Biting the frost of silence, can you cure us of this fate?
Author: Tasminalice
Rating: NC-17 (language, moderately graphic violence)
Length: 2350 words, approx.
Summary:
The quiet has shielded all intent,
on the ground it appears.
A Skins-themed apocalyptic story.
A/N: Second part of This; Finality. Full author notes, in part 1 (see journal).
--
The morning didn't bring any great new revelation. There had been no messages back to the group, no phone calls, no rocket flares, nothing. Everyone was on edge, the atmosphere thick with anxiety and worry.
It was colder than it should be, as well. A slight frost had descended on the woods, leaving the trees and undergrowth tinged with white.The fire had burned down to embers at around 3am, and the only one awake had been Effy, who hadn't thought to keep it alive.
Emily and Naomi had spent the night huddled under a mass of blankets. Naomi had picked a leaf out of Emily's hair once they were up, and Emily had smiled back warmly, temporarily forgetting their situation.
Katie and Freddie had slept on a blanket, in one sleeping bag, only possible because of Katie's size, whilst Thomas, Pandora and JJ had retreated to their respect tents. Effy had hardly shut her eyes.
After a rather unsatisfying breakfast of cold sausages, chocolate and fizzy drinks, a council was called.
It was JJ's idea, originally called a "council of war", but after glares directed at him, he changed it to the "council of planning and forward thinking." A less foreboding name. The discussion started almost immediately, with an argument.
"I say we go and find the hunters that Cook said he saw, and have a look around there," Naomi thought aloud, more to herself than others.
"And what, get fucked up like that man I saw?" Cook barked back, not entirely out of anger.
"I actually want to see what happened, yeah. Sorry if your story doesn't quite fall into place," she shouted back.
"What the fuck happens when you don't come back, Naomi? Jesus Christ. If the radio was right, these aren't games, yeah?"
"And what the fuck did the radio say, Cook? Not much thats worth taking notice of."
Effy saw Emily's grip around Naomi's waist tighten as Cook said she might not come back.
So that's what love is, she thought. The inability to let go.
Effy sighed and rubbed her eyes, messing up the remnants of her makeup. The tension and lack of sleep was getting to her.
By now, the argument had grown to encompass all of the "council," except JJ, he was rocking back and forth where he sat, and Thomas and Panda, who stood away from the group, watching.
" - none of us saw anything, apart from you - "
"Fucking sorry then, yeah? I - "
It was beginning to blur, Effy fought to stay in control. Deep breath, and then another. She needed quiet, to think, she needed -
"Stop."
Everyone turned to look at Thomas, who had intervened.
"You all need to stop shouting, right now." They stood silent, stunned.
"Arguing like children will not help our situation. You are being loud enough for the whole forest to hear us," he paused and surveyed. " And that we do not want."
"So what's the plan then. Thommo?" Cook stayed belligerent.
"I too want to see the hunters camp. And besides, we only have enough food to last us today, if that. They will have guns, and equipment we need." As against it as Cook was, he saw the wisdom in this course of action. They had three tents, enough sleeping bags for all of them, blankets, a gas cooker, no food, and vodka. The hunters would have more of the things they needed.
"They were pretty creepy though. One of them tried to... you know... do stuff when I was in the shop. I don't really fancy seeing them again, yeah?" Katie shifted in closer to Freddie, who put his arm around her. Effy tried to block it out.
"Let's put it to a vote," JJ beamed, rubbing his hands together.
In the end, everyone voted for finding the camp, except Cook, which was expected. They all agreed that knowing something was better than the current; knowing nothing. Even if that something wasn't what they wanted to hear.
Cook grudgingly told them that he remembered the way, although "it was dark though, and I ran. It might be longer."
"So. Who's coming with Cook and I?" Thomas asked.
Silence.
This question led to another round of discussion, over who were the fastest runners, (to make a quick getaway), who could carry the most stuff, who actually wanted to go (Freddie, Thomas and Naomi, Cook had to come), and the best excuses as to why they were poking around in someone elses camp (we went camping, and got lost, see?).
