Darkness Ahead of Us | Book 1 | Darkness Within

by Spencer, Leif

  You enjoy this.

  “No.” Chris lowered the knife. It shook in her grip.

  “Excuse me?” Anna frowned.

  “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  It was the truth. She hadn’t. She’d planned on hiding, waiting for the end of this ordeal. Once the worst was over, she’d hoped to find a community. She was a nurse. She helped people. That was her job. She’d be an asset to any group of survivors.

  Chris took a deep breath. “I didn’t come here to hurt you, Anna. I came here because you’d helped me, and I was looking for a safe place for myself and my son.

  “I know,” Anna said.

  “Do you understand why I’m doing this?” she asked Tom.

  He sniffled, then whispered, “No.”

  He wouldn’t forgive her, but as a mother she sometimes had to make tough choices and she could only hope that one day he would understand.

  “One day you will.” Chris raised the knife.

  18

  The rhythm of Oreo’s feet pattering across the floor in her bedroom grew more frantic and Anna winced. She couldn’t make him stop, not without saying anything.

  If the person in the stairwell were a stranger, he’d be growling. Barking. Snarling. It had to be Sarah. She was the only other person whose steps he recognised.

  “What’s that noise?” Chris frowned and turned towards the bedroom.

  Anna stiffened. She had to distract Chris before she connected the dots. Before she realised what Oreo was doing and why. Anna rocked sideways, moaning as if in pain and hoping the noise would mask Oreo’s growing excitement to give Sarah enough time to slip into the flat unnoticed.

  Her sister had a spare key, but she’d have to push hard against the door to move the chest of drawers out of the way.

  The chair wobbled, leaning precariously to one side.

  Chris scowled. “What are you doing?”

  Frantic, Anna rocked back and forth again. The chair swayed, then tipped and clattered to the floor. Pain exploded in her right temple and the world went dark for a brief moment. She whimpered.

  Oreo barked—most likely scared by the commotion—the sound muffled by the closed bedroom door.

  The front door creaked.

  Please be Sarah. Please be Sarah.

  Anna turned her head. Blood trickled down her forehead and she squinted. Noise. Make a noise. She moaned. A dull ache radiated from her temple.

  Tom rushed to her side and his knees thudded against the floor next to Anna’s ear. “Mum. She’s bleeding.” He bent over her and gingerly touched her head. “She can’t hurt us. You have to help her.”

  Chris took a step closer but didn’t bother to bend down. “Don’t worry. Head wounds look a lot scarier than they are.”

  Anna blinked. Blood blurred her vision.

  Now what? She was on the floor, heartbeat pounding in her ears. Where was Sarah? Chris cocked her head as if focusing on something specific. Anna wet her lips, gathering the energy to scream.

  Crack!

  Above her, Chris’ eyes suddenly widened. The small woman staggered and lost her balance. A groan escaped Chris’ lips as she dropped to her knees. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then collapsed sideways, her eyes rolling back into her head.

  Behind her, Sarah was holding a pistol as if it were a baseball bat instead of a firearm, her eyes fierce.

  Tom looked up and gasped. “Mum?”

  Relief washed over Anna and she sobbed. Tom crawled over to his unconscious mother. “Mum?” He pushed on her shoulders, rolling her over so she lay on her side.

  “Don’t move,” Sarah barked, aiming her weapon at the boy. “Anna? Anna! Are you all right? You’re bleeding.”

  “I’m fine.” Anna hiccupped and laughed. “I’m fine. I’m so glad to see you.”

  Tom stared at the pistol, frozen to the spot.

  Sarah’s features softened, but she kept the gun aimed at his head. “Untie her.”

  Tom turned and shakily fiddled with the cable ties. Anna felt him tremble. “I need…” He swallowed. “I need scissors.”

  “It’s okay, Tom,” Anna said. “It’s okay. Breathe. Look, your mum has dropped the knife. Why don’t you use that?” She looked at her sister. “He’s okay. Just scared.” She didn’t think he’d hurt her, but he could easily cut her wrists instead of the cable ties and Sarah wouldn’t be able to stop him before it was too late.

