by Jenna Moreci
still they remained, their eyes closed as if mesmerized by the intoxicating scent.
Therhythmicclangingstopped;theInterlopertossedhismallettothefloor,
barkingastringofunintelligiblephrasesathiscomradesandimmediately
sendingthembacktowork.
Eve’sbodyloosenedabit,thoughshewasfarfromrelaxed.Hereyesdarted
acrosstheroom,searchingforasilvercylindricaldevice,atorq,andsoonshe
spottedone.Itwasclose,soclosethatshewonderedwhyshehadn’tnoticedit
earlier,amereoneortwoyardsaway,restingonashelfcarvedintothewall.
Justonequickgrab—onesmooth,controlledswipe—andthetorqwouldbe
hers.
Eveinchedforward,venturingjusttheslightestbitfartherintotheroom,the lightspillingacrosshershoulder.Shetookanotherstep,andthenanother;the
torqwaswithinreach,andsheslowly,veryslowly,liftedherarmandwrapped
her fingers around the polished device. Finally, she pulled it into her chest, breathingasighofrelief.
Shehadretrievedthetorq,andnotasingleInterloperhadnoticed.
Aspine-chillingscreamechoedoffthewallsbehindher.
“SHIT!” Jasonbarked,hisvoiceboominginEve’sear.
“What?Whathappened?” JJgasped.
“AratcrawledoverFlorenza’sfoot.”
“She’sscreamingoverarat?Inanestfilledwithaliens?”
“Eve,” Jasoncontinued,ignoringJJ’sranting. “Eve,iseverythingokay?”
NotasinglewordleftEve’slips.Shestood,paralyzed,staringdirectlyatthe
roomfilledwithInterlopers—Interloperswhowerenowstaringbackather.
Everylastoneofthem.
Evebolteddownthetunnel.Shecouldhearthesoundsofwingsbeatingand
feetstompingbehindher—thesoundsofthirtyorfortyInterloperschasing
afterheronfootandintheair—andshepressedforward,herlegsracingwith
a fiery speed she had never needed to utilize before. Her heart pulsed in her throat;faraheadofher,shecouldseeheronlyescapefromthecave,andeven
closerwasthepassagewaywhereJasonandFlorenzawerewaiting.
“RUN!”shescreamed.
JasonandFlorenzaleaptfromtheirhidingplaceandspeddownthe passageway.Jason’sstridewasmuchquickerthanFlorenza’s,butheslowed,
grabbingherhandandforcinghimselftomatchherpace.
Evetrailedbehindthem,herfeetpoundingagainsttheground,andthenher
stomachlurchedwithhorror—anotherhordeofInterloperspouredfroma
junctionaheadofher,theirwingspulsingastheychasedafterJasonand
Florenza.Evechargedforward,sprintingfasterthanshethoughtpossible,until
shewasrightbehindthepack,closeenoughtofeeltheirwingsbeatingthehot
airagainstherface.
Hervisionblackened,andinthatmoment,timefrozetoanearstandstill.
Withasurgeofabsoluteconviction,Evedroppedtoherkneesandslidbeneath
thealiens,pointingherarmsattheceilingandthenflingingthembackdownto
the ground. Instantly the Interlopers parted above her, their bodies crashing intooneanotherastheywerethrustintothetunnelwalls,slammingviolently
againsttheclayandthentopplingtothefloor.
Evejumpedtoherfeet,herjeanstornandherlegsdrippingwithblood.
Jasonturnedtolookbehindhim;whenhesawEveandthehordeofInterlopers
thatfollowedher,heyankedatFlorenza’sarmandthrewheroverhisshoulder.
Likeabulletreleasedfromthebarrelofagun,Jasonhurtledforward,hisfeet
movingwithincomparablespeedashetightlygrippedFlorenza’sbody.
AsingleInterloperflewoverEve’sshoulders,hissightssetonFlorenza,but
Eve delved into her melt and thrust him against the wall. Another Interloper
zoomedforward,andthenanother,andEvesentthemsmashingintoone another,theirsharpenedteethimpalingeachotherastheylandedontheground
inamessyheap.OnemoreInterloperdartedtowardher,histalonsbared,and
shemeltedhimheadfirstintotheceiling,theimpactaloneenoughtosnaphis
neck.
