by Toni Cox
“And how do we find them, Erika?”
“We’ll find a way.”
“How can you be so calm?” Bronwyn jumps up from the table, knocking over her chair. “You’ve just killed the only living people we’ve seen in months. There is nothing left for us here. If we don’t eventually starve to death, the Primals will get us, sooner or later. We’re doomed, and you’re acting like it’s just another Sunday afternoon.”
“Bron,” I use her nickname, trying to calm her, “I know today was tough. It was hard for all of us, but we’re still together, and we can make it.”
She huffs. “That’s rich coming from you, Miss Cure-in-Your-Bone-Marrow. What happens if Andrew and I run out of medicine, then what? We’ll either die with the rest of them or turn into those beasts.”
Morgan starts barking, his hackles raised. Andrew gets up and puts himself between Bronwyn and the dog. He’s trying to settle her. I just stand there, staring at them, watching them argue with each other.
What if what she says is true? Will they die? Am I an exception to the rule? The thought frightens me more than anything before this. I don’t want to be the last person left on Earth.
I leave them arguing in the kitchen, and take Morgan to the bedroom with me. I lock the door, close the curtains, and climb onto the bed.
Morgan jumps up and licks my face. He knows I am upset. For once, I do not know what to do. For once, I just want to give up.
It’s different now. I know it the moment I leave my room. Andrew and Bronwyn sit at the kitchen counter, drinking their tea and talking quietly. They greet me but do not draw me into their conversation.
I understand. It hurts, but I understand.
Opening the back door, I let Morgan out. I see Bronwyn has already fed the horses. She must have been up early.
I have plans. It has taken me all night to come to terms with what Bronwyn said and to get over my feeling of hopelessness, but I have a plan. I somewhat feel in control again.
While Morgan surveys the garden, I shower and then make myself something to eat. The others move to the lounge to be out of my way. After I’ve eaten, I pack a bag, then go to the basement, and pack another bag.
“I’ll see you later,” I call over to them when I’m done.
“Where are you going?”
“Out.”
I close the front door and whistle for Morgan. He comes running around the back of the house.
“We have a job to do, buddy.”
Andrew comes out as I drive through the gate, so I leave him to close it. I see his perplexed face get smaller and smaller in my rear-view mirror.
My first stop is East Gate. I hope that because Andrew’s gang was there, the place is free of Primals. There is a Dischem at the Park Meadows Mall, and another two pharmacies, and other health shops, within the East Gate Mall.
My prime objective is to acquire as many bottles of olive leaf tablets as I can find. My second objective is to find elderberry juice, but it’s hard to come by. Usually, only specialised health shops keep it. It does come in a medical syrup, which is of a much higher concentration and needs to be taken in smaller doses, but it also keeps for longer than the bottles of juice.
I pull up to the entrance of Park Meadows Mall, and everything about it reminds me of the day the HazMats were here, abducting Andrew’s friends.
A 9mm at my hip, and a 9mm in my hand, I enter, Morgan trotting ahead of me. The headlamp lights our way; I am accustomed to its unsteady glow by now.
I watch Morgan closely; as long as he is relaxed, I know we are alone. The further we go from the entrance, the darker it gets, and I lose sight of him as he darts left and right, sniffing the area.
“Morgan, heel.”
He comes back, wagging his tail. My heart beats wildly as we enter the pharmacy, and the light fades further.
I waste no time on items I don’t need, but look only for the aisle with the natural remedies. It’s a meagre score of two bottles of olive leaf tablets and one bottle of juice, but there are three boxes of elderflower tea.
Stashing them into my rucksack, I retrace my steps and sigh relief when I step out into the sunlight. Morgan chases birds across the parking lot, and I laugh at his antics before I notice the vet shop on my right.
I’ve never had to put a leash on Morgan, but I can’t risk losing him in the dark. I’m also afraid he may attack the Primals if we ever encounter them, and I won’t be able to stop him.