  She closed her eyes as Tom retrieved the knife and cut her ties.

  “Thank you. Check on your mum,” Anna said, sitting up. She turned to Sarah. “How did you know I was here?”

  “That woman told me you’d left and given her your flat, but I heard Oreo whine and I knew you’d never abandon him. So, I waited nearby. I can’t believe this.” She gestured towards Chris and the mess in the kitchen.

  Anna rubbed her temple and winced.

  “What’s happened here?” Sarah asked.

  Tom moved over to his unconscious mother, stroking her hair. “Please don’t hurt her.” Tears spilled from his eyes. “She’s my mum. I’ll make sure to take her far away. I’ll make sure she won’t come back here. I’m sorry.”

  “Why would we—” Sarah scoffed. “She’s clearly unhinged, but—”

  “What if she hurts you, Tom?” Anna said.

  “She wouldn’t.”

  “Tom, you’re just a child. Look at what she’s done to me.” Anna held up her wrists where the cable ties had left red marks.

  “I can take care of her. I promise.” He wiped his runny nose with the back of his hand.

  “Tom—”

  He choked on a sob and sniffled. “I asked her not to tie you up, but she insisted that you were dangerous. That you were trying to poison her. Is that why you had the rat poison?”

  Anna ignored his question. “Tom, you wrote me that note. You said you thought she was dangerous. And your dad…”

  “I don’t really know what happened to Dad. I don’t think she’d hurt anyone without having a reason.”

  Sarah snorted. “She didn’t hesitate to push me down the stairs.” Apparently satisfied that Tom was no threat she lowered the pistol and offered her hand to Anna to help her up.

  Anna took her sister’s hand and slowly got to her feet. She frowned. “Chris did what?”

  Tom bent over Chris as if trying to shield her. “She knew our food wouldn’t last. She was worried—”

  “It’s okay, Tom. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not your job to protect her.” Anna didn’t let go of Sarah’s hand and instead pulled her sister into a hug. She let Sarah’s warmth comfort her and placed her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re here. I thought you were…I was so scared.”

  “It takes more than the end of the world to get rid of me.” Sarah smiled and kissed the top of Anna’s head. “Should we…should we tie her up?”

  “I’m going to pack a bag,” Tom said. “I’m taking her with me as soon as she wakes up.”

  “Tom—”

  “I’ll help you in a minute, Tom,” Sarah said quickly, smiling at Anna. “I just want to make sure Chris can’t attack my sister again.”

  After binding Chris’s hands and ankles, Sarah took the pistol and followed Tom into the spare room.

  Half an hour later, Tom sat next to his unconscious mother with her head in his lap. Sarah had made herself and Anna a cup of lukewarm tea. Oreo sat next to Tom with his head placed on Tom’s packed bag.

  “It’s ironic how quickly the tables have turned,” Anna said, pressing the warm cup against her temple. The wound stung. She couldn’t believe how close she’d come to dying, could still feel the cold knife against her throat, could still see the mad glint in Chris’ eyes.

  “Why isn’t she waking up?” Tom asked.

  Sarah shrugged. “I hit her hard. She’ll come around.” She closed her eyes. “Have you seen what’s happening out there, Anna? People are killing each other.”

  Anna sighed. “I’ve heard the s
hooting. Did you walk past Braintree? Things are bad over there.”

  “I cut through the countryside, but it wasn’t much better. It’s how I imagined the wild west when we were children.”

  “I’m not surprised.” Anna snorted. “Chris here killed someone ten minutes into the apocalypse.”

  “It was self-defence.” Tom pressed his lips together and scowled. He looked lost sitting on the floor with his legs crossed. He stroked Chris’ hair obsessively like a toddler stroking a security blanket.

  Anna winced as she thought of the poisoned food. She had to tell him. “It’s too late, Tom. She’s…your mum is dying.” She averted her eyes.

  He frowned, confused. “Wh…why?”

  “The oatmeal bars I made…I’m sorry.”

  Sarah gripped her wrist and Anna almost dropped her cup. “What are you saying?” Her eyes widened as fear replaced concern.

  Anna’s chest tightened. “I—”

  “But…” Tom paled as it dawned on him what exactly Anna was saying.

