Mila opened the door and headed to the back of the house to find Robyn practising with her bokken. She had pegged the Christmas jumper to the washing line and had positioned other things around her. To one side, there was a bin bag full of laundry. To the other side, there was a rake and sweeping brush bound together by a belt. Behind her was a garden hoe, which she had sunk into the ground. Mila watched with her arms folded as Robyn stabbed the jumper and swept the bokken around to the hoe, deliberately stopping just short so as not to make a noise. Then she brought the wooden sword down at a diagonal to the washing bag as if she was knocking an assailant’s feet out from beneath them before spinning back towards the jumper and this time skimming the top of the washing line as if taking an attacker’s head clean off.
Mila started clapping, and Robyn shot around to look towards where the sound had come from, her face colouring up. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No,” Mila said, smiling. “What is this?” she asked, gesturing towards the various objects.
“I told you that I used to be okay with a spear. Well, Wren used to put a pair of Dad’s overalls on the washing line, and we’d practise our aim and stuff. I suppose it’s pretty silly, but I thought maybe I could do the same with this.”
“It does not sound silly. I was watching you. You seem to possess very good control.”
A slightly embarrassed smile crept onto Robyn’s face. “Thanks.”
“Come, we will have breakfast, then you will show me what you have learnt.”
“Okay.” Robyn smiled, placing the bokken under her arm and following Mila back into the house. They ate sugary cereal with long-life milk and within twenty minutes were back outside.
“Now,” Mila began, “I think—”
“Before we start. I just want to thank you for yesterday, the whole day. It was just what I needed, and I had a lot of fun last night. I went to sleep with a smile on my face.”
Right then and there, Mila wanted to cry. She would never admit the same. She had suffered the worst humiliation having her feelings thrown back into her face, and although this was not that, this was something different, she could never leave herself so vulnerable, so dependent on someone else’s affection ever again. “I also had a lot of fun. The whole day was most pleasant.” They both grinned and then it was down to work. “We will start on my left side. Head, hip, ankle,” Mila said then nodded.
Robyn swept towards her friend’s head with the wooden sword, Mila fended off the attack. With no pause, she aimed for the hip. Block. Ankle. Block. “You’re quick,” Robyn said.
“I have had a lot of practice. Your speed is good, and you are strong, Robyn. Considering you are still recovering you have a lot of power. Okay, left side, the same thing. Now!”
The day went quickly. They practised until early afternoon then went foraging in the woods before going for an early evening swim in a nearby loch. This was the pattern of the next week. Each day, Robyn got a little stronger, the illness fading into memory. She moved onto two bokkens and finally onto swords, although the exercises were limited to simply getting used to the feel of the weapons and not one-on-one combat.
On the seventh evening, they were both sitting in silence, just watching the sun go down. The day had been another productive one. Again, Robyn had been up and about before Mila, but this morning had been a little different. She had borrowed Mila’s phone and gone jogging while listening to some of her favourite songs. It turned out for a twenty-four-year-old her friend had great taste in music. She had run through the small village with Iron Maiden accompanying her. On the return journey, she had partaken in a little My Chemical Romance. All the while, she was more than aware of the danger that could jump out at any time, but she kept a watchful eye, and even the midges stayed away from her.
Robyn had never possessed the same drive and determination as she did right now. Tracking down Wren was all that was on her mind and if she had to turn into some kind of Wonder Woman to do it, then she would.
“Well,” Mila said, breaking the peaceful mood, “I think I will turn in.”
“Can I ask something?” Robyn said as if it had been on the tip of her tongue all night.
“You want to go back to Pear Tree Farm tomorrow?” Mila replied with a smile.
“Am I that obvious?”
Mila turned towards her friend. “You have done all that I asked of you and more. We will go back tomorrow. But bear in mind the horde that attacked us. There will be lots more of them out there.”
“I know. I’m ready.”
“That fire that burns inside you. It is a good thing, but use it wisely.” Mila smiled briefly then stood and walked to the door. “Gute Nacht, Robyn.”
“Night, Mila. And thank you.”
chapter 8
It was just after six a.m. when Robyn and Mila set off from the house. Mila had gifted Robyn a pair of leather trousers and a leather jacket, or zombie armour as she jokingly referred to it. She had also presented her with an identical cross scabbard that now housed the two samurai swords Robyn had been training with.
They had found a rucksack for Robyn from one of the houses in East Crovie, and that now sat on her back with a few emergency supplies in case they ran into trouble or got stranded. “So, I was wondering,” Robyn began.
“Wondering what?” Mila asked, swooping down, plucking a long dry blade of grass and placing it between her lips like a cigarette.
“The swords. Where did you get them? I mean they were illegal over here, right?”
“I thought you were going to ask me some deep searching question then,” Mila replied, smiling.
“Well, that is pretty searching. I mean did you have some dodgy contacts or something?”
“Oh yes. Lots of dodgy contacts,” Mila replied, giggling now.
“What’s funny?”
“Samurai swords are not illegal if they are antiques kept on display. I have receipts and certificates of authenticity for all of these swords. What you are wearing on your back is worth … was worth nearly eight thousand pounds.”
