Stick, I said, trying to be reasonable, you dont know the way back. Are you going to go through the tunnels in the dark? Alone?
That seemed to get through to him. He stopped fighting Lucas and cast a fearful glance at the dark entrance to the sewers. Shoulders sagging, he looked up at me, pleading. I dont want to, he whispered. Lets go back, Allie, please. I have a bad feeling about this.
Rat made a disgusted noise, and my annoyance flared. No, I said flatly. We keep moving. Theres still some light left. Were not going back without that food. I looked at Stick with an encouraging smile. Wait till you see how much there isitll be worth it.
He still looked terrified but followed silently as we sprinted through the cracked, tangled streets, leaping over roots and weaving between rusty cars to beat the coming storm. A small herd of deer scattered before us as we hurried down the sidewalk, and a flock of crows took to the air with startled, screaming cries. But other than that, the ruins were still except for our footsteps pounding over the cement and our own raspy breathing.
As I led them through the overgrown yard to the crumbled shed, the first raindrops began to fall. By the time we had crowded into the tiny building, a deluge was drumming the tin roof and pouring in through the holes. I clicked on the flashlight as I descended the ladder into the basement, half-terrified that when we got there the food would be gone. But everything was as I had left it: a section of shelf lay broken on the cement, and cans were scattered everywhere, glinting in the flashlight beam.
Holy shit. Rat shoved past me, stumbling into the room. His mouth dropped open as he scanned the wall of tins, his eyes gleaming hungrily. The bitch wasnt kidding. Look at all this.
Is that all food? Stick asked timidly, picking up a can. And before I could reply, Rat shocked me with a wild, high-pitched laugh.
It sure is, piss-wad! Snatching the can from Sticks fingers, he pried the top open and shoved it back at him. Check that out! Tell me thats not the greatest thing youve ever seen! Stick blinked in astonishment, nearly dropping the opened can, but Rat didnt seem to notice. Grabbing two more tins from the floor, he wrenched the tops away and started digging into them with long dirty fingers.
We dont really have time for this, I cautioned, but not even Lucas was listening now, busy tugging the lid off his own can. Stick gave me an apologetic look before scooping out handfuls of beans, devouring them with as much gusto as Rat, whose face was now smeared with a slimy coating.
Guys! I tried again. We cant stand around stuffing our faces all night. Were almost out of time. But they were deaf to my arguments, drunk on the amount of food and the prospect of filling their stomachs. Thats what being Unregistered teaches you; when you find food, you eat as much of it as you can, because you dont know when your next meal might be. Still, all I could think of was how they were fattening themselves up for the things that wanted to eat us.
Outside, the storm had picked up, howling against the walls of the shed, and water began to drip through the trapdoor. It was very dark up top, a dimming twilight, the clouds hiding what little sun remained. I peered up the steps, narrowing my eyes. The spaces between the slats were almost impossible to see in the darkness, but I thought I saw something move outside the wall. It couldve been a tree branch, blowing in the wind, or it mightve been my imagination.
I clicked off the flashlight. The room plunged into shadow. There was a startled yelp from Stick, and then a moment of silence as everyone finally realized what was happening.
Something is out there, I said into the stillness, very aware of my own heartbeat thudding against my ribs. And, for just a moment, I wondered why Id been stupid enough to lead everyone here. Stick was right. This had been a mistake. In the darkness, with the rain screaming outside, the piles of food didnt seem important enough to die for. We have to get out of here now.
Get the packs. Lucass voice was gruff, embarrassed, as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. I shot him a glance, and it was difficult to see his face in the shadows, but he mustve seen my expression. Were not leaving empty-handed, he said, but lets do this as quickly as possible. Take as much as you can, but dont pack so much it slows you down. Were not going to get it all in one trip, anyway. I started to say something, but he cut me off with a sharp gesture. Lets move, people!
Without arguing, Rat and Stick knelt and began stuffing their packs with cans, moving as quietly as they could. After a moment, I unzipped my bag and joined them. For several minutes, the only sounds were the scuffle of hands in the dark, the clink of metal on metal and the rain beating the roof overhead.
I could hear Sticks frightened breathing, Rats occasional curses as he dropped cans in his haste to stuff them into the packs. I said nothing to anyone as I worked, only looking up when my bag was full. Zipping it up, I hefted it onto my shoulders, wincing at the weight. It might slow me down a bit, but Lucas was right; wed come too far to leave empty-handed.
