Life of Terror: Life of Terror Book One, page 7
“I don’t want to leave you,” Lily said, clamping onto Dexter’s arm with tight fingers. “I’m scared.”
“Only for a while,” Dexter said, staring at the door. He needed to get in position, but not before Lily found a hiding place. “Get into the corner there, and see if you fit behind a box. Quickly, please.”
Dexter rubbed his clammy hands against his jeans and stood up, legs releasing some of their pent up tension. He watched Lily huddle into the corner, where a lot of shelves lined the walls. Between the last shelf and the wall was a small, dust-filled hole, which she fit into perfectly. Dexter crossed over and placed a light box in front of her, sealing her off so no one would notice.
“Please, keep quiet,” he said, before turning back to the door, alarm climbing each second.
“Come on then,” a voice outside the door said. “You got the weapons?”
“They’re right here, and this guy better not move his head or I’ll gash his brains out.”
Dexter’s neck warmed, and the panic wrought his bones. He leaned against the wall beside the door, the sweat beading on his forehead and falling to his chin. He needed to survive, for Lily, for Theo, who he should’ve gone to see first instead of running like an idiot into a shop for supplies.
I’m an idiot, Dexter thought as the door turned. A figure came into the room, and Dexter held his breath as the boots approached. He reared his legs, springing as much energy into them as if they were a coil, and released. He flew into the first intruder, smacking straight into his torso and blasting him against the boxes on the floor. They fell in a heap together, and Dexter pushed himself to his feet, breathing heavily.
“Get him,” someone said, and Dexter jumped back. A knife flashed past where he’d been before. His eyes widened as the intruder smirked and bared the knife again. Dexter grabbed a box from the floor as some kind of defence, arms quivering.
“Help,” Dexter said, eyes flitting to the cashier, who stood stock-still, arms frozen by his side, legs tucked together. The cashier sprang into action, grabbing the first intruder and smashing his head back against a wall. Knocked out from the impact, the intruder crumpled to the floor.
Dexter rushed forwards, cardboard box raised in his hands. He swung it in an arc towards the other intruder, who had risen from the floor and looked ready to fight. The box smashed into the man’s knife and cut in half, the blade’s tip almost cutting Dexter’s fingers. Dexter let the box go and stepped backwards, but the intruder didn’t afford him time.
The intruder leapt through the air and slammed into Dexter’s body head first. Dexter tumbled backwards until his back crashed against a wall. Black spots danced in his vision as his eyes dilated. Lights flickered in his sight, before he pushed his arms out in an attempt to get the intruder off him. Tiredness raged through his arms, and he fought to keep awake.
“Get off him,” a soft voice said. Dexter’s eyes snapped open. Lily was pummelling fists into the intruder, one after the other. Rage marred her face. The intruder turned and swiped her away with ease.
“Don’t touch her,” Dexter shouted from his position against the wall. With a sharp intake of breath, he rose and kneed the man in the mid-section. The man groaned and fell to his side, rolling over on the floor, clutching his stomach. Dexter rushed to his feet and a wave of lightheadedness made the earth wobble beneath him. He ignored the impulse to fall over and stumbled over to the looter. The cashier helped him prop the man up against the wall.
“Don’t ever touch her,” Dexter said, kicking the looter in the face. The way the looter’s head snapped back sent satisfaction coursing through Dexter.
“And don’t steal from my store,” the cashier said, venom in his eyes as he sent a fist flying straight towards the looter’s mouth. The other intruder was still on the floor, and Dexter glanced at him. He stirred, before his eyes opened. After a second, he understood the scenario he was in.
“What have you two done?” the intruder shouted, hopping to his feet. His eyes shifted to something else, and Dexter followed his gaze.
Lily!
The man sprinted towards the girl, but Dexter got there first. He flew into the man with a huge leap. They connected, and the impact sent a zing of pain through Dexter’s spine. They collided with the shelves Lily had hidden behind and fell to the ground.
