The End of Us

by D, Hannah

  Zoe took a deep breath, lit her match against the spark for the firework and set it alight. Sophia and Sarah done the same with their fireworks and they all stepped back far enough so they wouldn’t be set alight themselves from the fireworks and watched as the fireworks were set off.

  The rockets went flying into the sky and in the direction that they wanted them to go on. The skin eaters had looked up at the sky at the noise from the fireworks being set off and watched them fly. The skin eaters had already began to move to follow the direction of the fireworks.

  “It’s working!” Sophia said excitedly.

  “Quick, set some more off for them to keep following them!” Zoe said urgently.

  Zoe, Sophia and Sarah went and set more of the fireworks off and watched as the skin eaters began to follow them, their collective moans filling up the air making it sound very eerie and they could hear the shuffling of their feet from up on the roof. The skin eaters had looked to see where the fireworks where coming from but they didn’t seem to notice that it was humans setting them off as they were moving away from the costco.

  “I think that’s all the fireworks done now” Sophia said.

  “I see barely any skin eaters down below us now. Only some that we’ll manage to fight through” Sarah observed.

  “Let’s get back down and get out of here” Zoe said.

  They ran back down the stairs as fast as they could. Zoe didn’t bother trying to keep the door to the roof open this time as she hoped they wouldn’t need back up there. As soon as they made it back to the ground floor everyone there sprung up and into action and headed for the main doors.

  Once Zoe had made it to the main doors she saw the barrier lifting and looked at Mandy, who was stood beside her, quizzically.

  “John is in the CCTV camera office and lifted it up for us. Much easier someone done it for us than trying to break through it creating more noise” Mandy told her.

  “Good idea, we just got rid of most of the skin eaters” Zoe said.

  Sarah had already announced to the group that there were still some skin eaters out there and not all of them had followed the fireworks so they still had a bit of a fight on their hands but that they would manage it.

  “We ready?” Michael asked everyone.

  Zoe was about to object and say they had to wait on John getting back when he appeared alongside Alice.

  “I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be” Zoe said.

  “Let’s go!” Michael yelled as he unlocked the main doors and ran out.

  Zoe was one of the last to leave and she could already hear grunts and bodies thumping on the ground. She spotted a skin eater lying on the ground right outside the main doors and jumped over it. She knew it was dead as it had a screwdriver sticking out it’s skull.

  Zoe saw that majority of people were fighting against the remaining skin eaters. It seemed there were more than what Zoe had seen from the roof and she thought to herself that some must have just shuffled their way back instead f following the herd.

  Zoe joined in with the fighting and took down a skin eater who’s back was to her. An easy enough kill for Zoe. These skin eaters seemed to be a lot more dead than any Zoe had seen before. When Zoe went and sliced at a skin eaters stomach with her knife she had emptied it’s contents and all inside, organs and blood, were as black as tar.

  ‘This must be what a smokers lungs look like’ Zoe had thought.

  Everyone seemed to be managing their own ground with fighting off the skin eaters. Zoe started to wonder where Alex was amongst this and turned to the campervan to find him sitting in the front with Sue as she started the engine up.

  ‘Thank goodness he’s safe’ Zoe thought with relief.

  As the last of the skin eaters were killed Zoe turned to find the group of survivors from Sylvia standing there behind her.

  “We wanted to thank you for getting us out of there” A woman said to her.

  “Don’t worry about it. I hope you’ll all be safe now and find somewhere you can settle away from the skin eaters” Zoe said to them.

  “We hope so to. These skin eaters look like a tough bunch to fight off. It’s the first time we’re properly seeing them” The woman said again.

  “You’ll all get used to it. Good luck” Zoe smiled.

  “Good luck to you too” The woman smiled.

  Zoe and her group said goodbye to the small group of survivors and Zoe really did hope that they would manage and survive out there with the skin eaters, they did seem to be able to fight them off pretty well for meeting the skin eaters for the first time.

