Night of Never

by Megan O'Russell

  “They’re in there looking for more people to kill.” Anger filled the boy’s sallow face. “They told us to stay on that street so we would burn. Now they’re going through killing anyone the smoke didn’t get.”

  “The men who told you to stay put, what exactly did they say? How many of them were there?” Jeremy came down the steps, his gun still in his hand.

  “There were five,” the boy said. “One of them shouted at us, told us to follow. That was a girl, but the four men, they all did as she said. Some ran in front of us and some in back. It felt like they were trying to protect us. We ran with them for a bit. Then guns started firing. The woman told us to run down the street and wait, said she’d be right back for us. They never came back. They left us there to die. I didn’t think she’d do that. She seemed nice.”

  “Who was firing the guns?” Julian asked.

  “The female guard, did you see her face?” Jeremy stepped closer to the boy.

  The boy leaned back against the wall. “All of them had helmets on. She was taller than me. I only knew she was a girl because of her voice. Even her name didn’t sound like a girl’s. But I’ve never heard of any kind of a Gentry before.”

  Nola stepped between Jeremy and the boy before she knew she’d asked her feet to move.

  “Where did she go?” Jeremy bumped into Nola, knocking her into the boy as he reached forward to shake him.

  “Back down.” Kieran grabbed Jeremy’s shoulder.

  Jeremy glared at him.

  “Jeremy,” Nola whispered.

  He looked into Nola’s eyes. His anger changed to fear as he saw her mashed between him and the boy. He shook Kieran’s hand off and stepped back.

  “Where did she go?” Jeremy said.

  “Toward the shooting.” The boy held his chin high.

  “Where was the shooting?” Nola asked. “Which part of the city were they heading toward?”

  “The old Vamper section of town,” the boy said.

  “Did you see any other guards while you were waiting for Gentry to come back?” Kieran asked.

  The boy shook his head. “Just the ones who left us to die.”

  “She didn’t—”

  “Don’t.” Nola pressed her hands to Jeremy’s chest.

  “What about the others around here?” Raina asked. “You’ve just been playing decaying house for a few days. No one’s come by? No more people hunting for a nice place to stay?”

  “There were whole streams of people the first few days,” the gray-haired woman said. “It’s died down a bit. I think either folks are already dead or they’ve found a place to settle.”

  “Maybe some have found their way to you,” the scraggly woman said. “Wherever you are has got to be pretty nice. Vampers and humans living together. All of you look fed and healthy. Where have you been hiding out?”

  “Don’t even bother,” Raina laughed. “You’re not invited to the party.”

  “What about my baby?” the gray-haired woman asked. “You had food before, you’re still doing well. Surely you can help a little girl.”

  The little girl turned her head, pressing her cheek to Kieran’s chest.

  “We can’t help you.” Kieran set the child down.

  “I would advise you put your lights out,” Julian said. “And stay here as long as your supplies will last. The longer you hold out before searching for a more sustainable option, the fewer you’ll have to compete with.”

  “You’re just like them,” the boy said. “Leaving us in the middle of a fire.”

  “Gentry wouldn’t do that,” Jeremy said.

  “Don’t start that pity party with me,” Raina said. “You aren’t ours to care for. One of yours tried to kill one of mine. You should feel pretty damn lucky I’m walking away without having a snack. So all of you scurry up the stairs and lock yourselves in while we wander away. If you’re really lucky, I won’t tell any creepy crawlies where you’re hiding.”

  “How long do you think we’ll make it?” the redhead asked. “Would it really make a difference if you killed us now?”

  “Probably not,” Raina said. “But I’m giving you a chance to fight. Believe me, that’s something.”

  “It’s really not,” the boy said.

  “We should be on our way,” Julian said.

  “Go,” Raina ordered the group.

  The gray-haired woman snatched up the little girl and ran up the stairs. The other two women were right behind her, and the child began to cry as they disappeared from sight.

  The boy didn’t move.

