The Carnage Trilogy (Book 1): The Carnage [Unbending, Unyielding, Unforgiving]

by Birch, Matthew

  "I will be dead soon anyway mate," Marcus rests a scarred hand on his thigh. "I'm sorry, I really am" He continues.

  Looking away, I have to hide everything. I won't show him how much this hurts. I can't lose him. I can't lose Marcus. I can't. He's like my big brother. Always looked over me, guiding me, protected me. He kept me safe and alive. He was always there for me. If it wasn't for him I would have never have made it this far and here he goes again, saving my life one last time by giving his own. It shouldn't be this way. Why is it this way? I can't-

  I can't...

  "There has to be another way-"

  Marcus looks at me regretfully, a look of gloom on his face. He transforms it into an inadequate smile. "Remember what I said about making it personal..." He looks faint all of a sudden. Slightly woozy, Marcus loses his train of thought.

  Deep breath, now exhale it.

  Just hold it together a little longer. So, I know I am lying to myself if I believe there is another way. It will get us all killed if I go against him. I know there is no other way. If you're not willing to let go, you might as well be dead. This is exactly that. If I am not willing to let go of him, then I am selfishly putting us all in danger. He stops his scolding and looks at everyone softly. "I'm sorry everyone..." He looks imperceptibly hammered, as if he's got a crazy hangover, just like how this all started. Now he has a bullet in his leg, and a head full of dread.

  Maya opens the car door and steps outside. We watch her stand there for a moment, and then she leans back in. "They are getting closer" She deadpans. "I will never forget what you've done for us, Marcus. Thank you" Stepping away, Maya holds her father's hatchet steadily. That is the most she gives for a goodbye. It's all she needs.

  Next, Alice props herself forward and says, "Thank you, Marcus. You were there for me when that man tried to hurt me and my brother. I know that I have known you a day... But I can tell that everyone here loves you very much. Thank you, you saved my life twice" Marcus weakens at Alice's words. A broad smile takes his face. He opens his arms, and Alice leans over from the middle seat to give him a hug. Before Alice can shed a tear, she pulls back and shuffles over to Maya's seat before getting out the car as well.

  Chloe is next, thanking him for everything behind suppressed tears. She cracks a joke, "I can't believe that you are the one saving me this last time..."

  Marcus grins at her, "Times change" He says. Chloe sniffs, wiping her eyes on her bloodied tank top and-

  She leans over and kisses him. He embraces it, leaning in for more. It's sweet and kinda cute but its cut short when the horrific screams of the monsters get closer. Marcus trails his hand across her cheek, he is the one to end the kiss, bringing himself back and giving her one last charming smile. "Goodbye," He whispers. Little droplets of water flow down her thin cheeks. Chloe gets out the car, not looking back.

  So, now it's just me and him.

  "You know I am not moving Marcus"

  "Suck it up for cryin' out loud and get the fuck out"

  Silence...

  Crossing my arms, I wiggle myself into my seat which only angers him more. "Stop being so childish and listen to me, Ed..."

  Suddenly, his voice goes soft and he looks me dead in the eye. "Please, protect them all. Keep them safe no matter what. For me..." He whispers, tears in his eyes. I see he has finally cracked, the dam holding back all his piling up emotions has cracked. "We've been surviving for almost a month, to be honest; I don’t know how long it’s been. Anyway, I honestly couldn't be prouder of you. You're a different person than when I first met you. Strong and confident and..." Marcus sinks into his seat, his eyes rolling a bit and I can see the life draining from him now with every word...

  "Marcus?" Scared and frightened, I reach out, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a shake. Fluttering his eyes, Marcus looks around in a daze. "You're like a little brother to me ya' know?" He continues while leaning into me, his head resting on my shoulder for support. My heart drops as the dying man smiles at me one last time. "It's nice to have a brother..." I whisper. Marcus nods, giving me a weak hug. I wrap my arms around him fully, hugging him tightly. I don't want to let go. I won't let go. I can't let go...

  "Thank you for everything..." I whisper quietly. Marcus hums in response.

  The roar of the monsters gets even closer now-

  "Although having a big brother is a pain" I laugh while separating from him. Marcus shifts, hoping for me to move so he can take the wheel. "Try having a little brother..." He mutters back with a deadly grin.

  The roars feel like they are right behind us now...

  "Now go," Marcus says, alarm and warning in his voice. This is it. This is goodbye. I don't even get to say anything. I barely get the door open before he pushes me out and leaps into the driver's seat. The last thing I see from the floor is Marcus slamming the door shut and rolling the window down.

  Then, his father's machete comes out the window and lands in my lap...

  His parting gift...

  Tears well in my eyes at the look of what he is entrusting to me. His prized possession...

