End of the Line | Part 1

by Levi, Casey

  Kristen slowly moved out from behind the furnace and walked over to the woman and her child. “Are you two okay?” She cautioned herself as she crouched down in front of the woman. She was an older woman, in her forties. Deep brown hair that matched her brown eyes. Her petite frame cradled the child tighter against her. “I would offer you something to drink, but there is no water back here. I’m Kristen.”

  The woman hesitated. “Maria, and this is my son Zac.”

  “Hi Zac, I’m Kristen. How old are you?”

  “He’s shy…” Maria gave a light laugh. “Zac, can you tell Kristen how old you are?”

  The little boy held up five fingers. “I’m five.”

  “You’re such a big boy, and brave too. Can I have a high five?” Kristen held her hand up for the little boy, and Zac hit it. She smiled at the child and his mother.

  Kristen stood up and walked over to where Julie was. She had moved out from behind the furnace and was standing next to Aran who sat on the floor next to the man he had stabbed. She could tell that he was upset and lost in his own thoughts, but who wouldn’t be? Even though he did what had to be done to protect them. Those things were going to kill them if he hadn’t done it, but it was something no person should ever have to do. As she walked past the other man that was still lying on the floor, she noticed that his eyes were a dark tar green color and looking at him gave her the creeps.

  “So, what’s our plan now?” Kristen folded her arms.

  “We sit here until morning.” Julie said looking over at Maria and Zac. “How are they doing?”

  “They’re fine. You?”

  “I’m fine but… Aran won’t say anything…” Julie let her voice trail off as she looked down at Aran.

  Kristen moved closer to Aran and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Aran are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” He bit out as he jerked his shoulder away from her.

  “You did what you had to do to protect us. It’s not your fault.” Kristen said softly.

  Aran stood up from the ground and turned to face her. “I know this is not my fault. It’s that damned professor’s fault…” He paused for a moment. “Why didn’t you come and get us sooner?”

  “What?” Kristen looked at him in shock. “This is not my fault, so don’t even try to blame any of this on me.” She was baffled at his accusation. She had tried to get them up sooner, but Julie hadn’t believed her.

  “You might as well be just as guilty as them. If you would have gotten us sooner, then they would not have left, and those things wouldn’t have gotten in here.” Aran practically spit the words out at her.

  “Oh, I’m sorry that I was trying to see what they were up to…” Kristen spit out sarcastically. “And do not try and blame yourself guilt on me.” She pushed against his chest to move him away from her.

  Aran grabbed her wrists before she could pull her hands away. “Look around Kristen. The world is going to shit, and someone is at fault for it. You want to sit here and tell me no one is to blame for this mess?”

  “I’m not saying no one is to blame…” She struggled against his hold. “Aran let go of me.”

  “Where’s Reed Kristen?”

  “Don’t-”

  “Come on Kristen, say it. Where’s Reed?” He leaned closer to her so there were only inches separating their faces. “He’s dead Kristen. Who is to blame for that?”

  “No!” Kristen screamed in his face as the tears started to spill from her eyes. “Shut up, shut up, shut UP!!!”

  “Dammit Aran, leave her alone!” Julie shoved against his chest, and he let go of her hands. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She grabbed Kristen and wrapped her in a hug. “Kris don’t listen to him. We’re all having a tough time with this…”

  “I miss him so much…”

  Julie hugged her tighter. “I’m so sorry Kris. we all need to try and be strong. We can’t afford for anyone to lose it now.”

  “I know…” Kristen let go of her friend.

  Julie looked at her with sorrow filled eyes. “Why don’t you try and lay down for a little while, and I’ll wake you up in a bit, okay?”

  Kristen nodded, and turned away from her. She looked around the small room for a place to lay, but as she scanned the room her eyes fell upon the man with his eyes wide open. They looked like a dark tar green, and he was staring right at her. It gave her the chills. She felt saddened at the sight of him. He was an older man with a balding head, and many lines around his face. His once white shirt and blue overalls were now blood stained and torn. She knelt by him, and put her hand over the man’s face, gliding it down, and shutting his eyes.

  “I’m sorry this happened to you.” She felt the need to say something to the man, even though she had no clue who he was.

  As she rocked back on her heels, she went to stand up but heard a faint breathing noise. Confused, she looked back down at the man and nervously bit down on her bottom lip. She shook her head from side to side. It was not possible, was it? Decided it was the latter, she went to stand up, but heard it again. Only this time it was deeper. With a shaky hand she pressed two fingers against the man’s neck. Nothing. There was no pulse. Feeling very confused, she looked around the room; first at her friends, then at the other man lying on the floor. It was not coming from any of them.

  She looked down at the man again and furrowed her eyebrows. “I must be losing my mind.” As she rocked back on her heels again to stand up, but she caught the man’s chest rising out of the corner of her eye. She slowly leaned forward and placed her ear by the man’s face. There was no sound, but suddenly his chest moved again, and she jumped up in a sitting position. “Uh guys?”

