“Trench coats?” Robyn said.
“Not quite. But they’re long, and they’ll cover our legs, stop us getting soaked to the skin.”
“Zehr gut, Wren. Excellent. You have chosen wisely.”
A self-satisfied smile crept onto Wren’s face, and she looked straight into Robyn’s eyes. “Thank you, Mila, it’s nice to be appreciated. Oh, and I got you this too,” she said, handing Mila a rucksack similar to the one she had on her back.
“You get anything else?” Robyn asked before consuming half a Lion bar in a single bite.
“If you’re looking for Pop-Tarts, sister dearest, you’re out of luck I’m afraid, but I did get these.” She delved into the rucksack and pulled out three dynamo torches, two dynamo lanterns, three Swiss Army knives and a child’s ping pong set, net and all.
“Err … okay, I get the torches, the lanterns, the knives. What’s with the ping pong set?”
“Don’t you remember? You, me, Mum and Dad used to have tournaments in the kitchen. I thought this might be fun.”
“And do you see any kitchen tables around here?”
“I didn’t mean now. I meant when we got home.”
A warm, fuzzy feeling rose inside Robyn. “We spent hours playing that sometimes.” Her words were barely intelligible as she spoke them while still having a mouth full of chocolate.
“I remember. I want to remember more of the good times. I thought this might help.”
Robyn leaned forward and kissed her sister on the forehead. “It will. Good idea.”
“Bobbi! You’ve got chocolate on my head,” Wren cried disgustedly as she tried to wipe it off.
“I can’t help it. It gets everywhere.”
“No it doesn’t. Most people can eat a bar of chocolate without spreading it around like spray paint.”
“I was trying to be nice.”
“Nice is good. But you could have waited another second before you planted your chocolate lips on my head. It’s gross.”
Robyn stuffed the rest of the Lion bar into her mouth and stuck two fingers up before chomping down and almost cementing her mouth shut. She started laughing and more melted chocolate spluttered from her lips. Wren could not maintain her look of disgust for long, and she began to giggle too. They both looked over towards Mila who was already in fits of laughter and wiping tears from her eyes.
“How did you two survive so long together? You are like the cheese and the chalk.”
“I think it’s because I have the patience of a saint,” Wren said as Robyn desperately tried to chew the remainder of the chocolatey snack.
They gathered all their booty and moved into the staff room at the back of the pub. There was a single couch against one wall and a small coffee table in front of it. The three girls wound up the lanterns and torches, giving them plenty of light to see what they were doing; then they stripped off, drying themselves thoroughly with the towels before putting on their new clothes.
“God, it’s freezing,” Robyn said.
“Not for long,” Wren replied, looking up to the suspended ceiling. She finished getting dressed and pushed the couch over to the far wall then climbed onto it, balancing on the back and reaching up towards the corner tile. She lifted it and pushed it a little to one side. She immediately felt a draught against her fingers and a small smile crept onto her face. “Perfect.” She climbed down again and pushed the settee back to where it was.
“Err … is that so the rats don’t have to struggle to find a way in? You thought you’d make it a bit easier for them.”
“If the rats want to get in here, they’re going to get in. That’s for the smoke,” she said, grabbing two of the disposable barbecues and lighting them. The starter paper burned slowly, and within seconds, wisps of blue smoke were climbing towards the gap in the ceiling.
“Very smart,” Mila said, unscrewing the top on the vodka and taking a drink.
She passed it to Robyn who took a swig too before offering it to Wren. “No thanks. I might have some later; I want a clear head for the time being.”
“Suit yourself,” Robyn replied, taking another drink.
Wren grabbed one of the torches and disappeared. A minute later, she came back into the small room with an armful of cans, fruit juices and glasses. “I got you some Irn-Bru. I know you like that.”
“I’m fine with vodka,” Robyn said, taking another sip.
Wren pursed her lips for a moment and was about to say something but then decided against it. “Okay.”
