Free Swarm (Book 3) by Alex South

There were no visible marks.
    “All of it please,” said Laura.
    Sarah stayed still for a few seconds, her eyes on Laura. Then she took off the remainder of her clothes.
    Laura took a few steps forward. Sarah took a few steps back.
    “I’m going to check you,” said Laura.
    “Don’t come near me with that knife,” said Sarah.
    “Okay… Okay I won’t…” Laura put the knife down on the kitchen counter.
    “I’m just going to come close enough so that I can see you.” said Laura.
    She came to within a few steps of her. And looked her over.
    “Well, I guess I was wrong,” said Laura, “Would you just show me your back.” Sarah did so, but kept her neck turned, so as not to take her eyes off Laura. “Just lift up your hair. Let me see the back of your neck.” Sarah looked forwards and brought a hand around to lift her hair out the way.
    Laura saw her chance.
    She pulled a second knife, hidden in her pocket, and ran forwards. One arm wrapped around Sarah’s neck and the other stabbed. The blade sank into flesh. She pulled it back and thrust again. Sarah screeched as her body struggled against Laura’s grip, and her hands pulled at the arm across her throat.
    “Geeeeeet oooooooof!”
    Laura’s arm became a piston, an endless repetition. Again. Again. Again.
    She felt Zack grab her hand. She opened it – dropping the knife. Zack began to pull her away. She let him, giving Sarah one last kick in the back – who fell forwards to the floor. Zack dragged Laura into the kitchen. Sarah stood up and looked at her. She began swearing and screaming. Laura was overcome with a sense of reassurance. Somehow she knew she had done enough. Opening a door, Zack threw her inside a small laundry room. She stayed on the ground, knowing that she would have to remain there for a while.
    …
    Zack stood by the laundry room, holding the door shut. Sarah was rubbing her throat with one hand. A huge red stain marked her right side.
    “Macy,” he shouted, “take her to Granny’s room. Go with Macy. Put pressure on the wound!”
    Macy, her face void of colour, walked over to Sarah.
    Sarah shot a glance at her. “I’m fine,” she said, sharply. Macy stopped and looked at Zack, as if waiting for his next instruction.
    “You’ve gotta… you’ve gotta sort out your injury,” said Zack.
    Sarah’s face screwed up with confusion, slowly she moved her gaze downwards to her blood covered side – seemingly noticing it for the first time. She stared, completely paralysed by the sight of it.
    “Macy take her to the room!” Zack shouted again.
    Macy moved to her. Sarah let out a noise of pain, a cry and gasp mixed together. She put her hand over her wound, sank to her knees and then fell onto her side – her body curled up into the foetal position.
    Zack ran to her, leaving it to fate to keep Laura inside the laundry room. He came to her side and pulled off his jumper, pushing it down onto the blood. Sarah struggled, breathing unevenly through gritted teeth and groaning from the pain.
    “I’ve got it. Sarah I’ve got it. Sarah move your hands. Sarah… Stop… put your hands… down.” Sarah was looking down at her body and squirming. “Sarah. Sarah! Stay still.”
    “It hurts… it hurts… I don’t want to die…”
    “Stay still!”
    “It hurts…” She stopped squirming and bunched her hands into fists.
    “We’ve just gotta stop the bleeding,” said Zack, pressing the jumper against her as hard as he could.
    Her face was pale. Her eyes were fixed downwards, stuck to her wound. She closed them, grimaced, then opened them again. She screwed up her face and held her breath for a second. A tiny noise came from her, a short cry from the back of her throat. She exhaled and became motionless.
    Zack looked at Macy. She was on the edge of tears. Her face was pale and expressionless. Zack looked back at Sarah. Her eyes opened, a yellow stain in each.
    “Hargggggggh!”
    “Shit!” Zack shouted. He clamoured off his knees