Winter Smith (Book 1): London's Burning

by Strange, J. S.

  The woman began to scream, so loudly it made everyone jump. She hissed at Gerry, straining against the seatbelt constraining her, eyeing the gun he was pointing at her. How did she know she was facing death?

  Winter stood back from the car, scared that the blood would splatter from the shot or that she would be in the path of oncoming glass. Connor wrapped his arm around her shoulders as Gerry pulled the trigger and the woman moved no more.

  “Are there any more like that?” Laura asked.

  “It’s possible,” Gerry said, observing the road before them. Lines upon lines of ruined abandoned cars, any of which could still be occupied.

  “That gun shot made a lot of noise, Gerry…” William said. “You could have attracted them.”

  Winter almost expected every car door to open and the dead to drag themselves out, but there was nothing. They were safe for now.

  As the first day on the M1 wore on, Winter felt mounting excitement. As she watched Gerry and Oliver politely set up a portable BBQ, she thought of how close they were to London. She laughed along with everyone else, and she stayed by the side of Connor, but all the while her mind was somewhere else, thinking of survival and safety.

  “What would you do if you went to Paris, Winter, and found that you were idolised once more?” Connor asked, keeping his voice low so others wouldn’t hear them.

  Winter didn’t answer straight away. She hadn’t considered the thought. The idea of celebrities being as popular as they once were seemed alien now.

  “I wouldn’t even try to keep it going. I’d do anything I could to avoid it.”

  “Seriously?”

  What was that in Connor’s tone? Alarm? Winter didn’t know.

  “Seriously. The only good thing that has come from this is that I get to avoid it all again. The press, the stories, the stares from various people who think they know me.”

  “So you would never go back?”

  “I’d never go back. I want a fresh start now. I want to go to Paris and just be a regular survivor. Not someone who is watched constantly for mistakes.”

  Connor just nodded. He seemed lost in thought, probably about life in Paris.

  “Why did you do that thing for me? With David Herald? Why did you appeal to find me and insult the government?”

  “They were words twisted. He’s been doing it for years. The only truth was me asking to find you, and that was Violet’s idea.”

  “I’m sorry it didn’t work.”

  “I’ve found you now.” Winter pointed out. “Besides, nobody was interested. Nobody will be interested in such things for awhile now.”

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  Dinner was served just as the sun began to set. They had plans to carry on down the M1 early the next morning. They were all agreed on not staying in one place for too long, for fear of missing the last ship leaving the Thames.

  Oliver retreated to the car he had set up camp in earlier, conveniently missing discussions on who would be first to stay on watch that night. They decided it would be Laura.

  Winter tried insisting she stay with her, afraid that she was too young to be out alone, but Laura seemed to find this slightly insulting. She insisted she would be fine, she would not be far from the car, and she could look after herself. If anything were to happen she would alert the others.

  William climbed into the seat behind Winter, shutting the car door behind him and stripping down to his underwear. He quickly covered up, glancing at Winter every now and then.

  “It’s fine. I’ve seen worse,” Winter said, sorting out her sleeping quarters for that night.

  She decided they had the best car. It was roomy and comfortable, and Winter felt safe. Although she didn’t think she would be sleeping much.

  Strong winds blew past the car and for a second Winter’s heartbeat raced. She looked outside to see light rain falling.

  “Just what we need.” William sighed. “I’m not looking forward to our wake up call tomorrow.”

  “I don’t like Laura being out there alone.”

  Winter looked out through the front window. Laura leaned on the bonnet of a burnt out BMW, a gun in her hand. She was staring down the road looking relatively at ease.

  “Just keep an eye on her. She’s near Gerry, it’s fine. He’ll make sure she’s safe.”

  “What if he falls asleep?”

  William laughed.

  “You really think Gerry is going to sleep in that car with Oliver? I can’t imagine how awkward that place must be right now.”

  Winter knew what he meant. The pair were not fond of each other. She turned her head to look in at the KA next to them. Connor caught her eye and waved before settling down to sleep. The rain was pouring faster now, increasing in density. Soon they wouldn’t be able to see outside.

  “Why doesn’t she wait in the car?” Winter sighed, looking at Laura turn away from the oncoming rain.

  “She’s a tough girl, you know. She’s got the mental ability of an adult survivor, not a sixteen year old girl.”

  “She’s too young.”

  “She is only a year younger than you.”

  Winter remembered that, but she was sure she didn’t look quite as young and vulnerable as Laura did.

  “She would have only just left school, wouldn’t she?”

  William raised his eyebrows. “I guess you’re right, yeah.”

  “I wonder what she wanted to do.”

  William shrugged. “What did you do?”

  “I was still stuck in private school.” She didn’t want to know whether or not William understood. She was sure he would have heard of her before. “Although my parents were gearing me up for a career in being famous.”

  “Didn’t you like it?”

  “Connor asked me this earlier,” Winter said, taking her eyes off Laura and looking at William. “He asked me what I would do if they saw me as the same Winter Smith in Paris that they did here. I told him I hope that never happens again. It’s a fresh start.”

