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

Reaper had gotten ahead, rounded a corner, and stopped dead in his tracks. The darkness peeled away like smoke and petals. Something stood there, just barely within his sight. A rounded head, a birdlike beak with a hook at the end. Jaws lined with serrated teeth, perfectly lined up. Green gunk dangled from its mouth. Reaper slowly leaned in closer, eyes captured by what he thought was green, glowing eyes. When his light shined on the side of the face, large, glass black eyes stared right at him.

The creature hunched over. Too big to fit in the hall. Long, spindly arms twitched and folded backwards against a thin frame. Its neck twisted as it showed off its nasty teeth.

Reaper’s heart sank into the pit of his stomach. He stared death in the face, frozen. His mind emptied any hope or idea of escape. He could only think of the pain he was about to be in when that creature finally struck.

A cry snapped Reaper to the floor, his own weight atop him. He groaned, reaching for his gun. Jackal held onto him, pulling him out of harm's way.

Fenris had gone in for the attack, seemingly not caring if they were in the way or not. Not like it could help it. In tight quarters against a monster twice its own size, Fenris showed no mercy. They tore at one another’s bodies with vicious claws and equally deadly teeth.

Jackal and Reaper watched, biting back their breaths. War had done its time scarring them both physically, and mentally. They had seen things no man should ever see. They had been hung out to dry in the field with broken weaponry and armor that did nothing to protect against the enemy’s own ammunition. The eldiravan walked over their friends and comrades like a mudslide. They fought knowing they were superior and the humans fought for survival.

This was nothing like that. That monster and Fenris were in it to survive. They stood in the way of each other’s progress in life. They were fighting strictly to the death to prove who was better.

They watched as Fenris used brute strength to bully the creature backwards, using the tight quarters against it. Fenris was far more nimble than its appearance let on. It ducked, dived, ripped open flesh and tore away metal armor. It even ripped off an arm.

Green blood spewed out from the limb, burning right through the walls and floor. Fenris’ own armor was burning. It used the creature’s arm as a bat, smacking it in the mouth before shoving the limb down its throat. Fenris kicked it to the floor and finished it by tearing at its chest until the monster stopped moving.

Reaper pulled himself backwards. “God have mercy on us…” He breathed out.

Jackal put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t just sit there. We have to get the hell out of here!”

Reaper pushed himself up. Together they ran away from the slaughter. They would not wait for Fenris. They were not sure what to think of what they had seen. They had seen nothing like that before. It tightened their chests. Made their skin flood with goosebumps.

A door just ahead was left propped open by a metal cart. They clambered over it as quickly as they could.

“Captain!” Sparrow shouted into the radio. “Where are you and Jackal?”

“We can see you just ahead. We’re almost there.” Reaper answered.

When he looked over his shoulder, Jackal had stopped. He was bent over himself, holding his knees.

“Shit…”

“Captain? What’s wrong?”

“We’re fine.” He cut it short, turning his microphone off. He hurried back to Jackal and grabbed him by the shoulder strap.

“Keep moving.”

Jackal wheezed and waved a hand. Reaper threw his arm over his shoulder and grabbed Jackal by the belt. He helped him down the hall, letting his rifle hang against his chest. Another corner. The others were standing just beyond an open door. One side had not completely opened. It wiggled in place, unable to go in either direction.

“Just breathe. I have you.” Reaper gritted his teeth.

Jackal did just that. Focused on slow, deep breaths. His vision was blurring, peripherals going dark. He squeezed Reaper’s shoulder as tight as he could. His legs stiffened, no longer wanting to bear the weight. Reaper hoisted him up further. They were almost there.

The door whirred as they neared. A misstep from extra weight caused Reaper to bump into the door. The whirring squeaked, cracked. The door slammed shut, which uttered a soft cry of discontent.

Reaper looked over his shoulder, expecting to see Fenris caught in the door.

What he saw was another creature like he had almost been eaten by. Bigger jaws, fatter teeth. A huskier monster with an appetite to match. It snapped its jaws, which rattled their bones. Reaper nearly collapsed onto the floor.

It reared itself and broke through the door, tearing half of it off.

Sparrow screamed from not much further away and disappeared around the corner. Mjolnir shouted for Ruby to help him.

The monster was coming right for Reaper and Jackal.

Each of its steps shook the floor. Mjolnir and Ruby shot at it, though the bullets only bounced right off its snout.

Reaper could have left Jackal behind. Sacrificed his best lieutenant, his best friend, to save himself and potentially everyone. It would have been easy to do.

He was not that kind of man. He did not even think about it. He would have thrown himself to the wolves if it meant Jackal would live to see another day. Right now, Jackal’s only hope was to be carried onto the shuttle where he could get oxygen. He could feel Jackal’s grip on his arm loosening.

“Come on. Stay with me.” Reaper groaned under his breath.

The monster snapped at them, its nose headed much further than it was meant to. Something jarred its body to the side. It crashed at top speed, sliding against the wall before toppling head first into the floor. Panels ripped up, cratered around the impact.

Reaper stumbled, let go of Jackal to