Apocalyptic Beginnings Box Set

by M. D. Massey

  “Is she alive?” Sophie asked, trying to be as tender as she could. She had zero experience in being soft, caring, or compassionate with anyone besides Henry.

  “Barely. Claire, please keep an eye on her. I’m going to go with Thomas, just in case. And if this fucker…” Nick kicked Kellan in the side, “even thinks about moving an inch, pistol-whip him again. Just stay out of his reach. I’ll fucking kill him if he lays a hand on you. I don’t give a shit what Henry wants.”

  Claire nodded. She was a little surprised by Nick’s comment, but then she remembered that he called her “My Claire” and told her she was beautiful back at the convenient store.

  Nick checked his Sig, then grabbed the gun Elaina had been carrying and gave it to Thomas. Realizing both guns were empty, they went to the truck to reload.

  Claire scooted over to Maria, Nick and Elaina’s mother. She grabbed her hand and tenderly rubbed it. Maria was cold, her breathing shallow. Her skin was pale, and her eyes sunken in the sockets. Claire carefully pulled out the intravenous connections Kellan had put in Maria’s arms, bandaging her as best she could. There were marks around her mouth where there had been a gag, which Nick must have removed before he brought her out of the cellar.

  After Claire’s parents passed away in a car accident, Maria had played the maternal role in her life. She tried to be subtle about it because Claire never wanted to acknowledge their deaths. It hit Claire that she could lose the last maternal role model she had in her life. She kissed Maria’s hand.

  “Please, Mrs. Cooper, don’t die on us. Elaina needs you. Nick needs you. I need you,” she whispered, tears forming in her eyes. “We should have listened to Elaina and tried to find you sooner. I’m so sorry.” Claire broke down.

  Thomas stood quietly as Nick searched for more bullets. All the packs were empty of magazines, except for one in Henry’s bag. He realized they never grabbed enough when they left to find Elaina. Plus, they used a bunch while they looked for her.

  “Shit,” he growled.

  “Wha’s wrong?” Thomas asked.

  Nick laughed. “Oh, Thomas. You’re just one funny little fucking prick, aren’t you?” Thomas stepped back a little, eyes wide. “‘What’s wrong?’” Nick laughed again, talking to himself. “He asked what’s wrong. Wow.” Nick whipped around and grabbed poor Thomas by the collar. “You want to know what’s wrong? Do you? Do you really want to know, or are you that fucking stupid?”

  Thomas’s lips trembled. He couldn’t speak. Fear rushed over him like a wave.

  “Answer me!” Nick screamed, shaking him.

  Sophie came running over. “Nick! Nick!” She grabbed him by his arm. “Stop it! Leave him alone.” He grumbled. “Nick. Please.” Nick let him go with a slight push, Thomas falling backward to the ground. “Control yourself, damn it! I know how you feel. You are angry at everything and everyone. I understand, but you need to clear out the house so we can get your family inside! Your mother is dying, for god’s sake!”

  Sophie tried to say it quietly, but it didn’t come out that way. Nick looked down in shame, then swallowed his anger. He held out his hand to Thomas, offering to help him up. He accepted, but only because Sophie stood right beside him. It was a change, but he was certain she wouldn’t allow Nick to attack him.

  “I’m sorry,” Nick whispered.

  “Now, tell me what the deal is.”

  Nick held up the magazine, waving it at Sophie. “Last one.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Yeah.”

  Sophie checked her gun. Half empty. She suspected most were that way, if not completely empty.

  “I will get this sorted. Just clear the house, and be fully aware of what we have left.”

  Nick loaded the magazine into his gun, then swapped out the empty one for the half full magazine in Thomas’s. He let out a great sigh. “Ready?”

  “I guess.” Thomas was leery of Nick, with due cause.

  “Right. Follow my lead.”

  Chapter 19

  Both Nick and Thomas jogged up the front stairs to the porch. Nick looked through the side windows, trying to see if there were any undeads roaming inside. He put his hand on the door handle and sucked in a deep breath.