“Jesus!” Robyn said, stopping in her tracks.
“Just so you know, they take care of your birthday and Christmas presents for the next twenty years,” Mila said.
“So when you said you’d saved some money, you’d really saved some money, hadn’t you?”
“I worked hard, and I invested shrewdly.”
Robyn placed her fingers around the grips to one of the swords. “Well, thank you.”
“I have two more swords at home. Unless I suddenly become a mutant and grow another four arms, I am not going to be able to use them all. They are of more value to me in your hands.”
The pair headed cross country rather than by the roads. While ever they were in fields, they had a clear view of any potential threats, and they could breathe easy. As they reached the forest, they slowed their pace and the relatively buoyant mood dissipated.
“Thank you for doing this with me,” Robyn said as they stood just in front of the tree line.
“Thank me when you are back with your sister. Now, come,” Mila replied, heading out of the morning sun and into the woods.
For the time being, the forest was how it should have been. Birds were singing, squirrels were leaping from branch to branch, there was nothing to suggest anything was amiss. As they travelled further, however, the heavy smell of residual smoke and ash intensified. Mila reached into her pocket and pulled out a compass. “How do you know we’re heading the right way?”
“This compass has GPS. I programmed the farm’s address into it before we left.”
“What? Really?”
“No. I’m guessing your sister was the one who made sure you didn’t get lost.”
“Err … yeah.”
“Hmm. Good job I used to enjoy orienteering when I was younger.”
“I suppose I should learn to read one of those things at—”
“Shh!” Mila said, raising her hand.
At first, Rob
yn did not understand, then she heard it too; a low-pitched growl, most definitely not belonging to any animal of the forest. She withdrew her swords ready, and they continued. Then they saw it. Not a fast-moving monster like the ones that had surrounded their car but one of the black, charred things that they had first seen on their attempted visit to Pear Tree Farm.
Its slow approach presented no threat to them, and Robyn placed the swords back in their sheaths. “We could outwalk that thing if we were blindfolded and on crutches.”
“It doesn’t matter. Take out your swords.”
“But—”
“No buts. You must get used to the feel of the blades as they slice through bone, cartilage and flesh.”
“You have a lovely way with words.”
“Schnell. Quickly. Never underestimate your opponent. One trip, one misstep and everything can change. Now kill it.”
Robyn withdrew the two swords and looked towards the creature as it clumsily ambled towards them. She remembered everything Mila had taught her. Concentrate … concentrate. The sounds of the forest faded out as if they were being drowned underwater and all Robyn could hear was her own heartbeat and breathing. Her fingers gently caressed the grips of the two Katana blades, and she spread her arms out from her sides in readiness.
The charcoal monster staggered towards her, its feet unable to lift fully from the forest floor as its leg muscles had been scorched beyond repair. It growled, but it was not the chilling, fearsome growl normally associated with these creatures. Instead, it was a weak rasp, almost as if it was pleading to be put out of its misery. Robyn stepped forward, bringing both blades up over her head before dropping them once more. The razor-sharp metal disappeared into the beast’s shoulders before reappearing a fraction of a second later. Its two arms immediately fell to the floor, but still it continued.
Robyn brought the sword in her right hand around in front of her and then, with little more than a flick, decapitated the creature. Its head spun up into the air before bouncing on the ground. Its body crumpled into a black heap. Robyn stayed in position for a moment before wiping the blades off on a mossy trunk and returning them to their scabbards.
“Happy?”
Mila smiled. “Das war gut.”
They carried on walking, and the natural green of the forest gave way as they reached a clearing. A small stream separated one side of woodland from another, and for a moment it seemed like something out of a spine-tingling fairy tale. On the opposite bank, all the trees were black.
“Holy crap!” Robyn blurted. “How come it didn’t travel over here … the fire?”
“Wind direction I would guess, I don’t know, I’m not an expert.”
“Well weird.”
The two women looked towards each other and then carried on down the embankment. They hopscotched over the stream then paused again as they reached the tree line.
“So, we are Hansel und Gretel heading into the forest,” Mila said with a smile on her face.
“Err … if you say so.” They stepped over the ashen threshold and were walking for just a matter of minutes before the sound of growls rose into the air. “Where’s that coming from?” Robyn asked.
They paused, standing back to back, turning slowly to survey their bleak surroundings. “Movement!” Mila whispered. “I see them.”
“Oh crap, that’s really bad because I see them too.”
Mila spun around and stared towards the spot where Robyn was looking. “Six in my group, eight in yours,” she whispered. “They have not seen us yet.”
“That’s not going to last long. What should we do?”
“We need to take them out.”
“What? That’s crazy.”
“I handled more than this by myself at the car.”
“Yeah, but—”
“We head for the six,” Mila said, and before Robyn even had the chance to object, her companion began sprinting towards the half dozen beasts who for the time being were just shambling through the charred woods, searching for prey.
“Shit!” Robyn hissed then ran after her.
