The Hunted (71 page)

‘No, you didn’t. We have to be smarter than that if we’re going to survive the Vampires and the magic ones.’

‘I won’t do it again.’

‘Good.’

‘What do you want me to do with the bodies?’

‘Burn them. We don’t have time to eat them before the vampires arrive.’

I think I’m going to be sick.

Hang on—did he just say
when
the vampires arrive?

‘What about her?’ Adam asked.

I had no clue if he was referring to me or to Elizabeth.

‘You know what to do,’ Greg answered.

‘Should I do that now or sort the bodies out first?’

‘The bodies.’

‘Are you going up to get ready?’

‘Yes, I’ll see you in a few.’

The conversation ended and I heard a set of footsteps retreat back up the stairs and then a door closing. I assumed that this was Greg retreating and leaving Adam behind to clean up. Maybe this would be when I could take my chance to escape considering Adam didn’t appear to be all that bright.

Greg had said that the vampires were on their way. I could only assume William was among them.

Hope spurred me on, as I backed up against the wall next to the door and ducked down so that I wouldn’t be seen through the little window. ‘Hey, Adam,’ I called. ‘Did you know that John and Greg think that having you in the pack is a big mistake?’

I heard the shifting of feet in the mud as he approached. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘They think that you’re stupid and incompetent, particularly in light of what just happened.’

He smashed something hard and metallic against my cell door. ‘Shut up. You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Oh, I do. John told me when he kissed me. He whispered it in my ear. He wants to start a new pack, just me, him and Greg.’

He hit the door again. ‘I don’t believe you.’

I laughed bitterly. ‘Do you doubt how much John wants me? Why does he always ask Greg to do his bidding? What has he asked of you lately? Nothing. He cares for you so little now that he even lets Greg tell you what to do. You mean nothing to them, Adam, absolutely nothing.’

‘Shut up!’ he roared, dropping the piece of metal onto the muddy dirt outside my cell. He unlocked my door and rushed into the cell, presumably to grab me.

There was zero hesitation. I took my chance and rushed him, placing my hands on either side of his head and twisting with a fast motion of my wrists. His neck jerked around with an audible crunch, before falling to the ground in a pile of flesh and bones.

I felt his neck for a pulse and found nothing.

One down, two more to go.

I grabbed the cell keys from his still fingers and then ran down the short passage to Elizabeth’s cell.

Oh no!

I clasped my hand to my mouth in an effort not to throw up. Looking through the small window in her cell door, I could see she was lying on the cot in her cell, her stomach torn open. A small, dog-like creature lay dead, draped over the top of her thighs.

I fumbled with my keys until I managed to get them into the lock, and opened the door. I ran to her side and felt for a pulse—there was one, but it was weak. Her skin felt cold and clammy to the touch, but at least she was still alive. I wasn’t sure for how much longer. The wound on her stomach was oozing blood and her breathing was shallow.

I tore both of the sleeves off my shirt, as they were still pretty clean, and pressed them firmly onto her torn stomach. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it could have been. The opening was only about fifteen centimetres long—just large enough for the wolf spawn to slip through. I had been imagining torn and ripped flesh, blood everywhere, her insides all over the floor. I was thankful for the small mercy, praying that I could at least keep her alive long enough for more competent help to arrive.

Her head lolled to the side, her eyes fluttering as she attempted to open them, her breath coming in sharp gasps as she slowly regained consciousness.

‘Elizabeth!’ I said, feeling a fresh wave of relief. ‘Breathe, that’s it, nice and deep, just long, deep breaths. You’re going to be okay.’

She coughed and winced, the jerking movements making blood well up from inside her wound. Her skin was so pale, so pale she looked sick. Her face was that of a shadow of the girl I remembered from the photograph, sweat and blood mingling with the dull strands of her tangled hair.

‘It’s okay,’ I repeated, more for my benefit than hers. ‘I’ll get you out of here.’

I tightly compressed the wound on her stomach, trying to stem the flow of blood. It seemed to be working, but I knew I was fighting a losing battle.

I pushed the dead creature off her and onto the floor, away from her. I did not want her to see what had happened. I imagined that it would be too much for her to take in.

‘You saved me,’ she choked out.

‘Shhh, don’t talk. You need to save your energy.’

‘The baby? What happened to the baby?’

‘Shhh, you really need to keep your strength up. Here, you need to put pressure on this so you stop bleeding,’ I said, putting her tiny hand over her wound. ‘I have to try and get out of here so I can get you some help.’

‘You’re leaving me?’ she said, sounding panicked.

‘I have to. I need to get us both some help and you need urgent medical assistance.’

‘What if they come back?’

‘I don’t think they will. It’s me that they want.’

‘What about my baby?’

I stood up and looked around, discreetly picking up the wolf pup’s corpse as I walked out of the cell. I tossed it into the corner of the darkened passage. ‘It’s just us now, Elizabeth.’

