Desolation - An Apocalyptic Novel (From Below Book 2) Read online

  “What about all the stuff?” I asked looking at Marty over my shoulder.

  “They’re thinking about driving back to that motel a quarter of a mile back to let us rest while they figure out how to pack it all in here.

  “Motel?” I asked.

  “Oh, that’s right. You must not have seen it because you were sleeping,” Marty said. His lip curled at the end revealing the slight amusement he felt at his words.

  Bradley jabbed his elbow into him and shot him a look. I wanted to tell Bradley to mind his own business but the words wouldn’t find their way out of my mouth. There was a small part of me that was happy he’d done it because I didn’t find any humor in the situation.

  I’d never been in an accident before and what made it worse was that I was driving. I should have known better.

  Austin and Noah walked off back down toward the truck. They both studied the front end of the truck where I’d hit the tree.

  It felt like I started shrinking again. Mallory rubbed my shoulder.

  “I was in an accident once,” she said. “Actually several.”

  I turned to look at her.

  “Yeah, I was.” She must have thought I hadn’t believed her or that I wanted to know more. “Once I rear-ended a really old gray-haired lady. She was so sweet.” Mallory leaned closer. “She wanted to make sure I was okay.”

  Austin climbed behind the wheel and it looked like he was trying to start the truck. Noah tried to open the hood but he couldn’t get it to budge.

  “Thankfully, I was fine,” Mallory said. “This extremely hot paramedic checked me out and gave me the okay before handing me his number.” She flapped her hand at Bradley. “Don’t worry, Babe, this was like a week before I met you.” Mallory frowned. “They took the woman away in an ambulance.”

  “Great story,” Marty muttered.

  “I’m trying to help your sister realize that accidents happen,” Mallory said placing her hand on the seat behind her. It looked like she wanted to reach out and pet Marty. “It must have been hard for you too.”

  Marty puffed out his lower lip. “Yeah, it was so scary.” He frowned. “Actually, I’d been asleep. It was just kind of disorienting.”

  It had seemed like Marty was going to mess with her but then he became serious when he thought about what had happened.

  “I’m so sorry, Marty,” I said biting my cheek.

  Marty chuckled realizing he’d gotten too serious. “I’m fine, Lucy. The truck got the worst of it.”

  “And Austin’s head,” Bradley added. I didn’t even have the energy to shoot him a razor-sharp look.

  I’d managed to destroy Austin’s truck and his head all at once.

  Austin and Noah made their way back to the SUV, each making quick looks back at the truck. I lowered my face down into my hands.

  My body jerked when my door closed abruptly. Austin had closed the door before sliding into the passenger seat. Noah was walking around the front end of the SUV, his eyes scanning the horizon. It was evident that he was worried about the number of daylight hours that were remaining.

  Noah started the SUV and turned around heading back to the motel I couldn’t even remember having seen.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The motel had mostly been destroyed. It appeared as though each room had been in its own cabin-like building. The last of which, room ten, still had all of the walls still standing but a large hole in the roof.

  There were two beds that were covered with dust and dirt. Mallory was ecstatic that the bathroom door was still in place and that it was lockable.

  “And it flushes!” she clapped as she stepped out giving herself a long glance in the mirror as she passed by.

  “We can’t stay in here when it’s dark,” I said crossing my arms.

  “We’ll be back before dark,” Austin said placing a kiss on my forehead.

  I wanted to tell him I was nervous about him taking the SUV and therefore the lights but I didn’t want to stop him from going back to his truck. They left us with two guns and two flashlights before driving off.

  He hadn’t even bothered to clean the blood off his face although he had taken a bandage from the first aid kit and placed it over the small cut near his eyebrow. They were in too big of a hurry to worry about a little blood.

  Marty pulled the bedspread off of the beds. “Anyone tired?”

  “That bed looks amazing,” Mallory said placing her fingertips on the top of her chest displaying her manicure that was still in nearly impeccable shape. “And that’s from someone that only stayed in nice hotels.”

  Marty gestured for her to take one. “Might as well get some shut-eye while we have the chance.”

  “I didn’t get much rest after what happened to Lucy and me,” Mallory said looking at the bed as if it were a long lost lover from a past life. She inched closer and closer, sighing when she lowered herself down onto the mattress.

  “Lucy?” Marty asked gesturing to the other bed.

  I shook my head. “Go ahead. I can’t sleep like this.”

  There wasn’t a door to close behind me as I walked out of the room leaving the three of them alone. I sat down on the concrete in the middle of the parking lot. I pulled my legs to my chest and held myself tightly as if I was afraid I might fall apart.

  Because of what I’d done, we’d all have to squeeze into the SUV. How could I have been so careless?

  There wasn’t anything around us for as far as I could see. It looked like maybe there had a been a gas station across the road but if there had been, now it was nothing but a pile of rubble.

  In a few places, there was a scattering of trees and shrubs but nothing so thick that I was worried about what might be lurking. Where I was sitting, I’d see anything coming our way unless it soundlessly walked up behind me, but I didn’t think that was likely.

