Free Devouring The Dead (Book 1) by Russ Watts Page B

weird,” said Brad as Tom came up beside him.
    “Is it? From what Jessica told us earlier, I’m not surprised,” said Tom.
    “You know how much money Fiscal Industries makes per year? More than you can count to, buddy. And they don’t do it by working nine to five and going home for a fish supper. This place crunches numbers twenty four hours a day. For them to be closed up this long, means whatever is going on out there is heavy shit. I don’t like this.”
    Tom and Brad cupped their faces against the glass and strained their eyes, trying to penetrate the darkness. The street lights were out and all they could see was the night. The roads were empty, bar a couple of taxis, which were clearly empty. The taxi’s doors were open though, which was unusual. Brad took a step back from the door and began waving his hands over his head.
    “Hey, anyone there? Hey! Can you hear us?” Brad called out and was looking up at a camera he had noticed above the doorway. There was a small red blinking light on it indicating it still had power. Brad lowered his arms.
    “The camera’s still on , but I don’t think anyone’s home. Maybe Jessie had it wrong.”
    “So what now? You heard what Parker saw happening earlier. Something’s going on. Where is everyone now?” said Tom puzzled. “How come there are no lights on out there? Even the street lights are off. I think we’re gonna have to stay put tonight and try and leave tomorrow. I don’t think we’re going anywhere tonight.”
    “Well , there’s no way we’re going out the front door. These doors aren’t made of ordinary glass. They’re built to withstand bullets and all sorts of shit. Money can buy you pretty good security. I guess we...” Brad stopped and held up a hand.
    “Listen,” he whispered . Tom froze. He had heard it too. There was a scuffling sound outside. They looked but couldn’t see where the noise was coming from. Brad pushed his nose against the glass, peering intently through to the outside world.
        He jumped back suddenly when a dog appeared out of the gloom and ran up to the door. Tom couldn’t help but laugh. Tough guy spooked by a dog. Brad whirled around.
    “You think that’s funny, buddy? Take a closer look,” said Brad angrily, stepping back from the door slowly, not taking his eyes off the dog.
    Tom approached the door and looked at the dog. He wasn’t too familiar with dogs, but it was a Golden Labrador of some type. There was something odd though. The dog’s coat was matted with blood and it wasn’t barking or making any sound. The dog opened its mouth and tried to bite the glass. Its teeth clacked annoyingly on the door. Tom’s brow furrowed with concern. The dog’s eyes were pure black and Tom bent down to look closer. The dog’s throat had been ripped out; there was no way it could be alive. It began pawing at the glass, its mouth salivating and leaving slimy trails over the pane. Tom stood up and backed away.
    “What the hell is it? I mean, it can’t be, it’s...” Tom refused to believe what he was seeing.
    “It’s dead, buddy,” said Brad. Tom stood beside him marvelling at the dead dog that was trying to get in. He might not know much about dogs, but he knew that dead dogs should stay that way.
    Suddenly , a figure appeared behind it. A young woman in a blue skirt, naked from the waist up with dirty blonde hair flying wildly about her face, ran up to the glass doors quickly and began pounding on them with her fists. Brad and Tom both jumped back, shocked.
    The woman said nothing and ignored the dog who reciprocated . She began trying to bite at the glass door too. Her naked body was pressed up against the glass, but Brad and Tom felt repulsed.
    “Look at her,” said Tom quietly. “Look at her face.”
    He felt sick. Brad saw the cuts on her face and the deep gashes across her cheeks. Above her right ear, her head had been torn open, her scalp removed, exposing her brain. Her eye sockets were empty and