Alex Finch: Monster Hunter

  I was next.

  Swallowing, I got down on my hands and knees, half afraid I'd trip and fling myself head first into the hole. My fingers found the edge, and I carefully turned around, easing my right leg back until my foot found the rung.

  I shifted my weight to that foot, slid my left hand along the ground, and brailled my way to the side of the ladder. Closing my fingers around it, I took in a breath, gripped the ladder, and put all my weight on my right side. My left foot had trouble finding the next rung--my ankle throbbed so much I couldn't feel anything beyond that. When I was pretty sure I had my foot on the next rung down, I shifted my weight.

  And met with air.

  I scrambled to hold on to the ladder, breath lodged in my throat, when strong fingers caught my left wrist. Warm breath brushed over my skin, and when I lifted my head, loose strands of hair tickled my cheek.

  "Hold still," Sam whispered, his voice more breath than sound. "I'm going to help you down."

  I felt him slide down the side of the ladder, his bare arm pressed against my ribs, his muscles quivering with the effort. I heard his foot on the rung below mine, and felt him swing around until he was right behind me. If I weren't so scared I would have been breathless.

  Then he wrapped his arm around my waist. I jerked, stilled when I felt my fingers slip. "One rung at a time," he whispered, his lips against my ear. "I won't let you fall."

  I nodded, trying not to hyperventilate. My left foot finally connected, and we both eased down to the next rung. After a couple more, I started to actually enjoy having him hold me like this. I felt safe, for the first time in a while, and the trust I thought I had lost came roaring back.

  By the time we reached the bottom I was more sure of my footing, and Sam let me go, only to grab me around the waist with both hands and guide me to the ground.

  "Good job." His low voice sent a shiver through me. Then he let me go, for good this time. We turned around, bright yellow light greeting us from the bare bulbs strung along the curving wall of the tunnel.

  Dad gathered us into a huddle, handing out the duffle bags. "I found the nest. No sign of it, or the other two kids. I did find blood. Not a lot," he reached out to Misty when she gasped. "But enough to make me think one of the kids might be injured. Follow me--I think I know where they went."

  He refused to elaborate, hushing me before I could ask. We headed into a tunnel on the left, like a black hole compared to the lit one we stood in. Dad switched on his flashlight and led the way. I smelled the nest before his beam caught it. And it didn't reek, like I expected. Instead, it smelled--sweet, with another scent underneath, one I recognized, but couldn't identify. A few yards past the nest we hit water. Stagnant, algae covered water.

  So much for a quiet approach.

  Dad consulted the map, pointing out the two tunnels just ahead. "The one to the right curves back around. The left tunnel runs parallel to the town, and dead ends at another exit leading to the surface."

  "Where?" Sam's choked whisper had me looking at him.

  "The basement under the school. That's where I think they grabbed the kids. There was a Halloween party today for the elementary schools."

  Sam swallowed, didn't say anymore. We kept moving forward, and Misty took my hand again. I wanted the connection as much as she did.

  I thanked myself for wearing my stomping motorcycle boots--until the floor sloped down and the water hit my knees. That slimy, cold water poured inside my boots and soaked me from the knees down. Which felt good on my throbbing ankle, but not so much for walking.

  Sam came forward and grabbed my duffle, taking my free arm when I started to struggle against the water. Between my saturated boots and my ankle, I was making far too much noise. Dad turned around, heading for me. And I saw the yellow glow splash across the water next to him.

  "Dad! Behind you!" My shout bounced off the tunnel walls. I yanked free and lurched forward just as the monster peeled itself off the wall and launched itself at him. "Dad!"

  He whirled, ducking under the slashing claws. The creature came after him again and he used the shotgun as a club, bashing the heavy stock into the evil teddy bear face.

  A horrible scream threatened to pierce my eardrums. Sam jerked me backward, stepping between me and the recovering monster. The fast recovering monster.

  "Dad--no!" I pushed past Sam as Dad stood. Right in the path of the sweeping claws. He jumped sideways. The claws slashed his left leg. "No!"

  His raw cry echoed mine and he went down. I probably would have joined him, but Misty appeared out of the darkness, waving a flare. The monster shrieked, and splashed out of sight.

