He hugged her shoulder before looking behind them, “Where’s Stacie?”
“She’ll be back soon”, Monique sniped before storming off to her home. Callum gave Ollie a mock confused shrug but deep down Callum had an idea of what it might be, had she seen him kiss Stacie? Is that what this was all about?
Before he could follow her to ask her the gate opened again and in came Stacie looking bloodied and gore filled, her whole body covered in guts and bodily fluids. She gave Ollie an expression of I’m fine and went home to shower and change.
Monique watched them all from her bedroom window, she envied them all, Ollie on how he wasn’t infected, how he was still young and full of life and charm, Stacie how she was infected but was still human in a way, how the infection in her blood made her powerful and strong, not like a weak human, like she was…Like she had been…She just hoped that it wouldn’t turn her into a creature that was mindless, she could cope being like the others, maybe the virus had mutated for them all and new infection was fine then she could challenge Stacie to what was really hers. She knew it was pointless to hope and she knew she should tell someone what had happened to her but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Laying down on her bed she cried herself to sleep, in a way not caring if when she woke up she wasn’t herself.
~
I was out the shower in a heartbeat when Kaley came knocking on the bathroom door, she had Albi in tow, “Is it true its Christmas in the morning?” she looked so excited which made me smile.
“Yes it is”, I smiled back.
“Oh my god, is it sad that I still want Santa to bring me a present even though I know he’s not real?” she laughed.
“Who said ‘SHE’ ain’t real”, I laughed with her as she pointed at me and said.
“Ho, Ho, Ho, I’m Stacie Claus”.
Even Albi had to smile at this one it was just too good not to laugh at.
“So will we be having Christmas dinner with all the trimmings?” Albi asked, “What I would do for roast turkey”.
“No but we’ve got a rabbit to roast with all the trimmings”, I smiled showing them the pieces of rabbit the butcher had kindly brought round to me.
Soon I sent Kaley off to get some sleep although I knew she was too excited, I had chosen her a small gift which I hoped she liked. Albi decided to stay with me and we stayed up chatting for most of the night on the sofa as I gave Kaley my room. Eventually he gave into sleep leaning up against the sofa on the floor his arms crossed over his chest and his head lolled slightly to one side. I found that even I was too excited to sleep and found myself tossing and turning over and over until finally I gave up and went for a walk.
The dawn was on the horizon and I giggled as I imagined all Santa’s reindeer flying off home with bells ringing, I knew it was a silly idea but I couldn’t help myself. I went to the community centre to check on the tree and presents and found the door was already open, feeling panic rise in me as I wanted this to be a surprise for the children I raced inside to find Ollie and Kaley, she had snuck out the house most probably whilst I was gassing with Albi and now they were both cuddling in the corner on one of the old sofa’s, being infected Kaley knew she couldn’t kiss or do anything with Ollie but she was a smart girl and I knew she wouldn’t do anything to harm him. I smiled to myself and slowly walked back out and closed the door quietly so no one else could interrupt them. They weren’t doing anything wrong just being typical teenagers.
A few hours later and all the houses were awake and I sent Albi along with myself to gather everyone together at the community centre. By Nine o’clock everyone was inside, their eyes peeled to the tree and all the presents for the children, the children all stared at the tinsel and the magical appeal it held.
“Well Stacie this is a great surprise”, Callum said appearing in the door way, his tone was a little off but I could see in his eyes that he was happy it was Christmas.
I felt my cheeks blush, “Yeah it’s only something small”.
“No it’s not it gives the children hope and happiness”, Albi said coming over, the two men locked eyes until Callum looked away from Albi’s stare.
I had to fight back a small smile, it was a little funny to see them both sort of fight over me “Here this is for you and I have one for Monique too”.
He peeled back the fabric to reveal a pen with the letter C, it was a kid’s toy one but it made Callum laugh, “Oh Stacie this is, unexpected but I don’t write”.
“Well I think you should, I think we all should”.
“Why?” he asked puzzled.
“Well do you remember at school how we studied from history books and other things, well the kids of the future won’t have that, they won’t know about the things we had to go through to survive, people won’t remember us or our journeys. I think we should keep them all in a book. Our own history book”, I went behind the tree and pulled out a large A4 sized kids notebook, it was a little girly and had a pink pattern over the front but it would work.
“You want me to write my manly story in a pink book?”
I swiped his shoulder, “Doesn’t matter on the colour but what’s inside, I think you should start, then Monique and everyone else, I can get another if this one runs out”.
At last he nodded, “Fine I’ll do it but only if you write something in it first”.
“Ok tonight, I’ll write”, I smiled but I left him with the notebook for safe keeping, I know I should be mad at him but it was Christmas and nothing was going to dampen my spirit today.
Soon I had all the children sitting on the floor and handing out all the presents, their faces lit up at all the small toys and other things that made this day so special. Cain was sitting with Chantelle with a few other orphaned children, I went over to him and cuddled him close, I then passed him his present which was I had to admit a little larger than some of the others but I hoped he would like it. Not pausing to shake the ‘wrapper’ made from fabric he tore into it, his face lit up it was a toy rabbit the same colour as the lucky rabbit foot, it was a delicate dusty grey with wide blue eyes. It also doubled up as a bag and hiding place as a small zip crossed the belly section meaning he could hide something inside, maybe something only small but he could fit something important inside if needed.
