After The End Read online

  “And?” I prompt when he hesitates.

  “They weren’t people. They’re tall, really tall. And they wear these suits, like armor. Their skin is gray, like they don’t have any blood in their system.”

  “It’s impossible.”

  “It’s not. Think about it,” he urges. “How could we have come up with technology for those spaceships so quickly before the meteorite hit? If they knew how to do that, wouldn’t they have somehow averted or broken up the meteorite so it didn’t hit in the first place?”

  He’s obviously had time to think about this in far more detail than I have. I’ve never questioned the world before. I’ve never wondered why they didn’t do something about the impending danger instead of just hiding and crossing their fingers.

  But…aliens?

  I’m still having trouble with the concept. This is a broken planet, given over to the elements where every day is a struggle for those that survived. If aliens did exist, why bother coming here? Did the radiation give them a fun high? Perhaps they really love vines and greenery?

  “Maisy, we have to get as far away from those ships as possible,” Garlind says. His eyes are wide open and I can see all the fear he has in them.

  If Garlind is scared, I should be too.

  I’m just having so much trouble with the fact we now have to do the exact opposite of what we have been doing all these weeks. The fact that nobody is coming to rescue us. That we truly are on our own now. That there is no magic place in the sky for us to live out our long lives.

  Sarah is quicker to respond than I am. “I knew something felt weird about those ships.”

  My gaze flicks between them both. If I go back to the beach and meet the ship there, I’m going on my own. They’ve both decided to be on the same side.

  Even though I don’t have all the answers I need, I do know who to trust. “Okay, fine. We won’t go back to the ships. But how do you know the aliens aren’t friendly?”

  “They had someone. A boy,” Garlind says quickly.

  “A human?” He nods. “What did they do with him?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “I need to,” I insist. If I let my imagination fill in the blanks, it could be anything from sharing a cup of tea together to cutting off his head. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

  “They pulled off his arms while he was still alive. He died of blood loss.”

  Or perhaps the reality falls much, much closer to the gruesome end of the spectrum.

  “That’s gross,” Sarah comments.

  “Did he do something to deserve it? Did he attack them?” I ask. Surely there has to be an explanation? The aliens must have had a reason to act the way they did.

  Surely.

  “He was walking down the street when they took him. They dragged him all the way to the beach and showed him to someone else—maybe their leader, I don’t know. They communicated somehow and then killed him. The kid was begging and pleading with them to let him go the entire time.” Garlind’s expression is as dark as a storm. He’s telling the truth, there is no doubt about it.

  Dots connect in my mind. The massacre of people back in that small town. I thought only animals could have been behind it. But perhaps I was very, very wrong about that too.

  Could the aliens really have done that?

  If they did and they are capable of that kind of brutality, there is no limit to what they can do.

  There is only one option now.

  “We need to run,” I say.

  After We Emerge

  Chapter 1

  Don’t speak.

  The two words echo in my mind so I don’t forget them. I need to be really, really quiet right now. One little noise and I could tell them exactly where to find me.

  I can’t let them find me.

  Closing my eyes only makes thing worse. When I can’t see a thing, I can only imagine. And my mind will always find the worst possible scenario to show me in these dark moments.

  Don’t speak.

  My breaths are too loud and my heartbeat needs to slow down. Either one of those two noises can betray my location right now. How can I possibly hide when all I can hear is my heart thundering out a fast beat and my breaths catching in my throat every damn time.

  Don’t speak.

  I want to scream for help but nobody will ever come. There is nobody to help any of us now. We are all alone and that will never change. I know that now. Any idea I used to have of living a normal life like they used to before the meteorite is now wiped.

  Gone.

  Obliterated.

  All I can hope for now is a swift death and an afterlife that offers me peace and quiet.

  Don’t speak.

  I can hear them outside. They march in packs, like wild animals. I don’t know what their end goal is but I do know they want to wipe all the humans off the face of this planet.

  I should have stayed in my bunker.

  If Garlind hadn’t shown up there two months ago, I would have been able to live my entire life without experiencing this kind of fear. Of course, I would probably have starved to death, but perhaps that was a better fate.

  Don’t speak.

  If I say even a word, they’re going to find me. They enjoy tearing humans from limb to limb with their bare hands. They don’t need weapons with their strength. But that doesn’t stop them carrying guns bigger than I have ever seen in my life.

  The guns alone must weigh two hundred pounds. These aliens are strong and absolutely no match for the humans left on this earth. I get the feeling I’ve only seen a fraction of what they are truly capable of.

  If I can shrink myself down, perhaps I can be quieter. I don’t know for sure how good their hearing is. All I know is they don’t communicate through speech like we do. They make some kind of clicking noise and staccato growls. When there are many of them together, the sound is horrendous.

  I shouldn’t have come out alone. I told the others I would be fine, that it was just a quick trip and I would be back soon. I didn’t plan on stumbling across a nest of the aliens. They’ve been patrolling through this town since I arrived and found my hiding spot—it was too late to turn around and go back without being seen.

