Read Online The Long Way To Reno by Michelle Mix - Free Book Online Page B

geeking out, rather than freaking out. Like I said, I lacked a
survival instinct.
     
                As
hearing started to return, my mind processed the snarls, the barking words of
creatures that were once human. I started to realize that I was still in
danger. My mind so blown by the robots that I didn’t even think about why it
had done what it did – I heard the noises of incoming Rabid and didn’t
even process it as a danger. Good thing I wasn’t the only one there.
     
    The
metal stairs nearby vibrated with the weight of many moving feet, and Harley
knew they were running up to find us.
     
    “Let’s
go!” Harley commanded, grabbing his own flashlight, activating it, and setting
off at a run. I followed, already out of breath and scared witless, my
flashlight bouncing on various surfaces while the Rabid barked and snarled. It
sounded so freaky because they sounded like animals, not humans. We left the
others quickly – I didn’t even see what had happened to them, but
obviously we were in the clear because of what that robot did.
     
    We
went running through a pathway in the conveyer belt, and into an alphabetized
section that was Gold section’s last level. I assumed he was leading us to that
back staircase, and anticipated going down the steep stairs. Instead, he made a
hard left, taking us back along the aisle to the other staircase, across the
floor. Bewildered, because then that would take us back towards the Rabid, I
started to protest.
     
    We
took the stairway down one level, the action preventing me from saying
anything, and I didn’t want to stop or slow down for the Rabid to catch up
while I complained. Instead, he jumped over the conveyor and headed for a
connecting passageway to the packing section of the warehouse. Which scared me,
as I clumsily climbed over the belt, because I didn’t know that part of the
warehouse. I’d never been there.
     
    “C’mon!”
he shouted at me from over his shoulder, and I rushed to keep up, unable to
resist looking back. The Rabid were halted by the belt, and I was really
startled that they were that close until I saw that some had managed to
intercept the others, causing a brief blockage of snarling people in uniform.
Momentarily relieved, I returned my attention to Harley’s back and struggled to
take another set of stairs two at a time just to try and stay within five feet
of him. But the fool had longer legs, and I’m so short - !
     
    I
looked back again, speeding up, nearly colliding with fallen totes. I caught
myself, looked back to see the Rabid figuring that they could crawl over the
conveyer belt and were now booking it towards us. I must’ve screamed or
squealed because then Harley had stopped and was running back to me. I got to
my feet and caught up to him, willing my legs to move me faster. He continued
leading us through this aisle of cardboard and totes atop of shelves, where the
people that had been working there had abandoned tools, gloves, sweaters and
water bottles in their haste to make the fire alarm call. He turned a sharp
right, and we were then running onto the second floor of Green section. He was
taking us to the wrecked section of the warehouse, I realized, huffing and
puffing.
     
    Down
another set of stairs, and we were on concrete floor. There were carts in our
path, designed for the stowers – the people that filled bins with items
– and he stumbled into one. I caught myself in time, and the Rabid were
catching up. I looked back and realized there were people with flashlights
behind them. People shouting at us to turn back, and when Harley caught wind of
their voice, he did a double take. So those guys did survive, and they were
still coming after us? Freaking insane .
     
    The
Rabid heard them, and turned, half running towards the people catching up and
half stumbling after us.
     
    Harley
used “Jesus” and a creative curse together, pushing past me with his axe
raised.
     
    Confused,
I came to an abrupt stop