After The End Page 30

  She shrugs. “Good enough for me. I can’t wait.”

  Sarah is going to remember that promise and won’t be so dissuaded from burning the next one. I hope she gets the chance. If we can kill just one, it means we can kill more. We can take back this planet, one alien at a time.

  I’m glad to leave the area and get some fresh air. The stench of rotting bodies has to be the worst smell in the world. It’s like maggots crawl into your nose and start eating away at your flesh. It lingers on your skin for a long time afterward.

  The road bends after a time and we start descending down a small slope. The wind brings with it a cool breeze that is refreshing and enough to cool my burning cheeks. I may be much fitter than I was in the bunker, but I still don’t enjoy so much walking every day.

  Rhys brings our light conversation back to the task at hand. “We’re going to need a lot more people if we have a chance of taking down the aliens.”

  “An army,” I agree.

  “There’s so many of them and so few of us.”

  “That’s why we need to get to Washington DC,” Garlind adds. “If our instincts are correct, there will be an army there. If we can tell them how the aliens die, all we need to do is start the war.”

  “I think the war has already begun,” I mutter.

  “We can end the war, then,” Garlind amends briskly. He must still be angry with me.

  “If there is a government in Washington,” Sarah starts, “Wouldn’t they already know all about the aliens and how to kill them? We’re just a bunch of kids, they’re professionals. Right? Didn’t they used to run the whole country?”

  “We can’t assume anything,” I reply.

  Garlind continues, “For all we know, the government has been holed up in a bunker all this time and have no idea what’s going on in their country. If that’s the case, they will need all the information we can gather.”

  Sarah’s nose scrunches as she tries to understand. “Why would they come out and fight if they’re safe in a bunker?”

  “Because you can only live in a bunker for a certain amount of time before you have to get out,” I say. I’m the only one that can speak from experience here. Those four walls of a bunker can feel safe but they eventually close in on you.

  There’s a long pause before Rhys pipes up. “If we meet any other humans on our way, we have to tell them our plan. If we can get enough people involved, we might not need to rely on finding the government.”

  “Doesn’t seem to be many people left,” Sarah says. She kicks a stone and it goes skittering down the road.

  None of us can argue otherwise so we don’t. The aliens must outnumber us significantly now. In all our travels, I’ve probably seen only a couple of dozen people. Most of them too scary to approach. That’s not a lot of people for a country that used to have over three hundred million citizens.

  That’s a lot of deaths.

  If I think about it too hard, I can’t function. It’s too easy to give up and find somewhere to hide for the rest of my life. I can probably find my way back to the bunker I called home for the first seventeen years of my life. Every day it’s a struggle to keep going instead of running home.

  I need to think like Garlind and be optimistic. I have to believe we can win our planet back and then create a better world for ourselves and all the other survivors. We are the lucky ones. We’re still here. We owe it to all those that gave their lives to win this fight.

  Our planet might be broken and riddled with radiation, but it’s ours. We deserve the right to live here in whatever way we can. The aliens have no claim here. They have another planet which is theirs.

  We camp alongside the road when it gets too dark to keep walking. The sky is still cloudless so I think it will be safe enough. There is no smell of rain in the air so hopefully no storm will creep up on us.

  Our sleeping bags are lined up underneath a row of trees that offer some shelter from anyone that might walk past and any ships that can float over. We have no protection from any animals but they are one of the hardest threats to prevent.

  I stare up at the pattern of leaves above me while listening to everybody else falling asleep. When their breathing slows and becomes rhythmic, I know they have drifted off. Sarah is usually the first to go and tonight is no exception.

  Sleep eludes me and I think I know why. I turn over to face Garlind and stare at his face in the small amount of moonlight that filters through the trees. He looks so peaceful and beautiful when he’s asleep. I think I fall in love with him again every night just seeing him look so gorgeous.

  I hate that we argued and I’m not going to be able to rest until it’s made right. I need his arms around me, protecting me while I sleep. Just like all the nights before.

  “Garlind,” I whisper. “Are you awake?”

  His eyelashes flutter and he looks at me. “No. Can’t sleep.”

  “Neither can I.” I try to find the exact words I need to say to him. They aren’t going to be poetic but they will be real. “I’m really sorry I ran off yesterday. It was stupid and I feel ridiculous for being so reckless. Most of all, I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  He licks his lips and hesitates. I’m waiting for another lecture but it doesn’t come. “I’m sorry too. I overreacted. I have no right to tell you what to do. You were trying to help those people and I should have understood better.”

  “Maybe we both need to be more conscious of one another’s thoughts.”

  He reaches out a hand and links his fingers with mine. That connection feels electric. I could live a thousand years from that single touch alone.

  Garlind smiles and I can’t help but return it. This is what I needed. So badly. We should never argue, it only hurts us both in ways we don’t want.

  “Goodnight, Garlind.”

  “Sweet dreams, Maisy Rayne.”

