The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (e reader txt) 📕

I was too focused on the aimlessly floating debris, pushing away what I could and ducking under what I couldn't.

The black tendrils of that strange infection were keeping the ship together, and I was sure as hell not going to touch it. Why risk becoming part of that? Or dying a slow and painful death?

We made our way up the makeshift ramp. A strange vibration made me look back. Mjolnir was on a knee, holding on to whatever he could get his claws through.

"You good?" I called to him.

"Yeah, I'm good. Floor fell out." He picked himself up.

Ruby was first up with Sparrow right behind him. He was working on the panel to get the door open. We lined up at either side of the door, ready to rush in.

The door opened. Air rushed out.

It was like fighting against a hurricane. It pushed us out, and we wanted in. We held onto the wall and pulled ourselves in one at a time. We helped those behind us until we were all inside. The door shut.

I did not realize how badly I was shaking until now. I couldn't keep my rifle steady. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I could speak for everyone by saying I never wanted to do that again. I enjoyed being on the ground where gravity kept me.

"The gas is here, too." Reaper announced.

"That can't be good.”

“Should we find the source?”

“It depends how-”

A scream echoed from down the hall. With the use of our flashlights, we caught sight of the smoke rippling. I didn’t think at all. I ran through the smoke.

Within a blink of an eye, I rounded the corner a respectful distance down. I brought my light up, expecting to see someone cornered and looking death in the face. I was not entirely wrong. A woman was sitting against the floor and wall, hands up to defend her face. Something was standing above her, but I only caught sight of its feet.

EIGHT

The creature did not react to the shots. They were right on point. Struck right in its back. Yet the rounds ricocheted off like balls in a pinball machine. It disappeared around the next corner. I ran after the creature. Reaper shouted at me to stop, but my mission was set. This was the way to the bridge, where the survivors must have been barred up. That thing was headed right for them! It needed to be stopped.

When I slid around the last corner I saw it go by, it was already headed past the next. I swear, it was only walking. I saw no quick motion from it. Heard no heavy steps that would signal a sprint. I heard my own boots and those behind me, but nothing from the creature ahead.

The smoke was thickest here, rushing up my legs as if I were splashing through water. I wasn't slowed down by it at all. I could keep up a steady sprint through it without extra exertion. What I didn't understand was how that creature walked faster than I could run.

The steps behind me faded. They shouted, but their voices faded as well.

I nearly slammed into a far wall as I skidded around another corner. I stopped briefly to look over my shoulder. I could see the flashlights from the others still running to catch up to me. The creature was down at the other end of the hall, a cloak flapping behind it.

The smoke rippled from up ahead. A breathy snarl from just out of sight. It was much closer than I liked. I ran a short distance before shoving the stock of my rifle into my shoulder. I followed the ripples back to the source.

A small entryway, about five feet long, led to two doors, one of which was open. The tiniest, budding flower sat upon the ground, covering what would have been a face. It was sobbing, trying to hide.

"Hey, hey it's alright." I whispered. I lowered the end of the rifle as I approached her.

She looked up to me just as another snarl came from the darkness. I needed to get her away from the dark. I reached out to snatch her up, only to glimpse metal in my headlamp.

My head jarred to the side. Hit the wall. Dazed, I rolled backwards. Picked up my weapon and fired.

The blue light from the rifle showed off twisted teeth, dripping with spit. Long, sickle shaped claws reached towards me, that foul smelling mouth getting too close for comfort.

The round struck it in the nose, making it recoil only for a second. My headlamp flashed, before turning off. Through the ringing of my ears, I could hear air rushing out of a small opening somewhere around my head. The round hit the ceiling, then struck the floor back into the hall. My rifle was yanked out of my grasp, the strap that kept it to my frame snapped.

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. The air leaking from my suit took the air from my lungs, or maybe I was just holding my breath. That creature was right there in front of me. I couldn't see it, but I felt its presence. Its form hovering over me while it checked me out.

Thump. Thump.

"Jackal!" Reaper screamed.

Thump. Thump.

I heard metal streak across metal; the sound of nails down a chalkboard. A yelp. A growl. Thuds. Something hit my leg. Then stepped on it. I cried out, feeling the bone giving way under the weight. Then the pressure was gone. I twisted on the floor and reached for the rifle. I used it to get me up off the floor, only to be struck back down and into the hall.

When I got the rifle up to see what in the hell was even happening, the fight was over. The creature I had been following stood over me, facing the doors. Long talons for fingers dripping with pearlescent blackness.

I froze.

It was like staring into an abyss. The embodiment of