Apocalyptic Fears II: Select Bestsellers: A Multi-Author Box Set

by Greg Dragon

“Right, well my dad up and left when The Lethargy came, and we never saw him again. Not me, not my sister, not my mum. So I never let anyone call me Ed after that. You know, as it was what he called me? You understand?”

  “Sure. Sorry. Where did he go?”

  “He joined The Eventuals, took The Ink, got shipped off somewhere I think. Never heard from him again.”

  “Is he behind you being attacked then?” asked Aiden, eyes wide.

  “Nah, that would be too convenient, right? We lived somewhere else then; he wouldn’t know anything about where I was. Chances are he’s dead anyway. Wouldn’t surprise me. Well, anyway, I know it’s a bit childish, silly really, but he was the only one who ever called me Ed. Even in school they called me Edsel, so I really don’t like being called it. It’s simply not my name.”

  “Okay. Um, thanks.”

  “For what?”

  “For sharing. For talking. I haven’t spoken to anyone since my dad died. Only Martha.”

  “Hey, we’re buddies, we can tell each other anything. Okay? And yeah, I bet Martha wasn’t much of a conversationalist; chickens are like that.”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  “So we’re good?” Edsel looked over at his new partner, checking the boy was all right. The last thing he wanted to do was scare him, but he really couldn’t stand the name.

  “We’re good,” nodded Aiden.

  As he drove, Edsel thought back to the time when his father had left. Edsel was growing into a man, his sister was ten, and The Lethargy had ruined almost everything. His father just finished things off.

  ***

  “Where’s he gone?”

  “I don’t know,” said Edsel’s mother, whispering so they wouldn’t wake his sister.

  “He can’t just get up and leave, it’s not safe.”

  “He hasn’t just gone out Edsel,” she said, trying to explain. “He’s gone. For good.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because all his clothes are gone. He’s taken most of our food, some of our water, half the weapons and pretty much everything else of use. He’s gone.”

  Edsel couldn’t believe it. Sure, the man had been completely miserable since things fell apart, and had grown increasingly insular, interacting little with his wife and family, but this? “Did he say anything?”

  “He didn’t say he was going, but he’s been talking more and more about The Eventuals ever since they first appeared. He’s gone to them, I’m sure.”

  And that was it. He never came back. He left them to fend for themselves and that was when Edsel had to grow up fast. He looked after his mum and sister as best he could, learning how to find provisions on his own, although it got increasingly dangerous, especially without backup. He had always gone out with his dad before — two made things much easier.

  The trips had always left him with a knot in his stomach though — not out of fear, but dread of spending time with a man that was always abrupt, never good company, and didn’t believe in showing love to his son, or the rest of his family for that matter. It was almost a relief when he finally left, and Edsel coped — he cared for them. First his mum became permanently lost to The Lethargy and he helped her make the final journey to The Noise, then his sister — she was already broken. He suspected the slow decline of their mother was a large part of the reason why his little sis succumbed to The Lethargy — she was already half way there already.

  “Hey, hey hey hey. Edsel, look out!”

  Edsel came out of his reverie and slammed on the brakes, just missing a car abandoned across the road. “Sorry, I was thinking.”

  “We nearly hit it.”

  “I know, I said I was sorry. Promise me something?”

  “What?” said Aiden, worry spread across his face.

  “If you ever have a family, always look after them, always be there for them. Tell them you love them.”

  “Um, okay. But I’m only twelve, I won’t have a family for a long time. If ever.”

  “You’d be surprised, things will change, already have. People will have kids at younger and younger ages, they already do. Just, you know, in case...”

  “In case they get The Lethargy.”

  “Yeah. Anyway, promise?”

  “Promise.”

  “Good lad.”

  “Now, you ready to fill your belly? I know I am.”

  “Too right, I’m Marvin.”

  “Marvin?

  “Starvin’ Marvin,” said Aiden, smiling.

  “Nice one.” It was good to see the young boy smiling, because there was very little to be happy about.

  Edsel performed a quick three point turn and slowly backtracked until he could take a different route around the outskirts of the city. The car had been a real bonus, even if it was a rather cramped Seat Leon. Although the roads were hard to navigate they weren’t impossible if you knew them well. Edsel had spent a number of years now roaming the city so knew the main routes and whether they were passable or not — he remembered where he could and couldn’t get through. Often when roads seemed impassable there was a way if you took it slowly or didn’t mind a few dings. He’d walked most of them, only driving sporadically as it was a real giveaway if there was anybody out to do you harm.

  He’d made his way out from the heart of the city, taking larger roads that were easier to scrape through if he took care and nudged abandoned vehicles out of the way. He’d made this trip before, not long ago actually, just a few months, fretting all the way about Kathy being safe while he went to try to find them food. On such trips he would leave her at home even though she protested, but he’d explained that it was safer if he went alone, and he’d be able to focus better.

  I love you Kathy, but boy were you a distraction when I was driving.

  He couldn’t help but smile at memories that now would never be built on year after year.

  Although he’d not exactly been on top form since his escape from The Eventuals, he did actually pride himself on surviving quite well within the urban environment. But as time went on he knew it was becoming an increasingly dangerous place to live, as well as ever more difficult to find food.

