Thirteen Roses Book Seven: War - An Apocalyptic Zombie Saga

By Michael Cairns

What if the zombie apocalypse was a cog in the machine, one part of a plan far larger than simply wiping out the human race?

*SPOILERS*

The end is coming.

Alex is dead and now all bets are off. But at least we don’t have to listen to his whining anymore.

Jackson may be about to follow him, as Seph loses what little patience he had left. But the big man didn’t come all this way just to get beaten to death in a cathedral.

Bayleigh and Luke are fighting for their lives in the Flights. Will they get past the demon children and Seph? Will they reach the Father in time to warn him of Az and Seph’s plans? Will they finally get it on?

Krystal’s been left in charge of the ladies and the zombie army is only minutes away. Ed, by the way, is pissed. He feels neglected and the only person who cared is dead. His timing, as always, is impeccable.

And then there’s Dave. Some part of me wants to feel sorry for him. But it’s a very small part, and I can’t quite hear him over the growling...

Their epic trial is coming to an end, but nothing is quite what it seems. The world, and everything beyond it, is about to be turned on its head. All will be revealed in this, the final book of Thirteen Roses.

If you've got this far, you probably don't need encouragement to click Buy Now, but just in case you do, upon reaching the end of Thirteen Roses, a random blessing will be bestowed upon you by the big man himself. No, seriously, I mean it. Really.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Cairns
• Release date: May 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781909699557

Michael Cairns

Michael Cairns was born at a young age and could write even before he could play the drums, but that was long ago, in the glory days - when he actually had hair. He loves chocolate, pineapple, playing gigs and outwitting his young daughter (the scores are about level but she's getting smarter every day). Michael is currently working hard on writing, getting enough sleep and keeping his hair. The first is going well, the other two...not so much. His current novels include: > Young adult, science fiction adventure series, 'A Game of War' 1. Childhood dreams 2. The end of innocence 3. Playing God 4. Breathing in space 5. Escape 6. Gateway to earth > Urban fantasy super-hero series, 'The Planets' 1. The spirit room 2. The story of Erie 3. The long way home >Paranormal horror post apocalyptic zombie series, 'Thirteen Roses' 1. Before (Books 2-6 due for release in spring)

Book preview

Thirteen Roses

An Apocalyptic Zombie Saga

Book Seven: War

by

Michael Cairns

Published by Cairns Publishing

Copyright © Michael Cairns (2015)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication

may be reproduced, distributed, or

transmitted in any form or by any means without the

prior written permission of the publisher.

1st Edition

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This is for my wife, who, as I write this, is upstairs caring for out two children. She has supported me beyond anything I could have ever hoped or expected, and it’s because of her it’s here. Even Jackson. Actually, especially Jackson.

Bayleigh

Bayleigh had one hand in the portal and could feel the strange pulling sensation that would carry her away from the Flights. She glanced behind and stopped, grabbing the edge of the wall to check herself.

Luke knelt on the floor, midway between her and Seph. He was curled up hugging himself, and beyond him, the demon boys were heading her way. She could still feel their claws on her flesh. She could remember the sound her t-shirt made as they tore it off and the low, eager grunting that accompanied it. She took a step towards Luke and he raised his head, looking at her with eyes heavy with tears.

He lifted one hand, as though he wanted her to pull him up, but his eyes weren’t fixed on hers. He was looking at something she couldn’t see.

‘Luke, get up.’

He blinked and shook his head. ‘What’s the point?’

‘What?’

He shook his head again, harder, and put his knuckles on the stone floor of Az’s chambers. One of the demon boys reached him and wrapped its arm around his throat. Luke roared, heaving himself to his feet and taking the boy with him. Bayleigh backed away, hand over her mouth at the savagery she saw in her friend’s face and the tendons that popped out as his mouth stretched wide open.

His hands went behind his head and he grabbed the demon’s ears. Moments later, a sound not unlike her t-shirt ripping, made her wince as one of the ears came away. The blood sprayed out like juice from a lemon and the demon released Luke, staggering away with its hands clamped over the wound. Those hands were yanked away moments later as Luke grabbed him.

‘LUKE.’

