THEM

Chapter 16

Time seemed to stand still as Arden, Cory, and I all looked between each other trying to figure out what the hell we were supposed to do.

If those things got in here it was game over for all of us, but it wasn't as if we had many options to prevent it from happening.

The sound as one of them once again threw its body against the door seemed to pull everyone from their own thoughts.

"We have to leave." Cory said as he eyed the door warily. "I don't know how long that door is going to hold."

Arden looked between the door and Cory with wide eyes. "Leave?! And go where exactly? If you hadn't noticed more of those things are outside. The only thing keeping us safe right now is that door."

"And what happens when they break it down? What'll be protecting us then?" Cory shot back.

Arden bit her lip nervously as she too now eyed the door warily.

The sound as it slammed its body against the door for the fourth time now was almost deafening but it wasn't loud enough to drown out the sound of the wood splintering under its weight.

Cory was right. That door wasn't going to hold for that much longer.

"How do we get out of here if our only exit is that door?" I asked the question that up until that point nobody had bothered bringing up.

"There's a window downstairs in the bathroom. It should be big enough for us to all climb out."

There was another bang and the telltale sound of the wood giving way.

"We need to move. Now."

With that we were hurrying through the store and towards the stairs. Once we reached them Cory let Arden and I pass by him first so he could close the door that led to the basement.

I didn't bother telling him that if those things broke through the first door, the second one would do very little to stop them.

Cory caught me looking at the door and shrugged his shoulders. "It'll buy us a little more time."

Yeah, but would it be enough?

Once we reached the bottom of the stairs, Arden quickly called out to the rest of the group.

"We have to leave now!"

Marie who had been laying peacefully in her sleeping bag with Danny sat up quickly and looked between all three of us with worried eyes.

"Why, what's wrong?"

"They found out we're here and they're trying to get inside." Cory said as he rushed to start gathering their belongings.

"But the door should keep them out shouldn't it?" Marie asked as she cast a worried glance up at the stairs.

Cory stopped packing long enough to look Marie directly in her eyes. "I don't know but I don't want to sit here and wait around to find out."

This seemed to spur her into action because the next thing I knew she was up and throwing both her and Danny's things into a back pack.

While everyone was busy getting their things together I rushed over to my dad.

"Dad do you think you're able to walk?" I asked as I eyed him nervously.

He had just woken up from a concussion just moments ago. Now he was going to have to run for his life.

"Don't worry about me. Whatever I have to do to stay alive and by your side, I'll do it."

I gave him a weak smile and nodded.