Page 48 of Marc
Then finally, I watched the last three monsters glide out.
My tense shoulders relaxed. “Okay, let’s get…” I realized she wasn’t listening. Her gaze was locked on the cocoon in front of us.
With a frown, I stared at it. On this side, the membrane was thin. Something moved inside it, and suddenly a face pressed against the side.
Oh, fuck.
“Marc,” she breathed in horror.
Then the person’s eye opened. I could tell he was a young man. I wasn’t sure if he could see us, but he lifted a palm and pressed it to the cocoon, pushing on it.
Shock hit my gut in a wave.
“We have to help him,” Colbie whispered.
I yanked my combat knife from its sheath, then sliced into the cocoon.
The person inside started moving. I glanced around. If the threaders came back, we were fucked.
I sawed the knife, cutting down through the heavy cocoon. It spilled open, fluid splashing onto my boots.
The man tumbled out onto the floor, naked. He let out a harsh, rasping sound.
“H-help…me.” His hand was outstretched.
Colbie instantly grabbed it. “It’s okay. You’re okay. We’ve got you.”
He wasn’t okay. I fought to keep my expression neutral.
Fuck. Patches of his skin were black. One of his eyes was swollen, bulging out of his head. And his harsh breathing told me it was hard for him to pull in air.
“What’s your name?” Colbie asked. “I’m Colbie. And this is Marc.”
“Name? Don’t…know.” He groaned, his back arching. “Hurts.”
She grabbed my arm with her free hand and looked up. “We can’t leave him. He needs medical help.”
Dammit. I couldn’t carry him and fight off any monsters. And Colbie wasn’t big enough or strong enough to carry him, either.
The man moaned, turned his head, and vomited up black sludge. I yanked Colbie back.
The man’s muscles strained. “Hurts. Burning inside me.”
How long had he been in that cocoon? What had it done to him? “What’s your name?” I asked again. “Where are you from?”
There was no response. He was groaning, his muscles straining.
Colbie shifted, grabbing his hand again. “Just breathe. You’re not alone.”
Suddenly, the man’s head snapped up. He gripped Colbie’s hand hard and yanked her forward.
She let out a startled sound.
“Hey,” I said.
The man’s good eye flashed red, and he yanked her again, opening his mouth.
Oh, hell no. His mouth was full of sharp, needlelike teeth.
