Then another.
Something slammed into the door.
I froze, and the bag slipped from my hand and hit the floor.
Another thud shook the hallway.
Then a scraping sound. Like fingernails dragging across wood.
My stomach twisted. They were waking up.
Or changing.
Or whatever the hell happened next.
“Okay,” I whispered. “Okay. You can do this.”
Another crash rattled the door, and Max growled low in his throat.
I grabbed the bag and hurried back down the hallway. The pounding behind that door grew louder. Something inside hit it hard enough to make the frame shudder.
I paused in front of the room, drawn by a strange fascination. I could hear snarling and groaning.
Max growled, and the sounds paused for a few moments before becoming louder and heading in our direction.
“Shush, boy,” I whispered, laying my hand on his head. “Enough of that.”
I turned my attention back to the door when I heard a snapping noise, and the hinges began to bend slightly.
“Shit.”
I grabbed Max’s collar and pushed us through Beck’s bedroom door, then slammed it behind me.
Max was already moving and planted himself in front of Beck’s bed. His teeth bared toward the hallway.
“Easy,” I told him, my hands shaking harder.
I dragged the dresser across the floor. The wood screeched against the boards as I shoved it in front of the door.
Then the chair.
Then the small table.
It wasn’t much, but it might slow them down.
Maybe.
The pounding in the hallway echoed through the clubhouse.
Something cracked, that sounded like wood splintering. Hopefully the door would hold until Beck woke up.
I set the bag on the table and tried to eat a protein bar. I had to stop several times when I felt like I was going to throw up, but I managed to finish it.
I poured some water into Max's bowl and gave him a handful of lunch meat I found in the refrigerator. It looked questionable, but it was all I had.
“When we get out of here, I’m going to get you the biggest steak I can find.” He paused his chewing and looked at me. “Okay, that might not be possible. How about the best kibble money can buy?”
Surely I could find a Petco to rummage through.