  “This isn’t your fault, Tom. We won’t abandon you, okay? We’ll help you find James.”

  He got up and wrung his hands, his mouth open but no words coming forth. Balling his hands into fists, he kicked over a chair. “How could you?” He stared at Anna with tears in his eyes. “Is that why she isn’t waking up?”

  Oreo retreated into the kitchen and whimpered. His ears lay flat against the side of his head as he cowered.

  “I don’t know.”

  Tom sank to his knees in front of Chris, placing his hands on her thighs. “Mum?” He turned to Anna and sniffled. “Is there anything I can do? Can we make her throw up?”

  Anna shook her head. “I think it’s too late.”

  Sarah stammered, closed her mouth, opened it again. “But…but what…what happened?”

  “Chris, she…” Anna made a gesture with her hands. “I didn’t know what else to do. She’s…she’s dangerous.”

  She’d done the right thing. Her sister would understand.

  “Why didn’t you just ask them to leave?”

  “She killed—”

  “I get that,” Sarah said. “But apparently so have you.”

  “You’re the one holding a pistol.” Anna pointed at the weapon in Sarah’s hand. She hadn’t let go of it since she’d entered the flat. “Where did you find it?”

  “I took it off a dead soldier near here,” Sarah said.

  “And you’re prepared to use it.” Anna pressed her lips together.

  “I suppose so.” Sarah fell silent.

  Anna watched Tom fussing over his mother. Guilt filled her at the sight. She took a sip of her tea. Another gunshot sounded in the distance. This was the world now. She had done what had to be done.

  Chris stirred, her fingers twitching. She lifted her head and moaned. “Tom?”

  19

  Something was pressed against her cheek. A gentle touch. She leaned into it.

  “Mum?”

  Chris smiled, comforted by the warmth of Tom’s hand.

  Anna!

  Chris’ eyes snapped open. Tom’s face faded in and out of focus. “Tom?” Her head pounded. She winced and shifted, squinting. Gradually, the blurred silhouettes surrounding her came back into focus.

  “Mum?”

  She tried to speak but her tongue lay heavy in her mouth and wouldn’t move. Her stomach twisted. The coppery taste of blood mingled with stomach acid. She coughed, the pain at the back of her head excruciating. “Yes?”

  Concern filled his eyes. “Are you okay?”

  Chris blinked. “Just a mild concuss—” She slurred the word and made another attempt before giving up. “What happened?” Her eyes fell onto Sarah’s gun and she was seized with panic. They’d bound her wrists and ankles. She couldn’t move.

  Focus.

  Anna sat next to Sarah with blood-smeared cheeks. The wound on her temple had stopped bleeding. “We don’t want to hurt you. You’re free to go if you promise to leave without a fight.”

  Free?

  They were letting her go? Something was wrong.

  “Can you stand?” Tom asked and when she nodded, he cut her loose and held out both hands, pulling her to her feet. She swayed, holding onto him for support. “We need to leave, Mum.”

  “I know.”

  Chris swallowed. She’d ruined everything. She’d tried to keep her family safe. Her husband. Her son. And she’d failed. Both of them.

  She looked at Anna and bit her lip. She didn’t know what to say.

  “It’s okay,” Anna said. “You were doing it for your son.”

  Chris forced a smile and nodded. They were letting her go. “May I…may I pack a bag? Take some supplies?”

  “I already have,” said Tom. “I’ve prepared enough for us to make it to James’.”

  James. Tom’s best friend. Chris rubbed the back of her head, a bump already noticeable from the blow she had received. James’ parents were divorced. His dad owned a farm somewhere near Ware. It wasn’t the worst idea.

  “And you’re just…just letting me go?”

  “Mum?” Tom pulled on her sleeve. “I promised that we’d leave peacefully. Please, let’s just go.”

  Chris looked at her son. Pride filled her at the sight. He looked grown up. In charge. And so much like Lester. “Okay.”

  Tom knelt next to Oreo and wrapped his arms around the dog. He buried his face in Oreo’s fur and whispered, “I’ll miss you.”