  She kept going, helped Dad stand, holding the flare up. I slogged over to them, covered my mouth. The sparking light revealed the ugly gashes on Dad's left leg. Gashes that ran all the way down his thigh.

  Sam turned on his flashlight, took Dad from Misty and leaned him against the wall. "How bad?"

  Dad tried to smile, failed miserably. "Bad enough. You need to go after--" He let out a gasp, clutching his thigh.

  "Dad--"

  "I want you to--go back, Alex. Wait with Candace and Jake." He lowered his head, water dripping off his hair. "Misty goes as well."

  "I'm not--"

  "I'll stay with him, Alex." Misty dropped the dying flare in the water, turned on her flashlight. "Get him back to the surface. We already lost the element of surprise, so the fewer going after that thing the easier it will be to hide. Besides, you're too short to get him up the ladder." She flashed a smile at me, then draped Dad's arm across her shoulders, wrapping her arm around his waist. "Come on, Mr. Finch. Sam will take good care of Alex. Not that she needs it--I've seen her in action."

  "Alex." Dad reached out his free hand. I gripped it, and he pulled me in. "Come back, sweetheart. Promise me."

  "I promise."

  He leaned in, kissed my forehead. "Take care of my daughter, Sam."

  "Yes, sir."

  Misty moved forward. "Let's get you out of here, Mr. Finch, while that jacked-up teddy bear is licking its wounds. Seriously, a monster teddy bear? That is so wrong."

  I stared after them, the knot in my stomach tightening every time Dad let out a moan. How much more would we pay to stop this thing? I rubbed my face. We would find out soon enough.

  "Alex?" Sam's quiet voice calmed me. I looked up at him, saw the blame reflected in his eyes. "I'm so sorry."

  "He'll be fine. Let's just get this done."

  21

  I limped past Sam, headed back to the nest.

  It was home, and probably where the monster went to lick its wounds. I was done hiding and creeping in the dark. The Devil knew we were here; time to face it head on. Of course, Sam completely disagreed.

  He grabbed my arm, stopping my limp-march. Before I could protest he pulled me into a side tunnel, one that sloped upward so it was, thank heaven, relatively dry. We kept going until it curved around, the main tunnel out of sight. This far in, the lights were still intact, blinking like the line had been damaged at some point.

  "Are you out of your mind?" he whispered. "You saw what it did to Jake, to your dad. How can you possibly think you'd survive a face to face with it?"

  "Because if it wanted the kids dead, they'd be dead by now." Or eaten. Okay--shoved that one right out of my head before it could take hold. Though it would probably take on a life of its own later. The downside of a vivid imagination. "And someone, or something, sent that video of the first kid. The Devil wanted attention. Well, it got exactly that."

  "Okay, but let's be a little more cautious. There's no need to go storming in when we can check things out first, see if we can find an advantage. Any advantage," he muttered.

  "Right." The adrenaline from Dad's attack faded, and my temporary sense of invincibility went with it. "Forget what I just said. It was the need for revenge talking."

  He flashed a smile. A real smile. "Been there." He glanced at my feet. "Can I make a suggestion?"

  "I'm not go
ing to like it, am I?"

  "Definitely not. Your boots are--loud."

  "You mean ugly and obnoxious?" And full of water. I let out a sigh. "Fine. But I'm going to need your help."

  He set our duffle bags on the cement floor, then helped me sit, pulling the boot off my good foot first. Water came gushing out. I rolled off the dripping sock, figuring barefoot would be better than sloshing around in cold, wet microfiber. I didn't think my miracle moisture-wicking socks could wick away this much moisture.

  The second boot hurt, every single inch of the way. Once Sam got it off, I hugged my leg, my ankle on fire. He carefully eased my sock down, and sucked in his breath. My ankle was swollen to twice its size, bulging against the ace bandage. The bruises looked black in the flickering, sickly light.

  "Can you walk on that?"

  "I'll run if I have to." I let out a breath, slowly straightened my leg. My ankle practically screamed at me. "Or maybe not."

  "You should stay--" He cut himself off, grabbing the wall.

  "Sam?"

  "Okay--just lost my balance. Give me your hand."