  Suddenly remembering his parents always kept a spare key under a rock in the front garden, Nick jogged back down the stairs, hoping it was still there. After lifting about a half-dozen rocks and garden decorations, he found the key. He headed back up the stairs. Finding himself winded, he wondered if breathing were even necessary for a freak crossbreed like himself. Shaking his head, he unlocked the door. It creaked as he pushed it open. He looked back at Thomas and held his finger to his lips. Thomas nodded.

  They crept into the foyer. The formal dining room was to the right, and the living room was to the left. Both rooms were empty of any sign of life, or unlife. It was as neat as a pin, just as his mother had always kept it. Never an item out of place. Never a speck of dust to be seen.

  Directly across from the door was the staircase to the second floor. Nick opted to go through the dining room and into the kitchen. Empty. He led Thomas through the family room, which was an addition his parents had put on when both he and Elaina were young.

  Memories of his childhood came flooding back. His thoughts were filled with holidays, birthdays, and the joys of everyday life. The first time he met Henry was in this house. He chuckled a little.

  -January 2013-

  After two months of her “no-shows”, Nick and Elaina’s parents, Maria and Ken, had called Elaina, yet again, inviting her to join them for their traditional Sunday dinner. Nick stood outside on the front porch, listening to his voicemails, and saw a blacked-out Tahoe pull into the driveway.

  “Must be a turn around,” Nick grumbled. “Hate it when people… Whoa…” He watched Elaina get out of the passenger side, some buffed out, GQ douchebag rolling out of the driver’s side. “Perfect.” Nick grinned. He realized this guy must be the reason for Elaina’s absence at their family dinners.

  He jogged down the porch stairs and met Elaina halfway to the house. “And who might you be?” Nick drawled.

  “Cut the shit, Nick.” Elaina was already annoyed. Nick chuckled.

  “You can’t just bring a guy up here without forewarning me first.” Elaina rolled her eyes at him. Nick and Henry stared at each other. It was obvious neither one was going to back down.

  “Like I need your permission to bring my boyfriend to Sunday dinner.”

  “GQ” looked rather uncomfortable. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of his designer jeans, looking between Elaina and Nick. Then he spoke. “Name is Henry. Henry Daniels.” He pulled his hand out of pocket and held it out. Nick just looked at it. “All right then.” Henry put his hand back in his pocket and rocked back on his heels.

  “Henry, this is my brother, Nick.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Henry slapped on his best, albeit fake, grin.

  “Mom’s going to have a field day with this one.” Nick turned around and walked back to the porch. He heard them chatting amongst themselves.

  “Shit. Maybe I should have warned them. I don’t understand why my family must act like cannibals sometimes.”

  “Do you want me to leave? I can swing by and pick you up later. Then we can go out for a few drinks to settle down.”

  “Absolutely not. You are with me, and you are going to eat Sunday dinner with them peacefully, even if it kills me.”

  “I don’t want to cause you any stress, love.”

  Nick shook his head when he heard Henry say that. He opened the front door and slammed it shut.

  “Story of my life,” Elaina said under her breath.

  When Elaina and Henry walked into the house, Ken met them at the door. Hanging out in the dining room, Nick listened to the conversation. “Elaina, nice of you to join us for a change.” Ken’s hair was gray, he was slightly overweight, and he and Elaina were the same height. “Who might this be?”

  “Henry, sir. Henry Daniels
. I presume you are Mr. Cooper?” Henry flashed that million dollar grin again.

  “You presume correctly.” Henry held out his hand and Ken took it without pause, unlike Nick. He looked Henry up and down, causing Nick to chuckle. Clenching her fists at her sides, Elaina was getting madder by the second. “Your hand seems mighty cold, young man.”

  “I apologize. I have circulation issues.”

  Ken nodded. “Now, are you two just friends?” Elaina wrapped her arm around Henry’s waist with confidence. “I see. Well, come on in. Be prepared for your mother. She is none too pleased that you haven’t been coming to Sunday dinner.” He raised an eyebrow at Elaina. She looked down as he walked toward the kitchen, pulling Nick with him. She chewed on her bottom lip.

  “Well, this is slightly awkward. I should have thought this through better,” she said.

  Nick stood just inside the kitchen door, listening, unbeknownst to them.