Dexter groaned and raised his head as the shelves wobbled from the impact. The intruder sat beside him, rolling in pain. Dexter clawed his hands into the floor and attempted to get up. His head rolled to the side, and he glanced at the cashier.
“Help,” he rasped.
The cashier ran over and socked a fist into the intruder’s head, knocking him out for good. The cashier breathed heavily and hauled Dexter up with a hand. Dexter swayed on his feet for a few seconds, letting the adrenaline seep from his body.
“What the hell happened?” Dexter said, breaths coming in short pants.
“I don’t know,” the cashier said. “What’s going on? None of the electrics seems to be working. And these guys just come and think they can rob my store.” The cashier turned to the knocked-out intruder and kicked him in the face for good measure, causing blood to spurt from the intruder’s mouth.
Dexter spoke to the cashier. “Get back home, grab as much food as you can, and leave. And never come back. You’re a sitting duck there.”
“Dex,” a voice cried, and Lily barrelled into Dexter, her arms wrapping around his legs. Dexter rubbed her head with a hand. She was the only one able to make him smile, and relief flooded him that she was safe.
“Never pull a stunt like that again,” Dexter said, remembering how she came to punch the man.
“But he was hurting you.”
“I don’t care, don’t ever try something like that again.”
Lily nodded into his side. “I’m sorry.”
Dexter let out a breath. “You scared me. Just…don’t do it again.” His gaze switched to the cashier. “I still want to buy some stuff, if that’s okay.”
“Take as much as you want for free. You sure helped me with these punks. Consider it on the house.”
“Thanks,” Dexter said. “You have to keep them from stealing somehow. There’s more looting across the city. I don’t know if you can stop it completely.”
“They’ll be like that for at least twenty minutes,” the cashier said. “I’ll grab everything I can and leave, along with the money they left at the front desk. I’m guessing cars aren’t working either, from those stuck on the roads?”
Dexter shook his head as they returned to the main store. He picked up a can of beans and some granola bars. He shoved as many as he could into Lily’s bag. Thirst slammed into him, and the feeling of lightheadedness returned.
“Grab as much water as you can,” the cashier said, noticing the way Dexter moved.
Dexter placed Lily’s school books on a shelf—thankfully, she said nothing—and fished supplies into Lily’s bag. She helped him pack it, grabbing as many cans of whatever she could find and pushing it inside. Once the schoolbag was full, Dexter grabbed one of the other bags from before and stuffed that full of medical supplies. He shouldered it, the weight causing pressure to sink on his upper back.
“Is that enough?” Lily asked Dexter, eyeing the new bag on his back.
“Think it looks nice?” Dexter asked.
Lily giggled, before waving bye to the cashier as they left the shop, the shattered glass strewn across the front door.
“Stay safe,” Dexter told the cashier through the broken window.
“Will do. Take care. And the little one.”
Lily smiled and waved again, before they set off through the winding streets of London.
“We need to get to Theo’s house,” Dexter reminded Lily. I hope he’s all right. He didn’t want to think about any other scenario. Theo was strong and could look after himself, along with the older brother he lived with, Jack.
But Dexter’s mind wouldn’t ease until he checked up on his best mate.
As they walked, Dexter stopped every few minutes to catch his breath, his lungs feeling like they’d been stretched then squashed a million times. The burning in his muscles had yet to subside.
“Are you okay?” Lily asked.
“I’m fine,” said Dexter, before another step caused him to yelp. The bag weighing him down hurt his shoulders, and his upper back flared as the weight almost anchored him to the concrete. Dexter glanced up as they reached the next block of flats. “Here we are,” he said, gaze rising to Theo’s floor. An open window. Theo was inside, at least. Hopefully alive.
“Theo’s house?” Lily asked, staring up at the menacing block of twenty flats towering over them. One of the buildings that hadn’t burned to a crisp yet like those a skyline away in the city centre.
“Yeah, Theo’s house,” Dexter said.
