Hide (Book Two, the Hunted) Page 13

  And right now the most interesting moves on the board are in the abandoned town where a pack of weary kids are hiding.

  Reid drops the pretense of being quiet and runs. If they want to take him, they will. He really has no way to prevent it. For now all that matters is getting to the others in time to warn them.

  He pants to a halt on the low brow of a hill and peers through the trees at the town. Reid can see the rear of the gas station and has a clear view all the way down the main road. The sun is long gone now, the streets below lit with the cold blue light of fluorescents. He can hear them buzzing from where he stands. The street is quiet, all of the houses dark. At least they’ve taken that precaution. A flicker of light catches Reid’s eye, drawing his gaze. A line of illumination shines out from ground level at the back of the gas station.

  They have been careful. But not careful enough. Reid makes a face. They forgot to block under the damned door.

  He circles slowly around, looking for the hunters. He can’t just run out there, not knowing if they are watching or not. Although the idea that the hunters don’t have the town under surveillance by now is ludicrous and he knows it. Of course they do. They question is will they let him reach the kids before they attack or will they take him down and let his screams warn the others that the game is on again?

  He has no desire to find out. But he has to warn them somehow.

  Reid is almost around the side of the gas station, closest to the fence, desperately searching his experience for the means to get a message through when he sees the hunters coming. They don’t try to hide, simply walk in their liquid grace down the center of the street. They ooze through the light, black on black, only their pale faces uncovered. Reid freezes and gapes, his heart clenched in fear.

  There are at least twenty of them.

  He can’t believe it. Reid knew there were at least three, if not more, but the sight of so many together makes his soul shrivel. How can they possibly win with so many coming after them? As he watches, unable to move or act, two more ease out of the dark and join their fellows.

  Reid is so overwhelmed by what he has learned he doesn’t notice what the last two are carrying until they are in front of the station. The squarish red canisters make sloshing noises he can hear even from where he hides. He doesn’t have to smell it to know what they are now splashing over the outside of the building.

  Gas. Has to be. And the tanks… the underground tanks will be at risk if they light the fuel. Everyone will be killed, including the hunters. They can’t be serious. It must just be a ploy to smoke the kids out.

  Bad choice of words. Reid sees the lead hunter hold up a long, slim tube and break off the tip. A bright red light bursts into aggressive life, showering sparks all over the ground. Reid can see the creature’s eyes glowing in the powerful fire, its teeth shining in the brilliant glare as it grins and tosses the flaming stick into the pool of liquid.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty One

  The building goes up in an instant inferno. Reid watches the group of hunters split in two, half circling to the back while the rest wait outside the glass door.

  There is only the crackling of flames at first and Reid starts to wonder if the kids were smarter than he thought after all. Perhaps they set this up as a lure for the hunters, to make them think it was their hiding place, while they huddle elsewhere, ready to run.

  Reid’s hopes are destroyed as the front door bursts open and a handful of screaming kids run out.

  Right into the waiting claws of the hunters.

  Reid hears laughter, deep and guttural, rough around the edges. The hunters. They are enjoying this. That lights a different kind of flame inside him. One fed by fury and the knowledge that he has to take a stand, even if that means it’s a last stand.

  He runs for the station and the back door. There’s not much he can do for the kids going out the front, but maybe he can slip through the creatures in back and rescue a few, at least.

  When Reid reaches the back door, there are no hunters in sight. He knows this is a ruse, they are watching for certain now, but he has no other options. Reid pounds on the door, yelling for someone, anyone.

  It is yanked open in front of him. Cole’s terrified face is on the other side. He grabs Reid and pulls him in, slamming the door closed behind them.

  The building is full of smoke and darkness, the only light coming from the flames now licking inside the roof and around the open glass doors.

  “Leila!” Cole drags Reid forward as his heart constricts in worry for her. He finds her crouched over Alex, trying to get him up, but the boy is unconscious, blood running from a gash in his forehead.