Robyn handed the bottle back to Mila. “On second thoughts, I think we should save this. We will soon warm up with the barbecues in such a small room. It is probably good that we keep our wits about us, yes?” She glanced towards Wren who gave her a grateful nod.
“Ugh! It’s like being stuck with two old ladies,” Robyn replied. “I’m still freezing.”
“Put your coat on; that’s what I got them for,” Wren answered, delving into one of the bags.
Robyn slid the long coat on and wrapped it around herself. “What’s that funny smell?”
“It’s just new coat smell.”
Robyn walked around the room in it, looking at how it fit. “I’m hardly going to win any fashion competitions wearing this thing, am I?”
“Yeah, stupid me. What was I thinking? There I was trying to find something warm that would protect us from the rain as well, and I should have been looking for the latest lines from Milan.”
“It’ll do, I suppose. It is pretty warm.”
“Wow! I’m glad I went to the trouble now.”
Mila put hers on as well. “This is good, Wren. You have done well.”
“Thank you, Mila.”
“Yeah, you did good,” Robyn said with a smile on her face.
“Sorry I couldn’t find you any Pop-Tarts.”
They both let out a small giggle. “Oh well, at least I’ve got Irn-Bru,” she said, opening a can and glugging back several mouthfuls before letting out an echoing burp. “’Scuse us.”
Mila started laughing too. “You are such a pig.”
“My dad always said better out than in.”
“Dad never used to say that.”
“Well, I’m sure someone used to say that.”
“Yeah, you.”
They all continued to giggle. The room got warmer, and they spent the afternoon playing cards and chatting about everything but what lay ahead of them. They ate crisps and chocolate, drank pop and occasionally lit another barbecue to make sure they maintained the temperature. Not all the smoke escaped, and there was a constant smell of burning, but as the rain continued to pour and the wind continued to howl outside, they realised how lucky they were.
Afternoon bled into evening, and they agreed to share a bottle of red wine from behind the bar between the three of them to help them sleep through the sounds of the battering rain outside. Although they knew what lay ahead, they each went to sleep with contented smiles on their faces. If nothing else, they were together.
✽ ✽ ✽
It was pitch black in the small room when Wren opened her eyes. She could hear Robyn and Mila breathing heavily as they continued to sleep. She reached above her head and laid her fingers on one of the torches, which she proceeded to wind as slowly and quietly as possible. The gentle whir of the dynamo did not wake the others and, as soon as she had light, she made her way to the door and out to the bar.
It was still early, but the rain had stopped and the wind had died down considerably. She was about to return to the staff room to wake the others when she heard something behind her and spun around. “I’m sorry, Wren. I did not mean to startle you.”
“It’s alright. I just thought you and Bobbi were still asleep.”
“It would take a cannon to wake Robyn, but I am a lighter sleeper.”
“You know her well.”
“Today we will get back to your Safe Haven and help them. It sounds like a place worth fighting for.”
“Thank you … although I do
n’t know if that’s the best idea knowing what we know now.”
“Well, we will get back there first. At least you will be reunited with your grandad and your friends then, yes?”
Wren let out a long sigh. “Yes … I suppose.”
“What’s wrong?”
“The sensible thing to do would be to run. Maybe head out to one of the islands, but…”
“But what?”
“I know some people won’t. Some people will want to stay and fight, no matter how impossible the situation is.”
“Then I will help you convince them. Logic will surely win in the end.”
“Yeah … you’ve not met Mike yet. He’s not really big on logic.”
“He is slow-witted, yes?”
Wren burst out laughing. “Please tell him that to his face. I would love to see his reaction. No, he just refuses to accept defeat. Even when the odds are insurmountable, he carries on fighting.”
“Yet he is still alive … so the odds cannot have been insurmountable.”
“Err … well … I suppose.”
“Suppose nothing. If he is still alive, the odds were not insurmountable.”