  “Get upstairs,” Kieran said.

  “Or you’ll kill me?” the boy said. “You could light the house on fire as soon as you step outside.”

  “I carried you from the city,” Jeremy said. “I could have left you there to die, but I didn’t. Don’t make me regret saving you.”

  “Why not? I do.” The boy stepped toward Jeremy.

  “Raina, we need to go,” Julian said.

  “I don’t have time for this.” Raina ran her blade along the boy’s shoulder, slicing through his shirt and into his skin.

  The boy howled with pain.

  “Run,” Raina growled.

  The boy dodged around her and tore up the stairs, pressing his hand to his bleeding arm.

  “I hate teenagers,” Raina said.

  “Thanks,” Nola said.

  She started for the door, lining up behind Kieran.

  A thwack and a grunt sounded from in front of her.

  “Kieran!” Her shout was swallowed by Kieran’s voice.

  “Get him inside! Raina, come on!” Kieran leapt over something and ran into the night.

  “Shit.” Raina knocked into Nola as she followed Kieran out the door.

  “Nola, get back.” Jeremy shoved her against the wall and reached down, seizing Julian’s hands and dragging him into the house.

  Blood pooled on Julian’s stomach, surrounding an arrow that had pierced his suit and body.

  “How?”

  Jeremy ignored Nola, pulling Julian away from the door before grabbing the shaft of the arrow and yanking it from Julian’s stomach.

  Julian coughed. Blood spattered his veil. “I suppose I should thank you for that.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “We need to put pressure on it.” Nola leaned over Julian, pressing her hands to his wound.

  Julian grunted in pain, his eyes rolling back in his head.

  Jeremy slammed the remains of the shattered door shut and crawled to the window, peering out into the darkness.

  “What happened?” Nola asked.

  “I was shot with an arrow,” Julian wheezed.

  “By who?” Nola asked.

  The arrow lay on the floor where Jeremy had tossed it aside. Blood slicked the arrowhead and the start of the wooden shaft. The tip of the arrow had been carved from rock and faded feathers adorned the end.

  “I’m almost impressed.” Julian reached for the arrow. “You remove all hope and still life finds a way.”

  “Just breathe, Julian.” Nola kept her hands pressed to the wound. “You’re going to be just fine.”

  “I’m sure I will,” Julian said. “But in the meantime, this is a bit excruciating.”

  “Did you see which way they went?” Jeremy kept his eyes focused on the darkness beyond the window.

  “No, I was too busy looking at the arrow in Julian’s stomach.”

  “Blow out the candles,” Jeremy said.

  “I can’t move,” Nola said.

  “Don’t worry about me.” Julian shooed her away.

  Nola crawled toward the candles, blowing each of them out in turn.

  Her heart forgot to beat for a moment as the last candle went out and sense told her darkness would envelop her. But the faint light coming in from the window was enough for her eyes to see a face appear at the top of the stairs.

  “Get back in the room or Jeremy shoots you,” Nola said.

  The boy glared at her for a momen
t before running away.

  “They should be back by now,” Jeremy said. “One person with a bow, that shouldn’t give Raina any trouble.”

  “Unless there were more of them.” Nola wiped the blood from her hands on the side of the couch, leaving streaks of red across the frayed fabric.

  They sat in silence for a long moment. The faint shuffle of footsteps creaked upstairs.

  “Should we go out after them?” Nola whispered.

  “We’re not splitting up,” Jeremy said. “And we can’t leave Julian behind.”

  “How very kind,” Julian said.

  “How long until you can move?” Nola asked.

  Julian shifted his weight from side to side. “A few more minutes, and I should be able to stand. Might be an hour before I can fully run.”

  “If he can stand, you can carry him,” Nola said.

  “I don’t believe that’s the best idea,” Julian said.

  “Fine,” Nola said. “I’ll carry you. Jeremy’s better with a gun.”

