Read Mutation (Twenty-Five Percent Book 1) for Free Online Page A

beside him, faces covered with blood, their teeth tearing at the flesh of his arm, shoulder and leg.
    “No,” Cutter said, his voice shaking.
    Alex opened his door and climbed out, pulling his pistol from the holster at his waist and starting towards the nightmarish sight.  It was then that the man’s arm raised, clawing at the air.  Alex heard a ragged, pain filled groan. 
    He’s still alive, he thought, his gut twisting in horror.
    “Get off him,” Cutter growled beside him.
    The eaters stopped chewing and looked up.  Seeing new prey, they lurched to their feet.  Cutter took aim and fired, putting bullets into the heads of two of them as they staggered with surprising speed towards them.  His third shot missed.  Alex didn’t.
    When they approached the man lying in the grass, Alex was relieved to see that he had passed out.  Blood seeped from his wounds, fat and bone showing through the mauled flesh, chunks of muscle scattered over the grass.
    Cutter leaned over, planted his hands on his knees and vomited.  Alex swallowed and fought to keep down what little he’d eaten during the hectic day.  The smell of urine and blood was almost overwhelming.  He tried in vain to find some fresh air to breathe.
    “What the hell is going on?” Cutter said, straightening and wiping his mouth on his sleeve.  “This is... what the hell is going on? ”
    Alex shook his head.  He couldn’t tear his eyes from the grisly sight in front of them.  “I don’t know,” he whispered.
    It was somewhere around four in the afternoon.  The situation on the streets was becoming chaotic.  Shops and businesses were closing, people were panicking, trying to get home.  They and every other cop and emergency services worker had been picking up eaters non-stop since the morning, but they couldn’t keep up as more and more appeared.  But this was the first time they’d seen any of them feeding. 
    For the first time, Alex considered the frightening possibility that this wasn’t going to end.
    Somewhere nearby, someone screamed.  They both looked in that direction, but there was nothing to see.
    “MacCallum...”
    Alex looked at Cutter and saw his strained expression.
    “I... my girls...”
    “Go,” Alex said.  “I’ll deal with this and get back to the station.”
    “I wouldn’t even think of leaving my duty, but...” He looked at the man on the ground, wounds bleeding, flesh torn.  “If anything happened to them...”
    “I understand,” Alex said.  “Do what you have to do.”
    “You won’t have a car...”
    “It’s not that far.  Just go.  Find Beth and Carrie and keep them safe.  I’ll be fine.  I’m a Survivor, remember?  They won’t bother me.” 
    Cutter nodded and gave a small smile.  “You’re okay, MacCallum.”
    Alex grinned.  “Are you getting all mushy on me?”
    Cutter smiled.  “You wish.  Be careful.”
    “You too.”
    Alex watched as his partner ran back to his Porsche and sped off, then turned back to the man lying in the grass.  Eyes still closed, his chest was rising and falling in rapid, shallow breaths.  Yesterday, Alex would have taken him to the hospital for treatment, but today?  He wasn’t even sure the hospital would be open anymore and the man was badly wounded.  Alex knew there was no hope for the poor man.  But he couldn’t just leave him. 
    He raised his gun, pointing it at the man’s head.  His finger hovered on the trigger.  He’d killed eaters before, but this man wasn’t an eater yet.  He was still alive, still human.  Alex had never killed anyone who wasn’t turned.  He’d been in the same position, once. 
    His hands began to tremble.
    “Damn.”
    His arm dropped to his side.  It was no use, it felt too much like murder.  Frustrated at himself, he pulled his phone from his pocket.  If he could get permission, that might make it easier.  Deep down, he knew he was just trying to shift the blame, or delay the inevitable.  Whatever it