  “Where are Eve, Tim, Jack, Claire and Liam?” Zoe asked Mike.

  “I don’t know.. They ran out with us, I seen Jack dart past me” Mike said as he looked around.

  Zoe decided to go and look around the car park a little more to see if she could find them hiding in a corner somewhere out of sight. The last thing Zoe wanted was for them to jump out at her and her group and attack them. Zoe didn’t know how much of these thoughts were paranoia and how much of her thought could actually come true. After another couple of minutes and two skin eaters being killed, Zoe concluded that they had just ran off into the shadows and away from them.

  ‘Good riddance’ Zoe thought.

  “Right, let’s get out of here” Michael said as he jumped into the campervan. Sue had moved over back to the car with Mike and Alice and John went back into the front to drive. Alex had decided he wanted to stay up the front in the drivers seat.

  “I like to see the road in front of me and whats happening” Alex had said excitedly.

  Zoe climbed into the campervan and went and sat next to Jeff again. She felt her limbs get heavy and she didn’t want to make an effort to move or do anything for the next little while. Her mind wanted to shut down for a bit. Zoe felt that she deserved at least that after everything she had been through the past week.

  Mark was the last one into the campervan and he slammed the door shut behind him before shouting to Alice and John that they could drive off now.

  Zoe did want to fall asleep but she knew she wouldn’t be able to until they got to their safe destination which for the time being was going to be the Pentland Hills. Zoe knew they didn’t really have elsewhere that they could go right no but she knew it couldn’t be long term. It was now August and soon it would be winter and freezing temperatures and they just wouldn’t survive for long out in the open on top of the Pentland Hills.

  “Might be a little bumpy getting out of here, quite a few dead skin eater bodies lying around” John warned them.

  “Just so long as the campervan doesn’t get stuck on one of them” Lewis said.

  “Eww that’s horrible!” Alex said pulling a disgusted face.

  “You’ll need to guide them up there bud, be there eyes” Jeff told him.

  “I can do that!” Alex said excitedly as he turned to focus on his new job.

  “Felt like I should give him something to do to keep him busy” Jeff shrugged.

  “He’ll enjoy it. He did want to help out” Zoe said.

  “I just hope he doesn’t see anything too horrible” Jeff worried.

  “It’s better to prepare him for the big bad world out there now with these skin eaters and bad people. He will need to learn to protect himself” Zoe told him.

  “I know, just not right now” Jeff said.

  Zoe settled her head on top of Jeff’s shoulder. Zoe knew Jeff wanted to keep on protecting Alex but that wouldn’t always be possible. Alex had to get to know this new world so that he can try and survive in it for as long as possible.

  Zoe felt the campervan swaying as John tried to avoid as many skin eater bodies as possible but on the occasion he did go over some and everyone felt it in the back. It was a horrible feeling when you felt the campervan go over a body. It made Zoe wonder how people used to be able to live with themselves after doing a hit and run. Zoe let out a shudder.

  “You okay?” Jeff asked her as he pulled her
in closer to him.

  “I’m okay” Zoe said as she relaxed into him.

  “What a complete and utter nightmare that was back there” Michael said.

  “We’re out of there now at least!” Sarah said.

  “Thank god for that. When did people get so crazy!” Mark outraged.

  “They were probably already crazy but they had to tone it down when the world was normal and now that the worlds completely fucked up, well, they can let their crazy out” Alice said from the front of the campervan.

  “I say no more crazy people. Let’s just focus on surviving and killing skin eaters when we need to” Michael said.

  “Agreed!” Mark said.

  Zoe turned and found Simone sitting quietly in the corner of the campervan. She hadn’t really spoken at all since everyone had gotten out of the costco and looked to be withdrawing into herself.

  “Simone? You okay?” Zoe asked her.

  “Hmm? Yeah I’m fine. Just got lost in my own world there” Simone smiled over at her.

  “You’ve been quiet a lot today since we made a run for it. You sure you’re okay?” Zoe asked.