  “But where would we go?” Julian grimaced as he eased himself up onto his elbows. “I don’t think there’s anything to do but wait for them to come back.”

  “And if they don’t come back?” Jeremy asked.

  “They will,” Julian said. “You need only give Raina time.”

  “How much time?” Nola asked. “They could be hurt.”

  “Shh,” Jeremy hushed. He tipped his head, leaning closer to the windowsill.

  Nola froze. Even her heart seemed to slow as she stared at Jeremy.

  The floorboards above them creaked. A bedspring squeaked as someone sat down.

  Outside, the dead leaves rustled, a branch cracked, someone grunted.

  “Jeremy!” Nola screamed his name as the window shattered.

  He covered his face as glass showered over him. A rock thumped onto the floor, rolling and settling by Nola’s hands.

  “Stay down!” Jeremy leapt through the broken window and out of sight.

  “Help me up.” Julian rolled over. His hands fumbled on the shattered glass, but still he pushed himself up to his knees.

  “He said to stay down.” Nola crawled to Julian’s side.

  “If we’re being attacked, I’d prefer to be on my feet,” Julian said.

  Nola wrapped her arm around Julian, hoisting him up.

  A pop sounded from the street followed by a scream of pain.

  “Jeremy.” Nola moved toward the shattered window.

  “No!” Julian reached for her arm a moment too late.

  A whizzing cut through the darkness. Nola twisted away from the window. Pain cut deep into her back.

  “Nola!”

  A crunch and a thud sounded on the street.

  “Are you injured?” Julian grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the window.

  “I’m fine.”

  An arrow stuck out of the wall right behind where Nola had been a moment before.

  “Nola.” Jeremy’s boots thundered up the porch steps.

  She twisted out of Julian’s grip.

  Jeremy leapt through the window and had Nola’s face in his hands a moment later. “You’re safe.” Blood marked his cheeks, remnants of wounds that had already healed.

  “It just got my back,” Nola said.

  Jeremy stepped around her, examining the place where the arrow had grazed her. “Dammit.”

  “Is it bad?” Nola asked.

  “It was very nearly worse.” Julian leaned against the wall.

  “What happened out there?” Nola asked.

  “Two new dead bodies.” Raina stepped through the window, sunhat in hand, her windswept hair and the blood dripping from her blade the only signs she’d been fighting.

  “Where’s Kieran?” Nola asked.

  “Stashing the dead men’s loot to carry home.” Raina wiped her knives clean on the curtains.

  “Who were they?” Nola asked.

  “Two outsiders who picked a really bad time to raid this house,” Raina said. “You hear that up there? If we hadn’t paid you a visit, you’d all be dead.”

  “I can’t believe it’s gotten this bad so quickly,” Nola said. “Breaking into people’s houses?”

  “If they have candles, what else might they have?” Kieran stepped through the window, a bow in hand and a quiver of arrows over his shoulder. He grabbed the bloody arrow from the floor and pulled the other from the wall, adding both to his supply.

  “But then they’re just killing each other,” Nola said. “There won’t be anyone left.”

  “Exactly,” Raina said. “Soon, only the strong and the sneaky will be alive. Welcome to the end of the world.”

  “We should go.” Julian pushed away from the wall, giving his shoulders a tentative shake.

  Raina stepped out through the window.

  “We need to find Gentry,” Jeremy said. “She’ll know what’s happening.”

  “We’ll just walk right on up to the domes and knock on the door,” Raina said. “Ask if we can talk to your sister.”

  Nola stepped out into the night. The cold tickled her back. She reached behind. Her shirt had been sliced open, and blood slicked her fingers.

  “Damn.” She reached back through the window, wiping her fingers on the curtains.

  “Kieran, keep an arm around Julian,” Raina said. “If he starts to fall behind, carry him.”

  “Nola.” Kieran held out the bow and quiver. “Can you take these?”

  “I don’t know how to use them.” Nola let Kieran pass her the hand-carved weapons.

