Wright, Iain Rob - The Spread 05 - Turning Point by Wright Iain Rob

Author:Wright, Iain Rob [Wright, Iain Rob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ulcerated Press
Published: 2022-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

They were all a little shell-shocked, but there was no time to rest. Within minutes of them exiting the leisure centre, a horde of infected had arrived. Helper saw off a dozen of them before becoming overwhelmed, which forced Aaron to leap into the fray. Their rucksacks lay abandoned inside the swimming pool now, so he had to fight bare-handed, but with the confidence of knowing they wouldn’t attack him. He kicked at several of them, knocking them down, and whenever he was able, he wrenched at their tendrils and tore them loose from their bodies. The vine-like appendages were surprisingly delicate and came away with a firm yank.

Aaron fought till exhaustion took him, his head full of screaming that wasn’t his own. Was what he was hearing the sounds of souls trapped inside desiccated vessels? Did infected people die, or were they merely pushed aside and forced to become passengers inside their own bodies? He still remembered Loobey, who had somehow remained himself.

What would I be if we hadn’t destroyed the corkscrews in Choirikell? Would I be a passenger in my own body? A screaming voice like those inside my head, driving me mad.

Unable to fight, or even lift his tired arm any more, Aaron did the only thing he could. He manoeuvred himself in the way of the infected as they sought to attack his companions, unable to do anything except block them. They attempted to edge around him, as though he were a boulder in their path, but not once did they attack him. Several times, they whipped at the air, but it was more a gesture of frustration. Whenever he could, he nudged them off balance and caused them to stumble. All the while, he grew more and more out of breath. The battle seemed to go on for hours, but in reality it must have been mere minutes. Meanwhile, Helper continued taking care of the infected as quickly as he could. He seemed tired, too, almost beaten.

Cameron led everyone away from danger, but they had yet to make any kind of plan. Did they head south, searching for the nearest corkscrew? Or did they head back north to lick their wounds? Both options depended upon them not dying in the next ten minutes.

Aaron was forced to stagger away from the fight and join the others. Without weaponry, they were all vulnerable, and soon they would need to find somewhere to take cover again. After what had happened at the pool, though, it would be difficult to feel safe anywhere.

Cameron yanked Aaron close to him as they retreated. His jaw had turned purple from Coben’s punch. “We cannae keep this up, lad. I’m blowing air oot me arse.”

Aaron nodded, out of breath himself. “I know. We… We have to get out of the open.”

“And go where?” asked Fiona. She stopped and gripped her thighs, doubling over and panting. The acidic air caused her to cough and breathe through her shirt. “All the buildings are covered in fungus.

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