The Hunger (Book 4): Ruined

by Brant, Jason

  “You aren’t killers,” Fabio-Light said. “I can see that in your eyes.”

  “Then you’re blind as a bat, pretty boy.” Lance pointed at Eifort. “Your people are holding her husband and baby hostage. You don’t want to know what she’s willing to do to get them back. Hell, you don’t want to know what she’s already done.”

  Eifort didn’t say a word, just glared at the men before her.

  Lance hoped he wasn’t going too heavy on the badass-mom schtick. He’d never really had to intimidate someone before, and didn’t think he was doing a particularly bang-up job of it now. Eifort though, nailed her part. The looks she gave all three would have had Lance pissing himself.

  The driver squirmed under her penetrating gaze. “I’ll tell you how to get to the front gate, but I won’t help you do anything that will hurt my people. Valerie would kill us even if you didn’t.”

  “Now we’re getting somewhere.” Lance bobbed his chin toward the truck. “Greg, see if you can find some rope or something to tie these handsome gentlemen up with.”

  33

  Cass felt as if she were on the verge of a panic attack. Nerves had her fingers dancing and her hairline sweating. She had to get out of her damned cell before Lance found her. Too much time had already passed while she paced around the small jail. The angle of the sunlight coming in through the windows had changed quite a bit, but she wasn’t sure how long she’d been locked up.

  An hour?

  Two?

  “My parents wanted a boy when they had me. Wanted to name him Charles. I have no idea why they were convinced I would be a boy, or why they didn’t have a test done to find out my gender, but they sure were surprised when I popped out. So, they named me Charlie. Lucky me.” The girl two cells over had barely stopped talking since Bill had locked Cass up. “You can probably guess how middle school went for me.”

  “I think Charlie is a great name.” Cass sat on her cot and stared at front door of the cabin.

  “For a boy.” Charlie leaned against the bars of her cell, facing Cass. “But for a twelve-year-old girl?”

  Cass didn’t respond.

  She wondered where Lance was now.

  What he was doing.

  She prayed to whoever was listening that Emmett had been allowed to go back to their camper with the boys. It wouldn’t have surprised her if the psycho bitch Valerie had him locked up next to her soon. Emmett would raise a stink before too long if Cass didn’t return. For their kids’ sakes, she hoped he would stay quiet. At least one of them needed to be there for the boys.

  Being away from Lincoln again had fried her nerves.

  The girl continued to blather on, but Cass barely heard her. It was obvious Charlie longed for human interaction, but Cass could barely keep herself from freaking out, let alone carry on much of a conversation.

  “I wish I’d told him how I felt before they grabbed me and brought me here.” Huffing, Charlie plopped onto her cot. “He probably thinks I ran away because he’d kissed me the night before.”

  “What?” Cass asked, though she didn’t particularly care. “Who?”

  “My friend —”

  The door to the cabin swung open.

  Bill stepped inside, red faced and breathing heavily.

  A paper bag dangled from one of his hands.

  Without saying a word, he closed the door behind him, then glanced out the nearest window. After appearing satisfied over what he saw, or didn’t see, he hurried across the room and reached into his bag.

  He tossed each a bottle of water and a candy bar.

  “I don’t have much time.” Bill stood in front of Cass’ cell. “They’re expecting me for a gate check in five minutes.”

  Cass waited, unsure of what to say.

  Bill held her gaze, staying quiet for a moment, then said, “It ain’t right. No one should have their family split up like this. And the way they brought you in here…”

  He let his sentence hang in the air for several seconds.

  “Help me,” Cass said. “Help me get my people out of here.”

  “If I do that, it’s all over for me.”

  “Not if you come with us. Once we find my husband, we’ll head somewhere safe.”

  “Where?” Bill shook his head. “No place is as safe as this one.”

  “The Light is,” Charlie said. “You know that.”

  “They wouldn’t let me in there. Not with me being from here.”

