Page 13 of North (Hunter Squad #2)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

North

I stared at the cocoons, my gut tightened.

There were so damn many.

There was a noise in the shadows behind me and I swiveled, gun aimed.

I didn’t see anything. Just more of those damn cocoons. I peered into the darkness but didn’t see anything.

My senses tingled. Something was there.

I shook my head. The sooner we got out of here, the better.

I turned back to look at the squad. Jameson pulled a knife.

Suddenly, something grabbed me from behind and yanked me backward.

Something strong.

A dark, wiry arm covered my face, muffling my shout. I hammered against my attacker, and it dragged me back into the darkness, away from the others.

“Hunter Squad,” Sasha said. “Heat signatures are lighting up all around you. Get out!”

I heard carbine fire as I struggled. I caught glimpses of my squad mates fighting. A giant monster bounded toward Marc and Zeke. Jess fired on several small, agile creatures. Hell, they didn’t even know I was gone.

The monster holding me dragged me across the warehouse. I kicked and jerked, but it held me firmly. It was so damn strong. Its hold loosened for a second, then it slammed me to the ground. The air rushed out of me.

A clawed hand in the center of my back kept me pinned to the dirty concrete.

I looked up.

My heart kicked my ribs. There were two of them. They were the same creatures we’d seen in the cave where we’d rescued Hudson.

Their skin was ink black, and their long, skinny bodies were all lean, honed muscle. Long arms were tipped with big claws. One hauled me off the ground, holding me in the air, my feet dangling. Then it reached up and plucked the earpiece from my ear.

Fuck . I fumbled for my knife. I could still hear my squad fighting. Snarls and growls filled the warehouse.

“Come on…assholes,” I gritted out. My hand curled around the hilt of my combat knife.

Then the creature holding me rammed me against the wall. I moved my hand and jammed my knife into its gut.

It let out a hissing noise, and the claws at my throat tightened until I couldn’t breathe. I felt blood trickle down my neck. I tried to kick the thing. It yanked the knife out of its side, and didn’t seem affected.

The knife clattered to the ground. The second monster stepped closer. There were no eyes, but it seemed to be focused on my face. It cocked its head.

“Come…on. Fight me.”

The hold on my neck loosened and I sucked in air. I filled my burning lungs.

Then the second monster made a noise.

Its snout flared open. What the fuck? Horror froze me. I stared at the strange, small sucker mouth inside.

Then, a sticky substance shot out and sprayed onto my face.

Fuck me . I turned my head and clamped my mouth closed. The sticky web stuck to my face and body. I twisted, trying to get free, but a moment later, I was stuck to the wall.

The first monster stepped back. I kept struggling, but I was stuck in place by the substance.

“ Argh .” I shoved against the stuff. I could still hear my squad in the distance. I had to get their attention. They’d come for me.

But the roars and grunts of monsters filled the air.

My thoughts turned to Jess.

God . I hadn’t been looking for her. I didn’t want to have feelings for someone. Not these strong emotions. It hurt to lose someone and I didn’t want to lose her.

I was falling for her, and now, I wish I hadn’t been afraid. I wished I’d grabbed ahold of her and never let go. I wished I’d told her how I felt.

Not giving up . I kept struggling. I didn’t want to die like this. I sure as hell didn’t want to end up as a mummified body in a cocoon.

My squad needed me.

I needed Jess.

More sticky web hit my face. The stuff bound around me until I could barely move.

Soon, I’d be locked in a cocoon.

No . I kept struggling, but more of the substance covered my face until I couldn’t see anymore.

No.

Jess

The monsters came at us from all directions.

There were lots of the small, possum-like ones that scuttled across the floor and sprung into the air.

I fired on them.

One of the large monsters with a long tail and armor plating leaped at the twins. All the squad were fighting and firing their weapons.

“Take that, you scaly bastard.” Marc’s voice.

Zeke and Marc were working together. Zeke leaped onto the monster, as Marc ducked under the swinging tail. Zeke slapped an explosive charge onto the creature’s neck, then jumped off and rolled.

The charge went off, and gore and scales flew in all directions.

Jameson and Kai were firing on more bird-like monsters that were fluttering on the ceiling. They had their carbines up, swiveling to take each shot.

But the monsters kept coming.

Nearby, a cocoon started shaking.

“Help! Get me out.” It was a panicked female voice.

I kept firing on the possum monsters.

A large cat-like creature raced out of the darkness and pounced at me. I hit the ground, rolled and fired. With a snarl, it dropped to the floor.

“Fire in the hole,” Kai yelled.

