| Horror and Thriller Fiction posted January 16, 2025 | Chapters: |
...11 12 -13- 14... 
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A war of the few against a syndicate
A chapter in the book Burn It All Down
Countdown
by marilyn quillen
The author has placed a warning on this post for violence.
| Background NEW BOOKCOVER, DO YOU LIKE IT? |
The alarm was deafening, a relentless pulse that throbbed in Alex's ears and reverberated through the walls. The ground beneath their feet trembled, sending a deep vibration throughout the control room that seemed to resonate in Alex's chest. Every light in the room flashed red, a pulsing strobe that threw the already tense atmosphere into chaos.
"Self-destruct sequence initiated: T-minus fifteen minutes."
Grayson didn't flinch. His hands moved swiftly over the control panel, typing commands and overriding protocols; his movements were precise and focused.
Alex stood frozen for a moment, his mind reeling from the announcement, the lights, and the sound.
"Fifteen minutes to what, exactly?" Alex finally demanded, his voice tight with panic.
Grayson shot him a look sharp and unyielding. "Till this place turns into a smoking crater."
Alex felt his stomach twist because he remembered Grayson's earlier words. "You said you wanted to burn it down, not take us with it."
"We're not sticking around for the fireworks," Grayson snapped.
He stepped back from the console, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "There's an access tunnel through the next corridor; it leads to the surface. It's our way out."
Alex tightened his grip on his weapon, a measure of his resolve. The alarm seemed to drill into his skull, a constant reminder of the ticking clock. He didn't know if he could trust Grayson; however, staying here wasn't a clear option.
"And the creatures?"
Alex inquired, his voice a low murmur.
Grayson's expression darkened in response, revealing his apprehension. "They'll burn with the rest of it. If we don't take action, they'll chase us until they tear us apart."
Alex swallowed hard, his throat dry from anxiety. There was no time for hesitation he nodded sharply.
"Lead the way," he commanded.
The Pursuit
Grayson moved swiftly, his boots thudding against the metal floor as he guided Alex down a constricted hallway. The walls here were adorned with exposed pipes and wires, all vibrating subtly as the self-destruct sequence activated systems throughout the facility.
The temperature appeared to escalate with each step; the air became denser and increasingly difficult to inhale. Behind them, guttural growls reverberated softly, intensifying with every moment. Alex's heart raced as he glanced back over his shoulder.
Shadows danced in the pulsating red light and he caught a fleeting glimpse of movement, distorted figures creeping along the walls, their pallid skin shimmering in the faint glow.
"They're closing in!" Alex yelled, raising his rifle.
"Keep moving!" Grayson commanded. "We're too close to become entangled now."
Suddenly, a piercing screech erupted, louder than the alarm, sending an icy shiver down Alex's spine. He turned just in time to witness one of the creatures leap from the shadows, its clawed hand lunging towards his face.
Instinct took over: Alex fired, the shot resonating like thunder in the confined space. The creature's head snapped back, its body collapsing to the ground. However, before Alex could fully process what had transpired, another one emerged, followed by yet another.
"We can't outrun them!" Alex yelled, his voice cracking as he fired again, the recoil impacting his shoulder.
"We don't need to outrun them," Grayson replied, spinning around and hurling something down the hallway, a flashbang.
"Cover your ears!" he shouted, diving to the side.
Alex barely had a moment to respond before the grenade detonated. The explosion illuminated the hallway in a blinding burst of light and sound, causing the creatures to shriek and scatter.
The shockwave hit Alex like a physical blow, this left his ears ringing.
Grayson hauled him to his feet. "Move!"
They sprinted down the corridor; the alarm blared louder, now every second ticking away like a hammer to Alex's skull. The urgency of the situation was palpable; although their pace quickened, the sound seemed to echo endlessly, intensifying their anxiety. This relentless noise was not merely a distraction, but a stark reminder of the impending danger. Because of this, every footfall felt more urgent than the last.
The Access Tunnel
They rushed into a more expansive chamber; this one was dominated by a colossal steel hatch embedded in the remote wall. Grayson skidded to a halt, his breathing laborious, and began manipulating the control panel adjacent to the hatch.
"This is it," he declared, his voice taut. "Our way out."
Meanwhile, Alex scanned the area, his rifle raised. The atmosphere felt unsettling too exposed, too silent except for the relentless alarm.