Sheforcedherselftorunfaster;Jasonwasnowonlystepsaheadofher,and
theexittothecavewasjustafewshortyardsaway.
Eve’slungsexpandedasshebreathedinthecool,cleanairoftheforest.
Theywerefreeofthecave,butnotoftheInterlopers,whowereonlyseconds
behindthem.PercyandSanchoquicklypreparedtheirweapons,andJason
ploppedFlorenza’sshakingbodybehindPercy’scar.
“Stayhere,”heordered.“Closeyoureyes,coveryourears,andwhatever
youdo, don’tmove.”
EvedroppedthetorqintoFlorenza’slap.“Anddon’tlosethis!”shebarked.
ShepulledhergunfromherbeltandglancedoveratPercy.“They’recoming.”
Percypluckedtwopistolsfromhiswaistbandandaimedthematthecavern,
flashinganoverconfidentgrininEve’sdirection.“I’mready.”
“TheDirtyispreppedforbattle,”Sanchochirpedexcitedly.
JasontookhisplacebesideEveandraisedhispistol.“Whatevercomesout
ofthatcave,”hecommanded,“killit.Kill’emall.”
Justasthewordslefthislips,theyheardit—asteadyrumbling,thesoundof
flappingwingsgrowinglouderandlouderwitheachpassingsecond.Eve’s facepaledastheInterloperspouredfromthemouthofthecave,shovingpast
one another, a flood of slick grey skin, batlike wings, and silver teeth. Eve couldseeathirstintheireyes—agenuineyearningforthetaskaheadofthem,
forthechancetokill—andasshewatchedthemrushtowardher,theirsadistic
smilesquicklyfadedintoapulsingblackness.
A series of shrieks resounded through the forest; the entire horde of
Interloperswasthrownoffcourse,theirbodieslurchingbackwardthroughthe
airasifpushedbyaninvisibleforce.Theirlimbsflailedastheywere
propelledhighintothesky,andSancho,Jason,andPercygapedinaweastheir
adversariesdisappearedfromsight.
Theforestbecamequiet.Percyturnedtohisside,staringwide-eyedatEve,
atheroutstretchedhandsandherpanickedeyesthatblinkedandflutteredasshe
endedhermelt.
“God,I’llnevergetusedtothat,”hemuttered.
Sanchoglancedfromsidetosideandloweredhiscontroller.“Arewe
done?”
Evewatchedthesky.Tinygreyspecksreappearedinthedistance,andasthey
grewinsizeandnumber,shefeltherheartracewithinherchest.Sheraisedher
weapon.
“No.We’renotdone.”
Again,sheheardtherumbleofwingslikeathunderingstorm.Therewere
perhapsfewerInterlopersthanbefore,butstillEveandhercomradeswere woefullyoutnumbered.FollowingEve’slead,theotherspointedtheirown
weaponsandbracedthemselvesastheswarmofalienshit.
Allfourofthemopenedfire,launchingwaveafterwaveofbulletsuntilthe
airwasspottedwithblackandstankofsmoke.TheInterlopersseemedtohalt
inmidair,theirbodiesconvulsingastheyweresaturatedwithlead,blood
burstingfromtheirskin.Severalfelltotheground,theirloosefangsdangling
fromtheirlips,butmanyothersremained,undeterredandexceedingly
agita
ted.AsingleInterloper,hischestdrippingwithmustard-coloredpus,
swervedawayfromthegunfireanddippedlowtotheground,chargingatEve.
Another one followed suit, and as the pair came near, their talons and fangs bared,Evemeltedthemaway,partingtheirbodiesandslammingthemboth
intonearbytrees.
AnotherInterloperbrokefromthepack,buthissightsweresetona
differentvictim.HegrinnedashespottedFlorenza’smuddy,barefeetsticking
outfrombehindthecar,andheboltedtowardher,swervingtododgethehail
ofbullets.Asthecreatureroundedthevehicle,Percyjumpedinfrontofhimin
anattempttoshieldFlorenza,andthealienbarreledrightintohim,knocking
himtotheground.