He ignored her cries, catching hold of the demon’s face. The boy screamed as Luke’s fingers dug into his skin. Bayleigh gagged as Luke tore the demon’s face off, revealing a mass of blood-covered muscle and bone beneath. The angel stood with its skin between his hands and stared at the creature collapsing to the floor.

His brother rushed over and fell by his side, cradling his destroyed face in his lap. Luke leant close to them and she was glad she couldn’t hear what he said. He stalked across to Seph who was on his knees and rising slowly to his feet. She heard what Luke said to him all too well.

‘Do you think this changes anything? All this does is make me more determined.’

‘You’re never going home.’

‘I already am home. The question that remains, is what will happen to you?’

Luke held out a hand and Bayleigh ran to grasp it. Luke yanked her past him and pushed her towards a narrow tunnel that led away from the portal. What was he doing? They had to get home. They had to get out of here. But he was right behind her, shoving her along, so she bowed her head and crept down the tunnel.

Seph’s voice boomed after them. ‘They won’t believe you. He won’t believe you. You’re here illegally, Luke, and he will punish you.’

Luke’s voice was too quiet for him to hear. She didn’t think she was supposed to hear it when he said. ‘I deserve to be punished.’

There was no sound of pursuit and, as the tunnel widened, she paused, catching her breath until she could talk. They stood in another chamber, the far end of which was open to a vast darkness, dotted with stars. She thought she could see other chambers, hanging like moths against a black curtain, each lit by tiny fires. ‘What are we doing? Why aren’t we leaving?’

‘Alex is dead.’

‘What?’

‘He’s dead. I don’t know what happened, but he’s dead.’

‘That’s what Seph meant.’ She swallowed. ‘You failed. I mean, you can’t get home now, can you?’

She waited for the answer, but when he didn’t respond, she thought of Alex instead, and the reality of it washed over her. She was dragged down into deep, murky waters, through which everything looked blurred. She found herself sitting, staring at nothing as tears ran unchecked down her cheeks and her hands scratched and pulled at her jeans.

She’d known her father 35 years and Alex barely two months, but she couldn’t believe he was gone. She couldn’t believe after two months of surviving, of feeling like they were getting somewhere, he was gone.

‘Get up.’

She sniffed and shook her head.

‘Get up, come on, we need to go. Seph will come after us, once he loses his confidence.’

It made no sense. She didn’t want to go anywhere except back to Earth, but he grabbed her and pulled her to her feet. She swatted at him and he gripped the sides of her head. She blinked away the tears and glared as he brought his face close to hers.

‘He’s dead. The only chance we have now is to find the Father and tell him what’s happened. We have to tell him Seph and Az’s plan.’

‘You mean, your only chance.’

‘What?’

‘Your only chance. This has nothing to do with me. The only chance you’re talking about is for you to get back here. Why drag me into it?’

‘I didn’t kill Alex.’

‘No, but you’re trying your hardest to get me killed. And what was that you did to the demon back there? There’s beating someone and then there’s just brutality.’

‘They killed Alex.’

‘How do you know it was them? How do you know it wasn’t just a bloody zombie?’

‘It was them, I promise you.’ He shook his head, snarling his frustration. ‘It doesn’t matter, come on.’

She pulled against his hand but he was stronger and almost tugged her off her feet.

‘Run, get a good take off.’

Given no choice, she’d rather run than walk, and by the time they reached the edge, she was out-pacing him. She almost came to a stop but he went past and pulled her out and, before she was ready, they were tumbling through space.

The first few seconds were spent hyperventilating until she thought she’d black out. When she didn’t, she calmed enough to take in what lay around her. They were falling past more of the chambers, hundreds, thousands of tiny homes, floating in space. All she could see of them was the entrance ways, but she felt sure some were far larger than they looked.

Her eyes were drawn down, to the dome that was rushing to meet them. It reminded her of something from India, one of the beautiful temples there, with the gold roofs. It had looked large the moment she noticed it, but now it filled the space below and was coming closer far faster than she wanted.

Her voice was snatched away as they fell and she had to shout to catch Luke’s attention. ‘How do we stop?’

He smiled and pointed at the dome.

‘I don’t want that to stop us.’ She yelled.