  “If you help me get out of here, they will.” Charlie perked up, seeing the remote chance she might finally escape. “Emily will let you in if I tell her what you did for me. And our place is way nicer than this one.”

  Cass stood up, approached the bars. “I don’t know anything about The Light or Emily Whoever, but I can tell you one thing—if you let us rot in here, you’ll have to live with it the rest of your life.”

  Bill chewed on the inside of his cheek. “Even if I could get you out of here, how would we find your husband? It’s not like you can call him up on his cell.”

  “He’ll find us. I guarantee it.” Cass tried not to get overly excited, not wanting to ruin her opportunity. “He’s probably nearby already, trying to find a way to sneak inside. Nothing will stop him from getting to us.”

  She knew that sounded corny.

  It was corny.

  But that didn’t make it untrue.

  He would storm the gates of hell to get them out. Cass was bullheaded and stubborn, but so was Lance. The fact he’d already figured out where they were and had visited another camp—and pissed off some King guy—proved how resourceful he was. Who else could have come so far, so fast?

  “Valerie doubled the guards around the fence. Added a few more along the reservoir. She expects him to walk up to the front gate to try to talk with her. You don’t think he’s that stupid, do you?”

  “No way.”

  Bill checked the window again. “I need to get to the fence before they wonder where I am.”

  “Wait.” Cass pressed her face to the bars. “You—”

  Bill held up a hand, cutting her off. “Valerie doesn’t know yet, but three of our men who went out for supplies haven’t reported in yet.”

  Cass’ eyes widened. “That has to be him!”

  “I think so.” Bill moved to the door, put his hand on the knob. “Which means he has a vehicle now. I might have a plan, but it won’t work if Valerie finds out he’s almost here. You’re sure he won’t just stroll up to the front gate?”

  “He’s not that stupid.” Cass held his gaze. “He wouldn’t do anything that insane.”

  34

  “I’m going up to the front gate and talking to whoever is there.” Lance sat behind the wheel, guiding them down the open lane of highway.

  “That sounds stupid,” Eifort said from the passenger seat.

  Brandon sat in the backseat beside Greg, looking out the window. Parked cars whizzed by as they drove north. He hadn’t sat in a moving vehicle in years, the experience foreign. The sensation of moving so quickly had his stomach aflutter.

  Brandon continued to struggle to keep his eyes off Eifort.

  She was so freaking hot.

  Now that he’d seen her topless, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. His attraction made him ashamed and excited. Guilt hit him every time he glanced at her. He’d gone after these strangers to search for Charlie, but that didn’t change the fact he was still a horny teenager.

  He peeled his eyes off Eifort, focusing on Lance through the rearview mirror.

  Lance glanced into it often, even though he didn’t have to worry about other traffic on the road. They’d hogtied their three captors and had them facedown in the bed of the truck. None had managed to move much, but Lance kept an eye on them all the same.

  Greg sat sideways beside Brandon, keeping watch on the captives through the rear window as well. He hadn’t talked much all day.

  Brandon felt sorry for the man. He wished he knew what to say to console him. He’d neve
r been good at dealing with people though, so he stayed quiet. Even if he could think of something meaningful to say, what good would it do?

  The man had killed his best friend a few hours ago.

  A couple of heartfelt words wouldn’t change anything.

  “It is stupid,” Lance said. “That’s why I’m the only one doing it. We’ll find a place for the rest of you to try to sneak in while I distract them upfront.”

  “Splitting up?” Eifort shook her head. “Has that ever worked for anyone?”

  Lance shrugged. “We have three of their people. I might be able to negotiate a trade. Worth a try.”

  “What if they tell you to piss off?” Eifort asked.

  “Then hopefully, you’ll already have found a way to sneak in the back.” Lance tapped his temple. “That’s why we’re splitting up.”

  “Bro…” Greg said.

  “I’m open to suggestions, if you have a better idea,” Lance said.

