The Hungry 5: All Hell Breaks Loose (The Sheriff Penny Miller Series) by Steven Booth, Harry Shannon Read Free Book Online

been from the screeching tinnitus caused by the new explosion.
    “We have to go find Scratch,” said Miller, or perhaps someone else nearby. It was hard to tell. She wondered if she’d been concussed.
    “We don’t have any light,” said Sheppard.
    “Well, then rub some rocks together and light your farts if you have to. We are going to find Scratch.”
    “Okay, calm down, Penny.” Rat’s voice was suddenly nearby. “We’ll find him.”
    “What’s that?” asked Sheppard.
    Miller looked around. There was a new light coming from the far side of the cave. This time it was bright, moving light.
    “Scratch?” called Miller. Her hearing had returned.
    “Wrong direction,” whispered Rat. “Let’s arm up.”
    Miller felt her beltline. There had been a pistol there not long before, and her rifle had been lost in all the chaos. “I think we have a problem.”
    The artificial light steadied and stopped. It was clearly some kind of lantern or flashlight. It pointed off into the darkness. Whoever it was didn’t know where they were. Miller felt her skin go cold. Was it the cannibals, or some brand new kind of threat? Dust tickled her nose and her chest felt sore.
    Sheppard said, “Are they zombies?”
    “I don’t smell anything,” Miller said.
    “Ever seen a zombie carrying a flashlight?” Rat said, dryly.
    “Well, they damn well better not have learned how.”
    “Who’s there?” The strange male voice was coming from around a corner of the cave. “Show yourselves.”
    “Stay where you are! We’ll shoot if we have to,” Miller bluffed.
    “Hold your fire!” cried a second voice, this time a woman’s. “No sense everyone getting all shot up when we haven’t even finished with proper introductions.” The light came a little closer. “Are any of your people injured?”
    Miller and Rat stood shoulder to shoulder. Miller answered. “We may have lost one of ours in that last explosion. We’re worried about him. If you ain’t going to kill us, we could sure use your help.”
    “We’re going to step forward. Lower your weapons. We’re the good guys.”
    Rat snorted. “I’ve heard that one before. And your check is in the mail.”
    The light appeared in the form of a kerosene lantern. It was held high by a young man about twenty-five years old. He wore torn jeans and a faded work shirt. He was followed by a woman in her forties, similarly attired. Both of them had stringy blond hair. They both carried handguns, but had them pointed at the floor. Miller didn’t recognize them from the last time they had visited these caves. Maybe they weren’t even Father Abraham’s people.
    “Who are you?” asked the young man. He seemed cautious but friendly.
    Before Miller could answer, Sheppard said, “We are just some unlucky travelers, like everyone else these days. Look, our good friend may be in real trouble. Could we get you to bring your lamp this way?”
    The young man looked to the woman as if waiting for orders.
    “Go on, Brandon, help them,” the woman said. She tucked a black revolver in her pocket.
    “Thank you,” said Miller. “We are much obliged.”
    And all of them headed back out toward where Scratch had last been seen. The flashlight beam sliced the dark with surgical precision. It was comforting to be able to see their surroundings. There were a lot of sharp rocks and depressions they could have tripped in. Rubble was piled everywhere due to the explosion.
    Brandon shook his head. “What the hell did all this?”
    Miller and Rat exchanged a glance. Miller didn’t have to be accelerated to know how Rat felt about telling the truth to these people. They could not be trusted until further notice.
    Sheppard, however, didn’t get the memo. “We reckon it was a drone-launched Hellfire missile.”
    Brandon didn’t even break stride. “Fucking drones are back, Allison.”
    “I heard him. I’m right here, remember?”
    They knew all about the drones. Miller noted their names. “Any