He shook his head and smiled some more and the urge to punch him returned. It faded, though, as their fall slowed and her body shifted sideways. It felt like a strong wind was pushing her and she tumbled head over heels as she was thrust away from the dome.

They drifted down beside it and another wind, blowing in the opposite direction, pushed her towards an open door in the side of the dome. From here it looked even more like a temple, and her mouth fell open as they were deposited on a white marble floor that ran all the way to white marble walls that ran all the way up, a hundred feet, if not more, to a white marble ceiling.

The effect was a little like being lost inside an ice cube. Only the temperature was perfect, despite her only wearing her bra. She was only wearing her bra, and there were people everywhere. She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to scramble to her feet at the same time.

Luke grinned and helped her up. ‘Shall we find you some clothes?’

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak civilly to him. It wasn’t his fault. He’d done everything he could to protect them. She couldn’t think about Alex anyway, not right now.

She distracted herself by wallowing in the utter surreality of being here, and the people who stared at her as they wandered past.

The first she noticed were three tiny people, maybe three feet high at the most. They flew past her at head height, leaving trails of light like vapour from a jet engine.

‘What are they?’

‘Sprites. All the crappy jobs none of us want, they get.’

‘They seem happy about it.’

‘Imagine the happiest person you know. Now imagine them always being happy. Then imagine them eating a bowl of sugar. That’s what a sprite is like all the time. The Father gives them the crap jobs just to keep them something close to bearable.’

She shook her head, forgetting to keep her arms around her as three angels walked past. She shied away, half expecting them to turn on her, but they smiled instead and she turned to follow them. Luke caught her arm and pulled her away down the corridor.

‘Might be best if we leave your top off. It’s keeping the focus off me.’

‘I don’t think my boobs have ever had so much attention. I want some clothes.’

He led her down one of the corridors that branched away from the first chamber. The traffic thinned out and she started to breath a little more slowly.

‘What if someone recognises you?’

‘They’re used to seeing me with wings and about a foot taller. My face is the same, as you know, but they’d have to look pretty hard before they were sure it was me.’

‘Won’t they know we’re humans?’

‘Some will. The higher beings will spot it. It’s why I got us away from the centre. But not many come down here if they can help it. Everyone’s far too busy and, if Seph is to believed, they’re even more busy at the moment. The entire population of Earth landing on your plate at once is enough to keep every being in the Flights running around for months.’

They reached a door upon which Luke rapped gently. There was no answer so he struck it again a bit harder and a voice came through the door. ‘I’m busy.’

Luke looked at her with a raised eyebrow and shrugged. He knocked again.

‘Still busy. Come back next year sometime.’

Luke leaned in close to the door. He wore a smile she hadn’t seen on him and his cheeks were flushed. She shifted from foot to foot, swallowing. She wasn’t sure she wanted to see the girl behind the door. She sounded pretty.

‘Are you sure you don’t have any time. We’re rather pressed ourselves and—’

The door flew open and Bayleigh’s heart sank. She was more than pretty. She was Indian, or at least looked Indian, and had the most amazing eyes she’d ever seen. They were the darkest brown she’d seen but were flecked with gold, just like Luke’s. She had a wide, smiling mouth and a face that couldn’t have been more symmetrical if someone had folded the paper in half when they drew her.

‘Luke. Oh my, come on in.’ She said, glancing up and down the corridor before waving them in.

Luke ushered her inside and closed the door right behind them. The woman gave Bayleigh a look and she couldn’t decide whether it was judgmental or just measured.

‘Hi, I’m Bayleigh.’

‘Sara. You’re human.’

‘Yeah. Is that okay?’ Why did she ask that?

Sara laughed and nodded. ‘Of course. It’s just unusual. Then again, so are you.’

She leant past Bayleigh and poked Luke in the chest. His bright smile fell off his face and he glared at her. ‘Do you know who’s fault that was?’ Luke asked.

‘The Father’s?’

Luke shook his head. Sara beckoned them further into the room, offering Bayleigh a chair. ‘Can I get you something to wear?’

‘Oh God, yes please.’

Sara smiled again and disappeared out the back. Bayleigh turned straight around to Luke. ‘Who is she?’

