Page 79 of Hunt Me

If I catch a glimpse of Vish or Liam, I’m going to kill them.

‘Where did he come from?’

‘What’s going on?’

‘Kill him!’

‘Are there any others?’

They all talk over one another, too consumed by the stranger barging in on them.

A red-haired woman smashes something against a countertop, the harsh sound silencing them all. She pulls back the body of her bow, whipping the tip and connecting it with the body slumped on the floor.

The body lets out a whimper of pain as it begins shifting.

The red-haired woman doesn’t so much as blink at the pain she inflicts.‘Was snooping outside,’is all she says as she notches another arrow and heads back outside.

She must have been one of the people I’d spotted when I was scoping around earlier, trying to see where was easiest to enter.

Would either of those pricks I call friends be stupid enough to try and enter through the back — too foolish to check for someone on watch and come barrelling in?

I glance around at the bodies blocking my view of the intruder, but the movement draws attention my way.

‘Lu behind you,’a curly-haired woman shouts as she throws a cup at me.

‘What is it with you lot and throwing things,’I grumble, catching most of the objects flying my way.‘Ah, fucking stop it!’I shout as something smacks against my forehead.

What is it with these women and throwing shit at me.

‘He’s Isla’s brother, leave him.’The voice of a lunatic is a pleasantry I did not see coming, nor did I expect her to help end my suffering.

‘Thanks,’I offer a short smile regarding her help.

She rolls her eyes in response. At least she’s not threatening to skin me. I think we’re getting somewhere.

‘Okayyy,’the one with curly hair says as she turns back to the man I now have a clear view of.‘So who is this? And don’t say her cousin.’

The stench is enough to make my blood boil,‘he’s a sewer rat.’

‘Come again?’Luna says, and I look around, finding most of their expressions confused.

‘A group of cannibals live in the sewers. Litt—’ I clear my throat,‘Fauna and I bumped into some of them a few days ago.’

‘Why’s he here?’

Exactly. Why the fuck is he here.

My steps are the only sound as I make my way until I am towering over the stench-ridden man, cautious not to get too close in case he gives me fleas. I pull out the axe Fauna had left in her room and begin carving into his swollen hand.

The rat lurches backwards with a scream of pain like the pathetic parasite he is.

‘Why are you here?’I demand.

He laughs, showing off his black gums.

I lift my axe, angling it to bring it down upon his ankle.

He screeches, pulling his leg into his stomach.