I go in; the full window of the shop lets in enough light for me to see even without the lamp.
Instead of a collar, I get Morgan a body harness and a leash. A couple of packets of deworming tablets, tick-and-flea spray, and dog vitamins find their way into my bag, too. Feeling pretty chuffed with myself, I call Morgan over and put the body harness on him, before we get back into the Rover to drive across the road to the other mall.
East Gate is much bigger than Park Meadows, and it’s on different levels. I park at the Checkers entrance because both pharmacies are at this end of the mall.
Because of the skylight, I don’t need the headlamp until I enter Clicks. Morgan walks nicely on the leash, and I can feel his easy movements through my hands. It’s reassuring.
I seldom shop at Clicks, and it takes me some time to find the right aisle, especially in the dark. They stock a different brand of olive leaf tablets, but I don’t mind. They have several bottles on the shelf; I take all of them.
Clicks does not have the juice, but I find Sambucol. It’s an elderberry supplement. I’ve never taken it because it was simply too expensive. Grinning, I pile all the packets into my bag, which by now is bulging.
On my way out, I grab one of the fancy shopping bags they have at the tills. My rucksack is full, and I still have the other pharmacy to go to.
When I enter Checkers; which has its own in-house pharmacy; I don’t know which way to go in the large supermarket. I shine my flashlight up and down, trying to see the signs above the aisles.
I finally see it on the far-left side and take a step towards it, when I feel a vibration along Morgan’s leash.
A spike of adrenaline rushes through me as I realise he is growling, standing perfectly still. I stare into the darkness of the shop; frozen for just a moment.
Morgan barks, and it mobilises me into action. Yanking on his leash, I run. I can now hear noises behind me, and they drive me to greater speed.
Turning the corner towards the exit, I almost slip, but Morgan pulls me forwards, and I keep going. A look to the side shows me what’s after me.
I shouldn’t have looked.
We’re through the doors now, and out in the open. The Rover is fifty meters away. I don’t know if I can open the doors and get Morgan and myself inside before the two Primals are upon us.
I look back again. They’re closer now. Morgan is yanking on his leash, barking. I can’t hold him, and he darts off towards them.
The change in the Primals behaviour at the imminent acquisition of prey makes me go cold. I don’t think. I pull both my guns, and I start shooting, walking towards them.
They are both on the ground before Morgan even gets to them.
“Hold still.”
Morgan wriggles beneath my touch as I wash his face with water from one of the bottles in the trunk of the Rover.
“You have blood all over you.”
Once he’s clean, I lock him in the car and return to the mangled mess of what once were human beings.
I can’t believe I killed them; even if Morgan helped. My hands are still shaking, but I did it. Overcoming my disgust, I lean in to take a closer look.
Their skin is deathly pale, and I don’t think they like to go out into the sunlight often. Their sunken eyes are almost completely black; as if the pupils have leaked into the white. I can’t see their teeth, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they were pointy.
“Time to go,” I say to myself, shuddering.
It’s noon now, and I’ve already had enough adventure to last
me a week. I knew this plan of mine was not going to be easy; but, hell, what a start.
From Bedfordview, I get on the highway and drive to Greenstone Mall in Edenvale. There is a Dischem there.
First, though, Morgan and I need a break. We need a safe place we can make our base for the next couple of weeks while we’re out.
There are townhouse complexes all around Greenstone Mall, and I’m hoping to find an empty one. It’s close enough to home if I need to get there in a hurry and close to the N3 highway, which I will need to take to get to the northern suburbs.
That’s my plan, anyway.
We drive around for about an hour before I find something suitable. It’s close enough to the mall, and secure enough that I feel safe. I bring in some of our supplies and then lock us in.
After the incident with the Primals, the first thing I want to do is wash. I use an entire 5L bottle, sitting in the bathtub, scrubbing until I’m pink. The thought of their mangled flesh is fresh in my mind.
