Increments

By John Pirillo

As the Hollow Earth Special Forces forges their way closer to the mysterious source of power that destroyed major cities and civilizations on the surface above, they discover a secret that will devastate everything they had learned and believed. Journey with the brave men and women as they struggle to survive in an underground world where death can strike at any moment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Pirillo
• Release date: Mar 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310816888

John Pirillo

The author was born in Washington, Pennsylvannia. He loves animals and birds. Has two pet cockatiels that keep him company while he writes. He has a lovely daughter and a rascally grandson. He is rich in friends that matter and well adjusted to a life of challenges. He writes and draws every day. He loves anything science fiction, fantasy or extremely well written. Same goes for movies and TV. Not married currently, but has an eye and ear open to possibilities. :)

Book preview

Increments

A Journey to the Center of the Earth Tale

John Pirillo

Copyright 2016

Log One

From the pits of hell it had risen, like a demon of vengeance sent by Hades to discourage any trespassers of his realms. It had broken the stone floor like it was a soft garment worn by a proud lady, shattered the ceiling of the gigantic cavern with just a glance of its head, sending deadly pepper sprays of rock like missiles that blasted and killed many of the soldiers as they fled the behemoth behind them.

But it was not good, not all were going to make it.

A soldier, young and able to lead one day, sacrificed himself by strapping a half empty keg of gunpowder to his back ,lighting a fuse into it, and embracing the behemoth as a way of slowing it down, if not killing it.

His sacrifice hadn't even slowed it down an inch. The beast just swatted the remains of the blasted soldier like so many gnats, spraying the fleeing squadron with pieces of human flesh and offal.

But the worst wasn't over yet.

They managed to flee into a central passage so low that the beast could not follow, but as they flung themselves in their madness of fear, they were met by gigantic insects that descended on strong webs of moss like thread and swept unlucky men up into their scaly arms, before shooting upwards with their victims to disappear in stone holes that were no longer visible.

He stopped for a moment to scan the ceiling ahead, trying to spot the dangerous spots that lay overhead, but it was useless to tarry.

Death would find them, no matter what.

Aiiii! Screamed a soldier as the ground ahead of him erupted and a pair of scaly, arms grabbed him by his booted feet and dragged him under the stony surface.

Soldiers whipped around to help their companion, but they were too late. They only saw his arms, gesturing uselessly for help, as they vanished into the ground, then the shaking stones and dirt settled as if nothing had ever been there.

The wall to their left erupted and another pair of scaly arms reached out, grabbing a soldier too close to it.

He was tugged into the wall, blood and guts spattering the floor as his body was smashed into pieces.

They know! Jules cried out to his friend, a stocky young man of similar age as himself, and built with strong muscles and stamina, but not so much as to deal with what was happening next.

Two more soldiers screamed as the overhead passage broke open and scaly arms reached down and yanked them upwards.

Run! Jules ordered.

Everyone ran along the narrow rock passage, the terror behind them growing more and thicker, as they plunged into a massive chamber where the roof was invisible to their eyes and their feeble torches could show nothing.

They didn't even pause. They burst out of the passage like frightened mice from a hole infested with cats and scurried as fast as their fear and legs would allow them. So many had died. So many more might yet if they didn't make it out in time.

Run!

He ran like he never had before, his long legs pumping up and down like the pistons of a machine, carrying him forward, up and over the collapsed rock before him. Behind him ran the rest of his team, as urgent to escape as he was, but not sure if they would. So many had died already. None by means they would have preferred.

A soldier prefers to die in battle, with men, not creatures from another time and place.

Run! He yelled once more, the wound in his right side beginning to flare up as he did so himself.

He stopped once to give a hand to his friend, stout and muscular, built like a small warship, his face thick with curly hair and a face only a mother could love. Or a friend.

For God's sake! His friend cried out. I'm dying here!

As will we all, if we don't put some distance between us and ...

He and his friend froze mid-step as the roar of something awful shattered the dark night about them, broken only by the sputtering torches held in a few hands, and the harsh, ragged breathing of men who were pushing their limits.

Once more the roar filled the frigid air about them, warning them it was coming. Death was on its way and it was relentless and certain.

This way, Jules! His friend cried out suddenly, and steered him towards an opening to the right where several of their team stood frozen.

This way! He hollered to the others.

They looked in his direction and ran. His friend and he put all their strength into their dash for freedom, knowing that an unyielding demon from the depths was hard on their heels and only moments away from reaching them and severing their good will from their lives.

But too late it arrived, something so large that its size could not even be measured. Its feet were like massive columns of rock, gray and scaly, with clawed toes the size of small cannon, dull and massively scarred, broken in spots, jagged and sharp, dangerous and final. The unlucky soldier nearest the foot screamed in terror as something massive lunged from high overhead and engulfed him in a single gulp, then swept to the right and engulfed a second soldier seeking to make the gap that Jules' friend had just entered.

Jules looked back. He pulled his weapon to fire.

It's useless for him. His friend admonished him.

The other soldiers reached the safety of their retreat as the second soldier struck at the massive demon seeking him, but uselessly, his blade snapping in two, and he also swept into a mouth so massive that it could have swollen a small building.

Run! Jules cried out again.

His men and friend followed him as he ran up the passage that had been found. It