  The creatures weren’t soundless. They made their noises so they could tell where they were going. Even the small ones had made their own little chirping noises.

  I didn’t hear anything except for the endless thoughts circling through my mind. The devil on my shoulder wanted to be sure I knew how badly I’d screwed everything up.

  I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting there alone when I heard the noises of the gravel crunching behind me. The steps were calm and careful. Someone was approaching and they were trying not to startle me.

  “Hey,” Bradley said coming to a stop at my side.

  He crossed his arms and gazed out toward where Austin and Noah were working on transferring our supplies.

  “I probably should have gone with them,” Bradley said glancing down at me. “But I figured they wouldn’t have wanted me along.”

  I shrugged, but he was right. They probably wouldn’t have.

  “They probably would have appreciated the offer,” I said.

  “I suppose so,” Bradley said lowering himself down next to me. He picked up a small pebble and rolled it between his fingers. “They’re sleeping. If you want, you could try to get some rest.”

  I shook my head. It was weird but it was the first time since seeing Bradley again after everything, I didn’t mind talking to him. He wasn’t being a creep. He was being the Bradley I knew when we were alone in our living room and he wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

  “I’m not tired,” I said. If Marty would have been there, he would have made a joke about me having already had my turn when I drove Austin’s truck into the tree.

  I groaned and rubbed the back of my neck.

  “Everything okay?” Bradley asked.

  I wanted to make some kind of comment about how I knew he didn’t give a crap about me but somehow I managed to keep it inside.

  “Yeah,” I said turning to meet his eyes. “I just feel like a… a jerk. I messed everything up.”

  “No, you didn’t,” Bradley said looking at the pebble between his fingers. “I like that we’ll all be together.”

  I hadn’t given it much thought because I’d been wi
th Austin and Marty. It wasn’t like I cared about being with Bradley or Mallory but I was sure Austin hadn’t liked being separated from his brother.

  “Having two vehicles was better than one,” I said raising my chin. I thought I’d heard an engine but I didn’t see them coming down the road.

  “It was awful watching the truck go into the ditch knowing you were inside,” Bradley said. I could feel him inch closer. “Mallory would be dead in those trees if it hadn’t been for you.”

  “You’re giving me far too much credit for that,” I said feeling a tightness at the back of my throat.

  Bradley shook his head. “I’m not. All I could think about when the truck hit the tree was you.”

  “Bradley,” I said holding up my hand.

  “What? I don’t get to say how I feel? I understand you’re with Austin or whatever, but that doesn’t mean I should have to just step back and watch you make a mistake,” Bradley said.

  “That’s exactly what you need to do,” I said pressing my palms down onto the pavement. “More importantly, Austin is not a mistake.”

  Bradley shook his head and laughed. “It looks like a mistake to me. Every time you two are together you’re just arguing.”

  “We are not!” I said my eyes lit up.

  “Seems that way to me,” Bradley said with a shrug.

  “You are pretty much the last person in the world that should be giving relationship advice,” I said pushing myself to my feet.

  Bradley was on his almost as quickly. His eyes glinted with the last remaining bits of sunlight.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “Jesus, Lucy, I am so sorry. I would do anything to make it up to you, anything.”

  “Bradley, just stop it,” I said pressing my fists into my thighs.

  He held up his hands as his eyes filled with defeat. Bradley lowered his head and let out a heavy sigh.

  “I just wish I could get you to understand,” Bradley said.

  “I understand everything just fine. You need to accept that I’m with Austin,” I said letting the tension building up in my muscles relax.

  Bradley’s shoulders drooped. “I’d do anything, for just one more night with you.”

  “It’s not going to happen,” I said chuckling as I took a step back.

  Bradley matched my movement and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Look into my eyes. Tell me that you don’t feel anything for me.”

  “I’m feeling a lot of anger,” I said between my teeth.

  “Lucy, I’m scared. I can’t lose you again,” Bradley said.

  He pulled me closer and pressed his lips to mine. I pushed as hard as I could on his shoulders to break free from his hold.

  “Stop it!” I said wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “You can’t just do something like that.”

  “Does that mean—”

  “It means nothing. Go back inside,” I said pointing my finger at the little number ten on the exterior wall. “Don’t ever do that again, okay?”

  Bradley opened his mouth to say something but the fire in my eyes had made him change his mind. He turned and stopped for a moment but then continued on.

  Marty was standing about ten feet away from the cabin staring at us. He kept his eyes on Bradley as he walked by. It wasn’t until Bradley was in the room that he made his way over to me.

  “What was that all about?” Marty asked.

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” I said wrapping my arms around my middle.

  Marty looked down the road. “You don’t have to. I practically heard everything. Mallory might have too.”

  “Shit,” I said biting my tongue as if I could hear my mom scolding me for cursing.

  “Are you going to tell Austin?” Marty asked.

  I shook my head.

  Marty’s head bobbed up and down. “Okay. Then, I will.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Marty, no!” I said grabbing his arm much too tightly.

  “Why the hell not?” Marty asked his face contorted. “He needs to know.”

  I was pleading with my glassy eyes. “It’ll just cause problems. We don’t need any more trouble, Marty.”

