The Rain (Book 3 - The Evolving)

Chapter 12 - Bêtes sauvages et amis blessés

Bullets ripped through the air as Alex held down on the trigger, swiping his gun across the room. The creature-like people dove forward to attack, screeching at the top of their lungs. They were thrown back when bullets tore into their skin. Jane held her gun, keeping her finger close to the trigger.

She turned and grabbed Bethany and Erin, unintentionally catching Jeanette's attention as well. "We need to move!" She yelled over the gunshots that were almost deafening. They nodded back in fear, flinching at the sounds that echoed through the shopping centre.

Jane turned back around. The sparks from the guns lit up the people. Their red-stained flesh dripped rosy blood but they seemed immune to the pain. They continued diving over one another, scrambling across the slippy ground to attack but the sheets of bullets prevented them from getting close.

Jane's stomach turned at the sight and she did her best to keep the food inside. She moved past Ross, Nate, Alex, Drew and Kev who were all shooting and made her way towards the shops on her right. Her sweaty hand encased Bethany's shaking one as she hauled the terrified child along.

A screech pierced the air and Jane's hand dropped Bethany's. She turned around to see a demented woman fly towards her, her wild eyes locked on Jane. The woman's hair was slicked back and her arm was bleeding profusely. Her wild eyes were wide and her mouth was completely open as she let out a haunting shriek.

Jane lifted her gun but before she could even raise it to eye level, the woman went crashing to the ground. Her lifeless body lay crumpled at Jane's feet. Her screams were silenced as her blood splattered over Jane's shaking legs. Drew moved his gun back around, taking down more as their attention was drawn to the ones escaping.

"Go!" Kev yelled over the noise but his words were muted. Erin read his lips and managed to step forward to push Jane ahead. The girl stumbled to the side but managed to find her footing. Jane moved the gun to her other hand to wipe her good one clean of sweat.

She led them again, staggering towards the escalator that would hopefully lead them to safety. She looked over her shoulder, eyes full of guilt as she saw more and more crazy people emerge from the shops, heading for the gunmen. She swallowed the regret and kept moving, knowing that she had to find a safe place.

Jeanette stopped and turned around, lifting her gun and firing shots into the backs of the creatures heads. She watched them fall, tumbling to the ground and landing on one another. She looked over her shoulder to see Jane darting up the escalator, gun in hand as she led Bethany, Stephanie and Erin. Jeanette moved her attention back to the creatures that were turning to face her, turning to attack her.

"We have to move!" Ross shouted, letting the empty magazine fall from his gun. He looked around the shopping centre as he pulled a fully loaded magazine from his holster. He could see the light shine off Jane's red hair as she and the others made their way up the escalator. She could see Jeanette standing firm, letting bullets fly left and right.

Alex nodded and regretfully lowered his gun. He moved around Ross and shouted out. "I'll help Jeanette!" He shouted, raising his gun and shooting a wailing person in the face. He looked back to Ross and the others. "As soon as you can, run!" He turned on his heel, bringing his machete down into the skull of a creature that was dragging its injured body across the ground.

She turned back around to look for Bethany, to see if they'd made it to safety but they were no longer on the escalator. She turned back around, the gun hot and heavy in her hands. She couldn't hear anything, the sounds of gunshots and screams had deafened her. She turned around and her eyes widened. She didn't have time to lift her gun. She let out a shout as a creature came barrelling straight towards her. It had thrown itself up, soaring through the air with its skeletal hands outstretched towards her neck.