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

foliage.
    The road veered to the left and Alex slowed to take the sharp turn. But even at under thirty miles an hour, he only just glimpsed the large log lying across the road before the front wheel of his bike collided with it and he was flying through the air. He hit the road, tumbling over and over until he came to a stop against a mossy tree trunk.
    Drawing in a shaking breath, he tried to focus on the fact that he was still alive.
    The sound of running footsteps was followed by Micah’s panicked voice. “Alex, can you hear me? Are you hurt? Does anything hurt?”
    Alex’s visor was flipped up. He opened his eyes and squinted up at Micah. “Everything hurts.”
    “You could have injured something. Don’t move.”
    He wasn’t sure he could have moved his little finger if he wanted to. “Not a problem.”
    “Does your neck or head or back hurt?”
    Alex concentrated on those areas of his anatomy. “Only in a general, I just got thrown off a bike at speed, kind of way. My right hip hurts a lot though. I think I landed on it.”
    “What about along your spine?”
    “Not specifically. Can I take this helmet off?”
    “You really shouldn’t,” Micah said, frowning. “When people have accidents on bikes they usually don’t remove the helmet until they’re sure there are no spinal injuries.”
    “Well, if you’re going to make me wait until the ambulance arrives, I think we’re going to be here for a while.”
    Micah sighed. “Alright, but try to keep your neck still.”
    Alex nodded then realised what he’d done. “Oh crap, does that mean I won’t be able to walk now?”
    Micah rolled his eyes and sighed. “Any new pain? Don’t shake your head .”
    “No.”
    “Then... I don’t know. Just keep still.”
    Alex tried to keep his back and neck perfectly aligned. He couldn’t deny he was slightly, or possibly very, concerned he had injured something important. Being thrown off the bike had been terrifying.
    Micah gently pulled the helmet off while Alex braced himself, breathing a sigh of relief when nothing popped, burst into searing agony, or fell off. He gave his fingers and toes a quick wiggle, just to check, then looked over at his bike some way along the road. It was lying on its side. Alex couldn’t tell from this distance in the gloom under the trees if it was damaged or not.
    Then he saw movement. A figure darted from the tree line beyond where his bike was on the ground and Micah’s was standing beyond it. It ran to the bikes.
    Alex sat up, whimpering a little as pain shot through his hip.
    “You shouldn’t...”
    Micah stopping talking when Alex flicked his eyes pointedly to the bikes. He turned to look.
    A rustling sound came from the trees around them. Before either of them could do anything, six men stepped from the undergrowth and pointed six automatic rifles at them.
    “Stay where you are,” one of the men said.
    The rifles looked military, but the men definitely didn’t. They’d probably taken them from one of the many wrecked army vehicles they’d seen on their journey, evidence of the military’s losing battle with the greater force of the eaters. Alex wondered if they knew how to use the automatic weapons properly. Not that it mattered. At this range pointing and squeezing the trigger would be enough.
    Micah turned back to Alex and looked pointedly at his waist where his gun was hidden beneath his jacket. Alex shook his head slightly. Micah widened his eyes and pursed his lips. Alex darted his eyes to each of the men then back at Micah. Micah frowned, sighing imperceptibly, and turned away. Alex wasn’t sure who had won the silent argument.
    “What do you want?” Micah said.
    “Just your bikes. If you don’t do anything stupid, we won’t shoot you.”
    “You left that log across the road,” Micah said, his voice edged with anger.
    The man Alex had seen near the motorcycles jogged up to them. “Keys aren’t there,” he said.
    “Keys, now,” the man who appeared