Carrion (The Bren Watts Diaries #1)

Chapter 21

When fifteen minutes were up, I was still hoarding and emptying the shelf. I didn't recognize about seventy-five percent of the medicine there, but they looked important enough that I shoved them in the bag anyway.

Taking one last look at the shelves, I veered out of the room where Logan and Miguel were emptying the shelves outside, hauling some over-the-counter medications, and left nothing on the counter. Then, they also hit the convenience stuff like tampons, batteries, bottled waters, granola bars, and basic hygiene displayed along the aisle.

I signaled for them that we were leaving.

Gunfire rang continuously outside, and it was getting closer.

We went out of the back door and out to the alley.

Smoke filled the alley, drawing a thin mist of debris and dust. Not far from us, a building was on fire, which got bombarded by mortar shells. Soldiers blocked the street to our right, crouched behind cars, and sometimes marching forward beside tanks and Humvees. Ahead of them were the vectors streaming out of every nook and cranny of the streets, from the utility hole, the windows, the corners, and alleys, all drawn by the noise the soldiers made and charged toward them.

A big, deadly mistake.

Their mistake also meant we're caught in the crossfire. But most of all, a good distraction for us to slip out.

Miguel spun me around and dragged me to the opposite side of the alley, screaming in my ear, "We can't go back that way!"

I nodded, said, "Any ideas back to the bookstore?"

"Yeah. It's a long route. I just hoped they aren't heading there."

"How long is that going to take?" Logan asked.

"An hour around that. But it's better than getting through that."

Logan and I grumbled. We followed Miguel to the other side.

Luckily, this side of the block was empty, saved for a few vectors running from the intersection, heading toward the street where the soldiers were. I was glad that the soldiers were herding the vectors on their location, clearing up many corners for the three of us. Then again, I felt guilty for thinking that way. Most of those men were going to die. Some might not be able to leave in one piece.

Miguel swerved to a corner. We followed, finding ourselves in front of an enormous and beautiful cathedral.

Suddenly, Miguel paused, bumped his back. My breath hiked up my throat when more than a dozen vectors were running ahead of us.

"Shit!" Logan exclaimed.

They were drawn to the noise made by the soldiers, but when they saw us, they changed course, barreling toward us instead. Miguel pivoted and headed for the cathedral. Logan and I bolted after him, passing a sign that read WELCOME TO ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL next to the door.

The doors were locked.

We banged on the doors as hard as we could, hoping that there's someone on the other side. No one answered. In a few seconds, the three of us would be swamped by hundreds of those things, and I quickly looked around to find an exit. There was a mason-bricked wall wrapped in climbing vines. The wood that wrapped around it looked sturdy enough to pull us up over the wall. I grabbed both Logan's and Miguel's shoulders and dragged them toward the wall.

I took my backpack out in mid-run and threw it over the wall. I began to climb, thrashing and screaming my heart out. A hand grabbed my ankle, and I yelped, but fortunately, its grasp was weak, and I was able to yank myself out of its grip. I managed to give a good kick, and I felt a wet crunch underneath my soles. I hauled myself over the wall.