And I hope to God that he’s all right.
10
Graham
As they walked through the heart of London, amongst the chaos littering the roads, Lisa told Graham a bit more about herself. Actually, not just a bit more about herself, but a lot more that Graham had no interest in knowing. Things about her makeup and the brands of shampoo she used. Lisa just didn’t seem to be able to stop talking.
“Wow,” Graham said, in an airy voice just like Lisa’s.
Lisa crossed her arms. “You’re not listening to a word, are you?”
“When you’ve been on the streets, you learn to block out needless conversation. We’re in the middle of a bloody warzone. Sorry I can’t really concentrate on makeup.”
Lisa kept her gaze on the ground. “I guess so.”
And now I’ve made her sad, Graham thought. I guess I really can’t return to society without being a weirdo.
“So, what did you do before being homeless?” Lisa asked.
Graham kept silent as they turned another corner. He spotted a few old cars lining the centre of the road, their chassis burnt to a crisp. Rubble surrounded them, and Graham had to be careful nothing else fell on him. He stayed at the centre of the road, in case something collapsed on the pavement.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Lisa said.
“You really do talk too much.”
Lisa huffed, but bit back her words.
They strode through the streets further, delving into the heart of London. A stomach ache bit at Graham, maybe due to the lack of food over the last few weeks. Begging for money had been rough, and Graham averaged maybe a meal every two days or so.
They passed the Gherkin, which had cracked windows running across its surface, and the London Eye had toppled over and crashed into buildings all around. Absolute chaos.
“I think we’re here,” Lisa said after few more minutes of walking past wrecks and ruins. They stopped outside a regular four-bedroom house. A large one at that. In the middle of London, these went for premium money.
Graham nodded in approval. The group had money, for sure. “That was pretty quick, wasn’t it?”
“It’s not far from the station,” Lisa said. “They’re up these steps. It’s weird, this is one of the only buildings that haven’t been hit by anything.”
Graham climbed the steps and knocked on the door. Instead of someone coming, his knock itself opened the door slightly. Inside, silence enveloped them.
“Do you think they’re here?” Lisa asked in a whisper. She kept close to Graham as he traversed the house. It was a normal looking house, with a living room on the right, and a kitchen down the hallway.
“No one lives here,” Graham said. Suspicion hit him like a punch. “Why have you led me here?” His eyes narrowed.
Lisa’s hands sprung up. “I didn’t know they’d left already,” she said. “This isn’t some kind of trap. I could swear they were here.”
They spoke in low, sharp voices. Graham double backed down the hallway and passed a lamp on the desk. He flicked it on, but of course, nothing. He trod up the stairs, wincing at each creak that sounded.
Why was the door randomly open? What kind of survival group leaves themselves open like that?
“Do you think they’re home?” Lisa asked.
“Just shut up for once, please.”
Lisa, of course, never listened. “I think they are home, but upstairs. This looks a lot different than I remember it.”
Graham reached the top and stared down the hall. Rooms lined each side, as if the building they were in was some kind of hotel. It wasn’t a typical four-bedroom house, that was for sure. He crouched and leaned against the wall. He didn’t know what Lisa was leading him into, and he had to be safe.
“Why are you so—”
But a footstep creaked at the end of the hall.
“What’s that?” Lisa whispered.
Graham’s eyes adjusted to the dark hallway. The voices floated through the air towards them from a room on the far right. Graham crept towards it, Lisa behind him. He planted a hand on the wall to steady himself. Balance was rare in his legs, especially since crouching made tension build up inside them.
“What the hell are you two doing here?”
Graham whirled around with Lisa and fell to the floor. Two figures rushed over him and a cool object touched his neck.
“Who are you two?” the figure asked. It wore a balaclava and dark clothes, making it blend in with the shadows.
“It’s me, Lisa. I came back after the…you know.”
“Lisa?” a rough voice said. It came from the direction of the other figure towering over them. “Is that really you?”
