Hunting Human (10 page)

Screaming erupted. One of the wolves circled the older couple, snarling and snapping, occasionally leaning in and sniffing at their legs. A bulky, brown one Liz thought might be Alek headed toward the two single women, hackles raised and teeth barred. The third wolf prowled their way. Grabbing Rachel’s hand, she pulled her in tight against her back.

The wolf circled them twice, tightening in closer each time, snout pressed to the ground. As he passed behind them he dodged in, snapping at Rachel’s ankles. Screaming, Rachel panicked and jerked away.

“No!” Liz curled her fingers into Rachel’s arm and yanked her back. “We stay together.”

The wolf circled around and stopped in front of Liz. Eerie, intelligent eyes inspected her as he approached. Liz squealed and jumped, but managed to hold her ground as the wolf pressed his snout hard against the crotch of her jeans and sniffed.

Bile burned in the back of her throat and Liz stumbled back a step, horrified when his long tongue licked the denim covering the inside of her thigh before he backed off.

“Everyone ready?” Markko stood in front of her again. “You have her scent, Ivan?”

The wolf behind her brushed up against her legs as he withdrew.

“Good.” Markko leaned into Liz, pressing his mouth against her ear and took a long, deep breath. “So do I.”

“Go!”

At first, no one moved, but then, the wolves gathered, snarling and barking as they tightened their circle and herded everyone toward the tree line. Liz reached behind her and jerked Rachel forward, forcing her to walk in front of her.

“I can’t.” Rachel pressed closer to Liz’s side and sobbed out, “I can’t do this. I can’t.”

Liz twisted out of her grasp and shook her. “Yes, you can. We’re going.”

“Go where?” Panic choked her words. “Where are we going to go?”

Liz stumbled as Rachel was pulled away from her. “Shut up!”

The young woman from earlier had a solid grip around Rachel’s arm and started hauling her toward the trees. “Your dramatics are going to get the both of you killed. Is that what you want?”

“No.” Rachel’s voice wavered, but she didn’t struggle or stop moving.

“Then let’s go.” With a final shove in the right direction, the three of them broke into a jog, slipping into the edge of the forest.

***

The sun hadn’t yet crested the trees, but the dew was burning off into mist as the morning warmed. Rachel stopped moving and leaned heavily against a tree, breathing hard. Liz slowed her pace, then turned back. “We’ve got to keep moving.”

“I have to stop, Lizzy.” Rachel pushed a sweaty strand of hair back from her forehead and took a deep breath. “I feel like we’ve been running for hours.”

It hadn’t been hours, but they had pushed a brutal pace for the last forty minutes or so. When they’d first entered the forest they’d seen a few of the other people from the clearing, heard them moving through the forest’s thick undergrowth. But now Liz didn’t hear anyone outside of their party of three. It made the forest feel bigger and more intimidating.

“What’s the hold up?” The woman that had helped them out of the clearing jogged up to them.

“We just need a breather.” Liz stuck out her hand, “I’m Liz by the way.”

The woman’s smooth palm gripped her hand, “I’m Allison, Allison Sparks.” In the growing light, her hair glinted dark red and hundreds of tiny freckles spread across her nose and cheeks. Fresh faced and young, she looked startlingly vulnerable, her appearance casting an astonishing light on her actions of the morning. Few people would have exhibited the poise and control she had. Liz would be forever grateful for her help getting out of the clearing.

“I’m Rachel, by the way.” She didn’t bother to move from where she’d propped herself up against the tree, but did manage a small smile and a little wave.

“We really shouldn’t stop.” Allison glanced around warily. “We don’t know how long they’ll actually wait before they come after us.”

Liz stiffened. “You think they’ll come before nightfall?”

“No.” Allison cast a cautious glance at Rachel, who was watching the exchange with wide eyes, her face frozen in a shell-shocked expression. “But I don’t intend to trust them to play by their so-called rules.”

“I agree.” Liz frowned and pushed the sensation of the wolf’s snout pressed up against her out of her mind. The feel of his tongue…

No.

Stop, don’t think about it.

Don’t feel it.

“You okay?”

Liz forced herself to focus on the present. “Yeah.” Allison’s fingers curled around her limp hand and squeezed.