  “Certainly hope so. Scary though, when you think about it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  William laid a finger on the already misting car window and began to write his name. Winter watched him, how neat he made it, neatening any rough edges.

  “It really is a brand new start. We need to find new homes, new jobs, new education, whatever. We have to completely start again.”

  Winter hadn’t thought of that. She suddenly realised how naive she had been. It was all well and good to get to Paris and begin her fresh start, but just how would she do that? Did she expect to get there and start her private school tuition again?

  “A lot of people here aren’t that happy.” William sighed. He rubbed out his name and waited for the falling rain to mist the window again. “We’re all old enough to realise just how hard this is going to be.”

  He looked across at Winter. She bit her lip, lost in thought.

  “Not that I mean you’re too young to not do anything. I’m sure you’re capable of starting something up when you get there.”

  “If I get there.”

  “We’ll get there,” William said. “I’m sure of it.”

  Winter lay down, listening to the tinny sound of the rain bouncing off the car roof. She looked around the car, spotting empty crisp packets stashed away in the side door compartments. She thought how weird it was that this car belonged to someone else, who may or may not now be alive.

  “I don’t think Paris will be the safest place soon.”

  Winter didn’t answer straight away. She didn’t want to think of anything that could happen. She only cared about escaping the dead.

  She heard William settle down as she thought about The Dead Years. It was a name that would stick, although she hoped the plural wording would be proven incorrect.

  How were they to bounce back from this? The whole world had been disrupted. How?

  Soon, over the sounds of the pouring rain, Winter could hear the light snoring of
William. She suddenly felt lonely and afraid.

  * * *

  Violet and Zach sat upright against the white wall, staring at the wall covered in odd drawings and markings left by the past inhabitants. The kids were underneath the windows, peacefully asleep after screaming and crying with panic.

  The zombies barged against the door rhythmically, unrelenting on getting in. The sounds of things falling occasionally echoed downstairs, making the pair flinch.

  Violet wrapped her hand around Zach’s.

  “What are we doing here?” She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.

  “We’re screwed, aren’t we?”

  Violet brushed a strand of hair away from her face. She sniffed, feeling the beginnings of a cold coming on.

  “You know why this has happened to us, don’t you?”

  Zach sighed. He looked at Violet. “I know what you’re going to say, but we’re going to have to carry on as we are.”

  “And you think we’ll escape this? You really think we’ll get out of here alive?”

  “No, I don’t.” Zach shrugged. “We’re surrounded. Death is only around the corner.”

  A tear rolled down Violet’s cheek. “We should never have left Winter.”

  Zach clicked his tongue. Violet looked at him.

  “What?” She demanded.

  “You were the one who wanted to leave her.”

  “And now I want her back.”

  Zach shook his head. Violet pulled away from him.

  “Well, what’s wrong with that, Zach? I know you know it. You know that without her we’re fucking doomed.”

  “We were doomed anyway! Don’t you understand? We were always doomed!”

  “You weren’t saying that when Winter was here.”

  Violet made a noise of indignation and stood in the middle of the room, staring at the wall.

  “Don’t start now, Zach. I don’t know why we’re arguing so much lately.”

  Zach said nothing. Violet, set on arguing, picked on another subject.

  “You know she’s probably dead.”

  She glanced at Zach to see him look across at the bed, trying to hide his emotion at the thought. She knew she had found a weak spot.

  “She would have been lucky to have survived five minutes after we left her. That place was swarming.”

  “Shut up.”

  Violet laughed, even though it felt cold and shallow. “I’m being truthful, Zach.”

  “Don’t say she’s dead. That’s just cruel.”

  Violet rolled her eyes, looking towards the window. “I’m not giving up. We’ll get out of here tonight, or tomorrow if we have to.”

  “But the kids…”

  “I don’t fucking care about the kids!”

  Her screaming voice hung in the room as she exchanged glares with Zach.

  When she decided Zach wouldn’t speak again she continued.

  “I can’t do this anymore, Zach. We need to cut the loose ties.”

  She strode across the room and snatched up her gun, which lay against the bed propped against the bedroom door. The zombies outside seemed to sense her presence, throwing themselves against the door with a newfound gusto.

  She grimaced at the door, even though she couldn’t see what was beyond it, and turned the gun on the sleeping kids.

  “What the hell?” Zach gasped. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “They’re deadweight, Zach. We don’t fucking need them. They’re the reason we’re not out of here.”

  “No, the reason we’re not out of here is because you left Winter behind and then insisted I went out there to get help.”

  “Oh, really?”

  Violet looked like she wanted to burst. She was shaking her head viciously.

  “Really.”

  “You’re going to fucking blame me for this shit?”

  “Well why shouldn’t I?” Zach asked, trying to keep his voice quiet and calm so he didn’t wake the kids. “You made us leave Winter, and you got us in this mess.”

  “Oh shut the fuck up about Winter, Zach. Honestly, you clearly want to be with her!”

  “I want to be with you, Vi.”

  “Well, you keep fucking going on about Winter. You seem to be thinking about her all the time.”

  “Because she was our friend, Vi. We ditched our friend.”