“Ralph?”
“What the hell is this place?” Graham squeezed out against the pressure on his neck. The pressure left. The figure standing over Graham wrenched the bag off his back before stepping away.
“I know who Lisa is, but who the hell are you?” the figure said.
Graham sat up. “Give me that back.”
“Get back down. I don’t trust you, yet. Got no idea who the heck you are.”
Graham leaned back on his elbows despite the pain in his shoulders. Lisa must’ve led him into a trap, or some kind of criminal gang.
“She told me you were survivors,” Graham said, glancing at Lisa in the dark.
Ralph sighed. “We ain’t getting any new members, Lisa. Once you join, you can’t leave. But you did, I don’t know if they’ll allow you back so easily.”
“I got a new job,” Lisa said, clutching Ralph’s arm. “I didn’t have a choice, and that bastard husband of mine decided to lug me halfway across the city before I could come back, I swear.”
Ralph bristled at that and shrugged her hand off. He turned to the other figure in the dark. “We need to go back to HQ. I’ll take Lisa, and you take that guy on the floor. We’ll find out what to do with them.”
“Why was the door open?” Graham asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
“Locked doors mean people are inside,” Ralph said. “Keeping ‘em open makes people think we’re already looted, so they leave.”
The figure grabbed at Graham’s arms and pulled him up. The knife was pressed into his back, and he walked forwards with the figure until they reached the door at the end. The silence dissipated as voices sounded inside the room.
Ralph knocked on the door, Lisa in front of him.
“Come in. Is it just the two of you?” a female voice said.
They entered the room, and adjusted to the light inside. Somehow, the lights were working.
How the hell have they done that? Graham thought.
Graham struggled against the man holding him up. He should never have listened to Lisa’s projections of the group. Should’ve trusted himself, at all times. The world they were in was a fight for survival, and Graham had to be the top dog to survive. Not succumb to the will of maniacs like the group sitting at the table before him.
“Who are these two?” a tall man with built muscles at the front said. He wore a vest and held a cigar to his mouth. “Is that you, Lisa?”
“Yeah, Brett, it’s me. I came back after the…you know.” Lisa was a lot more subdued, and Graham gazed at the Brett closely. Everyone’s head was turned to him, listening to his grave voice.
“I guess you’ve forgotten the rules, then,” Brett said. He stood up and walked over to them.
“She said it was that husband of hers,” Ralph said, venom in his voice.
Does he have a history with Lisa, or something? Graham wondered.
“And who is this?” Brett said, staring at Graham. He searched Graham’s eyes, arms twitching, before pinching his nose. “Your name?”
“Graham Anderson,” Graham said.
Brett turned and spoke to Felicity. “He came from this side…which means he can’t be part of…can he?”
Felicity shook her head. “Look at the guy, doesn’t seem like one of them.”
What are they on about?
Brett turned back with a sigh. “What did I tell you about bringing people here, Lisa? I guess you really did forget the rules.”
“I…he saved me. And he’s really wicked at fighting. You should’ve seen him beat my husband.”
“That may be,” Brett said, walking up to Lisa, whose shoulders were clutched by Ralph. “But you’re not the boss here. We can’t have too many people joining. It gets hard to manage. Ralph, you remember, right?”
“Yeah,” Ralph said, like Brett’s puppet on strings.
Graham tried to ease out of the grip of the figure behind him, but it was tighter than he first imagined.
How am I supposed to leave this place? It was a mistake following that idiot here.
“Well, you know of us now,” Brett said, sending Graham a glance. He strode back to the table and sat down. “You want to join us, or not?”
Graham glanced at Lisa, who gave him hopeful eyes. And then over at Brett. A look flashed in Brett’s eyes, a look of danger. Of a threat. The lights illuminated scars lining his face.
Brett was a savage. That much was easy for Graham to see.
“Do I really have a choice?” Graham said, pushing off the figure behind him. The figure tightened the grip again.