TheInterloperstareddownatPercy,whowaspinnedbeneathhistalons.He
leanedincloser,hisominousgrowlexpandingintoafuriousroar—andthen
he abruptly shot into the sky, pulled from the forest floor as if caught on a fishingline.Percylookedtohisside;Eve’sarmwashighaboveherhead,her
hand clenched into a tight fist as if she were holding the creature up by his neck,andSancho,whostoodbesideher,swiveledhisjoystickuntileverylast
barrel of the Dirty Sanchez was pointed at the alien. With a deep breath, Eve closedhereyes,andSanchounloadedhismurderouscreation,firingatorrent
ofbulletsattheInterloperuntilallthatremainedofhimwasyellowbloodand
blackbone.
Evefranticallyscannedtheforest.Nearby,Jasonwasfiringhishandgun
overandoverintothemouthofanInterloper,whoultimatelycollapsedathis
bootsamidapileofteeth.JasonlookedoveratEve,andhiseyeswidenedwith
horror.
“EVE,BEHINDYOU!”
Eveturnedjustintimetoseeanalienheadedtowardher,shootingthrough
theskywithgreatspeed.Beforeshecouldreact,thecreaturejoltedbackward,
hisbodyseizedbyJason’sgift.Withasmuchpowerashecouldsummon,
Jason forced the Interloper through the air and rammed his face into a tree branch,impalinghimthroughthemouth.
BeforeJasoncouldrecover,anotherInterloperheadedstraighttowardhim.
Therewasahatredinhiseyes—alongingforJason’sdeath,adesiretoripout
hisjugularandwearhisbloodasasignofvictory—andwithasinglebreath,
heopenedhismouthwideandletoutahorrendousroar.
Thenintheblinkofaneyehislifesourceexploded—sendinggolden
custardspewingacrossJason’sface—andthealien’sbodydroppedtothe forestfloor.JasonwipedthegunkfromhismouthandglancedoveratPercy,
whosegunwasstillpointedwherethealienoncestood.
“Sorry’boutthemess.”Percywinked.“Goodshotthough,right?”
Hehadbarelyfinishedhissentencebeforehewashurtlingthroughtheair,
his body torn from the ground by a single, enraged Interloper. Percy landed face-firstagainsttheforestfloor,hislimbssprawledacrossthedirt,butagain thecreaturepickedhimup,thistimehurlinghimhighintothesky,leavinghim
tomeethisinevitablebloodyfatewhenhesmashedtothegroundbelow.
ButPercyfeltnothing—nocrashontotheturfbeneathhim,nobreakingof
bonesorstingofopenwounds.Heopenedhiseyesandfoundhimselffloating
intheair,hoveringweightlesslyjustafewshortyardsabovetheground,with
thealienlevitatingathisside,gnashinghisteethinhisdirection.Belowthem
both stood Eve, her hands raised, palms open as if supporting the weight of their suspended figures. With the slightest, most subtle flick of her wrist, she shotthecreaturethroughtheairandthenjustasquicklysenthimplummeting
downtotheground.Withaloud,startlingboom,theInterloper’sbody
smashedagainsttheforestfloor,hisbonescrumblingintopiecesandhis
innardssplatteringacrossthesod.
AwingslammedintoEve’schest,thrustingherbodyintotheairandsending
her toppling to the ground. Stars flashed before her eyes, and she heard the thudofPercydroppingtotheforestfloor—shehadlosthermelt,interrupted
bytheInterloperwhonowstoodbeforeher.Shehoistedherselfontoherhands
and knees and grabbed for her gun, looking up at the creature just in time to watchhimkickheracrossthechin.Hergunflewfromherhand,andagainshe
felltothegroundandskiddedacrossthedirt.Athrobbingpainpulsedthrough
herhead,butsheignoredit,scramblingtowardherweaponwhilekeepingone
eyetrainedonherloomingadversary.
TheInterloperlungedforheryetagain,butshequicklyrolledawayfrom
him,pluckedhergunfromapuddleofyellowblood,andpoundedthegrip
across his face. As she staggered to her feet, the creature dove forward and clawed at her ribs, digging his talons into her flesh and forcing her to the groundoncemore.Adeeppaincoursedthroughher—itwasasharpsting,
intensifyingwitheachsubtlemovementshemade—butstillshechanneledwhat
littlestrengthshehadandpulledherselftoherknees.
The creature stared back at her; he was sure of his victory, so sure that he laughedaloud,hismouthwideenoughforEvetomakeoutaveryfamiliar
sight—asmall,pinkheart.Withoneshort,shallowbreath,sheraisedhergun,
heldherarmsteady,andfiredabulletintothecreature’slifesource.