"What's taking so long?" Grayson muttered under his breath. "They've locked it remotely. I need a minute to override.
A piercing screech interrupted him. Alex whirled around, his heart sinking as more of the creatures surged into the room, crawling along the walls and ceiling like a horde of nightmares.
"You've got thirty seconds!" Alex yelled, raising his rifle and firing. His shots were meticulous, each one striking true; however, the creatures continued to advance. They moved with an eerie swiftness, their contorted limbs driving them forward like predatory beasts.
Grayson did not reply. His concentration was wholly on the panel, his fingers dancing over the controls as sparks cascaded from the exposed wires.
"Hold them off!" he shouted.
Alex fired once more, the recoil jarring his arms as he dispatched two additional creatures. However, for everyone he eliminated, two more seemed to emerge in its stead. They were relentless; their screeches filled the room, drowning out the cacophony of the alarm. One of them lunged forward, its claws swiping perilously close to Alex's chest. He sidestepped just in time, slamming the butt of his rifle into its face, the force of the impact sending it sprawling across the floor. Another creature seized his ankle with an impossibly strong grip, but he managed to kick it off firing point-blank into its head.
"Grayson!" Alex shouted, desperation creeping into his voice, because he knew time was running out.
"Almost there!" Grayson shouted back.
The hatch emitted a loud hiss, a sound that echoed through the air, as the steel door ground opened to reveal a narrow, sloping tunnel that led upward.
Cool air rushed in, creating a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the facility.
"Go!" Grayson barked, grabbing Alex's arm and shoving him toward the hatch. However, Alex hesitated for a moment, because the darkness ahead loomed ominously. Although the urgency was palpable, he was uncertain about what lay beyond. This tension hung in the air, intensifying the moment.
The Climb
They rushed into the tunnel, their boots sliding on the slick metal as they ascended. The cacophony of the creatures was deafening now; their screeches reverberated through the chamber, pouring in like a tidal wave. Alex didn't dare glance back. The tunnel was steep and narrow, every step required immense effort. His legs burned; his lungs screamed for air, however, he persevered, propelled by the awareness that each second was critical.
Behind him, Grayson ascended with equal urgency, his rifle draped across his back. The alarm blared louder and the facility groaned as the self-destruct sequence neared its final moments. Heat radiated through the walls, the air thick with the acrid scent of burning metal and chemicals.
"T-minus three minutes."
"We might not succeed," Alex uttered through clenched teeth.
"Continue onward!" Grayson barked. "We're nearly there."
The light in front intensified; a subtle shimmer of hope emerged from the shadows. Alex stretched toward it with all his strength, his hands grasping at the walls in a desperate attempt to hoist himself upward.
The Final Push
They erupted from the tunnel and into the open air; the frigid wind struck Alex like a slap to the face. He stumbled onto the rugged terrain, collapsing to his knees as he gasped for breath.
Surrounding them, the mountains extended into the horizon, with the snow-covered peaks shimmering under the faint glow of the stars. Grayson was already in motion, pulling Alex to his feet.
"We're not safe yet." Alex turned, his heart stopping or so it felt, as he beheld the creatures swarming toward the mouth of the tunnel. Their pale, distorted forms spilled forth like a flood; their screeches rose into a blood-curdling crescendo. However, the urgency of the moment overshadowed his fear. Although the night was dark, this was not the time to succumb to despair.
Grayson raised his rifle. "Cover me."
Alex did not hesitate at all. He raised his weapon and fired into the mass of creatures; Grayson, however, worked quickly with precision, planting a charge at the base of the tunnel. The ground shook violently because the creatures surged forward, their speed was terrifying. Although the situation seemed dire, there was no time to lose.
"Grayson!" Alex shouted, his voice cracking.
"Finished!" Grayson shouted with urgency, seizing Alex's arm and pulling him backward. The explosion occurred instantaneously: the charge detonated with a thunderous roar, causing the tunnel to collapse in a billowing cloud of fire and debris. The creatures screamed as they were engulfed by the blast; their contorted forms disappearing in the tumult. It was chaotic, this moment marked a turning point in their escape.
Silence fell.
Alex fell to the ground, his body quivering, his breaths arriving in sharp, ragged gasps. Grayson stood beside him: his expression was grim, however resolute.
