Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 245(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
When I'm close enough, I raise the rod above my head. One good hit. That's all I need. If I can disable the creature while it is distracted, I can get us back inside the bunker. Or at least I hope I can. I don't know how injured Galen is because there's so much blood. It's hard to see anything underneath all the crimson.
At the last second, Galen's bloodshot eyes crack open. They widen momentarily before fluttering. Comprehension dawns and he shakes his head weakly. His mouth opens and closes like he's trying to tell me something, but I have no time to figure out what it is.
The great beast’s nose sniffles in recognition. He can scent me. His massive head lifts and those wild eyes meet mine. Fear nearly consumes me. My arms lock. My breath catches. I want to run. I think about it. I could run back to the bunker and close myself inside, and Henry and I would be safe.
Galen seems to read my thoughts. He doesn't say anything and he's not moving, but there's a gleam in his eyes that is something like approval. Why would he want me to leave him?
It's this that has me bringing down the rod, crashing it into the beast's head. It gargles in the back of its throat like a scream it's unable to let out. While it is disconcerted, I hit it again and then again. And again. Blood seeps from its head. Its great, big chest still rises and falls with breath, but its eyes are closed. For now, we're safe. At least until it wakes up.
“Come on,” I urge as I pull at his uninjured arm. “We have to get out of here before it wakes up or another one comes back.”
I don't know if he hears me, but he doesn't protest as I help him get to his feet. He stumbles a little, which makes me think one of his legs may be injured after all, but I don't have time to look at it and I wouldn't know how to fix it anyway. I hope I didn't save him for him to die of an infection.
It's only when I reach the door that I realize I still have the metal rod in my hand. It’s as though the past few minutes have lasted a century. I manage to get Galen inside and lay him on the ground, where he slips into unconsciousness. Heaving a deep breath of relief, I turn back to the door.
Before I can do anything, another explosion shakes the bunker. It brings me to my knees, scraping them and bruising my hands. When I look up, I see it has also woken the beast. The great bulking weight of it shifts in the inky shadows in front of me. It's all my nightmares come to life. With the rod in one hand, I use the other to pull the door shut. It closes but only nearly. There's still a good six-inch gap where it's been bent and forced open.
Growls fill the cavernous depths beyond the door. If I was scared before, it's nothing compared to the new fear that overtakes me. Not only is the beast hungry, but now it's pissed off and injured. It'll do anything to get to us on the other side where we are, of that I have no doubt.
With a strength I didn't know I possessed, I manage to get the gap down to three inches. But it's still not good enough. That thing could put its claws or its teeth around the edge and rip the door right off its hinges. It's too powerful. I have to do something else.
Remembering the weapons stored in the bunker, I go to them before it's too late. Not knowing what I'm doing really or what will happen, I load what I think is a round into the weapon and cock it. I slip it through the gap where the beast is gnawing at the metal door, trying to get it open. I close my eyes and pull the trigger.
The blast knocks me off my feet again, but this time I fall on my ass. The blast is punctuated by a sharp growl, then a gurgle, and then nothing. The weight of the beast collapses to the ground. I stumble to my feet and hurry to the door. I can't see much on the other side but from what I can see it's not moving. It's not breathing, period.
I killed it.
We’re safe.
At least we're safe from the beasts.
I don't know if we're safe from this monstrous alien.
I don't know what it will want from us. I can only hope I didn't save us from one bad situation only to put us into a worse one.
When I can think again, the sound of Henry's crying and sobbing and screaming breaks through my fear. My breath catches, and I run to the door of the bedroom. I fling it open and Henry barrels into me. My arms go around him automatically as I press my face into his hair, murmuring nonsensical soothing words.