This is base now. I’ll work from here. I can’t stop Andrew and Bronwyn feeling the way they do, but I can help them survive this. It is up to me to provide for them.
I put on the leather outfit I got from the tactical shop, strap on a bulletproof vest, and draw on my boots. After raiding the military base we acquired several types of weapons, and by the time I leave the house I have a 9mm strapped to each leg, one at my right hip, and one under my left arm.
I am ready. Let it begin.
Chapter 14
I return to my new apartment every night. It’s small, but Morgan and I don’t need more space. I’ve changed the bedding and taken residence in the previous owner’s bedroom.
Andrew got hold of me on the Walkie-Talkie. I let them know I’m fine, but that I will not be back until I’m done. I didn’t tell them with what.
Johannesburg is a big city. Twelve million people, or something, used to call it home. I find new malls to raid in every suburb I drive through. My main priorities are the medicines, food for myself, dog food, and batteries.
On occasion, I find other treasures, such as solar-powered lamps, which I store at the apartment to eventually take back home with me. They’ll come in handy in the long run.
It gets lonely, though, even with Morgan, and I begin to make a sport of watching the Primals when I encounter them. Well, that is when they don’t see me first, of course.
There are less of them out there than I thought. I expected them to be a real problem on this mission, but in most places, there is just emptiness or long-dead corpses.
Morgan and I eventually work out some signals, and I don’t worry about him so much anymore when we do encounter Primals. He waits for me now, lets me make the first move, and then goes in for the kill. We make a good team.
I sit on the landing of the upper floor of a small shopping mall in Kyalami, eating a piece of red liquorice, Morgan lying flat next to me. We dare not make a sound, as there are three Primals huddled in the shade next to the Pizzeria.
I’ve noticed their dislike for sunlight is becoming more pronounced, as is their translucent skin. It’s almost as if they are losing their pigmentation. Up close, when I do get the chance to look at a dead one, I see that their eyes are now completely black.
They are evolving; I just don’t know into what. For now, I’m stuck here. If I want to leave, I have to go down to their level, and then they’ll surely see me. My other option is to shoot from here - I’ve become pretty good with the rifle - but making a noise can bring more Primals, should there be more in the area. I’m not taking that chance.
Morgan’s ear twitches, and I stop chewing, listening. Just the sounds of the peaceful city; sounds I’ve come to love: birds, insects, and the soft wind.
The Primals haven’t moved. If anything, they’re huddling closer together as the patch of shade next to the shop decreases. Maybe, it’s getting too hot out there for them in the noon-time sun.
A pigeon lands on the railing to our left. Morgan looks at it but then rests his head on his paws again.
I turn my attention back to scanning the parking lot and watching the Primals. Two of my encounters with their kind almost did not go so well.
One was in a parking lot similar to this, and I did not pay enough attention while I loaded the car. Morgan was on the other side of the car, doing his business, and only warned me when they were almost upon me. I managed to shoot them only just in time.
The other was out in the open. Morgan and I went for a walk across an open field. A clear view in all direction. Even Morgan didn’t know they were there. One moment we were alone, the next they simply rose from the long grass and attacked.
The clapping sound of the pigeon’s wing beat as it flies off startles me - even Morgan sits up - and my heart does a somersault. One of the Primals looks up, and Morgan and I flatten ourselves.
My heart is loud in my ears as I listen. Do I hear footsteps coming up the stairs? What’s that sound? The hairs on the back of my neck stand erect with the threat of danger lurking over me.
I lift my head slightly and look over the edge. Shit! The Primals are gone.
In one fluid motion, I get to my feet, and I run, Morgan at my heels. There are stairs on both ends of the mall. I’m hoping the Primals have taken the stairs to the left; where the pigeon came from, and where I was sitting.
At the stairwell, I stop, looking around the corner, gun ready. It’s clear. I take the stairs two at a time. At the bottom, I halt again. I survey the upper landing but don’t see the Primals. Shit!
