As the Light Dies (102 page)

“
I second that
,”
said Leann
,“
You saved us. Thank you
.
”

“
Yea! Me too
,”
said Collin
,“
I ca
n’
t believe he just did that
!
”

Then they pushed on in silence wanting to make the most of the time Dean had bought them oblivious to weather h
e’
d made it or not but hoping with all their hearts that he had.

When Dean caught up with Gavin and Sarah they were just climbing out from behind the big yellow plough
.“
Jesus Christ! What the fuck happened to you
?”
said Gavin seeing his brother.

“I’
ll tell you later
,”
said Dean
.“
Now
c’
mon, w
e’
ve gotta go. The
y’
re still coming
.
”

“WHAT! STILL COMING!
”
said Gavin staring at Dean wide eyed.

Sarah started crying again. Sam nudged her with his snout and licked her as Dean put an arm around her shooting Gavin a look. Gavin nodded and dipped his head in shame.

“
I
t’
ll be ok Sarah the
y’
re a long way back w
e’
ll outrun them easily. Ok
?
”

She nodded and reached out for his hand. He gave it to her and they started walking while Gavin hung back for a second looking back down the road in astonishment at the destruction and at the walking and crawling fire balls.

He did
n’
t watch them for long, they only confirmed just how out of kilter things really were.

He turned and trotted along the road catching up with Dean and Sarah as they weaved between cars avoiding the ones that were burning and the others that still had bodies in them.

They kept low and let Sam lead them onwards, knowing that he would
n’
t lead them in to trouble. They reached the Kessock suspension bridge that carried the road north over the Moray Firth and away from Inverness city leading further up in to the Highlands of Scotland, they pushed on, and as they reached the midpoint of the bridge, the highest point, they relaxed a little.

The road ahead was void of any movement and nothing was close behind them....for now!

Standing tall again they looked back at the crowd of human torches.

They were far behind them now, slowing to a permanent stop as the fire consumed them. Infected or not, whatever they were, the bodies could
n’
t work once the muscles and tendons that moved the arms and legs, opened and closed their mouths, and gave them movement burned to a crisp and snapped.

Lightning illuminated the city of Inverness behind them as they looked back and they saw it in all its gory new detail. It was bleak. It was black, and it was infected....everywhere was!

Dean hoped h
e’
d bought the others enough time to get moving and make up some ground, he hoped they were going to be ok and that each and every one of them were going to make it home as unscathed as possible.

He wished them luck; he knew the
y’
d need it, he knew that everyone trying to survive in this new world were going to need all the luck they could get.

He turned his back on the ruins of Inverness and faced north, home. And they started walking.

He was finally heading home with his little brother, his faithful dog Sam, and a little stowaway.

He hoped their parents were holding up ok, he hoped that they were safe and well.

If only they knew we were ok and on our way
,
he thought, knowing how worried the pair of them would be. But more than that, more tha
n
anything
,
above all else, he hoped with all his being that he would be able to keep his promise. A promise h
e’
d made to look after and take care of Sarah, their little stowaway. To keep her safe and sound along with his little brother and of course Sam, in this new world of ash and snow and bitter cold....and monsters!

To be continued....................

Dear reader, thank you for taking the time to visit my universe.

I hope yo
u’
ve enjoyed it.

And while I busy myself writing the next instalment
I’
d be incredibly grateful if yo
u’
d be kind enough to find the time to leave me a review.

Thank You

M. D. Woodham