by Ryan Casey
There was a pause. And Riley thought he was being left to fight this fight alone once again.
“I agree with Riley.”
It was Anna who spoke.
“I mean, you say you’ve been to this great place, wherever this great place is. But my question is… if you’d been there, why on earth would you come back?”
Cody took a deep breath and smiled once again. “I understand your scepticism. Really, I do. But I’ll answer your questions as clearly as I can. Firstly, this place. It isn’t a new world. Not exactly. It’s… The old world never really went away.”
Riley frowned. He tried to understand what he was hearing. “What do you mean the old world never went away?”
“The infection as you know it. It started in Britain. And there were other parts of Europe affected, sure. There were rapid struggles to erect walls around nations. And honestly, there was a lack of understanding as to what was really happening in these places. The media, they can be influential. Very influential. People on the outside might think they know what’s been happening in Britain and the other places affected by the infection, but really they have no idea.”
Riley couldn’t believe what he was actually hearing. “You’re telling me there’s a whole world out there and… and nobody’s doing a thing to help us?”
Cody shook his head. “That might’ve been the case. It took time for the UN to decide on a proper viable course of action. But they are taking that action now. They’re escorting a select number of healthy people out of Britain and back into the old world.”
“Something just doesn’t add up,” Anna said.
“Sure,” Cody said. “What’s that?”
She cleared her throat and leaned forward. “We spend all this time living in this cesspit of infection. Some of us even get bitten, but manage to find ways to repair ourselves. And now you’re saying that the UN is just allowing people to walk freely in healthy areas of the world? You really expect us to believe that?”
Cody sighed, and put his hands on the table. “Look. I won’t lie to you. It’s the old world, but it’s not exactly an old world where the residents are integrated with the rest of the world. At least, not yet.”
Riley sighed. “You’re diverging already. So basically what you’re saying now is that it’s a prison camp?”
Cody shook his head. “Riley I’ve been there. I’m not some government shill trying to sell you a lie. I was there with you at the MLZ. I lost my family at the MLZ. And I…”
He lifted his arm. And then he showed his neck. He didn’t have to point to the scars on his face for Riley to know what’d happened there, too.
Riley’s stomach sank. “Bitemarks.”
“The people at the extraction point cured me. They’ve found ways to stave the infection when it’s in its earliest stages. It isn’t a permanent solution. And I… I require regular doses to keep myself alive. But it’s a start.”
Riley looked over at Carly and Kesha. Part of him wanted to be open with Cody. Part of him wanted to trust him.
But it was way too early for that.
“I’m not asking you to walk into the flames with me,” Cody said. “I’m asking you to join me in the new world. Because there’s not an unlimited number of seats on the ride out. And as far as I see it… well, it has to be fate that we’ve been reunited.”
Riley looked deeply into Cody’s eyes. He wanted to believe him but it was difficult. After every wild goose chase and journey of hope he’d been on, it was difficult.
But then he looked at Anna, at Carly and at Kesha, and he knew he had to do the right thing by them.
“If we do join you,” Riley said. “What can we expect?”
Cody smiled. “You can expect the usual. A long, tricky as hell journey. Only with a nice reward at the end of it for a change.”
“A shitcake with icing on top,” Anna said.
Cody frowned. “I hope not. That’d suggest the journey’s only sweet on the outside. And when you get to the core…”
Anna held her gaze at Cody. “Yeah. I hope not too.”
They sat there then, the five of them, and it was clear what the decision was going to be. This place was good. It was safe.
But the promise of getting off this rock and into some new existence?
The promise of not having to worry about the infection or the creatures or anything for another day of their lives?
Riley stood up. He held out a hand. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, but he believed him. He trusted him.
Cody looked at Riley’s hand and an even wider smile came to his face. He stood up, took Riley’s hand, shook it firmly.
“You won’t regret this,” he said.
Riley kept his focus on Cody.
He hoped he wouldn’t regret it.
Cody walked away from the table, over to the dining room door. “We should get moving immediately. Time is of the essence.”
“We can’t,” Anna said. “At least, not yet.”
Cody frowned. He looked from Anna to Riley and back again. “And why’s that?”
Anna smiled. “Hope you’ve got two more seats on the plane. We’ve got a couple more friends to wait for.”
CHAPTER TWO
Melissa tried to tell herself that everything was okay, even on the days where everything didn’t feel okay.
But when she was with Ricky, she had to admit… he did a good job of making her feel better. Making her feel like there was somebody there for her.
Making her feel like there was someone she could trust.
The sun shone down brightly. But it was afternoon, so that wouldn’t be the case for long. Of course, the afternoons were a bit longer these days. They stretched on for more of the day. And the fewer hours of darkness the better as far as Melissa was concerned.