Everyone ready? Lucas asked, his gruff voice sounding low and small in the darkness. I looked around as Rat and Stick finished zipping their packs and stood up, Stick grunting a little under the weight of his half-full bag. Lets get out of here, then. Allie, lead the way.
We left the basement, inching up the steps to the ruined shed. Water poured in from the storm, running in streams from the roof, splashing over everything. Somewhere in the darkness, droplets kept striking a metal bucket with a rhythmic ping-pinging sound. It sounded like my heartbeat; rapid, frantic.
A gust of wind blew open the door with a creak, knocking it into the side of the building. Beyond the frame, the ruins were blurry and dark.
I swallowed hard and stepped out into the rain.
Water drenched me in half a second, sliding down my neck and flattening my hair. I shivered and hunched my shoulders, striding through the tall, wet grass. Behind me, I heard the others following my steps as I pushed through the weeds. Lightning flickered overhead, turning everything white for a split second, showing rows of ruined houses side by side before plunging everything into darkness once more.
Thunder boomed. As the rumble faded, I thought I heard another sound, somewhere to my left. A faint rustle that didnt come from my friends behind me.
Something brushed against my jeans in the grass, something hard and pointy. I jerked away and clicked on the flashlight, shining it at whatever snagged me in the darkness.
It was a hoof, small and cloven, attached to a hind leg that led to the gutted carcass of a doe lying on her side in the weeds. Her stomach had been torn open, and intestines spilled from the hole like pink snakes. Her eyes, glazed and dark, stared sightlessly up at the rain.
Allie? Lucas whispered, coming up behind me. Whats goingOh, shit!
I swung the light around, taking a breath to shout a warning to the others.
Something pale and terrible rose from the grass behind Rat, all limbs and claws and shining teeth. Before he knew what was happening, it yanked him off his feet. I didnt even have time to shout before he vanished into the weeds and darkness with a yelp.
Then he began to scream.
We didnt pause. We didnt waste breath to scream out the word. The grass around us started to move, rustling madly as they came toward us, and we just ran. Behind us, Rats agonized shrieks abruptly cut off, and we didnt look back.
Then he began to scream.
We didnt pause. We didnt waste breath to scream out the word. The grass around us started to move, rustling madly as they came toward us, and we just ran. Behind us, Rats agonized shrieks abruptly cut off, and we didnt look back.
I reached the chain-link fence surrounding the yard and vaulted over it, landing unsteadily as the bags weight nearly toppled me over. Lucas was right behind me, using both hands to launch himself over the top. Stick scrambled over and fell in the dirt on the other side but bounced to his feet in an instant and followed me as we ran.
Allie!
Lucass scream made me look back. His backpack had caught on the prongs at the top of the fence, and he was yanking at it madly, his eyes huge and frantic. I glanced at Stick, sprinting away into the darkness, and swore.
Just leave the damn bag! I shouted, stepping toward Lucas, but my voice was drowned in a roar of thunder overhead, and Lucas continued to yank on it, terrified. Lucas, leave the pack already! Just get out of there!
Understanding dawned on his face. He shrugged out of the straps, just as a long white arm whipped over the links and grabbed his shirt, dragging him back against the fence. Lucas screamed, yanking and thrashing, trying to free himself, but another claw reached over and sank into his neck, and his screams became gurgles. My gut heaved. I watched, dazed, as Lucas was dragged, kicking and wailing, back over the fence, and vanished under the pale mass of creatures on the other side. His screams didnt last as long as Rats, and by that time, I was already running after Stick, ignoring my twisting insides and not daring to look back.
I could barely make out Sticks lanky form in the distance, running down the middle of the road, weaving between cars. Stripping off my pack, I followed, feeling highly exposed on the open street. The rain was slowly letting up, the brunt of the storm passing on, toward the city. Over the fading rain, I heard the cans clanking against his back with every step he took. In his panic, he hadnt thought to take off his pack, either. I sprinted after him, knowing he couldnt keep up that pace for long.
Two blocks later, I found him leaning against the rusty hulk of an overturned car, next to a tree growing out of the sidewalk. He was gasping so hard he couldnt speak. I crouched down beside him, breathing hard, seeing Lucass and Rats deaths over and over again, their screams echoing in my mind.
Lucas? Sticks voice was so soft I barely heard him.