  She looks up, sees Reid and bursts into tears. “Help me!”

  Reid doesn’t stop to think or even consider this act of compassion will probably kill them all. He scoops the boy into his arms and heads for the front door.

  Cole tries to stop him. “We can’t go that way. The hunters!”

  “They’re everywhere,” Reid says through gritted teeth. “Come on!”

  He feels them close behind him, spots a handful of other kids crouched in terror behind empty shelves. They see him and run to join their growing pack.

  When Reid reaches the doors, the flames there have dissipated enough he can see past the glow. The ceiling overhead groans as the roof starts to melt under the intense heat. Breathing is difficult, the choking smoke and super heated air taking his oxygen away. Reid sees the hunters on the other side, knows they are waiting, but has no choice.

  There is a great roar behind him and he runs just as the roof of the station collapses inward. He has no idea how many kids have escaped with him, if any. He can’t worry about them now.

  Reid runs right at a hunter who looks so surprised by the frontal assault it lets Reid pass. He knows it can turn on him at any moment but hears a shriek from behind him and assumes it’s found other prey.

  He makes a straight dash for the forest, amazed to be alive and still running when his feet leave the smooth asphalt and hit the roughness of grass and dirt, at last lunging into the dense undergrowth. But he doesn’t stop, just keeps running as best he can with Alex groaning in his arms and someone chasing behind him. He can hear whoever it is right on his trail, making so much noise it has to be another kid.

  Reid changes course suddenly and goes another thirty or so seconds before dropping to his knees and sliding into the bushes with Alex still in his arms. Reid leaves the boy there, carefully covered and only then turns to look and see who made it with him.

  Leila. He breathes a choking sigh, heart unclenching, only then noticing his lungs ache from the smoke and the forced run. She’s not alone, either. Cole huddles with her. Another relief. Four more kids scurry up and hunch low, trembling and terrified all over again, but alive.

  Something approaches from the right. Reid holds up one hand, that gesture enough to keep the kids from running off. Again, whoever it is makes too much noise to be hunters. Reid relaxes as a familiar face pokes through the brush.

  Milo dives for him, hugs him. Reid hugs him back. And looks up, right into Marcus’s eyes. Three more kids straggle along behind them. Two more.

  Reid does a quick head count and wishes he hadn’t. Thirteen of the seventeen remain. Four are lost, Megan among them, her tiny face missing from those that watch him with their eager need to be gone.

  He is shocked. Only four? Reid is up and running, back toward town, knows they are following him and can do nothing to make them stop. Besides, it’s not like they are in any danger. He understands that now. This wasn’t about killing kids.

  It was about fear and intimidation. And they’ve done a damned good job of it.

  Reid pauses at the edge of the trees and watches, feeling the others form up around him. The station is a roaring inferno but there is no explosion. The tanks have to be empty. This town is a construct then, as much as the fence and this whole experiment. Reid wonders if the creators will rebuild the station f
or the next group of kids.

  The hunters quietly circle below, a graceful pack of fluid and terrible beauty, while a handful bend over four still bodies and have their fill. When one rises, wiping its lips, another takes its place. Their guttural conversation and laughter carries, as Reid knows it is meant to carry.

  “We can’t stay here anymore,” Reid says softly. “Or anywhere. Our only safety is escape.”

  No one says anything. They don’t have to. Instead they simply stand there and watch their hope burn to the ground while the hunters eat their friends.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Reid retreats at last, unable to watch any longer. But as he turns to go, Cole grabs his arm.

  “We have to at least save some of the supplies.”

  Reid’s eyes flicker to the station. “You do that,” he says.

  Cole makes a face. “We hid caches around town,” he says. “Just in case.”

  At least they did a few smart things while he was gone.

  “Where and how much?” He feels his excitement rise. Food, water. Having a source on hand will go a long way to keep them from falling apart. He knows the contents of his backpack won’t last forever. It will be nice to have supplies to take with them.

