Page 71 of Marc
We reached the edge of the blast hole into the base. Jameson and Kai stood at the edge, conferring on the safest way down.
I hitched my flamethrower pack into place on my back. They were a compact, hard-shelled pack with a long hose attached. I couldn’t wait to use it.
Reaching out, I grabbed Zeke’s arm. “Hey.”
My brother turned and cocked his head.
“If anything goes wrong down there, I want you to get Colbie out.”
His dark brows drew together. “Marc?—”
I lowered my voice. “I mean it. She’s the number one priority. I…need to know you’ll keep her safe.”
“Shit, you’re in deep for her.”
My gut clenched. “No. Yes. No. I…”
Zeke’s lips quirked.
I huffed. “This isn’t funny.”
“Oh, this is hilarious.”
“Zeke. I need to know you’ve got this?”
He clasped my shoulder. “I’ve got this.”
“Marc? Zeke?” Jameson was looking over at us. “Let’s move. We’re climbing down the rubble pile. You two are on sniper duty from above. Once we’re safely down, I’ll spot you two.”
“On it,” I said.
“Remember, comms aren’t going to work down in the base. So we’ll be out of contact with Sasha until we’re back topside.”
Zeke and I moved to the edge, aiming our carbines down.
I looked at Colbie, but she didn’t look back at me. I watched her clamber down the rubble with the others. Then I looked through my scope, scanning the area below.
No monsters.
Once the squad was at the bottom, Jameson waved us down. Zeke and I skidded down the pile until we reached the bottom.
“All right, Marc and Colbie saw the cocoons in the hangar maintenance area and the dining room. The hanger is closest, so we’ll hit that first. Dining room after that.” He swiveled to North and Kai. “If we see a threader, I want those nets out.”
Everyone nodded.
Moving as a group, we headed through a wide doorway, deeper into the base.
I heard a low growl and looked up. There were two monsters in the corridor ahead. They had stocky canine bodies and drool dripping from their fangs.
“Look sharp, Hunter Squad,” Jameson barked.
The monsters broke into a loping run.
We opened fire.
I shifted in front of Colbie, watching as the monsters fell under the storm of laser fire.
“Keep moving,” Jameson ordered.
