Read Online Outage 5: The Change by T.W. Piperbrook - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: T.W. Piperbrook
Tags: Werewolves
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all the way past my house on the other side of town," Tom noted.
The group nodded. They fell silent as they forged across the bridge, taking in the scenery. Although there were no cars or bodies, the woods were just as intimidating. Who knew what manner of evil lurked inside them? Tom held his rifle as if he might have to discharge it at any moment. He was keenly aware of its limitations. The bullets would be effective against men or animals, but sorely insufficient against the creatures.
At least we have some light left , he reminded himself, though he wasn't sure how much.
Crossing the bridge, Tom glanced over the side at the river. The water was flowing, but patches of ice clung to the riverbank. He shivered and pulled his jacket tight against him. Checking on Lana, he saw her studying the trees overhead. Snow floated off the topmost branches, fluttering to the ground. The scenery would be both new and different to her.
"She's probably never seen snow before," Joseph marveled.
"I wish it could be under better circumstances," Maria said. "Is she warm enough?"
"I think so," Joseph said, checking her blankets.
Halfway across the bridge, Emily stopped and stared out over the river and into the trees.
"What is it?" Maria asked.
They fell silent, trying to determine what'd spooked Emily. The forest was silent. Tom swung his rifle in all directions, looking for danger. All he saw were the snow-covered outlines of trees.
A footstep crunched from the woods. Tom's blood raced. He glanced at his companions, as if he might've mistaken the source of the noise, but they were as motionless as he was.
"Get down," he hissed.
He pulled at Maria's sleeve, urging her to the ground. The others followed. They ducked behind a three-foot cement wall at the side of the bridge. The wall was barely high enough to cover them, but it was better than being out in the open.
Guns or not, they weren't equipped for a fight.
The sounds grew louder as Tom and the others pressed their bodies to the ground. What had first been a quiet noise became a parade of footsteps. People spoke in muffled tones and clothing rustled. Tom glanced over at Joseph, wondering about other survivors hiding in undesirable conditions, praying they wouldn't be found. Perhaps the people were searching for help, like them.
Tom raised himself from a crouch until he was eye level with the wall, glancing cautiously off the bridge. A group of nondescript couples stood at the edge of the river a few hundred yards away. They surveyed the trees, holding hands. Among them were a young woman with blonde hair and a man of the same age, as well as a few other couples. None appeared threatening. They were far enough away that Tom couldn't distinguish their conversation, but he noticed they were smiling. The blonde-haired woman gestured at the water.
Tom tensed. Something was wrong.
The people were weaponless, relaxed. Too relaxed . A few were wearing clothing that was too big for them. The young man looked like he had recently shaved; the woman's hair was done in an intricate bun. Their enjoyment of the scenery would've been normal if not for the carnage affecting the rest of the town.
There was no way they'd been untouched by it.
Tom huffed in a quiet breath, trying to detect the people on the other side of the wall, but he sensed nothing. They were too far away. Although his senses were clearer than before, he smelled nothing other than the crisp, cold air and the sap from the pine trees.
Tom envisioned the people grooming themselves in houses that weren't their own, enjoying a nice respite between vicious nights of killing.
Ranger's sickening smile flashed through his memory.
He was pretty sure his group was safe, as long as they remained where they were.
They can't smell me if I can't smell them.
"Stay low," he mouthed to the others.
Emily clung to her mother with wide, frightened eyes. Maria watched over her, and Joseph
The group nodded. They fell silent as they forged across the bridge, taking in the scenery. Although there were no cars or bodies, the woods were just as intimidating. Who knew what manner of evil lurked inside them? Tom held his rifle as if he might have to discharge it at any moment. He was keenly aware of its limitations. The bullets would be effective against men or animals, but sorely insufficient against the creatures.
At least we have some light left , he reminded himself, though he wasn't sure how much.
Crossing the bridge, Tom glanced over the side at the river. The water was flowing, but patches of ice clung to the riverbank. He shivered and pulled his jacket tight against him. Checking on Lana, he saw her studying the trees overhead. Snow floated off the topmost branches, fluttering to the ground. The scenery would be both new and different to her.
"She's probably never seen snow before," Joseph marveled.
"I wish it could be under better circumstances," Maria said. "Is she warm enough?"
"I think so," Joseph said, checking her blankets.
Halfway across the bridge, Emily stopped and stared out over the river and into the trees.
"What is it?" Maria asked.
They fell silent, trying to determine what'd spooked Emily. The forest was silent. Tom swung his rifle in all directions, looking for danger. All he saw were the snow-covered outlines of trees.
A footstep crunched from the woods. Tom's blood raced. He glanced at his companions, as if he might've mistaken the source of the noise, but they were as motionless as he was.
"Get down," he hissed.
He pulled at Maria's sleeve, urging her to the ground. The others followed. They ducked behind a three-foot cement wall at the side of the bridge. The wall was barely high enough to cover them, but it was better than being out in the open.
Guns or not, they weren't equipped for a fight.
The sounds grew louder as Tom and the others pressed their bodies to the ground. What had first been a quiet noise became a parade of footsteps. People spoke in muffled tones and clothing rustled. Tom glanced over at Joseph, wondering about other survivors hiding in undesirable conditions, praying they wouldn't be found. Perhaps the people were searching for help, like them.
Tom raised himself from a crouch until he was eye level with the wall, glancing cautiously off the bridge. A group of nondescript couples stood at the edge of the river a few hundred yards away. They surveyed the trees, holding hands. Among them were a young woman with blonde hair and a man of the same age, as well as a few other couples. None appeared threatening. They were far enough away that Tom couldn't distinguish their conversation, but he noticed they were smiling. The blonde-haired woman gestured at the water.
Tom tensed. Something was wrong.
The people were weaponless, relaxed. Too relaxed . A few were wearing clothing that was too big for them. The young man looked like he had recently shaved; the woman's hair was done in an intricate bun. Their enjoyment of the scenery would've been normal if not for the carnage affecting the rest of the town.
There was no way they'd been untouched by it.
Tom huffed in a quiet breath, trying to detect the people on the other side of the wall, but he sensed nothing. They were too far away. Although his senses were clearer than before, he smelled nothing other than the crisp, cold air and the sap from the pine trees.
Tom envisioned the people grooming themselves in houses that weren't their own, enjoying a nice respite between vicious nights of killing.
Ranger's sickening smile flashed through his memory.
He was pretty sure his group was safe, as long as they remained where they were.
They can't smell me if I can't smell them.
"Stay low," he mouthed to the others.
Emily clung to her mother with wide, frightened eyes. Maria watched over her, and Joseph
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