Meanwhile,Jasonwascornered;hemeltedoneInterloperafterthenext,
throwing them against boulders and trees, yet no matter how many he thrust aside,stillmorechargedtowardhim.Heraisedhisemptyhands,hismind
consumedwithhisintoxicatingmelt,andforcedhislatestadversaryhighinto
theair,poundinghimbackwardagainstthecaveentranceandwatchinghis
limpbodytumbletotheground.AnotherInterloperboredownonhim,andhe
lifted the creature from his feet and tossed him against the side of a tree, the impact so strong that the tree itself cracked in half. Jason’s sight faded to
darkness—tonothingbutblackandrageandpower—andjustasathirdalien made his advances, Jason melted the Interloper ’s body into the air, sending him
shootingthroughthesky,nevertobeseenagain.
Suddenly,twolargefeetpoundedagainstJason’sback,forcinghimface-
first into the dirt. The Interloper stood on top of him, pushing him into the ground and clawing at his back, ripping his jacket to shreds and slicing deep intohisskin.Jasonhowledfromtheshootingpain,andwithclenchedfistsand
grittedteeth,hemeltedthecreaturefromhisbackandthrusthimintoanearby
tree. Jason clambered to his feet; as he watched the alien stagger toward him acrosstheforestfloor,hesuddenlyfoundhimselfovercomewithangerand
adrenaline. He slammed his fist into the creature’s gut, then again across his face,andfinallyhekickedattheInterloper’sjaw,sendinghimcrashingtothe
ground. Jason hovered over his adversary, and as his rage overtook him, he stompedonthecreature’smouth,breakinghisteethintopiecesandsendinga
globofpusoozingontohisboot.
Miraculously,thenumberofalienswasdwindling,anddespiteherhaggard
state, Eve allowed herself to feel the slightest inkling of hope. Four more Interlopers torpedoed toward her in perfect synchronicity, and
with a single pulse of her gift, she sent them sailing far across the forest. Another one headed in her direction, but Jason immediately threw the creature off course, meltingthealien’sheadagainstajaggedrock.Evescannedhercomrades;their
bodieswerefilthy,broken,andsplatteredwithblood,buttheywerealive,and
again she felt a twinge of optimism in her chest. She turned to Sancho; he gripped the controller of the Dirty Sanchez, his eyes brimming with fear and excitementallatthesametime.Suddenly,sheheardPercy’sloudcry.
“SANCHO,DUCK!”
Itwastoolate;anInterloperflewdowntotheground,grabbedatSancho’s
shoulders,andpluckedhimfromtheforestfloor.Evewatchedinhorrorashe
dangledfromthecreature’sclaws,helplesslytryingtoshakehimselffree.
PercyturnedtoEve,hiseyesfrantic.“Canyougivemeaboost?”
Evestaredback,confused.“Aboost?”
“Mybullets.”Hepointedathisgun.“Canyougive’emaboost?”
Eve nodded; they had to act quickly. Percy aimed both of his guns at the Interloper,followingthecreature’smovementsashedippedandlooped
throughthesky.Finally,hemadethemovePercyhadbeenwaitingfor—the
alienswoopedlowtotheground—andPercypulledbothtriggers,firingatthe
uglycreature.
For a moment, the bullets froze in place—hovering amid the smoke. Eve channeledhergift,lettingitgrowinsideofher,andthenreleased.Thebullets
resumedtheircourse,shootingthroughtheairwithunparalleledspeed,
plungingrightthroughthealien’sthickskullandkillinghiminstantly.
Together,Sanchoandthehorridcreaturefelltotheground,landingina
twistedpile.
Eveturnedatthesoundofmoregunshots—thistimefromJason,hissights
setonanInterlopercirclingoverhead.Justasthecreaturedovedowntoward
him, Jason unleashed a stream of bullets that ripped through the alien’s teeth untilasingleshotfinallypenetratedhisheart.Percy,too,wasfiringatasmall
packthatsoaredhighabovethem,andSanchojoinedthepursuit,hurriedly wieldinghiscontraptionassweatpoureddownhisforehead.
OneInterloperfinallyfelltotheground,andthenasecond,theirmouthsfree
