Countdown by John Walker (most life changing books TXT) 📕

“I’m going to eat your body!” Biggun screamed hysterically, laughing as he continued his wild assault.

The sheer brutality of it, the insanity made it difficult to fend him off. Every time Torrence clocked him, he rewarded her with three or more blows all tossed at random. He pressed her, making her walk backward. If she touched the wall, she figured it would be over. Tensing up, she charged, slamming her shoulder into him.

With only two steps to gain momentum, Torrence didn’t even make him move but at least he couldn’t punch her directly in the face or body anymore. She thought he might pound her sides or even go for her back but instead, he grabbed her, lifting her off the ground. He grunted, screaming in total madness before throwing her a good ten feet.

As she hit the ground, she rolled away. Her rifle bit into her side until she found herself on her back. She had to be inches from the door. Part of her thought she might escape by darting outside but instead, she went for the rifle. Lifting it, she took a shot in Biggun’s direction.

He wasn’t there. A heavy kick knocked her over. She bent at the waist, narrowly avoiding the next blow that would’ve hit her in the head.

Hands grabbed her back, hoisting her to her feet. Torrence tossed an elbow back, catching Biggun in the gut. He huffed but held her tight, squeezing as if he might crush her to death in a great bear hug.

Another three strikes to his gut didn’t pay off. She stomped his foot with her heel, threw a back kick into his shin but the maniac continued to squeeze.

Torrence leaned her head forward then whipped it back. Pain danced through her neck as her helmet slammed into his mouth. That got him moving and he let her go, grunting and gurgling. She spun, watching as he cupped his mouth. When he pulled his hands away, several teeth were missing. She lifted her weapon…

“Don’t…” Biggun grunted, shaking his head. “Don’t you do it!”

“Fuck you.” Torrence pulled the trigger, blasting him once in the gut then again in the face. He collapsed dead on the floor in an instant. She stumbled forward, leaning on the console to catch her breath.

“You okay?” Zem asked as he walked in. “What happened? Did he…”

“I don’t know how he got away from his bindings,” Torrence interrupted, “but it doesn’t matter right now. How many guys are out there?”

“Not sure. We have to lock this area down.” Zem motioned for McCully to take the left. “You’re on the right. I’ll hold the center.” He took up position behind a console, aiming at the door. “You know if that ship crashed yet?”

The ground shook as the vessel impacted the ground. It made the walls shake and dust fall from the ceiling, but no explosion followed, not right away at least. That doesn’t mean it won’t go up soon.

Torrence glanced at Zem. “Yeah, it crashed.”

Zem huffed. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“No problem.” Torrence took aim at the door, readying herself for whatever came next.

***

Rita woke with a start. Her body stiffened… she groaned. Moving seemed like a bad idea. Had she been unconscious or simply dazed for a few moments? Her ears rang from the sound of twisting metal when they crashed into the ground. Contact convinced her she was on the verge of death; a grim acceptance seized her guts.

Then she moved. The ship didn’t explode. There’s still a chance. Providing she didn’t break anything and could still move. Flexing her hands didn’t hurt. Wiggling her toes, rolling her ankles, even moving her neck proved she couldn’t be all that bad off. She took the risk of rolling on her back.

Dizziness made her senses swim. She gritted her teeth as she forced herself to a sitting position. The bridge was in shambles. Sparks burst from the different panels with bits of glass littering the floor and seats. Loch was nowhere to be seen. Turning to the viewscreen, she expected to see a massive hole there where he may have been ejected from.

But it remained intact.

Crawling to her feet, Rita used the wall to maintain her balance. The ship landed in an angle, putting the floor off just enough to make it annoying. She stepped through the door into the passenger section. Loch wasn’t in there either. The cargo bay was dead ahead and with it, the ramp out.

I doubt I’ll be getting out that way. Rita figured it had to be sealed, crushed by the landing. Emergency exits might be in there too though. Hopefully, Loch left the door open if he slithered out.

An explosion off in the distance caught her attention. She had no idea what it might’ve been. The crash completely disoriented her. As far as she’d known, they went up at such an angle, she might be a hundred miles or more from the compound. All that was academic as long as she remained aboard the yacht.

The reactor might go up at any moment.

The cargo bay was a disaster. Crates that hadn’t been properly lashed down were scattered all about, gathered in the lowest part near the back. As expected, the loading ramp wasn’t accessible, but it had been pierced by a rock which touched the ceiling. She looked over the area from the door, pausing at a ray of sunlight glinting off a canister.

Following it back, an opening near the back led to the roof. Rita took a breath before venturing away from the support of the wall, half stumbling to her destination. When she arrived, she grabbed the edge of the exit, peeking out. A strong hand grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt, dragging her out.

Loch let her go, stepping back. “I didn’t think you survived.” He held his