Gun at the ready, I sprint out into the parking lot.
“You got somewhere to be?”
Morgan skids to a halt and whips around, hackles raised and snarling. My weapon is now trained on some guy’s smug face as he winks at me.
“Whoa, tell your puppy to cool it, okay? I took care of your friends for you, didn’t I?”
He nods sideways, and I look around the back of a car parked near me. All three Primals have their throats cut — close quarter. I’m impressed. I don’t lower my weapon, though.
“Who are you?”
“Hunter.”
“Hunter? Like you just hunted those Primals?”
“Primals? Nice name. No, it’s Jack. Jack Hunter, but I prefer just Hunter. And you?”
“Um …”
“Um? Never heard that name before. It suits you. Now, maybe you can calm your dog, and we can talk in a safer place. How about it?”
“Quite the smart mouth, aren’t you?”
Hunter grins. Turning, he walks over to the wall and from a narrow niche takes out his weapons; two swords. I wondered what he used to kill the Primals.
Grabbing Morgan by his body harness, I pull him along with me as I make my way back towards the Rover, which is parked around the corner.
“Come on; I’m only kidding. You’re like the first living person I’ve seen in, like, what, four months?”
I don’t answer him; my nerves are still raw, and this guy unsettles me. Morgan jumps into the backseat of the Rover, and I get into the driver’s seat. It’s my safe place.
Hunter checks out the SUV, and I can see him whistling, even if I can’t hear it from in hear. With a nod of approval, he finally opens the passenger door and gets in.
“Nice ride,” he says.
“Where’s yours?”
“I take whatever I can find. Today, it’s the blue Toyota over there.” He points to a sedan parked under a tree.
We sit in silence while he checks out the interior of the car. Morgan watches every movement he makes, and I can see Hunter growing uncomfortable under the dog’s stare.
“Is he always this intense?”
“He protects me.”
“I’m no threat.”
“Morgan doesn’t know that.” As an afterthought, I add, “Neither do I.”
Hunter holds up his hands. “I mean no harm, I promise. I’ve just been alone for so long; it’s good to see another person. Please, let’s be friends.
”
“Where’s your base?” I ask.
“Don’t have one of those, either. I sleep wherever I end up that day.”
“You’re not very good at this survival thing, are you?”
“I’m still alive.”
Okay, I give him that. It is good to see another person, and I’m simply wary because of what we’ve gone through. He’s a survivor like us. Maybe he wants to join us.
“What were you doing here today?” I ask him.
“Looking for food. It’s what I do. Drive around, look for food, steal cars, break into houses, and kill the occasional Primal. Huh, I really like that word. How did you come up with that?”
“Did you find any?”
“Any what?”
“Food. Did you find any food?”
“No. I got distracted by your three friends out there.”
Opening my door, I get out of the car and move around to the back. From the trunk, I collect a cooler box and then walk to the passenger side.
“Here,” and I hand him a Tupperware and a plastic fork, “it’s spaghetti with soya mince. I made it last night. Do you want a Coke or just a bottle of water?”
He stares at me, Tupperware in hand. “Coke would be great.”
Packing the cooler box away, I get back in. Hunter is already eating, nodding as he shovels the spaghetti into his mouth.
“Good,” he says between mouthfuls.
“You got anywhere to be?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“You want to come with me?”
Hunter stops eating and looks at me. I can’t read the expression on his face, so I am unsure of what his answer is going to be. To my surprise, I feel a moment of dread at the thought he might say no.
“Sure,” he smiles broadly. “Can I just get my stuff out of the car? It’s not a lot; I promise.”
I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding, and smile. “There’s space in the trunk.”
He hands me the empty Tupperware and is out of the Rover without another word. I watch him sprint across the parking lot, aware that he’s left his swords in my car. He’s unarmed, and I frown.