  I did. His skin felt clammy; mine probably did, too. The water down here was cold, and seemed to feel colder the longer we slogged through it. He pulled me to my feet, and leaned against the wall. I touched his arm, startled to find him shaking.

  "Sam." He looked like he did the other day at school. Just before he collapsed. "Sam--"

  I caught him as his knees gave out, and he knocked us both to the cement floor, landing on top of me. Impact left me breathless, but I recovered quickly enough to feel the difference in the skin under my fingers. He shuddered against me, every muscle clenched.

  "Sam--"

  "No," he whispered. "No--" The whisper escalated to a hoarse gasp.

  I gripped his waist, braced myself to roll him off me. I froze when his eyes stared into mine, and started to change.

  The clear grey-blue turned icy, primal. His pupils grew, black and furious. Those frightening, animal eyes stared down at me, mesmerized me.

  He hauled me up and I let out a harsh gasp when he slammed me against the wall. "Alex," he whispered, his low voice coming out a growl. "Run."

  Without warning the fingers digging into my arms turned lethal. Claws pierced through my hoodie, my shirt--he snatched them away just as the sharp tips brushed my skin.

  "Sam--"

  "Run!" I stumbled backward, but I couldn't leave him. Not like this. "Alex, please--"

  He doubled, dropping to his hands and knees. Muscles bulged, and his t-shirt split at the seams. His ragged breathing turned into panting, and I pressed against the wall when hair started to sprout from his skin.

  "Sam . . ."

  His head flew up, and his lips curled back from teeth that had grown longer, pointed. His panting became pained yips as his nose stretched, and his cheekbones widened, the cracking sound of his bones shifting the most horrific thing I'd ever heard.

  I didn't want to see anymore, but I stayed. For Sam. For some reason, I thought being here would help anchor what was still human in him.

  "Sam." I forced myself to push off the wall, kneel down close to him. Those primal, inhuman eyes watched me, an icy grey-blue in a face that no longer resembled Sam. "I'm here. Stay with me, Sam. I need you to stay with me."

  "Alex." My name came out as a low snarl. "Go."

  I swallowed. "Not a chance."

  He barked at me. Literally barked. "Go!" The word changed to a howl that echoed through the tunnel. If the monster didn't know where we were, it knew now. He lowered his head, panting and grunting, his newly formed claws scrabbling against the cement floor. "Won't--remember--"

  "You will. Jake told me he remembered things when he changed. You can fight this, Sam. Please," I closed my hand over his, ready to be clawed at the very least. He went still. "Fight it, Sam."

  After an endless minute he jerked free, crawling away from me. He left the shredded remains of his shoes and socks behind, clawed, hairy feet sliding over the cement. The seams of his jeans ripped with every movement, and with a horror that froze me, I watched him finish his transformation.

  Seven plus feet of grey fur and sharp claws rose in front of me. I couldn't move. I wasn't sure I was still breathing. He looked terrifying and magnificent, his eyes glowing in the darkness. One claw reached for me, a low growl rumbling out of him. It reminded me of Jake--and snapped the paralysis.

  With a shout I scrambled to my feet and ran down the tunnel, ignoring the screaming from my ankle. My heart pounded so hard I expected it to burst right through my ribcage, and so loud I couldn't hear anything behind me. I risked a glance over my shoulder, turning back in time to see the lip of the tunnel entrance. Just before I tripped over it.

  The snarl echoing behind me was enough to push me back to my feet.

  Clutching the wall of the main tunnel, which was pitch black, I pulled the small flashlight out of my pocket and flipped it on. I limped forward, and took the closest, driest tunnel. The more noise I made, the easier it would be for Sam to track me.

  My limp-run slowed to a limping walk pretty quickly. My ankle shrieked every time I put weight on it. And I had no idea where I was. Sam had the map. Abandoning the kids twisted my stomach, but I had nothing--no direction, no weapons, and a furious, freshly minted monster at my back. I kept going simply to put distance between us.

  The tunnel took a sharp turn. And dead ended.

  "No--" I stomped down my panic and searched the far wall. The beam found a ladder bolted into the wall, similar to the one that led down here.

  I grabbed the ladder, put my right foot on the lowest rung before I turned off my flashlight and stuck it inside my hoodie. Taking a deep breath, braced for the inevitable pain, I pushed up. My ankle didn't disappoint.

