Page 8 (2/2)
“I can’t see it”
“Where the hell is it?”
Fire blasted out, randoents succuony-filled chaos Friday concentrated on breathing evenly in an attempt to steady her hands Focus She had to focus Don’t think about the snakes Don’t think about the snakes…
“Stop shooting!” The order came from farther down the tunnel It was a dark bark of absolute authority that made Friday shudder “Get the injured out of here Pass them back The rest of you move forward”
“There it is! It’s huge Run! Run! It’s above us” Another shriek filled with agony
More flashes of blue light More laser blasts Friday bit back a cough as dust filled the tunnel and clogged her throat In the dihts attached to the Enforcement uniforms, she watched Striker’s silhouette as he stood There was a whistle It ht have coht, his bulk hazy through the dust-filled air He stu his neck Another screa the tunnel Someone shouted orders Shots went off, fired aih it all, her protector stood like a statue
The fallen round before them Why didn’t Striker fire his weapon? Why was he just standing there? He whistled again The light in the tunnel grew brighter as more men closed in on them Striker’s silhouette shuddered before he stilled His arhtly on the balls of his feet, took aim, and fired He hit the utility belt on the waist of a dead Enforce onto her backside
The ceiling above the rest of the Enforce over each other to get out froainst the biting dust She wished she could close her ears against the panic and screah the tunnel
Striker fired again, hitting a second officer Another blast This tiered the belt of the man behind as well Two blasts in quick succession Friday’s ears were ringing She shook her head Dizziness, disorientation—she wanted to double over and retch A hand grabbed her arm The air was thick Unbreathable A voice at her ear Distant Faint, as though she listened through water “Cover your mouth Run”
Striker pried the gun frorabbed her hand She pulled the neck of her jumpsuit over her mouth They rushed forward into blackness as the tunnel fell behind theents and snakes alike Dirt and stones rained down The earth creaked andin on them
She stus burning, her legs rubber, her heart racing All the while, the tunnel cruonized wail of protest The earth was angry at having been invaded It wanted to s them whole as punishment for their trespass
Striker suddenly yanked her to the left She stu wooden, and tripped over a step A door They’d gone through a door
“Up Fast Don’t quit now”
He dragged her behind hi She fell too h on adrenaline and fear to feel pain
“Nearly there” Striker’s voice was an echo in her daed ears “There!”