Read Online Mutation (Twenty-Five Percent Book 1) by Nerys Wheatley - Free Book Online Page A

Alex.  “You are insane .  You almost killed us back there.”  He ran one hand through his hair and looked up and down the road.
    Alex wasn’t in the mood to argue that what he’d actually done was save his life, at the risk of losing his own.  “Well, next time I’ll just leave you to rot in that cell.” 
    “I wouldn’t have been in that cell if it wasn’t for you.”  He leaned back against the car and looked up at the sky as he took a deep breath in and let it out again slowly.  “What is happening here?  Is this something to do with you lot?”
    The sound of rapid footfalls drew Alex’s attention.  A man ran past them with barely a glance in their direction and disappeared around a corner.  Other than him, the street was deserted.
    “With my lot?  Who’s my lot?”
    “White-eyes.  We always thought something was coming, but nothing like this.”
    Alex put his hands on his hips and stared at the ground, trying to count to ten before he spoke.  He only made it to three. 
    “I have had it with morons like you.  I could have left you back at the station and you’d be dead by now.  Saving you almost cost me my own life, but are you in the least grateful?  No.  I just lost people I worked with, people I counted as friends, and you stand there accusing me of doing something to cause this?  You know what?  To hell with you. I’ve had enough.  Do whatever you want.  You’ve been nothing but a pain in my arse.  I never want to see you again.”
    “Hey, I saved your life back there.  That eater was almost on you...” Micah stopped suddenly, focusing beyond him.  Alex turned to see a group of six eaters rounding a corner some way along the road.  Spotting the two of them, the eaters increased their pace from a leisurely shuffle to a purposeful lurch.
    Alex ran back to the driver’s door and dropped into the car.  To his intense annoyance, Micah got in beside him.
    “I don’t like it any more than you do,” Micah said, “but right now this car is all either of us has.”
    Puffing out a breath, Alex fit the key back into the ignition and turned it. 
    Other than a lacklustre click, nothing happened. 
    Micah looked at him, eyes wide.  Alex tried again.  Still nothing.  He repeated the action several times with no change.
    “Why me?” Micah said.
    They both looked at the eaters approaching.
    “Damn it,” Alex said, shoving his door open again and climbing out.
    Micah followed him out onto the street.  Both men drew their weapons.  The eaters were less than thirty feet away now, moaning in anticipation, their hands already reaching for them.
    “As soon as we do this, every eater nearby is going to be heading straight for us,” Alex said.
    “I know,” Micah replied, raising his pistol.
    Seven seconds later, it was over. 
    Alex holstered his gun, staring down at the corpses.  Each one of the unfortunate people in front of them had got out of bed this morning the same as he did, expecting a normal day of family, work, friends. He glanced at Micah beside him.  His face was pale, the hand still clutching his pistol trembling slightly. 
    “You okay?” Alex said.
    Micah swallowed and nodded.  “Yeah, I just...  other than that one in the car park, I’ve never killed eaters before.  I thought it would be easier.”
    Alex knew how he felt.  Over the years, he had rationalised what he’d had to do by telling himself it was their own fault, that they could have gone to hospital, but instead had chosen to put everyone around them at risk.  But the first few times he’d felt like a piece of his soul was dying.  And now, these people were innocent, at least where becoming eaters was concerned. 
    He switched on the rationalisation mechanism again.  It had worked before, more or less.
    “It was too late for them,” he said.  “We have made the city a bit safer for everyone left and put them out of their misery.  Believe me, I know.”
    Micah glanced at him and then