The End of Us

by D, Hannah

  Zoe already knew that the skin eater epidemic would still be here. In fact, Zoe knew deep down in her gut that it was never going to go away. When Zoe had looked on the internet the whole world was engulfed by the skin eaters. It looked like the skin eater population outdone the human population. Zoe had accepted this and the possibility of living amongst the skin eaters for the rest of her life. For Mike, he still had hope that on day this would end.

  “We’ll go out looking for winter clothes and things if the skin eaters are still here” Zoe said.

  Zoe decided to let Mike keep hoping for an end to all of this. There was no harm in that. If there was hope then they would all keep fighting. Zoe didn’t want anyone to just give up and give themselves over to the skin eaters.

  “We could ransack an Asda or Tesco or something! That would actually be fun!” Mike said.

  “I think a costco might be even more fun, the amount of things they have in a costco” Zoe replied.

  “Yeah costco! That’s a plan! We’ll ransack there and get plenty to do us until winter!”

  “Could maybe even move the group there? Plenty of space for all of us” Zoe suggested.

  “Hmm yeah we could do that if Brian succeeds in getting this place, good idea Zoe” Mike told her.

  The moving the group to costco had just jumped into Zoe’s head as she was talking with Mike. She had never thought of going to costco until that moment. It wasn’t a bad idea, in fact, costco sounded like a much better place than the bus depot. It was definitely more secure and less out in the open.

  ‘Should we just leave and make our way there now?’ Zoe thought.

  What was stopping them from leaving? They could just leave at night when less of Brian’s group were watching them, could mean they might not be followed. They had the camper van still they could travel in and Simone had a car she used to get here sitting in the depot lot. Plenty of space for everyone to get inside a vehicle.

  As far as Zoe was aware Brian and his group didn’t have a vehicle to travel in. This meant that they wouldn’t be able to follow Zoe and the rest of the group very far at all.

  ‘Why has it taken me this long to think of this!’ Zoe thought.

  “Mike can you take watch for me just now?” Zoe asked as she sprung up.

  “Yeah no problem” Mike answered.

  Zoe sped walked through the door and into the room she and Jeff shared. Zoe didn’t know if Jeff would even be awake or not but she was too excited to wait until she seen him move about.

  “Jeff! Wake up! I have an amazing idea!” Zoe said excitedly as she bounded into the room.

  Jeff was awake and also standing in just his boxers, holding up his jeans he was about to put on. Zoe stopped and stared at him, looking a stalker again. Zoe felt her jaw want to drop but she focused on keeping it shut so as not to look completely weird.

  “Would this amazing idea be jumping back into bed with me?” Jeff winked.

  Zoe didn’t hear a word of what Jeff had just said to her. She was too busy staring at him. All she heard was murmuring like he was talking from a great distance instead of being right in front of her.

  “Zoe? Did you hear anything I just said?” Jeff asked as he waved a hand in front of her face.

  Jeff waving his hand made Zoe click back into the here and now.

  “What? Sorry what did you say?” Zoe asked him.

  “I think what I said was right, you just want to jump into bed with me” Jeff winked again.

  “Uh no, not right now” Zoe blushed.

  “Well, with the way you were staring at me it sure did look like it” Jeff said as he moved close to Zoe until his face was just inches from hers.

  Zoe let herself breathe him in just enough before taking a step back so she could tell him why she really came in here. Zoe did find it hard to step back from him, she did want to just go back into his arms but she had her idea to share.

  “No time for that just now, I have an idea you might like that’s not jumping into bed with you” Zoe said.

  “Well nothing beats you jumping into bed with me but go on with this idea” Jeff said to her.

  “I was speaking to Mike and we were talking about winter coming up and how we needed to get clothes for it and then I brought up costco and it got me thinking that costco might be a better place for us to set up and stay. It’s more secure and it has everything we need to survive in there without us having to leave to go looking for food and things” Zoe told him.

  Jeff was looking at her with interest as she said this, pulling on his jeans at the same time. Zoe was waiting to see what he thought of her idea, whether it was as good as she thought it was. Finally, Jeff gave her an answer.