  Our hands remained linked as I drift off to sleep. My world is only worth living when everything is right between us. I can’t bear to be alone and I know I never will be if I have Garlind by my side.

  I’m too exhausted to dream.

  We are able to sleep through the night without any rain, aliens, humans, or animals attacking us. It was a good night for us. We wake with the sun and head off after having something to eat. Our supplies are still low thanks to Lincoln and Tabitha. Some time will have to be spent scavenging today.

  Walking next to Garlind feels right again. All the tension seems to have melted away with our brief talk last night. My world is no longer askew.

  My mind keeps returning to the dead alien. I can’t possibly celebrate anyone’s death but this one does bring me hope. We thought they were untouchable and now we know they are mortal, just like the rest of us.

  If we can somehow build an army, we can fight them. They might have their fancy guns and sophisticated armor but we have fear behind us. That single emotion can make a huge difference in a fight.

  “Ship!” Garlind calls out.

  We all flee to the nearest trees. We don’t even look up. We just scatter and make ourselves as small as possible. I press myself against a tree trunk.

  Through the tree canopy I can see the ship gliding through the sky. I wonder how many people they have on board and have brainwashed into doing whatever they say. How many lives are they going to take today?

  They will not take us.

  I will not let them destroy my friends like they have so many other people. Something in our paradigm has shifted and I’m more confident than ever that we can fight back.

  We wait until the ship disappears and then some more. They can’t have heat-seeking radars in the ships or they would have found us several times over. Or maybe they’re not concerned with a few little ants.

  Our journey continues.

  “Do you think the government will have any chocolate in Washington?” Sarah asks after we’ve been walking for a few hours.

  I remember chocolate. We had a small amount in the bunker and would ration it to one square a week.
I used to look forward to that square for each of the seven days. “Maybe,” I reply.

  “There was heaps of it at the mall. It had white spots on it but I ate it anyway. It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”

  “Let’s hope they have some and are willing to share it.”

  We exchange a smile. I hope I’m not getting the little girl’s hopes up. So many things have to align for our plan to work. If we get to Washington DC and there is nobody there, we will be at a loss about what to do next. I should keep my fingers crossed just in case that helps.

  Some noises up ahead catch my attention. I squint, trying to see farther down the road. I can make out a few moving figures. “There’s people up ahead.”

  Everyone stops to look. A shiver runs down my spine. The presence of other people is usually a bad thing. But we need more humans to join our fight. If they don’t kill us, they might choose to join us.

  “What should we do?” Rhys asks the question we’re all thinking.

  “Stand our ground,” Garlind replies. He moves to the front to stand before us. We form a line at his back, ready to support whatever he does.

  We don’t move as the people steadily come closer. I can spot the moment they realize we’re here. They pause and start talking amongst themselves—exactly like what we did. There are six of them in total. They outnumber us but they look weak. They probably haven’t been able to find any good supplies in a while.

  Hungry strangers could be a huge problem. They could decide to rob us before asking any questions. But it’s a risk we’re willing to take. We have a message to spread to all humans and need to get started somewhere.

  The group is a mixture of men and women, all age ranges too. The oldest adult couldn’t be more than forty years old. The youngest looks to be a few years younger than us—thirteen, maybe? Their clothes are dirty and faces tired.

  “We don’t want any trouble,” Garlind says as soon as they come to a stop in front of us. “We wish you no harm and only want to speak with you.”

  The oldest man of the group steps forward. “We’ve got nothing to give you. We have no food or valuable items. There is no point robbing us.”

  “We don’t want to. Where have you come from?”

  The man stares down Garlind before his eyes flick over us. “Richmond, Virginia. We’ve been on the road for a long time, but that’s where we started.”

  “We’ve been travelling for a long time too. Where are you headed?”

  He shrugs. “Anywhere those filthy aliens aren’t. We’re searching for a new place to settle. Somewhere we can be left alone. That’s all we want. You know a place like that?”

  “Unfortunately, no. You’ve encountered the aliens, then?” Garlind asks the question so casually that it’s easy to think he doesn’t have more interest in them than a passing curiosity.

  The man nods. He’s got deep wrinkles on his forehead and loose skin underneath his chin. “They attacked our last camp. Took most of the people with them. The ones they didn’t kill, anyway. What do you know about them?”

  “The same as you. They kill and kidnap anyone they see. Their ships are based in Charleston, South Carolina. Avoid that area at all costs.”

  “Will do. Thanks for the info.”

  I silently urge Garlind to continue. Tell them about the dead alien we saw. Ask them to join us. They seem like good people. The exact kind of human we need.

  “Anything to know about where you came from?” the man asks.

  Garlind grimaces. “We saw a ship land a while back. They had a bunch of people on board as captives. They ransacked the town. Not sure if they’ll be back anytime soon.”

  “Thanks. Where are you headed?”

  “Washington DC. Have you been there?”

  The man lets out a chuckle. “Yeah, about thirty years ago. The museums are something spectacular. I highly recommend the Smithsonian.”

