“We’rehurrying,”Cassandracalled back, sounding breathless.“Someof us have shorter legs.”
“Cassie climbs good,”Ravikrumbled.
“Thank you, big guy, but maybe compliment me later once we’re out of here.”
Despite himself,Severinsmiled at the exchange.Thenhe glanced down again and saw that the firstInfectedface had appeared at the bottom of the shaft.
TheVisskoushe saw had once been a scientist’s assistant namedPellix, ifSeverinremembered correctly.Nowhis mouth was smeared black-red, his white eyes rolled upward, and his long hands gripped the ladder with jerky, insectile movements.Behindhim, more pale shapes crowded into the lower hatch, hissing and clicking hungrily.
Severin drew his plasma pistol.
“Keep climbing,” he ordered.“I’mgoing to shoot but you two keep going.
Ravik looked down.
“Sev?”
“Keep climbing,” he repeated and squeezed the trigger.
The first shot lit the shaft blue-white andPellixfell backward into the dark with a hiss, taking two others with him.Thesound of bodies hitting bodies echoed below, followed by shrieks and frantic scraping as moreInfectedfought to climb over the fallen.
Severin fired again, then again, conserving power as much as he dared.Hewas doubtless going to need every charge he could save once they were out in the open above.
Ifthey made it into the open.
“Severin!”Cassandracried from above.“Areyou okay?We’realmost at the top.”
“Open the grate,” he shouted back.
“It’s stuck!”
Severin bit the inside of his cheek—of course it was stuck.Thisbunker was going to be their tomb.
ThenRaviksnarled,
“Move aside,Cassie.”
“I’m on a ladder, where exactly amIsupposed to move?”she snapped.
“Just duck.”
BeforeCassandracould object,Ravikclimbed past her with terrifying ease, bracing himself on the narrow ladder and shoved one massive shoulder against the grate above.Metalgroaned.Heshoved again, muscles bunching in his back, and the grate tore free with a shriek and banged against the ground outside.
Gray light poured down into the shaft.
Ravik hauled himself through then gave a hand toCassandra, who scrambled out after him.
Severin fired one more shot into the rising mass ofInfected, then climbed the last rungs as fast as he could.Buta clawed hand caught his boot just as he reached the top.
“Fuck!”he gasped, as he was dragged back down into the darkness.
“Hang on—I’vegot you!”
Ravik grabbedSeverin’sarm and pulled.
For a moment,Severinhung between theInfectedbelow andRavikabove, the grip on his boot tightening as another white-eyed face surged up from the dark below.
ThenRavikroared and hauled him upward with one massive pull.
