Page 49

“No.”

“Oh, give it a rest, soldier.” Myrell pushed his gun down. “No time to argue. Let’s just go.”

Kryxis moved first, taking it slow this time so the others could keep up. They started back the way they came, down a flight of stairs. There was no chance of taking the bridge now which meant either trying to find a way out at ground level or taking the tunnels again. She trusted Kryxis knew the best route either way.

Once they got halfway down, however, she noticed sticky webbing on the walls and could hear things skittering. Garret had his gun aimed upward but they could see nothing in the darkness. The air was thick with that metallic scent. Dani found herself clinging to Kryxis, eyes searching wildly for any sign of movement.

When they broke out onto the first level, Kryxis veered to the right then halted as something hissed close by. Kryxis bared his teeth and growled.

Garret swung his light around, and several large creatures were coming at them from down one hall.

They looked like smaller versions of the spider-mantis only they were covered in bruiser fungus. It was growing all over their backs and shoulders. Even covering some of their faces.

One shrieked at them and lunged.

Garret shot at them, letting off several rounds, white light flashing in the dark. Kryxis swung his tail out like a whip and sliced one across the chest.

“There’s too many!” Myrell shouted.

Dani gasped, clutching to Kryxis as he jerked back and ripped through a second then kicked another with his mighty leg, sending it flying. When more drew closer, he leaned forward and roared at them.

The spider-mantises slowed, a few flinching away. It appeared to work at first. Until she heard skittering and saw more crawling up the sides of the wall and ceiling.

Kryxis growled. He set her down then pushed her back toward the stairs.

Dani took out the shooter Kryxis had given her and shot at one closing in. She tugged on Myrell to follow. “To the stairs!”

Garret continued to fire on the bugs as he met them at the stairwell. Myrell swept inside first as Garret moved in next.

“Dani, let’s go!” he shouted.

Dani hesitated by the door. Kryxis was keeping the bugs back.

“Kryxis, come on!” she called.

He snarled at the mob closing in on him. Then he turned back for the stairs.

He picked her up again and shut the door behind them. They rushed down the stairwell, below ground level.

There was a loud bang above them, followed by the shattering of glass and groan of metal. Then came the loud hissing of the mob. They’d broken through the door and were clambering down toward them.

“Fuck, run!” Garret shouted. He grabbed Myrell, practically picking her up off her feet.

They flew down the stairs and shot out into a tunnelway. There was nothing to barricade the door, and the bugs were close behind, so they ran. When they’d barely made it halfway down the tunnel, the door burst open, and the bugs rushed in. Garret whirled around and shot toward them, but it hardly slowed them down.

“We can’t lose them!” Myrell cried.

Kryxis slowed then halted, setting Dani down again. Before she could ask what he was doing, he put two firebombs in her hands.

“Go,” he growled.

“What—”

He pushed her toward the way they were running. Then he pulled Garret back.

“Go,” he hissed.

Dani reached for him but was tugged back by Garret.