  The climb took forever, my left foot not cooperating at all. But I used the leverage of my arms to compensate, and only had a couple of heart stopping slips by the time I reached the top.

  Wrapping my left arm around the top rung, I dug out my flashlight, turned it on with the beam pointing down, carefully inched it up. The first thing the sliver of beam caught was the back of a sagging, wood building. With a sigh, I leaned my head against the ladder. I was in Hyattown.

  22

  Once I climbed out of the hole, I lowered myself to the dirt, flashlight tucked into my side, and took the time to catch my breath. Quietly. The monster could be anywhere, and it already had my scent. If that was how it hunted. I hoped not--though running through algae infested water may have helped me. I sniffed my arm, and shrank back from the stench of sewer and me combined.

  I wanted to find the kids, but I was alone, didn't have any idea where they might be, and not a weapon in sight. The duffle bags were with Sam.

  Feeling like I failed everyone, I got to my hands and knees, the flashlight clutched in my teeth, and started crawling over to the building. After testing the wall for stability, I used it to stand, leaning against the welcome support. I took the flashlight out of my mouth, shined it on the mess of bruises and swelling that masqueraded as my ankle, and put some weight on it. My left leg cried and moaned, but if I kept most of the weight on my right, I'd make it to the exit leading up to--

  Wait--Candace and Jake were here, with the injured boy. Probably Dad and Misty as well. I wouldn't be alone, and maybe they already found the other kids.

  Anxious, and relieved that help was nearby, I used the building as a support, limping down the side alley, hoping I could get my bearings when I reached the front--

  A noise stopped me. I held on to the building, straining, waiting. There--a low moan, like someone was in pain. I lifted my head, spotting the window right above me, the broken glass looking like jagged, ugly teeth. I stiffened at the next sound that floated out--a sob, coming from the other side of that broken window.

  Adrenaline pushed me forward, masked the pain of my ankle. I pulled myself up to the boardwalk, inching along the front, my flashlight pointed down, lighting far enough ahead
of me to make sure I didn't go through rotted wood.

  The door was locked, and there was fresh glass in the window next to the door, which told me I was on the right track. Dread knotted in my stomach, because there was no way a giant, punk black teddy bear could walk into the local hardware and buy a piece of glass. It had an accomplice. A human accomplice. It confirmed the suspicion I'd had since I saw the video in Mrs. Swiller's office.

  Covering my face, I smacked my elbow against the corner of the window. It shattered under the pressure--and a sharp pain shot up my arm.

  "Ouch--oh, damn," I gripped my elbow, expecting to find blood dripping from a nasty gash. It sure felt like the glass had gone straight through my hoodie and into my arm. No blood, but man, that hurt. At least I did what I intended.

  Using the cuff of my hoodie to protect my hand, I knocked the loose shards out of the frame, reached in, and unlocked the door. It squealed when I opened it. I froze, waited for an attack. When nothing happened, I squeezed through, leaving it open. If someone, or something came in behind me, it was a guaranteed alarm.

  I moved the flashlight over the room. It was empty, with only one other doorway, leading toward the side of the building where I heard the distress. I inched forward, along the wall, and discovered the old trick of walking along the wall to avoid a squeaky floor was a lie. At least in this case. Every step announced my presence.

  A gasp echoed out of the doorway, and scrambling sounds. They already knew I was here. I didn't want to scare them any more than they already had to be. So I moved as fast as I could, the flashlight pointed straight at the dark doorway.

  "Hello. I'm not going to hurt you--I'm here to help--oof--" I almost fell backward as a small weight slammed into me. I managed to hold on to my balance, the shaking body, and my flashlight, which I moved until I could see what held on to me with a death grip. My heart jumped. "Katie?"

  "Alex--you came--you found us--" Quiet, heartbreaking sobs cut her off.

  I wrapped my arm around her, whispered soothing words until she calmed down enough for me to talk to her. "Is there someone else here with you?"

  She nodded. "Matt. He's in the other room. His leg is hurt, so I came out to make sure the monster didn't hurt him again--" She took in a shaky breath. "I thought you were it, or its accomplice."