“How many?”
“Three.”
“Three?” He rewarded me with a faint smile. “You're learning fast.”
Lloyd closed the garage door and strode towards the house, leaving me to ponder his words. I was learning but not fast enough. Today, I'd gotten my ass kicked. If it wasn't for Calypso, I'd be dead. Still, if I had to do it over again, I would.
***
Later that night, we all gathered around a table to eat dinner and discuss our next move, Calypso included. After filling her in on our plans, Lloyd opened the meeting.
“We've got more than enough fuel now. I've drained the other truck and besides the jerry cans, we now have a full tank as well. I've loaded our supplies and we're ready to go.”
“Is there anything else we need to get first?” I asked.
“Plenty. But I vote we wait until we get to our new home before we go treasure hunting. It's too risky here. The lot you offed today have friends. Friends who'll come looking and I'd rather not stick around for the party.”
“How do you know that?” Calypso asked, her voice strained.
“I recognized the truck. It's the bunch from the army base I told you guys about. We need to leave as soon as possible.”
“They can't find me! Us! We need to leave! Now!” Calypso stood up so quickly that her chair fell over backward with a loud bang. I jumped up and gripped her arm, holding her in place.
“Calm down. They won't find us.”
“How do you know? They might be searching for us right now. I need to get out of here.”
Her eyes were wild and her skin had turned ghostly pale, so I steered her into the kitchen. “Get a grip. You're scaring the kids.” Shaking her lightly by the shoulders, I continued. “Breathe, Calypso. Breathe.”
She sucked in a deep breath through her nostrils and exhaled, slumping forward. Tears brimmed, a few fat drops sliding down her cheeks to her chin. “I'm sorry. It's just...I can't go through that again.”
“It's okay. You've got nothing to be sorry for.” I took her hands and squeezed her fingers. “Look. If you want to leave, then we do that. We'll leave tonight.”
“Really? You'd do that for me?”
“Of course. You're one of us now.”
And it was true. She was one of us. Just like Lloyd and Sarah.
A new family. A new beginning.
30
Chapter 29
At three the next morning, we set off, having decided to leave in the dead of night. This minimized our chances of running into our new enemies. In hushed silence, we packed our things and climbed into the truck. Calypso sat in the back with the girls, bundled underneath a blanket.
It felt strange, almost like the times we used to go on holiday as a family. Dad would wake us in the middle of the night because he wanted to leave extra early. There was that same suppressed air of excitement about us, a muted belief that our destination offered more than our current circumstances.
I could only pray that we were right.
In the dark of night, Lloyd guided the truck onto the back roads, slipping out of town unnoticed. I made sure that Lexi and Sarah kept their heads down. The sights illuminated in the headlights of the truck were more than I wanted them to see. The glowing eyes of crazed dogs reflected back at us, ghostly sheet-wrapped figures on the sidewalks, rats scurrying amongst the rubbish.
The same place we once called home, now an urban nightmare.
Only when we hit the road leading out of town, did I relax into my seat. My eyelids drooped and I drifted off. What felt like hours later, I was awoken by Lexi shaking me and opened my eyes to the bright sunlight that heralded a brand new day.
“Look, Ava!” Lexi bounced around in her seat and pointed to two ostriches walking alongside the wire that bordered the road.
Silently, I wondered how long it would take before the fences collapsed. The animals that were contained within the numerous game reserves that dotted South Africa would be free. Free to roam the earth without human interference.
What will the world look like without us in it?
Lloyd had switched on the CD player and Lexi was singing along to the tunes of Mariah Carey, the only music the previous owner of the truck had left behind. I was sure my ears would start bleeding again soon.
Another hour passed before Lexi and Sarah fell asleep and Lloyd switched the radio off, freeing us from the tortures of Mrs. Carey. He fumbled in the cubby hole and asked me an unexpected question. “Cigarette?”
“Thanks.” I took one and lit it, inhaling the acrid smoke with a cough. How long has it been?
He offered one to Calypso as well but she declined and turned her attention back to the road. Her features were blank, her face an empty canvas devoid of feeling. I wondered what hid beneath the surface and guessed at a roiling hotpot of anger and humiliation.
My thoughts turned to Brian. The pain of his loss cut through me once more, leaving jagged wounds in its wake. We all had our secrets, hidden torments that tortured us in the night. I sighed and turned back to Lloyd, sucking on the smoke.
“Where did you get these?” I asked, then waved the question off. “Never mind. It doesn't matter.” I took another drag, coughing again. “It's been awhile.”
“I bet.”
“Lexi hates it when I smoke. Wants me to quit. Might as well, it's been so long.”
Lloyd snorted. “I'm not worried. Something else will kill me long before lung cancer does.”
“You're a real ray of sunshine, you know that? You must have had a pretty shit childhood.”
His mouth twisted. “You don't know anything about me.”
Taken aback, I stared at him. “Maybe that's because you won't give me a chance. You're so damn prickly all the time, you won't let me close enough to find out.”
He turned his dark eyes on me and for a second, allowed me a glimpse of the real Lloyd. “It's better that way.”