  “No we didn’t. We cut our ties because she was holding us back.”

  “Honestly, do you even know why you’re angry?”

  Violet laughed. “You don’t get me, do you?”

  “No I really don’t.”

  Violet went to reply, but she seemed a little shocked at his reply. She couldn’t think of anything else to say so she tipped the gun she held a little further in the direction of the sleeping girl.

  “I wanted to get rid of Winter, so I got rid of her. I wanted her gone because of the fucking children. You brought them with you. Now we’re here because of these kids weighing us down. They’re too ill to travel and we have little time. If we don’t fucking get out of here tomorrow, Zach, I’m leaving you behind.”

  “You sent me out there to get help and when I did the zombies got in!”

  “Because you were fucking slow!”

  The boy moved. Violet looked down at him.

  “With these gone, we’re free to go. Let’s just get rid of them and leave them behind for the zombies. They’ll be busy with them and we can escape.”

  It was Zach’s turn to look stunned.

  “Listen to what you’re saying.”

  “I know what I’m saying, Zach, and I’m saying it for a logical reason: so we can escape.”

  “Logical? You really think you’re being logical?”

  “Uh, that is what I just said.”

  Zach smiled.

  Violet shook her head slightly. “Why are you smiling?”

  “You. You’re a joke.”

  Violet sunk to her knees. She began to cry, the angry emotions she had felt so many times breaking down and being replaced by a tidal wave of fear.

  “Why are we doing this to each other, Zach?”

  “Because we’re scared.”

  Violet looked at him. “They have to go. Those kids have to go.”

  “Look, we’ll escape in the morning. We’ll carry the kids. Come on, let’s plan.”

  Zach cast a look around the room and spotted crumpled up paper lying on the floor. He walked over to it and picked it up, beginning to unwrap it.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We’re going to plan thoroughly.”

  Violet stood up.

  “Put that paper down, Zach…”

  Zach stopped. He had unfolded the paper and read the notes, written in the hand of Violet. He looked up at her, staring at her like he hadn’t before. She waited for him to speak, tensing as he looked back down at the kids.

  “You really…you really planned this.” He looked back up at her, waiting for an answer. “You really planned this?”

  He screamed the last words, booming them throughout the room. It was so shockingly out of character Violet felt frightened. The zombies on the other side of the door momentarily stopped throwing themselves against the door, but soon they seemed spurred by the anger, feeding off the ferocity of the situation.

  “Zach…”

  “I didn’t think you were planning this, Violet. I didn’t bloody think you were thinking this.”

  He screwed the papers up in his hand and threw them with force at the wall. It bounced off with anti-climax, rolling across the floor. Zach pulled at his hair. He looked deranged, different. Violet suddenly realised she had hurt him. She had hurt the boy she loved.

  “Zach. I didn’t want to act on them.”

  “You wrote them down, Violet. You’ve got to be sick to write down things like that.” Zach shook his head. “When were you going to do it? Were you going to do it while I was asleep? Were you going to push me out of a window? Were you going to ditch me like you ditched Winter?” />
  “I didn’t ditch Winter.” Violet protested, but she had little fight left in her.

  “Yes you did. You thought only of you, and I thought you were right. I trusted you. I wanted you. So I did what you did. I left Winter, too, and I came here with you, and I respected what you wanted to do. What, did you want me to support you with murder? Did you want me to say ‘Ah, so you want to kill me, do you? Well, that’s alright, just wait until I’m asleep.’ You’re deranged. You’re not who I thought you were.”

  Violet hurried up to Zach, dropping the gun onto the floor with a loud thud. She gripped Zach’s shirt desperately, looking up at him.

  “Zach, look, I was angry. I wasn’t thinking. I just wrote what was in my mind.”

  “No, you weren’t thinking. You haven’t been thinking this whole time.”

  He pushed her away from him. She stumbled.

  “Don’t turn on me, Zach, don’t you dare turn on me.” Violet held a finger at him sternly. “You’re all I have.”

  And she cried. The tears fell from her eyes like a burst pipe. She had nothing else to do anymore. She had used up her anger, she had used up her manipulation, and now all she had left was hopeless tears.

  Zach wrapped his arms around her. He held her tightly, ignoring that she didn’t hug him back because he knew. He knew this wasn’t right. Not yet.

  “Did you mean it?” He whispered.

  “No, I never would have killed you.”

  “I mean, did you mean it about Winter?”

  Violet sighed.

  “I only hope that I was wrong.”

  The pair stood in the middle of the room, shaking as the cold from the pouring rain outside nipped at their exposed skin.

  * * *

  Morning came with a strong sun shining down on the wrecks of the M1. Winter woke up in a sweat, feeling like she was in an oven. She desperately needed fresh air.

  She fumbled for the door and threw it open. It hit the car next to her, Connor’s KA, and she heard him shout out. The horn of the car in front beeped loudly as Gerry and Oliver were woken up.

  “It’s alright, it’s okay,” William quickly said, hurrying around to Winter’s door. He had been keeping watch for the rest of the night. “It was just Winter opening the car door.”