In The After Life

Chapter 48

The initial pounding of my heart and the pain of the race as it thundered rapidly jolted me aggressively out of my sleep.

My eyes spun restlessly around the room grateful for the moon shedding the gracious amount of light it did otherwise I think I would've panicked. More than I already am.

My mind knows that whatever illusions it had just created or memories it reinforced was better to be forgotten as I can't remember what had spiralled me into waking up.

Miles still clung to my hand but I took it away as I rubbed at my eyes. Draven is still asleep beside me our skin warm against each other. I wonder if he'd notice the cold of my missing touch.

I take a shaky breath in carefully getting up from the couch needing to use the toilet sooner rather than later. Didn't want to risk falling back to sleep as I easily could to have a dream where I have access to a bathroom.

Surprisingly I actually manage to make my way upstairs without so much as a peep. The bathroom was much darker than I'd like but it was needed and the cold splash of water I cup in my hands and chuck in my face actually made me feel better.

I wonder into mine and Dravens room we had slept in many times since being here to double check we hadn't left anything behind we might need.

The wind howling harsh against the window rattling the outside branches. It was disturbingly quiet and it made me uncomfortable how silent the house was knowing it's never like this when everyone is awake.

I came closer to the window wanting to spare a look at the moon. The floorboard creaked underneath my foot. It seemed the floorboard was protesting to me getting any closer.

Something felt different. Like the air felt thick, almost suffocating. I strain to see anything from this window. My heart increased in pace . Why does it feel as if I'm not here? Like I know I'm awake but I feel off. It felt like a warning.

I was accustomed to paranoia and the nagging feeling of uneasiness but I saw it. It hitched the breath I was about to take and shook my body to the core.

Outside, the sound barely noticeable, but it was there. It grew closer. The footsteps knew anyone who wasn't gone was already too late. Deliberate and unhurried. They knew tonight no one could stop them.

It felt like time had stopped as my vision hazed. My legs were moving but at a pace past the point of being fast enough. The harsh breath was long past my lips. The sound of my effort to warn them was mocking me as my footsteps echoed taunting my desperate sprint.

"Guys! We gotta go right-" it was too late. The deafening whistle stung my ears. It was a moment of grief as I realised that they had timed it right. It would all be over.

A blinding white light seared my vision followed by a monstrous roar. It knocked me harshly backwards. The sound reverberated throughout the street. The rhythmic sound of glass shards and the shattering of bricks rattled my entire body.

The rush of air made no sense as I try to piece together my surroundings. It was like I was under water. The air was thick with the suffocating smell of smoke. My hands trembled. I could barely intake a breath as each one was harder to catch than the last.

The place was thick with a hue of dust and debris. Unmistakable was the sound of distant coughs. I know I was bleeding but I didn't care. I try to stand but cry out at the sharp pain in my ribs. "Miles? Vera? Someone talk to me." I could barely make out the scared voice of Daniel as he called out for us.

I glance down at what's left of the remaining stairs, eyes burning, with a horror that what was waiting outside that door was much worse than being in this house that could collapse any second.