Reid spends the remainder of that terrible morning and part of the afternoon following the fence. He feels weighted down, as though something sits on his shoulders, driving him into the ground. It takes him almost an hour to figure out it’s loneliness he is feeling. The sounds of others beside him, Leila’s hand brushing against his. Milo and Cole alternating their arguments with giggles. Little Alex and squeaky voiced Megan.
But not Marcus. Never Marcus. Reid pauses when he understands what’s holding him back and picks up a rock. He flings it at the fence, watching the cascade of sparks with some satisfaction, picturing the target as Marcus’s face and not a spot of chain link.
He isn’t sure it will help but it does make him feel better. Enough he is able to carry on.
Settled into the idea of being alone, he moves on. He discovers he’s been trudging along next to the fence in the clear space the builders made between the woods and the barrier, so wrapped up in feeling betrayed he almost forgot what’s out here with him. Now at peace with leaving the others behind, and despite the absence of further hunter cries, his good sense takes over again, driving him into the relative shelter of the tree line. Even then he shudders from time to time at how exposed he really is.
The fence curves away in the distance, an endless ribbon of dark metal. Reid wonders what happened to it, that the normal shine he’s used to from chain link is missing until he has a duh moment. They’ve done something to it, of course. Probably to mask it from obvious view from the air. There’s no way the creators would want the general public finding out about their little experiment.
Reid pauses when he hears a cry, but not from fear. This is a different kind of cry, one he recognizes with great affection. He looks up and sees a bald eagle circling low overhead, giant wings actually casting a shadow over his face as it spins down toward the ground. It settles on a tree not far from him, so majestic Reid finds himself smiling in wonder.
His father was the first one to show him a bald eagle nest, pointing out the massive mass of sticks and debris at the top of a dead tree. Every year for many years they returned to find the same mating pair in the same place. Reid loved to watch the giant birds circle, their white heads shining in the sunlight, calling to each other. How lonely they seemed, but, as his father said, at least they had each other.
That’s when he has another duh moment, only this one is intensely personal. He sees the eagle as himself, the lone hunter, aloof and too proud to bend. Sees his father’s smile in his memory as they shared the constant visiting ritual. It stops him in his tracks, and he stares at the beautiful bird while his mind and his heart work it out.
First, he has no idea where he is along the fence line or how close he is to a gate, if there is one in the first place. Reid doesn’t know how big the enclosure is but he’s been walking it for days now and could spend several more in misery searching it. That is, if he doesn’t get caught first.
Second, if he does find a gate, there’s no way he can just leave the others behind. Part of him whispers he could, that he would only be going for help, but he can’t bring himself to believe he would abandon the rest of the pack like that. Which means he would be turning around and going back anyway.
Third, his stubbornness and anger at Marcus is making it harder for everyone to survive. And as much as he despises him, Reid knows he’s not helping matters by being so aggressive himself. It still hurts a great deal, how the kids picked Marcus over him, but even that doesn’t seem right to Reid anymore. Cole said he chose to hide. He didn’t choose Marcus. When Reid puts that together, it not only makes him feel better but goes a long way to resolve the conflict inside him.
He has to go back and convince them to help. Or stand ground with them. He needs to choose.
As his inner turmoil comes to a close and he decides to return, the great eagle lifts off again, the sound of its wings a rushing rustle of feathers and air. He watches it go, finds himself waving a little as it does.
Determined and repentant, Reid turns around. And for some reason, he thinks of Leila. Her face is so sharp in his mind he almost stumbles. Why is he so focused on her all of a sudden? Reid finally admits the truth to himself. It wasn’t the kid’s supposed betrayal that hurt him so much, not Cole or Alex or even Milo. It was hers, the fact she chose to stay with Marcus, that she is determined to save even him, that Reid is so devastated.
But he can’t have feelings for her. Not now, not out here in the forest while the hunters chase them and kill them. He can’t afford to have emotions like those distract him. It’s too dangerous. And yet, he admits, he cares for his young friends too, and knows he would do anything to save Milo or Cole. Would have done so for Drew if he had the chance.
Reid knows what he feels for Leila is on a whole other level from that and accepts it at last. He has no intention of telling her, not until they are safe, but at least he is no longer trying to fool himself about how he feels.
