Badlands Trilogy (Book 3): Out of the Badlands by Brian J. Jarrett Page B

only a foot or so before the deck ran out and the long drop to the pack of monstrosities below him began.
    The guard took another step.
    Jeremy scurried away on his hands and knees, moving to the side, dragging the chain with him.
    “Hey!” the guard cried out. “Stop that. You’ll only make things harder on yourself.” He lunged toward Jeremy, but Jeremy kept crawling, circling around behind the man, the chain trailing behind like a tail. Splinters plunged into his knees, but Jeremy barely felt the pain.
    “You little twerp,” the guard growled, his holy tone dissipating. “Get back here!”
    Jeremy crawled faster around the guard, feeling the chain pull heavily on his ankle. He made a circle around the man, but ran out of room as the edge of the platform approached quickly. With nowhere else left to go, he scurried back toward the platform’s outer edge, where the makeshift plank had been attached to the graying deck wood. Below them, the pale beasts snarled and whined, clambering to get their next easy meal.
    The guard glared at Jeremy. “I don’t care if you walk the board or not. I just need the chain back before you take the plunge.” He raised the pistol. “Enoch won’t know the difference.”
    Jeremy glanced at the chain, lying on the platform floor, behind the guard’s feet. Seeing his opportunity, he gripped the chain and pulled as hard as he could. It moved with surprising speed, wrapping around the guard’s heels and sweeping his feet out from beneath him. The guard landed hard on his back as the pistol stuck the deck and clattered toward the edge. The carriers below screeched louder in anticipation.
    Jeremy eyed the pistol just as the man rose to his elbows.
    “You little shit,” the man growled, all traces of his pious demeanor now gone. “I’m gonna fuck you up.”
    Jeremy sprang forward, toward the pistol lying only a few yards away. The guard leapt to his feet at the same time.
    Ignoring his bleeding knees, Jeremy pulled against the heavy chain. He closed in on the gun, eating up the distance between quickly. With only a couple of feet to go, he leapt, reaching for the pistol. He landed hard on the rough surface of the platform, his fingers on the barrel. He gripped the gun, preparing to pick it up
    Pain raced through his fingers as the guard’s shoe smashed Jeremy’s hand, pinning it and the gun to the flooring. Jeremy uttered a short cry as the guard twisted his shoe sole on Jeremy’s hand. He felt something pop in one of his knuckles as the guard drove his foot down harder.
    Jeremy screamed. The guard emitted a quick, maniacal laugh, his eyes wide and his teeth bared. Seeing exposed leg beneath the robe, Jeremy lunged toward the man’s calf, sinking his teeth in and biting as hard as he could. The guard screamed as Jeremy felt warm blood fill his mouth and trickle down his chin.
    The bite forced the guard to lift his foot slightly, just enough for Jeremy to pull the pistol free. He fumbled with the hand gun, his injured finger no longer responding. He switched hands quickly, lifting the gun.
    A hard blow landed on Jeremy’s temple, knocking him to the floor. Blackness swarmed as pinpricks of light sparkled in his field of vision.
    “How’s that feel, you little prick?” the guard growled, shaking off the blow to his fist.
    Dizzy, Jeremy rolled onto his back, breathing hard and trying to find his balance again. The guard took a step forward. Lifting his foot, he prepared to stomp Jeremy’s face. Through the spottiness, Jeremy moved his head to the side, just as the guard’s foot came crashing down. It struck the wooden deck’s surface, plunging through the flimsy, rotting construction, the splintery planks biting into his already bleeding leg. He emitted a scream, sending the crowd below into another frenzy.
    “You little bastard!” the guard howled. He looked down at the bleeding mess of his leg. “You’re gonna fucking pay for this!” He took a deep breath and yanked his