End Of It All Part 2

The night shifts were the worst, particularly on some of the routes in these parts of the Eastern suburbs. Young hoons often used buses as target practice, throwing everything from eggs to paint bombs and rocks at them. But drivers were also robbed, beaten and abused regularly.

Thankfully, the only problems Abdul had on his route was with drunken youths but one look from him and they usually behaved. He was a big man who went through life with a permanent scowl on his face. While this was not a reflection of his temperament, it was enough to keep the young bucks in line.

He turned into Ferguson Road and the final stretch of the route. He’d have to sit and wait for Iman to come pick him up but it was better than her sitting in the car waiting for his shift to finish. Most nights, this didn’t bother him but tonight, he felt something. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it didn’t feel right.

These feelings manifested themselves as a dark shadow fell over the bus, like someone turning out all the lights. He looked in the mirror at the few passengers he had. One was sound asleep but the other two were looking out the windows nervously.

Suddenly, one of them screamed. Abdul watched as the man ripped at his face and eyes, scratching deep grooves in his skin. Something like thick dark smoke was flowing around the man. The other passenger also screamed and began dashing his head against the window. The glass smeared with his blood.

Abdul started and the bus went off-course, crashing into a line of cars. The crash woke the sleeping passenger, who ran to the front of the bus. He joined Abdul, who was standing outside the bus looking at the mayhem inside. A smoky shadow broke off and came towards them. Both men, now fearing for lives, ran up the road towards the beach.

Abdul threw a look back over his shoulder just as more shadows detached themselves and dived at them. He thought of Iman, of their beautiful little Aisha and of his son, Ali. He wanted time to offer up pray to God but as the shadows surrounded and took them both, all he could manage was a scream.