Children of the Cull Read Free

of the old superstore. There was no danger of being spotted now. An unkempt ridge of bushes separated me from the base, blocking my view of the guards dragging the corpses away.
    I knew what I should do. Stick to the plan; see it through. But the ache in my back said otherwise. Would it hurt if I headed back to the empty house I’d made a temporary home last night? It was dry, and still in possession of most of its windows. I could make a brew, get some warmth back in my bones. Come back tomorrow. It wasn’t as if the idiots were going anywhere.
    What’s wrong with you, man? Orders is orders.
    Sir, yes sir, et—
    Something hit me in the head as soon as I turned the corner. I fell back, stunned, barely felt the back of my head connecting with the floor.
    I groaned, rolling onto my side, my hand going to my throbbing forehead, brushing already bruised skin.
    Someone grabbed my shoulder, hauling me up as if I were a sack of spuds. I allowed myself to be pulled to my feet, a voice yelling at me to get up.
    I stumbled, my assailant supporting my dead weight from the scruff of my jacket.
    What was it with these idiots and their mistakes?
    I threw my body into him, taking him by surprise. My head met his nose, and I felt a satisfying pop.
    Now we were falling, gravity taking hold. He hit the deck, my full weight upon him, my shoulder planted firmly into his stomach for added effect. And then I was back on my feet, booting him in the side.
    That sudden movement was my undoing. The world spun and I pitched forward, throwing out a hand to break my fall. The barrel of a rifle smacked me in the side of my head. I crashed to the ground and moaned, and this time it wasn’t a ploy. I had no surprise moves left. I was having enough trouble not throwing up my guts.
    A boot thudded into my shoulder, kicking me onto my back. My moan turned into a racking cough, but I didn’t try to get up. There was no point. The man who’d attacked me stood silhouetted against the clouds, rain coming down in sheets over us.
    I spat rainwater and blood out of my mouth as I realised it wasn’t a man at all. She was big, well over six foot, and as solid as she was long, her tightly-cropped hair plastered against her scalp. There was no way of telling if it was light or dark in the rain. Only one thing was obvious—her nose hadn’t been that squashed a moment ago.
    Lying there, the rain in my eyes, I didn’t know what was more intimidating—her furious glower, or the rifle she aimed right at my face.
    I smiled, hoping that the rain would at least wash some of the blood from my teeth.
    “Hello, gorgeous!”
    Yeah, I know, I know—no one bothers with one-liners in real life. So sue me.
    Since when have I played by the rules?
    Do you think this is funny?
    Sir, fuck off, sir.

 

     
    CHAPTER THREE
    CURE
     
     
    I COULD HAVE kissed Allison when the alarms finally stopped.
    “Thank God for that.”
    The phone on the neurologist’s desk rang almost immediately. She pushed it in my direction.
    “That’ll be for you?”
    “Gee, thanks.”
    I picked up the receiver, glaring at Allison. She laughed, pointing two fingers at me and miming a shot. Putting me out of my misery. It shouldn’t have been funny seeing what had just happened outside.
    “This is Tomas.”
    “ Ma’am, I’m pleased to report that the crisis has passed, ” Moore responded brusquely on the other end of the line.
    “For now. How long to the next one?”
    “ I am doubling patrols, and the tech team are fitting new cameras on weak spots along the perimeter .”
    “Last week you told me that there were no weak spots.”
    “ Dr Tomas, my resources are limited. It’s not like I can advertise for more staff. ”
    I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “I know.”
    “ If you would allow me to make a recce of the surrounding area, we could discover where these low-lives are coming from, how many there are .”
    “No.”
    “ Ma’am, three attacks in a week ...”
    “We’ve