Chapter 11: Burning a Hunter

"The irony," Spitter said softly, holding a cigarette next to a terrified Smoker's hair, "that a Smoker is going to die by a lit cigarette."

She lit the small cylinder of paper and set it upon Smoker's head. The flame heated up and his hair with it, and finally - to Spitter's enormous satisfaction - a small flame started.

Smoker froze as his hair began to burn, but was surprised when Spitter removed the cigarette. She squatted next to him.

"Now you can see how much I can hurt you, Smokey, the real fun can start."

Her hands dextrously undid the cord around Smoker's mouth; before he could react her hand was wrenching his tongue from his mouth, streaking it taut and holding it firmly in her grasp.

Spitter ran a long, curled fingernail along the long muscle, savouring Smoker's wince. Then she spat, a fairly large glob of her acidic saliva plashing onto his tongue. Smoker's eye almost bulged from its socket as the intense pain rocketed through him, nerves going wild, the agony unbelievable; it was like a fire had ignited on his tongue. Spitter gave a self-satisfied smirk as she saw the raw patch that had been eaten away on his tongue surface.

This time, when she touched it, Smoker's eye screwed shut and beads of sweat dripped from his brow and the end of his nose. Saliva dribbled off his tongue, which was still held in the female Special Infected's fist.

"Oh dear," she remarked. "Looks like it hurts bad." She pressed a hand to the mark and Smoker gave a muffled scream of pain.

Next Spitter walked over to Smoker. The end of his tongue was limp as pain numbed it, so much he couldn't move it. Spitter sat almost in Smoker's lap, both eyes fixed on his one.

Her face drew closer to his, and he struggled - but to no avail. His eye shut as Spitter drew so close her mouth was close to his. Her finger stroked his cheek.

Hunter was ready to attack Spitter, but Jockey was blocking his path. All he could do was helplessly watch as Spitter swooped down onto Smoker and threatened him, opening her mouth, hawking up glob of acid ready to burn his face off.

The little Hunter could see the repulsion and horror in Smoker's face and eye; the way his body was tense, the way he seemed to scream for her to stop threatening him.

Spitter leaned away, eyes gleaming; now she looked more excited.

"That is what I always longed for, Smokey - a lingering death for you, one that lasted ..." And with that she cleared her throat, summoning the acid from the pool in her deformed, bulging belly. Smoker writhed, attempting to get away, but it was utterly fruitless.

Her hands brushed his leg and he twitched involuntarily. She gave a sly smile and moved her hand slightly, touching his belt as if suggesting something.

"I do like innuendo," she commented. "It is so very fascinating, especially when you work out what the person is going to do." Smoker's eye widened with fear at the realisation.

A snarling Hunter rushed past Jockey and smashed into Spitter. No longer could he stand seeing her torment and assault Smoker; no longer could he stand doing nothing as his only family member was brutally tortured.

"Stupid little brat!" Spitter yelled, wrenching Hunter's hood back and lifting him by the hair; although he kicked and squirmed, all his struggling was useless. And he found himself suspended upside down by his ankles, Jockey holding him there as Spitter brought the cigarette lighter ever nearer. The flame flickered as it neared his face; Hunter could feel its heat searing his skin.

"So, how about it, Jockey?" Spitter said conversationally to the slavering creature upending Hunter. "How about some barbecued Hunter?"

"No way," Smoker butted in, although with some difficulty since his tongue was out.

"You can't stop me," Spitter retorted, giving Smoker a steely smile. He replied with an icy glare. His focus shifted to Hunter; the boy was struggling to hold back tears.

"I'll get us out of this alive," Smoker promised the boy. Spitter rolled her eyes. Her arm snaked out, hand tangling in Smoker's hair, and she wrenched his head back sharply. Hunter gave a cry of worry, only to be cuffed about the head by Jockey. Smoker choked and inhaled sharply from the sudden movement.

Spitter crushed his throat with her hand, flattening his trachea, thus stopping air from reaching his lungs just as Nick had done.

"Please, no!" Hunter protested. In a sudden burst of desperation, he wriggled out of Jockey's grip and bit Spitter's wrist.

She let out a scream of pain, wrenching her arm away from Smoker's throat in an attempt to free herself from the sharp teeth buried in her flesh.

"Hunter!" Smoker gasped, clutching his crushed throat. "No! Don't do it!"

Hunter just flashed him a determined glance, digging his claws into her shoulder and hand; she screamed louder, before spitting acid at his face. The burning substance splattered him in the cheek. The little Hunter gritted his teeth against the pain, lashing out and catching Smoker's assailant in the jaw. The acid she had been about to spit hit Jockey in the face.

He gave a mental squeal and fell backwards, clutching his face. Spitter's eyes grew wide with fury.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" she screamed.

A.N: New chapter about another Special Infected coming soon!