  "Ed!" Maya hurriedly whispers somewhere behind me. I am left speechless with a tear-stained face as Marcus takes off at full speed. Turning the sirens on and blasting off, he leaves a cloud of smoke in his wake. "ED!" Maya shouts, and I feel her hands grip my arms before she starts tugging me backwards. Rolling underneath the truck just in time, I am able to see the spectacle that is an army of monsters who sprint past. It's terrifying...

  With every footstep they take; I feel the ground shake under their power. The world could be torn in two by the might of simply their feet. All of the monsters are snarling, screaming and roaring crazily in their chase. Of course, the pack leader runs past at the back of the herd. The only one who doesn't run on all fours, but instead can run just as fast on two legs. At the moment, he takes a gentle jog, his head twisting around, at one point it does a full three-sixty turn. I know he's looking for us. He's not dumb. He sniffs the air, though the pack leader’s face is mostly unsure. The fumes left behind from the car have given us a slim chance...

  He looks...

  And looks...

  And he looks right in our direction...

  And he sniffs one more time.

  Does he know?

  He takes off, sprinting so fast, he overtakes his little army in mere seconds.

  Holy shit is that scary...

  We are alive.

  Marcus, thank you. You are and always will be my brother.

  Chapter 43 - Noble

  Marcus

  'I died a long time ago when William shot me' I think to myself. Smirking, I press the pedal harder and accelerate even further. 'If I am going to die anyway, I might as well give it my all' Sirens blazing, monsters roaring and clawing. The front window smashes; shards of glass pierce my skin. Flinching, I close my eyes for a moment. Only to open them to see one red, grimy bastard on the front of the damaged police car. Gritting my teeth, I make a decision. A last moment kind of decision, the choice I am about to make is simple. There's a sharp turn up ahead and I know exactly how am I am going to use it to my advantage.

  Wait for it...

  The monster crawls up the front of the car, smiling viscously at me.

  Wait for it.

  Another monster rips open the roof of the car, its gloop, vein-ridden void of a face peering at me.

  Wait for it!

  Another monsters hand tears through the bottom of the police car, and tears my already dead lead-ridden leg off in one go-

  I shout-

  I yell-

  I cry...

  I press the breaks-

  I turn the wheel-

  One loud screech is followed by the car turning, then tossing, then spinning, then tumbling. I float about almost, the seatbelt keeping me secure in place long enough before-

  Everything goes dark. I open my eyes, and I am upside down. The seatbelt is torn and a chunk of metal is in my chest. Blood leaks from m
y mouth and my head aches profoundly. My heart’s hammering away. One lung has been ripped and flattened. How am I still alive? I blink-

  And I am outside-

  The cool breeze on my face-

  Looking up, I see the starry sky...

  I take a breath.

  "Where is the Carnage?" The pack leader asks politely. Its voice is its own, clean, crisp and almost human-like. It's a strange turn. I know its learning.

  "Fuck you..." I barely whisper because I won't be giving up today.

  "We have studied his species long enough. Kill him"

  I close my eyes. Everything’s slipping away before I face the inevitable that is my death. It's like I said. I was dead from the minute William shot me...

  Good luck Ed... Don’t ever let this world change you. You’re strong. You can survive. Don’t let the monsters get to you. Never give in, lest it take you away...

  Chapter 44 - The Void

  A cool breeze bristles through the tall field of wheat. One by one, it swallows us. First in is Chloe, then Alice and finally Maya. I have no tears. I don't even feel anger. I'm numb. Silence has ripped us all apart. Everything has gone wrong and there is nothing we can do about it. I am so worthless and weak; can't I do anything right? Marcus is gone and he isn't coming back.

  I quietly crush the map in my hand. I had picked it up at a motel on our journey east. Moving south would only take to where Marcus's selfless diversion led. We'd only be walking into a trap. Releasing the tension on the innocent map, I sigh and guide my eyes to the various locations on the map. There isn't much of a plan at the moment. Just, 'keep moving'. The worst part of all of this is that we don't know the condition of the rest of this resort. Who knows what lies beyond this field? Danger could be lurking everywhere we step.

  "Ed?" Someone's voice calls out. It's gentle and low. To be honest, I don't care who it is. Continuing forward, I keep the map at my side as I push through the tall, thick stands of wheat, following the voice that had called out to me before.

  I still can't believe this is how things end. After everything Marcus has done for me, I will never be able to repay him. I won't ever forget him. That could be a problem for me, him always lurking in my head, taunting me. He died a good man, and in my eyes; a hero. While he goes to the above, I still live among who is left. You know what I am? A pathetic coward, that's right. All I am is a coward. Do I need to spell it out for myself?

  C O W A R D

  YOU'RE A COWARD

  Closing my eyes, I stop and take a breath to clear my mind.

  So, weak...

  Almost, fragile...