I heard the sound of metal pinging on the ground.

Boom .

The grenade exploded. I ducked, and threw my arms over my head. I saw several monsters fly through the air.

I stayed down, then ran toward the cocoon. “Hold on, I’m here to help.”

“Thank God,” came the muffled voice inside. “Please, get me out.”

I was reaching for my knife when another armored Ankylosaurus-monster skulked out of the darkness. Its heavy tail moved side to side behind it. I whipped my carbine up and fired at its eyes.

The creature’s roar was deafening. Yeah, yeah, you’re big and scary. Now, jump and show me your belly.

It leaped.

I pulled the trigger, aiming for its weak spot.

Its body jerked and it fell, landing on its side. I waited a beat, but it didn’t get up and no more monsters appeared. I prayed that we were starting to thin them out.

Zeke appeared beside me. “Okay?”

“Cover me,” I told him. “I found one of the guards.”

The quiet man nodded.

I yanked out my knife and started hacking into the cocoon. I gritted my teeth, sawing through the substance. “Hang on.”

“Jess,” Zeke said sharply.

I looked up. There was a creature, hidden by the shadows, and I could just see red eyes glowing in the darkness.

Shit . I gripped my carbine. The hairs on the back of my neck rose. It was tall and I thought I got the impression of wings, but I could be imagining. I felt…a sense of intelligence and menace.

Then the eyes blinked out. Nothing.

“Where did it go?”

“I’ll check. You help her.” Zeke strode forward.

I resumed cutting into the cocoon and finally I freed the woman’s head.

“Thank you.” She had matted blonde hair and was covered in sticky goop. She spat to the side and then started coughing.

“Take it easy.” I helped her out. “Are you Kitt?”

She blinked. “Yes.”

“We’re Hunter Squad.”

There was relief on her face.

“I’ve got another one,” Marc yelled.

I glanced over and saw him cutting into a cocoon. He freed a sobbing man.

I helped Kitt free of the cocoon and she stumbled, trying to catch her balance. Then she saw the other man.

“Harry.” She ran over to hug him.

“Open all the cocoons,” Jameson barked.

I cut into the next cocoon. A kangaroo fell out. It was dead.

The next one was a short, stocky man. He slid to the ground, deathly still. He wasn’t breathing.

“Chris!” Kitt cried.

“Where’s North?” Jameson dropped down beside the man.

My chest hitched. Where was North? I hadn’t seen him in the fight. “He was behind me earlier.”

“I didn’t see him during the fight,” Kai said.

Oh God. Where was he?

Jameson started CPR on the man. Finally, he shook his head. “He’s gone.”

Kitt stifled a sob.

“Marina.” Harry said. “And Gus. We have to find them.”

God, we’d have to tell them about Gus.

“Everyone keep checking the cocoons.” Jameson touched his ear. “North, respond. North?”

Panicked flutters filled me. Where was he? He wouldn’t just leave.

Not of his own accord.

A crushing sensation hit me. I couldn’t lose him.

I’d lost my mother. I’d lost my father. I had a big extended family, but I’d lost the people who were mine. Who cared most about me.

I couldn’t lose North.

When he looked at me, he saw me. He wanted me in a way no one ever had before. He was mine. I felt that deep in my heart.

Jameson gripped my shoulder. “We’ll find him. North is the most resourceful person I know.”

I nodded.

“Marina?” Kitt yelled. “Marina?”

I heard a vague noise. Pushing down the sharp-edged panic inside me, I hurried over to another cocoon and cut it open.

The woman came out coughing. She was older, her dark hair stuck to her head. Her eyes were wide and freaked out.

“Marina?” I asked. “You’re safe now.”

She held up a hand, clearly focused on not falling apart. “I’m… all right.”

The others arrived to help pull her out.

I scanned around for North, my worry growing.

“North?” I yelled.

“There was another guard with us,” Kitt said. “Gus.”

I sucked in a breath. “Kitt, I’m sorry, he didn’t make it.”

She pressed a hand to her mouth. “No.”

“I’m sorry. We were there with him at the end. He wasn’t alone.”

Then I spotted something in the darkness, on the ground. It was white with blue on it.

Frowning, I walked over. Then I saw what it was.

My pulse went crazy. “Jameson!”

I snatched up the small robot. “North had this. Hudson gave it to him.” I spun. “North!”

We all started shouting.

“North!”

I turned and that’s when I saw the carbine on the ground. Just beyond it, was a cocoon on the far wall. It was large and still wet. Freshly made.

I saw it move weakly.

My heart lodged in my throat. “North!” I ran.