  When her friends did not answer her, she turned her attention away from the man and looked over at them. Something grabbed a hold of her hair, and she let out a loud scream. She struggled against the man, but he was pulling her head back in an awkward position. His grunting was loud, and when she looked at him from the corner of her eyes, his face was only inches away from hers. He was snapping his teeth at her, and she was afraid that he was going to rip into her face. Suddenly Aran and Jesse grabbed him and forced his hand open. She jumped up to her feet, and the man without warning turned his attention to Maria and her son. Maria screamed as she tried to fend off the man, but he bit down on her hand. Her son Zac wiggled from her grip, and ran across the room, and Kristen picked him up.

  Kristen ran towards the corner of the room by Julie and watched as Aran and Jesse fought the man. Zac was screaming in her arms and trying to climb free, but she held onto him tighter. A loud banging on the back door pulled her attention away from what was happening before her. She gripped onto Zac tighter, and feared for what was about to come through the door. The banging grew louder with ever hit, and then suddenly the door flew open. She had no time to react as the man ran into the room, and straight for her. She was suddenly being pulled against his chest, and all she could do was sob.

  10

  Chapter Ten

  * * *

  Reed was not sure how long he had been sitting there in the corner of the dumpster. The smell was so overwhelming, that he could feel the vial rising in his throat. He tried to hold back the burning ache by trying to hold his breath for seconds, but to him it felt like minutes. His brain was starving for oxygen, so he slowly took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. The night had grown quiet, and he listened for any sign that those things were still out there looking for him. He knew that he needed to find a way to get to his friends, but until morning came, he could not risk going out in the night.

  He felt lucky that he was able to get away from those things in the first place, and with quick thinking he ran around to the back of the store and jumped into the dumpster bin. It had been hell listening to those things run by him, with their clawing and grunting echoing throughout the metal bin. It honestly scared the shit out of him.

  Reed pulled his legs up and rested his head on his knees. He wondered who the people were insid
e of the store that had helped them and hoped that his friends were safe. He thought about Kristen and could not imagine what she must have been thinking- most likely thinking that he was dead. The thought caused an awful ache in his chest, and he just hoped that once morning came, he could find a way to get inside without being spotted by those things.

  A cold chill crawled up his skin, and he shivered from the desert night. He tried running his hands up and down his arms to keep warm, but his tank top supplied little and he had given his shirt to Kristen when she cut her head. With tired eyes, he covered his head with his arms, and thought about Kristen before drifting off into an endless nightmare.

  Reed’s eyes flew open when a piercing scream ripped through the air. He jumped and smacked his head against the top of the garbage bin. For a moment he had forgotten where he was, but the smell quickly reminded him, and he wrinkled his nose. The scream ripped through the air again, and Reed knelled up slowly. He lifted the lid and looked out. There was no one in sight, but the screams had come from somewhere close. He lifted the lid up more and scanned the back area of the store for any sign of those things. The early morning was still, and the sky was lit up with rays of reddish-pink hues.

  Climbing out of the garbage bin, he looked out at the empty desert. Everything was still, and quiet; too quiet if you asked him. With the morning light, he could see everything better. He was in the back of the mini-mart, and there was nothing but a delivery bay, and a back door. He looked closer and noticed that the delivery door was wide open. Something was off. That could not be right. If the door was open, then that meant-

  Another scream ripped through the air, and Reed darted his attention to the back door. The screams were coming from behind the door, and that meant that those things had gotten in there. He ran for the door and tried the handle, but it was locked. He could hear yelling on the other side and knew that at least Aran was behind that door. He backed away from the door, and began kicking it in with full force, and with one final kick the door swung open.

  Reed ran in the small room and ran straight for Kristen. He pulled her into his arms, and then grabbed a hold of her arm. The little boy she was holding wiggled out of her grip and ran for his mother. Kristen had managed to grab the child, and pulled him back to her, causing the little boy to start screaming.

  Another scream drew his attention to Julie, and a man that was crawling on the ground trying to grab her. Reed grabbed Julie and turned back around and kicked the man in the face, giving Aran and Jesse a chance to get away. The other woman in the room began screaming and yelling for help, but the man crawled his way to her, and he knew that it was too late for her.

  They ran out of the room, and slammed the door shut. The sun had broken out over the mountain and lit up the desert before them. Reed let go of Julie and leaned over his knees.

  “Holy shit…”

  “Reed!” Standing up, Kristen threw her arms around his neck. He picked her up and tightened his grip around her waist. God he was glad to see her. He was not sure if he was ever going to get a chance to hold her again.

  “Dude, you’re alive?” Aran punched him in the arm. “Don’t ever do that shit again.”

  Reed gripped Kristen tighter. “I promise.” Letting her go, he looked over at the garbage bin, and then at Aran. “I have an idea. Remember those two cars in front of the store? Aran, if you and I can get to one, we can get the hell out of here.”

  “And what about us?” Julie asked.

  “You guys can hide in that dumpster.”

  “Reed please don’t go.” Kristen grabbed a hold of his arm.

  “I promise to come back.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead before taking off around the corner with Aran.

  “So, what’s the plan?” Aran leaned against the wall and looked over at him. “Just stroll up to the car and hope the keys are inside?”