  “You know what, I think that’s the best idea anyone’s had for a while!” Jeff said smiling.

  “Really? You think so?” Zoe asked him.

  “Yeah I do” Jeff said smiling.

  Jeff walked over to Zoe with a big grin on his face and pulled her face towards his for a kiss. It was a quick kiss on the lips, not one of their long, lingering ones.

  ‘Thank god for that or we would’ve been kissing forever’ Zoe thought.

  “So when do we tell the rest of the group?” Zoe asked him.

  “Sooner rather than when it might be too late. Everyone should be up soon and then we’ll gather everyone in Simone’s office” Jeff said.

  “Cool. Come get me when everyone’s up. I’m going to go finish my watch” Zoe said.

  “You sure you don’t want to just jump back into bed with me?” Jeff winked.

  “I’m sure because if I do we might not ever leave” Zoe winked back to him and then turned and walked out the room.

  Zoe was feeling very flirtatious and happy with herself over her idea about moving the group to the costco. To Zoe it felt like the best idea she had had her whole life. Plus, if Zoe was being honest with herself she had always wanted to see the inside of a costco. She knew it was huge but she didn’t know how huge.

  Zoe went outside and sat back down next to Mike. There was a skin eater making it’s way to the fence in front of them. Eyes glued on them, it’s food. Zoe had no idea how the dead could rise, it was a nightmare they would never wake up from.

  “So what made you run inside?” Mike asked her.

  “Speaking of costco gave me the idea of us just going there. Get away from Brian and his group before a fight can even take place” Zoe told him.

  “Think everyone will want to go? Abandon this place?” Mike asked her.

  “Jeff is gathering everyone to discuss it. See what everyone thinks” Zoe said.

  “And what exactly is going on between you and Jeff?” Mike asked with a smile on his lips.

  “Theres definitely feelings there but I don’t know about a relationship.”

  “Why not a relationship?”

  “With everything going on with the skin eaters and the threats from Brian and his group it just doesn’t feel right getting into a relationship.”

  “Or it could make both your lives that bit better, having each other.”

  “Yeah.. I suppose you have a point there.”

  “I have my moments” Mike smiled.

  Zoe smiled back.

  “Everyone’s all gathered in the office. Zoe you want to tell them the plan?” Jeff asked.

  “Nah, you go ahead and tell them. I’ll take watch” Zoe told him.

  “You sure? It is your plan” Jeff asked her.

  “I’m sure” Zoe smiled.

  “Cool, I’ll let you know what everyone thinks” Jeff said as he and Mike made their way inside.

  Zoe wasn’t too bothered about telling everyone the plan and someone had to stay outside and keep watch anyway. She could use some alone time out here.

  Zoe looked through the binoculars to see how their watchers were doing. There were more awake now, some were spinning their weapons around and chatting, others were watching Zoe and the depot building. Zoe decided that she best go see what their watchers were d
oing at the back of the building and made her way around there.

  The buses with the spikes and barbed wire were still standing strong, at least their watchers hadn’t managed to get up and destroy those, hopefully they wouldn’t be able to get over at all. Zoe looked through the binoculars and saw that the group at the back had grown, there were now around twelve people there from what Zoe could count.

  ‘They’re going to attack us soon, we need to get moving’ Zoe thought.

  Zoe made her way back around to the front and sat back down. There were no more skin eaters around the fence for her to take care of. So far, apart from the skin eater in the school that Jeff knew, no one recognised a skin eater that they once knew as a human. To be fair, some of the skin eaters you wouldn’t be able to recognise anyway considering chunks of them were missing and they were beginning to rot. Zoe didn’t know if anyone would struggle to kill someone they once knew. Zoe didn’t have a problem with that, she had been a loner her whole life up until this point.

