Alliance

Chapter Forty-Five

"My guess," Liam said, he stood over the body in the pool room, "That this thing had been too close to radiation for an extended period of time."

I remembered back to my training with Ben. Radiation can affect people in multiple ways, most of the time leading up to death. As I watched Ben examine the body, I realized he never thought a person could live that long. The thing should have bled out from the different missing limbs, but it was alive.

Isla sat in the corner, her breathing heavy. I had gone to get just Liam but the way I was breathing hard and my face no doubt white as snow, everyone was curious about what happened, so they all followed me. Isla had instantly vomited in the corner of the pool room, Madison comforted her as she too tried not to vomit. Olivia's face was much like my own, set in a look of distaste at both the body and the odor.

Asher and Mason both circled the body like vultures taking it in. "Where did it come from then?" asked Mason. "Did you guys see it while you were searching the tunnel?"

"There was nothing in the tunnel," Liam spoke to Ben and Asher. He stood and rolled his shoulders. "There was a crack at the end of the tunnel but it was small. I highly doubt this body crawled through it."

But where could it have come from? I wanted to ask but a pointed look from Ben kept me quiet. In the corner, Isla was shaking violently as her eyes were fixed on the body. Madison comforted her but I still walked over to Isla, putting an arm around her.

Olivia took a step closer to the body. "What are we going to do with it?"

"Bury it?" asked Mason.

"We are standing on stones smartass," shot Asher, "We're going to have to burn it. Or at least get it out of the cave."

Liam thought it over, his hands on his hips. Him and Ben stood together near the body. The way they stood close together, both analyzing the body, it looked like they could be brothers. Their height was similar and their short brown hair matched. If these two ever became partners, I was sure they could take down governments.

A guttural intake of breath made us all flinch.

The lifeless body moved. Against all odds, the thing moved. Its arm reached toward Liam or Ben. Beside me, Isla screamed. A blood curdling scream that made me jump out of my skin.

Quickly, I covered her mouth with my hand as Madison did the same. We both hugged her on either side. The thing raised its three fingers and tried to grab the boys who were out of reach. Its head tilted to the side as it snarled.

This was impossible, Ben had killed it. Had snapped its neck. There was no way it could be alive but there it was, alive.

Liam pulled out a knife, but he was too late. A gunshot rang through the pool room and echoed down the tunnel. The head stopped snarling, its arm fell limply to the floor. Mason, stood near the door. His legs braced the floor, his arms in front of him, his gun aimed at the head.

"What the hell?" Liam snapped, he pushed past Ben and Asher to get to Mason. "Why did you do that?"

"It was alive." Mason lowered his arms. His chest rose and fell with the rapid breaths he took.

Liam pushed him back, "Do you not think I am aware? I was going to kill it silently. Now you shoot it and if there are more of them, they know where to find us."

"Is there more?" asked Isla. We had removed our hands from her mouth. I looked down at her, her eyes wide and fearful.

"Probably," Liam said. "Let's get back to camp."

No one argued as everyone turned to the door. I helped Madison pick up Isla from the floor when Charlotte, quiet Charlotte, screamed at the top of her lungs. She had been standing in the doorway the entire time, not wanting to come in either due to the stench or due to the body.