Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
“ T he rabbits will be released once the moon is at its peak. The hunt begins, at the sound of the second siren. The prey isn’t officially yours until you mark it. Once that claim has been established it’s yours to do with as you please. By participating in this hunt, you acknowledge that you might not survive the night. The hunt ends at first sunlight,” the game warden recited the rules.
Colt’s heart raced as the blood rushed through his entire body. He released a low impatient growl, waiting for the event to begin.
A piercing siren blared in the air, signaling the start of the hunt would soon begin. A scent as sweet as honey filled Colt’s nostrils and made his mouth water. His mate was here. He could feel it.
It wasn’t lost to him that all of Hendrickson’s boys were participating in this year’s hunt as well and he had a feeling they weren’t looking to catch rabbits. He could already feel the heat of the eldest boys’ eyes on him, waiting for a chance to catch him at a vulnerable moment. Not only would he have to get to his target before one of those bastards did, he’d have to fight for his very survival.
He looked to his left where his brothers stood and signaled for their attention with a slight wave of his hand.
Colt pointed toward an unoccupied spot. They nodded in understanding and separated from the crowd as they followed him.
When they were far enough away from the other participants, Colt whispered. “We can’t let our guards down tonight. I’m almost certain Rolf’s sons are gunning for us.”
Leland’s eyes glowed dark red. “So he wants revenge for Darren? It was a fair challenge. All the witnesses said so.”
“Most fathers would be upset over the loss of a son but it’s more than that. He’s using what happened to his son as an excuse. He’s had it out for us for a long time and tonight he’s going to take that chance,” Colt warned his brothers.
Leland spat on the ground and curled his lips in disgust. “Yet, he wasn’t man enough to join the hunt himself and sent his sons to do his bidding.”
“Just promise me you’ll be careful. They may try to get to us by killing our mates before we can get to them. Rolf knows we’re on borrowed time and tonight is most likely our last hunt.”
“It will be.” Zeke growled with a low rumble. His jaws had widened and his mouth could barely close from all the sharp teeth that had extended. He was in near feral mode. His eyes were a deep red and tufts of thick black hair grew from his cheeks and all over his upper body. His muscles were more pronounced than usual.
Colt’s own beast was so close to breaking free that it was making him anxious for the hunt to begin.
Leland lifted his head and sniffed the air. “He’s right. This will be the last hunt for me as well because I can smell her. She’s here.”
“You’re certain it’s a she?” Colt asked wishing the injections hadn’t dulled his senses to more human level.
Leland grinned reveling his lengthen canines. “Oh, absolutely. And she smells amazing.”
“Want…now.” Zeke replied.
For the first time it occurred to Colt that he and his brothers might be interested in the same prey. Would they be willing to share? He’d been so worried about the Hendrickson’s that he didn’t think of his own brothers as possible threats.
He didn’t have much time to dwell on this thought because just then, the second siren blared, louder than the first, assaulting his eardrums with its cry.
The hunt had officially begun.
A siren blasted, sending Kaliah into panic mode. “What’s happening? She asked.
“Sounds like it’s starting.” Gary pointed to a cloaked figure standing by the cage.
Where had they come from? Had this person always been there?
“As the game warden, I’d like to personally welcome you all to the Annual Serenity Falls Halloween Hunt. I’d personally like to thank you all for your sacrifice. When I open this cage, you will be hunted. So my suggestion to you all is to run as fast as you can.” The cloaked man chuckled as if he’d told a hilarious joke.
“Hunted? What the fuck? Hunted for what? I didn’t volunteer for shit!” Peter yelled. His eyes were wide, and lines of terror etched his face. He was on the verge of losing it and Kaliah empathized because she was slowly starting to unravel as well.
“We are a sporting group. There are opportunities to evade capture such as the numerous hiding places in the forest and around town. If you manage to get out of Serenity Falls by dawn, then consider yourselves free.”
“So, we only have to survive the night?” Kaliah asked tentatively.