“You did great back there. You held it together.” Allison’s soothing blue gaze held hers. “Keep it up.”

“Right.” Liz squeezed her hand and let it go.

“Look, let’s try to get a little farther. The more distance we put between us and them, the better.”

“Okay.” Liz turned and extended a hand to Rachel. “She’s right. We’ll get a little farther into the woods, then take a break.”

Rachel looked at her from behind her bangs, panic lurking, ready to drag her under.

“Don’t think. Just move.”

“Don’t think about it, she says.” Rachel muttered under her breath as she gripped Liz’s outstretched hand. “A crazy pack of dog-men is hunting us through the woods, and she says
don’t think about it
.” Rachel forced a smile. “Don’t think about it, my ass.”

An hour and a half later Liz couldn’t tell how much progress they’d made. They’d moved quickly, occasionally chatting to fill the most oppressive of the silence, but for all Liz knew they’d been walking around in circles. Regardless, they needed to stop soon; Rachel hadn’t said anything in half an hour and she was beginning to drag her feet. She needed a break. They all did.

Allison disappeared over a hill a hundred yards ahead. Liz moved past Rachel, ignoring the burning in her legs. “Come on, let’s get up this hill. Then we’ll rest.”

Finally, thighs burning and sweat soaking her hairline, Liz crested the hill. “I swear when I get home, I’m spending some quality time at the gym.” She turned and helped Rachel maneuver over the steepest section.

They stood together for a moment and surveyed the landscape before them. “Oh God.” Rachel uttered a defeated noise and slid to her butt.

Disappointment fell on her like rocks. Liz hadn’t really expected to crest the hill and find civilization, but the vast open forest in front of them was incredibly intimidating.

Allison was already down the other side of the hill, standing next to a wide stream that cut a path through the trees. She glanced up and waved them down.

“I’m going to go talk to Allison for a minute. Relax. Stay off your feet for a while. I’ll come get you in a few minutes, okay?”

Rachel pulled her knees to her chest and laid her forehead against her legs. “Whatever.”

“Rachel…”

“It’s fine, Lizzy.” Rachel snapped. “I just need a minute.”

“Okay.” Hoping that a bit of rest would help reenergize Rachel, Liz carefully picked her way down the steep terrain.

The last thing I need is a broken ankle.

“Be careful, I slipped and fell…” Allison called out as Liz went down hard on her backside. “Right about there.” Allison stepped up and extended a worn smile and a hand. “It’s really wet right in here, so be careful.”

Allison glanced to Rachel. “How’s she holding up?”

“Okay.” Liz shrugged. “Terrible. I don’t know.”

“You’ve got to keep her moving. Keep her mind occupied. The longer she has to sit and stew, the worse the fear and depression is going to get.” Allison looked Liz over. “How are you doing?”

Hysteria bubbled in her throat like a laugh.

How am I doing?

Terrified, scared stupid, ready for the padded room?

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not.” Liz met Allison’s eyes, and saw her fear reflected there, openly shared between them.

“No, I’m not.”

“If you need to panic, now’s the time.” Allison’s expression held as steady as the rest of her. “Take a minute, get it out of your system.”

For one agonizing moment, Liz let everything she’d tried so desperately to ignore rush over her. The horror and disbelief was nauseating. The fear and desperation consumed her until nothing but the harsh static of panic-induced white noise filled her brain. She braced her hands on her knees and tried to breathe around the sob clogging her throat.

What are we going to do?

We’re helpless out here, prey for men more terrifying than I’ve ever imagined.

The helplessness cleared away some of the fear and panic clouding her mind, replacing it with a hollow depression.

What chance do we have?

The enormity of the situation dragged her under, threatening to drown her where she stood.

“Minute’s up. Pull it together.” Allison’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Liz lifted her head and glanced at the woman standing across from her. Fear was plain on her face, but every single line of the rest of her body screamed determination. It gave Liz the strength to straighten and a force air back into her lungs.

“Good,” Allison whispered. “Now lock it away.”

Liz forced herself to push the fear and doubt from her mind.

Focus.