  He’d struck gold though, and was sure that there would still be plenty left unless someone had all of a sudden discovered his find accidentally, just as he’d done.

  It had been a rare occasion that he’d taken Kathy out with him, her protests at being left alone again were simply too insistent. He hated risking her safety, knowing it was safer to stay indoors and take the random chance that somebody would check the house looking for food and find her there and have bad intentions. Going outside increased the risk of attack tenfold, not to mention injury as many buildings became more and more unstable as they were gutted from fires.

  Kathy had loved the lake, and they spent a pleasant, if cold afternoon walking around its perimeter until she pointed out that there were fish in abundance. He wandered back to where he’d parked the car and picked up the sign that was face down on the ground — he’d ignored it on the way in, assuming it was just a board naming the lake or something similar. It was a stocked lake, there for fisherman to idle away a few hours with a guarantee that they’d get a bite. He’d wandered over to a small hut only to find that it served as a place to buy a license, get bait, and even buy rods or tackle.

  An hour later, with a tiny fire burning brightly against the cold, they’d eaten freshly caught trout straight from the lake. It was one of the best days of his life.

  ***

  It looked exactly the same, the little wooden hut was still in order, the car park — more a muddy patch of ground than anything — was empty, and all seemed quiet. Edsel walked over to a tree near to the hut and scooped away the earth. He’d found a good Shimano reel and rod and had buried them shallowly in a well-wrapped bag after use, just in case the hut got ransacked.

  Luckily he’d also buried a lighter, a torch for if he decided to stay or got stuck, and a knife that he’d gone out and bought only days after The Leth
argy had been officially announced, even though his mum went mad and told him not to be silly. It wasn’t long before she changed her mind about that though.

  At least something’s going right at last. Now we can eat.

  His stomach gurgled in eagerness as the day wore on and the sky cleared of clouds — it was going to be a cold night.

  Edsel felt better already. They may have only been a few items, but they were his — something personal, familiar — and he felt a little more at ease knowing that he had the lighter and knife even though he was no fighter.

  It always amused Edsel when he watched movies after The Lethargy, until the power died totally — the hero always able to fight off hordes of attackers with guns and knives, the loner coming out victorious each and every time. The reality of life once society collapsed was very different and there were actually very few people that didn’t just completely freeze and begin to whimper when confronted by those trying to take what wasn’t theirs. Life was scary, the mean came out on top, and the kind-hearted were not the ones most proficient at fighting.

  Plus there were no damn guns either. The UK didn’t allow firearms unless under very strict control, and Edsel didn’t even try at the time to make his way to the few places that were allowed to stock such things — reports on the news in the few days after The Lethargy had repeatedly announced that those were the first places to have been raided by anyone smart enough to get a head-start on the fast crumbling society. He’d gone looking eventually, but it was a waste of time.

  Still, he had his knife, he had a rod, now he just needed some worms and to get a fire going.

  “So, you have two choices,” said Edsel. “You can either be on worm duty or fire duty. Which is it?” Edsel knew the answer, but thought it would lighten the boys spirits.

  “Worms!”

  Yes, result.

  “Oh, okay, wasn’t expecting that.”

  “Haha, just kidding. Fire, definitely.”

  “Okay, you hunt around for some dry wood and here’s the lighter. Do not, and I repeat, do not, lose it, get it wet, let it run out or lose it.”

  “You said that.”

  “I know.”

  Edsel dug in the dirt with his knife until he found a few worms and popped them into a rusty can. He watched to see that Aiden was all right making a fire by himself and was pleased to see the kid had already got it going — nice and clean, no smoke.

  Smart kid, he knows to only burn properly dry wood.

  Edsel went fishing and tried not to think about the last time he’d stood on the very same spot, Kathy waiting by the fire, excited at the promise of a fresh meal.

  Half an hour later, with a whole trout eaten each and another cooking away, the man and boy shared the last can of Pepsi between them and were, for a brief period of time, almost happy.

  BRR

  Edsel woke in the middle of the night absolutely freezing. They’d moved from the campfire into the car, but it was colder, so had returned to the fire, burning as much wood as they could without it acting like a beacon saying ‘come get us, we’re over here’ — a real possibility if The Eventuals were now out in force after him. Them.

  Even during the summer it was incredible how cold it got at night without a sweater on, and despite the burning of his skin, and the slight fever he was sure he was running, Edsel shivered uncontrollably, the fire doing a poor job of keeping him warm.

  Aiden snuggled up next to him, amazingly trustworthy for a child that had led such an unfortunately sheltered life thus far. Maybe it was simply the need for a father, that familiar male bond that the boy had obviously been missing so much. Something Edsel missed too if he would but admit it. Maybe not missed, as he had never had it — wanted, he wanted that bond, now never would.

  But I can give it, can’t I? Give Aiden what he definitely needs. Maybe I do too.

  Deep murmurs came from Aiden as he fidgeted in his sleep, the flickering fire highlighting frowns as the boy worked out whatever was happening in his dreams. He kicked out with his legs, moaning about Martha it sounded like, clutching in the cold air for his lost companion.

