In The End | Book 3 | After The End

by Stevens, GJ

  I looked back to Jess and then to Alex. Maybe he was right. If those things were going north to the population centres, perhaps the safest place to go would be back down south. But we couldn’t do that. I had to get Cassie to her sister. To Jack and Tish before that woman could do anything to them.

  And I agreed with Jess. She had to make it known she was alive to stop the lies that would get people killed.

  Tapping my thigh, Shadow came to heel. Pride rushed through me, taking me by surprise when he jumped through the open passenger door as everyone settled back into their places.

  No. I couldn’t take the painless way out and hide away. We had to head on, no matter the danger. No matter how much the thought scared me shitless.

  Without looking back, we drove in the opposite direction of the stranger.

  As the miles passed the window, we watched the settlements gradually lose their picture postcard appeal, with the outskirts of a town called Newlyn coming into view and its spread of buildings marked by smoke rising high to a great cloud.

  Slowing, despite the deserted roads, I took care, checking along each empty driveway to the wide-open front doors for any sign of what might linger.

  When nothing made itself known, I let the pickup stop at the crest of a hill and took in the town, with its buildings bunched together to fill the view right to the edge of the expanse of blue water.

  With Jess and Mandy leaning between the seats, and Alex alongside peering down, we stared to the harbour in the distance with its water empty of boats and a lengthy line of cars jamming the approaching roads. The excitement of escaping by sea drained before taking root.

  As we sat back in our seats, I let the pickup freewheel down the hill, only slipping into gear when I first saw the litter of belongings discarded across the road and I guided the wheels to slalom around the open suitcases, their contents spread amongst the pools of dried blood.

  On seeing a spray of scarlet against a white wall to the side and the centre of the mess potted with what I guessed to be a bullet hole, I sped us away.

  Concentrating back on the road, we descended further into the town, passing guest houses and B&Bs blocking the view of the sea as we reached the centre. A darkened chip shop marked the corner of a T junction where the road widened to the right with white signs and black letters pointing along a disorderly line of abandoned cars toward the seafront and harbour.

  I built speed in the opposite direction, blinkering myself from the buildings on either side; the pubs, the shops, the restaurants and trinket store with smashed windows whose glass covered the paths and bodies at rest.

  Relenting, I looked to each door standing ajar and the flames rising from the roofs from what seemed like every other. The wind must have changed, filling the cab with smoke and covering our path as we fiddled with the air vents. Hacking at the fumes, we wound down our windows to find the smoke across the road gone with a gust, leaving the sight of a pub ablaze to the left and a school with flames climbing high and black smoke billowing from every window opposite. An explosion sent glass across the road.

  I stomped on the accelerator and charged through the heat radiating from both sides. Cassie moaned from the back until we were out the other side as cool air flooded in, leaving just the stench of smoke.

  We raced through darkened traffic lights with the buildings thinning. Without talking, I slowed, searching out the road signs for our direction, but the adrenaline faded when I saw our route ahead clogged with abandoned cars right through it.

  38

  Not slowing, I tensed to the sound of the body panels squealing with branches scratching down our right and metal scraping away the paint on the other side. Pushing us on despite the pickup’s complaint, we squeezed between the cars and the hedgerow at the side of the roundabout with a hope I could keep this up all the way beyond the horizon and to the main road.

  I remembered travelling from the other direction with the road clear a few days before. It had seemed so much wider when were excited to head to the secluded destination near the sea.

  Squeezing through the corner, the road stretched out ahead filled with three jumbled lanes of cars, vans, minibuses and so much more; each had jostled for position before they’d had to give up, leaving doors wide and possessions littering the gaps. To the right I steered us along a short grass verge lined with thick bushes before trees took over to block the view of what could be on the other side.

  “Where are all the people?” I said, watching as everyone in the back shook their heads.

  Cassie opened her eyes. “There’s not even any bodies,” she added.

  “Let’s hope they all made it away,” Alex added and all but Mandy nodded.

  “At least it looks like the creatures have moved on,” I said, but no one replied as if afraid to tempt fate.

  I pushed us on and after a few seconds more, the left-wing mirror ripped clean off and disappeared below the view with an impact against a plumber’s van. Moving us as far to the right as I dared, I’d take the scrape of wooden fingers over the scratch of metal any day.

  Searching ahead, I peered at a lamppost sat tall in the middle of the space we needed to get through. I thought of ramming it down, but I ignored the temptation as visions of head wounds and steam rising from the engine sprung to mind.

  Instead, I trusted the ground didn’t fall away beyond the thick foliage of the hedge to the right so we wouldn’t slide and roll to a more terrifying end.

  Despite the violent clawing at our thin metal skin, I edged us further into the undergrowth as the lamppost grew closer. By the time we’d reached the tall pole, we hadn’t rolled away and out of sight.

  Back on the verge and past the post, we drove on like that for a little while longer, having to divert from the safety of the grass every so often, each time fearing a fall into the unknown. But still we hadn’t disappeared, and I tried to ignore the chaos of cars, the debris and the dark patchwork of dried blood sprayed to the paintwork. The white cars were the worst.