She didn’t answer.

I came back inside, avoiding her face as I rifled through the cardboard boxes in the corner of her room. I pulled out a tin of peaches. I figured the sweetness would be good for her blood sugar levels.

I busted the can open and went back to the cot to help her drink some of the liquid. She sucked it down greedily, letting the sweet juices dribble down her chin and pool around her neck in a sticky mess.

I fed her a few of the peaches. In her eagerness, she accidentally bit my fingers a couple of times but at least she didn’t draw blood. There was already far too much of that lingering around and messing with my sanity.

‘Is that a bit better?’ I asked, as she drank down the last bit of juice.

She smiled hesitantly, her eyes still dim and tired. ‘Who are you?’

I smiled wryly in return. ‘Believe me, you don’t want to know.’

I picked the keys up off the floor and showed them to Elizabeth. ‘I’m going to lock you back in the cell now and toss you in the keys. No one will be able to get to you unless you give them the keys, okay?’

She nodded. ‘What are you planning to do?’

I stood up and wandered over to the door. ‘Kick some serious ass.’

*          *          *

I hoped that I was doing the right thing, leaving her alone in the cell. I knew that the Vânâtors would have just as much trouble getting in as I had trying to get out, so at least she would be safe until I could get her some help.

I walked quickly through the squelching mud and back to the stairs, climbing them one at a time, listening for any sounds of movement upstairs and trying not to make any noise. Once at the top I pressed my ear to the red door, but the room beyond was silent.

I clasped the brass knob and slowly began to turn it, swinging the door open and peering into the dimly-lit living room beyond. There was no one in the room when I entered. The small lamp was still on in the corner, but otherwise there were no other signs that anyone was around.

Where were they?

I listened to the sounds of the house, but heard nothing other than the creaking of the corrugated iron roof contracting slightly from a day in the sun.

I stepped quickly and quietly through the room, eyeing the patch of blood on the floor where the other girl had been left earlier. I assumed that she must have been disposed of by now. The Vânâtors easy disregard for human life was what made them monsters in my eyes. It was the one part that I wished I could cleanse from myself as easily as the mud and blood that had washed down the shower drain earlier. But unfortunately that would never be possible.

I made my way as silently as possible to the next room, heading directly for the front door. I stopped and glanced briefly down the darkened hallway, checking for any signs of movement. It was completely dark except for the puddle of moonlight that was seeping through the open bathroom door where they had hosed me down earlier. Apart from that, the area was completely uninhabited.

The silence that engulfed me sent shivers skating down my spine and caused sweat to break out across my brow. I felt my nerves contracting my body, making my hands shake, and my bottom lip tremble.

I wasn’t even sure what scared me the most—the fact that I had encountered no one so far, or the fact that leaving the house could put me in even more danger than if I stayed? If John and Greg were not here, then they had to be outside. Whether near or far, I had no doubt that they could track me down once they realised I was loose.

I swallowed my rising fear and opened the front door, the hinges creaking noisily in protest. I ducked my head outside and glanced around warily, but I could see nothing other than the darkened tree line. The moon was out tonight but presently was hidden behind a thick cloud bank, leaving the front of the house in complete darkness.

I said a silent prayer and closed the front door behind me, pushing it gently back into the timber jamb, quietly. It would be immediately obvious to the Vânâtors that something was amiss if the front door was left swinging open.

Then I looked down at Elizabeth’s fresh blood on my hands and knew that leaving evidence was probably the least of my concerns. They could probably smell me from a mile away anyway, but I at least had to try. I had gotten this far by myself and all I had to do now was finish it.

Okay, deep breath … now run!

I dashed out into the night, towards the tree line, running as fast as my legs would carry me across the grass.

‘Please help me.’

Who was that?

I stopped in my tracks as a small moan captured my attention. I was sure it was coming from the house.

I circled back slowly, listening, when I saw where the helpless plea had been coming from. The girl from the living room was sitting propped up against the side of the house. A few bushes had been hiding her from view.

I couldn’t believe that she was still alive. I was sure that I had seen her eyes go lifeless and empty. Obviously, I was wrong.

I ran over to her and bent down to get a better look. She wasn’t in great shape—very pale, with hair matted around her face both by perspiration and the blood that was still slowly seeping from the teeth punctures in her neck. She was dressed in a short tartan skirt and a skimpy black boob tube—she looked like she had been out at a party. There wasn’t enough fabric on either item of clothing to help stem the flow of her blood.

‘Are you okay?’ I whispered, taking in a deep breath and frowning. I didn’t remember her blood smelling like that earlier. Before her blood had smelt pleasantly sweet, with a slightly metallic undertone, delicious enough to make my mouth water at the prospect of tasting it. Now it was sweeter, almost cloying. I shook my head.