  Comes to something when your only company is a chicken.

  Sleep evaded Edsel as the night slowly crept toward morning. He’d gone so far past mere exhaustion that unless he actually blacked out he couldn’t just let go of his thoughts and drift into sleep. The pain was a constant now, a part of him, but the frigid air had helped, if not to ease it, then at least partially numb him to it.

  Must be the boy. Gotta watch over him; keep him safe.

  Shifting carefully, Edsel got a little more comfortable and lay down, curling in tight to try to keep the boy as warm as he could. In the morning they would have to wash in the lake — already Edsel could feel the tiny pieces of gravel from where he’d fallen into the road bring up even more sores and scabs on his already ravaged back. He would have to soak, try to get them out somehow, although he didn’t know how.

  As the night slowly wore on there was an easing of some of the pain; the poison called The Fire had obviously peaked so now would hopefully recede rapidly. Not that he didn’t ache, burn, itch and feel like just stepping clear out of his skin — he did, and the constant hurt felt like it was now his companion for life.

  How long has it been now? Three days? Four?

  It was difficult to think straight, hard to remember just how long he’d been out of their clutches.

  Think Edsel, think. What’s that sound? Jeez, it’s my bloody teeth chattering.

  The darkness continued to do what it did to all that found sleep elusive — it sent his thoughts reeling fast and randomly, everything becoming extreme, jumbled and prone to lead to bad decision making. It was easy to get lost in a mire of self-pity. This was no time for wallowing in misery though, he had to think about what to do now. This child, how long had he known him? It was only a day. That’s right. He’d gone to the boy’s house the evening before, collapsed and then woken up that morning and then they were chased, and chased, and chased some more.

  The result? He’d introduced the child to the killing of another human being, and the worst thing was that Aiden didn’t seem all that concerned about what he’d done.

  Should he? Should he feel remorse? That wasn’t the point though — sure, The Eventuals would have killed them, but he was a child and boys of twelve should be terrified at having committed such a crime.

  Things are different now. Kids grow up fast. They have to. Yet they are also more innocent than we were.

  Edsel thought back to what he was like at twelve. Damn, he would have peed his pants if a grown man started chasing him, let alone one tattooed red from head to toe.

  Maybe it was because Aiden was partially Awoken? Maybe that made things different somehow, like he understood more of the world than ordinary people? Could peel back the layers and look into the true hearts of men. Edsel didn’t think that would be a pretty sight.

  The news had talked about such people being the beginning of a new species, or advanced humans anyway. Nobody really understood it, but one thing was for sure: they weren’t normal. They could enter the minds of animals, control people, talk to the trees and understand the way the world really worked.

  It was scary stuff.

  And The Commorancy, the tales of Marcus Wolfe and his building of the most insane complex of structures, all designed to allow those lucky enough to enter to reach their full potential. A safe haven.

  It turned to myth and legend in the dying days of the media, but there were hints and clues spread through books, magazines, and the tatters of the Web still active if you were lucky enough to have access to a power source. Edsel had tried to find a way in, more out of curiosity than anything else, half not believing it was real, but he gave up, mostly as he knew they wouldn’t ever accept both him and Kathy together — that was one of The Rules.

  Edsel wondered what was going on inside Aiden. Awoken were supposedly capable of halting the aging process, changing the way thei
r bodies worked from the inside, and so much more. He wondered how much the boy could already do and what he would be capable of in the future.

  Hopefully we’ll live long enough to maybe find out. Maybe.

  But what was he to do with him now? Should he try to get him back home? Take him far away then come back to try to get his revenge? He simply didn’t know what was best. Would the boy be all right on his own? Well, he had been so far, but one chance encounter with the wrong kind of person and it could all be over. Sure, the streets weren’t exactly crowded, but humanity wasn’t totally extinct, not yet.

  On and on the confusion of thoughts went, going around and around in his head, leading nowhere, no decisions made.

  The only thing Edsel was absolutely sure of was that he really needed a sweater and Aiden needed a coat. They would have to deal with that and many more things come morning, but he had to make a decision about the boy.

  GONE

  Damn, where is he?

  Edsel looked around frantically, expecting a red devil to grab him and slit his throat at any second.

  “Aiden. Aiden?” whispered Edsel, scanning the area nervously, getting a really bad feeling.

  They’ve got him, taken him. I must have finally nodded off.

  Edsel wandered over to the car — no sign of him. But then, no sign of anyone else either.

  Get it together dude. If they were here they would have killed you, not just taken the boy.

  Slowly, he calmed himself; he was just overreacting. Aiden had probably gone off for a pee or something.

  “Hi,” said Aiden, proudly holding two fresh trout high in the air. “I thought I’d have a go; it’s easy. Although the worm bit is kinda gross. Bleh.” Aiden poked his tongue out but still held his prize catch proudly in the air.

  “Phew. You had me worried for a minute there. Nice job my man. But listen, let’s stick close together okay? I don’t want to lose you or anything. You are kind of my responsibility now. Do you understand that?”