  “Yeah I am. I’ve just been thinking a lot about my family and I wonder if they’re even still alive over in America” Simone said.

  “There’s really no way you can find out?” Zoe asked her.

  “None, unless I sailed over there which just isn’t possible” Simone said sadly.

  “I’m really sorry Simone. I wish that we could do something” Zoe said sincerely.

  “I just hope that if they’re not alive then they went quickly. I don’t want to imagine them in any pain” Simone said.

  “I hope so too but I mostly hope that they’re alive” Zoe said.

  “Thanks Zoe” Simone smiled at her.

  Zoe didn’t have much left to say to Simone. This was when Zoe felt really glad she didn’t have a family to worry over during this epidemic. This group was her family now and she was always with them so she wasn’t as panicked as what poor Simone is.

  Zoe did start to feel pity for those elderly people she used to look after since there was no way any of them would still be alive right now. They had Zoe as their career for a reason, they weren’t able to do simple day to day tasks themselves never mind fighting off a hungry skin eater. It really was a pity and Zoe did hope that maybe some Good Samaritan would’ve maybe saved them. It was a long shot but it was still hope.

  “That’s us out of the costco. I’m heading on the road away from the motorway to try and stay clear from that herd of skin eaters” John told them.

  “Sounds good to us” Jeff said.

  Zoe heard Alice talk through the radio to the others in the car to let them know what the plan was and what way to go.

  Zoe had no idea how many more skin eaters they would bump into and where. They seemed to be gathering in the most bizarre places at the moment. Zoe did know however to stay as far away from city centres as possible. The city centres would always be taken over by skin eaters.

  “So Pentland Hills then? I hope that’s our safe haven” Michael said.

  “It’s the best plan we have for now” Jeff said.

  “Get ourselves high up and away from all the drama” Michael said.

  “Might actually get some peace for a while” Jeff mused.

  “I think I’ve forgotten what peace feels like” Michael laughed.

  “Haven’t we all” Jeff laughed with him.

  The campervan went into a complete silence for a while with only Alex telling John what to look out for in the front of the campervan. It was that quiet that Zoe even felt herself beginning to drop off into a sleep, even although they weren’t in a safe place yet until she heard the radio beep to life in the front of the campervan and Mike’s worried voice coming through it.

  “Guys, I think we’re being followed” Mike said.

  “How do you mean you think we’re being followed” Alice asked.

  “Well one minute there’s nothing but darkness behind us and the next headlights appear and keep following all the twists and bends that we’re doing” Mike said.

  “Is it just a normal car?” Alice asked.

  “Looks more like a van from what I can see in the side mirror” Mike said.

  Alice turned around and looked at them all sitting in the back of the campervan with worry sketched all over her face.

  “What do we do?” Alice asked.

  Everyone looked at one another. There wasn’t a clear answer for this. Zoe had no idea what they could do and she had no idea who was even following them. Zoe didn’t know if it was old enemies or possibly new enemies.

  “We need to try and shake them off” Mark said.

  “But how do we do that? This thing doesn’t exactly go super speed” Lewis said.

  “I think we need to split up. We should also try and get whoever is following us to follow this campervan since there are more of us and we have the guns stored in here” Jeff said.

  “Split up? Are you sure that’s safe to do so?” Simone asked.

  “If they come after us then we have more weapons to take them down with. It’s the best option I think we’ll have” Jeff said.

  Jeff looked around at all of the faces in the room which all looked uncertain before his eyes landed on Zoe. Zoe had to agree with him, it was the best option they had and everyone in here would be able to take down whoever was following them with the guns.

  “Do it. Get the van to follow us and tell Mike to meet us at the Pentland Hills. Tell him that if we’re not there by tomorrow night not to come looking for us and to keep themselves safe” Zoe told Alice.

  Alice jumped back on the radio and told Mike what Zoe had just said. The radio stayed quiet for a few seconds before Mike’s voice came back out over it.

