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

diminished and began to wink out around the edges. The flame on the wall extinguished and only a small puddle on the counter remained.
    It could work.
    He yanked off his black hoodie and pulled his white t-shirt off as well. He cast about the area and found something that would work. A forgotten broom. He grabbed it and slammed the end on the counter. The plastic bristles snapped off the metal rod.
    The door shuddered. The left side was nearly torn free from the wall. Arms reached around the door, waving and grabbing at air.
    Only seconds before they got through.
    He ripped the thin cotton shirt into strips and quickly tied each strip in knots around the end of the metal pole. That complete, he dumped half the bottle of rubbing alcohol on the lumpy ball of fabric. He tucked the bottle inside his belt.
    SMASH.
    The door shuddered again and the frame came free from the surrounding wall. It tumbled forward and slammed to the ground. Three of the animals fought to be first to get through the opening. A roar of excitement rippled through the others. They sensed the opportunity. That a shift had occurred in the chase, one that would soon bring victory. The attackers stumbled in, tripping over the fallen door and each other. More filled in behind them.
    Theresa screamed.
    Mason tugged at the lighter wedged sideways in his pants. He yanked again and the length caught on the lip of the pocket.
    The lead assailant lunged for him. He powered a front kick through the man’s stomach and sent him sprawling backwards. Several more parted around and then over their fallen brother.  
    He rotated the lighter and got it free. With a flick of the thumb, metal struck flint and a spark ignited the alcohol-soaked ball of cloth on the end of the broom handle. The ball flared to life with a rush of heat and light. The effect was miraculous.
    Mason shoved his makeshift torch into the face of the nearest attacker. The sizzle and stink of burning flesh filled the air. The man dropped like a stone holding his face in his hands. The rest broke for the door in a panic.
    “Theresa! Holster your weapon!”
    In a daze, she managed to do so.
    He spun her around and stretched out an arm on each side of her. He put the torch in his left hand and drew her Glock with his right.  
    “We’re going to walk out of here.”
    He tried to move forward and she shoved her back into his chest.
    “We can’t go out there! They’ll kill us!”
    “They’re afraid of the fire. This is our best chance.”
    “I can’t, Daddy! I can’t!” The hysteria in her voice made him want to hurt them. Kill them. All of them.
    “We have to go. Now. I don’t know how long this thing is gonna last.”
    Mason started forward again and this time Theresa hesitantly went along. He waved the torch in a wide arc. The creatures climbed over each other scrambling away. They melted away as Mason guided Theresa towards the storeroom and the exit beyond.
    He pivoted right and left covering the full arc of the circle with the lone point of crackling light. The fire proved an effective deterrent. However, each time the flame drove them away on one side the animals on the opposite side edged closer.
    They made it into the storeroom and found more of the creatures. Mason thrust the torch forward to wedge open a path towards the back door.
    The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He whirled around and slammed the ball of flame into the face of a woman reaching for Theresa. The fire smashed into her cheek and some alcohol must've splashed off because the side of her cheek bubbled into a small sheet of flame. The others behind her immediately fell back, crouching and covering themselves.
    Mason swung through the entire arc and reestablished their circumference of safety.
    He thrust the torch toward the open door. A few creatures still ahead of them stumbled out into the night air. Now free of the cramped interior of the store, they fled together down the alley. Mason turned to face the