I picked up the package I had for Monique but she hadn’t turned up, all the others had but not her, I was a little put off I guess as I had wanted her to see how hard I had worked for this but then again she had a hard day yesterday but I had been thinking about why she had run off like that to the mansion in the first place.
I gave out the presents to Ollie and Kaley, theirs were a little more playful, they both got a pen each like Callum and Monique but I had also found two small keyrings with small stuffed animals on, Kaley’s was a penguin and Ollie’s was an owl. They loved them and ran off chasing each other before cuddling and vanishing into the hallway to probably talk and gossip alone.
Before long everyone was leaving still in the Christmas spirit and going off home to have their own roast dinners with their own friends and family. I was about to leave to go and get my home ready and to cook the rabbit and vegetables when I heard Monique call me over from the children’s play park. I thought it a little odd she was hiding there but I went over to see her anyway.
“Hey Monique, Merry Christmas”, I smiled but her face was not all smiley or welcoming, it was dark and brooding and she looked a little grey.
“Stacie we need to talk”, she said and watched me as I walked in the gate and closed it behind me.
“About what?” I asked confused by her tone of voice which matched her mood, dark and brooding.
“About you”.
“Why me?”
“You can’t stay here anymore”, she said bluntly and I felt a pain of fear in my chest, I couldn’t leave, not now, not now I had got so close to Cain. I knew Albi had mentioned it but I wasn’t ready, I hadn’t spoken to Cain, I hadn’t made plans.
“Wh
at do you mean? Why do I have to leave?”
“Not just you, I want you, Kaley and Albi to leave, tonight”, she went to turn away and leave but I grabbed her arm, she swiped it away with a little more strength than I had anticipated.
“You can’t tell me to leave and not tell me why”.
“Fine…I want you to leave because bad things happen when you’re around, people get hurt and people die”.
“What? No one’s hurt, no one’s dead”.
“Maybe not to you”.
“And what’s that meant to mean?” I asked.
“I saw you and Callum together yesterday, I saw you and him kissing each other just like old times. Neither of you thought how I might feel, how long has it been going on? A few weeks, longer? Was you really hiding away or did you see each other when he went out on the hunt or for supplies? I bet you two have laughed at me, silly, pathetic Monique doesn’t know she’s being fooled by her friends”.
“Monique you’ve got it wrong, I haven’t been seeing Callum, not now not since before…the sanctuary…And he came on to me but I pushed him away and told him that he had you”.
“Sure you did, I bet you were laughing at how you could snare him back and away from me”.
“Monique I never wanted to hurt you”, I pleaded with her but I could see her mind was made.
“Well you have hurt me and you need to leave, I cannot have monsters living amongst my people and keeping them in danger”.
“But you said it was fine, that I was ok here”.
“Well after seeing how vile you are and how you have snatched the one person I care about away from me just like you did Darren all those years ago, I have decided that I don’t want you here and if you don’t leave by tonight I will expose that you and your friends are infected and have you all killed”. She said it with such bitter distaste that I knew she just might go through with it. I was worried at the prospect at the other two being harmed.
“But what about Cain and Ollie?”
“What about them?”
“Cain is my family and we have grown close and Ollie…Well him and Kaley are…”
“Well Cain survived without you for this long and he will again and Ollie will find someone else”.
“Monique please don’t do this”, I said but she drew out her blade and held it to my throat.
“Let’s see if you would survive being cut up into tiny pieces hey Stacie, then I’ll burn them just to make sure”.
“Fine I’ll leave but let the others stay, please, Kaley and Ollie…”
“No you all go or you all die”.
With no choice I agreed to leave, I had until this evening to vacate my house and take the others with me. Turning my back on Monique I left the park and headed home to pack. The conversation with the others turned into tears when I told Kaley and Ollie the situation.
“Let me talk to her”, Ollie cried out, “She might listen to me”.
“Ollie her mind is made up, she won’t listen to no one”.
Ollie stormed off out the house and I helped Kaley pack, Albi had heard the conversation and had collected all the small belongings he owned and was ready by the door before lunch time. We had to leave soon if we were to find shelter although I knew where I had to take them, my old flat, the one I had said goodbye to just a few days ago.
Before heading to the gate I went to Chantelle and found Cain playing with his toy rabbit that he named Milo, I spoke quietly to Chantelle and explained the situation before hugging Cain. Tears flooded down my face and he cried as he realised I had to leave. “I will come visit soon ok, but Monique needs me to do a special job for her but once I’m finished I’ll come back ok”.
I thought this would help his tears but it made them worse, he clung to my arm as I tried to stand to leave, “Don’t leave me mummy, don’t leave me”.
I froze on the spot, “Cain I’m not your mum”, I whispered gently to him.