  “Don’t worry about it. It’ll be fine. I’m in the house. That’s a step in the right direction.” He turned and cupped her face in his hands. “Just don’t tell them I have been staying nights at your place.” He smiled and gave her a quick kiss.

  Nick’s upper lip curled into a snarl. He didn’t want any pretty boy taking advantage of his baby sister.

  “Yeah, really. They would probably disown me, even though my brother has lived with his fair share, but it’s a double standard since I’m the helpless female.” Henry chuckled.

  They walked into the kitchen, brushing past a seething Nick. She introduced Henry to Maria, who was in her usual Sunday gear: sweater and khakis. Her almost completely gray hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. She was polite, telling him to go have a seat in the family room to watch television while dinner was prepared. Henry smiled and thanked her, walking out of the kitchen. Elaina sagged, looking like a lost puppy.

  “And where did you meet him?” Maria’s question broke her out of her daze.

  “Remember a few months ago when I had a flat, lost my phone, and couldn’t call anyone? Well, he saved me…in a way. And we have been dating ever since.”

  Nick rolled his eyes as he leaned back on the dining room table, his arms crossed.

  “Well, that’s nice, I suppose. I would think you would tell me about a new boyfriend, instead of just not showing up to Sunday dinner.”

  “I didn’t know how long it would last so I didn’t want to get your hopes up.” More like she didn’t want to deal with the criticism.

  “Is it going well?”

  “Yes, I think so. He’s so sweet and nice to me. Respectful and, well…pretty hot.”

  More eye rolls from Nick.

  “Good. I’m happy for you. He is easy on the eyes.” She smiled. “Does he know your job track record, and the fact that you can’t seem to hold one down?” And there it was.

  She sighed, and Nick smirked. “Yes, Mother, and he doesn’t care.”

  “Have you found another job yet?”

  “No.” She hung her head, and Maria shook hers.

  “We can’t pay your rent forever, Elaina.”

  “I know,” she mumbled. “I’m not proud of it.”

  “Well, you had better figure out what you’re going to do. But for now, start cutting up those veggies for the salad.” Maria handed Elaina a knife and she got to the chopping.

  “He’s offered to take care of my bills until I find a job.”

  Nick choked on his own saliva.

  “Oh no, he will not!” Maria barked. “Then there would be an obligation.”

  Oh, hell no, Nick thought. He’d kill that GQ bastard if he took advantage of his baby sister.

  Maria continued. “Besides, why burden him with the stress of your bills on top of his own. Your father and I are happy to continue paying your rent until you find another job.” Maria had a slight change of heart because she wasn’t about to let Henry pay Elaina’s bills and make her feel like she was trapped.

  “Mom,” she leaned in close. “He’s loaded. Like, has one of those ‘invite only’ black credit cards loaded.” Maria’s eyebrows lifted. “He refuses to let me pay for anything, including my groceries.”

  “What does he do?”

  “Runs the blood bank downtown.”

  Maria’s face screwed up into a confused stare. “How can he be loaded doing that?”

  Elaina shrugged. “Inheritance maybe? I don’t ask. Not really my business and it doesn’t matter, but I do enjoy him spoiling me.”

  “Well, hopefully he doesn’t do anything illegal and running the blood bank is just a cover.”

  “Oh, for the love of all that’s holy,” Elaina mumbled. “He’s a nice guy and makes me happy. I make him happy. He treats me like a queen. Why can’t that be enough?”

  Nick had heard enough and his blood was about to boil over. He made his way past his mother and sister, then stood in the doorway of the family room, glaring at Henry’s back.

  Elaina felt a rush of anxiety prickle up her spine. Her stomach flipped when Henry turned around. She wanted to die. Even though she knew he was uncomfortable, Henry tried to look relaxed, his lips twitching as he smiled.

  Nick smirked at him. “Can I speak to you in private?” he said in a rather abrupt tone.

  “Shit,” Elaina whispered. You could never trust Nick to keep his hands to himself. Plus, Elaina knew Henry was well-versed in kickboxing.

  “Certainly.”