Because it was the darkness that always reminded her of what was brewing deep inside her; of what was hiding in her soul…
She was in the woods, as too was Ricky. They were heading to check out that farm that they’d spotted a few days ago just before darkness fell. They’d agreed to go back there when there was more daylight, but they’d taken a wrong turn and it was running late again.
There was no guarantee they were going to make it to this farm in time. There was no guarantee that it would still be daylight when they got there.
But they were clear about what they had to do.
Whether they liked it or not, whether it was light or dark, they were finding this farm today, and they were investigating it for signs of life—and signs of security.
Even if it meant spending a night there.
“You’re quiet,” Ricky said.
Melissa looked at Ricky, then at the ground. “I’m just concentrating.”
“You’re always ‘just concentrating’. I’ve known you for six months now and you’re always ‘just concentrating’. You know how entertaining your concentrating is for me?”
“I don’t care.”
“No. Of course you don’t. But hey. It’d be nice if we could have a conversation every once in a while.”
They walked further. They’d been fortunate so far in that they’d barely run into any undead on their way. Funnily enough, it seemed like the numbers of the dead were reducing. Perhaps the world had reached Peak Dead. Perhaps they were rotting away, the remnants of life inside their bodies finally giving out.
But Melissa didn’t want to rest on her laurels. She didn’t want to take her chances.
“Let’s play a game,” Ricky said, as they waded together through the tall grass.
“I don’t like games.”
“Of course you don’t. But I’m going to play this game anyway. It’s called… do a little goofy jig if the other person’s correct.”
“Wow,” Melissa said, eyebrows raised. “Sounds catchy.”
“Hey,” Ricky said. “Just give it a chance. Okay?”
Melissa shrugged. She’d learned better than to argue with Ricky. When he had his mind an
d his heart set on something, he usually got his way. “Whatever.”
“Okay,” Ricky said. “Me first. You… you come from a broken home. You had a rough past. And whatever happened in your rough past has made you the way you are.”
“They way I am?” Melissa said, defensively.
Ricky raised his hands, mockingly. “It’s just a game.”
Melissa sighed. She cleared her throat and shook her head. She didn’t like this game. She didn’t like any game where opening up was a part of it.
But she had to oblige.
She waved her hands.
Ricky laughed. “What was that?”
“My little jig.”
“That was your jig? Shit, woman. No wonder you had such a rough upbringing if that’s how you dance.”
“Go on then,” Melissa said. “I’d love to see yours.”
“Ahh, but you know the rules of the game.”
Melissa tutted. She didn’t want to indulge Ricky anymore. But what choice did she have?
“You… you cared about someone. Someone really close. And you lost them.”
Ricky stopped. For the first time, Melissa noticed his eyes glaze, like she’d really struck a nerve, or landed on a truth.
“Am I right?” she said. “Because if I am…”
Ricky shook his head, wiping away the serious expression from his face. And then he did the most ridiculous thing.
He broke out into this full on dance. He started throwing robotic moves, swinging his arms, stretching out his legs.
Melissa couldn’t help bursting out laughing. And it felt good, laughing. It reminded her that despite all the horrific things that had happened in this world—not just since the dead started walking, but before that, too—she could still laugh. There were still things that could make her feel normal.
But she wasn’t normal.
There was no doubt about that.
And the more questions Ricky asked, the more that abnormality—that darkness—would surface.
“So come on,” Ricky said. “You put a little more effort into your dance next time. Time for my second q—”
He stopped. He stopped because Melissa put her hand on his chest.
“That your dance move? ’Cause I don’t like it.”
“Worse,” she said. “Look.”
She pointed ahead. And she could tell from the look on Ricky’s face when he saw it—when he realised what Melissa was pointing out.
It was the farm.
Only the animals weren’t alive anymore.
They had been slaughtered. And not in a conventional farming way either.
“Shit,” Ricky said. He staggered through the trees over in the direction of the farm. And seeing his disappointment just reminded Melissa that no matter how many little moments of light they could spark between them, that underlying darkness would always prevail, bringing them flying back into the normal world.
“We should investigate it at least,” Ricky said.
“Someone’s attacked it. It’s not safe.”
“We don’t know that. Not for sure. Not until we’ve been in there. Not until…”
He stopped. Melissa knew why. She’d heard it too.
“I think I know exactly who attacked this place.”
She kept totally still as she stared through the trees at the people dressed all in black.
They were masked.
They were standing in the grounds of the farm.
And they were holding rifles.
CHAPTER THREE
Riley rocked Kesha in his arms and he thanked his blessings that she was here and she was okay.
It was late afternoon bordering on evening and Melissa and Ricky still hadn’t returned. It always brought a knotting to his stomach when somebody was out on some mission or other—especially a mission that wasn’t going to prove fruitful. Not that he could talk, after he’d spent the day on a quest for a fresh pair of boxer shorts, but still. That not knowing whether someone was going to return. That wondering just how long to wait before giving up, letting them go, moving on.
