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

back straight. As captain, she had to remain noble, independent, and unafraid. If she showed just how scared she truly was, then her people would fall into chaos.

Fenris pried open a door and held it open while everyone slipped under its arm. The next room was nearly as large as the ecosphere. A stray light here and there spaced far apart on opposite sides. Their steps echoed endlessly. One white light shined on a walkway that stretched across the center of the room. Down below, two lights lit up an enormous turbine barely spinning by a loose gear or stray breeze. It was about a hundred feet below. A second fan above them was completely still, the same distance away. The only lights they had for their walk across were that of the flashlights and headlamps.

"Whatever you do, don't look down." Ruby whistled.

"I'm sure it's the least of our worries." Sparrow nudged him with her elbow.

Fenris was first to step forward. One foot on the grating and the entire path creaked and twisted. Everyone else hesitated. How much did that thing weigh?

After a few unnerving steps, Fenris turned around. Its head tilted to one side. It did not understand why no one followed it.

Jackal swallowed the fear of the path falling out under their feet and moved forward. The others soon followed once they saw Jackal was just fine.

They had not even made it to the central shaft when someone spotted movement in one light below. The hair around Fenris' collar stood straight up.

The sound of the creatures' movement echoed from all directions. In the darkness it was impossible to tell where they were, or even how many of them.

"They're climbing the walls!" Someone shouted.

"Close the ranks!" Reaper ordered.

The Syndicate team bunched the unarmed together in the middle. Three at the back, two at the front with Fenris. It forced them into a single file because of the width of their path. Hisses came from the darkness. The creatures nearing.

Talons wrapped over the edge of the grating, moving bit by bit to follow those above. When the time was right and the light shined towards a wall, the talons struck.

It snatched the ankle of a fleebeeron who was carrying the child. Both hit the ground and were dragged beyond the safety railing. The birds squawked, one took flight in hope it would be safer in the air.

Sparrow grabbed hold of the flowers, nearly shoving the child off the other side in the process. She might as well have not even tried. The creature took the fleebeeron right out of her hands without any effort at all. Sparrow shouted and went under the railing for one more attempt, but they were gone. The scream of the fleebeeron faded into the darkness almost as quickly as it started.

Ruby pulled her back up to her feet and held her close.

"We must hurry!" Fauriei shouted.

"What the hell are these things?!" Sparrow reached for the child.

"Fenris!" The bird shrieked.

The noises got louder. Monsters surrounding them in the shadows, prepping for the onslaught. These creatures knew their chosen victims could not harm them. The only threat to them was Fenris, who was busy herding the weaklings to the exit. As long as they stayed out of its reach, they could do anything they wanted. They teased with the idea of a painful death. They relished in the fear. When one showed its face in the light of a rifle, it took a metal ball to the head. It stayed in place, showing off vicious teeth and foul breath. Not even a scratch. Not even a flinch.

The grating creaked under extra weight. It twisted on its support beams, threatening to snap and drop them all to their deaths below.

"Something's behind us!" Mjolnir called.

"There's something everywhere!" Ruby answered.

When they made it to the central shaft, Fenris walked around it to loop to the rear of the line. It waited until they all continued towards the door. Reaper lead them the rest of the way, sprinting across to the console.

A snarl shook the walkway. They could hear flesh ripping. Black blood splattered onto the floor near them.

The door opened. They rushed through. Jackal and Reaper stopped to see if Fenris would make it before the door shut. A three-toed foot with claws as big as the toes stepped into the light. Jackal held his breath. They stepped back slowly.

They had quickly concluded that their bullets were useless, but their rifles were the only thing that brought them comfort.

A hand just as wicked as the foot reached out of the shadows. Right alongside the rails of Jackal's weapon.

Maybe it wouldn't see them if they stayed perfectly still. At this distance, it felt like running was useless. It would land them a swift death compared to if they stayed and fought.

The creature yelped suddenly. Its hand and foot disappearing in the blink of an eye. Its cry slowly faded away, thrown down the maintenance shaft.

The red lights of Fenris armor came into view, and the creature approached. They caught sight of its head first. Rotten meat stuck between the sharp, bone crushing teeth. Matte tinted bones that barely reflected the light of their flashlights.

Both nearly pulled the triggers of their weapons, but a loud beeping from Jackal's helmet caught their attention.

"We need to hurry.”

Jackal agreed and followed Reaper down the hall. Fenris pulled the door shut. Slashed its claws into the service panel. The creatures would have to bust through the door to get to them now.

Jackal looked over his shoulder. The wolf was calmly walking behind them while they ran. Somehow, Jackal just knew something was off. Perhaps it was the calmness of the creature. There was no sense of urgency, or any genuine emotion. A living statue.

The others were shouting up ahead. Calling for them to hurry. They rushed, yet it seemed they never got closer. The running was endless. The hall stretched on and on. They were running on a treadmill. Each door identically spaced apart. The voices