Outlast: Eve of Extinction Book 3: A Thrilling Post-Apocalytic Survival Thriller by Stephanie Mylchreest & Mike Kraus

Author:Stephanie Mylchreest & Mike Kraus [Mylchreest, Stephanie & Kraus, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Muonic Press Inc
Published: 2024-04-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Daniel

In the dead of night, the tranquil forest air was abruptly ruptured by Rusty’s sharp, urgent barks, jolting Daniel awake, whose sleep had been filled with restless turns and disjointed dreams. He sat bolt upright, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. Rusty continued to growl, and the world around Daniel seemed to contract and expand with every breath, the darkness somehow both infinite and claustrophobic in alternating turns, fraught with unseen peril.

His breath quickened as he pushed himself up, eyes wide and alert, gaze darting through the dense tapestry of shadows that enveloped their campsite. The forest at night was a mix of unfamiliar sounds, and the scents of fresh pine needles and earthy soil, charred wood and hints of lingering ash. There was something else, soon—something mysterious and indefinable—that filled Daniel with a strange sense of foreboding, the shapes of Emilie and Walid’s tent and Daniel’s supplies taking on ominous forms in the dim moonlight. Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of the wind, seemed laden with something else.

Rusty, his body taut and quivering, stood at the ready, his eyes piercing through the darkness, his ears perked and swiveling toward the source of the disturbance. The fur on his back stood on end, a bristling line of alarm that mirrored Daniel’s own heightened state of alertness.

“What is it, boy? What’s out there?” Daniel’s voice, though hushed, was laced with urgency as he reached for his flashlight and rifle, his instincts kicking in, preparing him for whatever threat loomed in the shadows.

The campsite, which had been a haven of warmth and camaraderie just hours before, suddenly seemed exposed and vulnerable. The fire had dwindled to a mere smolder, its glowing embers casting eerie, dancing shadows on the ground as Daniel stood, his gaze sweeping through the darkness, searching for any signs of movement, any indication of what had set Rusty off, the weight of responsibility for the sleeping family resting on his shoulders.

His senses strained to their limits, Daniel steadied himself beside his sleeping bag, his body poised for action, his mind racing through possible scenarios. Rusty might have sensed an animal, a shy coyote, or a deer. But the forest’s deceptive calm was shattered as he caught sight of two brazen figures on the periphery of their makeshift camp, going through Emily and Walid’s bags on the other side of the tent. They moved with a quiet, predatory grace, their silhouettes ghosting through the darkness, showing no sign of fear despite Rusty’s barking.

The shape of their weapons were clear even in the dim light, and so was their practiced efficiency—it likely wasn’t their first time plundering the belongings of others. A raw, primal instinct surged through Daniel, filling him with a fierce protectiveness he hadn’t known he was capable of. His body tensed, preparing for confrontation, the electric presence of Rusty by his side mirroring his own, the dog’s stance rigid and aggressive.

“Hey!” Daniel shouted, his voice slicing through the night air, echoing off the trees around them as he aimed his gun at the pair.

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