  “I just need you to carry them.” Kieran winked.

  “I can do that part.” Nola looped the quiver over one shoulder and the bow over the other.

  “Lover boy with me.” Raina walked out through the grass, ignoring the two bodies crumpled on the lawn. “And keep your gun out. We might have made a bit of noise.”

  But you won. They’ll leave us alone because you won.

  Nola swallowed the childish sentiment as they reached the cracked road. The time for speaking seemed to have ended, though no one gave the order.

  She examined every shadow as they moved down the street. Every rustling leaf was a killer aiming an arrow at her heart. Every house held a dozen people waiting to attack.

  They moved more slowly, keeping to a human running pace.

  A wide circle of ashes and debris covered the center of the road. Three unburnt bodies lay nearby. The animals had already begun their work on the corpses. Nola shuddered and focused on staring at the back of Jeremy’s head. Blood stained his hair, and tiny flecks of glass sparkled in the strands.

  Raina didn’t slow her pace until they reached the edge of the highway.

  Tents and huts had been built in a clump in the center of the wide road. Soot stains covered the fabric of the tents. Nola’s eyes watered at the stench of human filth wafting from the ramshackle village.

  “Stupid.” Raina shook her head. “Do they think the Domers are going to help them? Do they think the city being gone is going to get rid of the acid in the clouds before the spring rains?”

  “Let them believe what they like,” Julian said. “The illusion of safety is the best they can hope for.”

  “We could raid it,” Raina said. “Force them into safer dwellings.”

  “No time.” Kieran pointed east.

  Gray tinted the sky.

  “We’ve got the suits,” Raina said.

  “We should get to ground,” Jeremy said. “Julian’s suit already has a hole in it, and he’s still recovering.”

  “Where do we go?” Nola looked toward the city. There wasn’t a single building in sight that hadn’t been ruined by the fire. There would be no way to know which buildings were stable.

  “If we’re going to play in the city, we’re going home.” Raina threw one last glare at the tents and strode across the highway.

  “Might it not be better to go somewhere a touch more discreet?” Julian asked.

  “The tunnels of N
ightland were made for us,” Raina said. “We’re going to ground there.”

  “The Outer Guard know where the entrance is,” Jeremy said. “If I were stuck patrolling a burned out city, that’s where I’d shelter.”

  “Weren’t you just asking for a family reunion?” Raina said.

  “They’ll have the advantage if they’ve barricaded themselves in there,” Jeremy said. “We don’t know how many of them there are, what sorts of weapons they have—”

  “So what’s your plan, lover boy?” Raina asked. “Wait around for the end of the world to come? Head on over to the tunnels and sit on the sidewalk, waiting for someone to come out with a roll call and supply list?”

  “I go check and see if the tunnels are clear,” Nola said.

  “No,” Kieran said at the same time Jeremy said, “Absolutely not.”

  “I know the tunnels well enough to be able to find out if anyone’s down there and get back out,” Nola said. “I can be quick.”

  “I’ll go in,” Jeremy said. “If the Outer Guard are down there—”

  “Then you’re a deserter,” Nola said.

  “And they put out a kill order on you,” Jeremy said.

  “I’ve got a great idea,” Raina said. “You both go in, poke around, and see what there is to see. Then if you’re not dead, you come back up and give us a wave.”

  “Who’s to say they won’t kill them on sight?” Kieran said. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “We’re going into the tunnels, and someone has to go first,” Raina said. “They won’t hesitate to go for the heart of a vampire, but maybe Gentry and her little guard friends will be a bit slower to kill her brother and his girlfriend.”

  “We could go some—”

  “Jeremy and I will go.” Nola interrupted Kieran. “We’ll go see who’s down there and come right back out.”

  Raina turned off of Main, following a narrow alley between blackened ruins. “Perfect. We’ll find a place to watch the exit. Nola and Jeremy, go in and scout.”

  Kieran shook his head but didn’t argue as he and Julian followed Raina.