  “We were going to see if any of the former government still reside there. Have you heard any word?” Finally, Garlind gets around to our plan.

  I hold my breath until he replies. “Doubt they’re still around. They didn’t help us before the meteorite so can’t see why they would start to pull their finger out now. Good luck to you, kid. That’s all I can say.”

  “We have information they might need.”

  “And what’s that?” The man is interested now. I can see a spark of curiosity alive in his eyes. Perhaps if we can fan that spark into a flame, they might join our quest. The more humans we have fighting, the better our chances against the aliens.

  “We found a dead alien yesterday,” Garlind says, pausing for dramatic effect. “It was injured underneath its arm and looked to have bled out. Someone got through their armor so we believe there is no reason why we can’t do the same and kill them all.”

  One of the women gasps but the man in front doesn’t betray anything. “A dead one, hey? That would be a nice sight to see. Didn’t think the damned things had any weaknesses. They seem like killing machines to me.”

  “They have a weakness and we can use that to fight back.”

  The man slowly shakes his head and I know we’ve lost him. “You’ve got more guts than I have. For what it’s worth, I hope you win.”

  “You don’t want to join us? We need as many people as we can get if we’re going to take back this country,” Garlind ventures.

  “Nah. We want a simple life. Peace and quiet.”

  “You’re not going to get that unless you fight for it.”

  “Kid, we fight every day for it. We’re not going to face those aliens if we can help it. You’re asking the wrong folk.” He takes a step forward. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on our way.”

  We step apart to let them pass. It feels like we’re letting an opportunity slip through our fingers but we can’t force them to come with us. Garlind has explained our position, there’s not much more we can do. We can’t force anyone to join us.

  “Catch up with us in Washington DC if you change your mind,” Garlind calls out to their retreating backs.

  They’re not going to change their minds. They’ve already accepted defeat.

  Tonight, they’ll probably sit around a campfire and talk about our crazy idea. They’ll have a laugh and joke about our wild fantasies. But a part of them will hope that we’re right and that we’ll fix things for them. They might think about that for a long time to come.

  Maybe they’ll talk to more people and our plans will reach more humans. People that are willing to fight. Perhaps they’ll all come to Washington DC for a showdown with the enemy.

  It’s wishful thinking, I know.

  Chapter 10

  The next major city we come across is Raleigh, North Carolina. The sign at the city’s limits says it’s the state’s capital. That could mean two things. One, there might be plenty of opportunities to find supplies here. Two, there might be gangs of people that want to rob us for those supplies.

  Every city is eerie to me—more so than the little towns. Seeing the tall buildings and number of cars left abandoned reminds me of corpses. They are just the shell of what they once were. The heart and spirit of the city disappeared with all the people.

  Nature has reclaimed a lot of the buildings. Where concrete used to dominate, now leaves and vines prosper with their greenery. Mother Nature is taking back her planet and there aren’t enough humans left to stop her.

  Lines of cars are in the streets. Some grown over so much it’s difficult to actually see the vehicle underneath all the vines. They’ve twisted around the metal and formed a car-shaped hedge. It’s kind of beautiful.

  “Lincoln said people tried to flee the city,” Rhys says. “They thought it would be safer out in the country. Not safer from the meteorite and its destruction but safer from the fallout. It was expected that people would get desperate afterwards, when society no longer operated like it did. The countryside would have less people and therefore more of a chance to hide out. His parents explained it
all.”

  “That’s the same reason my parents built a bunker,” I reply. “They knew it wouldn’t be safe anywhere anymore. Even if they did survive the initial blast.”

  “It must have been horrible,” Garlind comments. He has to tilt his head back to see the top of the building next to us. It reaches into the sky like an outstretched hand.

  “The streets must have been chaotic,” I say. I imagine the lines of cars all having people in them, trying to leave the city so they have a shot at survival. They must have been so scared. Their entire world was changing and they must have known it would never be the same again.

  This world is my normal. It’s all I’ve ever known. But going from having everything to have nothing would have been horrendous. They wouldn’t have had the same survival skills because they never needed them before.

  I think I prefer only living in the world after it ended than experiencing both. I can’t fully comprehend what was lost whereas they knew exactly what they left behind.

  Raleigh seems like it would have been a nice place to visit. There is a good mixture of tall buildings and short ones. Some of them look to be very old. I wonder how much longer they’ll stand without any human interference?

  We come across a large squat building with a rusty sign that is mostly destroyed but I can still see the word at the end—museum. I’m filled with curiosity about what could be inside.

  “Let’s check out this place.” I point and wait for an answer.

  “Can’t hurt,” Garlind replies. “It might have a cafeteria with food still stockpiled.”

  We head up the stairs and find a door that opens after some encouragement. Inside, we’re standing in a huge room with tall ceilings. It feels impressive, even after all this time. The floor is made from marble with a layer of dust and dirt covering it.

  Walking through the large halls, it looks like little has been touched since it was last open more than seventeen years ago. Some displays have decayed and are falling apart, but the majority are still standing.