Authors note:
For those of you who haven’t read any of the Journey Of St. Laurent before: You are now reading an online serial pulp novel. If you didn’t start at the beginning, you may want to do so. Chapter 1: Down By The Bay. This serial is the sequel to my first novel, Oasis.
Thanks to Georgene & Devin for the gentle reminders that I need to spend more time writing. And a good luck goes to Devin who is now writing his own piece o’ zombie fiction.
Also thanks to everybody who comments. You guys make this even more fun.
Anyway, I mentioned before that I had another Oasis-related song coming – look for it Monday. I’ve listened to it now about 1,000 times and it makes me smile each time.
Enough of this blather, let’s get on to the fiction.
Chapter 43 – Throw Down
The noise of gunfire followed us into the little supply room. It was only lit by what came through the open door. The space must have been leftover from when the mine was operating, and filled with old wooden crates on one side and coils of inch thick steel cable on the other.
The three of us scrambled behind the pile of crates.
The reverberated commotion of the battle in the hall made me feel like my brain was about to liquify and run out my nose. I slipped off my backpack and covered my ears.
The conflict outside may have been furious, but it was short lived. A few seconds later, I could once again hear nothing but the ringing in my ears.
If we’re ever going to get a chance, it’ll have to be soon. I stood and emptied the contents of my left cargo pocket on top of a crate. I had to squint to see them in the dim light. My heart sank. Most of the syringes had broken in their packages. I sorted through the little pile and separated out the ones that were still useable.
Rhett dropped the gun sling from his shoulder and extended the little bi-pod legs that were attached to the front of his AR-15. He crouched down and rested the bi-pod legs on the crate where I was sorting then pointed the barrel at the door.
I looked through the pile three times. Two. Two measly syringes.
I was afraid to reach into my right pocket. What if I shoved my hand in only to cut it up on a smashed vial? The whole trip would have been a waste. It probably wouldn’t be good for my heath, either. I had no idea if I was still immune. I stuck my hand in and breathed a tiny sigh of relief. The vial was intact. I looked over at London.
She was fiddling with the shotgun, making sure it was ready to go and pulling ammo out of her pocket.
Rhett pointed at the syringes and yelled for me to get them ready.
I just wasn’t feeling well enough to be snarky and ask him what exactly he thought I was doing with them.
My hands shook as I tore open the syringe packages and uncapped the needles.
London sat down and rested her back on a crate.
Every moment that passed made me more nervous. Who won the gunfight? I took a deep breath and told my hands to stop shaking. I didn’t have time to clean up a spill, and I didn’t have supplies to waste. The vial was rounded on the bottom, so I couldn’t set it anywhere. I held the vial in one hand, the syringe in the other, and I gingerly edged up the plunger with my teeth.
One of the soldiers we had seen a moment ago stumbled into view. The first thing he saw was Rhett’s gun aimed straight at him. He lifted a hand, lowered his own weapon, and motioned to stop. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I’m one of you.”
Rhett didn’t move a muscle. “Is the hallway clear?”
The soldier stepped in a little further. “I don’t know how the hell you people got down here, but I need your help.”
“I said, is the hallway clear?”
I set down the first syringe and picked up the second one.
“Yes, it’s clear, now I need your help to lay these char-”
An explosion rumbled from somewhere down the mine shaft and there was a sudden spike in the air pressure.
“That means Johnson’s sealed the way we came in. We have to move.”
A high pitched whine filled the air and the lights in the hallway started to flash.
Must be some kind of alarm. I kept at my work.
“Come on, we have to move, now. Before more of them show up.”
Rhett rested the butt of the gun on the crate and started to stand.
A large silhouette appeared in the doorway behind the soldier. I couldn’t make out all the features in the flashing red light, but I could make out enough to tell it wasn’t human.
Rhett dropped back down. “Get out of the way!”
I crouched and set down the half full syringe.
The soldier spun to see what had cast the extra shadow.
Rhett was back at his sights in a blink. “Get down, damn it!”
I snatched up the cap for the dangerous vial.
The alien closed the gap to the soldier. Rhett didn’t have a clear shot.
“Move!”
My fingers fumbled the cap a bit but I finally got it back on.
The alien grabbed the soldier by the throat with its right hand.
London looked over toward Rhett and I for some kind of cue.
The soldier tried to raise his rifle.
The alien did something I couldn’t see with its left hand. Whatever it was, there was a definite crackle of electricity.
The soldier kicked at the alien’s leg.
The alien’s knee popped out of place and its body jerked to the side. It let go of the soldier’s throat but caught the collar of his fatigues.
The soldier pushed back, desperately trying to get his balance and make space for the shot.
The weight of the alien was too much and their bodies flopped to the ground.
Rhett’s finger hovered over the trigger, just waiting for the shot.
With the bodies on the ground, I could see something in the alien’s left hand. It was a glowing and sparking half circle that connected to a handle, like a set of space age brass knuckles.
I tossed the vial on top of the crate and covered my ears again.
The soldier tried to roll away.
The alien held fast and brought up the tool.
It made a sizzling and cracking sound as it sliced through skin and bone.
The soldier screamed and his right arm dropped to the ground.
The alien pushed up on his good knee. Another quick slice to the neck and the the soldier’s voice was silenced for good.
Rhett’s assault rifle barked twice and the alien lurched backward, flinging the electro-knife-thingy over by the coils of steel cable. Rhett stood and put two more shots to the alien’s chest.
Before I could even think to do anything, Rhett tossed aside his rifle, scooped up one of the syringes, and sprinted toward the alien.
Like hell I’m going to let him infect those bastards alone. I grabbed the other syringe and headed for our fallen enemy.
Keep reading! Chapter 44 is here!
Can’t WAIT for the next installment!