  My mind doesn't give up the assault, switching to a full-on bombardment when Ben crosses my mind. Great, now Patrick, Linda, and all those people who gave their life so I could get where I am. I hate myself for everything that I am. I hate myself because there is nothing of worth left inside me. This world isn't for me. I was never born for this. I was raised in a world where I could have fun, party and at the end of the day I would fall asleep happy. No, this world has taught me that I took all I had before for granted. When I had nothing left, life came for the people I came to love. Now, they are dead too.

  "Ed?" Striding to my side, the soft speaking Maya gently approaches me. Pushing a strand of wheat aside, I see her exhausted face. She smiles weakly, grabbing my spare hand and placing it in her own. Maya gives me a look of shaken confidence, her eyes gazing into mine for the hope that I always feigned. She searches deeply, wishing I would come back from this. Staring back, I offer no alternative to how I feel right now. All I want is to rip the world in two; I'll die in the process if I have to. Blinking, I try my best to hold back tears. "Remember, he'd want us to survive and live happy" She coos, stepping closer to me and searching harder for a faint thin line of hope in my heart. Her kindness is useless.

  "We're all hurting as well. We need to be there for one another..." She whispers, blinking her own eyes, she forces her head upwards to stop her tears from spilling. I on the other hand, am too late to stop the droplets of water that cascade down my face. Placing a hand on her cheek, I look her in the eyes. "Maya, don't fight it. We'd be better off letting it all out..." Maya nods, letting her own tears fall as she buries herself in my chest, soaking the bloodied jacket I wear. Wrapping an arm around her, I pull her closer. Using the map, I wipe my eyes, leaving small blobs of dampness on our only source of information around this island. Mentally cursing myself for doing that, I try my best to use my spare arm to collect the falling tears. Some of them have no choice but to fall onto the woman in my arms.

  "Thank you..." Maya looks up at me, a stronger smile on her face now. Giving her a plain nod, I wait until she is ready to keep moving.

  "Ed, I think I've made my mind up..." She says gently. I run my fingers through her hair, my mind wonder for words that never come. "Life's too short... I'm making the most of it before I lose you too" And, she leans up and catches me off guard. Her lips meet mine and I freeze up. I don't know how to react. The last time we did this was... It doesn't matter. I close my eyes and enjoy the moments we have because these moments could be our last. Barely five seconds later and she separates from me, wiping her eyes and making a gesture with her hands to keep moving. Walking in silence, we keep our minds blank and the memories of the past behind us. Our hands entwined with one another. I'm guessing we've both made up our minds now...

  Eventually, we catch up to Chloe and Alice. Both of them leaning on a fence that separates the field of wheat, and a large open field where-

  My mouth drops. Fields of cattle, toppled over, decaying; dead. All the livestock is gone. Without human intervention, they wither into the world. Finally, in line with the others, we all lean on the unbalanced fence. Our eyes dart around the area. A small barn is not far from us, but I'd hate to know what happened to any animals inside. Alice is the first to propose we rest there for the night. While Maya and Chloe thought this was an okay idea. I knew better. "We keep moving unless you wanna be stuck in there with a load of corpses" I feel harsh after saying that. Everyone seemingly disheartened from my words. "Besides, we can't risk someone getting ill. We navigate the field and keep moving east until we find somewhere else to lay low for the night" My plan is set in stone and no one speaks up against me. That settles it then.

  After jumping the fence, I pick the best possible path through the land of corpses. Keeping my eyes focused on the next field ahead.

  Chapter 45 - First Blood

  Marcus told me to never let anyone hurt them. To protect them no matter what, which, by my estimates, this means to die for them if need be. Maya, Chloe and Alice, they are all that I have left. Marcus's word is my word now. I will never let him down. I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe even if it means giving my own life.

  We had left the fields, staying overnight at a home that belonged to a farmer and his family. We found the owners still inside as creatures. Nothing dangerous really, it was almost a happy sight to see something that was dumb and had no intelligence. We killed them, cleaned it out and slept there for the night. We found some supplies in a little pantry they had. We took what we needed, cleared it all out and left as soon as we had come. We were on our way again until we finally found ourselves moving closer to the nearest town. The map is our only way forward now. We do not know what we'll find there. But we are ready for whatever comes our way. The plan is simple. Get to the furthest town in the west where the port I first arrived in is. We'll grab the first boat we see and get out of here. Our plans didn't get far though. We barely got across the first road we have seen since Marcus's sacrifice and already, we are in a troublesome situation.

  Clad with a variety of mixed and matched tattoos that litter his arms to his face. The average height, average build man who dons a black coat with lots of inner pockets, a dirty, bloodstained white tank top, dark blue tattered jeans and white Adidas trainers has me at gunpoint. An assault rifle is in his hand, military grade by the looks of it. He slugs the large rucksack
on his back further onto his shoulders as much as he can because his narrow shoulders make it difficult to keep in one place without it slipping off. His runs a tongue over his dry lips and stud piercing.