“Of course. You have my word.”
“How do we know we can trust you?” Peter demanded.
“Because you have no other choice,” the man in the cloak replied, retrieving a set of keys from his pocket and unlocking the cage. “The hunters are approximately two miles out from the cage which should give you a nice head start. I suggest you little rabbits start running.”
He pulled the cage door open and stepped back.
No one moved right away.
Kaliah worried about her chances. Her limp made it difficult to run so she wouldn’t be very fast. Her only hope was to find a decent hiding space and hope no one found her until the morning.
“Well, fuck all of you, I’m out of here.” Peter shouted before running off.
Gary shook his head and headed out the cage. “Well, I don’t see any point in waiting around for whatever is out there to come get me. I wish you all luck.”
Brianna still sat in corner rocking herself back and forth. “We’re going to die. We’re going to die. We’re going to die.” She chanted.
Regardless of what happened for the remainder of the night, Kaliah wanted to be in control of her own fate which meant getting the fuck out of here. “Come on. We’re going to die for sure if you stay here.”
Loud howls in the distance cut through the wind and Kaliah had a feeling they didn’t have much time to make their escape.
Brianna looked up at her with tear stained cheeks. “I can’t move.”
Kaliah reached down and grabbed her by the arm and yanked with all her strength. “Well you’d better figure out how and quick or else we’re monster chow. Do you hear those sounds? We don’t know what’s out there and I don’t want to find out.”
With Kaliah’s help, Brianna made it to her feet.
“Let’s go.” As they were stepping out of the cage, Kaliah looked over her shoulder. The redhead woman stared at them hesitantly. “Come on…”
“Amy. My name is Amy.”
“Let’s go Amy.” Kaliah motioned her to come with them. She glanced at the older couple still clinging to each other.
The woman, smiled slightly, with her head resting on her partner’s shoulder. “You go ahead. The two of us have lived a long life and these old legs can’t carry us the way they used to. We’d rather be together when it happens.
The old man nodded with a grunt.
Kaliah’s heart broke for them. In that moment she wished she’d lived life where she could experience a love so fulfilling that there was no fear of death as long as she had her soulmate. But she didn’t know if she’d make it through the night.
“Let’s go ladies.” She practically had to drag Brianna along with her. Amy trailed behind them.
The three of them ran, weaving through trees and bushes. The further into the woods they got, the darker it became, because the branches blocked out the moon’s light.
Running with a limp was challenging enough but she did her best to keep up with Brianna and Amy who were starting to outpace her.
The howling sounds were getting closer and she didn’t know if she could go any faster.
“Brianna!” Someone called out from a distance.
Kaliah halted, recognizing that voice.
Nicole?
Nicole popped from behind one of the trees with Sasha trailing behind her. “Oh my God! We didn’t know what happened to you.”
As the two got closer, Kaliah was able to make out that they too had R’s carved in their foreheads. Despite what had happened these past couple days, Kaliah was happy to see them.
“The person who opened our cage said if we make it until the sun comes up we’re free to go. So I was thinking we could find some place to hide,” Sasha said.
Nicole shook her head. “Don’t you think a town full of psychopaths would know every hiding space there is? We have to find a way to the border.”
Shit. She was right. “Then we’ll have to figure a way out of this town,” Kaliah reason. “Do you hear that?” She listened closely.
“You mean those wild animals that have been howling all night?” Sasha asked with wide eyed panic.
“No, it’s the sound of rushing water, a lake or a stream. I think maybe if we follow it, we may be able to get out of this town,” Kaliah explained.
“That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard!” Nicole screamed. “You do you, but I’m getting as far away from you as possible. You’ll just slow me down anyway with your bum leg. And another thing?—”
She was cut off by a loud growl followed by a big black blur that came out of nowhere. It knocked Nicole to the ground and bit into her throat.
Nicole didn’t have a chance to scream.
But Kaliah did. She started to scream and she couldn’t stop.