Hunt (Book Four the Hunted)

by Patti Larsen

  Reid can only stare and process and try to understand why and how while Joel forces his bulky body forward. He is much leaner and harder looking than Reid remembers, all the softness and fat gone from his face. Instead, he is sharp angles and threatening darkness when he steps up to Reid and punches his shoulder.

  Reid staggers back a step from the blow, recovering at last, almost grateful for the pain of it because it snaps him back to reality.

  “You’re dead.” It’s all he can manage and makes Joel laugh.

  “Not yet, I ain’t,” Joel says. “But for a bit I wished I was. That beating you gave me, that hurt like a ‘sumbitch.” He hadn’t lost his favorite swear at least. “But the hunters, they knew my potential, see? Understood my special qualities.” Some of the others laugh. “Recruited me right then and there and I’ve been a happy member of this here little family ever since.”

  Reid’s hands want to lift, fingers ache to wrap around Joel’s throat and squeeze. But he holds off, restrains himself, sensing the support the bully has with the other members. He remembers the hunter he killed, the one who gave his dust to Reid to save his life. He said something about making more. And of course Reid knows about the qualities of the dust. It makes sense they would recruit those they saw fit to join their ranks, those without GPS locators inside them.

  “If it wasn’t for you,” Joel starts a slow circle of Reid, eyes never leaving him, “we’d be gone by now, the whole fam damily. Dust and all, happy and free. But see, here’s the thing. Someone screwed this up for us. One big bang,” he claps his hands together so loud Reid has to order himself to stay still, “and it’s bye-bye chance at happiness. So, I’m thinking Billy over there is right.” He gestures at the fallen guy with the blood on his face. “You and your little friends screwed our pooch.” Joel stops in front of Reid, face to face. “Someone’s got to pay for that mess, don’t you think?”

  They mutter and scowl, most of them anyway. A few hold off, looking uncomfortable, as though they were never invited to this party and would prefer to remain anonymous. Reid catalogues their faces while he deliberately stares the rest of them down, his last target the bully in his space.

  “You’re an idiot.” It makes Joel rock back in shock. As if this was the last thing he was expecting. “You think the Colonel wasn’t ready for you?” Reid is grasping, has no idea, but can only assume someone with authority and explosives managed to stop them. “That he didn’t know something like this was coming?”

  Joel looks skeptical but Reid can feel the rest of them. Their blame is easing, tension leaving as they listen, pay attention. He takes it as a good sign and continues.

  “You screwed this up yourselves,” Reid says in a slow and spiteful hiss right into Joel’s face. “Had to have them save you. I did my own saving. What does that say about you, huh?”

  The laughter is louder for him than it was for his opponent. Joel knows when he’s beat, Reid can see it in his eyes. But the hate remains, even when the bully backs down with a smirk.

  “Well, good for you.” Joel laughs out loud, looking around as if for support, though Reid is starting to worry about his sanity. “We’re all impressed, aren’t we?”

  The murderous urges are gone, replaced by acceptance. Reid allows himself to relax a little. But only a little. He is still surrounded by a bunch of people who killed and ate innocent kids. He can’t get himself past that truth no matter how hard he tries.

  Never mind he ate his own share. But they were hunters first, so he tells himself they didn’t count.

  “Always knew you were one of us anyway,” Joel says. “Saw the killer in your eyes that first time we met. Bet you just loved the taste, right? That first slurp of soft and hot?” Joel makes a grotesque sound with his thick lips. “All that sweet blood filling you up?” He slaps his gut with both hands. “Damn if some of them kids didn’t hit the old spot.”

  This time Joel’s laughter is too much. Reid feels the monster inside him rise, slam to the surface and seize him hard. His hyper senses sharpen, vision focused so tightly on the taunting bully in front of him he almost misses the interruption of another familiar voice.

  Almost. But not quite. There is no way his rage could survive this last shock.

  “Joel,” Drew says, “shut the hell up.”

