Page 64 of North

Jameson and Kai were firing on more bird-like monsters that were fluttering on the ceiling. They had their carbines up, swiveling to take each shot.

But the monsters kept coming.

Nearby, a cocoon started shaking.

“Help! Get me out.” It was a panicked female voice.

I kept firing on the possum monsters.

A large cat-like creature raced out of the darkness and pounced at me. I hit the ground, rolled and fired. With a snarl, it dropped to the floor.

“Fire in the hole,” Kai yelled.

I heard the sound of metal pinging on the ground.

Boom.

The grenade exploded. I ducked, and threw my arms over my head. I saw several monsters fly through the air.

I stayed down, then ran toward the cocoon. “Hold on, I’m here to help.”

“Thank God,” came the muffled voice inside. “Please, get me out.”

I was reaching for my knife when another armored Ankylosaurus-monster skulked out of the darkness. Its heavy tail moved side to side behind it. I whipped my carbine up and fired at its eyes.

The creature’s roar was deafening. Yeah, yeah, you’re big and scary. Now, jump and show me your belly.

It leaped.

I pulled the trigger, aiming for its weak spot.

Its body jerked and it fell, landing on its side. I waited a beat, but it didn’t get up and no more monsters appeared. I prayed that we were starting to thin them out.

Zeke appeared beside me. “Okay?”

“Cover me,” I told him. “I found one of the guards.”

The quiet man nodded.

I yanked out my knife and started hacking into the cocoon. I gritted my teeth, sawing through the substance. “Hang on.”

“Jess,” Zeke said sharply.

I looked up. There was a creature, hidden by the shadows, and I could just see red eyes glowing in the darkness.

Shit. I gripped my carbine. The hairs on the back of my neck rose. It was tall and I thought I got the impression of wings, but I could be imagining. I felt…a sense of intelligence and menace.

Then the eyes blinked out. Nothing.

“Where did it go?”

“I’ll check. You help her.” Zeke strode forward.

I resumed cutting into the cocoon and finally I freed the woman’s head.

“Thank you.” She had matted blonde hair and was covered in sticky goop. She spat to the side and then started coughing.

“Take it easy.” I helped her out. “Are you Kitt?”

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