The pain in his eyes was real and my mouth opened and closed, flapping like a fish's on dry land. Before I could think of a reply, Lloyd pointed at a sign board. “Is that it?”
I leaned forward in my seat, nervous as hell. What if I couldn't find the place? Or what if I did, and it turned out to be horrible? What then? What if all I had done was make things worse for us? “That's it.”
The turn-off arrived and Lloyd turned onto the rutted dirt track, the road pitted and scarred. “Told you the truck was a good idea.”
I rolled my eyes but all my attention was focused on the road ahead. “Almost there.” We bounced and jiggled for a few more kilometers until I saw it. “There!”
It was just as I remembered.
The house sat on the banks of the Vaal River, surrounded by leafy green trees. A tall concrete fence topped with spikes and painted a crisp white encircled the large double story house. Balconies dotted the top floor, each bedroom possessing its own. The tiled roof was painted a charcoal gray while a low thatched roof ran alongside the house, covering a deep patio. The dirt road led to a short paved driveway that ended at a solid iron gate, reassuring in its sturdiness. It would be safe from marauding dogs and other wildlife. If not humans.
“Lexi. Hey, get up, sweetie.” I shook her awake, pointing at the house. “We're here.”
She bolted upright, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “We are?”
Lloyd had woken Sarah too and the two girls oohed and aahed at the picturesque house as we pulled up to the gate. Lexi turned to me with shining eyes. “Is this going to be our new home?”
I smiled and nodded, pulling her in for a hug while we stared up at the house that held our future. “Yes, sweet pea. It is.”
Author's Note
So we've reached the end of The Black Tide - Remnants, but rest assured you haven't seen the last of Ava and Lexi. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the experience. Keep an eye on my website for the release of the sequel to this book - The Black Tide II - Rebellion. You can read further for a sneak peek. I promise you won't
be disappointed!
https://baileighhiggins07.wixsite.com/mybooks
Books in this Series:
The Black Tide I - Remnants
The Black Tide II - Rebellion
The Black Tide III - Vanquish
Reviews:
Please consider leaving a review on whatever platform you feel comfortable with. It would really mean the world to me, and I love hearing from my readers. Reviews are the lifeblood of this business and greatly appreciated on my part.
Happy reading! On to the next adventure!
The Black Tide II - Rebellion - Sample
This is a sneak peek at the sequel. Check out my website for more details. https://baileighhiggins07.wixsite.com/mybooks
Prologue
The Black Tide. That's what we called it. I wish I could laugh at the irony of that name; at how true it turned out to be. But I cannot. For that's what it was. An unstoppable beast that devoured mankind, sweeping across the continents like a tide of death leaving behind only blackened corpses. Over the course of a few months, it killed millions, even billions. Then it mutated, becoming airborne. Ninety-nine percent of all human life ceased to exist.
Except us. The immunes. Last left standing.
Life is different now. Harsh. Unforgiving. Lonely.
But there is nothing stronger than the heart of a survivor.
Chapter 1
I ran my hand along the handrail on the stairs, skimming the wood with a sense of remembrance. A thin film covered the surface, coming free beneath my touch. Dust motes puffed into the air, shimmering in the sunlight.
The last time I'd been here was with Brian. I'd accompanied him and his parents on a weekend break one summer. That weekend was among some of the best memories I had.
Shrieks of laughter pulled my attention to the top of the stairs. I jogged up the steps, treading lightly and entered the hallway on the second floor. It was a big house, boasting five bedrooms. Still, I wondered how we'd all get along in one space. In essence, we were a bunch of strangers forced together by circumstance.
Giggles emanated from an open doorway, and I peeked around the corner. Lexi and Sarah were jumping on the beds, two singles on either side of the room. The sight prompted a smile from my lips, and I leaned against the doorjamb, folding my arms.
“Having fun?” Shining eyes and rosy cheeks turned to me followed by more giggling. “So, I'm guessing this will be your new bedroom now?”
“Can it?” Lexi asked. “Can I share with Sarah?”
“Of course, sweet pea,” I answered, secretly relieved. While I didn't mind bunking with Lexi, it would be nice to have a little privacy again. Besides, it would be good for her to spend time with someone her own age for a change.
Movement over my shoulder caught my eye, and I turned my head. Lloyd looked at the two girls then offered me a crooked smile. “Guess their accommodation is all sorted out. What about yours? Picked a room yet?”
I straightened up and shook my head, but my feet knew exactly where to go. Brian's old room, diagonally across the girls'. The door was half shut and with hesitance, I reached out and pushed it all the way open. It swung wide on silent hinges, revealing the contents.
The walls were painted a simple white in stark contrast to the ebony sheen of the wooden floorboards and ceiling. The faint aroma of polish hung in the air, a legacy from the last time cleaning staff had been here.
My eyes flitted from the double bed with its spartan linen in navy blue to the built-in cupboards and full-length mirror. I drifted inside, the ache inside my chest intensifying. Inside the closet were a few odds and ends. Lightbulbs, extra blankets...and a shirt.
I reached out and took it, my hand fisting in the material. It was a t-shirt, a ratty old thing left behind in haste. Pressing the cloth to my nose, I inhaled. It was still there, the faint smell of deodorant mixed with the essence of him. My hands shook, a knot of grief balling in my throat. Lloyd's voice spun me around with a gasp.