--
Thomas made the very agreed-upon decision to move the camp to a more secluded spot. He left with JJ to assess the surrounding woodland.
They were swallowed up by the forest, Effy shivered. It was as if they had never been with them. The wilderness did that, though. It erased time. With the sun hanging in the sky, Effy guessed it was about midday. The sky was a shade of pale, burdensome grey.
"It's all a bit Rambo, isn't it?" Katie stated, only slightly disapprovingly. "I mean, I only brought enough clothes for one night. And these jeans are getting like, grass stained."
She became the self-appointed stockpilist, "if that even is a word," and only of "clothes and bedding, because I can't cook for shite."
All in all, the general mood was anxious but cheerful. It all seemed like an unexpected extension on their camping trip, the chance to go a bit feral. The anxiety partly stemmed from the fact that even though only two members of the group weren't with them, the clearing they occupied already seemed emptier. A notable absence.
The tents came down, and all the bags were packed away, ready for their removal to the new camp. Whilst waiting for JJ and Thomas's return, they sat and theorized.
"Massive like, electrical failure," Katie ventured.
"Doesn't explain the cellphones. They'd keep running. They have kept running," Naomi countered, flicking the hair out of her eyes impatiently.
"Sorry then," Katie spat, crossing her arms. "You're idea is?"
Naomi shrugged. "Virus?"
"Then how are we still alive?" Freddie asked. "We'd be dead too. Unless someone started vomiting blood when I wasn't looking."
"The air, maybe."
They all turned to look at Effy, who'd spoken for the first time in hours.
Emily agreed. "Yeah, the oxygen from the forest, sort of, filters it out. I don't know."
Naomi scoffed playfully, Emily punched her lightly in return, before settling deeper into Naomi's reclining form. Both Katie and Effy rolled their eyes, but only one of them noticed the other.
Cook was sitting on the outside of the cluster, repeatedly scratching the forest floor with a small stick. His movements were jerky, staccato. A long stretch from his previous confident fluidity. Effy tipped her head slightly, pondered this.
Behind her, the sound of a stick breaking.
Effy whirled around, instinctively staying low, ready to spring up.
"Wow. Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you." JJ mumbled.
She sat back down on the blanket, letting out a long breath. Giving the rest of the group a "what?" look, Effy lit up a cigarette.
--
Thomas and JJ led them to a small dell, next to a creek. The grass was thick, and the undergrowth surrounding it dense. Trees fringed the clearing, giving the illusion of a secure garden, or something similar. A natural floodbank stood about hip high on the far end of glade, and over that, a small rock face. The creek below was clear and fast-flowing, about knee deep.
JJ was grinning wildly, having found the spot. "Thomas walked right past it, anyone would. It's so shut away."
The the campsite given the stamp of approval, the group made their way back to the bags.
The closer they got to their original camping spot, the quieter it became. Naomi and Emily didn't talk, only held hands tightly. Even Katie didn't keep up her banter with Freddie, who was silent. The thought of separation was daunting, to say the least. Cook began to shake, ever so slightly. He didn't meet anyone's eyes, and Effy noticed the stick she'd seen him with earlier was in his back pocket.
At the bags, Naomi changed into some scraggy trackpants, t-shirt and a navy hoodie that she'd be more comfortable in. Katie, to Naomi's surprise, didn't say a word. Emily watched, frozen.
"We'd better get going, the sun has started to descend," Thomas pointed out. "I don't want to be out when it sets."
He was the calmest of the lot.
"I'll be fine, Ems. Back before you know it." Naomi offered a smile.
Emily reached up, and held her tightly. "If in doubt," she whispered. "Run."
Katie was equally worried.
"You'd better fucking come back, Freddie. Be careful, yeah?"
"Of course babe," he grinned, and kissed her.
"Je t'aime. I will see you soon," said Thomas softly.
Pandora gave a small smile in return.
Effy nodded at Cook, who nodded back. "Take care of yourself."
"Always do, babe. You know me."
Effy couldn't watch them leave.
The absence grew, with a sense of physical loss. A gap of voice and body had arisen in their midst.
