken away from all of them by some other group of mad people who were being led by the maddest man of all. Brian. It was hard for Zoe to process all that had happened and how much her life had changed in those few weeks.

  “..longest heatwave I think we’ve had” Mike finished saying.

  Zoe had gotten lost in her thoughts and missed the beginning of what Mike had said to her. She decided to just reply from the end of that sentence.

  “Yeah I think it is. Can’t remember Scotland being this hot for this long.”

  “I never thought I’d hear myself wishing that it would rain” Mike laughed.

  “Well August is one step closer to winter so your wish might come true” Zoe said.

  “Winter.. We’re not really equipped for winter arrival if this skin eater epidemic is still happening” Mike said.