Toxic Read Online Free Page B

not their author. Shadows were drawn on the wild vegetation which covered the concrete slabs. The infected were gathering in hordes without there being any explanation for this “social” behavior. Alone, she had no chance. She took up the path in the direction of the quay once again, determined to re-join the others to warn them of the danger. She didn't have time. A hand pressed against her mouth, she shouted and felt herself being lifted up and dragged across the dusty floor. The black man had a salt and pepper beard, a hat, and measured around six feet, she estimated instinctively.
    When she worked in Miami Hospital, one of her colleagues had been attacked in the parking lot. Since that day, she had taken classes on how to memorize the physical details of the attacker. In the case of an assault, this information increased the chances of identifying the assaulter.
    They both rolled under the truck. The man kept his hand in place.
    “I'm Colonel Masters, from the Marine corps,” he whispered. “You and your friends are completely nuts. You shouldn't have gotten off here, the area is infested.”
    Elaine nodded nervously.
    “They are there, just behind the door. I’m going to let you go and you aren't going to scream, because if you do, we're dead. Understand?”
    The “hmm, hmm” which she let out seemed to suffice. Elaine took a few deep breaths. Around them, a forest of worn down feet moved in the direction of the pier. The concert of grunts sent shivers down her spine. She felt beads of sweat sliding down her skin. The metal walls amplified the sucking and scratching noises of the ragged clothing worn by the infected. It resembled a dolorous melody. She twisted her neck. “I need to warn my companions.”
    The military man put a finger to his lips. Then he opened his hand to ask her not to move until the horde had left the warehouse. Her stomach in knots, the wait seemed never-ending.
    She got up first, as soon as the colonel authorized her to do so. Before she could dart away, he grabbed her by the sleeve. “They move quickly, despite appearances. You won’t get to your friends in time.”
    “It doesn't matter, I have to warn them.”
    In this wreck of a place, she noticed the ladder in the back, to the left of the workbench. She ran for it. At the top, the trap door provided rooftop access. She had trouble lifting it and when she managed to, the nauseating wind which whipped her face extracted a grimace from her. She hurried to the edge, with the military man at her heels trying to reason with her, but she didn't listen to him. Her course stopped abruptly, directly above a morbid spectacle. Elaine was left speechless.
    “I told you. You can't do anything for them.”
    The tide of disgruntled bodies still hadn't finished pouring out onto the pier. The creatures were preparing to launch themselves onto the group of survivors, who were walking in the direction of the white building. They weren't looking behind them. They were tired and too caught up in the effort. Their need called for desperate measures. In a rapid movement, she grabbed the gun that the colonel carried in a holster attached to his belt which he had irresponsibly left open. She lifted the colt and pressed the trigger. Once. Then a second time. The heads of the column turned towards the warehouse.
    “You're crazy!”
    Realizing that danger was near, the boat's former crew started to run. Elaine watched the boat, which was drifting in the middle of the basin. The shots had also alerted the Colombian. The infected were coming back towards the warehouses. Masters gripped his balding head. “You’re crazy! We'll never get out of here!”
    Elaine tried to catch a glimpse of Hector, who she imagined to be sitting down at the helm, his shotgun within arm’s reach. He had already saved them. This man didn’t seem fundamentally bad. She pointed to the boat with the barrel of the pistol.
    “He's our only way out.”
    “Impossible,” replied