--
They walked in a strange formation. Cook leading, with Freddie slightly behind. Thomas off to the right, his careful eyes watching for movement. Naomi on the left, behind Thomas. They didn't talk, except for a few muttered words between the two boys in front.
Even though the wood was dense, and Naomi couldn't see further than a few metres in most directions, she couldn't avoid the feeling that somehow she had become more open, more exposed. With only three people in her immediate surroundings, the sense of apprehension grew with each step.
The sun dappled through the leaves, giving the light a rippling effect. Wind blowing softly over the trees and the sounds of birds would have made the walk peaceful, but Naomi was anything but.
"Shouldn't be much further, lads," Cook grinned forcedly, with a wink in Naomi's direction.
She rolled her eyes and continued walking, absent-mindedly picking at leaves as she walked past them.
A few minutes later, Thomas handed her a branch. It was around a meter long, and as thick as her wrist.
"For trouble," he nodded firmly. She took it, unaccustomed to the weight. Cook and Freddie were swinging theirs enthusiastically, testing distance and arm room. Doing the same thing, Naomi felt a bit ridiculous.
The sun had come down a significant amount by the time Naomi's monotonous plodding was interrupted.
"See that?" Cook pointing ahead, into the foliage.
"What, that tree? Yes, I see it. Do you see that, Cook? Pretty sure that's a tree as well." Naomi huffed.
Cook shook his head maniacally. "No, that dark blue sheet. That's a tent, that is. We prob'ly came around the back. That's why it was longer than fifteen minutes, Freds."
There was a pause.
"So.. what are we waiting for, then?" Freddie broke the silence.
"We should not rush in," Thomas replied quietly. "Naomi and I will take this side. You two go around the back, by that other tent, and come in from that side, yes?"
The other two boys were taken aback slightly at the way he had taken the lead, but nodded and crept off, mimicking the stealthy way Thomas used to move almost silently.
Whilst waiting for Cook and Freddie to enter the other side of the camp, Naomi began to shiver uncontrollably. She wasn't cold, it was as if her muscles, particularly those in her lower back and thighs, were reacting to the stress and her nerves. Breathing deeply, she willed them to stop, and they did, before her mind wandered, and they began to spasm again.
Christ, she thought. I'm turning into a wreck.
She looked up in time to see Freddie and Cook making there way softly into the middle of the camp. Thomas touched her arm, motioning her to start walking as well. Her feet began to move of their own accord, taking the rest of her body with her.
Being out in a semi-open clearing did nothing to lessen her feelings of being exposed. Naomi's heart began to pound in her ears, her stomach was a series of knots.
She was aware of Thomas in front of her, moving in time with her. Or was it her moving in time with him? She didn't know.
They formed a group next to the long-dead fire. Still nervously checking over their shoulders, they had a quick conversation.
"Get bags, fill them," Thomas was saying, Naomi was only half listening, but her feet, again, were thinking for themselves. She moved to a hiking-pack, emptying most of it's contents -
"Foods here," Cook said urgently. He began stuffing packets into another hiking backpack, along with a few empty waterbottles. Naomi's subconscious commended him on his forward thinking.
She was next to him, grabbing anything she could, putting it into the bag, Naomi was in autopilot. A few torches made themselves seen, she got them, a compass, several lighters, quite a few packs of what looked like bullets -
Naomi would later wonder to herself what the hell she was thinking, bullets, but autopilot was on, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.
More packets of what looked like soup, batteries, a little box -
A scream split the rushing silence.
--
Someone, something, in green plaid, was lying, thrashing, over Freddie.
Naomi, still on autopilot, watched it (not believing), take a bloodred chunk out of his mocha neck.
Watched, as the others watched, before watching her hand find her branch - (thick as a wrist, a metre long) - and bring it down on the thing's head.
Watched in disbelief as her hand brought it down, again. And again.
Watched as red sprayed, (didn't know if it was it's, or Freddie's).
Listened as her heart screamed, louder than thoughts, louder than Cook's horrified cry.
Watched, as it's head bent at an angle (no crack of bone, her subconscious observed placidly).