  “Okay. You got it. Be safe and we will see you at Pentland Hills” Mike told them.

  “We’ll try to see you there” Alice said.

  When Mike had spoken on the radio Zoe could hear a soft crying in the background and knew it was coming from Sophia. Her brothers were in the campervan and she didn’t want to risk losing them. Zoe knew that she wouldn’t lose them as they had more of a chance this time to fight people off but Sophia didn’t really know that. Plus, Jeff would never let anything happen to Alex so he would definitely be safe.

  “Okay Mike, if you get yourself around the campervan to get in front so that the van will be following the campervan instead of you lot and then take the next slip road which will take you towards the Pentland Hills, hopefully the car will keep on following us” John said as Alice held the radio up to his mouth.

  “Will do” Mike said.

  Zoe stood up and looked out of the side window and watched as Mike drove the car around the campervan and went in front. Zoe kept looking to see if the van would follow but never seen it.

  “The van following us now?” Zoe asked.

  “Sure is” John said as he looked into his rear view mirror.

  “Good, lets keep it that way” Jeff said.

  “We’ll see you guys soon” Mike said as Zoe watched the car move off down the slip road.

  Zoe felt her stomach begin to do somersaults as she watched and waited to see if the van would follow them or Mike. Luckily, the van kept on following them. Zoe let out a slight sigh of relief but not much because now they had to handle their new followers and Zoe had no idea what to do since she had no idea who the hell it even was.

  “What now?” John asked.

  “Keep on driving for now. Lets see what they’ll do” Jeff said.

  “Oh I hope we don’t run into any skin eaters blocking the road” Alice worried.

  “We’ll be fine” John tried to reassure her.

  Zoe didn’t feel so reassured. She had been so focused on telling herself that they’d be able to fight off whoever was following them that she didn’t even think about running into herds of skin eaters. Zoe would’ve thought that she would’ve been thinking about that since they jus
t had to get away from a herd of skin eaters but nope, the thought never even crossed her mind.

  “Let’s get ourselves ready for a fight, just in case” Michael said as he went over to where the guns had been stored.

  Michael took out the guns and handed them out to everyone. Zoe felt herself relax a little as the gun went into her hand. It was like her safety net in all of this and she hated being without a weapon to protect herself with. Zoe almost hugged the gun but stopped herself, that would be too weird Zoe had thought.

  Jeff stood up and took out his knife and walked over to where Alex was sitting in the front. Zoe could hear Jeff explaining to Alex that the knife was for protecting himself against bad people and the skin eaters and how careful Alex had to be with it.

  “I promise I’ll be really careful. I’ll only use it against the baddies” Alex said confidently.

  “Good lad” Jeff said as he rustled Alex’s hair.

  Zoe knew how hard it had been for Jeff to give Alex that knife. Jeff had turned into Alex’s parent pretty much and with that came all of the thoughts of accidents and harming themselves. Zoe gave Jeff’s hand a squeeze as he came and sat back down next to her. Jeff looked at her and smiled.

  “I wonder who it is that’s following us” Lewis said.

  “Could it be that group of Sylvia’s you think?” Sarah asked.

  “Could be.. But then it could be anyone wanting to try and take whats ours” Mark said.

  “They’re getting closer to us” John said.

  “Bumper to bumper close?” Mark asked.

  “Yep that close!” John said.

  “Can you drive this thing any faster?” Lewis asked.

  “I’ll try” John said.

  Zoe felt herself fall a little backwards as John put his foot to the ground on the accelerator and tried to make the campervan go that little bit faster. Zoe could practically hear the campervan protesting that it couldn’t do this speed and want to break down and have a rest.

  “That van is still right on our tail. I can’t go any faster!” John yelled.

  “Shit!” Michael shouted.

  It was then that Zoe felt the bump on the back of the campervan. Zoe fell forward as did everyone else and they all landed in a tumble on the floor.