  As we passed car after car, I tried not to imagine the time when panic came, sending everyone running, chased in fear of their lives or at the thought of missing their last hope.

  I remembered back to the dark hospital corridor when we’d interrupted the creature dragging the bodies away and tried not to think of a pile of rotting flesh beyond where we could see.

  We were making excellent progress; roundabouts came and went with the same scene to our left. Not able to judge how far we’d travelled, I eventually spotted the road clear ahead. Each of the vehicles stopped in a neat line up against one of the six concrete blocks across the entire width of the road, including on the verge.

  I didn’t pause. As soon as I knew there was no chance of getting through, I pulled open the door, jumping down and squeezing into the bush to scrape down the side, followed by Shadow. The others were out too, Cassie helped by Alex.

  I rushed around the side to catch her when her step faltered. With my arm around her waist, I guided Cassie back up straight as we shuffled sideways between the cars, crunching cubes of glass under our shoes.

  I worried for Shadow’s feet as he snaked between the cars, but nothing seemed to hinder his pace.

  As we approached the head of the roadblock in the distance, a sudden thought turned me around to see none of the others had thought to pick up any of the supplies.

  “Shit,” I said. “Fuck.” Cassie stiffened under my arm. “No one’s brought any of the food.”

  The others turned back, looking at each other before settling on Mandy at the back of our trail.

  “Don’t look at me. I’m not your mother,” she said.

  Stuffing down the anger, I thought about telling her to head back as we waited, then wondered if I would wait at all. Then at least she’d realise how grateful she should have been for coming along for the ride.

  Cassie’s soft voice drew away my anger.

  “Leave it,” she said. “It’s not her fault. None of us can think straight.
”

  She was right of course. None of this was like anything we were used to. Each of us were having so many first experiences, how could we react right every time? Our punishment would be hunger and thirst if we couldn’t find anything to replace it, but I took solace that it had been so long since we’d seen any undead.

  Without further word, we walked along the open road. I tried to ignore the thought of being so exposed, whilst listening out into the silence broken only by our steps. I heard no hum of traffic, no scurry of animals in the hedgerow. No call from the birds.

  We walked at a slow pace for what I guessed could have been an hour and with the sight of the sea and a roundabout, we’d found civilisation again, just without the people.

  At a petrol station we came across a queue of cars lined up at the pumps, maybe ten at each. The numbers on the tall sign were dark, and I guessed the cars were out of fuel when the pumps ran dry or the electricity went out.

  “Will you guys wait here?” I said, looking to their faces.

  “Yes. Go,” Cassie said, and untucked herself from my hold.

  Just before I turned away, I looked to Alex who nodded back.

  Jogging to the petrol station, I glanced in through the glass door at the shop and turned away at the sight of blood splashed across the floor just inside, instead peering at each of the vehicles. Some still had the nozzles plugged in. Each had their doors wide. Who shuts up their door when they have to run for their lives?

  Checking the first, the keys were still in, the orange light coming on as I turned the ignition, with the needle sat under the lowest line.

  I moved to the next, looking past the blood sprayed across the four by four’s white side and the pump strewn to the road with the scent of fuel. With no keys, I moved to the next.

  Glancing back to the road, each of the five still stood staring in my direction. Mandy watched with hope and I drew a smile as I saw Cassie standing with Alex near and her head raised, peering in my direction.

  The next car, a Ford Focus, had keys. The tank was three quarters full and the engine started on the first attempt. I tried not to wonder why the owner hadn’t raced away when they had the opportunity.

  ***

  I revelled at the speed, driving a hundred miles an hour down the empty roads potted only with the occasional car abandoned to the side. No one had the will to check them out; instead, we stared at the impact damage or the burning embers as we passed in the widest possible arcs.

  With the town behind us, I slowed at junctions only to make sure we headed in the right direction. The road became a dual carriageway separated by a barrier and with our speed growing, so did the hope we were on the last leg of the journey and the next roadblock would be the last. On the other side would be a friendly army and their trucks to take us away; their guns and great numbers set to keep us safe.

  I tried not to think what would happen if they recognised Jess, or if they had the same orders that had been given to Commander Lane and his crew.

  The roadblocks continued to come and go and we skirted around the haphazard cars in lines and through walls smashed through with big trucks, bumping our way into fields to see vast lorries abandoned to the side with massive front-end damage.

  Arriving in the town of Hayle and with the call of hunger, we stopped at a small trading estate and a bunch of shops; clothes and a coffeehouse. A pharmacy and supermarket. The carpark deserted, save for a battered old Ford Escort with its bonnet up.

  I drove slowly into the expanse of tarmac and across the front of the shops with each of us peering in, stopping only when no one gave voice or warning of something seen.

  Leaving the engine running and the door wide, Jess joined me, both of us looking to the horizon as we turned on the spot.

  Shadow jumped out, peering around, but he waited by the car as if protecting the others when we walked away.

  Jess opened the shop door, and I half expected a bell to sound. The place stank, but not of sewers and I hoped it to be the stench of food no longer so fresh.