“You really loved him, didn't you?” His face was expressionless, his eyes unwavering. “Brian, I mean.”
My cheeks burned, and I tossed the shirt back into the cupboard. “Yes, and he's still alive, you know. Don't talk like he's dead already.”
“Perhaps.” He frowned. “But...what about Andy?”
His question splashed across my face like a bucket of ice cold water. I bit back an angry retort. What business was my love life of his anyway? With an effort, I reined in my fury. Andy used to be his friend, after all. I supposed it was natural that he'd want to know. “I cared about Andy. A lot.”
“But you didn't love him.” Lloyd's voice was cold.
“I...I did. It was different with him. He was sweet and kind, easy to talk to.” I chewed on my bottom lip, trying to find the words to express my emotions.
“So you used Andy.”
“No! It wasn't like that. I'd never...” I sucked in a breath. “Brian was gone and I didn't think I'd ever see him again. Andy was there for me, there when I needed him.”
“How convenient.” Lloyd's mouth turned down at the corners, a sneer forming on his lips. “He loved you, you know. More than you deserved.”
With that parting shot, he turned and walked away. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and my breath hitched. I turned and crossed the floor. In front of the sliding doors, I paused, reaching out to part the curtains.
Sunlight flooded the room, and I unlatched the doors, easing them open. A blast of fresh air rushed into the room, washing out the stale air. I gasped, breathing deeply to fill my lungs as I stepped onto the balcony.
My hands gripped the railings, the knuckles turning white as I held back the shudders that threatened to rip me apart. All happiness at coming here, finding this refuge, had evaporated. Instead, I was filled with a mixture of grief and longing, guilt and self-loathing.
I stared at the river in the distance, the deep green waters flowing past without thought or care. Tears ran down my cheeks, dripping onto my shirt. Memories surfaced, playing off in front of my eyes like a movie on a reel.
My mother walking out the door, handbag in hand, red hair shining in the light. That was the last time I saw her. My father, face thin and haunted, waiting for me with a cup of cold tea and porridge. That was the last time I saw him too. Andy, vital and alive one minute, dying in agony the next.
Whatever Lloyd might think or say, I had loved Andy. More than words could ever express. He'd been there for me when I needed him the most. His death had been one of the hardest things I'd ever had to experience. It had also served as the catalyst to realizing how stupid I was being, playing with my life while Lexi depended on me. And to finally dealing with the guilt I felt over my mom's death. But Brian was different. He was special, and always would be.
My eyes wandered over the large enclosed yard, taking in its useful features. A lemon tree covered in blossoms, rich dark earth that was perfect for growing things, a toolshed, and a borehole. The house would have running water, a fact that should have excited me.
At that moment, though, I found it hard to feel good about anything. I had lost so much, done so much, seen so much...things that could never be forgotten. No matter how hard I tried.
A dark head of hair appeared next to me, interrupting my pity party.
Calypso.
Her face was impassive, her dark eyes fixed on the horizon. I dashed at the tears on my cheeks, trying to compose myself. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to say thank you.”
“What for?” I sniffed, wiping my face on my sleeve.
“For saving me from those men.”
“It was noth...”
“For taking me in.”
“Of course.”
“For bringing me here.”
“I would never have left you behind, Calypso.”
“I know.” She turned her head, gazing at me. “You're a good person, Ava. Never forget that.”
Her words struck hard, right at the root of my inse
curities. Was I really a good person after everything I had done? How could I be?
Calypso seemed to sense my feelings, a frown marring the smooth skin between her brows. “Don't listen to Lloyd. He's hurting, that's all. You had what he wanted and now he's lashing out.”
With that cryptic remark, Calypso turned and walked away. I stared at her retreating back in confusion. What exactly did she mean by that? And when had she learned so much about Lloyd? The man was a total mystery to me, his sarcasm a wall that kept me at bay.
I sighed, sinking down onto the edge of the bed. This was going to be a lot harder than I thought. To have so many disparate personalities in one house, so many simmering tensions, and buried feelings. How can we ever make this work?
Peals of girlish laughter drifted down the hallway, filling the house with life and light. My spirits lifted, my resolve hardening into steely determination. We had no choice. This was a new beginning for us, a chance at a real future.
We'll make it work. No matter what it takes.
I dragged my suitcase over, unzipping the bag. One by one, I unpacked my belongings, the bits, and bobs that made up my life. There wasn't much. Some clothing, toiletries, and shoes. All of which I packed away with care.
A framed photo went onto the bedside table. It was my favorite, taken on Christmas day and the last time our whole family was together. My fingers brushed over my parents' faces. We looked so happy.
A different time.
A flashlight joined the frame on the table, a basic first aid kit going into a drawer along with a battered copy of paranormal short stories. I wasn't much of a reader but the creepy shorts kept me entertained.
My old phone went into the drawer as well, along with the charger and headphones. If we could get some power to the house, I'd be able to listen to music at night. It might help with the nightmares.
The Black Tide I: Remnants (Tides of Blood) Page 24