She didn’t want to express gratitude for simply saving her. She wanted to thank him for everything that came before. For never giving up. For entering her life. For falling in love with her and allowing her to be lucky enough to fall back in love.
Perhaps there would be some miracle in the next few minutes. Heaven would see what Oscar had given for them, what he had done in their name, the way he had saved the world, and they would be forgiving. Perhaps they would grant him a longer life, would restore his body, would tell him he deserved a second chance.
They would go on holiday, just them. Maybe somewhere in Devon, or the south of France. They would go to the countryside. Get a dog. Take it for walks in the afternoon, and on late evening strolls.
They would stop at a pub. Have pub food. Sit in the beer garden until it closed, then walk back to their Air B&B.
They would hold each other until they slept.
They would kiss each other when they awoke.
And then they would do it all over again.
She went to tell Oscar, to reveal these plans she had made, the life she had imagined for them and the happiness they could share.
But, seeing as she didn’t have time to say any of it, she summed it up with three perfect words.
“I love you.”
Oscar’s head dropped.
The grip of his hand loosened.
His body was empty.
April did all she could to hold in tears, and she wiped a few on her sleeve.
She kept her hand between Oscar’s limp fingers until she couldn’t bear to hold them any longer.
She sat up.
Placed a hand on Oscar’s forehead, and moved it down to close his eyes.
She kissed him on the forehead and walked back inside.
60
April walked inside, and Thea put her arm around her.
She forced a smile, albeit a teary one.
Lorenzo had left a number to call when Oscar’s body was ready. Thea would call it in a moment. For now, she just wanted to be there for April the way April had always been there for her. To let her take a moment. To let her feel what she was feeling and know that it was okay to be upset.
“It’s over,” Thea said. “The war is finally over.”
April chuckled a little at her naivety.
“It’s never over.”
“What do you mean?” Thea asked.
“We didn’t defeat The Devil. We just sent him back to Hell.”
April left Thea’s embrace and put the kettle on.
“Let me,” Thea said, taking the kettle from her. “You sit down.”
April let Thea make the tea, but did not sit down. She stood, gazing out of the doorway, looking at Oscar’s body for the last time.
Just one last glance, then they’d call the number, and he’d be gone.
Thea finished the cups of tea and took them into the living room. April followed.
She made the call to Lorenzo, then they sat in comfortable silence, sipping on their drinks.
But there was something Thea had to know. The right time or not, she didn’t understand April’s comment.
“If this isn’t the end,” Thea asked, “then what do we do when he comes back? What would we do if he tries again?”
April did not answer Thea straight away. She looked down, considering this question. It was a question she knew she’d have to answer, but she thought she’d have more time before she had to do so.
Feeling Thea’s stare on her, she felt pressured to say something, so she asked herself — what would they do?
Then she changed the question to what would Oscar do?
And then the answer didn’t seem so difficult.
She looked up at Thea, smiling at her warmly.
The more she thought about it, the more obvious her reply was.
“Then we stop him,” she said.
A simple answer, and a true one at that.
They would stop him.
And, knowing Oscar was safe, away from the difficult world he had endured, she knew he would provide her all the strength she needed.
After all, they had the gift.
They were the world’s defence against demons.
They were The Sensitives, and this was just the beginning of their story.
THE END
Which Rick Wood series will you start next?
You could try…
The Cia Rose Apocalypse Series
Shutter House
Or the Jay Sullivan Thriller Series, which Rick writes under the pseudonym Ed Grace
Also by Rick Wood
The Sensitives:
Book One – The Sensitives
Book Two – My Exorcism Killed Me
Book Three – Close to Death
Book Four – Demon’s Daughter
Book Five – Questions for the Devil
Book Six - Repent
Book Seven - The Resurgence
Book Eight - Until the End
Shutter House
Shutter House
Prequel Book One - This Book is Full of Bodies
Cia Rose:
Book One – After the Devil Has Won
Book Two – After the End Has Begun
Book Three - After the Living Have Lost
Book Four - After the Dead Have Decayed
Chronicles of the Infected
Book One – Zombie Attack
Book Two – Zombie Defence
Book Three – Zombie World
Standalones:
When Liberty Dies
I Do Not Belong
Death of the Honeymoon
Sean Mallon:
Book One – The Art of Murder
Book Two – Redemption of the Hopeless
The Edward King Series:
Book One – I Have the Sight
Book Two – Descendant of Hell
Book Three – An Exorcist Possessed
Book Four – Blood of Hope
Book Five – The World Ends Tonight
Non-Fiction
How to Write an Awesome Novel
Thrillers published as Ed Grace:
The Jay Sullivan Thriller Series
Assassin Down
Kill Them Quickly
About the Author
Rick Wood is a British writer born in Cheltenham.
His love for writing came at an early age, as did his battle with mental health. After defeating his demons, he grew up and became a stand-up comedian, then a drama and English teacher, before giving it all up to become a full-time author.
He now lives in Cheltenham, where he divides his time between watching horror, reading horror, and writing horror.
© Copyright Rick Wood 2020
Cover design by Rick Wood @ bloodsplatterpress.com
Published by Blood Splatter Press.
With thanks to my Advance Reader Team.
No part of this book may be reproduced without express permission from the author.
Contents
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO
Chapter 1
NOW
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
THEN
Chapter 12
NOW
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
THEN
Chapter 25
NOW
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
THEN
Chapter 35
NOW
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
THEN
Chapter 42
NOW
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
THEN
Chapter 48
NOW
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
THEN
Chapter 54
NOW
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
A FEW DAYS LATER
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
THE END
Which Rick Wood series will you start next?
Also by Rick Wood
About the Author