The Genesis Plague (2010)

coming out from the first container, Shuster right behind him. When Ramirez didn’t see Holt, he got nervous and began hunting the darkness with his light. ‘Holt! Where’d you go?’
    ‘Over here,’ Holt called out quietly, reluctant to draw attention to himself so close to the tunnel.
    Ramirez shined his light directly into Holt’s eyes. ‘What are you doing?’
    ‘Hey! You’re blinding me!’ Holt said in a loud whisper.
    The light diverted away.
    ‘Sorry.’
    ‘I hear something over here,’ Holt said, rubbing his eyes. ‘I’m gonna check it out.’ He blinked a few times, but Ramirez’s light had spotted his vision.
    ‘Go ahead … I’ll be right over,’ Ramirez said, peering into the other containers as he drew closer. He waved agitatedly for Holt to move on.
    Reluctant, Holt levelled his rifle and advanced towards the opening. Once inside, he hesitated and shone the light into the tunnel. The passage looked similar to the one that had brought them into the cave - a wide conduit cutting through rock with a quarter of a metre to spare overhead. The ground pitched steadily downwards into a sharp bend that curved out of sight about ten metres from where he was standing. Whatever was causing the disturbance was definitely in there.
    ‘Damn.’ Despite the subterranean chill, he had to wipe sweat from his forehead. Wait for Ramirez. Not safe. Wait for Ramirez … his mind kept repeating.
    Ramirez’s shrill voice called out, ‘Keep going, you pussy … I’ll be right there!’
    Holt groaned in frustration. Overriding his inner alarm, he pressed onward.
    This isn’t smart. You’re being stupid. Turn around … he thought.
    The ground was tricky underfoot with lots of jagged edges that pushed upward like petrified fingers. Holt tried his best to dismiss any notion that they would suddenly come to life and grab at his boots.
    There are no such things as demons, he began repeating over and over again in his mind. That Kurd is whacko.There are no such things as demons …
    As the light rose and fell over the rough walls, Holt’s eyes began playing tricks with him, thanks to Ramirez shining the light right in his eyes. Circles of floating colours drifted like phantasms over his field of vision. He flicked his eyelids rapidly, hoping to make them go away. They didn’t.
    As he followed the bend, he raised his M-16 higher on his shoulder, stared down the muzzle. Whatever was making the noises, he was certain of one thing: there were no friendly targets in this godforsaken underworld. So if anything moved - anything at all - he would shoot first, ask questions later.
    The sounds intensified, throwing his senses into high gear.
    Definitely didn’t sound like a machine. Or terrorist, either.
    Ssssst.
    Chssst.
    Fffffsss.
    Ssssssssssst.
    He paused to crank his courage up a notch. Instead, his anxiety ballooned. The walls seemed to constrict around him as if he’d been swallowed by a gargantuan snake. His chest started heaving. He fought to catch his breath. He lowered his weapon and used his sleeve to blot more sweat from his spotty eyes.
    Something tapped his shoulder from behind and he let out a bloodcurdling scream. In the same instant, he whirled fiercely and tweaked his ankle. When he tried to bring the rifle up for a shot, the muzzle hit the wall hard enough to shatter the element in his light.
    ‘Whoa! Relax!’ Ramirez yelled out, holding out his hand. ‘Calm the fuck down. You scream like a girl. I’m not the Boogeyman.’
    ‘What the fuck!’ Holt screamed. ‘Why are you sneaking up on me like that!’
    ‘Sorry,’ Ramirez said. ‘Sorry. Geez, you sound like my niece when I take her on a roller coaster. Take the skirt off, Sally.’
    Holt took a few seconds to compose himself.
    Ramirez couldn’t help but laugh.
    Holt laughed too, and it felt good. ‘Scared the crap outta me, you—’
    The droning from deep within the tunnel suddenly whipped up like a raging tempest.
    Ramirez’s smile went flat. He took a step back and brought his rifle up high. ‘What the …’
    Before Holt could turn to see what was emerging from the shadows, he saw Ramirez’s eyes go wide with terror. ‘Holy shit! Get out of the way!’
    Fully panicked, Holt refused to look back. He scrambled towards Ramirez, clumsily barrelling into him when he tried to squeeze past. Both men went down.
    ‘What the fuck!’ Ramirez shouted, scrambling to his knees and reaching for his M-16.
    Holt’s frantic hands swept the