  Relief washed over Anna as she stood on her balcony, watching Chris and Tom leave. She lingered until they were out of sight and exhaled slowly. Sitting down on the sofa, she rested her head against the wall. “Right. I hope the poison kicks in soon. I don’t trust her.”

  She hadn’t thought Chris would give up so easily. She’d expected a fight.

  “Yes.” Sarah’s voice came from the kitchen. A few minutes later she walked into the living room holding a bottle of disinfectant and a packet of cotton wool pads. “I want to clean that wound.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Anna said. She scooted to the edge of the sofa and turned her head. She pulled her hair back, exposing her temple. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “You know I’m resourceful.”

  “I thought perhaps you’d gone to find Dad.”

  Sarah soaked the pad with disinfectant before gingerly dabbing Anna’s temple. “Instead of finding you? Never.”

  “We should…”

  “We should check on him. Yes.” Sarah continued cleaning Anna’s wounds. “Does it hurt?”

  Anna shook her head. “Did you check on any of your friends in Colchester?”

  “Only my neighbour, Jane.” Sarah applied a plaster to Anna’s temple. “At first, I was hoping the power would come back on. After a few days, I set out to find you.”

  “More tea?” Anna asked.

  “Yes, please, but I’ll make it. You’re hurt. I’ll feed Oreo too. Poor thing looks thinner than I’ve ever seen him.”

  “We need to check how much we have left.”

  Sarah smiled and kissed Anna’s cheek. “I’ll make a list.”

  Sarah disappeared into the kitchen and Oreo followed her. Anna heard her sister rummaging through the cupboards in the kitchen. “Enough to sit it out for two more weeks.” A drawer opened, then closed again.

  “I’ve hidden food in my wardrobe.”

  “Behind your smelly shoes?”

  Anna laughed.

  Sarah left the kitchen and Anna heard her opening the bedroom door. “Wow. That’s a lot of food.”

  Anna took a deep breath and relaxed. They’d be fine for a few weeks. Perhaps even a month. They had enough time to come up with a plan. “Do you think Tom will come back once his mum—” Anna couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

  “I wish he hadn’t insisted on leaving with her. We could have helped him.”

  “I know. I’m scared for him.”

  “He knows where we are, although—”

&
nbsp; Anna frowned. “Although?”

  “Aren’t you a tiny bit worried he’ll come back to…you know…avenge his mum?”

  Anna scoffed. “I don’t think so. He was afraid of her. Besides, how could I have stopped him? I couldn’t poison him as well. He’s thirteen and a great kid. You would have liked him. He’s intelligent and sweet. It’s not his fault Chris is his mother. I mean…look at us and Dad.”

  Oreo trotted back into the living room and settled down next to Anna.

  “I know. I know.” A door closed, her sister’s voice coming from the spare room, “I’ve counted fifty bottles of water.”

  Anna stroked Oreo and crossed her legs, leant back into the cushions and smiled. Sarah was here. Unharmed. They’d found each other without having to wander through Essex for years.

  They were together.

  “What did you say you put the rat poison in?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Oatmeal bars or something?”

  “Oh. Yes. Chris kept snacking on them.”

  “I can’t find the rest of them. Did she take them with her?”

  “I don’t know,” Anna said. “Perhaps she ate them all.” She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.

  No. Anna Greene hadn’t been prepared for any kind of emergency, let alone an apocalypse, but considering the odds, she didn’t think she’d fared too badly.

  They had food and water and a safe place to stay.

  “Do you mean these?”

  Anna opened her eyes to find Sarah standing in the doorway, an open Tupperware container in her outstretched hand. She nodded.

  “It was in the bin, Anna.”

  Anna frowned. “Maybe Tom threw the rest of them—” Her stomach dropped. She’d cut the slab into six pieces.

  There were six pieces left in the Tupperware container.

  Sarah pursed her lips. “She didn’t trust you either.”

  Anna knew that, but she hadn’t thought Chris wouldn’t—

  She swallowed, a thousand thoughts swirling around in her mind. Each more terrifying than the previous one. “Oh—” She jumped to her feet, a hand over her stomach. “Sarah! We need to leave.”