Free Glory (Book 1) by Michael McManamon

was no attack. Adam didn't even hear anything that slightly resembled one.
    He walked back to the edge of the staircase and looked down. His flashlight had fallen down there and was resting against someone's leg. Adam couldn't see the body too well, but it wasn't moving. He was sure that it was dead.
    Adam quickly rushed down the stairs and snatched at the flashlight. He expected the body to reach out and grab him as he did.
    It didn't.
    Adam quickly pointed the light at the dead person's face. It was a man. He looked slightly familiar. Adam must have seen him around the building, though he couldn't be sure. The man's face was contorted into a snarl. His throat had been sliced.
    It was then that Adam noticed all of the blood pouring down the man's chest. It covered the floor beneath them. It had gotten onto Adam's hands, too, when he had picked up the flashlight.
    "Shit," Adam said. It made him feel sick to have this man's blood on him.
    He rubbed his hands against his jeans. The blood didn't come off completely, but he felt a little bit better about it.
    He stood up, feeling the need to get out of there. He turned away from the dead man and continued walking down the stairs.
    As Adam came to the second floor, he could see that the door was propped open. The red emergency lights in the hallway shone dimly into the stairwell. They lit up a dead body that was lying across the floor. It was the body that was keeping the door open.
    Adam approached it slowly. He knew that it was dead, but he wasn't sure if there was anything lurking in the hall. He didn't want to be taken by surprise again.
    He came upon the body. He couldn't see who it was because it was lying face down. He didn't really want to know anyway. He just wanted out.
    But, before Adam could leave, he heard a sound. Actually, it wasn't just a sound. It took him a moment to register what it was. It was a voice.
    "Help!" it screamed.
    Adam was startled. He had expected to be attacked. He hadn't thought of finding any other people - any othe r survivor s . He didn't know what to do.
    He wanted to leave. But he didn't want to leave anybody behind. Especially if they needed help. Of course, he wasn't sure that he'd be much help against one of those things.
    What could he do?
    He decided to check it out.
    Adam stuck his head into the hallway. There was no one in sight.
    "Help," the voice sounded again. "Help me!"
    It was a girl's voice. Adam knew that much. The age escaped him.
    He stepped into the hallway and walked toward it. It was difficult to know which apartment it had come from, but Adam was now determined to find out. He needed to help. If he wasn't already too late.
    "Help!" the girl screamed once more. "Heeeeelp!"
    The voice was louder. Adam knew that he was getting closer.
    He came upon a door and stopped to listen. He thought that this might be the place.
    "Heeeelllp meeeeeeee!"
    It was.
    Adam quickly opened the door. Luckily, it hadn't been locked.
    He rushed into the apartment and looked around. There was no one there.
    He heard some rustling coming from one of the bedrooms and ran over to it.
    As soon as he entered, he saw a young girl being pinned to the bed by a man. The man was holding her arms down and his face was buried in her neck, as though he were trying to bite it.
    The girl noticed Adam and her eyes opened wide.
    "Help me," she said. "Please!"
    Adam rushed over and pulled the man off of her. The man fell to the ground.
    Adam prepared himself for an attack, knowing that it would come quickly. He had seen how these monsters attacked from outside his window. He wouldn't have much time to react.
    But the attack never came.
    The man spun around. Startled. "What the fuck?" he said.
    Adam looked at the man. He wasn't one of the creatures.
    "What are you doing?" Adam asked.
    The man sat up against the wall. "Tryin' to have a little fun is all," he replied. His voice was a little more relaxed. At first, he was sure that Adam had been one of those creatures