“I will,” General Murray promised soberly, as if he actually cared. He was a good actor.
Terrier had finished fighting the Mad and headed up the stairs toward Ryder. He looked at General Murray, then back at Ryder. “What’s going on?”
They both shook their heads. “Nothing,” Ryder told him. “I thought you were looking after the women and kids on Level Six?”
“Peter and Mama Lou have it under control.”
Ryder replied quickly before Terrier could ask her any more questions, “It’s nice to be fighting alongside you again. Come on, or Carter will be complaining.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ryder quickly headed up the stairs to meet up with the others, Murray behind her. Carter glanced at Ryder. “Are you okay?” He looked concerned.
“I asked that.” Terrier nodded at Ryder.
“Yeah, I’m fine, brought a friend with me.” Ryder waved him on and smiled at Terrier. “What have we got going on behind the door?” Ryder asked to change the subject.
Carter explained, “There aren’t any screams, so we’re guessing there aren’t any people left, or they are hiding, but there are grunts and groans, so we’ve got Mad.”
“Let’s take care of them quickly and get onto the Level Two.” Ryder didn’t know how long she had before she turned.
Everyone got their weapons ready, and Terrier cracked his knuckles. That beast of a man didn’t need a weapon; he was the weapon. Ryder wished she had her spear. She checked that the knives Willard had given her were still in her waist belt, then got her bow ready.
Carter slowly opened the door, hoping that it wouldn’t betray them and scream out to the Mad. Unfortunately, that was just what the hinges did. They creaked loudly, and the Mad turned to face them. Blood was dripping from the Mad’s mouths; the generals had turned. Some were wearing their uniforms, others their civvies. The other Mad were the generals’ wives and children. The only thing they all had in common was that they wanted fresh, juicy flesh.
The Mad ran at Ryder and the others, but they were ready. Ryder fired her arrows at the oncoming Mad, Graham swung his axes, and Vicky made the usual swings with her shovel. They were making quick work of the Mad, but these Mad were fast and strong.
Byrant fired his gun at the oncoming Mad until he was out of bullets.
Graham’s axe lodged in a Mad’s arm, and the Mad roared and kept trying to get Graham like it didn’t have an axe buried in it. Graham pushed the Mad away from him using his axe, then swung the other axe into the Mad’s head. His glowing red eyes were locked on Graham, and for a moment the Mad still went for him.
“This one won’t die,” Graham bitched breathlessly.
“It’s ‘cause you’re not strong enough.” Vicky laughed, mocking Graham as she swung her shovel at the back of the Mad’s head. There was a crunch as she cracked his skull. “That’s how you kill a Mad.” She smiled smugly as the Mad dropped to the floor.
“True.” Graham levered the axe out of the Mad. “Or like this.” He ran to the next Mad, who was dressed in a uniform, and swung his axe. Aiming right for the neck, he used all of his force, and the Mad’s head landed on the ground with a thud and bounced over to Vicky. The Mad’s eyes were looking up at Vicky, his mouth was wide open, and there was blood dripping everywhere.
Vicky nodded. “That works too.”
Terrier ran at a Mad in a berserker rage. He pushed his thumbs into the Mad’s eyes, blinding it. The Mad flailed at Terrier, still wanting to taste fresh flesh, but Terrier wasn’t going to let the Mad get a taste of him. He gripped the Mad’s head and squeezed, using all his strength to crack the Mad’s skull.
The gang made quick work of killing the Mad, but it was hard work, and the team were getting tired. They were nowhere near ready to give up, though.
“Get back up the next level of stairs,” Ryder told them when they’d taken out the last of the Mad.
Everyone retrieved their weapons from the bodies of the Mad and headed up. Their weapons were covered in blood which was making it hard to keep their grip. Each of them wiped the blood down their pants, although it did little it did to improve their grip.
Ryder really wanted to take a shower back at Massimo’s house and smell like lavender again.
This time Ryder made sure the door was closed behind them. She didn’t want another sneak attack. Ryder couldn’t believe she’d been stupid before and forgotten to close the door.
With every step, Ryder thought about when she’d change, or when they would face Afana. They were nearly at Level One, where he must be. She really hoped that Carter was right and Massimo would be singing his favorite song.
Level Two was empty of Mad. Well, any living Mad. There were a few women and kids who didn’t know what to do. When Ryder looked up at Level One, she could make out the giant monster that was Afana. She couldn’t see Massimo or Leandro since most of the floor was covered in blood. Was it their blood? Ryder worried, and her heart stopped for a moment. This was it; time for her to face him.
“He’s up there,” Ryder announced, and the group wasted no time heading up the stairs to Level One.
“Now what?” Carter asked. He went for the door and stopped.
They didn’t have a plan for rescuing Massimo and Leandro. “We rescue our friends. Give me a clear shot, and I will kill him.” Ryder readied her bow and arrows. These arrowheads would break through Afana’s tough skin. They had to.
“Sounds like
