Breaking Britain (Completed)

Chapter 39

39
Saturday 5th January 2030
22:30

          'I wonder if the rest of Hertfordshire is as bad as here', Junior said to Justin as they walked down the street.

           They had spent a little time in the hospital, so Junior's mum could check Adrianna over. Physically she was fine, but Clara had been worried about her mental state. She checked with the police as to whether a Mrs or Mr Topper had been on the casualty list. They had confirmed that Mr Topper had died in the shooting and that Mrs Topper was one of the patients murdered, on the ward, earlier that day. So, in one day Adrianna had become an orphan.

           Clara had suggested that Adrianna stay with them and she could try and make arrangements for her. Although, if she was being honest with herself, access to the hospital would be difficult at best and social care resources were stretched to breaking point. So, when Adrianna refused to stay, wanting to leave with Clarise, Clara allowed it, stating that they must take her to the correct authorities in the morning.

           'I hope not', Justin replied.

           They were walking down the road away from the hospital. They had intended on waiting at the gate until Billy had brought the car, but the police had moved them on. They knew this was the only way Billy could go, so he would eventually catch up to them. They were in a huge crowd of people who had been asked or told to leave, to return to their homes. As though they were safe there.

            Junior looked over to a police officer.

            'Keep moving', he was saying to members of the public.

            'Justin, over there'

            'What?'

            'The police officer. The one over there. I saw him earlier, he was checking people into the hospital grounds. Only, just before the shooting he disappeared, as though he knew something was going to happen.'

            'Naw cus, you getting a little paranoid'

            'No he's right', Clarise added, 'I saw him too'

            'I'm telling you, there's more to this than disgruntled people and poverty. I reckon the New English Group, or whatever they're called, has people everywhere. It wouldn't surprise me if he was one of them.'

             Justin took a long look at the officer, making sure he remembered his face, with a view of never trusting him again, if they saw him.

              It took a second for the thunderous sound to reach them. It came as a wave of heat. They and everyone around them turned in unison. The sight of flames and explosions were blinding, awakening the darkness and numbing the world around them into a slow blur.

              At first Junior had looked to the hospital, fearing that it was the source of the explosion. But the explosions kept coming, for around ten seconds. He looked across the road of the hospital and cars were exploding.

              'Billy', Justin shouted and set off in a sprint.

              Junior chased after him.

              Clarise ducked down with Adrianna.

              Screams followed, a new stampede in their direction, away from the hospital. Clarise pulled Adrianna behind a parked car, where they sat in each others arms.

             Justin and Junior fought their way through the people, the heat increasing as they got closer. Someone ran their way, flames ablaze on their back and arms. Junior tackled him to the ground, rolling and patting down the flames, until they were doused. The person, below him screamed in agony.

             Junior looked up. He couldn't see Justin. He rose from the man and set off in the direction of the black smoke. He ran straight into a parked car. He panicked, it hadn't exploded. He ran on. He felt flames, but couldn't see them. His eyes were stinging his breathing was shallow. He slowed to a walk, it was difficult to breath. He tripped and fell to the ground. It was a body he had tripped over. Was it Justin, he panicked, crawling up to the body. He shook it, there was no response. It wasn't Justin. The person was dead, his whole body black and red. He tried to get up, but the smoke was so dense. Someone.....an arm, holding his, bringing him to his feet. He staggered with the other figure. The smoke was less, still the breathing burned. He was out. Someone had saved him. He fell to his knees, the other person did too. He looked across to see the sorrowful expression on Justin's face.

          It took them a further five minutes, before either of them were able to talk again.

         'There's.....no way.....he could have.....survived', Justin said between coughs.

         Junior looked at him. He was happy his cousin was fine, but for some reason felt no sorrow for Billy. It wasn't that he didn't like him. He did. Was it that he was becoming immune to the death around him.

         'We need to find Clarise', he finally said.

         The two cousins helped each other to their feet and staggered back in the direction from which they came.