Page 109 of Born Savage

I readied the assault rifle, glancing toward Blade, trying to keep some sense of patience.

“A few are coming over the wall.” Wrath’s voice held a tone of danger.

“Now!” As soon as the lights were flicked on, we were allowed some warning as to the Dwellers and their approach. While the bright lights seemed to startle them, they didn’t stop, merely slowing down.

“Shit,” Blade hissed.

“Go. Go. Go.”

We’d functioned as a military unit for long enough to know how to handle enemies coming in from all sides. Yet Star’s observation was correct. They were entirely different than most we came across. More agile.

More organized.

But definitely out for blood.

We’d been through countless battles over the years, violent skirmishes both armed and with nothing but brute strength and our martial arts training. With other soldiers, we’d gotten very good at being able to anticipate their moves.

Not with Dwellers. While there’d been rumors for years that they had enough cognitive functions to be trained themselves, I’d laughed at the thought.

Until now.

The level of organization as they advanced lent credence to the idea. They didn’t just lumber forward like zombies depicted in terrible horror movies of two generations before. These bastards were taking their time, allowing a front line to be sacrificed while others began initiating a maneuver that would box us in, crowding closer with every step.

And they kept coming.

While we had a decent supply of ammunition, after spraying bullets and making no apparent headway, I was convinced we were running out of time.

“Look out!” Wrath yelled just before I was hit from behind, tackled by another Dweller. The weapon was tossed aside. While the strap still wrapped around my neck, it was now being used to suffocate me.

I struggled to reach for one of several knives, fumbling the entire damn time as the bastard straddling me fought to rip out my eyeballs.

With a deep growl, I finally freed it, jamming the blade into the beast’s skull. Hissing, I pushed him aside, freeing the knife while trying to determine how many had broken through the line.

Too many.

My men were being ceremoniously herded, making the use of the rifles more difficult.

But we tried.

I resorted to kicking and stomping one then another, gouging another.

“Rage!” Vicious snarled and I jumped back a split second before he fired off a handgun. A gush of blood and brains swept across my chest, the stench disgusting as usual.

“Fall back.” In this case, it meant move to a better location to take out a higher number of them.

Just as they started to obey my command, one of the lights snapped off.

Then another.

Then another.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” Blade hissed.

“Yeah, bad timing, dude,” Wrath hissed. “We need to get inside.”

At this point, it was the only chance we had, keeping them out until the morning light. Even with so many dead, the others weren’t holding back.

“Move. Move. Move.” I gave the orders, waiting until the last minute to move inside. “Furniture in front of the doors. Lock down the windows.”