"It's over," Grayson said quietly.
Alex shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper:
"Not yet."
There was an undeniable tension in the air. Although he seemed resolute, his eyes hinted at uncertainty. This moment felt pivotal, but the weight of his words lingered heavily. Because of this, the atmosphere became charged with anticipation.
"Self-destruct sequence initiated: T-minus fifteen minutes."
Grayson didn't flinch. His hands moved swiftly over the control panel, typing commands and overriding protocols; his movements were precise and focused.
Alex stood frozen for a moment, his mind reeling from the announcement, the lights, and the sound.
"Fifteen minutes to what, exactly?" Alex finally demanded, his voice tight with panic.
Grayson shot him a look sharp and unyielding. "Till this place turns into a smoking crater."
Alex felt his stomach twist because he remembered Grayson's earlier words. "You said you wanted to burn it down, not take us with it."
"We're not sticking around for the fireworks," Grayson snapped.
He stepped back from the console, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "There's an access tunnel through the next corridor; it leads to the surface. It's our way out."
Alex tightened his grip on his weapon, a measure of his resolve. The alarm seemed to drill into his skull, a constant reminder of the ticking clock. He didn't know if he could trust Grayson; however, staying here wasn't a clear option.
"And the creatures?"
Alex inquired, his voice a low murmur.
Grayson's expression darkened in response, revealing his apprehension. "They'll burn with the rest of it. If we don't take action, they'll chase us until they tear us apart."
Alex swallowed hard, his throat dry from anxiety. There was no time for hesitation he nodded sharply.
"Lead the way," he commanded.
The Pursuit
Grayson moved swiftly, his boots thudding against the metal floor as he guided Alex down a constricted hallway. The walls here were adorned with exposed pipes and wires, all vibrating subtly as the self-destruct sequence activated systems throughout the facility.
The temperature appeared to escalate with each step; the air became denser and increasingly difficult to inhale. Behind them, guttural growls reverberated softly, intensifying with every moment. Alex's heart raced as he glanced back over his shoulder.
Shadows danced in the pulsating red light and he caught a fleeting glimpse of movement, distorted figures creeping along the walls, their pallid skin shimmering in the faint glow.
"They're closing in!" Alex yelled, raising his rifle.
"Keep moving!" Grayson commanded. "We're too close to become entangled now."
Suddenly, a piercing screech erupted, louder than the alarm, sending an icy shiver down Alex's spine. He turned just in time to witness one of the creatures leap from the shadows, its clawed hand lunging towards his face.
Instinct took over: Alex fired, the shot resonating like thunder in the confined space. The creature's head snapped back, its body collapsing to the ground. However, before Alex could fully process what had transpired, another one emerged, followed by yet another.
"We can't outrun them!" Alex yelled, his voice cracking as he fired again, the recoil impacting his shoulder.
"We don't need to outrun them," Grayson replied, spinning around and hurling something down the hallway, a flashbang.
"Cover your ears!" he shouted, diving to the side.
Alex barely had a moment to respond before the grenade detonated. The explosion illuminated the hallway in a blinding burst of light and sound, causing the creatures to shriek and scatter.
The shockwave hit Alex like a physical blow, this left his ears ringing.
Grayson hauled him to his feet. "Move!"
They sprinted down the corridor; the alarm blared louder, now every second ticking away like a hammer to Alex's skull. The urgency of the situation was palpable; although their pace quickened, the sound seemed to echo endlessly, intensifying their anxiety. This relentless noise was not merely a distraction, but a stark reminder of the impending danger. Because of this, every footfall felt more urgent than the last.
The Access Tunnel
They rushed into a more expansive chamber; this one was dominated by a colossal steel hatch embedded in the remote wall. Grayson skidded to a halt, his breathing laborious, and began manipulating the control panel adjacent to the hatch.
"This is it," he declared, his voice taut. "Our way out."
Meanwhile, Alex scanned the area, his rifle raised. The atmosphere felt unsettling too exposed, too silent except for the relentless alarm.
"What's taking so long?" Grayson muttered under his breath. "They've locked it remotely. I need a minute to override.
A piercing screech interrupted him. Alex whirled around, his heart sinking as more of the creatures surged into the room, crawling along the walls and ceiling like a horde of nightmares.
