Below is a scene from my WIP: The Stroke of Midnight Please let me know your thoughts fellow authors and readers Thanks! Sophie
I crept through the streets in the faint sliver of sunlight. My adrenaline was pumping. I had to be back as soon as I could, Ajani couldn’t defend himself in his condition. I slowly pushed the glass door open and took a half-step in. The deafening, heart-stopping jingle of the doorbell chime split the dead silence. I paused where I stood and cringed inward. “Try again, I don’t think they heard you in Africa.” I hissed under my breath. Now I was on an even stricter timetable, aside from hurrying to protect Ajani, I had to get out of here before any mutants showed up to investigate the source of the sound. I lunged forward and skimmed my eyes over the labels on pill bottles. Scouring for antibiotics. Nothing. I clenched my fists and ran my gaze over the shelves of over the counter drugs and creams. None of them would help Ajani, he needed something stronger. I curled my lip and kicked the rickety, metal shelf over. It clanged to the ground and the pill bottles sprayed through the air, bounding off the cream, linoleum tiles. Prescriptions. There had to be some left in the back. I raced over to the back counter and threw my body over the cold, sleek surface. I slid across the counter, bringing an array of items down with me. The cash register and cup of pens fell to the ground and drowned out the sound of my feet hitting the floor. I winced, knowing the noise would attract the attention of the toxin and the mutants. But they would be coming anyway. I just had to work fast. I slipped through the dimly lit room and traced a finger along the shelving. My eyes raced over each label faster than the speed of light. “Come on, come on.” I hissed. Ding. I paused. Not even breathing. My eyes widened as heavy, labored breaths met my ears. I had company. I tucked myself behind the wall and continued my search. Quieter this time. Silent as a ghost. “Gotcha.” I whispered before I could catch myself. Weighted, laden footsteps boomed across the linoleum tile flooring, racing up the stairs and ringing in my head. I swallowed. With utter precision, I swiped the pill bottle off the shelf and stuffed it into my duffle bag. As I tucked it away, the deafening screech of the mutant reverberated through the abandoned rooms. “Shoot.” I didn’t dare zip up my bag, it would be far too loud. And any sound was life threatening. The toxin was smart—smarter than a large variety of sentient beings. But how? It was merely a fog of infectants—a virus. I slipped my fingers down to the adjusted cattle prod in my holster and gently tugged it free. I could see the mutant’s shadow now, hunched over, drawing in deep breaths. As if he was searching for my scent. I drew back a half-step and knitted my brow. My heart lurched in my chest and contracted with a wave of pain. Pain—and fear. Fear of dying. But why? I was so tired. Almost everyone I loved was dead. But it was that small fraction that kept my heart beating. Kept me going and fighting. And Ajani was sick—I couldn’t give in now and leave him defenseless, no matter how tempting it felt. I steadied my grip on the cattle prod and curled my lip. With a steady finger, I clicked the prod on and watched the sparks of electricity roar to life—crackling and swirling around the prongs. It was time to fight and test out my project. I sprung out from behind the wall. My face twisted with a fiery blaze of anger. The mutant snapped his head up with a slacked grayish jaw, his mouth twitched upward; offering a slim sense of a smile. I bared my teeth and extended the cattle prod out to him. His blackened eyes settled on the flurries of sparks cavorting in the air. Yet, fear didn’t rouse in his gaze, rather he moved forward. Black fog drifted off his foul breath and filled the air with the scent of decay and…diesel. A rather strange combination. “Get back!” I screamed, as loud as I could. The mutant flinched but pressed on nonetheless. I waved the prod around and fueled the sparks of electricity with more power. Lights of blue and white danced on his grayish green flesh and illuminated his nightmarish gaze. I swallowed and bounded over the counter, landing clumsily on the other side. The mutant eyed me, deciding whether to advance or wait for a moment of vulnerability—or reinforcements. I couldn’t wait around to find out, but I couldn’t let him follow me back to our safe haven either. Stocked to the gills with food, water, and pointless coloring books.
