Beneath the Flesh: They kept all the demons out … except one Read Online Free PDF

shuddering breath.
     
    “Is everything okay?” said Richard quietly, leaning forward.
     
    Silence for a moment. Jess nodded.
     
    “Yeah,” she said. “I just banged my elbow when we were …”
     
    “Looks like a pretty bad bump,” said Richard.
     
    “Yeah.” Jess's throat bobbed. “Just give me a moment. I'll be fine.”
     
    Luke tried to pull her closer, but she shrugged him off.
     
    Then he saw something move beneath the sleeve of her shirt. A wave of revulsion swept through him, and without meaning to he sat back and grasped the edge of his seat. What on Earth was that? Jess didn't seem to notice through the pain, though, and after a moment the motion went away.
     
    Jess's arm didn't seem to be getting any less painful. Luke had known it to hurt sometimes, but he'd never seen her this bad.
     
    Suddenly she grabbed his hand. “It's getting worse,” she whispered. “I don't know if –” She slid forward off the box to her knees.
     
    In a moment, Richard was on his feet. He moved past where Luke was sitting and supported Jess's free shoulder. For that moment, Luke didn't care. Being found out didn't matter, so long as Jess was alright.
     
    “Wait,” said Jess. “It's okay. I'm okay.” She swallowed. “The pain's getting better.”
     
    She let go of her arm to pull herself back up.
     
    And Luke saw her sleeve had been pulled up when she fell, exposing her forearm – including the holes.
     
    Then he saw Richard had noticed too.

Chapter 7
     
     
    For a moment, nobody said anything. There was just the rumbling of the van along the road. Jess looked up at Richard, a sort of acknowledgment that she knew he'd seen, then slowly pulled her sleeve down.
     
    “What's that?” Richard said quietly.
     
    Luke's mind was still racing through the possibilities. How to stop this? The thought came, unbidden, of killing Richard – and he discarded it equally quickly. What else would stop him talking?
     
    Jess took her time to settle, rubbed her arm again, and said, “I don't know. I mean, an infection.”
     
    “She's not turning into a runner,” added Luke.
     
    “How can you be sure?” asked Richard. He seemed to be taking the surprise quite well, thought Luke.
     
    “Because if it was going to happen, it would've happened ages ago,” said Jess. “Besides, do you know any runner symptoms that look like this? Half of it's in the face.”
     
    Richard paused to consider this.
     
    Jess continued, “So I guess we're at your mercy now.” She nodded towards the cab. “If you tell them –”
     
    “I won't.”
     
    “If this gets out at Paradise Compound …” said Luke.
     
    “You'll get kicked out. Or killed. I know,” said Richard. A thin smile of realisation crossed his face. “So that's why you're both going to the hospital. You want to try and fix it.”
     
    “We're getting to medical supplies too,” said Jess.
     
    Richard nodded. “Makes sense. Well, then, your secret's safe with me.”
     
    “You won't tell anyone? Even Mayor Mason?”
     
    “Even Mayor Mason.”
     
    One of the drivers banged on the wall ahead of them and called, “Time to get ready. We're nearly there.”
     
    Luke turned to Jess. “Do you think you can manage?”
     
    She stood and grabbed her backpack. “I'm fine. Pain's nearly gone.”
     
    Backpacks on, pistols ready, trolley positioned at the door. They were ready. The van slowed, then came to a halt. “Wait for a moment,” called the driver. Then: Looks clear this way. How about for you.”
     
    Outside, nothing that looked like a demon nothing moving. “Coast looks clear!” said Luke.
     
    “Okay. Go on, then.”
     
    They opened the doors, guns ready, then with Richard's help pushed out a sheet of wood to act as a ramp. Luke rolled the trolley down the ramp while Jess kept a lookout. Then she joined him as Richard pulled the ramp back inside.
     
    “Good luck!” he said before closing the doors.
     
    The van started off