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    Underdogs: The Infestation | Book 2
    Underdogs: The Infestation | Book 2
    Underdogs: The Infestation | Book 2
    Ebook124 pages1 hour

    Underdogs: The Infestation | Book 2

    By K. Weikel

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    About this ebook

    Alice is in a coma, Malcolm is missing... and Ian is trying to keep his cool under the pressure of finals. Can’t he just catch a break? Doesn’t seem like it, after getting bitten by the bug species taking over the school, and... hearing one of the bugs talk? Is this it? Has he cracked? Or is there something more sinister happening here?

    Eh, it’s probably just a bunch of weird bugs, right?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherK. Weikel Publishing
    Release dateMay 29, 2023
    ISBN9781005513153
    Underdogs: The Infestation | Book 2
    Author

    K. Weikel

    K. Weikel uses her three-dimensional characters to tell stories of life and adventure and magic."The One-Hundred" won the Wattys Award in 2015 and has reached over two million reads. Weikel has also won the 2017 Writers Awards for Building Monsters. She has written 60 books, including her first manga, "Katharsis". To learn more, visit her website: http://www.kweikel.comSERIES:Underdogs (4)Replay (13)Katharsis (1)The One-Hundred (6 Books, 1 Short Story, 1 Novella)The Haunted Mansion (4)The Blood Room [3 Alternate Endings]TRILOGIES:Dead MenMaskless TrilogyTrapped TrilogyCOMING SOON (1)DUOLOGIES:The Unnamed DuologyStop; GoSTAND-ALONES:WaterloggedThrough the Dimension of NightmaresWhen the Sky EatsCreatures of the BelowNord and the BordSamenessBuilding MonstersDollhouseThe Vampire's CarnivalKrystal's WorldLabyrinthFiguresMatchCagedList X

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      Book preview

      Underdogs - K. Weikel

      Underdogs:

      The Infestation

      Book 2

      K. Weikel

      Underdogs: The Infestation | Book 2

      K. Weikel

      Independently Published

      Copyright © 2023 by K. Weikel

      This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people, if you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the website and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      For my friends and my family.

      And for those who would do anything for a friend in need.

      Special thanks to:

      Abel Kent, Nathaniel Luscombe, poetry.rae, Anna Ford, John Oliver, Jadeisreading, Reina, SJ Blasko, Umbra Nigra, and so, so much more amazing people who have helped and supported me on my writing journey.

      "In the path of righteousness is life,

      and in its pathway there is no death."

      -Proverbs 12:28 ESV

      Other Books by K. Weikel

      Underdogs

      The Dream

      The Infestation

      Replay

      Amnesia

      Reboot

      Tiptoe

      Crimson

      Glitch

      Lifeline

      Ghost

      White

      Black

      Green

      Red

      Crystal

      Peridot

      The One-Hundred

      The One-Hundred

      Untouched Water

      Tamir

      Damian’s Deeds

      The One

      The Deal

      Human

      Dead Men

      When Dead Men Bleed

      The Haunted Mansion

      The Haunted Mansion

      The Haunted Band Room

      Revenge

      The Blood Room

      Alternate Ending 1

      Alternate Ending 2

      Alternate Ending 3

      The Maskless Trilogy

      Hiding behind a Mask

      Hiding behind a Name

      Hiding behind a Face

      The Trapped Trilogy

      Trapped

      Wiped

      Grounded

      The Unnamed Duology

      The Unnamed

      The Elite

      Stop; Go

      Stop

      STAND-ALONES

      Through the Dimension of Nightmares

      When the Sky Eats

      Creatures of the Below

      Nord and the Bord

      Sameness

      Building Monsters

      Dollhouse

      The Vampire's Carnival

      Krystal's World

      Labyrinth

      Figures

      Match

      Caged

      List X

      Anthologies

      Among Other Worlds by Nathaniel Luscombe

      Chapter 1

      A mile or so deep underground, my best friend and a son of the enemy are searching for a mythical gem that grants extraordinary powers. And here I stand on aching feet, illuminated by the pale light of the moon as it filters through the trees, watching the minutes pass as curfew approaches. They’ve been down there for almost an hour, and I hold fast to the hope that everything’s alright.

      But as soon as the sounds of heavy boots and shouts echo through the air, I know things are far from okay.

      Glancing over my shoulder, I notice the stairway is still open. When Alice and Malcom found the swords in this hidden shed, the center of the courtyard opened. I assume they need to be returned to make it close.

      Which is a problem.