  ***

  Chapter Three

  He is different, but it is clearly Drew. Gone are his shining glasses, the braces that once sparkled in his mouth. Reid has a mental flash of the boy transforming, his shark teeth sprouting to reject the flimsy metal brackets, nothing left of them when he returned to his natural form. He’s lean as well, and it looks to Reid like he’s grown a few inches, but it’s him, it’s definitely him.

  Reid is about to reach for him when Drew’s eyes meet his and flash a warning. Reid pulls himself together immediately. His young friend is right, of course. Any sign of weakness here and he might as well lie down and let them kill him right now.

  Joel isn’t about to take that kind of order from Drew anyway.

  “Mind your own business, pudge,” Joel says. Like that nickname was ever funny. And certainly no longer applies.

  Drew’s shoulders are thrown back, his once apple cheeks thin and harsh as he scowls at the bully.

  “I am,” Drew says. “I’m minding my leader.”

  “Like hell.” Joel surges forward again, blood rushing to flush his face. “Who died and made him…” Joel’s lips twist as he realizes what he is saying. What Reid has suspected since he killed the hunter who saved his life and made him one of them. “God damn it.”

  “That’s right,” Drew says. “Reid killed Daryl in a fair fight and claimed his dust. That makes Reid leader. Pack rules.”

  Joel still looks like he’d rather murder Reid in his sleep but the rest of the pack is muttering their agreement, even Billy who struggles to stand.

  Joel isn’t about to let it go.

  “He’s not one of us.” It’s weak, like him, but he tries anyway.

  “He is now.” The girl with the silver eye is watching Reid, a tall, red-haired guy beside her. “And Drew is right. He managed to kill Daryl and take his dust. That makes him leader.” She turns her head a fraction, silver eye catching the sunlight as she stares at Joel. “You ready to challenge him?”

  For a moment Reid is sure Joel will. But, like all bullies, he snarls something under his breath instead and backs down.

  The girl returns her gaze to Reid and nods to him once while the rest of the pack goes back to getting a drink of water.

  That nod tells him she’s willing to back him. At least for now. And the rest of them might not like it and will probably call him on it eventually, but for the moment Reid's in charge.

  Drew joins Reid for a drink at the stream and, after a quick glance at the others, risks a smile. It’s like the boy he knew has really returned from the dead. That smile warms Reid and he can’t help but smile back.

  “Looking good,” Reid says as he scoops water to his mouth. “For a dead guy.”

  “You too,” Drew says. Reid cocks an eyebrow and Drew shrugs. “I was there. Saw you kill Daryl. I was sure you were a goner.” He sits back on his haunches. “Not that I cared at that point. But, well. I do now.”

  “What’s with the girl?” There will hopefully be time to find out what happened to Drew later. Right now Reid needs information.

  “Emme,” Drew says. “She’s okay. Her and Nathan.” Reid sees the redhead crouch next to the blonde girl. He meets Reid’s eyes as Emme bends to drink, watching over her. “They’re the only ones, though.”

  “The others?” Reid is done drinking but pretends to continue as he watches the rest of the pack, assessing them, trying to figure out which of them are the most dangerous, the biggest threat. Besides the obvious choice, that is.

  “I wouldn’t bother,” Drew says. “Most of them are as bad as Joel. Enjoy the killing, even after they revert.” Drew sighs. “Sometimes I think it would be easier.”

 
Reid is burning to ask Drew about everything, but his friend doesn’t allow those questions, stopping Reid before he even opens his mouth with just a look.

  “Later,” Drew says. “I promise. But we have to survive first.”

  Reid nods. He can be patient. And Drew, as usual, is right.

  They run on, Reid now in the lead with Drew beside him. He hates having his back to the pack but has to act as though he is fearless, especially when it comes to them.

  Night falls without a sign from their pursuers. Reid has kept the burbling stream in sight, not wanting to stray too far from water just yet. For the first time since he became a hunter he starts to register weariness, a hazy pressure around the edges of his mind. He veers from the truth that he is one of them, but can’t deny it when he realizes they have been running for almost a full day with only one brief rest.

