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Kai pulled out his knife and helped Jameson hack through the web. We pushed deeper into the cave. The sticky crap caughton my armor, and I grabbed it, trying to rip it off. It stuck to my gloves.

We couldn’t risk calling out to the kid, and alerting the monster if it was close by.

Finally, we reached an open space. The web stuff was all over the walls.

“Shit,” Jameson said.

We skirted a large rock. In a few places, the web stuff was dense, creating oval-shaped balls.

I frowned. “Is that web…coating something?”

North reached one of the thicker pod-like things. He cut it open with his knife.

A body fell out.

“Fuck,” Kai cried out.

I leaped back.

The body was desiccated, the skin like leather. But I could tell it was a woman. She’d had lots of blonde hair.

“Shit.” North crouched and touched her. “She was in some sort of cocoon.”

“That’s just wrong,” Kai said.

Jameson was frowning fiercely. “How long has she been in there?”

“It’s hard to tell.” North shrugged. “My best guess is a month or so.”

“H-help.”

The small voice made me swivel.

North shot to his feet. “Hudson?”

“Yes. I am…here.”

I shifted my shoulder, my flashlight shining against the far wall. I spotted a small cocoon. It was moving. “North, look.”

We raced over. I saw the boy was only partially covered by the sticky substance. His face was still half visible.

North carefully cut into the sticky web with his knife. “Hey, Hudson. I’m North. We’re here to take you home.”

The boy gave a hiccupping sob. “You’re…Hunter Squad.”

“That’s right,” North replied.

“I told Joe you’d come for us. When the…thing took us.” His voice cracked. “Joe. Is he okay?”

“We found him. He’s safe. He’s more worried about you.”

“He’s my best friend.”

North cut Hudson free, and the boy slid out with a cry.

“Careful.” North eased him onto his back. “It looks like your arm’s broken. Let me take a look at you.” With quick movements, North pulled his backpack open.

“North…the thing.” Hudson’s voice lowered to a whisper. “It’s still here.”