“Yeah. But he takes huge risks and—”
“Listen to me. You are worrying about something that hasn’t happened. What is the point of that? We will get back there together. We will explain the situation together. And then, if your friend still doesn’t agree, we can worry about convincing him.”
Wren smiled. “Robyn told me about how you can always seem to make things okay.”
“I just believe in dealing with problems as they arise, not worrying about problems that don’t exist.”
“I’m normally that way; I’m just having a moment of doubt that’s all. You’re very smart.”
“Nein, I am lazy. Worrying about all possible outcomes requires far too much effort,” Mila replied, smiling. “Now come, let us go wake your sister.”
“Oh goody. She’s always an utter joy to be around in the morning.”
“At first, I thought she was simply having a few bad days. It took me a while to realise she is not really a morning person.”
“That’s a bit of an understatement.” Wren wound the handle on the torch a few more times, and the pair of them returned to the staff room. “Bobbi … Bobbi,” Wren said in a soothing, gentle tone. “Bobbi.”
“ROBYN! GET UP!” Mila yelled, banging on the hollow wall as if it was a drum.
“Wh-what the hell’s happening? What’s going on?” Robyn jumped to her feet, grabbing her bow and quivers. “What is it?”
There was a look of pure panic on her face as Wren caught it in the beam of torchlight. “It’s time for you to get up,” Mila said calmly.
“You bitches!” Robyn replied, flopping back down onto the floor. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.” Mila and Wren burst out laughing. “I am so gonna get you both back for this.”
“Lighten up. It was just a joke, Sis.”
“I thought we were being attacked or something.”
“Well, it’s good to see you still have your cheetah-like speed in an emergency.”
“Emergency. I’ll give you an emergency. Just you wait.”
The three of them ate a hasty breakfast, consisting of nuts and chocolate bars. They divided the rest of the food and drink between the rucksacks, grabbed their weapons, and headed out into the morning.
The Inverness streets were wet; the sky was grey, and the wind kept gusting cold blasts that immediately made them grateful for their new coats. Smoke still billowed into the air from the centre of the city, but the downpour had put out much of the fire, and there was plenty more rain in the clouds threatening to extinguish the rest. The sound of the horde was a little more subdued than the previous day. Maybe some had followed the flames further into the city; maybe they had been trapped by falling debris.
“We should be able to see the far end of the bridge after the next turn,” Wren said.
They continued for a few more minutes; then Robyn reached into her rucksack and pulled out her binoculars. Mila and Wren stayed behind her as she brought them up to her eyes and peeked around the corner. “It’s all clear. No sign of anything,” she said, handing them back so Wren could take a look.
Wren surveyed the bridge in its entirety. “Yep, all clear.”
“You’ll have your Wolf slobbering all over your face again in no time,” Robyn said, smiling.
“I hope so.”
Robyn reached out and took Wren’s hand. “Look, don’t worry. Even if they wanted to leave the house, we took the van. It’s not like they’re all going to venture out on foot, and, besides, Ruby wouldn’t let them.”
“That’s a lot of faith to put in a stranger.”
“Yeah, well, we’re not strangers, are we? We saved her and her brother’s lives.”
“I suppose.”
“Come. Talking will not get us there any sooner,” Mila said.
They carried on along the road and turned left onto the long bridge. The three of them threw occasional looks towards the city they were leaving behind. In the distance, plumes of smoke still rose into the sky.
Robyn came to a sudden stop as she stared towards the road beyond the bridge. It took Mila and Wren a couple of paces to realise that she was not keeping in step with them. “What is it, Bobbi?”
Robyn looked towards Wren then back towards the far end of the bridge. “Our van. It’s gone.”
CHAPTER 5
The words acted like a starter pistol to Wren. Despite the rucksack she had over her shoulders and the cumbersome homemade spear, she began to sprint.
“Wren! WREN!” Robyn shouted after her. “Shit!” She and Mila began to run too.