  As much as the thought of remaining a hunter horrifies him in principle, Reid is grateful for the hyper-human strength and endurance he’s gotten out of the whole deal.

  Reid struggles with his own weakness as the night goes on, trying to come up with a way to call a halt without appearing like he is tired. He sees Drew stumble and knows at least despite being freshly turned himself he’s not the only one feeling the effects of the full night’s run.

  “We need a break.” Emme’s voice is soft beside him but he hears her easily. He slides to a halt and turns to her.

  She is looking up at him again with that haunting eye, chest heaving as she struggles for breath. Around him he hears the deep gasps of the others and understands that they have only been running on because of him.

  He’s the center of attention again. This time, he can feel their admiration. Meanwhile, Emme goes on.

  “We’re strong but we have a long way to go.” It’s not a challenge. Just feels like a suggestion. She’s keeping up her side of the support agreement.

  Reid nods. “An hour.” The rest of the pack melts immediately into the trees, some dropping where they are, curling up like animals with their head on their arms. Reid moves away, finding a quiet place himself near the water, with Drew on his heels.

  Emme follows. She crouches next to Reid, Nathan hovering over her, apparent focus on the rest of the pack though Reid is sure he is paying attention.

  “That wasn’t fair,” she says. “Driving us like that.”

  Reid shrugs, arms crossed over his chest, back pressed to the tree trunk. He can’t reverse it now. And refuses to let his guard down even now. “You’re hunters. You’ve been trained to run for hours, kill kids and run some more. Suck it up.”

  Her face twists, the chrome of her one eye at war with the warm brown of the other. “Not all of us enjoy this, you know.”

  Reid leans his head against the rough bark, not able to muster even a scrap of pity for her. Only anger comes to his call but he holds it in check. “Kids died, Emme. And you killed them. Right? What the hell were we supposed to do? Let you gut us and eat us?”

  Her head drops, lips twisting with guilt and sadness before she pulls herself together. “You think you’re the only ones? How the hell do you think we ended up out here? We didn’t start out as hunters, you know.” She shudders, hugging herself, looking out over the stream. “We were just like you, Reid. But the things that chased us used to be dogs.” She gestures with her chin at a large German Shepherd sprawled out in the underbrush. Reid has a flash to Dr. Lund, her mention of animal trials. “We didn’t know that then, though. Just ran and ran. A few of us made it, were brought to the compound. The lab. You met Kirstin.” She returns her gaze to Reid, a horrible smile on her face. “She made us this way, told us we were worthy.” Her bark of laughter makes the dog’s head jerk up in interest before it sighs and lies back down. “We had no idea what she meant. Until we woke up out here, with that stuff inside us and the blood craving so strong we had to hunt.”

  Her shoulders are shaking. Nathan reaches down, fingers brushing over her hair once. It’s enough to calm her. “The first time I came out of it and realized I killed a kid to eat… I wanted to die. A few of us tried it but the soldiers wouldn’t let us. I even tried to kill her.” All the tension leaves her body and she shrugs. “All the good that did. Eventually you just give in to it. There’s no way out, not for any of us.”

  “You could have run away again.” Reid needs to know they tried everything.

  “We did,” Nathan’s voice is soft and deep. His fingers find Emme’s hair again. “A bunch of times.”

  “The GPS,” Drew says. “They just find us and tranq us and that’s that.”

  “Once the dust is in you, there’s no fighting it.” Emme’s normal eye brims with moisture but the silver one remains the cold gaze of a monster. “Don’t you think we’ve tried everything? Don’t you think we’ve come to hate who we are?”

  Reid’s anger falls away, his empathy finally shouldering its way forward. His arms unfold and he reaches for her with one hand, but she pulls away. “Don’t bother. Pity’s useless. Caring is worthless. All that matters is getting the hell out of here. I know we’ll never live normal lives. Not now. But at least we can set up somewhere and try to forget about all this.”

  “What about the others?” Reid can’t comprehend setting this bunch free on the world.

