Snippet #2353773

Delaney felt tiny, childlike, as the big man dragged her towards the steel gates, her guitar bumping off her hip and breast. He had her heavy pack over one shoulder and was almost lifting her with his other arm. She risked a look backwards; more of the ill-looking creatures had emerged from various places, and the backstage arena was a rout of panic, some people bravely fighting the onslaught, but more and more people turning and running. 'They're still coming, Barney,' she croaked. The befuddled folk singer had belatedly followed Barney out of the tent, and now stepped in the path of a fleeing security guard. Knocked to the ground, he was quickly set upon by one of the creatures, and Delaney averted her eyes, only to see blood spatter across the ground as a security guard by the gate had his throat ripped open.

They burst through the gates. Already, it appeared, several people had driven off at speed. An entire row of cars bore scrape damage and appeared to have been shunted to one side; near the entrance, an Escalade had rammed into a people carrier and two men were arguing heatedly. A queue was already forming behind them, their horns blaring. 'Where did you park,' Barney asked as they surveyed the chaos. 'Marty parked it up for us,' Delaney replied. 'Didn't he give you the keys before he went off on his mercy mission?'

Confusion crossed Barney's face. 'No, I didn't even see him.' Delaney gaped back at Barney, then glanced over her shoulder. Slowly but surely, the crazed creatures were shambling closer. 'It was a Chevy Express or something, big white thing,' she said hurriedly. 'Come on, that might be it over there.' She started across the lot, then flung herself to the ground as a red jeep roared past. The body of her guitar bounced up and caught her under the ribs, knocking the breath from her lungs. Her eyes watered and her face reddened as she tried to suck in air; all she achieved was a rattling wheeze. She pushed herself into a sitting position and clawed at her throat. 'Uhhk,' she rasped. Black spots appeared on her vision; her tongue felt like it had swollen to fill her mouth. Her lips smacked together uselessly. She saw a figure loom above her as her sight faded around the edges. 'Barney,' she managed to whisper.