Darkness Ahead of Us | Book 2 | Darkness Falling by Spencer Leif

Author:Spencer, Leif [Spencer, Leif]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | EMP | Survival
Published: 2021-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

10

Maggie was carrying a large candle. The flickering flame illuminated the stone path. Mist blanketed the surrounding fields, reminding Chris of her dream. She shivered. Goosebumps rose, and she rubbed her arms.

The waning moon painted the fields with a silver brush. A sheep called out somewhere in the distance.

Tom poked his head outside, dressed in an oversized Captain America shirt. He ran his hand through tousled hair. “Mum?”

“Go back to sleep, Tom.”

His eyes were pleading. “Remember—”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.” Chris gestured for Maggie to lead the way.

A shadow moved in the mist, and Chris’ gut tightened, but it was just Spike trotting over. She stiffened as he sniffed her side and growled. The hairs on her neck rose, and she narrowed her eyes. It was as if the dog smelled that there was something wrong with her.

That she didn’t fit in.

“She’s with me,” Maggie said to Spike. Wax trickled down the side of the candle and fell onto the grass.

The dog licked Maggie’s hand. She reached into her apron and tossed a treat into the dark. Spike followed the scent, his nose glued to the ground.

They entered the house through the kitchen, and Chris came to a halt. The smoke had dissipated, but the smell of ham still lingered in the air. Chris’ stomach grumbled. She hadn’t eaten in—

She considered the last few days, one hand reaching up and gently touching the lump on the back of her head. So much had happened, and with the concussion churning her stomach, she hadn’t had any appetite.

Tom had to be starving as well unless he’d snuck out after Chris had gone to sleep. “Did Tom have anything to eat?”

Maggie turned in the doorway and flashed Chris a reassuring smile. “He sheepishly shuffled into my kitchen a few hours ago. I fed him. Those boys grow like weeds.”

“Oh?” Chris was the one who was supposed to look after Tom. Feed him, comfort him, keep him safe. Why was Maggie—

Remembering that their current shelter depended on Maggie and Tony’s goodwill, Chris gave her a small smile and swallowed her resentment. “Thank you. I completely forg—”

A pained moan came from upstairs.

“We had better hurry,” Maggie said. “It’s this way.”

The wooden floor creaked underneath Maggie’s slippers as she hurried up the stairs. Chris counted five doors along the upstairs hallway. Maggie pushed open the last door, and Chris entered.

The acrid smell of sweat greeted her, and she wrinkled her nose. It was a small bedroom, and the window was open wide, letting in a little of the summer breeze. It wasn’t doing much to get rid of the stench.

Emily sat on the bed, holding Adam’s hand. Beads of sweat dotted his hairline, his glassy eyes reflecting the flickering flame of the candle.

Chris sniffed the air, searching for obvious signs of infection, but apart from sour sweat, the room smelled clean. There was no foul odour in the air.

She approached the bed, hiding a yawn behind her hand, then rubbed her eyes. “Sorry, I was asleep,” she said to Emily.

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