Rebirth
Hell on Earth book 6
Iain Rob Wright
Contents
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Quotes
Foreword
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
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Plea From the Author
Also by Iain Rob Wright
About Iain Rob Wright
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For more information just visit the back of this book.
Dedicated to politicians everywhere; the true authors of horror.
Also, cheers to Stephanie Hardy, always the first off the blocks to catch my mistakes!
“Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.”
Franklin P. Jones.
“Everybody fights demons. Some are worse than others.”
John Daly
“What the fuck does WTF mean?”
Gary King, World’s End (2013),
Foreword
So… this is the 6th and final book of the Hell on Earth series. That’s a concrete promise. There will be no cliffhangers, no unanswered questions, and no dangling plot threads. After sticking with me for more than half-a-million words, you deserve a proper ending. This book is my solemn attempt at providing one. I hope you reach the final page satisfied and entertained. Give me Hell if not!
I am releasing this book during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown crisis. Some might think my choice of topic crass in the current climate, but I know that my true readers find apocalyptic fiction to be an escape — a way of facing their fears head on. This book is for them; and for you.
I have no idea what our future is going to look like. Things will undoubtedly be different, and while change can be both frightening and painful, it inevitably leads to progress. The human race has evolved from cave dwellers to space farers. Whatever happens in the days ahead, we will continue to evolve and get better. The lessons learned today will educate us to face future challenges. The world is scary, but I promise tomorrow will arrive the same as it always has. The sun will continue to rise and we, as a people, will continue to learn.
In the meantime, turn the page and let’s watch the world burn together. Enjoy the final chapter of Hell on Earth.
Love,
Iain
1
“And so you see, Hitler’s great mistake was going to war with the Soviet Union. It split his forces in two and spread them too thin. Even more grievous was the German leader’s underestimation of Russian winter and the country’s poorly maintained roads. The Nazi forces froze to death without ever making it back home.” Mrs Malone looked at the clock on the wall and then at her watch. “Okay, you lot, that’s it for today. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the things World War Two gave us, like the jet engine and penicillin.”
The class – six children aged between four and twelve – filed out of the room while Mrs Malone used a tea towel to clean the whiteboard. In the months leading up to the demon invasion, St Catherine’s Primary School had completely phased out whiteboards in favour of obscenely sized multimedia screens, but the new dark age had rendered that technology useless. They didn’t completely lack power at the school – they possessed batteries, hand-powered torches, and a small supply of petrol to power a small generator salvaged from a nearby builder’s yard – but they just needed to be conservative. Once a week, they put on a movie from the school’s DVD collection. This week, they were watching Flubber.
They had survived the last twelve months by first hiding in the school’s basement, living off supplies taken from the cafeteria and drinking from a rusty sink, and then cautiously spreading out into the school, keeping careful watch for demons. There hadn’t been any lately – possibly not for months. Maybe it was finally over. Was that too much to hope?
With the chaos of the classroom tidied, Mrs Malone headed out into the playground. Winter would soon attach itself to everything, so everyone was making the most of being outside before the weather turned nasty and forced them to hunker down inside the gym, which was the only space large enough to contain a fire. Its high, narrow windows would draw out the smoke, while its high ceilings would provide enough clean air to keep them all from suffocating. They’d survived one winter already, losing only the elderly Mr Granger. The cold had been too much for the former geography teacher’s delicate frame. They had buried him in the playing field beneath the rugby posts.
Mr Bradford, the school’s ex-maths teacher, spotted her standing by the nature pond – a square-framed box of water inhabited by newts, frogs, and boisterous insects. “Hi, Stella, how was your lesson?”
“Good, thanks. I think they’re starting to pay attention. Perhaps the horror is finally leaving them.”
Mr Bradford squeezed her arm playfully. “You still teaching them about Hitler?”
“World War Two, and yes I am.”
Mr Bradford perched on the edge of the box-frame and peered across the playground to where the children were happily rushing around. They did so quietly, obeying the cardinal rule of not attracting attention. “Why not teach them something they can actually use? I’m teaching them to tie knots and make snares.”
“I’ll leave the practical skills to you, Mr Bradford, but I’m teaching them something equally important.”
“What? How to outflank an enemy?”
Stella smirked but didn’t laugh. “I’m trying to help them avoid the mistakes of the past. One day, these children will inherit what’s left of the Earth. I’m trying to show them the futility of war.”
“That’s very noble of you, Stel. I just hope we survive long enough for any of it to matter.”
“I’m certain we will. You were right; I’ve taught them how to outflank an enemy. We are studying military history, after all.”
“Ha! Then perhaps