  “Yeah, something like that.” Reed leaned to the side and peeked his head around the corner. “Come on. The parking lot is clear.”

  They started running through the parking lot but tried to stay low to the ground as they ran towards the two cars. The parking lot was empty, but Reed knew it would not be long before those things would hear them and come for them. As they approached the first car, they knelt by the passenger door. Reed reached up to pull on the door handle, and to his surprise it opened with ease.

  “Just like that, huh?” Reed glanced over at Aran.

  “Shit. If they pulled that in Cali, mofo’s would be out of a car.” Aran said with a half grin spreading across his face.

  Reed slowly opened the door and climbed into the passenger seat. He pulled down both visors, opened the jockey-box, and looked anywhere else someone might put their car keys but found nothing. Leaning out of the opened door, he ran a hand through his disheveled hair.

  “Damn. We’re going to have to wire it.”

  “Dude don’t look at me. You’re the juvie.”

  Reed narrowed his eyes at him. “Fine, but just so we’re clear, that was one time, and it was my parents’ car.” Reed leaned over the passenger seat to the driver’s seat and started for the wires. “Okay, so maybe a few times after that too.”

  “Whatever helps you sleep at night bro.”

  As Reed made work with the wires, Aran kept a look out. The wires gave a few sparks, but the car was refusing to start. He had not done this in so long, that he was not sure he even could. Sitting up, he hit the dashboard in frustration. This would be his luck.

  “Dammit. Man, we’re going to have to get to the other car.” Reed hit the dash again and looked down at Aran.

  “Well the coast is clear, so we better get moving.” Aran slid over and peeked around the tailgate of the car.

  Aran kept low as he ran across the parking lot and leaned against the side of the other car. Reed looked around as he followed Aran and leaned up against the side of the car beside him. The morning was quiet, and he hoped he would be able to get the car started quickly before any of those things found their way to them. He moved past Aran to the driver side door and opening it with ease. He was thankful these people did not believe in locking doors, because breaking a window would not help keep their low profile from those flesh-eating monsters.

  Reed climbed into the driver seat and got to work on the wires. The car’s engine gave a few kicks but would not turn over. He could feel his frustration growing but tried to remain calm. He never was good at keeping a level head under pressure. Slowly taking a deep breath and letting it out, he tapped the wires together again. To his surprise, the car kicked over. He felt relieved, but then the car died.

  “Fuck! Man, we’re screwed.” Reed sat up and punched the steering wheel.

  “Don’t tell me you lost your touch.” Aran mockingly teased.

  “It’s these pieces of shit cars.” Reed narrowed his eyes at Aran.

  “Sure, it is. When was the last time you stole a car?” Aran raised an accusing eyebrow.

  “I will knock your ass out, and then we’ll see who- holy shit! Get your ass in the car, now!” Reed ordered Aran in a panic.

  “Where the hell did they come from?” Aran said as he jumped into the passenger seat of the car, and slammed the door shut. “Reed you need to get this car started, and I mean, like, now.”

  “Oh sure, no pressure on my part. We only have a dozen of those fuckers headed our way.” Reed said leaning down and grabbing the wires again.

  Reed tapped the wires together again, but the engine would not start. His heart began to race, and he could feel the pounding against his chest. Taking in a deep breath, he wiped the sweat that was beginning to form on his forehead.

  ‘What if the car doesn’t start? Those things would surround them, and they wouldn’t have a way out.’

  He was quickly jerked out of his thoughts when a thud hit against his window. He jumped up and swore. Those things were starting to surround the car; hitting at all the windows, scratching and clawing, and they were beginning to climb on the
car. Reed grabbed the wires and began to frantically tap them together. The engine sputtered repeatedly, and then a shattering noise at the back of the car.

  “Holy fuck.” Aran turned in his seat and started kicking his leg out.

  Panic started to consume Reed. He was beginning to give up hope of ever getting the car started. He could not concentrate with all those things hitting the car. He thought about the promise he had made to Kristen, and how he had promised to come back to her. He just got her, and he was not about to lose her. Hope filled him as the wires sparked, and the engine roared to life. Twisting the wires together, he slammed the car in drive and took off through the parking lot.

  Looking over, Aran was still kicking at their extra passenger in the back. He knew they needed to hurry and get him out, and everyone else in the car. Reed swerved the car around the parking lot a few times, and then sped off around the corner of the mini mart. He slammed on the breaks, put the car in park, and then him and Aran jumped out of the car.

  “How are we going to get him out before those things come running back here?” Aran said as he ran an agitated hand through his hair.

  “Dude I got it. Come help me.”

  Reed swung the back-driver side door open, and the man in the back wildly tried to turn around and grab at him. Before the man could turn around, Reed grabbed ahold of his ankles, and began to pull him out of the backseat. The man bucked back and forth causing Reed to lose his grip on him, and the man fell to the ground. Aran vigorously kicked the man in the head repeatedly, and Reed had to pull him away.

  “Dude I think he’s gone.” Reed could see the wild look in Aran’s face. He had never seen that side of his friend, and it honestly scared the crap out of him. The world was going to hell with those crazed people, and the last thing he needed was for one of them to lose their humanity.