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

New Eden Book 2: Wilder

Prologue: SNAFU

"When I open this door, I don't want anyone to go running off. We all stick together, no matter what! If you run off, you're on your own." Whickham gave his last advice and warning.

I glanced at the faces of everyone around me.

Wide eyes. Heavy breathes. Clammy skin. Expressions too tight and nervous. The atmosphere was thick with fear. I could practically smell it.

Next to me, Bradley tried to steady his nervous breathing, but I could hear him wheezing. His asthma was already getting the better of him. We were all about do something crazy as hell. In order to avoid being caught in the blast when the military flew in to fire bomb the area we were going to have to escape the town. A town that had been infected and mutated and was now bent on killing us. But first, we were going to have to leave the school. A place that not only sheltered us, but also housed a nest of giant insects in the belly of the main building.

So many people had died already, before and during our stay here. In the next couple of minutes, when Whickham opened those doors, more were going to die.

I glanced at Bradley and Kay and wondered if they would make it. Brad, with his asthma, was only ever good in short sprints before he keeled over from shortness of breath. With her poor diet over these last days affecting her diabetes, Kay looked smaller and weaker. Less of seventeen and more seven. He little brother looked scared, but I'd seen the kid run before. He had energy to burn. He would make it.
But the others....

Stop it Brandon. I shook my head to dislodge the thoughts. If it seemed like either of them were falling behind I would help them. That's what all of this is for. I patted my bagpack carefully.

I took a deep breath to steady myself.

Whickham placed his hand on the door handle and eased it open an inch. At the same time a scream rang out. Everyone jumped and turned around. The scream had come from behind us.

Just down the hall, about twenty feet away, Judy scrambled on the spot where she had fallen. Before her stood an open doorway to a classroom.
The same classroom where three of our friends had became monsters because if their infection.

I watched as Malcolm's grotesque form rushed from the class and fell upon Judy. The girl screamed again as blood stained vines snaked out from the bloodsprout and extended to wrap her body into his.

Judy struggled but Malcolm had her by the throat, clamping down hard, cutting off her screams as the vines burrowed into her flesh.
For that one horrible moment we were all frozen by the sight. Then the other two bloodsprouts, Samantha and John, walked out and turned their attention towards the rest of us.

And just like that, our plan went SNAFU.