It was a strange world. After all, it was a world where nobody really had a true home. The houses you saw in the cities were reminders of that. Trashed. Destroyed. Places of permanence and of sanctuary, all broken into and destroyed by the very people who were supposed to be either struggling just as much as everybody else, or buried six feet under.
He looked into Kesha’s eyes. She was smiling back at him. She had such an infectious smile, it turned his insides to jelly. Whenever he was struggling—and depression did strike everybody in this world—one look into those eyes was enough to remind him why he was doing what he was doing; why he was surviving.
He didn’t want to indulge in the fantasy that Cody had promised. The talks of a new world. No. Not a new world. Just the old world, still out there, still getting along. He couldn’t allow himself to indulge in it because doing so was dangerous. It was letting his guard drop, and he’d been living in this reality for long enough to know that letting his guard drop was something to be avoided at all costs.
But what if, he wondered?
What if?
“She smells like she’s done something.”
The voice came from Riley’s left. It alarmed him a little.
When he turned, he saw Carly standing there.
“Hey, Carly. You made me jump.”
Carly walked over to Riley. She reached up for Kesha, took him out of his arms with remarkable ease. “Have you ever changed her?”
Riley sighed. “Now, Madame. You might do a great job of looking after her, but don’t you forget who fought to get her back.”
“I was there too,” Carly said. “I fought, just like you did.”
Riley nodded. “Yeah. I guess you did.”
“So it’s only fair you change your share of poos.”
Riley didn’t say anything. The less he said, the better, he figured.
Carly started changing Kesha. But she was acting strange. It bothered Riley. She was usually so cheery whenever she was with Kesha. She was usually so enamoured by her, so thrilled by her.
But right now she seemed… detached.
“Something on your mind?”
Carly glanced over at Riley. That look alone confirmed to Riley that something was wrong.
He walked over to her side. Put a hand on her back. “You can talk to me. You know that. Right?”
When she looked up at him, he saw Chloë in her eyes. She reminded him of Chloë in many ways. Probably less of a brat than Chloë, sure. But morally… they were on the same level. They cared about the same things. And they were both incredibly intelligent.
“I just… It’s nothing. It’s stupid.”
“It’s not stupid,” Riley said. “If there’s something on your mind, it’s important to talk.”
“I just don’t think I’m ready for a new world.”
Riley frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
She looked down at Kesha. She was still grinning, still jabbering on about nothing, all bright wide eyes and smiles. “If we go to a new world… they’ll take me away from her.”
Riley felt his stomach sink. He really felt for Carly when she said those words. He didn’t want to believe what she was saying. But he knew how the world worked. He knew that Carly was probably right.
“They can try,” Riley said, squeezing Carly’s shoulder. “They can try as much as they goddamned want. But nobody’s breaking us up. Nobody’s tearing apart. You understand? Nobody.”
Carly smiled, then. “I wish my dad had been more like you.”
Riley felt tears building when Carly said those words. He didn’t think about his child all that often, not actively, simply because they were so, so far away and he’d already done all the wondering and worrying he possibly could.
He hadn’t entertained the thought that maybe they were still out there.
Maybe they were still alive.
“I’d say you’ve turned out oka
y as it is,” Riley said. “I’d say you’ve turned out just fine.”
He smiled at Carly, and Carly smiled back at him. And for a moment, he felt like he had a total connection with her. Like they understood one another. Like they’d broken through a brick wall of communication and were making real progress; real steps.
And then he saw the movement behind her.
He saw the creature staggering into the room, teeth snapping, arms stretched in Carly’s direction.
And he saw it throw itself at her.
CHAPTER FOUR
Ricky watched the armed group walk inside the farmhouse and he knew he just had to see what was going on inside, whether it was dangerous or not.
Light was fading. Darkness was building. And as much as he knew Melissa was uncomfortable in the darkness, to him it seemed like it was going to be an advantage right now.
A cover of darkness meant that he could go and investigate this farm, more camouflaged by the night.
But he knew there were risks involved. These people… by the looks of things, they’d killed the animals. All of those potential suppliers of meat and of dairy and of eggs, all of them killed.
What kind of group would do that?
What kind of people would be so short-term?
“We need to go,” Melissa said.
Ricky turned to her. He could tell she was getting anxious about this whole situation. And he could understand it. Really, he could. The world was filled with bad people. There was no reason not to run away from this group.
But there was something.
Ricky couldn’t describe it. But it felt like there was a force. A force pulling him over to that farmhouse.
Because something told him that, despite the smell of rust in the air from the blood of the animal carcasses, there was something much worse to witness.
And like standing at the side of a road and watching a car traffic incident aftermath play out, Ricky wanted to see what secrets were hiding behind those closed doors.
“You can walk, then. But I need to see what’s going on here.”
He stepped forward.
Melissa grabbed his arm right away, stopped him from progressing.