The Extinction Series , Ellis, Tara [famous ebook reader .txt] 📗

Chapter 15

JASON

Guayana City, Venezuela

Jason was already on the move as the doors to the car flew open, and he wasn’t surprised to see the men jump out. He’d known they were on borrowed time. A group of healthy people with a running vehicle stood out, and they were a prime target for anyone looking to survive by taking what they wanted. There was also a strong possibility that a sort of territory was already being established by those left behind, and they’d feel they had the right to protect what they saw as their gas and supplies.

“Leave it!” he shouted at Peta, when he saw her trying to retrieve the gas cans as Devon dropped his and took off. “Get to the truck!”

Running with gun drawn, Jason quickly closed the distance between himself and Eddy. By the time Eddy was lining up a shot with the guy in front of the pack, Jason was already firing at the one other armed man in the group.

His target crumpled to the ground with an undramatic grunt.

Eddy’s aim was wide. Thankfully, so was his opponent’s.

Tink!

The bullet ricocheted harmlessly off the open driver’s-side door. Eddy ducked reflexively, but Jason never stopped moving. Before the lead attacker even realized there was another shooter, he was slammed center-mass by Jason’s second shot, and thrown backwards.

Three left.

Swinging the Glock rapidly to his left, and then his right, Jason promptly assessed the other threats.

One had a crowbar, but was in the process of backpedaling away from him. Another was already on the ground in what Jason assumed was a reaction to the gunfight, cowering. He looked pale and sickly, and was likely infected with The Kuru. The last man was still approaching, and based on his appearance, it was a suicide run. He had a large sickle-like farm tool clutched in his left hand, raised over his head.

He growled, spittle flying from his mouth as he loped forward, dragging his right leg behind him.

To an outside observer, Jason didn’t hesitate. To him, it was a tough decision, and not one he came to without considering the other options. But the man was a lethal threat, and clearly had nothing to lose.

Crack!

The report from the Glock bounced off the cement buildings, sounding more like a whip snapping. The blade fell first, clattering as it hit the cement. A grotesque smile twisted in pain was plastered on the man’s face as he dropped to his knees, and blood spilled over his lips as he fell forward, unmoving.

“Holy—” Devon muttered.

Jason turned his head enough to see that Devon had managed to duck inside the passenger seat of the truck, and was peeking up over the dashboard.

Eddy stepped out from behind the door, toward Jason, while gesturing to the remaining men. “What about them?”

Jason scowled as he watched the two in question scamper away. “What do you mean, Eddy? They’re running. We’re leaving. End of story. You think I want to start taking shots at the last few survivors on the planet, for sport?”

“I didn’t mean—”

A piercing scream cut into whatever lame retort he was going to make, and Jason spun around with weapon raised, to see that Peta was still with the gas cans. Except, she wasn’t alone.

Damnit!

He knew better than to forget about the rear. The car was meant to be a distraction while someone else grabbed the gas… and possibly a female hostage. There were two of them, and while they didn’t have guns, it didn’t matter.

Jason began edging closer as one of them picked up the two cans, while the second man pulled Peta back hard against his chest, a long knife already at her throat.

“La matare!” the thug shouted, his eyes wild and nostrils flaring. “La matare!” He jerked the knife for emphases, creating a thin trickle of blood and eliciting a moan from Peta.

“He said he’s going to kill her!” Devon shrieked. He sounded panicked, but Jason couldn’t afford to turn around and look at anyone else. He focused instead on the man lined up in his sights.

Twenty feet.

The guy with the gas was backing away, eyeing Jason nervously. He’d just seen him kill three other men, and he was understandably cautious. Jason kept moving, taking smooth, measured steps that seemed non-threatening.

Peta’s eyes were glued to Jason’s. She didn’t struggle. Instead, she held onto the arm of her attacker and didn’t give him a reason to react as he began dragging her backwards. Perfect. He needed her to be as still as possible.

Fifteen feet.

“Detener! Suelta el arma!”

“Stop!” Devon translated, yelling at Jason louder than the other man. “He said to stop and drop the gun. Do it, Jason, or he’s going to kill her!”

Jason didn’t lower his gun.

The gas man spun around and began to run. They had reached the corner of the building, and he saw Peta’s assailant’s eyes flicker to the side, looking for his point of egress.

Now!

Jason moved. Instead of stopping or dropping the gun, he took four rapid steps straight at them. Without flinching, he pulled the trigger.

The bullet bored into the man’s forehead. His head snapped back, and his dead weight pulled Peta down on top of him as he collapsed.

She didn’t scream. As Jason reached them, Peta was already rolling away. She barely made a sound as he yanked her to her feet and spun her around to examine the wound on her neck. The cut was low and to the side of her collarbone. A result of the fall, not a fatal swipe from her attacker. The rest of the blood splatter wasn’t her own.

“I’m okay,” she muttered, while pressing her fingers to the wound to stem the small flow of blood. “I’m okay.”

Jason gripped her by the shoulders and took a