      I descend a few steps, venturing slightly into the blackness below. I swear something moves on the ground. Hope it’s them.

      Guys, if you can hear me, there are soldiers coming!

      A dark blur rushes by, and I realize it’s the girl Alice had pinned down after theater club, thinking it was Malcom.

      Hey! I shout.

      She stops and shoots me a polar, pointed glare as she throws her long red braid over her shoulder. Malcom said she wasn’t tracking him, but who am I to take his word at face value?

      Vema troops are on their way here, trash, she chides carelessly over her shoulder. If I were you, I’d hide.

      Without another moment's hesitation, she plunges into the unknown. I can’t follow her, my fear, my worry says. What if I go down there and she’s…?

      The Imbra chick screams.

      Gritting my teeth, I shake my head and dart away, ducking behind the shed for cover. The Lead Security Officer for our school, Sargent Andrews, who also interrogated Alice and me when she’d snuck out, leads the charge. But what is he doing here? If we had set off an alarm, I would have expected them to show up shortly after Alice and Malcom left, not an hour later. I was worried I’d have to talk my way out of all of this, but something’s wrong. I can feel it.

      Be wary men, there are monsters down there, he says.

      My ears perk up as I press harder against the wall, my heart in my throat. Monsters?

      It would make sense why that chick screamed, then. And it’s a good thing I didn’t plunge in after them without weapons. But…

      What about Alice?

      Her signal’s coming from that direction, Andrews tells his team as more come up behind them.

      Suddenly, it clicks. Andrews gave her a homing device. If she pushed it, how in the world could they have guessed she was underground? Is that why they’re an hour late? Were they wandering around aimlessly before thinking that maybe she’s below their feet?

      Andrews ushers his men into the darkness. I check the time. Half an hour until curfew. My instincts scream for me to run and save my hide, but I need to know what happened. I have to know if she’s alive and breathing. I would never forgive myself if I just up and left.

      I may be stupid, but I’m no coward.

      The sudden smattering of gunshots and phaserblasts send a shock of electricity through my veins. I return to the hole, the shadows as impenetrable as ever, but the explosions of light from the weapons cast them out for sharp fractions of seconds. I can't make out what they're shooting at, but my brain manifests visions of the most vile creatures as bloodcurdling screeches and hisses escape from below.

      The hero complex in me wants to leap into the fray and be the first to find Alice, rescuing her from whatever terrors she’s been subjected to. But I’m unarmed and at the bottom of my class.

      And what bothers me the most is she is too.

      At the brink of curfew, I pace in front of the hole, chewing on my nails. It’s a nasty habit, one I swore I kicked a while back, but all this waiting is frying my nerves. I can’t believe I stayed up here and did nothing, but what could I have done? I would have gotten myself killed if I plunged in without a second thought.

      Shouts and squeals reach my ears, confirming they’ve returned.

      Hopefully, with Alice in one piece.

      Move quickly, men, Andrews instructs as he comes to the surface. We don’t know how long she’s been like that.

      Blood becomes like slush in my veins as his words reach my ears. Is he talking about Alice?

      Andrews waves his team through, barking orders non-stop. A burly man appears, carrying Alice in his arms, and the biggest swell of elation mixed with anxiety filters into my bones. Normally, well, before she became an insomniac, she was full of life and had the warmest smile. She made you feel welcome, and was always laughing, like she was the embodiment of joy. Tallish, dirty blonde hair, and dark, almost gray-blue eyes. Pretty. Now, she looks gray and lifeless, her hand falling limply toward the ground.

      Get her in the nearest hovervan and take her to Headquarters, stat, so the doc can check her out.

      I can’t help myself as I rush forward, Andrews’ gaze ablaze with fury as they land on me. Is she okay?

      I should have known you wouldn’t be far behind her. You two are the most troublesome duo I’ve ever come across, he snaps, walking away from me. She’s alive, if that’s what you’re asking.

      I catch a glimpse of her up ahead, something on her face and arms sparkling in the moonlight, like her skin is made of glitter. Then I’m going with her.

      You most certainly are not. Andrews’ body language grows more annoyed the closer I get.

      She’s my best friend. I’m not leaving her side, I retort as we fall into line with the big man holding her. Crystalline structures protrude from her jaw and along her arms, looking like a rash of gems. Speckles of red cover her as well, reminding me of ant bites. What’s wrong with her?

      Look, son, Andrews says, stopping in his tracks. I nearly crash into him. She went down there and touched something she shouldn’t have. We will keep her in intensive care until we know what exactly happened and how to help her.

      "What was it?

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