Read Online Winter Smith (Book 1): London's Burning by J.S. Strange - Free Book Online Page A

happening?
                  The helicopters swung around in the air and Winter saw people she recognised on board. She suddenly realised what these were for.
                  “Come on,” she called to Connor. “We need to get on that!”
                  Winter and Connor changed their direction, Winter keeping hold of the table leg in her hand. She followed the helicopter around the side of her house, until she was below the balcony.
                  People were gathered, looking up at the helicopter, and Winter began to approach, ignoring the pull from Connor behind her.
                  She dragged him forwards with all of her strength, thinking only of getting to safety.
                  She looked up and saw people hopping across from the balcony to the helicopter, which was suspended in the air, ‘NWO’ painted on the sides of the metal. People in army suits were helping people across, ushering them forwards.
                  “Help!” Winter screamed, jumping up and down to try and get the attention of the people above.
                  “Winter!” Connor called, but she ignored him. The people gathered at the balcony turned to look at her.
                  “Help us, down here!”
                  From above, there was the sound of smashing glass. Winter, along with the gathered people in front of her, all turned to see what had happened. The manic beings had smashed through the railings, their rotting arms gripping tightly to their next victims. Winter turned back to the people in front of her to see them pounce on the living. Her heart dropped and her knees buckled. She stepped backwards slowly; aware she had misjudged the situation. The people in front of her were the decaying, drawn to the scene by the noise of the helicopter.
                  Any living humans who fell quickly got to their feet and began to run as fast as they could, hoping they would survive and get out of this alive.
                  “Winter, we need to go!”
                  The beings began leaping from the balcony and trying to grab onto the helicopter. Those that missed joined the killing spree below. Those that got a hold were beginning to tip the helicopter down. As Winter watched, three other helicopters began circling her place. She turned around to face Connor, and as she did she took in the other houses on the lane, helicopters circling them, the night alive with lights, screams, bullets and blood.
                  Connor grabbed Winter and pulled her down the grassy bank. They stumbled, neither of them caring if they fell, both of them intent on putting distance between them and Winter’s ruined home.
                  “My parents!” Winter cried as they stumbled away from the house. “I need to save my parents!”
                  “It’s too late, Winter!” Connor cried, pulling her away.
                  Winter began to cry. She hadn’t even thought about her parents, only getting to Connor. She should have found them and she should have helped them. She tried remembering if she had seen them. She tried to remember if she had seen any of those beings that resembled them. She couldn’t think the worst. She had to believe they had escaped.
                  Connor tripped and pulled Winter to the ground. They rolled across the floor, Winter gripping hold of the table leg, unaware that it was cutting into her palm. They landed in a heap at the bottom of the hill, in the bushes that were just a few feet away from the gates and the killing beings. It was like they had been dead for years.
                  Winter sat up and heard Connor groan like the same beings walking up and down the lane, looking for victims. It was quieter down here, but Winter thought that was probably because anybody who had tried to