Read Online A Glimpse Of Decay (Book 1): Red Storm) by A.J. Santiago - Free Book Online

just go.  Take Kolya and go!”
    Misha sprinted forward and grabbed up Kolya by his good arm.  The two began to run towards the city and Evgeny remained behind as he tried to hold off the attackers.  He fired in the direction of the approaching mob, looking out to where he had last seen Dimitri’s light.  He took a few steps back and fired at another group.  Thinking it was better to use the darkness to conceal himself, Evgeny decided to operate without a light, and in the dark, he thought that he had seen several of his targets fall to the ground.  He reloaded his rifle, keeping his eyes fixed on the advancing attackers.  To his dismay, several of the downed figures began to get back to their feet.
    Evgeny turned and trotted down the highway about twenty yards.  He realized that although the group was moving at a steady pace, none of them had exhibited the speed of the woman who had attacked Kolya.  He turned to take aim at more of the people following him, and as he struggled to see in the darkness, he heard some movement coming from his right side.
    Shit, they had gotten on his flank.  He turned to run again and saw several shadowy figures lumbering onto the road behind him.  He flipped his rifle to semi and he raised it to his shoulder, drawing a bead on the closest silhouette.  Based on its thin frame and long hair, he guessed that it was a woman.  He squeezed off two rounds and both bullets struck the upper torso of the dark shape.  The woman didn’t go down.
    “What the fuck!” Evgeny yelled aloud.  He tried to maintain his composure, turning to run out towards the pasture that Dimitri had disappeared in.  He knew that there was a patch of woods at the far end of the field, and he thought that if he could make it to the safety of the trees, he could make his way back towards Dolgoderevenskoye.  He broke out in a full run, dodging several of the slow movers.  When encountering a group that he couldn’t get past, he used is rifle butt to clear the way.
    He stopped to deal with one last group, and as he raised his rifle butt to deliver another strike, he heard the rush of someone running up to him.  A snarl and shriek announced the presence of a runner, and a heavy set man lunged at him, taking Evgeny down hard.  The trooper’s rifle went flying into the darkness and Evgeny rolled over on top of his attacker.  In one fluid movement, Evgeny drew his combat knife from its sheath and plunged it down into the chest of the man, twisting and turning the blade.  After two more stabs, he pushed himself away from the still body and he sprang to his feet.
    Evgeny turned to regain his bearings, but before he could resume his escape, he was blindsided by a slow mover.  He twirled to face this new threat, attempting to push away from the attacker, but a sharp pain shot through his left hand as a set of teeth crushed down across his knuckles.  Infuriated, Evgeny struck out with his knife, and the blade met its target.  The combat blade sank down into the head of the unseen attacker, and he could feel the skull crack as a warm fluid covered his knife-wielding hand.
    Evgeny pulled his gnawed hand towards him and he continued his run towards the trees.  He glanced behind him to see if he was being pursued, but the mass of moving shadows was still making its way towards the lights of the city.  As he ducked into the cover of the woods, he took refuge behind a fallen log.  He covered himself with leaves and grass and branches, concealing himself.
    Fuck, I hope I gave Misha and Kolya enough time to get away.  Evgeny held his chewed hand against his chest as a burning sensation ran up and down his arm.  He knew that the wound would cause him pain, but he couldn’t understand why his neck was starting to stiffen.  He began to experience a painful pounding in his head and his vision began to blur.  His chest tightened and it became difficult for him to breathe.  He could hear his heart thumping and he