"You've got thirty seconds!" Alex yelled, raising his rifle and firing. His shots were meticulous, each one striking true; however, the creatures continued to advance. They moved with an eerie swiftness, their contorted limbs driving them forward like predatory beasts.
Grayson did not reply. His concentration was wholly on the panel, his fingers dancing over the controls as sparks cascaded from the exposed wires.
"Hold them off!" he shouted.
Alex fired once more, the recoil jarring his arms as he dispatched two additional creatures. However, for everyone he eliminated, two more seemed to emerge in its stead. They were relentless; their screeches filled the room, drowning out the cacophony of the alarm. One of them lunged forward, its claws swiping perilously close to Alex's chest. He sidestepped just in time, slamming the butt of his rifle into its face, the force of the impact sending it sprawling across the floor. Another creature seized his ankle with an impossibly strong grip, but he managed to kick it off firing point-blank into its head.
"Grayson!" Alex shouted, desperation creeping into his voice, because he knew time was running out.
"Almost there!" Grayson shouted back.
The hatch emitted a loud hiss, a sound that echoed through the air, as the steel door ground opened to reveal a narrow, sloping tunnel that led upward.
Cool air rushed in, creating a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the facility.
"Go!" Grayson barked, grabbing Alex's arm and shoving him toward the hatch. However, Alex hesitated for a moment, because the darkness ahead loomed ominously. Although the urgency was palpable, he was uncertain about what lay beyond. This tension hung in the air, intensifying the moment.
The Climb
They rushed into the tunnel, their boots sliding on the slick metal as they ascended. The cacophony of the creatures was deafening now; their screeches reverberated through the chamber, pouring in like a tidal wave. Alex didn't dare glance back. The tunnel was steep and narrow, every step required immense effort. His legs burned; his lungs screamed for air, however, he persevered, propelled by the awareness that each second was critical.
Behind him, Grayson ascended with equal urgency, his rifle draped across his back. The alarm blared louder and the facility groaned as the self-destruct sequence neared its final moments. Heat radiated through the walls, the air thick with the acrid scent of burning metal and chemicals.
"T-minus three minutes."
"We might not succeed," Alex uttered through clenched teeth.
"Continue onward!" Grayson barked. "We're nearly there."
The light in front intensified; a subtle shimmer of hope emerged from the shadows. Alex stretched toward it with all his strength, his hands grasping at the walls in a desperate attempt to hoist himself upward.
The Final Push
They erupted from the tunnel and into the open air; the frigid wind struck Alex like a slap to the face. He stumbled onto the rugged terrain, collapsing to his knees as he gasped for breath.
Surrounding them, the mountains extended into the horizon, with the snow-covered peaks shimmering under the faint glow of the stars. Grayson was already in motion, pulling Alex to his feet.
"We're not safe yet." Alex turned, his heart stopping or so it felt, as he beheld the creatures swarming toward the mouth of the tunnel. Their pale, distorted forms spilled forth like a flood; their screeches rose into a blood-curdling crescendo. However, the urgency of the moment overshadowed his fear. Although the night was dark, this was not the time to succumb to despair.
Grayson raised his rifle. "Cover me."
Alex did not hesitate at all. He raised his weapon and fired into the mass of creatures; Grayson, however, worked quickly with precision, planting a charge at the base of the tunnel. The ground shook violently because the creatures surged forward, their speed was terrifying. Although the situation seemed dire, there was no time to lose.
"Grayson!" Alex shouted, his voice cracking.
"Finished!" Grayson shouted with urgency, seizing Alex's arm and pulling him backward. The explosion occurred instantaneously: the charge detonated with a thunderous roar, causing the tunnel to collapse in a billowing cloud of fire and debris. The creatures screamed as they were engulfed by the blast; their contorted forms disappearing in the tumult. It was chaotic, this moment marked a turning point in their escape.
Silence fell.
Alex fell to the ground, his body quivering, his breaths arriving in sharp, ragged gasps. Grayson stood beside him: his expression was grim, however resolute.
"It's over," Grayson said quietly.
Alex shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper:
"Not yet."
There was an undeniable tension in the air. Although he seemed resolute, his eyes hinted at uncertainty. This moment felt pivotal, but the weight of his words lingered heavily. Because of this, the atmosphere became charged with anticipation.
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© Copyright 2025. marilyn quillen All rights reserved.
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