Contagion: The Rising Read Online Free PDF Page A

the passenger side and left his
rifle on the seat. "Keep the truck running." Ryan half saluted and
moved the remaining salt and pepper hair out of his face as Brady smirked back
at him. He inspected the fence and found shredded clothing.
    Brady’s
face hardened and he looked up to the driver’s cab. "They're inside."
His eyes shifted towards truck and saw a Riser sniffing the truck's back tire.
He stood still and continued watching.
    Ryan
looked over to Brady and honked at him. “Come on, man.”
    The
truck suddenly backfired as the Riser realized Brady was watching it. The Riser
jumped on him as the truck backfired again. The back of his head hit the fence
post and caused him to see double. The Riser screamed as Brady covered his face
with his arms. Ryan got out of the truck and pulled the Riser off of him. Brady
scrambled to get to his feet and stumbled forward. He watched as Ryan and the
Riser were clawing at each other. The slow movements made hurt his head as he
wanted to sprint to the truck. He eased his way back into the truck cab and
closed the door. Ryan looked back as the Riser held onto him. Brady shifted the
truck into drive and took off towards the barn.
    "Damn
it, Brady!" Ryan struggled with the Riser as Brady continued to drive. It
bit into Ryan's arm as he yelled, “AHHH! Get over here and help me!"
    It
yelled at him and continued to bite him until Ryan stopped moving. It stood up
and stared at Ryan's body. The Riser pointed it’s nose into the air and
sniffed. A distant wail caught the Riser’s attention and it sat up to listen.
     
    Brady
continued to drive recklessly back to the barn. He nearly wasn't quick enough
to stop and missed hitting Chloe as she was pulled out of the way by Trevor.
The twins pulled Brady out of the truck and started beating him up. Chloe
looked on with pride as the boys nearly kicked every side of Brady at least
twice.
    Mark
ran from the farmhouse and pulled out his side arm. "Get the hell away
from him!" The twins dropped him to the ground and backed away. Mark
continued to point his gun at them, "Get out of here." They lingered
as Chloe smiled and nodded. "Get the hell out of here!" Chloe
motioned for the twins follow her toward the silo.
    He
picked up Brady by the forearm. "What the hell happened?"
    Brady
pulled away from Mark, "Riser jumped on me and got Ryan." He dusted
himself off and straightened his uniform. "They're inside the fence."
    "You
didn't kill it?"
    "I
got the hell out of there," he took out his cigarettes and lit one. He
took a slow drag and exhaled.
    "We
have to go back and clear it out."
    "You
go ahead. There's no way in hell I'm going back there." Brady sat down
with his back on the barn's wall and continued to smoke.
    Mark
ran over to the farmhouse and walked in. "We have to clear out the back of
the fence. Brady left Ryan there with a Riser."
    "What?
Let's go!" Sarah grabbed her machete and ran outside. Rory grabbed his
shovel and followed Mark.
     
    Brady
watched as Sarah and Rory got in the truck, and Mark sat in the back. He waved
as he grimaced at the pain he was feeling from his upper arm. He pulled up his
sleeve and saw that the bite he received was deeper than he originally thought.
He got up slowly and walked into the barn.
     
    The
truck came to a stop in front of the broken part of the fence. Ryan's body was
found a few feet to the right with no sign of the Riser. They slowly approached
the body and examined the area.
    "There's
nothing left of him," Sarah turned away and Rory held her. The old marine
was once tough and tall, but now laid in pieces on the ground. Sarah’s stomach
turned as she remembered the smile he wore every day. “Damn it! Damn Brady for
being a shit!” Rory attempted to comfort her as she cursed at the world and Brady.
    "That
might be the reason why he's not up and attacking us right now." Mark
crouched to look closer at Ryan's body.
    "He
should've gotten up anyway. Well, at least part of him," Rory looked on.
    "Yeah,
I