She made herself listen to the quiet babble of the stream, the birdcalls and the other natural noises of the woods around them. The more she focused, the easier it was to block out the suffocating silence of the vast wilderness, and the less alone and threatened she felt.

“Thank you. I think I need that.”

Allison nodded. “You’ve been carrying the both of you. I could tell you needed a minute to process this.” Allison glanced away to where Rachel still sat at the top of the hill, head buried in her arms.

“You have to keep her calm.” Allison turned back to Liz. “Keep her moving, don’t let her rest too long. The longer she sits idle, the more time she’ll have to let the fear consume her.”

Liz worried her bottom lip. Rachel was stubborn on her best day; an emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted Rachel would be a nightmare. “I’m not sure how. She’s already starting to crash.”

“Remind her why you’re running. Why you can’t stop.” Allison’s voice took a hard edge. “Remind her that steps behind you are men who are going to hunt you down and kill you. If you’re lucky.” Allison’s eyes flashed, but with fear or anger Liz wasn’t certain. “You remind her that this isn’t some bad horror film. This is real. You tell her what they’ll do if they catch you.” Allison continued in a fierce whisper. “This is sport for them, they’ll want to enjoy it. They won’t make death easy. You tell her
that
. And then you keep moving.”

The blood drained from Liz’s face and the enormity of the situation hit her again. She’d been processing things in pieces and hadn’t let herself think about what would happen if they were caught. Now she had a host of images, each more violent and depraved than the last, pressing against her brain.

Allison must have read her expression because her face softened as she said, “If you have to choose between despondency and fear, go with fear.” Allison glanced back up at Rachel. “It’s brought her this far. Can you do that?”

Can I?

Could she be that cruel, knowing that as the words crossed her lips she’d have to stare into Rachel’s terrified eyes? Liz took a long look at Rachel’s huddled form.

Yeah.

If it keeps her alive. Whatever it takes.

Resolved, Liz focused back on the conversation. “Why does this feel like goodbye?”

Allison smiled. “I knew I liked you. Coolheaded. Observant. You can do this.” Her smile faded. “And you’re right. We’re splitting up.”

No!

Allison was the only reason they’d come this far.

“But why?”

“It’s simple math—think about it. How many hostages were in the clearing?” Allison asked, letting her think it through.

“Nine or ten?” Liz struggled to run back through everyone she’d seen.

“There was the older couple, the other woman, two college guys, me, you and Rachel.” Allison ticked them off on her fingers as she went. “The couple will stick together, though I don’t know how far they’ll get.” Allison’s face shut down, her voice going flat. “I don’t expect the other woman to get too far, either. It looked like she was coming down from something. The two guys stand a better chance. I couldn’t tell if they knew each other, but let’s say for argument’s sake that they did. Assuming I stay with you guys, and the guys stick together, that’s four groups.”

“Plus four hunters,” Liz responded, catching up with the logic.

“Right. Assuming they all go after different targets, they’re likely to pick off the woman and the older couple rather quickly.”

Liz forced herself to ignore the brutally honest assessment. It must have bothered Allison as well because she snapped her mouth shut and swallowed heavily.

“I know it’s harsh.”

Liz reached out and carefully squeezed her hand, eager to return a fraction of the support the other woman had offered. “But necessary.”

“Right,” Allison choked out, pressing her eyes shut. “Right. If we’re lucky, the guys will split up, that would give four men three groups to chase. But if we split up…”

“Even if the guys don’t split up, that leaves three groups to hunt.”

“And if they do, then there’s four, it’s the best odds we’ll get.”

“But we don’t know that they’ll hunt that way. They might hunt in a pack, pick us off one at a time,” Liz countered, not ready to concede.

“We can’t count on that. Our odds are best if we split up.” Allison shook her head. “Even if we stick together, we aren’t strong enough to fight them off if they catch us. This is the best thing.” Allison glanced back at Rachel. “For everyone.”

“Alright. I see your point.”

Even if I hate it.

“Now what?”

“Now I go this way.” Allison pointed downstream. “And you and Rachel cross here and head downstream on the other side. We were lucky, actually.”

“How so?” Liz asked.

“They took my cell phone in the van. I’m guessing they took yours too?”