The Last Peak (Book 2): The Darwin Collapse by William Oday Page A

safety glass drew his attention and he swept his headlamp in that direction. What he saw swept a chill through his body. The surface was covered with frantic bodies clawing, biting, fighting to get through.
    Ten or so of them. And more behind struggling to get closer.
    Mason’s hasty fortification seemed to be holding, so he checked on Theresa. Her face was pale and lax. He gently took the pistol and recharged it with the last full magazine from his backpack. He secured it in her holster and then squeezed her hands. They were cold and sweaty.
    “Hey,” he said.  
    He squinted as her headlamp tilted up and blinded him. He angled it up and caught her eyes.
    “You did good,” he said. “Stay with me. It’s not over yet.”
    She nodded in dull agreement. Her eyes seemed distant and disconnected. Shock. Not surprising for what just happened. But not a luxury they could afford either.
    He squeezed her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “Theresa, look at me. Look at me!”
    Her eyes finally focused.
    “You have to stay with me here. Okay? Can you do that?”
    She nodded again.
    “I want you to say it.”
    She stammered out incomprehensible words.
    “Focus your attention,” he said as he locked his eyes to hers.
    “I… I can… I can do it.”
    “I need you to cover the door while I look for another way out.” Mason glanced back at the mass of bodies shouting and screaming behind the glass. There were no discernible words. It would’ve been less terrifying if there were. Just sounds. Incomprehensible sounds of fury and frustration.
    He pivoted to the side of her. He needed to know she was together enough to watch their back. “Draw your weapon and cover the door.”
    Her motion was hesitant at first, but once her hand found the grip, it settled. She drew the pistol and aimed it at the closed door. Bodies intermittently slammed against it. The fault line around the frame inched forward with every impact.
    How many more blows could it take?
    Mason swept his light over the space. There were no other doors or windows. By design, the pharmacy was a secure area. Only it wasn’t designed to indefinitely keep out a mass of insane humans. One or two until the police arrived, maybe. But they weren’t facing one or two.  
    And the police weren’t going to rescue them.
    He looked around at a loss. They weren’t going to be able to shoot their way out. They had insufficient firepower to gain superiority. If he had an M249 SAW, sure no problem. He’d mow them down like blades of grass. But a couple of handguns? And with the way Theresa looked, one of those handguns might not even make it into the fight.
    No, that was the last resort. The long odds he didn’t want to take.
    So what else?
    He gritted his teeth in frustration while staring at the bodies pressed against the safety glass. Their eyes shone with a simple, primal madness. A burning rage that an incomprehensible obstacle only fanned brighter.
    An idea flickered in his mind.
    It was something, at least.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

    The door shuddered again and the upper right area around the door frame tore free. It wouldn’t hold much longer.
    Mason rifled through his backpack and found the bottle of rubbing alcohol he’d found in the storeroom. He tore the lid off and splashed its contents on the safety glass. He dug out his lighter, lit a flame, and touched it to the vertical surface.  
    A sheet of blue and yellow flame ignited and cast the room in flickering light. A searing wave of heat sent Mason jumping backwards. The attackers on the other side fell back as well. Though not from the heat, as it couldn’t have made it through the safety glass so quickly. They stared at it, cringing in terror. The flame dripped down to the counter and pooled in an expanding ring of fire.
    The assailants on the other side of the glass kept their distance, looking at one in another in confusion. None wanted to be the first to approach the conflagration. The wall of flame slowly