  Them. He’s here at this place again, as a leader, while they look to him for guidance and approval. While Reid is sure he’ll never get used to it, he accepts it for what it is at last. They do need him. And he needs them, too.

  Cole crouches on the path, using a twig to sketch out the town in the hard dirt. “In this garage,” he indicates one of the small houses at the end of the street near the interstate sign. “In this part of the woods.” At least they thought to hide somewhere they wouldn’t be so exposed. “And at this house under the back porch.” Reid already knows they won’t be hitting that one. Too close by far. Only two buildings from the inferno.

  “Okay,” Reid says. “We go for this one first.” He indicates the wooded hiding place. “Then this one.” The interstate sign gets a jab. “The other one…” he hesitates until he catches the pleading look in Cole’s eyes, a look that says the boy needs to know he didn’t screw this up. Reid sighs. “Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

  No one argues with him, not even Marcus. Reid looks at his rival and nods once. “You coming?”

  Marcus looks startled but nods back. Reid turns to Cole. “You too,” he says. “Since this was your idea.” He looks up, sees everyone watching, most of them hesitant like they don’t want him to pick them. No worry there. “Leila and Milo stay here and watch Alex and the others. We’ll be faster if it’s just the three of us.” He sees her about to protest but she falls silent on her own, crossing her arms over her chest. Reid hands off his backpack to Milo who takes it with obvious concern, handling it carefully, like it’s precious. “Wait for a few minutes then get moving. Head West.” Reid points so they know which direction he means. “Follow the fence, but stay out of sight. Don’t worry about speed. Keep hidden.”

  “We won’t leave you here.” Leila finally speaks up, more defiance in her than he remembers.

  “You’re not,” he says. “We’ll find you. I’ve been all down that side of the forest. Don’t worry, we’ll be along. Just be safe.”

  Reid turns without another word, more to keep her from arguing with him than anything. If she tries again he won’t be able to say no to her and that could lead to disaster if they are all caught in one place again.

  He doesn’t make it far from her. Fast footsteps close the distance. Arms wrap around him, precious hands clutching his chest as she hugs him from behind, her cheek a perfect fit in the hollow between his shoulder blades. Reid lifts his hands, grips hers gently in answer.

  “Thank you,” she whispers and then she is gone, the pressure of her body against his back a warm memory. It takes him a moment to force his feet to work and his mind to focus after that. He glances to the side and sees Marcus glaring at him.

  Good. Let him. Time for Mr. Arrogant to feel jealous for a change. He is surprised then when Marcus closes the distance between them.

  “Listen,” his whisper is low but still clear, “my dad is career military. I know a thing or two about strategy. We need a plan.”

  Reid stops dead in his tracks and stares at Marcus. This bit of information clears some things up but makes others all the more baffling. “You could have told us this before.”

  Marcus shrugs. “I could have.”

  Reid’s jaw aches from clenching his teeth so hard. “Well, for your information, I have a plan.”

  “Oh yeah?” Marcus says. “What would that be?”

  “Go to the cache, get the stuff and run like hell.” Reid glances at Cole who watches them both with huge eyes. “Agreed?”

  Again he continues on without waiting. He’s on his final thread of give a damn with Marcus at this point. The arrogance is easy to explain if he’s been an army brat his whole life. The loner attitude, too. The tinge of British accent and the way he speaks. Probably stationed somewhere when he was really young, enough to pick it up and carry it with him. But Marcus’s cowardice… Reid can’t imagine his soldier father would be a fan of a son who wouldn’t stand his ground.

  Maybe that’s the problem in the first place. Reid’s mind spins like tumblers in a lock, opening a whole world of awareness. But whatever Marcus’s relationship with his military dad, it’s not Reid’s problem, at least not at the moment. His only goal is to retrieve the cache and get out of there.

  They find the forest stockpile easily, tucked into an old dead fall hollow. Reid is relieved to see the food, water and extras all stuffed into a backpack. He offers it to Marcus who takes it with reluctance.

