Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“What? No!” Nik tried to control the fear-tinged fury running through him.
Nera turned to face him, her face calm. “Someone competent needs to go out there. I’m volunteering before you do.”
She was trying to keep him safe…again. “One of the security team can go. They have experience—”
“I said competent, Niklas.” She lowered her voice. “The driver can’t go, and the others are petrified to go out there.”
He gritted his teeth. Yeah, he’d seen the way the young agents were sweating.
“We both know if any of them head out, they’ll end up zombie fodder, or worse. I want us out of here.” She let her firm gaze connect with his. “I’ll be back.”
“I’ll go,” Galen said.
Nera didn’t even look at the other man. “You’re injured.”
A muscle ticked in Nik’s jaw. “Fine. But I’ll provide cover fire from the top hatch.”
Avril stirred. “We can’t leave the top hatch open. That leaves us all at risk—”
“The windscreen has a damn hole in it, Avril. We’re at risk anyway.” Nik grabbed a laser rifle that Solomon held out for him, checked it. “And she’s going out there, taking the biggest risk of all, to save all our asses. I’m going to cover her.”
Avril drew in a shaky breath and fell back in her seat, silent.
Nera looked on, faintly amused. Galen held something out to her.
“Think you’ll need these,” the agent said.
She took the set of new gloves with a nod and yanked them on. Then she held out a hand to the driver. “The repair patch.”
The reptilian man slapped it into her palm. “Just wrap it around the damaged area. It’ll turn green when it’s repaired the damage and the cable is active again.” He held out another of the slim, black patches. “Here’s a second one, just in case. And a multi-tool, just—”
“In case. Got it.” She took the patches and the tool, and shoved them onto her belt.
Then she reached up and opened the top hatch.
After she climbed through, Nik followed.
He jammed his boots onto the backs of the chairs below, his upper body poking up through the hatch.
He lifted the rifle and looked through the scope.
The dark walls of the jungle came into focus.
“Nera?”
She paused, perched on the roof.
“Be careful. I have plans that involve those long legs of yours wrapped around my waist. Come back in one piece.”
She looked like she was trying not to smile. “Same goes, Phoenix.” She turned and skidded down the hood.
Nik waited until she was crouched over the huge burn hole in the metal before turning back to the jungle.
He heard the zombies coming, crashing through the trees and vines. Their moans raised the hair on the back of his neck. “Nera. Incoming.”
“I need more time.” She didn’t even lift her head.
He scanned the trees. As soon as the first zombie came into view, he blew its head off. He kept working, taking them down one after another.
But more kept coming. “Nera!”
“Almost…there.” Her hands were still working inside the engine.
“Phoenix!” Solomon shouted from below. “More coming from the eastern side.”
Nik swiveled and saw another small mob pushing out of the trees. He took down as many as he could before he switched back to the first group. “Nera. You’re out of time. Get back in here!”
“I’m close, but it isn’t connecting. I need another minute.”
“You have two seconds to get your ass back in here.”
“You giving me orders, Phoenix?” She kept working, her head down, but her voice was edged in something deadly.
Oh, she was going to make him pay for that. Well, he didn’t care, as long as she was safe.
The zombies were getting closer, moving into a shambling run as they spotted her, crouched on the hood, in easy reach.
Nik’s heart was hammering so hard it hurt his chest. “Nera, dammit.”
Suddenly, the zombies stumbled to a halt. They milled around, their dark eyes wide. A few backed up, making strange choking noises in their throats. Then they started back toward the trees.
Nik picked off a few more, frowning at them. What the hell were they doing? “Nera, they’re retreating.”
“Finally, some luck.”
He didn’t believe in luck.
A second later, a huge, black shadow slunk out of the trees, toward them. God, in this case, he hated being right.
Everything in him went cold. It looked similar to the mutant cat in the museum in Mexico, only twice the size, and it had two heads. Both with jaws filled with sharp teeth.
Its powerful muscles bunched, its glowing green eyes leveled on Nera.
“Nera!” Nik shouted and pulled the trigger.
The beast pounced.
Oh, hell. Nera saw it coming.
She slid off the hood, her boots hitting the muddy ground.
The creature flew over her, its huge, powerful body outstretched. It landed in front of the Centurion, skidded in the mud, and spun to face her.
Damn, it made the beast in the museum look like an expensive, pampered pet. This thing was huge, and those two heads, each containing teeth the length of her forearm, were the stuff of nightmares. She slid out her sword and felt like she was facing off with a giant while holding a butter knife.