  Eifort strummed her fingers on the console between their seats. “Even if we managed to get inside while you’re distracting them, how am I supposed to get two kids and a very pregnant Lilith out of there quietly?”

  “Bro.” Greg sat up straighter, his eyes widening.

  Brandon cocked his head at him, his face scrunching in confusion.

  Lance and Eifort continued debating the merits of his plan as if they hadn’t heard him. Brandon assumed they ignored Greg often. Probably didn’t even notice him sometimes. He couldn’t blame them. The dude was weird and kind of annoying. Especially with all the bro talk.

  “I don’t know. You’ll come up with something.” Lance braked a bit as he maneuvered them around a long-abandoned semi that still blocked half their lane.

  “I’ll come up with something? What kind of plan is that?” Eifort asked.

  “It’s the kind of plan that a desperate father comes up with on the fly after he’s survived an attempted human sacrifice, run from an entire horde of Vladdies through the night, and taken three men hostage.” Lance’s voice rose as he spoke. “What do you want me to—”

  “Bro!” Greg gazed at something through Brandon’s window. He pointed past him. “Look at that nest!”

  Brandon finally followed his line of sight.

  What he saw stole his breath.

  Lance checked on them in the mirror. “What is it?”

  Neither responded as they stared at a massive demonic mound rising several stories high. It stood a few hundred yards away from the road, casting an enormous shadow across the open field surrounding it.

  Brandon had spotted such structures before, but never one so close.

  It wasn’t the odd, looming spire that stole his voice and made his jaw hang slack, though.

  Movement surrounded the demon-made hill, a mass of dark colors and odd textures. Brandon leaned forward until his face nearly touched the window, squinting against the sunlight. Tiny shapes darted in and out of the myriad of entrances to the structure.

  Dozens—hundreds—of the creatures milled about at the base.

  “What the hell?” Lance finally spotted the movement, slamming on the brakes. “What is that?”

  Eifort leaned across him. “Are those Vladdies?”

  “It can’t be. It’s still daylight.”

  “What else could it be?”

  Brandon lowered his window, listening. In the distance, he heard the wail of the infected, echoing across the great field. The din of the damned pulsated and expanded as the demons shrieked while moving about in broad daylight.

  A lone lament came from nearby.

  Cocking his head and listening, Brandon waited for it to come again.

  He didn’t have to wait long.

  Two more shrieks pierced the air, sounding as if they came from the other side of a long tunnel. Brandon opened his door and got out. Lance followed his lead, moving with him to the far side of the highway. They stopped at the brim of the concrete, surveying the field below. Tall grass lined the shoulder, but a trampled and destroyed path cut into it fifty feet away.

  The cries from the demons reminded Brandon of angry bees buzzing around a rattled hive. Only this buzz filled the air like a massive storm, audible from miles away.

  Holes dotted the field.

  Lance pointed at the nearest one, a black orifice not far from the road. They could have lobbed a rock into it with a little luck. “Do you see that?”

  “The hole?” Brandon asked.

  “Inside it.”

  Brandon held a hand up to block the sun. When he did, he spotted movement at the mouth of the demon cave. A hulking shape shifted just inside, barely visible.

  “Is it a demon?” Brandon asked, knowing it had to be.

  Nothing else could survive inside one of their underground structures for long before the beasts would devour the hapless interloper.

  “Has to be.” Lance’s hand went to the grip of the pistol tucked in his waistband. “But how? Part of it is in the sunlight.”

  “I think it knows we’re here,” Eifort said from just behind Brandon.

  Her voice made him jump. He hadn’t heard her get out of the truck, let alone walk up behind them.

  “How can you tell?” Lance asked. “I can barely see—”

  The demon climbed out of the cave, then scuttled a few feet toward them before stopping and loosing a cry that chilled Brandon to his core. No matter how many times he heard their lament, he couldn’t shake the visceral reaction his body had to the inhuman sound.

  The creature didn’t look like any demon Brandon had seen before.