  As they walked past Elaina and Maria, Henry ran his hand across the small of Elaina’s back. She set the knife down, her hands shaking. The front door quietly opened, then slammed shut.

  Nick and Henry walked out onto the front porch. Henry stood still, his hands on his hips, watching Nick pace. He studied his every move, every muscle twitching. Finally, Nick stopped right in front of him. Henry had no expression on his face.

  “She has had her heart broken too many times for me to tolerate it happening again. If you so much as make her shed one goddamn tear, I swear to you, I will fuck that pretty face of yours up.” Henry didn’t say anything. He just looked through Nick. “Did you hear me? Or is your hearing compromised?”

  “Yup. No need to worry.” Nick grabbed his shirt. “Get your hands off me,” Henry said in a rather calm manner.

  “What are you going to do about it?” When Henry smirked, Nick shoved him into the side of the house. “Am I wrinkling your shirt, pretty boy?”

  “I couldn’t care less about my shirt. The only thing I care about is Elaina. But I would suggest you remove your fucking hands.”

  Nick laughed. “And what are you going to do about it?”

  “You have no idea whom you’re fucking with.”

  “Full of yourself?”

  In a flash, Henry reached up and grabbed Nick by the throat, squeezing just enough to cause him distress, lifting him so Nick was on his tiptoes. Henry pulled him close, only leaving a couple inches between them. “Now, let go of me,” Henry growled through a clenched jaw. “Or shall we tango? Because I’ve got plenty more of this in me all fucking day. How about you?”

  Nick let go, as did Henry. “I swear, if you break her heart…” Nick rubbed his throat.

  “You don’t have to worry about that. She means everything to me, and I live to make her happy. Understood?”

  Nick nodded, completely humiliated, and walked back inside, leaving Henry on the porch. He stormed through the kitchen.

  “What happened out there?” Elaina asked, worried.

  “We had a chat, man to man.”

  “You leave him alone! He was the only one there for me when I had car trouble. Nobody else seemed to be able to get away from their very important bullshit while I rotted on the street.”

  “Watch your mouth, Elaina,” their mother warned.

  “He was preying on a helpless woman!”

  “Preying? He loaned me his phone, then we sat and had a cup of coffee until the tow truck arrived. If you call that preying, he must be doing it wrong! And, just so you know, I’m the one
who asked him out on our first date!” She slammed the knife down on the counter and stormed out of the kitchen.

  Nick and his mother heard the front door open and slam shut.

  “Nick…”

  “Don’t start with me, Mom. I don’t want him using my sister, or making her feel like she’s obligated to sleep with him just so he’ll pay her bills! Classic user move, Mom. He’s probably just trying to get in her damn pants,” he growled.

  “Stop, just stop. She’s smarter than that.”

  “Are you sure? She seems pretty smitten. When women get that way, they’ll do stuff they normally wouldn’t.”

  At that moment, Elaina stormed back into the kitchen, ripped open the refrigerator door, grabbed two beers, and stormed back out.

  -November 2014-

  Their home was always full of laughter…until Elaina became the difficult teenager every parent dreaded. Nick smirked at the thought of his younger sister and her famous attitude. Thomas nudged him, bringing him back to the present.

  “Sorry. Just thinking too much, I guess.”

  Thomas nodded, still leery that his nudge would drive Nick into having a mid-morning snack.

  As they walked out of the family room, Nick could see everyone else outside. He took great pause in knowing that it could very well be the end of everyone he knew and loved. The end of everything. He shuddered.

  After all, it was definitely the end for him. He began to wonder why they even bothered. What were they looking for? Why didn’t they just end it? Nick jumped again when Thomas said his name.

  “Should we check upstairs?” Strike two, Thomas thought. One more and he was convinced he’d be lunch.

  “Uh, yeah. Yeah, let’s go.” They walked through the kitchen and dining room, making their way upstairs, clearing every room.

  Nick and Thomas walked back outside to bring everyone else in. Sophie sat next to a slightly more alert Henry, trying to make plans of some kind. Nick walked past them and to his mother.

  “How is she?” he asked Claire.

  “It’s not looking good, but I’m trying to be hopeful.” She looked at Elaina. He followed her gaze.