Alex Knightly - Sudden Darkness - A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Thriller

“Well I don’t know where you think we’re going to go,” Terry said with a sigh. “This is the only home I’ve got.”

She gritted her teeth. “I saw the army at King’s Cross yesterday. They’re rounding people up and putting them in the station because they don’t have enough people to deal with this. Is that what you want?” She swallowed. “I have an alternative.”

A funny look passed over Clive’s face. “Give me a moment,” he said, right before he closed the door in their faces.

When Clive came back and let them in a few minutes later, Annie expect to meet a pleasant older woman, but there was no-one else in the flat. She looked at the closed bedroom door, frowning. Had she imagined that voice?

What was going on?

She swallowed back her curiosity. What did it matter? She had one job to do—and that was to convince them to go with her.

Clive sighed. “There’s nothing I can do about people hanging around outside.”

“That’s not what I came here to talk to you about. It made me think, that’s all. I’ve just been…” She trailed off, not wanting to tell a policeman that she’d just come from looting a shop. “Look, I went to King’s Cross yesterday. I know it was silly, but I had to be sure the trains weren’t running. Of course they weren’t. There were soldiers there making people go into the station. I spoke to a soldier who more or less ordered me inside. It’s compulsory. It won’t be long before they come here and round you all up.”

“Did they have food and water?”

“Yes they did, but do you really want to be locked up in a station for months or maybe years? They don’t know what they’re dealing with.”

“And you do?” Terry looked sceptical.

She looked at each of them in turn and nodded. “I’ve got a fair idea. I’m pretty sure it was an EMP strike. Do you know what that is?”

Both men shook their heads.

“I’m not sure on the exact science, but it’s devastating. It’s always been theoretical, as far as I knew. It’s an electromagnetic pulse that’s capable of frying any electronics within a huge radius. We’re talking entire countries. It’s possible the whole of Britain is affected. In fact, that seems more and more likely because if it was localised, reinforcements would have driven in by now.”

“Look, we need to get out. I have a farm outside York. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s five acres we were setting up to be self-sufficient until…” she swallowed and blinked back the tears that suddenly swam up in her eyes. “If we can get there, we’ll be safe. What do you think? There are three other bikes out the back—which we should move inside, by the way.”

“Those are ours,” Clive said. “And they’re—”

“You want us to cycle to York with you? That must be…” Terry paused and shook his head.

“Two hundred miles,” she said, feeling resigned. “Two hundred miles with some pretty challenging hills to cover on the way.”

“Are you mad?”

She tried not to let their scepticism deflate her. “No. I wish I was. The power’s not going to be restored. Not ever. Everything’s going to have to be built up again from scratch. Don’t you see? London’s got eight million odd people. Maybe closer to nine now. You’ll have to worry about diseases that haven’t been heard of for more than a hundred years. No,” she said shaking her head, aware of how shrill her voice had become. “You won’t even get to that. People aren’t prepared. You’ll all starve before next week is out. That’s if you’re not murdered before then for what little of value you’ve got.”

“Keep your voice down, please,” Clive snapped.

She winced. Perhaps she’d been too direct but she needed them to see. She wasn’t being dramatic—as far as she was concerned, anyone staying in London was doomed. “But it’s true. I’m trying to tell you what’s going to happen unless—”

“Unless we do what you want.”

“Yes, Terry,” she said as calmly as she could. “Unless you do what I want. It’s not like I’m the only one who’ll benefit. You’ll starve otherwise.”

“I have food.”

“Maybe you do. But how long’s that going to last you? You have nowhere to grow food. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. That’s it. You’ll be fighting with eight million other people for what little resources there are.”

“Enough,” Clive hissed. “Look, it doesn’t matter. Even if what you say is true, it’s out of the question. It’s too far.”

“What’s a few days in exchange for sustainable food sources and safety? The farm is miles from anywhere. It’s the only sensible choice. I’m not going to deny I’m asking for selfish reasons. I’d rather not have to go alone. But isn’t that a fair trade? Cycle two hundred miles and join us at the farm. We have plenty of crops and animals. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”

Clive shook his head, lips pursed, and she knew his answer was going to stay the same no matter how much she pushed him.

“You think I’m mad.”

He sighed. “It all seems rather farfetched.”

She turned to Terry. “Well?”

He shifted in his seat. “Two hundred miles.”

“Just under. Yeah.”

“It’d need to be just under by a lot.”

Annie sighed and closed her eyes. It had been a gamble. She had to wait until morning anyway, so she’d lost nothing.

No , her gut instinct screamed. Now isn’t the time to be proud and give up. It’ll be safer if you have company.

“Please,” she whispered. “Didn’t you hear what I said about the army? You’ll be safe, but you won’t be free. All I’m asking is think about joining me. It’ll be worth it for a few days of hard work.”

“What you’re saying is crazy.”

She shook her head. “Of course it is. But what other explanation is there? Where are the police? Where are the politicians? What I’m saying makes sense and you know it.”

Clive looked deep in thought.

It was Terry who spoke. “If London’s so dangerous, what the hell are you still doing here, eh? You’re not from here. That’s not your flat.”

She flushed. “So? What does it matter if it’s my flat or not?”

“It matters,” he snapped. “You have no ties to this place. So why are you still sticking around? It’s a fair question when you’re trying to convince us to leave.”

She laughed—it was a shocked reaction more than anything else. “Because it took me a while to realise this was actually caused by an EMP. I would have gone today if it hadn’t been for what I saw on the streets.” She looked sheepishly at Clive. “If you must know, I was breaking into an outdoors shop to get supplies. That’s how seriously I take this. You’re in danger. We’re all in danger. I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning. It’s not too late to join me. What happens when a city of eight million people runs out of food? What then?”

“Look, you’d better go,” Clive said, staring at his hands.

Annie tried not to let it get to her. She was going either way. What else was she going to do? She’d be more at risk in London than she was on the road. She couldn’t lock herself in the flat forever.

“What do you think?” she said to Terry, as she closed the door behind them. “How do you explain what’s going on out there?”

He shrugged. “I can’t. But I know one thing. I’m safer in here than on a bike out there in the middle of winter. It’s the maddest idea I’ve ever heard.”

She went back downstairs without another word. She agreed with him. It was madness. But it was the only choice she had.