New Eden- The New Eden series book#1 (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 9 "She has it."

  Steffan led the way inside the cafeteria. All of us stoop-walked past chair and tables, trying our best to be quiet. We really didn't need the hustle of bugs chasing us again. Did enough of that already.

  We paused for a moment to listen and I spotted the pantry door behind the food counter to my left. Maybe we should see if we could anything from there. I shrugged and felt the candy jostle around in my backpack. I had enough sweets. My body craved salt. When I suggested my idea Steffan shook his head. "We already got some stuff from there yesterday." he informed. "Don't need the risk, man."

I nodded. I felt sheepish. Here we were in a risky spot and I was thinking about my belly. We continued till we reached the doors that led out to the hallways. Paused again.

Lewis took the liberty to straighten and stretch his limbs and peeked through the glass panel in the door. He ducked back down. "We got company." he announced.

Company? What kind of company? I could already feel the adrenaline ready to kick in and set me into fight or flight mode. Steffan stood up and checked. "It's just one." But one would've been all it took to raise the others. To alert the whole nest that we had encroached onto their territory. Then more would come and we would most definitely die.

"We never should have done this." Kay whispered.

"No, wait-" Brandon interrupted. He was at Steffan's side looking out at the bug. "It's not coming this way. It's just walking around...doesn't know we're here." Good.Hopefully it will continue to not know we were here and we could sneak by and make it to the staircase. But as all wishful thinking goes, something had to happen to mess up that little bit of hope.

Samantha coughed. Not a little "clearing my throat, A-hem cough". But a loud, "I gasping for breath cough". A cough that said that you had a major case of the flu. It was loud and I heard the mucus rattle on her chest. The first one surprised her and she tried to stifle the others that followed. But it was too late.

Steffan cursed as he looked through the glass. He signaled for us to stand back and we all shuffled a couple feet away from the door. He however, stayed close. I was about to ask what he was thinking but I heard the scratching of insect feet as the bug came down the hall to investigate. The scratching grew louder as it got closer. Then it was at the door. It's mandibles clacked as it started to push the door open. Suddenly Steffan kicked out, slamming the door back on the insects face.

"Come on!" he yelled. He rushed out the door and we were right after him. As I ran out the cafeteria I saw the bug skittering in a circle on the ground. The impact from the door had broken off one of its pincers and stabbed it in the head. I cringed at the sight and ran on. The injured bug was screeching out and it's friends were sure to show up soon. Lewis and Brandon were in front while Steffan was supporting Samantha as she was recovering from her fit of coughs and trying to catch her breath. Kay and her brother were in the middle and I brought up the rear.

We passed the janitors closet and ran a few more feet to a smaller hallway that ran perpendicular to the one we were on. Brandon ducked down the path. This way would lead us another hallway. The one with the stairs at the end. Our goal and only hope of living. We emerged from the hallway and paused. We had to. I wheezed as I gasped, feeling the pressure on my chest. "Which way?!" Lewis said looking left and right.

"Here." Steffan answered. He passed and turned right. Suddenly the cry of bugs echoed from the hall behind us. The haunting sound drove the fatigue right out of me. We picked up the paced and ran after Steffan.

  When we were just meters from the staircase someone screamed. I spun, the karambit clenched in my fist. Was someone else behind us? To answer my question Leroy burst from around the corner screaming his head off. Right on his heels were a mass of bugs. In the second it took for me to turn I already counted twelve of the monsters. There were more obviously. But no way I was sticking around to count.