Read Online Catalyst (Book 1): Decay Chains by Kate Wars - Free Book Online Page B

sure sign that her efforts to live were predestined to be futile.
    The footsteps closed in as she righted herself and took the stairs again. She prayed it was Matt, but didn’t turn to see. Her gun grated down the railing, until she realized it was giving her away and pulled the butt away from the metal.
    She could hear the group below her until the fight started a floor above her. Heaves and groans echoed off every surface. The walls crumbled above her head. She stepped up her pace. Stan’s form materialized about ten feet ahead. The thumping started again, but this time she was trailed by only one set of footsteps.
    The group moved much faster going down the stairs. They sailed through the fourth, and were steps from the third floor door, when she caught up to them. Stan turned around as she drew closer. The look in his eyes was lethal. She figured his death stare would soften when he saw that it was just her, but it didn’t.
    “You brought company.” Stan motioned behind her.
    “It was already in the stairwell.” She brushed past him without even trying to hide her bristles. Stan got under her skin like no one else. His gaze trailed over her as she passed. Love loss and raw anger bled out of his expression.
    Vicky held the door open from inside the third floor. Dr. Louboutin took guarded steps till he was out of view. Once on the other side of the door, a new panic overtook Stormy.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER NINE
    DAYS UNTIL THE SUPERVIRUS GOES GLOBAL: 30:20:35
     
    The third floor was too quiet and too empty. Something was off. Stormy couldn’t overcome the urge to leap back into the familiar stairwell.
    “Move please.” Stan didn’t even make eye contact as he pushed past. She slid back to her former position immediately. Stan and Dr. Louboutin dragged a rail of chairs toward the door. Stormy was the only obstacle in their path, but she was stalling for a reason.
    “Move for them.” Vicky’s eyes were pleading orbs of concern and fear nestled in-between creased cheeks.
    The rest of her resisted, but Stormy’s feet obeyed Vicky’s command and carried her forward. The chairs remained in place long enough for the group to get about one hundred feet down the hall. The first hit scared the hell out of group. The door acquiesced and flew open on the second. Stormy breathed in relief when Matt’s figure flashed though the door and hopped over the chairs. He searched for her, and she beamed back at him. The aggression dissipated from his figure in microseconds. He nodded at her as he closed the door and pulled what was left of the chairs in front of it.
    Matt’s back was still turned when Stormy felt the swift, harsh hands bite into her flesh. She reeled back as Stan’s grip closed over her wrist and turned. His fingernails dug into her skin. She screamed as he twisted her arm around. Her shoulder was about to pop out of place. She conformed to his will and curled around on her toes, trying to get out from under the pain. Her fingers released the gun, but it never hit the floor.
    Stan released her and caught the gun with both hands. When Matt heard her cry out, he launched, but wicked speed didn’t save him this time. His arms and legs bowed in front of him as the bullet coursed through his torso. The shot knocked the air out of Stormy too. He landed feet away on his left side. Stormy remembered how to breathe and screamed again. This time, Vicky’s voice joined hers. She outpaced Vicky as they ran to Matt’s side.
    “Stay back. Don’t go near him,” Dr. Louboutin shouted.
    “Fuck you,” Stormy yelled. “Oh God, Matt. Matt.”
    “We gotta go,” Stan said.
    “We’re leaving,” Dr. Louboutin said.
    The doctor’s tone showed no trace of concern. He may as well have been mulling over the weather. Stormy’s fists pumped. Her eyes watered. All she wanted was to close her arms around Matt and cry.
    Her thoughts ran together. Thoughts of losing Matt collided with thoughts of scratching