Page 61 of Tracking the Alpha
His lips curved. “You’re wasting time arguing. Get everyone to safety. I’ll be there with you before you have time to curse me out.”
Rather than climb, Barrett dropped down through the hole, bracing himself for the landing. The door on this side didn’t require a face to unlock. Much like emergency exits, the security only went one way.
He put his ear to the portal and listened. Heard a faint murmur of voices that seemed feminine. He cracked open the door, and her scent hit him.
Tanis.
She’s here!
Another smell hit him harder. One that raised the hairs on his body.
Danger.
As he bolted up the hall for the open doorway, the lights suddenly went out.
But of more concern than the guttural voice that said “Dinner,” was someone uttering a blood-curdling scream.
Chapter Eighteen
The lights went out, the thing spoke, and Tanis just about pissed her pants. Brittany, however, tried to save her own ass. She lunged and grabbed at Tanis, trying to thrust her at the monster.
“I brought you dinner, 39,” she huffed.
Oh, like hell. Tanis wrenched hard and, when she failed to break free, dropped to the floor, wrenching out of Brittany’s grip. She scrabbled away just in time. Something swept where she’d been standing, moving fast enough it almost whistled. Whatever it was missed Tanis, but Brittany didn’t fare so well.
The woman screamed, and the monster grunted, “Yum. Me,” as it tore into her.
With it occupied, Tanis didn’t waste time. She crawled in the direction, she hoped, of the exit and smacked into a wall. She couldn’t see shit. Fingers grabbed hold, and she shrieked, tugging to break free, only to freeze at a growled, “It’s me. Calm down.”
“Barrett?”
“Yeah.”
“We have to get out of here,” she exclaimed, trying to close her ears to the slurping.
“No shit. Hold on.” Before she could say another word, she found herself tossed over a brawny shoulder and jostled as Barrett ran.
No breath to ask how he’d gotten here but so much relief. Maybe she wouldn’t die after all.
“Food.”
The eerie word resonated and had Barrett huffing, “What the fuck is that?”
“One of the project’s failures. Not sure what is it, but it thrives and hunts in the dark.”
“Fuck me. I had Phoenix cut the power to try and stop the bombs.”
“Bombs?” she squeaked.
“Yeah. Hold on. I gotta climb.”
She clung to his shirt as he ascended, faster than she could have ever managed, and yet not fast enough. She didn’t need to see to know the monster climbed too.
Barrett growled. “I can’t outrace it, and this shaft is too tight to fight.”
Really not reassuring.
“Hun. Gree.” The thing below them growled and sounded much too close.