“But you can be, you can be like her, you can be my mummy, you’re her sister, you’re just like her…Don’t leave me mummy”.
I felt my heart truly break and I felt like breaking down on the floor crying and sobbing hoping it would make this mess go away but I knew it would be hopeless.
“I will take care of him”, Chantelle said her eyes welling up.
“I know you will, you have done so well he’s growing up into a lovely young man. I just wish I could see it”.
“Give her time, she might come back around”, she replied.
Nodding I gave Cain one last squeeze before handing him to Chantelle kicking and screaming, I could hear him screaming my name as me and the others left for the gate. Some of the other camp mates had come out of their homes to see what all the commotion was about. Monique stood at the gate post ready to open it up and let us out into the strange evil and lonely world, her eyes hardened to the fact we had to leave, Cain’s cries done nothing to soften them.
Kaley turned to Monique, “We all have secrets, maybe you should share yours too”.
Monique showed a hint of fear in her eyes before they stoned back over, “Rot in hell”, she held such rage in her voice I couldn’t understand it.
Grabbing Kaley’s arm as I knew what she might do and although at this moment in time I thought Monique would deserve to personally feel Kaley’s power no one would let us back in if they saw her use it on their camp leader. I turned to watch the gate close behind us once we were through, I saw Callum and Ollie in the distance then they were gone.
“Well now what?” Kaley asked me huffing, she was a true teenager in the fact that she could throw a strop if she wanted but she had a point, what now?
“I have a place I used to call home in the high street”, I said, “Let’s go there before we decide anything drastic”.
That night we all sat in my old flat which was now flooded with candle light talking about what we should do, Albi I noticed stayed very quiet just listened to me and Kaley ramble on. Kaley had suggested making a fresh start to a new town but I said I couldn’t leave, just in case they needed me but I knew what Albi was thinking.
“Plus Kaley there is the place you are meant to go”, Albi reminded her.
“Maybe that was the place”, she shrugged.
He shook his head, “No I know from what you have shown me, we are meant to take you somewhere…I think I have an idea where”.
“What do you mean?” I asked him.
“Well we tried your human camp and that didn’t work out too great did it, I know we need to get you somewhere in a foreign land and I know people who might know where and how to get you there”.
“So are they human too?” I asked, “Seen as how you called them the human camp”.
He smiled, “I know a place where the whole camp is full of people like us, they are infected but it’s mutated within them and they are still knowing and human inside. They have bonded with the infection just like we have, I know we would be welcome there and they could help us with getting Kaley to where she needs to go”.
“A whole infected half breed camp? Are you serious? Where are they? How do you know about them?” I asked him a firing line of questions.
“I’ve been there, when I was first infected and I didn’t turn I ran away from my human camp, I knew none of them would let me stay they would rather kill me. I was lost and hungry and near on delusional when they found me, they took me in with open arms and they had food and lots of it”.
“Then why did you leave?” I asked feeling there was a but and a big one to all this greatness.
He sighed, “They were a little strict on going outside their boundary walls, I’m a free spirit I like to be out and about, not tied to one place all the time. I voiced my concern and they said if I didn’t like it I could leave but that there would always be a home there for me if I needed it”.
“How long ago was that?”
“About a year or so”, he replied, “I then got caught by Lucas about six months later and I was too afraid to show
them what I was, then I met her…I knew there was something about her”, he motioned to Kaley who sat listening, “I knew I had to help her in whatever way I could, so instead of escaping I stayed there…for her”.
“And you think taking her to this creature camp is helping? If she needs to go somewhere special in another country to ‘Save the world’” I used my fingers to quote the words, “Then going to a place where they don’t let you out is probably not the best place to go”.
“They would understand, they would want the world to be fixed”.
I looked to Kaley who’s eyes were wide and she was deep in thought, “Kaley what do you think? What would you want to do?”
“I don’t want to sit around anymore, I found Ollie, a friend and he’s been taken away from me, I don’t want to be just a ten minute walk from him I want to be ten miles away or more so I can forget him. Maybe we should try this camp…Maybe they can help”.
“Fine we rest tonight and then we move on first thing”, I turned to Albi, “Where is this camp?”
“Hever Castle”.
Great monster’s in a castle what could be worse?
Chapter 8 …
I woke up to the smell of smoke and fire in the air, at first I thought I was dreaming of the night Lucas and his crew decided to burn out most of my town in the hope of finding Kaley…But I wasn’t they really had.
I sat up and coughed as a thick plume of smoke floated around my flat, at first I thought I must have left a candle on by accident and it was now burning down my home until I heard the shouts, rushing to the window I looked out to see Lucas and the few people he had managed to leave the shopping centre with shouting and laughing as the building went up in flames, they spotted my face at the window and blasted a gun shattering the glass all around me. I kneeled down below the window pane and took hold of my rifle, I had two bullets left and I had to make sure I saved one for Lucas, standing up a bullet nearly ripped into my skull but missed me by the skin of my teeth.
Albi was by my side in a heartbeat, “What’s happening?”
Alone (Book 2): Lone Page 15