  “I don’t like this,” Marty said shaking his head as the SUV came rolling down the road.

  Even though the sun was still out, it wouldn’t be for long. Noah had the SUV lit up and it looked like a fireball traveling down the road.

  They pulled into the parking lot, slowing as they drove past us and right up to the cabin before shifting into park. The back of the SUV was packed so tightly I couldn’t even see into the window.

  “You need to talk to him,” Marty said.

  “Mind your own business,” I said and it was like I’d lit a firecracker with a short fuse.

  Marty jogged away from me heading right for the passenger door. I tried to catch up but it was too late. Austin was already asking Marty what was going on and shooting quick glances in my direction.

  “Where is he?” Austin said between his teeth. He looked like he was going to explode.

  “Austin, wait,” I said moving my feet quicker.

  He looked at me. He watched me and there was no doubt in my mind that he saw the look on my face.

  But Austin didn’t wait. He stepped around Marty and walked right into cabin ten.

  My breath caught in my throat as I watched him carry Bradley out of the room. His fingers gripped his collar tightly as he pushed him in front of him.

  There was nothing but rage in Austin’s eyes. He looked like a different person… a person I’d never seen before.

  Austin let go and shoved Bradley hard. Bradley stumbled backward but he managed to keep himself upright until Austin gave him another push.

  Bradley crashed to the ground and scraped up a handful of pebbles. He threw them at Austin’s legs.

  “What’s your problem, man?” Bradley said his eyes on fire.

  “I was hoping you’d ask,” Austin said practicing spitting the words at him.

  Mallory howled from the cabin and covered her mouth. Noah stepped in front of her to block her way.

  “Bradley!” she cried.

  “It’s fine, Mallory,” Bradley said his voice wavering. “Go back inside.”

  Austin leaned closer to Bradley. “Why don’t you tell her what you did?”

  “What did I do?” Bradley said holding his hands up innocently.

  “You put your hands on my girlfriend,” Austin said his hand balled up into tight fists. “What kind of man does that?”

  Bradley looked like he was going to burst into tears but the looked faded and he started laughing.

  “You don’t deserve her,” Bradley said.

  My mouth dropped and I looked over at Mallory who was still standing there watching. It looked like someone had stepped up behind her and thrust a long knife between her shoulder blades.

  “What do you even know about her?” Bradley asked.

  “I know enough not to blow my chance by sleeping with another woman,” Austin said.

  Heat filled my cheeks like I’d stepped inside an oven.

  “Okay, enough,” I said but it seemed as though I could have been invisible as far as either Bradley or Austin were concerned.

  “I want you gone,” Austin said. “You’re not welcome here.”

  Bradley’s eyes widened with disbelief. “What? You can’t do that!”

  “I can and I will,” Austin said.

  “That’s no different from killing me,” Bradley said. “Why not just be a man and do it yourself then?”

  Austin smirked as he shook his head. “You made your bed. Now, lay in it.”

  “Austin,” I said softly. “You can’t do this.”

  Mallory was sobbing uncontrollably. “Please stop doing this!”

  There was so much pain on her face. I could see it across the parking lot. It was sad that she was the one being punished.

  “Austin!” I said with a hardness that made him realize I was there. He looked through his rage
and saw us all staring at him.

  “What?” Austin asked wiping at the side of his mouth with the back of his hand. “You think he deserves to be here?”

  “I don’t know what he deserves, but we can’t send him away,” I said holding my palms up. “He’s an idiot, but he doesn’t deserve to die.”

  “Yeah, I’m really sorry,” Bradley said. “I didn’t get how serious things were between you two. I’ll back off. Never again.”

  Austin stared at him for a long moment. I knew he wanted nothing more than to send him away with nothing but the shirt on his back… if even that.

  And now that we didn’t have the truck we were all going to be stuck together with tempers flaring.

  Austin’s muscles didn’t relax. He pointed at Bradley. “Get up.”

  Bradley looked at me as if I would tell him what to do. Austin stepped in front of me blocking his view.

  “Get up,” Austin repeated.

  “Can I stay?” Bradley asked.

  “Jesus,” Austin said with a chuckle. “Get. Up.”

  Bradley slowly got to his feet. He looked like a turtle that wanted to hide in its shell.

  “What are you going to do?” Bradley asked.

  Austin raised his fist and threw it into Bradley’s cheek with so much force it knocked him off his feet.

  “Austin!” I said pushing him aside.

  I knelt down next to Bradley and watched his eyelids fluttering as he tried to open his eyes.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” I said looking up at Austin over my shoulder. The regret was painted on his face and pulling his shoulders down.

  “I… I’m sorry,” Austin said. “Shit.”

  Bradley’s eyes opened and instantly connected with mine. There was a strange glint deep inside that made me narrow my eyes, but before I could give it much thought, Mallory pushed me out of the way.

  “Are you okay?” she asked as she looked Bradley over.

  “I’m sorry,” Austin said but I wasn’t exactly sure who he was talking to.

  Mallory turned to him poison floating from her eyes. “Are you?”