They were just a few metres away before the creatures noticed them. These beasts had clearly been drawn by the smoke but had arrived after the inferno. They were fast, powerful and vicious. Their growls chilled the air as they charged forward to meet the two women. Robyn’s heart began to pound faster in her chest as everything became much more real. These things were not like the pathetic, broken creature she had so easily put down soon after entering the forest. These were monsters in the truest sense of the word.
Mila leapt into the air at the exact same time that the first two beasts pounced. Her swords arced out, then inwards, slicing through the monsters’ heads with surgical precision. The blades carved through both skulls in a straight line, from ear to ear. The tops of the creatures’ heads flew like gory frisbees, and their bodies immediately crashed to the ground. Mila flicked her wrists, angling the now crossed swords outwards, and swung again at the next couple of beasts. This time, the blades disappeared through their necks, and their heads lolled then rolled to the ground. She was about to unleash her swords on the remaining pair when Robyn jumped in front of her, swinging her two weapons down bisecting the creatures’ heads.
The ghoulish figures remained upright for a fraction of a second before crumpling to the forest floor. Robyn turned, with a small self-satisfied smile on her face, but she was too late. Her companion was now tearing back in the direction of the other eight creatures that had been alerted by the intensified growls and charging feet of their brethren.
Robyn sighed and raced after her. This time, Mila used the trees to slow the advance of the group, weaving in and out of the blackened trunks like a child playing tag. For the time being, the whole group followed her, but gradually a couple of stragglers broke off and headed for Robyn, who came to an immediate halt.
Just like the first pair had done with Mila, these two pounced in perfect synchronicity. Robyn waited … and waited. Now! She swiped the swords downwards as she had done before, but this time she missed the head of one, instead lodging the blade in its shoulder. The other fell instantly as the cold, bloodied metal chopped through the roof of its head and into its brain. The first, however, fell to the side. The weight of the big creature and the sudden unexpected movement wrenched the grip of the sword from Robyn’s hand, leaving her with just one blade as the mighty beast climbed to its feet.
Robyn swallowed hard. When the monster had darted towards her, she had not fully appreciated its height and girth, but as it straightened up with the sword still wedged through its clavicle, her mouth dropped open a little.
Its grey face seemed as big as a dinner plate, and its pupils flared on the milky grey surface of its eyes as it advanced like some terrifying giant straight out of a children’s story. The growl started in the back of its throat, but, like everything about this monster, it was bigger, more amplified. In Robyn’s head it was a roar. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see another creature had seemingly grown tired of playing hide and seek with Mila and was now racing in her direction.
The huge beast lunged, stretching out its banana-sized fingers to seize its quarry. Robyn thrust the sword at its head, but as the monster stumbled a little on an exposed root, the blade went askew and severed its ear but didn’t even make the creature flinch. Robyn’s heart leapt into her throat as she felt the beast’s hand wrap around her extended arm, trapping her in its vice-like grip. Its mouth opened wide revealing yellow and brown teeth, dark grey gums and a darkness beyond she did not want to think about.
The other creature was a matter of a few metres away now, its own frenzied growls adding more urgency to an already dire situation. “Focus, Robyn. Anger can be a useful tool, but now you must focus.” Mila’s voice echoed in her head as if she was standing there with her.
Yeah, not like I’ve got a choice or anything.
With her left hand, Robyn reached for the sword wedged in the giant’s collarbone. Her
fingers wrapped around the grip and tugged, finally freeing it. She did not have time to withdraw and strike, she did not have the distance or power to chop through its skull, there was only one move left for her. She angled the blade and sliced hard and fast, cutting through the creature’s eyes and the bridge of its nose. Blinded and confused, it released her arm as its primitive brain tried to compute what was happening. Robyn pulled back, and while the hulking beast stumbled, she unleashed a mighty blow with her left sword, sweeping round and chopping through the neck of the monster that had torn across the burnt forest to join them. Robyn let out a stifled scream as the beast’s momentum meant its head continued towards her despite its body falling to the forest floor.
She ducked and watched as it flew above her, smashing against a tree before thudding to the ground. Robyn sprang back to her feet as the giant staggered forward with its arms outstretched. “Don’t hesitate!” Mila’s words drifted into her mind again, and Robyn thrust her right sword up under the beast’s chin and into its brain. She jumped back as the massive creature fell forward, landing heavily on the ground, almost making it shake. Robyn let out a long, relieved breath then looked across to her friend as she finished off the last two monsters at the same time.
Mila returned Robyn’s gaze and smiled, but there was no smile on Robyn’s face as she marched towards her.
“You did well. That was a big one. I thought—”
“What the hell was that? Are you wanting to die, is that it? Are you some kind of weird adrenaline junkie who thinks this is all a frikkin’ game?”
The smile vanished from Mila’s face, and she looked hurt. “No, I—”
“You what? You can’t just launch into stuff without discussion. I know you think you’re invincible, but you’re not, and I know damn well that I’m not. Do you know how close I came to being killed just then?”
“But you weren’t. I have trained you well, you have—”
“Shove all that Yoda shit. This is real, and if there are decisions that are going to affect both of us, then it should be both of us who decide what we do.”
The End of Everything (Book 7): The End of Everything Page 6
