“Shit, really?” Mike said. “We’ve tried to keep an eye out for one.”
Chloe pointed in the direction Caleb had gone. “Go to the intersection, turn left. The bike shop is on the right side a couple of blocks down. You’ll pass a cupcake shop with a car in the window.”
“That’s fantastic,” Bill said.
She glanced over her shoulder again. “Between you and me? They’re crazy for hanging around. They only told me today there were Progg in the city. I haven’t said anything to them, but I’m leaving at first light.”
“Smart.” Bill nodded. “We’re going to bug out, too.”
“Maybe we’ll see you at the bike shop, then?” Mike asked. “You’re welcome to ride with us?”
“I’d like that.”
“Early start before the heat of the day?” Bill suggested. “Say 6 a.m.?”
“Perfect.” she said.
“Found ’em!” Caleb entered the store with Zack and Sandy.
Darn. She wished they’d had more time to chat.
“Zack Michaels. Sandy Owens,” Caleb introduced them. The two gave a halfhearted wave, remaining atthe front, making no effort to approach. Sandy muttered a hello while craning her neck to see out the window.
What is she looking at?
Seconds later, a Progg appeared at the glass door.
Chloe and Annabelle screamed.
“Fuck!” one of the men shouted.
As the Progg burst in. Bill pulled his gun and fired. He shattered the glass but missed the Progg.Zzzz!The alien vaporized Bill.Zzzz!It got Annabelle. Mike pushed up a mattress as a shield. Duncan dashed for a service entrance at the rear of the store.
Chloe dropped to the floor, crawling among the mattresses.
She heard the weapon go off. Heard a mattress fall.Mike.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Progg leap over the beds and charge after Duncan.
I’m sorry, Duncan! I’m sorry.With the alien going for the man, she sprinted for the shattered glass door. Making no moves, Sandy hovered at the front, and Caleb and Zack sat on a mattress.Why aren’t they running?
Oh, my god. They brought him here!
“Grab her!” Caleb shouted, leaping to his feet.
Sandy latched onto Chloe’s arm.
“Let me go!” She wrenched free as the alien emerged from the back. He raised the weapon. “No!” She shoved Sandy and dove through the opening, cutting her arm on the shattered glass.
Zzzz! Ka-clangk!
“Sandeeee!” Zack cried out.
He killed them. He killed them.Run. Run.Her heart beat in her ears as she tore down the sidewalk, her sneakered feet pounding the hard pavement.I’m dead. I’m dead.She expected to vanish from existence any second. An open target, she couldn’t outrun a vaporizer.
As she leaped off the curb, her knee hit the trailer hitch on a pickup truck, and she went flying, landing flat, the impact knocking the wind from her lungs.
Footfalls pounded the pavement.