Watched as it folded off of Freddie, watched as his life drained away.
--
Rating: NC-17 (language, moderately graphic violence)
Length: 2350 words, approx.
Summary:
The quiet has shielded all intent,
on the ground it appears.
A Skins-themed apocalyptic story.
A/N: Second part of This; Finality. Full author notes, in part 1 (see journal).
--
The morning didn't bring any great new revelation. There had been no messages back to the group, no phone calls, no rocket flares, nothing. Everyone was on edge, the atmosphere thick with anxiety and worry.
It was colder than it should be, as well. A slight frost had descended on the woods, leaving the trees and undergrowth tinged with white.The fire had burned down to embers at around 3am, and the only one awake had been Effy, who hadn't thought to keep it alive.
Emily and Naomi had spent the night huddled under a mass of blankets. Naomi had picked a leaf out of Emily's hair once they were up, and Emily had smiled back warmly, temporarily forgetting their situation.
Katie and Freddie had slept on a blanket, in one sleeping bag, only possible because of Katie's size, whilst Thomas, Pandora and JJ had retreated to their respect tents. Effy had hardly shut her eyes.
After a rather unsatisfying breakfast of cold sausages, chocolate and fizzy drinks, a council was called.
It was JJ's idea, originally called a "council of war", but after glares directed at him, he changed it to the "council of planning and forward thinking." A less foreboding name. The discussion started almost immediately, with an argument.
"I say we go and find the hunters that Cook said he saw, and have a look around there," Naomi thought aloud, more to herself than others.
"And what, get fucked up like that man I saw?" Cook barked back, not entirely out of anger.
"I actually want to see what happened, yeah. Sorry if your story doesn't quite fall into place," she shouted back.
"What the fuck happens when you don't come back, Naomi? Jesus Christ. If the radio was right, these aren't games, yeah?"
"And what the fuck did the radio say, Cook? Not much thats worth taking notice of."
Effy saw Emily's grip around Naomi's waist tighten as Cook said she might not come back.
So that's what love is, she thought. The inability to let go.
Effy sighed and rubbed her eyes, messing up the remnants of her makeup. The tension and lack of sleep was getting to her.
By now, the argument had grown to encompass all of the "council," except JJ, he was rocking back and forth where he sat, and Thomas and Panda, who stood away from the group, watching.
" - none of us saw anything, apart from you - "
"Fucking sorry then, yeah? I - "
It was beginning to blur, Effy fought to stay in control. Deep breath, and then another. She needed quiet, to think, she needed -
"Stop."
Everyone turned to look at Thomas, who had intervened.
"You all need to stop shouting, right now." They stood silent, stunned.
"Arguing like children will not help our situation. You are being loud enough for the whole forest to hear us," he paused and surveyed. " And that we do not want."
"So what's the plan then. Thommo?" Cook stayed belligerent.
"I too want to see the hunters camp. And besides, we only have enough food to last us today, if that. They will have guns, and equipment we need." As against it as Cook was, he saw the wisdom in this course of action. They had three tents, enough sleeping bags for all of them, blankets, a gas cooker, no food, and vodka. The hunters would have more of the things they needed.
"They were pretty creepy though. One of them tried to... you know... do stuff when I was in the shop. I don't really fancy seeing them again, yeah?" Katie shifted in closer to Freddie, who put his arm around her. Effy tried to block it out.
"Let's put it to a vote," JJ beamed, rubbing his hands together.
In the end, everyone voted for finding the camp, except Cook, which was expected. They all agreed that knowing something was better than the current; knowing nothing. Even if that something wasn't what they wanted to hear.
Cook grudgingly told them that he remembered the way, although "it was dark though, and I ran. It might be longer."
"So. Who's coming with Cook and I?" Thomas asked.
Silence.
This question led to another round of discussion, over who were the fastest runners, (to make a quick getaway), who could carry the most stuff, who actually wanted to go (Freddie, Thomas and Naomi, Cook had to come), and the best excuses as to why they were poking around in someone elses camp (we went camping, and got lost, see?).
--
Thomas made the very agreed-upon decision to move the camp to a more secluded spot. He left with JJ to assess the surrounding woodland.