  “Who cares?” Nathan’s tone is harsh. “We just want out.”

  Reid nods in agreement even though he knows the likes of Joel can never be allowed to run free. That’s all they need.

  “Will it wear off?” He can’t help but stare at her eye.

  “No,” Drew says for her while she holds Reid’s gaze, refusing to be the first to look away. “Never.”

  It’s true, Reid can feel it inside him. And the poison he used on the other hunters will be no help to him, either. Not if he wants to live.

  Emme rises and turns to Nathan. Reid lets them go, his mind spinning with questions and his own answers, unable to ask them to stay.

  Together they disappear into the undergrowth, leaving Reid and Drew alone.

  ***

  Chapter Four

  As Reid struggles to come to terms with what he is learning, something cold and wet presses against his hand. He pulls back, startled, looking down into the deep brown eyes of a large black lab. She ducks her head, pushing her nose under his hand again. His fingers automatically lift to stroke her butter soft ears, down the bridge of her wide nose. She sits next to him, tail happily thumping on the ground, pink tongue hanging from the side of her mouth as she leans into his attention.

  Reid grins at her and scratches harder. She groans a little.

  “That’s Minnie.” Drew is smiling again. “At least, that’s what I call her. The dogs are mostly nice. Not like they had a choice either.”

  Minnie’s head ducks, her white teeth clamping around a stick. She holds it out to Reid, her liquid gaze begging for love. He laughs, takes it from her and gives it a good throw. She’s off like a shot, bounding through the water, splashing so much it hits him in the face.

  “Now you’ve done it,” Drew says as she comes running back to drop the damp toy in Reid’s lap. “She’ll never leave you alone after this.”

  Reid leans forward and scrubs at both of her ears before tossing the stick for her again. It feels so normal. He’s always wanted a dog, but his mom didn’t want the mess and Lucy was allergic, so… he had to make do with other people’s pets.

  He’s amazed at how good he feels. Only that short rest and he’s certain he could get up and run for another full day without stopping. The hunter half of Reid wants to get up and move on, sees the rest of the pack as weak for needing to rest. But the human side of him is happy to just be for a while. And to have the chance to talk to Drew. He still can’t believe his young friend sits beside him.

  “You’re wondering.” Drew nods once, like he’s made a choice. “And I guess we have time.” He looks away, as if holding Reid’s gaze is too much. Instead he watches Minnie return with the stick, eyes following the arc of it as Rei
d throws it again. “I know what you’re thinking. This is nuts. How can he be alive?” Drew’s lips twist into a humorless smile. “Believe me, so was I at first. When the initial explosion happened, I blamed myself. The sticks had to be too volatile after all. My screw up. But when I lit the other one, when you left me there, and the second one blew, I realized it wasn’t me after all.” Drew grins at Reid like it’s funny. “Do you have any idea how much better that made me feel? That I hadn’t screwed up?” He shakes his head. “I know. Dumb, isn’t it? But I can’t stand not being right, Reid.”

  He can see it clearly. Loves that about his friend.

  “Oh,” Drew goes on, “and before you get all guilty on me for leaving me there? Don’t. You had to. I would have left you.”

  Reid nods through the lie they share.

  “So I’m waiting there, dying, wondering what happened. Next thing I know the debris is gone and I’m looking into a hunter’s eyes.” Drew shudders. “Not my finest hour. Even though I was almost gone I still cried like a baby.” His fingers lift as if to adjust his glasses before his hand drops. “The doctor was there. Kirstin. Said something about needing my brains. I immediately thought about zombies, right? The apocalypse. Milo would love that.”

  “He would,” Reid says. Shudders himself. Hates using his friend’s name in past tense. Reid has no idea what happened to the rest of the human pack. He can only hope they are safe with the soldiers that now search for the hunters.

  “They dumped a bunch of dust on me and dug me out of the rocks. I passed out for a while, woke up in a mobile lab in the compound. She was there, a few hunters. The colonel.”

  “Did you know?” Reid asks. “That he was Marcus’s father?”