killing as many man eaters as they could. But ammunition and fuel soon started running low. There was no communication from the Government. The unit suspended all raids and focused on surviving by keeping the base safe.

Then the first men started becoming sick inside the base. No one knew how. It was believed that during the unit's regular sorties around the base, one of the soldiers had been bit and didn't tell anyone in fear of being jailed or killed.

The infection spread like wildfire inside the base. There was fierce fighting between the soldiers and the man eaters. Most of the soldiers, scientists and support staff at the nuclear base were either killed or turned into man eaters. A dozen Spetsnaz commandos packed provisions and managed to escapeThe blades of the bright green spring grass barely reached a few inches from the ground. Katya was glad that there were no trees or boulders on their path to potentially conceal a man eater.

They had approached to within a stone's throw of the first buildings of the town. There was an old picket fence that surrounded the settlement. A wide mud road led into the town. Katya knew that the slushy road was the perfect ground to check for tracks. He suddenly realized that he should have got Blood with him. He had been too distracted by the kiss.

But Katya's heart was soaring. Does this mean she likes me? He wanted to kiss her again, and again. He looked at Kiara walking purposefully beside him. She was