They were swallowed up by the forest, Effy shivered. It was as if they had never been with them. The wilderness did that, though. It erased time. With the sun hanging in the sky, Effy guessed it was about midday. The sky was a shade of pale, burdensome grey.
"It's all a bit Rambo, isn't it?" Katie stated, only slightly disapprovingly. "I mean, I only brought enough clothes for one night. And these jeans are getting like, grass stained."
She became the self-appointed stockpilist, "if that even is a word," and only of "clothes and bedding, because I can't cook for shite."
All in all, the general mood was anxious but cheerful. It all seemed like an unexpected extension on their camping trip, the chance to go a bit feral. The anxiety partly stemmed from the fact that even though only two members of the group weren't with them, the clearing they occupied already seemed emptier. A notable absence.
The tents came down, and all the bags were packed away, ready for their removal to the new camp. Whilst waiting for JJ and Thomas's return, they sat and theorized.
"Massive like, electrical failure," Katie ventured.
"Doesn't explain the cellphones. They'd keep running. They have kept running," Naomi countered, flicking the hair out of her eyes impatiently.
"Sorry then," Katie spat, crossing her arms. "You're idea is?"
Naomi shrugged. "Virus?"
"Then how are we still alive?" Freddie asked. "We'd be dead too. Unless someone started vomiting blood when I wasn't looking."
"The air, maybe."
They all turned to look at Effy, who'd spoken for the first time in hours.
Emily agreed. "Yeah, the oxygen from the forest, sort of, filters it out. I don't know."
Naomi scoffed playfully, Emily punched her lightly in return, before settling deeper into Naomi's reclining form. Both Katie and Effy rolled their eyes, but only one of them noticed the other.
Cook was sitting on the outside of the cluster, repeatedly scratching the forest floor with a small stick. His movements were jerky, staccato. A long stretch from his previous confident fluidity. Effy tipped her head slightly, pondered this.
Behind her, the sound of a stick breaking.
Effy whirled around, instinctively staying low, ready to spring up.
"Wow. Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you." JJ mumbled.
She sat back down on the blanket, letting out a long breath. Giving the rest of the group a "what?" look, Effy lit up a cigarette.
--
Thomas and JJ led them to a small dell, next to a creek. The grass was thick, and the undergrowth surrounding it dense. Trees fringed the clearing, giving the illusion of a secure garden, or something similar. A natural floodbank stood about hip high on the far end of glade, and over that, a small rock face. The creek below was clear and fast-flowing, about knee deep.
JJ was grinning wildly, having found the spot. "Thomas walked right past it, anyone would. It's so shut away."
The the campsite given the stamp of approval, the group made their way back to the bags.
The closer they got to their original camping spot, the quieter it became. Naomi and Emily didn't talk, only held hands tightly. Even Katie didn't keep up her banter with Freddie, who was silent. The thought of separation was daunting, to say the least. Cook began to shake, ever so slightly. He didn't meet anyone's eyes, and Effy noticed the stick she'd seen him with earlier was in his back pocket.
At the bags, Naomi changed into some scraggy trackpants, t-shirt and a navy hoodie that she'd be more comfortable in. Katie, to Naomi's surprise, didn't say a word. Emily watched, frozen.
"We'd better get going, the sun has started to descend," Thomas pointed out. "I don't want to be out when it sets."
He was the calmest of the lot.
"I'll be fine, Ems. Back before you know it." Naomi offered a smile.
Emily reached up, and held her tightly. "If in doubt," she whispered. "Run."
Katie was equally worried.
"You'd better fucking come back, Freddie. Be careful, yeah?"
"Of course babe," he grinned, and kissed her.
"Je t'aime. I will see you soon," said Thomas softly.
Pandora gave a small smile in return.
Effy nodded at Cook, who nodded back. "Take care of yourself."
"Always do, babe. You know me."
Effy couldn't watch them leave.
The absence grew, with a sense of physical loss. A gap of voice and body had arisen in their midst.
