Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27296 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27296 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Brianna still sat in corner rocking herself back and forth. “We’re going to die. We’re going to die. We’re going to die.” She chanted.
Regardless of what happened for the remainder of the night, Kaliah wanted to be in control of her own fate which meant getting the fuck out of here. “Come on. We’re going to die for sure if you stay here.”
Loud howls in the distance cut through the wind and Kaliah had a feeling they didn’t have much time to make their escape.
Brianna looked up at her with tear stained cheeks. “I can’t move.”
Kaliah reached down and grabbed her by the arm and yanked with all her strength. “Well you’d better figure out how and quick or else we’re monster chow. Do you hear those sounds? We don’t know what’s out there and I don’t want to find out.”
With Kaliah’s help, Brianna made it to her feet.
“Let’s go.” As they were stepping out of the cage, Kaliah looked over her shoulder. The redhead woman stared at them hesitantly. “Come on…”
“Amy. My name is Amy.”
“Let’s go Amy.” Kaliah motioned her to come with them. She glanced at the older couple still clinging to each other.
The woman, smiled slightly, with her head resting on her partner’s shoulder. “You go ahead. The two of us have lived a long life and these old legs can’t carry us the way they used to. We’d rather be together when it happens.
The old man nodded with a grunt.
Kaliah’s heart broke for them. In that moment she wished she’d lived life where she could experience a love so fulfilling that there was no fear of death as long as she had her soulmate. But she didn’t know if she’d make it through the night.
“Let’s go ladies.” She practically had to drag Brianna along with her. Amy trailed behind them.
The three of them ran, weaving through trees and bushes. The further into the woods they got, the darker it became, because the branches blocked out the moon’s light.
Running with a limp was challenging enough but she did her best to keep up with Brianna and Amy who were starting to outpace her.
The howling sounds were getting closer and she didn’t know if she could go any faster.
“Brianna!” Someone called out from a distance.
Kaliah halted, recognizing that voice.
Nicole?
Nicole popped from behind one of the trees with Sasha trailing behind her. “Oh my God! We didn’t know what happened to you.”
As the two got closer, Kaliah was able to make out that they too had R’s carved in their foreheads. Despite what had happened these past couple days, Kaliah was happy to see them.
“The person who opened our cage said if we make it until the sun comes up we’re free to go. So I was thinking we could find some place to hide,” Sasha said.
Nicole shook her head. “Don’t you think a town full of psychopaths would know every hiding space there is? We have to find a way to the border.”
Shit. She was right. “Then we’ll have to figure a way out of this town,” Kaliah reason. “Do you hear that?” She listened closely.
“You mean those wild animals that have been howling all night?” Sasha asked with wide eyed panic.
“No, it’s the sound of rushing water, a lake or a stream. I think maybe if we follow it, we may be able to get out of this town,” Kaliah explained.
“That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard!” Nicole screamed. “You do you, but I’m getting as far away from you as possible. You’ll just slow me down anyway with your bum leg. And another thing—”
She was cut off by a loud growl followed by a big black blur that came out of nowhere. It knocked Nicole to the ground and bit into her throat.
Nicole didn’t have a chance to scream.
But Kaliah did. She started to scream and she couldn’t stop.
CHAPTER 9
Kaliah screamed until her throat went raw. She’d never been a fan of horror movies because whenever she watched them, she thought the people in them were stupid for standing around while the killer took out other members in their group. Yet here she was, paralyzed in fear as this animal…no man…whatever it was, feasted on Nicole like a cut of meat.
The worst part was knowing that she was probably next if she couldn’t get her body to move.
“Come on!” Amy grabbed her wrist and yanked.
Kaliah nearly stumbled but she managed to gain her footing and ran. Amy pulled ahead and dropped her hand. But Kaliah tried to keep up as best as she could. She ran, ignoring the pain in her legs and her burning lungs.
What the hell was that thing back there. It wasn’t like any animal she’d ever seen before. It was shaped like a human but it was covered in fur. It had long claws and huge teeth. It was something made of pure nightmares.