  A few people had been there before and they’d taken what they could carry and left, leaving a trail of tins and groceries. Grabbing wire baskets, I piled up cans, bags of crisps and bottles of water. Pulling open the boot, I was surprised to find someone’s belongings inside. The owner of the car.

  Moving past the guilt, I dropped the suitcases to the road and filled it after five trips, along with the baskets, dropping the excess to Alex’s lap before jumping in the front seat.

  Jess stayed outside of the car.

  “Eat, close the door,” she said, as she continued to look across the horizon.

  39

  JESSICA

  I couldn’t stand the smell of their food. Ever since I’d eaten human flesh, the thought of anything else in my mouth tightened a grip on my insides and that need for more was always there in the back of my mind. Only when Logan called for us to leave could I force myself into the car, leaning at the crack in the window like Shadow as the wind sprayed in.

  The confinement did nothing for the stomach cramps, nor did Logan’s glances as if he knew what I felt. Still, better to be on the road eating up the miles. Two more hours, Logan had said, if there were no more roadblocks.

  Or soldiers, I added in my head. Or Toni’s failed experiments. Or the dead massing in our path.

  Hope built as we sped, but each time he braked, I feared I would need to find my food, something to keep away the total loss of control, of feeling, or sympathy for the race I’d once belonged to. The feelings I hoped wouldn’t only ever be a memory.

  I watched each time the road narrowed. We all did. At bridges. Junctions. Wide trees at the side of the road, or anything danger could hide behind. Relief bloomed as we passed, then dashed as the next appeared on the horizon.

  We were making good progress, not dropping from over a hundred for a long while, but as I blinked, I felt us slow. Without having to ask, I saw the articulated lorry in the distance, the trailer jack-knifed and diagonal, blocking each of the four lanes. But that wasn’t all.

  Bunched either side were cars strewn, stacked as if placed there by a crane in a breaker’s yard. Logan had to brake; the view looming too soon and with debris under the tyres, each head peered around the view.

  “What now?” Cassie said, unable to hide the tiredness in her voice.

  There had been a roadblock. The lorry hadn’t stopped. I couldn’t tell if it had been a deliberate act to break through the mess of cars, or an accident. The result of an attack, perhaps.

  I looked for bodies as we drew closer. For blood marking the roads.

  I saw none. No signs. Perhaps it happened when everyone but the truck driver had gone.

  As we coasted to a stop, Mandy spoke, rushing her words. “What are you doing?”

  “We have to walk,” Logan said, still letting the car slow.

  “Are you mad? Go around,” she said, raising her voice.

  I watched as he drew a deep breath, as if to hold back a verbal assault, then spoke.

  “We won’t get up those banks. This thing’s two-wheel drive. It’s nowhere near as tough as the pickup.”

  “Go back then,” she said. “Find another way.”

  “No,” Logan replied as we stopped. “Listen. We don’t need this car anymore. Feel free to take it and find another way around. But if you’re coming with us, bring some food.” Without further pause, he stepped from the car, going around to the boot and hooking out a basket.

  I pulled out of the car, taking a basket held out by Alex and kept an eye on Mandy still sat in the back seat with her arms crossed. Turning away, I scanned for threats, scouring the view as we stepped away from the car.

  The truck wedged either side of the road, both ends buried in metal wreckage, crushed to the rising banks.

  Shadow found a route. Disappearing at first through a gap under the trailer only he could fit, but reappearing further down at a place we could follow. And we did, crawling on our hands and knees
, we helped Cassie between us before rising to the lengthy line of concertinaed cars on the other side. Mandy followed a few moments behind.

  We had to climb the metal, although Shadow found his own way. As we helped Cassie forward, it felt like hours before we saw the end ahead, partly hidden by the brow of the hill.

  Cresting, we saw a roundabout in the distance. The warning signs must have been long flattened. At least by now the effect of the truck at the back had lessened and we could walk through the thin spaces between the cars, towards the concrete blocks.

  I turned to the sky. It would get dark soon. We had to find a car and race through the miles before the hunger grew.

  Movement ahead pulled me back to the moment. Logan followed my gaze as he saw me turn toward a Toyota dealership and the figure who’d disappeared below the roofline.

  My stomach tightened. Saliva flowed; my eyes narrowing as the need came like a switch flicked and for the first time I couldn’t help but wonder why Logan and the rest hadn’t triggered the same reaction.

  40

  LOGAN

  Jess saw him first, then Shadow; their silent stare to the horizon guiding me to the figure standing on the flat roof of the car dealership. Shadow’s silence didn’t last for long, but he quietened down as I leaned down to stroke along his nose.

  The others turned as I did, seeing the last of the dark clothing lowering through the middle of the roof.

  Standing on the exit of the dual carriageway, I couldn’t see much else of the building for the hedgerow. I turned to Jess and despite the faraway look in her eye, she glanced my way.

  “What now?” I asked, but no one replied. “Shall we go say hello? Maybe they can spare a car?”

  Jess and Alex shared a private look, a nod between them and seemed to make some unvoiced agreement.