This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening, played in a loop in Wren’s head as the road blurred beneath her. Wolf had been the one constant in her life ever since she had reached Inverness. He was family, and she had felt terrible about leaving him to go find Mila. Panic devoured her as the fear that she might never see her beloved dog again became more real with each stride that she took. She ran past the spot where Robyn had parked the van and veered right, heading up the embankment and over the fence.
She did not lose a step of pace as she tore across the field towards the farmhouse that had been her home for so many months. “Wolf. WOLF!” she screamed as she charged across the yard. She stopped suddenly, skidding and nearly losing her balance. The door to the farmhouse was ajar, and there was no sign of Marcus’s car. “Wolf! WOLF!” she shouted again, indifferent to the danger that could await her, indifferent to everything but finding her four-legged companion. She remained there for several seconds as pounding feet chased across the farmyard to join her.
“Izzy? Ruby?” Robyn shouted, snatching an arrow from one of her quivers and nocking it.
Mila withdrew her swords, and the three of them started towards the door. The wind whistled around them, and the tension intensified with each step they took. They paused again at the entrance. “Hello?” Wren called, her voice shaky. She used the butt of her spear to push the door wider.
It only moved a few centimetres before a cry of despair left Wren’s mouth. Robyn turned to Mila. “Stay with my sister,” she ordered before stepping into the farmhouse kitchen and pushing the door closed behind her. There were bodies strewn everywhere. For a moment, she just looked around. She could hear her sister’s sobs from outside and Mila’s gentle words as she tried to comfort her.
Izzy was sitting up against a kitchen cupboard. There was a bullet hole in her chest, and her skin was pale. She had obviously been dead for some time, like the others. There was no sign of Marcus, but the rest – Robyn had not had time to learn their names – were also dead. The entire kitchen had the reek of death, and keeping her bow ready, Robyn carefully ventured into the rest of the house. She checked the place room by room, but it was clear. The massacre had taken place in the kitchen and dining room.
She placed her fingers on the door handle a
nd pulled. “Is … is he dead?” Wren asked, her voice quivering, tears streaming down her face while Mila held her tight.
“No. He’s not here. Neither are Ruby or Tommy.”
Wren took a deep breath wriggled free of Mila’s embrace and pushed past her sister into the kitchen. As horrific as the sight was, there was a small flame of hope burning inside Wren now. She walked back outside. “Wolf! Wolf! WOLF!”
Robyn grabbed hold of Wren’s arm. “Sis, I don’t think it’s a great idea for us to be shouting at the top of our voices. I mean we don’t know if there are still some of those men in the area.”
Wren shuffled free. “You can tell by the smell that happened yesterday, and to be honest, I don’t care. I just want Wolf. He was all I had for so long, Robyn. He was the one thing that kept me going. I can’t lose him. I can’t.”
“Were there any places you used to go together?” Mila asked.
“We used to go everywhere together.”
“Yes, but any favourite places?”
“There was a loch where we used to go fishing about a mile from here. We probably went there more than anywhere else. He used to love it there. On hot days we’d both go for a swim.”
“Maybe that would be a good place to start looking, yes?”
“Wren, they could have gone anywhere. They might have started walking towards Safe Haven. Hell, they might have been captured for all we know,” Robyn said sadly.
“Don’t you think I know that?” she replied, wiping the tears from her eyes. “But there’s no way I’m walking out of here without trying to find him at least. WOLF!”
Robyn sighed. “Okay. Where is this loch?”
The three of them set off, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. They occasionally glanced beyond the trees to the smoke tower that still loomed over Inverness behind them. It was a stark reminder of what they had escaped, but their troubles were far from over.
“So, after we find Wolf, what then?” Mila asked.
“Well, that fire pretty much scuppers our chances of getting to the residential area of Inverness to try to find another vehicle,” Robyn replied.
“So, what then?”
“Well, I suppose we do what I did with the kids. We start walking.”
The End of Everything | Book 9 | The End of Everything Page 3
