Read Werewolf Suspense (Book 3): Outage 3 (Vengeance) for Free Online Page A

devoid of trees. The open land meant fewer hiding places for the creatures. Tom was grateful for that, at least.  
    He tipped his rifle over the windowsill. The gaping hole from the broken window was like an invitation to the beasts. He noticed Rosemary turning the pistol in her hands. If it came down to it, he'd have to count on her to shoot. If they encountered a cluster of the things, he wouldn't be able to fight them all himself.
    He hoped she could handle it.
    They passed underneath several dead streetlights. A snapped cable hung from one of the telephone poles, dangling in the road, creating a hazard for any would-be commuters.
    Tom shook his head at how little that mattered now.
    The buildings on either side of them were as lifeless as the neighborhoods they'd left behind. Tom found himself looking for differences in the landscape, clues that someone had traveled here. Once again, he had the sinking, depressed feeling that everyone was gone. But he and Rosemary had found each other. That had to count for something . The woman's search for her children had inspired him.
    Tom couldn't envision returning home. Not now. Not ever. Lorena was gone. Jeremy was dead. There was a chance this woman's family was alive, and that he could reunite them. Her quest had become his. As dangerous as their mission was, it was better to be on the move than waiting in a dank cellar, prepared to die.  
    They'd only gone a few blocks when Tom saw movement next to one of the distant buildings. He clutched his rifle and stared out the windshield.
    "Be ready," he told Rosemary.  
    She nodded. He hoped she was.

Chapter Eight

    Ahead of them was a block of brick buildings, each identical in the snow's coating. In the time they'd been driving, movement had become apparent between them. Tom steered toward the opposite side of the street, keeping a buffer zone from the approaching danger.  
    He aimed his gun and prepared to shoot.
    The movement became more pronounced, and soon a figure emerged from between the buildings. To Tom's surprise, the movement didn't belong to a beast, but to a survivor. The man staggered out from an alley and ran out into the road. He was wearing a t-shirt and pajama pants, as if he'd been pulled from bed and into the worst nightmare of his life. His face was contorted in confusion and fear. He cried for help as he stumbled out into the street.
    "Oh my God, Tom!" Rosemary shouted, pointing. "We have to stop!"
    "Please!" the man shrieked.  
    The man entered the street, coughing up blood. The front of his shirt was stained red. His face was pale, his eyes laced with terror. He stopped a few hundred feet in front of them and collapsed to his knees.
    Tom rammed the brakes.  
    "We have to get him in the car!" Rosemary hissed.
    "We will!" Tom said. "Hold on!"  
    He decelerated, startled at the sight of another survivor. Just a moment ago, he'd been ready to ward off another of the beasts. The sight of the man was unexpected. But it was also a relief. He just hoped they could provide some assistance to the severely wounded man. He wasn't sure if the hospitals were accessible, but they could determine that later.
    Tom clung to the wheel as they grew closer to the man's fallen figure.
    Before Tom could get close, one of the beasts tore out from a building and across the road, as if it'd been lying in wait. The man shrieked and crawled backward, but the beast was on him before he could make ground. The creature slashed the man's neck. Then it wrapped its claws around the man's skull and twisted.
    The man's head detached.
    The beast howled, casting aside the headless corpse and dropping the severed appendage. The snow around the body turned pink. Then the beast descended and began to feed. It looked up at them with hungry eyes and a mouthful of flesh.
    Tom's mouth dropped open in horror. He leaned out the window and fired, but his shot missed. The beast rose from the man and hurtled toward the vehicle.  
    "Drive! Drive!"