  Zoe glanced over to Chris grave and let out a sad sigh. She did have to kill one skin eater she knew. Poor Chris, he didn’t want to become one of them. Zoe knew if they did leave, Sarah would find it very difficult to leave Chris here in his grave, especially since Brian wanted to take over this place. However, they couldn’t bring a dead body with them, especially one that had been in the ground for weeks, it just wouldn’t be possible. Chris was gone and that was only his shell that was lying in the ground. Hopefully Sarah would see it this way as well.

  Zoe hoped that it was going well in there with Jeff telling everyone her costco plan. Zoe couldn’t see too many people rejecting the idea, it was a warm place with plenary of food and supplies to keep them going for ages, what would be the problem with that?

  Zoe heard the door open and then felt Jeff sit down beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders with a sigh.

  “So, how did it go?” Zoe asked him.

  “It went okay I suppose. Sue, Sarah and Alice didn’t want to leave though.”

  “Simone okay with leaving her family owned business?”

  “Yeah she was fine with that, said she can always come back one day to see if her family have returned from America. She didn’t seem very hopeful about them getting back though.”

  “Poor Simone” Zoe sighed.

  “Yeah” Jeff sighed as well.

  “So What’s happening now?” Zoe asked.

  “They are all going to discuss it and probably vote on it. I think the others are taking this time to convince Sue, Sarah and Alice to go. I told them to let us know what they have decided to do” Jeff said.

  “I hope they decide we should go. There are more of Brian’s group gathered at the back now. The fights going to happen soon.”

  “I hope they decide to go, it’s the smarter and safer way for all of us.”

  “Fingers crossed then huh?” Zoe asked him.

  “Fingers crossed” Jeff smiled at her.

  Zoe placed her head onto Jeff’s shoulders and felt herself relax into him and closed her eyes. This moment in the sun together was as perfect as they could get in this new world. Jeff was stroking her arm and breathing in time with her. Zoe started to feel herself fall asleep when the door opened again behind her and Zoe became wide awake.

  “It’s a go, we’re going to costco” Mike said.

  “Everyone’s came around then? No sour faces over it?” Jeff asked.

  “Well there’s sour faces but they came around to thinking the idea of getting out of the fight was much better than fighting” Mike answered.

  “That’s great! When will we leave?” Zoe asked.

  “I think in a couple of days. We need to pack everything up we’re taking with us slowly and gradually so as not to tip of our watchful eyes that we’re leaving” Jeff said.

  “Good idea and make sure to keep the guns concealed and hidden when packing them, they’d move in a lot faster if they seen what weapons we have” Zoe said.

  “We will, we’re going to start packing up the camper van today” Mike said.

  “Very good. Need a hand?” Zoe asked.

  “Nah, me and Mike will manage” Jeff said.

  “No problem, I’ll keep watch and let you know if our watchers start to look suspicious” Zoe told them.

  Jeff leaned in and gave Zoe a quick kiss on the lips before getting up to help Mike pack the campervan for them leaving. Zoe had felt a rush of relief when Mike had said they had decided to go with the costco idea and not fight. Zoe had been feeling pretty scared over the thought of fighting fifty people, that was far too many against their small group of fifteen.

  The day passed by pretty quickly. Jeff and Mike had moved the camper van to just outside the doorway for them to pack their groups belongings into, doing it as sly as they could. Zoe stayed on watch for the day and kept an eye on Brians group watching them and they had been none the wiser at what Jeff and Mike were doing. Alice brought out food to Zoe and went back to kitchen with John. Sue was watching Alex who had came outside to kick the football about. Michael and his group were helping pack belongings up inside. Sarah and Simone were sorting out clothes for everyone to take with them and Sophia and Arthur were wrapping the guns and weapons up to hide them from watchful eyes. They all had jobs to do during the day.

  When the sun had set Mark and Mandy came out to take over from Zoe to keep watch overnight.

  “Much activity been going on out here?” Mark had asked her.

  “Not much, our watchers have been doing the same as they usually do everyday, watching is and a few skin eaters I had to take over but nothing new” Zoe told them.

  “Might be a quiet night then” Mark said.

  “Here’s hoping” Mandy said as she sat down where Zoe had been.

