If you have never heard screams cut off abruptly then consider yourself lucky.
Alex hadn’t realized how many people were at the beach tonight until the running and terror started. A woman ran towards her and tried clutching onto her plaid loose shirt but was snatched up and away by a long tentacle. She didn’t dare stop even though the sand made it nearly impossible to run very fast.
A drop of blood found its way to Alex’s cheek. She took a quick glance up to another appendage hovering over her. The stench of sulfur permeated every ounce of air she tried to breathe. It lunged for her, but she quickly dove to the left.
Crawling on hands and knees, Alex struggled to get out of reach, whatever that reach was. Just as the black and slimy limb tried for her again, a man tripped over Alex and right into the path of death.
He didn’t scream. He fought. A knife in his hands, he stabbed repeatedly until being dropped back to the waiting sand. The man stood and extended a hand to Alex. “Come on.”
She gladly took his offered help. They both ran and ran. More people were snatched up and killed. Reaching pavement never felt so good. They didn’t stop, however. Both kept running.