  The aliens march down the road and look inside the windows of every store. They don’t seem to take anything, just look. I can only assume they are searching for humans to destroy. What else would they find here that would be of any use to them?

  Growling fills the air and makes me shudder. They’re excited about something. I hope they haven’t found a human. Nothing gets them more riled up than finding fresh blood for them to kill.

  At least it’s not me.

  I hate having that thought. I hate myself for being so selfish. But the truth is that I am glad it’s not me they are now swarming on. I get to live to see another day. I can go to our very temporary home and count my lucky stars.

  Because it is only luck that keeps me alive now.

  Over a month has passed since I found out about the aliens that are invading our planet. A month of running and hiding. A month of living with crushed dreams and more questions than I have answers for.

  Every day I see more evidence of the aliens being here. I was blind to it before. I didn’t understand what I was seeing and attribute it to the invaders. Now, I know better.

  They smash every pane of glass they see.

  Their marching can be heard on the wind.

  Their noises resemble animals but with an added click-click to it.

  They leave bodies wherever they go.

  The toxic rain doesn’t hurt them.

  Their tracks in the dirt look like very big animal feet.

  I know what I’m looking for so I can stay alive. Food and shelter are no longer my main concerns. Hiding is much more conducive to living these days.

  The growling dies down and they continue moving once more. I hear more glass shattering as they find a new store to trash. They won’t take anything, just le
ave it in a complete mess. What little food we can scavenge is usually destroyed in the process. I think they want us to starve so we’re too weak to hide from them.

  They grow so quiet that it probably means they’ve moved on farther and left this town alone for now. It might be safe to move so I can get back to the others. They know not to come looking for me if I’m longer than expected. It’s a strict rule we have to follow so none of us inadvertently lure our friends into danger.

  I start counting.

  One, two, three…

  Once I get to one hundred, I take a deep breath and stand up. This store used to sell some kind of little decorations. There is broken porcelain and glass everywhere from when the aliens have inspected it. It’s how I knew it was safer than the other buildings. They generally don’t check things twice.

  I stop after every step I take and listen. My ears strain to hear for the tiniest little clue that they could still be around. My body is ready to run but I know I can’t outrun the aliens. Physically, they are far superior to us. Plus, they haven’t been starving like humans have.

  Eventually, I make it to the door and can’t stall any longer. I place my hand on the knob and take a few more breaths before I open it.

  The street is a mess. All the vines and foliage that has grown over it is crushed and destroyed. The hundreds of alien feet have trampled it down to nothing. I’ve seen this before, in other places, only now do I know what caused it.

  I can’t see any signs of the aliens still being around. The town is quiet and their stench no longer carries on the breeze. Stepping outside takes all my courage but I do it anyway. I need to get back to the others.

  Once I can feel the wind outside blow my hair across my face, I start moving. My fast walk turns into a run as my fear spurs me on. I expect to be grabbed at any moment by one of those creatures. I thought I was scared of the mutant animals before, but that was nothing compared to these aliens.

  They are a living nightmare.

  It’s still hard to believe we thought those that occupied the spaceships would rescue us. I’d imagined an entire future in those ships where I could live a normal life and not have to fight for my survival every damn day.

  Now, every time I see one of the ships in the sky, I’m terrified. They fill me with dread knowing they are so close and could so easily kill me. Or, worse, kill my friends.

  Our camp is about two miles from the town. It’s easiest to follow the road to get there but I know that leaves me the most exposed too. The forest on either side of the road is too overgrown to safely run through. I could all too easily get strangled by a low-hanging vine or trip over a fallen tree. I stick to the road and take my chance.

  I keep up a steady jog once I’m about halfway. Every time I look back, nobody is chasing me. If the aliens had seen me, they would have me by now. They can run a heck of a lot faster than I can.

  The scent of smoke reaches my nose and almost chokes me. I raise my gaze from the road to see a plume of gray smoke in the distance. I’m headed right for it.

  Our camp.

  A feeling of horrible dread makes my knees weak. Surely that fire can’t be coming from our temporary home? We know better than to light fires where it’s too dangerous. Being this close to a town infested by aliens is as dangerous as it comes.

  I bolt straight ahead now. The greenery covering the road tries to trip me up several times but I keep up the relentless pace anyway. I have to know the others are safe. I have to know there is still a place to come home to.

  My feet pound on the ground, almost as fast as my racing heart.

  All my thoughts are consumed by the panic rushing around my head. I shouldn’t have gone out on my own. I should have insisted someone come with me. I thought they were safer being left behind.

  The smoke gets thicker until I’m running in a black cloud. I pull my shirt up so it covers my mouth and nose. The acrid stench still finds its way into my nostrils. I want to choke and vomit at the same time.

  One thing becomes apparent as I grow closer.