  Zoe smiled at them both and went inside to have a quick shower before going to bed. When the hot water hit Zoe she felt instantly tired and could’ve fell asleep in the shower. She could barely be bothered washing her hair or herself, this was when she wished someone could wash her and she could just stand there.

  Eventually Zoe had showered and made her way to her makeshift bedroom. Jeff was already lying in bed, eyes closed and sleeping. Zoe crawled in beside him and lay on her side and before long she felt Jeff’s arm come across her and felt him pressed against her back.

  “Was wondering when you’d come and join me” Jeff said sleepily in her ear.

  “I’m here now” Zoe told him yawning.

  “Thank god” Jeff said.

  That was all the conversation they had before they both drifted off. There was no flirting or kissing tonight, they were both far too tired and felt comfortable just lying next to each other.

  “Zoe, Jeff, wake up!” A voice boomed into the room.

  “Who? What..?” Zoe said as she tried to open her eyes.

  It was still dark but there was light beginning to come through the sky Zoe noticed as she eventually managed to open her eyes. She and Jeff had forgotten to close the blinds last night before falling asleep.

  “Mark? What’s wrong?” Jeff asked.

  Zoe turned herself around to look at Mark who had woken them up. His eyes looked angry and confused and his fists were clenched at his sides.

  “Colleen is making her way to the gate” Mark told them.

  “Colleen? Are you sure?” Jeff asked.

  “Yes it’s her, seen her through the binoculars.”

  “What is she doing coming back here?” Zoe asked.

  “Let’s go and find out” Jeff said.

  Mark left the room and Zoe and Jeff quickly got dressed before grabbing their weapons and heading outside. The sun was beginning to make it’s way into the sky meaning it was about half past four or five in the morning. Nobody else was awake in their group yet.

  “Mandy can you pass me the binoculars?” Zoe asked her.

  Mandy handed Zoe the binoculars and Zoe looked through to see Colleen walking towards them. It looked like she was on her own but if she had
joined forces with Brian again then he wouldn’t be far behind her or he was hiding in plain sight and Zoe couldn’t see him.

  “She looks to be on her own” Zoe said.

  “Do we let her in?” Mandy asked.

  “No, we need to hear why she’s came back here and I can tell you it’s not because she messed up” Mark said.

  “Mandy you stay here and keep an eye on the rest of Brians group watching us whilst me, Zoe and Mark go see why Colleen’s here” Jeff said.

  “You got it” Mandy said.

  Zoe gave Mandy back the binoculars as she, Jeff and Mark made their way up to the gate. Zoe could feel the anger radiating off of Mark as they walked up.

  “I can’t wait to hear why she betrayed us” Mark said angrily.

  “Maybe let us do the talking? You seem too angry to do it and we need to get to the bottom of things” Zoe suggested to Mark.

  “Yeah probably best I don’t speak, we wouldn’t get very far” Mark said.

  Zoe didn’t have a clue what was going on or what Colleen would have to say to them but she did know that Mark was right, Colleen wasn’t back because she messed up. Zoe had always had a gut feeling that Colleen had went back to Brian and her walking up here without their watchers getting to her proved that point.

  Zoe, Jeff and Mark were stood at the gate and saw Colleens form getting closer and closer until she wasn’t standing too far away from them. They all looked at Colleen and Colleen looked at all of them. Zoe thought she saw sadness and guilt in her eyes, like this was difficult whatever it was she was here to tell them.

  “Colleen” Jeff said briskly and nodded his head at her.

  Colleen didn’t say anything straight back, she was fidgeting her feet and avoiding to look at Mark as much as possible since he was glaring at her.

  “Colleen, why are back here?” Zoe asked her.

  “I have a message for you all” Colleen eventually said.

  “What’s the message? I can guess who it’s from” Jeff said.

  “Brian says you have until the sun sets tonight before he takes this place from you and if you don’t leave then you will all be killed” Colleen told them, looking at the ground.

  “So you did go back to him then?” Zoe asked.