Reid is amazed love can grow in a place of terror and death. Heart lighter and mind made up, he feels better with every step he takes. He’ll convince them, work on them until they say yes. Even Marcus. They’ll see they need to listen, to pay attention. And maybe they’ll be ready when he gets back. Who knows, they might be missing him. She might be. And that could be all it takes to get them moving again.
He’s a long way from the town, though the pace that led him away was much slower than the one that carries him back. He spends the entire time going over and over what he can say to them, how he can say it. Reid plays out countless scenarios in his mind, running the gamut from begging them to listen to killing Marcus in a duel. The former makes him grin and the latter does too, but in a fierce way. But when his fantasy concludes with Leila fawning over him, Reid snaps himself out of it and goes back to trying to figure out the best way to convince them.
Despite his speed, it is near dark by the time he thinks he is almost there. Reid is so wrapped up in what he plans to say to them, that when he hears a breath of movement nearby he almost doesn’t react in time.
He turns his head at the subtle sound and looks. Something tall and lean eases past, just visible through the trees. Reid is so deep in his thoughts it takes a moment for his panic to drive him to his knees and into cover. He’s too late hiding and he knows it. Way too late. That was a hunter, plain and simple, and Reid is dead.
Except he isn’t. He huddles there, shuddering, cursing himself for his stupidity and lack of focus. Until he realizes nothing has happened, he is still alive and, from what he can tell, alone. Reid risks a look. The forest is quiet, the last of the light no longer penetrating. His eyes adjust slowly but he is certain, his instincts are too.
The hunter left him in peace.
As much as Reid should be grateful, it stirs fear inside him. Why did it leave him alone? It must have known he was there. That leads to another line of questions he doesn’t have time for. The hunters are obviously designed for what they do. Why are any of the kids still alive? When they could simply round all of them up and kill them?
Reid is on his feet and moving, doing his best to hurry and be quiet at the same time. The answer is obvious yet again. It’s not just about the hunt for these creatures. Most of the fun is in the game.
And right now the most interesting moves on the board are in the abandoned town where a pack of weary kids are hiding.
Reid drops the pretense of being quiet and runs. If they want to take him, they will. He really has no way to prevent it. For now all that matters is getting to the others in time to warn them.
He pants to a halt on the low brow of a hill and peers through the trees at the town. Reid can see the rear of the gas station and has a clear view all the way down the main road. The sun is long gone now, the streets below lit with the cold blue light of fluorescents. He can hear them buzzing from where he stands. The street is quiet, all of the houses dark. At least they’ve taken that precaution. A flicker of light catches Reid’s eye, drawing his gaze. A line of illumination shines out from ground level at the back of the gas station.
They have been careful. But not careful enough. Reid makes a face. They forgot to block under the damned door.
He circles slowly around, looking for the hunters. He can’t just run out there, not knowing if they are watching or not. Although the idea that the hunters don’t have the town under surveillance by now is ludicrous and he knows it. Of course they do. They question is will they let him reach the kids before they attack or will they take him down and let his screams warn the others that the game is on again?
He has no desire to find out. But he has to warn them somehow.
Reid is almost around the side of the gas station, closest to the fence, desperately searching his experience for the means to get a message through when he sees the hunters coming. They don’t try to hide, simply walk in their liquid grace down the center of the street. They ooze through the light, black on black, only their pale faces uncovered. Reid freezes and gapes, his heart clenched in fear.
There are at least twenty of them.
He can’t believe it. Reid knew there were at least three, if not more, but the sight of so many together makes his soul shrivel. How can they possibly win with so many coming after them? As he watches, unable to move or act, two more ease out of the dark and join their fellows.
Reid is so overwhelmed by what he has learned he doesn’t notice what the last two are carrying until they are in front of the station. The squarish red canisters make sloshing noises he can hear even from where he hides. He doesn’t have to smell it to know what they are now splashing over the outside of the building.
Gas. Has to be. And the tanks… the underground tanks will be at risk if they light the fuel. Everyone will be killed, including the hunters. They can’t be serious. It must just be a ploy to smoke the kids out.
Bad choice of words. Reid sees the lead hunter hold up a long, slim tube and break off the tip. A bright red light bursts into aggressive life, showering sparks all over the ground. Reid can see the creature’s eyes glowing in the powerful fire, its teeth shining in the brilliant glare as it grins and tosses the flaming stick into the pool of liquid.
***