Dead Winter: A gripping crime thriller full of suspense
Page 24
Epilogue
Day Seventeen (6th January – 2:37PM)
Such a spectacular explosion. It tore apart everything in its path, leaving behind nothing but charred scraps of metal and flesh. The smoke billowed up high into the air, obscuring the truck from view.
I felt my eyes water slightly as I stood on the deck of the boat, which was now moving towards the open gates that lead to the river. I bit my lip and wiped my eyes dry, turning away from the smoke and debris.
One hell of a send-off.
"Jesus.. Ethan.." I heard Shaun say beside me, I patted him on the back and pulled out my pack of cigarettes, sliding one out into my mouth, lighting it in one fluid motion before taking a long, well-deserved drag from it.
Here's to you, kid.
Turning around to face Shaun and the vicinity of the explosion, which was getting further and further away with every second, I noticed him saluting in that direction. Hesitating for a moment, I raised my free hand to my head and proceeded to copy Shaun.
"He was a good kid." I said, my voice sounded rough even to my own ears. I took another smoke-filled breath and turned away from the side of the boat once more.
"That he was.. I just wish he could've been here with us, Vince." Shaun croaked, clearly fighting back tears.
"There was nothing you could have done.." I said, trying to reassure him, but I felt as though my words would never reach him.
Sat on a crate in front of me were John and Claire, the former of which had his arms around the latter, who was silently crying, holding her hands to her face.
"I.. don't know what to say." John said, at a loss for words, his voice cracking slightly.
"Not much to say.. He sacrificed himself for us." I said, biting my lower lip once more, struggling to find words to say. I hadn't known the kid that long, but he seemed like a good man, through and through.
"I can't believe he's gone, just like that." Claire suddenly said, lowering her hands from her face.
"He did one hell of a last stand.." John sighed, standing up to doff his hat in respect, before sitting back down. He was silent, merely staring at the hat and I wondered if the kid had given it to him.
"Survivors. We are now on-route to Rotterdam.." a voice issued over the intercom system. There were several people on this side of the boat, whispering to each other and casting nervous glances in our direction.
"Who was that guy?" a tall man asked his red-headed companion. I took one last drag from my cigarette before throwing it overboard.
Taking a look up at the sky, I spotted a flock of seagulls fly overhead. I felt suddenly at peace with everything, as though none of what I had experienced had really happened.
Ethan had given me one thing, the gift of life. And I wasn't going to take it for granted.
A few hours later, and we were at sea, making our way across the expanse of water that separated us from mainland Europe. Every now and then, a bird would fly past the boat and make somebody twitch nervously.
I took a little stroll back up to the front of the boat, where everyone else was and took a look over the railings at the water below, which was seemingly very calm.
I let out a deep sigh and turned around to examine the survivors on this side of the ferry. There were at least twenty of them, all huddled together in little groups, while we were scattered across the ship. Shaun was busy talking to the soldiers at the back of the vessel and John and Claire were still sat in the same place, just staring off into the distance.
Passing John, my attention was drawn to a little girl who was sat on her own near the railings. She had her head in her hands and was moaning in pain.
"Are you.." I started to ask, but found myself cut off as the girl looked up at me, her pupils dilating as her right eye went red.
I surprised John as I ripped the handgun out of his pocket and drew it on the girl, who looked up at me with tear-stained eyes. John and Claire stood up to stare at the girl, and everyone went silent. All that could be heard was the sounds of waves washing against the side of the boat.
Are you kidding me?
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Copyright © 2016 by Jack Parker