M. Marshall - The End Is Nigh

I don’t know how long I had sat watching her sleep when Liam came and sat down beside me. My nose alerted me to a familiar smell. I couldn’t place it at first, but then Liam held out a mug and waved it under my chin. He had one for himself in his other hand.

“Remember this? You won’t believe it, but all of the sockets in that back kitchen are working. They must have a backup generator or something.” The smell wafting up from the mug was hot chocolate. I was so grateful to him that I threw my arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek which I don’t think he had been expecting.

“I think that this might be the best gift I’ve ever had! How did you know to try the kettle?” He smiled broadly at my praise and handed me the mug. Then shrugged it off as if the act of kindness was nothing to him.

“I saw a light on the toaster and decided to investigate. I also found some more blankets although they are a size more suited to Rosa than us.” I looked out of the nearest window and realised that it was now the middle of the night. “With the streetlights not working, I haven’t got a clue where we are. I would feel better if we started our trek up North in the daylight. Do you mind?” He looked hopeful that I would agree, and I did. I was loath to wake Rosa while she slept so peacefully we had had a horrendous day, and I was shattered.

“Okay. I’m so tired I could sleep for a week. I’m going to stay here with Rosa; I want her to be able to see me when she wakes up.” After I had finished the hot chocolate, I moved Shadow over slightly from his spot by Rosa’s feet and lay down. Liam took my mug and disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a second cup for himself and some more blankets. He threw one down to me and then nestled himself on the other side of Rosa into a tiny mountain of soft play equipment stacked against the corner of the room.

“If you get cold in the night feel free to join me by the way. For the body heat I mean.” I laughed. “Hey I’m serious, It’s freezing. Aren’t you cold?” I smiled to myself in the darkness.

“I have my own little furnace to keep me warm.” I could see his giant frame tossing and turning about on the oversized, PVC covered shapes and had to stifle a giggle.

“Well, you could at least send that great big dog over my way. I mean you’ve got it all over there.”

“You can always move closer. I’m sure Shadow would be thrilled to be your little spoon. Goodnight.” I was so tired that I didn’t hear anything else and had nearly drifted off to sleep before I heard:

“Goodnight Elizabeth.”

I hadn’t been joking about the heat coming off Rosa. She was still far too hot. I woke in the night my back was freezing I could see my breath when I breathed out.

“I told you it was cold.”

“Jesus! You scared the crap out of me Liam. How long have you been lying there awake?” I tried to make out his outline in the dark.

“I told you I’m freezing my chops off over here. I can’t sleep, and you snore by the way.” I felt myself going red and felt grateful for the lack of light.

“Right. Fine. Come here then. I’m cold now too. Bring your blanket with you and be careful you don’t tread on Shadow he’s somewhere near Rosa’s feet.” Listening, I could hear him rustling in the black, but my eyes hadn’t adjusted to the room yet. It reminded me of that first night in the pantry after I’d damaged my eyes.

I felt him lie down behind me and he moved his arm over my shoulder to cover me up with part of his blanket. But instead of pulling back his arm he left it there, draped over me. He was spooning me, but I had already started to feel warmer so I didn’t protest. It was quite comforting lying there with his arms around me.

“Do you think they have given her a mild dose of radiation poisoning?” He asked.

“I don’t know. I hope not. Whatever it was Lynda implied that she had the cure in the Bunker’s medical corridor. She knew that I was leaving, I think that she was using it as a way to try and make me stay.” He was silent. “Does that exist?”

“Huh? Sorry, what?” He was falling asleep.

“Is there a cure for it? If you were exposed to a small dose of radiation?” I elbowed him for an answer. He grabbed my elbow and pinned it under his arm to stop me and nuzzled into the back of my neck.

“I don’t know kid. You’re asking the wrong person. Try to get some sleep.”

BEFORE OPENING MY eyes there was a brief, magical moment when I could have forgotten that any of this had started. I stirred with Matt’s arms holding me from behind, and my hand clutched onto Rosa’s. All three of us waking up in our bed at home. Rosa had often managed to end up with us in our room. Usually on the sleepless nights when we’d been too tired to let her cry it out.

I woke instead as the sunlight spread its warmth like an extra blanket covering all four of us lying on the floor of the nursery. When I opened my eyes, Rosa was lying there stroking Shadows nose as he watched over her faithfully like a strange kind of four-legged guardian angel. When he noticed that I was awake too, he leaned forward and covered my face from chin to forehead with his tongue.

“Ergh. Nice. Good morning Shadow.” I stretched my arm out and affectionately rubbed his head. “Good boy.” Rosa smiled at the sound of my voice and turned on her side towards me for a cuddle. “Good morning sweetheart.”

“Good morning! How’s the patient?” Liam threaded his arms around my waist and squeezed me to him.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

“Oh. Shame.” He joked. I felt his chin on my shoulder as he leaned over me to get a better look at Rosa. It was the closest we’d been all night, and it felt so good that I wanted to stay there. Maybe if I had been another version of myself, I might have been more responsive. As if he knew what was on my mind he lifted his chin and sat up on his elbow.

“Sorry. Still cold I think.” He felt my head with the back of his hand. I got the feeling that he was interested in me which brought up some conflicting emotions. But I couldn’t think about it. I had more important things to deal with. After all of the crazy things that had happened, I could be reading him all wrong.

“You sure you’re cold? You’ve been keeping me warm all night. You aren’t getting ill too are you?”

“No, no I’m fine. Did you say there was a bathroom? Does it have a bath or a shower?” Getting embarrassed I got up and brushed down my jeans. They were still covered in mud, and so was Rosa. We needed a change of clothes and a wash badly.

“Yes, there’s an electric shower which looks like it might work and the kettle works. Would you like me to attempt to run you both a bath?” He gave me a boyish grin. Good God, but he was attractive when he said things like that.

“Yes please!”

“I could always hop in with you if you needed some help scrubbing your back?” He winked. I couldn’t tell if he was joking.

“That’s awfully kind of you, but I think we’ll manage. I tell you what, since you’re so thoughtful I’ll leave you the water in the tub if you want to get in after us?” I laughed out loud at the thought.

“You tease!” Liam threw back over his shoulder. Playfully flicking me his middle finger as he left to go and run the bath.

What a charmer.

I managed to find Rosa a whole new outfit made up mostly from items out of a box labelled “Lost and Found.” I’d remembered seeing a lovely warm fleece last night hanging on one of the pegs in the hallway. At least she was clean. Her temperature had spiked again when she had come out of the bath, but after another dose of paracetamol, it was on its way back down. We needed to find a doctor.