  Brown fur covered the beast.

  Its musculature was hidden, the fangs and distended face concealed by something Brandon couldn’t quite make out. Discolored masses rose from its shoulders and back. Flaps of something fluttered in the breeze.

  “Oh, Christ.” Lance took a tentative step back, horror coating his tone. “It’s covered in hide.”

  The visual Brandon couldn’t quite bring into focus snapped into a razor-sharp clarity.

  Fur hadn’t grown on the demon.

  It wore the skin of several animals.

  Deer fur covered most of its back, the dead animal’s head still attached and jutting from the demon’s shoulder. Its ears swayed slightly from the breeze blowing across the field.

  “That’s the skin from a man’s arm stretched across its chest,” Eifort breathed.

  Brandon felt his gorge rise as he recognized a tribal tattoo of some kind inked across the human flesh. The skin was crudely stitched into the deer hide, covering part of the demon’s wide, powerful chest.

  “They’re protecting themselves from the sun.” Lance took another step back. “We’re in deep shit.”

  The demon reared back on its hind legs, shrieking in their direction. Its glistening fangs and protruding pink tongue were visible for a moment before it fell back to all fours and stalked toward them.

  Across the field, a dozen or more of the beasts bolted in their direction.

  Lance fled first, sprinting back to the truck.

  Brandon pivoted and followed, fear pushing his muscles to their limit. He spotted Greg half hanging from the back door of the vehicle, his face an oval of shock and disbelief. When he saw the others rushing toward him, he slid back across the seat and pushed against his own door, getting as far away from the oncoming demons as possible.

  “What’s happening?” one of the hogtied men cried from the bed of the truck. “Where are we?”

  Lance didn’t respond as he climbed behind the wheel and slammed his door.

  “Are we by the nest?” Panic made the man’s voice quiver. “You idiots! Did you stop us by that goddamn nest! Get us out of here!”

  Brandon lunged into the backseat as Lance yanked the vehicle into gear.

  Their tires belched smoke as he floored the gas pedal.

  Through his open window, Brandon saw the nearest demon burst through the tall grass beside the highway. It raced after them. They accelerated away fr
om it, the monster unable to keep up.

  It stopped running and stood in the middle of the road, bellowing in rage.

  Brandon closed his window.

  35

  Time seemed to stretch into infinity after Bill had left the cabin. Cass paced the entire time he was gone. The water and candy bars he’d brought had gone down quickly, leaving her hungry and thirsty again, though she barely noticed.

  The longer she was away from Lincoln, the more panicked she became.

  Bill had appeared swayed during their last conversation, but every minute that went by without his return had Cass doubting she’d gotten through to him.

  Occasionally, she heard someone drive or walk by the cabin, but no one ever responded to her shouts. Only Charlie talked to her, and the poor girl rarely seemed to take a breath. Her constant chattering didn’t help Cass’ nerves. It took a lot of willpower not to snap on the girl.

  “I wonder how they’re getting gas.” Charlie leaned against the wall beside her cot. “We knew the bandits had fuel, but never knew where they got it. For a while, I thought maybe they were making it here, but now I don’t think so.”

  “Valerie said they’re trading with someone in the south, but she could have been lying.”

  “Probably. She’s a liar and a psychopath.” Closing her eyes, Charlie rested her head against the wall. “She comes in here once a week demanding I give her information about The Light. I never tell her anything.”

  “Have they… tortured you at all?” Cass had scanned the girl earlier for visible signs of injury, but hadn’t spotted anything.

  “No.” Charlie lowered her voice. “Thank God. I wouldn’t be able to take it. I’m a real wuss about pain and stuff.”

  Cass heard a vehicle pull off the road. The engine cut off in front of their building. A door slammed shut.

  Bill popped inside again.

  Cass stopped pacing and faced him. She wanted to berate him for leaving her in the cell all day, but managed to maintain civility. “What’s going on out there? Has Lance showed up yet?”