“Alright, let’s go,” Seth said, and he yanked open the door.
As one, they rushed out into the early morning light. Immediately, every set of eyes in the feral pack fixed on them. Growls filled the air, and a tidal wave of furry death rushed toward the group.
There were all kinds of dogs in the pack. They came in every size and color, but they all had one thing in common. They were wild predators, unfettered by the bonds of humanity. To them, the humans were prey. Food. Nothing more. In this world, only the strongest survived.
Bear took the lead, steadying each of them with a grim look. “Stay with me and don’t panic.”
The group paused on the terrace to get their bearings, and to allow their vision to adjust to the light. They formed a ring, facing outward with their backs together. Each carried a pack and their weapons.
“All together now. On me,” Bear said. He headed toward the waiting vehicles, and the group followed.
Rogue stuck close to Seth’s side, taking care not to move too fast, or too slow. Group integrity was of the utmost importance. That thought kept her calm until the first attack. A dog with pale gray fur launched at her, and panic fizzed through her brain. Relying on instinct, she thrust at the creature’s chest with her spear. The razor-sharp blade slid between its ribs, impaling the beast. With a yelp, it slumped to the ground, no longer a threat.
With a feeling of triumph, she shook it off and continued toward the parking lot. Her feet pounded the pavement, and her breath sounded harsh in her ears. Adrenalin rushed through her veins, and her senses sharpened. The world took on a vivid hue, and she could hear the crunch of gravel beneath her soles. This was what it felt like to be alive.
Ferals streamed in from every direction and surrounded the group. They snapped and snarled, impeding their progress. Rogue stabbed at one with her spear and caught it in the throat. It fell away in a spray of arterial blood, but another took its place in an instant.
Imogen took down another with a bullet from her pistol, and Rogue leaped across the fallen corpse. “Great shot!”
“Thanks,” Imogen said, but her cry turned to shock when a feral latched onto her forearm.
Bear brained it with his hammer, and Imogen yanked her arm free of its grip. Bright red blood spotted her sleeve, but she seemed okay. Still, Rogue stuck close to her side as they covered the distance toward the parking lot. She fended off three more dogs, slashing at them with her spear. They danced out of reach, baring their teeth with frustrated growls. Slaver dripped from their lips in long strands of silver.
It became hard to focus on her fellow teammates with ferals attacking from all sides. Her vision was filled with teeth and fur, and growls sawed into her eardrums. She slashed and stabbed at everything within reach, steeling herself against the blood and guts.
Seth did what he could, snapping off shots with his left hand. Most of the bullets missed, and he went down hard when a dog tackled him from the side.
“Seth!” Rogue yelled, rushing to his assistance.
Tony got there before her, and his machete sliced through the creature’s spine. He helped Seth to his feet. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Seth said, snapping off another shot.
A dog crashed to the ground mere inches away, and Tony flashed him a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
There was a brief lull in the fight, and Rogue looked around. The group was still together, and they’d covered half the distance to the vehicles. She tugged at Seth’s arm. “Come on. We’re almost there.”
“Right behind you,” he said, taking aim at another feral. The shot missed, and he swore. “Damn it!”
“Just keep shooting,” Rogue said. “You’re bound to hit something.”
“She’s right,” Jessica cried. The rat-tat-tat from her rifle punctuated her words, each bullet finding its mark.
In a tight-knit circle, the group advanced across the open lot. Rogue thrust her spear at another dog, catching it a glancing blow with the blade. The feral retaliated and snapped at her leg. Its teeth closed around her ankle, and white-hot pain lanced through the bone.
She tried to kick it away, but the beast hung on with grim determination. Its powerful jaws had her foot in a vice grip, and she fought to keep her balance. “Get off me!”
Suddenly, David was there, steadying her with one hand on her elbow. “Hold on to me.”
He hacked at the dog with his ax and severed its spine. It collapsed, letting go of Rogue’s leg. Freed, she staggered back on her injured foot. When she tried to put her weight on it, fiery agony shot up the limb.
Seth popped up next to her. “Here, let us help you.”
She flung one arm across his shoulders, and the other across David’s. With Seth and David on either side, she closed the distance to the van. The rest of the group circled around them, providing cover from the ferals.
Rogue slumped against the side of the van, her teeth gritted to ward of the pain. David, Imogen, and Tony jumped into the vehicle, and the engine roared to life. It inched toward the Jeep with Seth, Rogue, Jessica, and Bear using it as a shield.
Finally, they made it, and Rogue fell into the backseat with a groan of relief. A big black wolf jumped onto the door, and she stabbed it with her spear. It fell to the ground, and Bear slammed his hammer onto its head. Blood and brains spewed onto the tar, and the animal spasmed as life left its limbs.
Jessica climbed in next to her, one knee on the seat and the other braced against the backrest. She provided cover with her rifle, laying down a blanket of fire. Seth did the same from the passenger seat with his pistol until it clicked on empty. “Bear, get your ass in here.”
“Coming,” Bear replied.
“Hurry,” Jessica
