Theo stared into Max’s frightened eyes. “Head to the back of the ship and leave this place.”
Max shook his head and using all the strength he could muster, he pulled.
Theo continued to kick out with his free foot until a vice-like grip clamped around that leg also. He expected the monster’s jaws to rip his flesh at any moment. He’d rather face the creature head on than continue with this stalemate. “Let me go, Max. The monster has me. Flee while you can.”
Max knew his friend was right. They were achieving nothing except prolonging Theo’s agony. He glanced at his friend’s pained face and nodded. Reluctantly they released their hold on each other. Theo slid through the opening and dropped to the floor. Max stared at the look of absolute terror on his friend’s face as he looked at something out of his sight and then up at him. “Flee, you fool, flee!”
The monster’s face appeared. It howled up at Max and bent over Theo.
Henry slithered past Max and glanced below at the horrific creature. The vision of Eli filled his thoughts. He’d already lost one team member and couldn’t bear the burden of losing another. He pushed Max aside, turned and dropped feet first through the opening. His feet thudded into the Hunter’s back. The force knocked it forward. It tripped over Theo and fell to the ground. Henry rushed over and stamped hard on its head before it had a chance to recover. He pounded until the creature stopped moving. Breathing heavily, he backed away and looked at Theo. “Can you walk?”
Theo, shocked by the old man’s brutal attack, nodded. “I think so.” He grabbed Henry’s outstretched arm and climbed to his feet. Warm blood trickled from his leg wounds. Though painful, he could still walk and knew he was lucky to be alive. He glanced at the dead creature and looked at Henry. “Thanks.”
Henry smiled anxiously and began to shake when it sunk in what he’d just done. “You’re welcome, but I’m not sure I could do it again.”
“I’m hoping once will be enough. Now let’s go before another nightmare turns up.”
Max dropped down to help Henry lift Theo up to the vent and then hoisted Henry up. He leapt for the opening, grabbed the edge and Henry helped him climb inside.
Theo flicked on his flashlight and led them through the vent, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
Spurred on by the monsters constant clicking, Jane, Lucy, Jack, and Richard rushed along the corridor.
Jack shot a glance behind. The three Clickers passed through one of the blue emergency lights, their frightening, ghostly forms a terrifying sight. “We’ll never outrun them,” said Jack.
Richard had arrived at the same conclusion.
“I’m open to suggestions,” said Jane, breathlessly.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
They raced around a corner. Lucy stumbled, crashed into Jack, struck her head on one of the rib supports and collapsed to the floor.
Jack quickly regained his balance and knelt to examine Lucy. Blood seeped from a small cut on her forehead. Jack picked her up.
“Is she okay?” asked Jane, shooting a worried look back along the corridor and the creatures approaching footsteps.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Jack glanced at her. “Unconscious, but we’ll never escape if I have to carry her.” He nodded to the nearest door. “Open it, we’ll hide her in there and come back for her later.” He entered the room and laid her on the floor.
Though Jane was reluctant to leave Lucy, they’d all be killed if they didn’t. She closed the door when Jack exited.
Jack scanned the corridor. “Where’s Richard?”
Jane turned and saw the man had gone. “He must have run off when we stopped. He never was a team player.”
Screeches from back along the corridor impelled them to run.
The Clickers turned the corner. CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! Their quarry was closer. They screeched.
Jack noticed Jane’s concerned expression. “I’ll come back for her, I promise.”
“I know you will. It just seems wrong to leave her.”
Jack saw the approaching door blocking the corridor. “I have another idea.”
“If it involves shoving me into a room and running away, you can think again, Jack Hawkins.”
“It doesn’t. I’m going to try and kill or injure one of the Clickers, and hopefully the other two will stop to eat it and give us chance to get away.”
Jane, too breathless to continue the conversation and ask him how he planned to do that, put her trust in the man next to her.
They arrived at the door. Jack opened it.
“As soon as we’re through, shut the door and keep on running to distract them.”
“And you’ll be doing what?”
Jack held up the ice axe. “Waiting.”
Jane slammed a fist on the button when they were through and continued along the corridor.
The leading Clicker skidded on the metal floor and crashed into the door. It slapped the button and darted through as soon as the gap was wide enough.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
It sensed its prey fleeing along the corridor.
Jack punched the door closed to temporarily stop the other two from getting through and rushed at the Clicker.
The Clicker heard footsteps and turned.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
It was being attacked. It lashed out with a claw.
Pain seared across Jack’s chest when claws ripped through the clothing layers to slide across his skin, leaving gouges in their wake. He slammed the axe with all his strength at the Clicker’s head. The Clicker grabbed the axe, stopping it inches from its skull, snatched it from its attackers grasp and threw it away. Its other claw back handed Jack around the head. Jack slammed into the wall. Dazed, his legs buckled. He collapsed to the floor. The creature stepped toward its fallen prey.
Jane stopped and looked back. Jack’s surprise attack had failed. The door slid open. A Clicker’s arm was thrust through the widening gap. It smelt blood and was eager to taste it. She stopped the axe skidding along the floor toward her with a foot, snatched it up and rushed at the Clicker attacking Jack. The Clicker raised a claw to swipe at its prey. Jane leaped at its back, raised the axe and called out, “I hope your brain’s hungry, because it’s eating ice axe for dinner.”
The Clicker’s head twisted toward her. With all her might Jane slammed the axe point into the creature’s skull. She felt the barrier of thick bone momentarily resist the sharp point, and heard the crack when the force drove it through into soft brain tissue. She collided with the creature and rode it down when it toppled forward. Blood sprayed when she yanked the axe free. She jumped before the monster hit the floor, rolled when she did and jumped to her feet. She spun to face the remaining two Clickers stepping into the corridor.
The Clickers sent out a series of clicks and snarled at Jane.
Through dazed eyes and fuddled brain, Jack had seen the creature’s arm rise for its attack, but he was in no condition to resist. The Clicker had turned away and then toppled toward him with a trickle of blood running down its face. Jack scooted back, but he wasn’t fast enough; it landed on his legs, trapping him. He was vaguely aware of something leaping over him when he stared at the deep wound in the Clicker’s skull.
“If you’re okay, I could do with some help here,” Jane whispered. She reached over a shoulder and pulled out her own ice axe from her backpack.
Jack tilted his head. Jane stood aggressively with an ice axe in each hand. A globule of blood dripped from one and splattered on the floor.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!