Red Handed Read Online Free Page A

Ryan and his sister fought the Outers expertly, slashing with their hands, feet light and quick. The motions were almost a dance. Lethal, controlled, bloody.
    Obviously, they’d done this before. Perhaps many times before. I’d been in a few fights myself, but nothing had ever been this violent. Nothing had ever been so in-your-face fatal.
    I had to help them.
    I bent down, afraid to switch my focus as I searched for more rocks. I felt only dirt.
    Two hysterical kids raced past me, knocking me onto my ass in their haste to escape. As I struggled to right myself, one of the kids tripped over Jamie’s body, scrambled upright, then continued running. Jamie gave no reaction.
    I should follow them , I thought; I knew I should, despite my desire to protect.
    Instead, I found myself finding and grabbing onto a long, thick branch. It was bare and jagged. Perfect. I was unprepared for the macabre scene unfolding, yes, but I would go down with a fight.
    I stepped toward the circle and stopped, a thought shooting through my mind. Would I be a distraction to Ryan and Allison?
    They knew what they were doing. I didn’t. If I hindered them or caused them to be harmed, everyone here would be doomed. “Think, think,” I chanted under my breath, my grip tightening on the stick. I moved forward another step, then stopped again. What damage can I really do with a stick ?
    â€œTwo on your left,” I heard Ryan say.
    I spun, but there was no one to my left. All of the monsters were now in the center, battling Ryan and his sister. He must have been talking to Allison. I whipped back to the fire just in time to see Allison pivot, a blur of black as she fired off two quick shots, nailing both of her targets in their chests.
    They didn’t freeze; they burned to ash. Flesh sizzled, soot filled the air, nearly choking me.
    What should I do? What would most help them?
    â€œWe need backup,” Allison grunted, swinging up her leg and bringing it down with intense force. The blow slammed into a creature’s back, forcing it onto its stomach. She fired; it too died a burning, flaming death, its screams echoing in my ears.
    My mouth dried.
    â€œThey should be here soon,” Ryan said.
    When I saw one of the injured Sybilins crawl on top of a prone human female, I finally pulled myself from petrifaction and leapt into action. I’ll make my mother proud. I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect my friends . Ryan and Allison couldn’t destroy all of the creatures, especially the ones slinking and sneaking along the dirt floor. Those I could handle without hindering the siblings.
    As the creature’s lips descended on the girl’s, I closed the rest of the distance and swung my stick. Contact. My arms shook from the force as the wood smashed into its cheek and sent it tumbling to the ground.
    A shocking wave of satisfaction washed through me.
    â€œRyan!” Allison shouted, a desperate edge to her voice. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.”
    â€œJust keep firing,” he told her. “That’s our only hope until the others get here.”
    I faced them and could see that Ryan and Allison were completely surrounded, still pinned in a menacing circle. The sound of grunting and groaning filled my ears. Blue and yellow lights flashed.
    Okay. Taking out the Sybilins on the fringes wasn’t going to do much good, I realized. I’d have to do more.
    I raced forward to guard Ryan’s back, but I was knocked to the ground by an Outer before I’d taken three steps. I lost my breath. Dizziness pushed through my mind, hard, and all I could do was remain in place, trying to regain my bearings.
    A second later, I was flipped onto my back. One of the creatures pinned my shoulders and trapped my hands between our bodies. It fit its lips over mine. They were wet and warm, too wet, too warm, and only growing more so. I heard a slurp , a pop , then felt a hard