[color=6ecff6]Chapter 9[/color]

Writer’s note. There’ll be something interesting next chapter.. I can’t wait to write it out.

Cordova 7:23 PM. Barn Restaurant and Inn. 

Old Man Burris, or Nathan to his friends had gathered what townsfolk he could, those fortunate enough not to have been killed. A man named Redding had tried to make a run for the gun shop on the other side of the village past the shacks and markets on Ingress street and Chase Avenue, but the Bald Giant Hornets had already honed in on him, impaling him with their propelled stingers. Steve watched through a telescope and grimly relayed what had happened. 

“Damn it Redding. I told you to stay with the group.” Nathan spoke with a clinched fist.

“Grandfather, calm down please. You don’t want your heart to give out.”

“Constance, my dear. It’ll take more than this for me to keel over.” Nathan turned to another resident Kevin Wyatt. “My friend how much food and ammo do we have?”

Kevin shook his head dishearteningly.”Not enough Nathan. We’ve plenty of ammunition, but for Thirty people we’ll run out of food before the week. Unless we can get to the shack out back we simply won’t have enough.”

“Damn the Harding brothers! Fools the lot of them. They brought this upon us.”  Nathan yelled out as he gripped his chest. 

“Come now Nathan, you should listen to Constance, can’t go having you kick the bucket yet. The Hardings are dead, the first to die after the Hornets swarmed the place. Don’t know how the hell they got their hands on the Queen, but the rest took care of them.”

“Your. Right. Let’s get the doors barred off before these insects try to barge their way in. Someone grab the nail gun in the hall closet, and break a few tables for wood. Gonna need to keep them at bay long as we can till the Rangers arrive. If they ever arrive. I don’t know if they heard our signal, we lost the tower before we heard back from them.”

“Let’s get a move on people, they be coming any minute…” As Nathan stood by the door alongside a few other townsfolk, shots rang out. Automatic fire, a grenade even. “Hold on, who's out there, give me the telescope!” Nathan took the telescope from Kevin's hand and peered through the lens over by the gun shop armed men in unusual military style fatigues, and Riot Gear fought back the encroaching swarm.

“Buck!! Do you have any more grenades, I’m all out!”

“Just one Samuels! And it looks like I’m going to be using it, SHRAPNEL INCOMING!” The grenade’s explosive power shredded a box full of glass bottles, sending shards in all directions.

“Get down Beckard!” Duran yelled as she tackled him to the ground. 

“Just what are these things, this swarm is massive! Running low on ammo, these things move far too quickly. Can’t get a bead on any of them.” Veilmont said as he chambered a few 45.70 rounds into his gun. 

As Nathan watched them face off against a full hive of Hornets, he knew they wouldn’t last. “Constance.. Bring me the loudspeaker.”

“Grandfather. But.” Constance was cut off by her Grandfather's stern face. “Yes Grandfather.”

Nathan took the loudspeaker in hand and flipped the on switch, as he opened the door. “REACH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VILLAGE!! HURRY!” He set down the loudspeaker and the other men at the door understood what needed to be done. They and Nathan picked up flamers and sprayed a burning trail of fire through the air keeping the Hornets away from the entrance. 

Veilmont looked across the village lot which had numerous houses to see men setting fire to the gigantic black and partly yellow insects. If they were going to make a decision it had to be now. “DO AS THEY SAID! We make a mad dash while we can!” The other Troopers were quick to agree, as they ran wildly across the land. Wilbert was stung and lifted into the air by one of the bugs, as Buck yelled out.”WILBERT! They got Wilbert, damn it all!” Wilbert wasn’t the only one Orville O’Harris took a stinger in his leg after a Hornet shot it from its abdomen. Samuels ran over and threw him over his shoulders all while the other troopers covered them best they could. They felt the immense heat coming from the streams of fire as they ducked into the building. Nathan and the others right behind them.