The Survivor Chronicles (Book 3): The Forsaken by Erica Stevens Read Free Book Online

have to get us out of here," the girl's voice held a tinge of hysteria that troubled Carl almost as much as the people lurking just beyond his sight. Carl lifted his finger to his mouth and shook his head. "Do you know what they do to people?" she demanded.
    Xander stepped closer to her. "You're going to get us all killed if you don't shut up," he growled in a low voice.
    Her large brown eyes rolled in her head as they spun around the store. One of the men rested his hand on her arm and pulled her back a step. The girl seemed to calm a little, but not much as her chest continued to heave and her eyes rolled. Riley stepped closer to all of them and lowered her head. "They're expecting us to go for the front door, but what if we circle around and go for the backdoor?" she whispered.
    "Are you crazy?" John demanded in a low voice as he leaned even closer to them.
    "It's a possibility," she admitted.
    John was shaking his head as Carl began to ponder her suggestion. "They'll all be up here looking for us. None of them will stay back there. They'll be too eager for our meat," Carl said.
    "They're smart Carl," John said. They were smart, far smarter than Carl had been willing to give them credit for, but they were also hungry animals that had established a good setup here. One that they didn't think could go wrong. No, he was certain that Riley was right; going for the backdoor was their best chance. "We don't know how many there are, maybe we can fight through them."
    "They'll be on us before we can put up much of a fight. We have to go now, before they realize we're not going for the front door and they come for us."
    John looked about to protest more but his shoulders sagged as he looked helplessly toward the tempting front doors. The three strangers watched them and for a moment Carl thought they might go for the front door anyway. "It's your choice," Carl told them. "But stay quiet if you follow us."
    The girl hesitated but the men were close on his heels as they moved swiftly down the aisle. Carl kept his attention focused forward as Riley continued to study the ceiling and tops of the shelves. Reaching the end of the aisle he stopped and took a deep breath to gather his courage. This was it, if he stuck his head out now and there was someone out there, their cover was blown. There would be no turning back. They'd never make it to the front of the store in time.
    Riley's breath exploded from her at the same time Xander and John released muffled curses. He felt the blood turn to ice in his veins as he glanced over his shoulder. There, at the end of the aisle, perched on top of the shelf like some hideous gargoyle was a single human. The dim light from the large front windows illuminated it against the shadows. It was hunched over with both hands resting on the shelf and its chin thrust forward. Though its features were hidden in shadow, he could see the glimmer of its eyes as the orbs focused upon them.
    For one fraction of a second he thought his heart ceased to beat as those eyes seemed to latch upon him. It was almost as if a demon from Hell was staring at him, seeing straight into his soul, judging him and finding him lacking. He wasn't about to stand there and be judged by one of those things.
    "Run," he breathed.
    Carl gave up all attempts at trying to be subtle as he burst into motion. The doors were only fifteen feet away but it seemed more like fifty as he rushed toward them. From the corner of his eye he saw movement amongst the aisles as the gargoyle released a distorted cry and started racing toward them. Gargoyle's new direction alerted his companions to the fact that they weren't trying to escape out the front door.
    He chanced a glance down the aisle across from the swinging doors and his heart sank as he took in the spectacle before him. Like owls scenting a mouse, at least ten heads swiveled in their direction and their eyes narrowed with lethal intent. There was another one on top of the shelves moving toward