The sound of the gunfire was impossibly loud in what had been a momentary calm. Jonas had to admit Shaniah knew how to fight. She shot two of the creatures dead center in the heart and they descended with agonizing screams into piles of ash. The third one was going to be trouble.
It landed on the wooden sidewalk in front of Hollister and reached for him. The knife was one of Monkey Pete’s inventions… a bowie that had silver inlaid in a groove along the blade. It had also been dipped in holy water before he left the train.
As the Archaic advanced, he slashed it across the arm and it howled in pain and drew back. Jonas lunged forward, driving the blade into the creature’s chest and twisted it through, leaving the creature in a pile of ash.
The sound of growls and footsteps could be heard coming from inside the saloon.
“Come on,” Shaniah said, stuffing one of the guns in her belt. Grabbing him by the arm, she spun him past her so she was between him and the doorway.
Five more Archaics burst through the door. She fired the pistol loaded with silver bullets and hit three of them, sending them spinning to the ground stunned and nearly unconscious.
One jumped at her and she somehow pulled a knife from her boot, pushing it into the chest of the creature. It died instantly. The fifth one stood there, eyes red, fangs snapping, studying the two of them. Shaniah raised the pistol, but before she could shoot, the creature darted back inside the darkened saloon.
Shaniah handed Hollister the pistols and he wasted no time reloading. She took the knife from the dead creature and used it to dispatch the other three, who had yet to recover from their wounds.
“Are they dead?” he asked.
“Yes. This blade is special. The reason why would take too long to explain. Right now it is enough to know it will kill either Archaic or human.”
“What do we do now-”
He was interrupted by a strange howl, loud and long, sounding like it came from inside the saloon.
“The one who escaped is calling the others,” she said, the worry evident in her voice.
“How many are there?” he asked.
“How many people were there in this town?” she replied.
He shrugged. “Not sure.”
“Most were killed,” she said. “Fed upon. But many were turned. Part of Malachi’s plan. There could be dozens of them.”
“Great,” he said.
She tensed suddenly, her head up as if she were straining to hear something.
“What is it?” he asked.
“They’re coming, Major.”
“What do you suggest we do?”
“Run!” she said.