  “Next one,” Reid says.

  The garage is a little trickier. They have to go out into the open. Reid hesitates, wondering if it’s worth it, but Cole doesn’t wait, slinking his way through the now dew-heavy grass of the back yard to the side door.

  “Stay here.” Reid leaves Marcus in the tree line and goes after his young friend. By the time he reaches Cole, however, the skinny kid is hefting a second backpack onto his narrow shoulders.

  Reid quickly relieves him of the burden. “You’ll slow us down.” Cole looks hurt but nods. “Lead the way.”

  That perks the boy’s mood. He darts out from the deeper black of the shadow cast by the garage and into the forest edge. Reid follows more cautiously, keeping an eye around him, with very serious plans to have a talk to Cole about safety from now on.

  In his heart he knows this is too easy. But he’ll take it anyway.

  It’s only because he’s being so careful that Reid spots the girl. She huddles at the back of the house, her eyes locked on his but making no move to come to him. At first he wonders if he knows her, if she is one of his pack, but realizes her face is new.

  He swerves and goes to her, crouches next to her and offers his hand. She is reasonably clean and her face is still healthy looking so he knows she has to be fresh.

  “Come on,” he whispers. “Just be quiet.”

  Her head bobs, long red hair falling forward over her shoulder. She runs beside him, tucked into a crouch like he is, her hand never letting Reid’s go. When they reach the trees, she still clings to him as if she’ll never set him free.

  “What’s happening?” Her voice wavers, her fear clearly written on her face. She stands to her full height and he is surprised she is almost as tall as him. Her large eyes are slightly glassy from shock, pale skin almost glowing in the darkness but she is paying attention so he takes a chance.

  “We can’t talk here,” he says, gently pulling her along. “Can you run some more?”

  Like she has a choice. “I can run forever,” she says. And follows.

  It’s hard to go fast with her clinging to his hand and the backpack thumping against his back but Reid manages. It isn’t long before they circle the edge of town and pick up the trail of the fence. And even less time it seems before they stumble
on the huddled pack of kids.

  Leila rushes to him immediately, slowing at the last moment as she sees the girl next to him, her eyes falling to their clutching hands. Leila looks up into Reid’s eyes and draws a deep breath before speaking.

  “Did you get the stuff?” Her voice is very level and almost cold.

  Reid slings the pack free, Marcus dumping the second one. The girl clings to him harder, almost pressed into Reid’s side as she looks around with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

  “Please,” she whispers. “Won’t someone tell me what’s going on?”

  “What’s your name?” Leila gently detaches the tall girl from Reid and holds her hand instead.

  “Ashley.” Bits of leaves and twigs cling to the girl’s hair, a smudge of dirt lining one cheek. Huge tears well in her eyes, her free hand going to her mouth as she starts to shake. “Please, tell me what’s happening.”

  “If we knew,” Milo says, “we’d tell you.” The rest of the kids grumble a little while Leila leads the girl to sit, leaning her against a tree while comforting her with an arm around her shoulders.

  “None of us know why we’re here,” Leila says while Reid’s mind calls her a liar. “Did you just arrive?”

  Ashley nods, tears trickling down her face as her head bobs forward. “My new foster mom. She said she had a great job opportunity for me. I’m almost eighteen, I’ll be aging out of the foster system at the end of the summer. She knew I needed help.” Ashley’s shoulders round forward as her chest heaves for air. “He seemed so nice.”

  Reid is on his knees next to her so fast she gasps and pulls away but he barely notices. “Who?”

  “Mr. Syracuse,” she says. It’s Reid’s turn to fall back as the truth punches him in the gut. He was right all along. There is no way this can be a coincidence. Reid’s fury surges while his heart goes to Lucy and a wave of crushing guilt. It’s been so long since he thought of his sister, his whole being committed to survival and the safety of the kids around him. But now he’s sure his sister is here. And if he can find her, he will save her.