Please let me know your thoughts fellow authors and readers
Thanks!
Sophie
I crept through the streets in the faint sliver of sunlight. My adrenaline was pumping. I had to be back as soon as I could, Ajani couldn’t defend himself in his condition.
I slowly pushed the glass door open and took a half-step in. The deafening, heart-stopping jingle of the doorbell chime split the dead silence. I paused where I stood and cringed inward.
“Try again, I don’t think they heard you in Africa.” I hissed under my breath.
Now I was on an even stricter timetable, aside from hurrying to protect Ajani, I had to get out of here before any mutants showed up to investigate the source of the sound. I lunged forward and skimmed my eyes over the labels on pill bottles. Scouring for antibiotics.
Nothing.
I clenched my fists and ran my gaze over the shelves of over the counter drugs and creams.
None of them would help Ajani, he needed something stronger. I curled my lip and kicked the rickety, metal shelf over. It clanged to the ground and the pill bottles sprayed through the air, bounding off the cream, linoleum tiles.
Prescriptions. There had to be some left in the back.
I raced over to the back counter and threw my body over the cold, sleek surface. I slid across the counter, bringing an array of items down with me. The cash register and cup of pens fell to the ground and drowned out the sound of my feet hitting the floor.
I winced, knowing the noise would attract the attention of the toxin and the mutants. But they would be coming anyway. I just had to work fast.
I slipped through the dimly lit room and traced a finger along the shelving. My eyes raced over each label faster than the speed of light.
“Come on, come on.” I hissed.
Ding.
I paused. Not even breathing. My eyes widened as heavy, labored breaths met my ears. I had company. I tucked myself behind the wall and continued my search. Quieter this time. Silent as a ghost.
“Gotcha.” I whispered before I could catch myself.
Weighted, laden footsteps boomed across the linoleum tile flooring, racing up the stairs and ringing in my head. I swallowed. With utter precision, I swiped the pill bottle off the shelf and stuffed it into my duffle bag. As I tucked it away, the deafening screech of the mutant reverberated through the abandoned rooms.
“Shoot.”
I didn’t dare zip up my bag, it would be far too loud. And any sound was life threatening. The toxin was smart—smarter than a large variety of sentient beings. But how? It was merely a fog of infectants—a virus.
I slipped my fingers down to the adjusted cattle prod in my holster and gently tugged it free. I could see the mutant’s shadow now, hunched over, drawing in deep breaths. As if he was searching for my scent. I drew back a half-step and knitted my brow.
My heart lurched in my chest and contracted with a wave of pain. Pain—and fear. Fear of dying. But why? I was so tired. Almost everyone I loved was dead. But it was that small fraction that kept my heart beating. Kept me going and fighting. And Ajani was sick—I couldn’t give in now and leave him defenseless, no matter how tempting it felt.
I steadied my grip on the cattle prod and curled my lip. With a steady finger, I clicked the prod on and watched the sparks of electricity roar to life—crackling and swirling around the prongs. It was time to fight and test out my project.
I sprung out from behind the wall. My face twisted with a fiery blaze of anger. The mutant snapped his head up with a slacked grayish jaw, his mouth twitched upward; offering a slim sense of a smile. I bared my teeth and extended the cattle prod out to him. His blackened eyes settled on the flurries of sparks cavorting in the air. Yet, fear didn’t rouse in his gaze, rather he moved forward. Black fog drifted off his foul breath and filled the air with the scent of decay and…diesel. A rather strange combination.
“Get back!” I screamed, as loud as I could.
The mutant flinched but pressed on nonetheless. I waved the prod around and fueled the sparks of electricity with more power. Lights of blue and white danced on his grayish green flesh and illuminated his nightmarish gaze.
I swallowed and bounded over the counter, landing clumsily on the other side. The mutant eyed me, deciding whether to advance or wait for a moment of vulnerability—or reinforcements. I couldn’t wait around to find out, but I couldn’t let him follow me back to our safe haven either. Stocked to the gills with food, water, and pointless coloring books.