Read Online Vengeance (Twenty-Five Percent Book 3) by Nerys Wheatley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nerys Wheatley
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close the one through which he’d entered with the tank.
If Alex waited long enough, would Micah and his new favourite toy come in to rescue him? But then he’d have to open the door, risking losing the eaters they’d worked so hard to trap in here. No, Alex needed to at least try to get out by himself. On top of everything else, it was a matter of pride.
He studied his potential escape routes. Going out the way Micah had was too far. Even if he made it there before the eaters, it would be impossible to get the door open, get out, and close it again before they caught up. The same went for the loading door the tank had entered through. So that left just one option - going back out the way he’d come in, past the offices and break room. The good thing about that was it was closer to where he was now. The bad thing was there were a lot of eaters between him and it. Not all the eaters were sticking with his horde. Many of them were wandering aimlessly through the warehouse, showing no interest in joining their comrades.
Alex made a mental note to tell Dave, Larry and Pauline about the new behaviour he was witnessing. They’d be thrilled.
Standing up, he looked down at the eaters. They jostled against one another in anticipation. Even though they were already rapt, he clapped his hands to get their attention.
“Okay horde, listen up. Much as I’ve enjoyed your company, I need to go. You know, things to do, people to see, eaters to kill. No offence. So what we are going to do is this: I am going to lead you back down this way...” He walked along the shelf towards the back of the warehouse. The horde obediently followed. “...and then when you’re all here, I’m going to run back there, leap to the floor, and hopefully not kill myself. I know you adore me and hate to see me go, but your co-operation in staying out of my way would be appreciated. Can I count on you?”
A few of the eaters moaned.
“I’m going to take that as a yes.” He raised his voice. “If anyone else is wondering if they should join the party, come on over. It’s where all the hip, happening, cool eaters are. Right guys?”
He waved his arms at the horde. More moans went up from the throng and the mob pressed forward against the base of the shelves. Pheromones wafted up to him.
He began to wonder if he was losing his mind. He also wondered if he really wanted to get them more riled up. Too late now .
He bounced on his toes a few times. “I can do this,” he murmured, “I’m a Survivor; I can do anything.”
With one final look down at the horde, he launched himself back along the shelving run. The metallic thudding of his feet lasted for five seconds, and then he ran out of shelf. Forcing himself not to slow down, he leaped into the air.
There was barely time to think, please don’t let me break anything , before he hit the ground. He dropped and rolled like he’d seen people do on TV, miraculously ended up back on his feet, then fell over again because his momentum hadn’t burned itself out like he thought it would. He finally tumbled to a halt in a heap at the feet of an eater in army fatigues.
It looked down at him. Alex looked up. There was a moment of mutual inaction.
The eater finally got itself together and lunged down for him. Alex rolled out of the way and scrambled to his feet. The eater fell on its face.
There wasn’t much time to marvel that he’d made it to the floor in one piece because at that moment his personal horde erupted from the end of the aisles and stagger-ran towards him. Alex took off for the door leading into the offices seventy feet away, stumbling to an abrupt halt when more eaters surged from the aisle in front of him, cutting off his escape.
He spun in a circle, searching for a clear path. The route back to the shelves was filled with eaters, as was every way out. He retreated as hundreds of hungry eaters advanced on him.
He jumped when his back hit something and whirled round. One of the
If Alex waited long enough, would Micah and his new favourite toy come in to rescue him? But then he’d have to open the door, risking losing the eaters they’d worked so hard to trap in here. No, Alex needed to at least try to get out by himself. On top of everything else, it was a matter of pride.
He studied his potential escape routes. Going out the way Micah had was too far. Even if he made it there before the eaters, it would be impossible to get the door open, get out, and close it again before they caught up. The same went for the loading door the tank had entered through. So that left just one option - going back out the way he’d come in, past the offices and break room. The good thing about that was it was closer to where he was now. The bad thing was there were a lot of eaters between him and it. Not all the eaters were sticking with his horde. Many of them were wandering aimlessly through the warehouse, showing no interest in joining their comrades.
Alex made a mental note to tell Dave, Larry and Pauline about the new behaviour he was witnessing. They’d be thrilled.
Standing up, he looked down at the eaters. They jostled against one another in anticipation. Even though they were already rapt, he clapped his hands to get their attention.
“Okay horde, listen up. Much as I’ve enjoyed your company, I need to go. You know, things to do, people to see, eaters to kill. No offence. So what we are going to do is this: I am going to lead you back down this way...” He walked along the shelf towards the back of the warehouse. The horde obediently followed. “...and then when you’re all here, I’m going to run back there, leap to the floor, and hopefully not kill myself. I know you adore me and hate to see me go, but your co-operation in staying out of my way would be appreciated. Can I count on you?”
A few of the eaters moaned.
“I’m going to take that as a yes.” He raised his voice. “If anyone else is wondering if they should join the party, come on over. It’s where all the hip, happening, cool eaters are. Right guys?”
He waved his arms at the horde. More moans went up from the throng and the mob pressed forward against the base of the shelves. Pheromones wafted up to him.
He began to wonder if he was losing his mind. He also wondered if he really wanted to get them more riled up. Too late now .
He bounced on his toes a few times. “I can do this,” he murmured, “I’m a Survivor; I can do anything.”
With one final look down at the horde, he launched himself back along the shelving run. The metallic thudding of his feet lasted for five seconds, and then he ran out of shelf. Forcing himself not to slow down, he leaped into the air.
There was barely time to think, please don’t let me break anything , before he hit the ground. He dropped and rolled like he’d seen people do on TV, miraculously ended up back on his feet, then fell over again because his momentum hadn’t burned itself out like he thought it would. He finally tumbled to a halt in a heap at the feet of an eater in army fatigues.
It looked down at him. Alex looked up. There was a moment of mutual inaction.
The eater finally got itself together and lunged down for him. Alex rolled out of the way and scrambled to his feet. The eater fell on its face.
There wasn’t much time to marvel that he’d made it to the floor in one piece because at that moment his personal horde erupted from the end of the aisles and stagger-ran towards him. Alex took off for the door leading into the offices seventy feet away, stumbling to an abrupt halt when more eaters surged from the aisle in front of him, cutting off his escape.
He spun in a circle, searching for a clear path. The route back to the shelves was filled with eaters, as was every way out. He retreated as hundreds of hungry eaters advanced on him.
He jumped when his back hit something and whirled round. One of the
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