--
They walked in a strange formation. Cook leading, with Freddie slightly behind. Thomas off to the right, his careful eyes watching for movement. Naomi on the left, behind Thomas. They didn't talk, except for a few muttered words between the two boys in front.
Even though the wood was dense, and Naomi couldn't see further than a few metres in most directions, she couldn't avoid the feeling that somehow she had become more open, more exposed. With only three people in her immediate surroundings, the sense of apprehension grew with each step.
The sun dappled through the leaves, giving the light a rippling effect. Wind blowing softly over the trees and the sounds of birds would have made the walk peaceful, but Naomi was anything but.
"Shouldn't be much further, lads," Cook grinned forcedly, with a wink in Naomi's direction.
She rolled her eyes and continued walking, absent-mindedly picking at leaves as she walked past them.
A few minutes later, Thomas handed her a branch. It was around a meter long, and as thick as her wrist.
"For trouble," he nodded firmly. She took it, unaccustomed to the weight. Cook and Freddie were swinging theirs enthusiastically, testing distance and arm room. Doing the same thing, Naomi felt a bit ridiculous.
The sun had come down a significant amount by the time Naomi's monotonous plodding was interrupted.
"See that?" Cook pointing ahead, into the foliage.
"What, that tree? Yes, I see it. Do you see that, Cook? Pretty sure that's a tree as well." Naomi huffed.
Cook shook his head maniacally. "No, that dark blue sheet. That's a tent, that is. We prob'ly came around the back. That's why it was longer than fifteen minutes, Freds."
There was a pause.
"So.. what are we waiting for, then?" Freddie broke the silence.
"We should not rush in," Thomas replied quietly. "Naomi and I will take this side. You two go around the back, by that other tent, and come in from that side, yes?"
The other two boys were taken aback slightly at the way he had taken the lead, but nodded and crept off, mimicking the stealthy way Thomas used to move almost silently.
Whilst waiting for Cook and Freddie to enter the other side of the camp, Naomi began to shiver uncontrollably. She wasn't cold, it was as if her muscles, particularly those in her lower back and thighs, were reacting to the stress and her nerves. Breathing deeply, she willed them to stop, and they did, before her mind wandered, and they began to spasm again.
Christ, she thought. I'm turning into a wreck.
She looked up in time to see Freddie and Cook making there way softly into the middle of the camp. Thomas touched her arm, motioning her to start walking as well. Her feet began to move of their own accord, taking the rest of her body with her.
Being out in a semi-open clearing did nothing to lessen her feelings of being exposed. Naomi's heart began to pound in her ears, her stomach was a series of knots.
She was aware of Thomas in front of her, moving in time with her. Or was it her moving in time with him? She didn't know.
They formed a group next to the long-dead fire. Still nervously checking over their shoulders, they had a quick conversation.
"Get bags, fill them," Thomas was saying, Naomi was only half listening, but her feet, again, were thinking for themselves. She moved to a hiking-pack, emptying most of it's contents -
"Foods here," Cook said urgently. He began stuffing packets into another hiking backpack, along with a few empty waterbottles. Naomi's subconscious commended him on his forward thinking.
She was next to him, grabbing anything she could, putting it into the bag, Naomi was in autopilot. A few torches made themselves seen, she got them, a compass, several lighters, quite a few packs of what looked like bullets -
Naomi would later wonder to herself what the hell she was thinking, bullets, but autopilot was on, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.
More packets of what looked like soup, batteries, a little box -
A scream split the rushing silence.
--
Someone, something, in green plaid, was lying, thrashing, over Freddie.
Naomi, still on autopilot, watched it (not believing), take a bloodred chunk out of his mocha neck.
Watched, as the others watched, before watching her hand find her branch - (thick as a wrist, a metre long) - and bring it down on the thing's head.
Watched in disbelief as her hand brought it down, again. And again.
Watched as red sprayed, (didn't know if it was it's, or Freddie's).
Listened as her heart screamed, louder than thoughts, louder than Cook's horrified cry.
Watched, as it's head bent at an angle (no crack of bone, her subconscious observed placidly).
Watched as it folded off of Freddie, watched as his life drained away.
--