Read Online Twenty-Five Percent (Book 2): Downfall by Nerys Wheatley - Free Book Online

“I...”
    Alex grabbed Micah’s arm and pulled him back onto the dock, calling, “We’ll be right back,” as they left, before the boat’s captain could change his mind about something he hadn’t even agreed to.
    “It’s like a superpower,” Alex said as they headed for the bikes.
    “At least Jean is using hers for good,” Micah replied. “Unlike a certain unhinged woman with a pet eater and designs on your sperm.”
    “Don’t even say her name,” Alex said, shuddering.
    Getting the motorcycles onto the Sea Holly turned out to be less awkward than Alex was anticipating, and they were soon pulling out of the berth and heading for the open water of the river. Everett alternated his gaze between their course, Jean, and the bikes standing on his deck.
    Alex sat on one of the benches lining the front of the boat and watched the morning sun rippling on the water. He took in a deep breath of the clean air and closed his eyes, for a few moments trying to imagine it was just a nice early autumn day and none of the bad stuff was happening. He opened his eyes again when Micah nudged his arm and pointed to their right.
    The bridge he had been hoping to cross was downstream, its mile long form arcing a hundred and fifty feet above the surface of the river. Just slightly north of its centre point, a huge gap was torn through the framework. Alex could see into the massive box girders that formed the structure of the bridge, normally hidden beneath the road surface. Twisted pieces of concrete and metal protruded from the torn edges which sagged towards the river below.
    “So that’s what those explosions were,” Jean said, joining them at the bow. She stared at the bridge. “After the crash, the eaters just kept coming. The army was still trying to stop them, firing on them as they went over the bridge. But there were so many. Then a fighter plane came over and flew towards the bridge and there were two huge explosions.”
    “They destroyed the bridge so the eaters couldn’t get across,” Alex said.
    She nodded, a haunted look in her eyes. “They just left us there. After the eaters couldn’t follow, they came back off the bridge. They took the ones who were still alive first.” She lapsed into silence, dropping her gaze to the surface of the river next to the boat.
    For the first time since the outbreak had begun, Alex felt truly helpless. He wanted to offer words of comfort to Jean, but he had none. The whole situation was overwhelming. People were suffering and dying and he couldn’t stop it. What was he supposed to do? How could he rescue Hannah and yet still help everyone else? But how could he ignore what was going on around him?
    Jean got up and wandered back into the cabin. Alex drew one foot up onto the seat in front of him, hugging his leg against him and resting his chin onto his knee.
    “Here’s what I think we need to do,” Micah said. “I think we need to get to Omnav, rescue the doctors and bring them back to the lab so they can come up with a way to stop this. Or maybe we get lucky and find a way while we’re there. And maybe, if we’re very, very lucky, we can find the bastards who’ve done this and feed them to the nearest horde. But if we come across anyone in trouble on the way, I won’t be able to ignore them and I know you won’t either. So if we have to stop on the way to help, we do. But we will still get there as fast as we can. What do you think?”
    Alex sighed. “I think you’re right. Being a hero is a pain in the arse.”
    Micah smiled and leaned against the side of the boat, staring into the water.
    There was a small quay on the other side of the river and they unloaded the bikes without any problems.
    Jean walked up to Alex and Micah and smiled. “Since I live right near the river, Everett has offered to take me home.” She stared off into the distance for a few seconds before sniffing and wiping at her eyes. “I don’t have the words to thank you. You saved my