Dead. My voice sounded as if it belonged to someone else. It didnt seem real that Id lost him. My stomach threatened to crawl up my throat, and I forced it down. Hes dead, I whispered again. The rabids got him.
Oh, God. Sticks hands went to his mouth. Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God!
Hey, I snapped, and shoved him, halting the string of words before they got even more frantic. Stop it. We have to keep our heads if were going to get out of here, okay? There would be time later to shed tears, to mourn what Id lost. But right now, the most important thing was figuring out how to stay alive.
Stick nodded, his eyes still glazed and terrified. Where do we go now?
I started to look around to get my bearings but suddenly noticed something that turned my blood to ice. Stick, I said softly, looking down at his leg, what happened?
Blood was oozing from a gash in his knee, spreading through the thin fabric of his pants. Oh, Stick said, as if hed just noticed it himself. I mustve cut it when I fell off the fence. Its not very deep He stopped when he saw my face. Why?
I stood slowly, carefully, my mouth going dry. Blood, I murmured, backing away. Rabids can smell blood if theyre close enough. We have to go n
It leaped atop the car with a howl, lashing out at the space Id been a moment before, ripping through the metal with its claws. Stick yelled and dove away, skittering behind me, as the thing atop the car gave a chilling wail and looked right at us.
It had been human once, that was the most horrible thing about it. It still had a vaguely human face and emaciated body, though its skin, nearly pure white and stretched tightly across its bones, looked more skeleton than human. The tattered threads of what had been clothes hung on its frame, and its hair was tangled and matted. Its eyes were white orbs with no irises or pupils, just a blank, dead white. It hopped off the car and hissed at us, baring a mouthful of pointed teeth, the two oversize fangs extending outward like a snakes.
Behind me, Stick was whimpering, soft choked noises that made no sense, and I caught the sharp ammonia smell of urine. Heart pounding, I eased away from him, and the rabids hollow gaze followed me before returning to Stick. Its nostrils flared, and bloody foam dripped from its jaws as it took a lurching step forward.
Stick was frozen in terror, watching the rabid like a cornered mouse would a snake. I had no idea why I did what I did next. But my hand reached into my pocket and grabbed the knife. Pulling open the blade, I closed my fist around the edge and, before I thought better of it, sliced it across my palm.
Hey! I yelled, and the rabid snapped its horrible gaze to me, nostrils flaring. Thats right, I continued, backing away as it followed, leaping atop another car as easily as walking. Look at me, not him. Stick, I called without taking my eyes from the rabid, keeping a car between it and myself, get out of here. Find the drainitll take you back to the city. Do you hear me?
No answer. I chanced a sideways glance and saw him still frozen in the same spot, eyes glued to the rabid stalking me. Stick! I hissed furiously, but he didnt move. Dammit, you spineless little shit! Get out of here now!
With a chilling shriek like nothing human, the rabid lunged.
I ran, ducking behind a truck, hearing the rabids claws screech off the rusty metal as it followed. I dodged and wove my way through the vehicle-littered street, keeping the cars between myself and the pursuing rabid, glancing back to gauge how close it was. It snarled and hissed at me over the vehicles, hollow eyes blazing with madness and hunger, its claws leaving white gashes in the rust.
Dodging behind another car, I gazed around frantically for a weapon. A pipe, a branch I could use as a club, anything. The rabids shriek rang out behind me, horrifyingly near. As I reached down and grabbed a chunk of broken pavement from the curb, I glimpsed a pale form in the corner of my eye and turned quickly, swinging with all my might.
The jagged concrete hit the rabid square in the temple as it lunged for me, grasping claws inches from my face. I heard something crack beneath the stone as I knocked the creature aside, smashing it into the door of a car. The rabid collapsed to the pavement, trying to get up, and I brought the stone down again, smashing the back of its skull. Once, twice and again.
The rabid screamed and twitched, limbs jerking sporadically, before collapsing to the sidewalk. A dark puddle oozed from beneath its head and spread over the street.
Trembling, I dropped the stone and sank to the curb. My hands shook, my knees shook, and my heart was doing its best to hammer its way through my ribs. The rabid looked smaller in death than in life, all brittle limbs and protruding bones. But its face was as horrible and terrifying as ever, fangs frozen in a snarl, soulless white eyes staring up at me.
And then a hiss behind me made my heart stop a second time.