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Georgia yelped and fired as she was slammed to the dirt.

Ash also opened fire, but his bullets didn’t hit anything. A second later, he was tossed along the corridor.

“Mark it with something,” Hunter said. “Otherwise, you’ll only waste your ammo.”

Cleo moved them so they were against the wall, stopping the invisible thing from creeping up behind them. “With what?”

“I used my blood mixed with dirt.”

Georgia was back on her feet, but only for a second. There was a menacing growl, and she was yanked away and dragged along the corridor. She fired, but her gun was ripped from her hands, and blood splattered across the ground.

Ash roared his fury and chased after Georgia.

“We have to stop that thing.” Hunter’s words were slurred. “We should help them.”

“You’re not doing anything, other than holding onto me so I can carry you out of here.”

“You think you can carry me?”

“If that’s what it takes.” Cleo peered around the bend. Shots were being fired and Ash was still yelling.

“They need backup,” Hunter breathed out.

“Not from an injured Apexian who can barely stand. And I’m not leaving you on your own. What if there are more of those things? Ash and Georgia are fighters. They’ll kill that creature.”

“I hate this,” he mumbled.

Cleo adjusted her arm around his waist as they staggered forward. “What do you hate?”

“Being useless to you.”

“You’re not useless. You’re wounded. And you’d do the exact same thing for me if I was hurt. Although I carry a few less pounds than you and a heck of a lot less muscle, so it wouldn’t be such a struggle.”

“I promise, I’ll make it up to you,” he said. “And I’ll give you a workout you’ll never forget.”

“I’m counting on that.” Cleo froze as a guttural growl drifted toward her. “Hunter, we’re not alone in here!”