  It’s definitely our camp that is on fire.

  Chapter 2

  I come to a stop only when the flames are too hot to get any closer. We had been staying in an old wooden cabin that is now burning with orange and red flames. The entire thing has gone up in smoke.

  Nobody can survive that kind of a fire.

  I don’t care about all the supplies and food we lost. Everything I couldn’t fit into my backpack this morning was inside that cabin. None of that matters when all the names of those staying there filter through my mind.

  Sarah.

  Tabitha.

  Lincoln.

  Rhys.

  Garlind.

  Five people that make up my whole world. I don’t know the others very well, but Sarah and Garlind I know like family. They’ve been the reason we’ve survived this long. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t even be here right now. I would still be locked away in a bunker far from here and starving.

  I literally have no clue what to do.

  All I can see is smoke and fire. My eyes are watering and my throat is scratched from the fumes. It’s too hot standing this close to the fire that I start sweating. Everything is just so wrong.

  I start yelling. “Garlind! Sarah!”

  Maybe there are people trapped inside the cabin? By some sheer miracle, they might still be alive but unable to get out. It’s possible. I keep yelling their names, hoping above all to get a response from at least one of them.

  For such a little cabin, it sure makes a big fire.

  The smoke starts to affect my lungs. My voice comes out with just a squeak. I’m having trouble breathing and I can barely see through my swollen eyes.

  I take a few steps back and scan the entire place again, trying to spot some sign of life. I know I shouldn’t stay here. If the smoke doesn’t get me, the aliens might. They could easily see the fire from a great distance and come to investigate. They’d find me here and my life would be over.

  Somehow, I can’t seem to care about that.

  “Garlind! Please, tell me you’re okay!” I beg.

  I just need to find them. They can’t all be gone. Why didn’t they flee as soon as the fire started? They aren’t stupid enough to stick around if there is a blaze out of control. Surely not.

  I stagger backward until my legs won’t keep me up any longer. I’m in shock. I don’t know what to do and I can’t tear myself away from watching the cabin burn. There is no way to put it out, I’m absolutely useless to stop it.

  I’m tired of losing people.

  My parents.

  Clare and River.

  I know it’s not a very long list compared with most people, but in my lifetime that is nearly everyone I’ve ever met. Add the five new names and the list is more than doubled. It’s everyone I’ve ever met and called a friend.

  None of them deserved to die. They were all taken far too soon. My parents succumbed to illness, Clare and River were killed for revenge. Their deaths were senseless and needless. Nothing about this world makes sense to me.

  I’m not sure how long I sit there. The fire starts to die down with only the most stubborn embers still keeping parts of it glowing orange. The smoke is a single wisp that spirals into the air before disappearing.

  The smoke has wormed its way into my clothes. I can smell it everywhere. Even if I wash, I doubt I’m going to get it out completely. The memory of it will stick around even longer.

  I should get up and leave. I need to find food and a new place to stay. I’m going to have to leave the area in case the aliens come by this way. They were only a few miles down the road, it’s likely they could come here now.

  It takes a good five minutes for me to get my legs working. Standing up to walk away feels like I’m turning my back on my friends. It makes me feel like I’m giving up on ever seeing them again. I know it’s stupid to think that way, but I can’t help it. I can’t accept that I’m on my own now.

 
; Again.

  The last time I lost my friends, I still had hope that Garlind was alive. It felt like an eternity before I was reunited with him. This time, there doesn’t seem to be any hope whatsoever. Nobody could realistically survive that inferno.

  I look around and try to work out where I should go next. There is nothing but forest in all directions. The road I came in on only leads back to the town. If I follow it the other way, it will take me back to where we were a few days ago. Either direction will have me doubling back on my tracks.

  I could go through the forest and see what is on the other side. There will likely be no supplies that way, but perhaps I’ll stumble over some fruit trees. It’s a longshot and one I’m not sure my stomach would agree with.

  What would Garlind do?

  I revert back to my old adage. That boy is the smartest person I’ve met after leaving the bunker. He always seems to know what to do and what the right answer is. I trust his judgment and thinking like him is sometimes the only thing that gets me through.

  He would go through the forest. I’m pretty certain of that. He would already know where the road goes and decide he needs a better option.

  So left or right?

  To the left the trees are dense and clustered together. Nobody has walked that way in a very long time. To the right, there is a narrow path that has been made only by people walking on it. If other people went that way, chances are there is something to get to in that direction.

  I go right.

  It takes every inch of my resolve not to look back over my shoulder. Seeing the cabin still burning isn’t going to change anything. My friends aren’t going to magically appear just because I looked back.

  Still, I look back.

  The cabin is just how I left it two minutes ago. Nobody appears before my eyes.

  It’s just me and the forest now. The trees offer shade from the sun and cover from any ships that might float over. If it could just feed me, that would be great too. Unfortunately, I’ve tried eating tree leaves and they don’t taste good by any measure.