Laser fire hit the creature’s side, and it twitched as though it had been bitten by an annoying insect. Its black hide was too tough for the laser to do much damage. Nera moved slowly. She wanted the bulk of the Centurion between her and the animal.
But as she moved backward, it walked forward, its movements slow and measured. It was hunting her.
“Nera. Inside.”
Niklas sounded stressed. She forced his worry out of her mind and focused on her prey. She still needed another minute to get the Centurion functioning. If they stayed stranded here, she was sure this monster would rip the vehicle open like an old-fashioned tin can.
The creature lunged. She tensed and jumped backward, her hip hitting metal with a burst of pain. But the creature hadn’t come far.
It was toying with her.
She didn’t enjoy playing games unless she was the one instigating them.
She pressed her foot to the Centurion’s footboard, then jumped.
She came down on the creature’s back, and with two swift strokes, opened up the back of its neck.
It wasn’t a bad wound—its skin was just too tough—but the animal let out a howl.
It twisted both of its heads, trying to reach her, but she had already jumped away.
She spun, watching the creature focus on her again. Its muscles flexed, and its mouths opened, showing off impressive fangs.
“Get back!” Niklas called out.
Trusting him, she leaped backward.
Flames spewed from the top of the vehicle. Nera dived and rolled across the ground. The beast’s heads caught fire and the sound it made was ear-splitting.
She raced back to the front of the Centurion.
She reached for the damaged cable and slapped the spare repair patch over the one that didn’t seem to be working.
She shot a quick glance at Niklas. Her throat tightened.
He looked incredibly fierce, wielding a flamethrower.
Beside him, Solomon was manning the laser rifle.
She connected the patch. Come on. Come on. It turned green. Yes!
She turned…just in time to see the heavy bulk of the flaming, mutant beast smash into her.
Nera slid across the hood and landed flat on her back on the ground on the other side of the vehicle. The cat leaped upward, landing on top of her. Three of its paws hit the ground on either side of her body, but the claws of one sank into her side, shredding her armor like it was made of paper.
She winced at the pain. The horrid stench of burning skin engulfed her and those dual jaws snapped close to her face.
She shoved her arm up and managed to toss the multi-tool into one of the creature’s mouths.
It reared back, making a choking noise and she felt its claws dig deeper. Damn, that hurt.
Biting her tongue to keep from crying out, she fumbled for her sword. It was awkward, but she managed to reach behind her and yank it out of its scabbard. She jabbed it into the creature’s soft belly. It howled, the stench of its breath making Nera’s eyes water.
As it leaped off her, she rolled. She staggered to her feet and realized the weight of the animal landing on her had broken something.
Just a few ribs, she hoped. Worst of all, it had really made a mess of her side.
Blood was seeping into her trousers. She stumbled her way around the back of the Centurion.
And saw a mob of zombies rushing out of the jungle.
Someone was firing at them. She hoped that kept them off her. She took another step and her leg went out from under her. Her knee sank into the mud and she willed herself to ignore the pain and move. But her body didn’t seem to be obeying her.
Hands slipped under her arms and jerked her up. She got a glimpse of Niklas’ set face.
No. He shouldn’t be out here. “You shouldn’t have left the vehicle.”
“Shut up.” He hauled her up the side of the Centurion. Zombie hands reached for them and Niklas paused to kick out at them, catching the closest one in the face.
Then Solomon was there, hauling her in. Her chest was tight as she waited for Niklas. A second later, he slid inside and slammed the hatch closed. “I suggest you get us the hell out of here,” he yelled at the driver.
“On it.” The engine flared to life and the driver accelerated. Fast. They were all thrown against the seats.
Nera blinked. She was feeling a little dizzy.
Hands tore at her armor and clothing. She stared at Niklas’ big hands and realized they were shaking a little.
“How bad?” he asked quietly, his voice ruthlessly tight.
“Not…sure.”
“Liar.” He lifted up her shirt and hissed. “Solomon, I need a med kit.”
Seconds later, the young treasure hunter set the kit down beside her. With a grim face, Nik bent over her and started tending her wounds. “Dammit, Nera, this is deep.”
Her wounds were bleeding all over the place. She watched impassively as he pressed some sealers down on her injuries and they sucked into place. She was feeling a little nauseated now.
When he lifted the pressure injector, she shook her head. “No painkillers.”
“You need it—”
“Hate drugs.”