‘She’s Sara. She’s a goddess from the Hindu Pantheon.’

‘I thought you said there weren’t different religions.’

‘There aren’t, at least, not how people see it. They think it’s all separate, when in fact it’s all the same thing. She bears an identity that is more familiar to some than others, nothing more.’

‘So what about you? You just bear an identity too?’

‘Yes. I carry more power because I am the Father’s son, but as far as who I am, it’s no different than Sara.’

‘So who is she?’

‘I just told you.’

‘No, I mean, who is she to you?’

‘Oh.’ His face reddened and he shook his head. He was about to say more when she emerged from the back room carrying a beautiful top. It was a burnt red colour and felt like the softest silk when she put it in Bayleigh’s hands. She looked down at her tatty jeans and blushed. ‘I’m not sure I should take this. I can’t guarantee you’ll get it back.’

Sara waved it away and turned to Luke. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I need to see the Father.’

‘Don’t we all.’

‘What does that mean?’

Sara glanced at the floor for a moment before resting her hand on his arm. ‘You haven’t heard? Of course you haven’t. Luke, I’m sorry, but the Father’s missing. His guardians turned up about two weeks ago. They haven’t seen him in over a month and they’ve no idea where he is. He’s just gone.’

Jackson

He could smell blood. He could also smell piss, and it was coming from him. He tried to roll over but the pew had him trapped. His right arm was caught beneath him and he couldn’t feel it. It was broken! Sweat sprung up on his head and he wriggled and kicked to free himself from between the wooden benches.

One toppled over, slamming against the stone floor with a sound like a drum, and he rolled onto his side. Blood began to flow back into his right arm and pins and needles stabbed his flesh. The relief made him want to cry.

Where was he? He pushed himself up and rolled his head around his shoulders. His neck cracked and he groaned. How much more of this could his body take? His other arm was fine, blade still in place, and he stared at the blood dried and crusted on the metal. He’d wounded it.

He wouldn’t think of the angel as a ‘he’ anymore. There was nothing human about it, nothing natural at all. He’d stabbed it in the side and it got straight back up and beat the hell out of him. But he’d wounded it. He’d drawn blood and he could do it again. He just needed better weapons.

He should think of it as an animal. He’d never hunted anything before, but that was what he was doing. He was hunting a wild animal. It was wounded, so it would be fierce and angry, lashing out blindly. But that was just fine. The less it used its brain, the better.

Jackson climbed up the pew until he stood on wobbly legs. The cathedral was deserted, the eerie flickering light the only movement. Where had it gone? Where had Luke gone? He marched to the door and peered outside, but the darkness of the cavern stared straight back, keeping its secrets well.

He strode back down the aisle and sat in the front pew that was somehow standing despite the bastard’s attempts to throw him through every damn one of them. Jackson bowed his head and closed his eyes.

‘Dead Lord, in the short time in which you have allowed me into your service, I have been faithful. I have done everything in my power to make your will on Earth a reality. Now I am sworn to hunt down and kill your enemies. But I cannot do it without you. Show me the way, Lord, show me how I can defeat them and bring peace to the new world.’

He nodded, rocking gently back and forth. The Lord would answer. He had been quiet up till now, but he would recognise the desperation in Jackson’s voice, and know that this was the time to reveal himself.

The device hummed quietly, like a fly in a room, just out of sight. Jackson waited. He pretended not to notice the way his hand curled around the wreckage of the other, clinging on like he was about to fall. He squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to open them until he heard a voice, until he heard something.

Jackson waited, and the machine hummed.

He would never be able to say what made him raise his head and open his eyes, but he knew it was God that made the portal glow and appear. A door frame without a door, curved and pointed at the top, calling him. God was calling him home. Tears streaked his cheeks, running over the dried blood as he dragged his sleeve across his nose.

He wasn’t ready. He didn’t think he was ready. How could he go through the portal? What lay on the other side? Was it Hell?

So many questions to which he didn’t have the answers.

So many questions that didn’t matter.

God was calling him home.

He rose, ignoring the muscles that screamed in protest, and strode towards the portal. He had another moment as he reached it, when his breathing quickened and his hand grew