Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.
"So you're saying that, out there, something is hunting us for sport?" Ethan had to backtrack what this bizarre ground of soldiers had to say, "and we're dropped here like wild animals on the savannah."
"We don't know what exactly."
"Not exactly?"
Price sighed, "They're invisible. Whatever they are . . . they've been killing us one at a time, like this is a game of cat and mouse."
Ethan bit his tongue to stop himself. Invisible creatures? Sounds like . . .
"You should tread carefully. Especially with that mouth of yours." Alan huffed.
He received a hit on the shoulder by Grace, "Enough, Alan. We need to get to shelter before dark."
They walked through mud and 'other things' he couldn't identify. Whatever this place was, it didn't seem real, even the story about these invisible beasts seemed outrageous. He was a practical man and not one to go back on that now. But the fear in their eyes was real and he felt it deep into his bones. The only thing on their minds is get to shelter in the mountains nearby so Brad could receive treatment.
Ethan knew it was a waste of time. He's not going to make it in that condition.
Keeping the hurried pace, the jungle began to disperse into a barren wasteland. But Ethan picked up a foul smell of fire and something else, more like burning flesh.
"Keep your eyes open." Price took the lead while Ethan stayed with Grace and Brad. Alan preferred staying behind but he knew it was more to watch him. This guy has a screw loose in that head . . . or it's more brawn than brains.
It wasn't long before he understood why the others grew intense. They found one body on the side of their path, bones and flesh were charred almost to ash. The unusual part was that he couldn't distinguish if they were human or something else. He didn't know what to think anymore. As they moved on, more bodies were counted and thrown in piles. The smell was becoming unbearable. A knot tied in his stomach, turning into a rock. He wondered why he didn't throw up at this point.
"More bodies. Fucking shit, this place is." Alan started to tremble his fingers on the gun.
"Calm down, Alan. There's nothing we can do. Those things are out there and will keep killing."
"Unless we kill them."
"Okay. Hold on." Ethan stopped in his tracks, forcing the rest of the group to do the same. It pissed Alan, of course, but Price and Grace seemed to take the moment to listen. "Kill them? The imaginary monsters you speak of?"
"It's not fake. This planet is cursed. Everyone who came here is dead and we'll be next if we don't move." Grace suppressed a grunt when Brad started to slip from her grasp, "and he can't take much longer."
"Then what are we standing here for? Oh wait! This asshole who thinks this is all a dream."
It took everything in Ethan not to rush at him like a charging bull and punch him. He learned a long time ago not to engage in anger. It would only make things worse, "I don't need you to lecture me. Especially from a pompous idiot who blows steam from his skull instead of using his brains."
"What did you say!?"
Alan took one stomp and Ethan went into defense, raising a fist while his free hand went for the hand gun. If I have to fight him here, then—
"Help . . . me," Everyone froze, turning towards the direction of the sound. "Help . . ."
"Someone's in trouble." Grace pointed out unnecessarily.
Despite the urgency in her voice, no one moved. Ethan wanted to check it out but with the tension around them and the unknown . . .
Yeah. Not likely.
The voice kept saying it over and over again, more annoying than the last. But then, a shadowy figure slowly emerged from the smoke. Guns were loaded, cocked and aimed for it. The figure materialized until Ethan could see a person limping towards them, a male human. To some of his relief, it was nice that it wasn't something else but the guy had blood all over him. His leg barely attached to his body with strings of muscle waving around, surprising he still could use it. Whatever got him took a huge chunk out of the guy.
"Help me . . . Please."
Ethan stepped to help until he heard Alan make a comment. "This guy again. Really?"
He raised an eyebrow. Huh?
"Alan, calm down," Price raised a hand.
If looks could kill, Alan would have this guy buried six feet into the ground by now. He wasn't sure what went between them but there's no doubt this was their first meeting. And first impressions didn't go well either.
"Come on. He's hurt." Grace pleaded but it fell on deaf ears.
"That's the guy who left us for dead a week ago! He doesn't deserve help!" Alan raised the rifle, aimed for the guy's head, "Better to finish him off."
"Alan, no!"
Grace handed Brad over to Price, moving quickly to block his path. Her hands raised in defense, "Alan! We can't afford to fight amongst ourselves. We have bigger problems."
"Yeah! Like him! Move out of the way or else I'll shoot you too!"
"Alan!"
Ethan watched the argument between them. He thought they were insane that they were bickering like this, being soldiers and all. But then again, he questioned their sanity on the lowest of basics. He stayed out of it, knowing his involvement will do little if not make things worse. This isn't going to go down well.
"Damn it, Alan! Don't do anything stupid. You too, Grace! I know you're a doctor but this is stupid even for you." Price seemed to be calm and collected, much expected from a former soldier.
"We can't just leave him like this. We're doing the same with Brad. So why can't we?"
Before Price or anyone else could take a moment, Grace made the choice. She was halfway to the guy and reaching to hold him. She whispered something with a soothing face. But when Ethan saw the guy, he didn't react in relief or joy of being rescued. He catches the guy's hand reaching behind. Something's wrong.
"Wait, Gra—"
In an instant, the guy whipped Grace around, wrapping his arms like a cage over her. She gasped, crying when a knife pressed on her neck where her jugular vein resided. The guy's demeanor changed dramatically, Ethan could see how wild his eyes had become. Whether from fear or anger, he didn't know.
"Fuck. I knew this would happen," Alan aimed for the guy's head.
"Do it and she dies before you pull the trigger!"
The guy pressed the knife deeper. Red blood oozed from the edge, causing Grace to whimper in fear. Ethan holds his hand gun but keeps it hidden. Great. Another problem to deal with.
"What do you want?" Price spoke.
"I . . . need you to die."
"Excuse me?"
The guy's body began to shake, even his voice, "I need you gone. They said that . . . I'd live if I . . . kill you myself."
"They?" Ethan spoke before he could stop himself.
"The demons . . . the Hunters."
It took everything not to roll his eyes. This again?
"And you believe them?" Alan snorted. "They'll just kill you like all the others before. You stupid cunt."
All of a sudden, the guy began to chuckle, morphing into a laughter of hysteria, "You don't get it! They kill for pleasure and fun! But they gave me a chance to save myself! If I kill you and bring your heads, then I'm free! They won't give me a second glance! Hell! Maybe they will recognize me as one of their own!"
"You're insane!"
The guy grinned like a clown at Price, "We all are! But at least I'm going to live!"
Ethan couldn't believe all of this. First this scared group and now this insane psychopath? This has to be a dream.
"So let me kill you or else—"
Everything snapped into chaos in a millisecond. The guy and Grace screamed as their stomachs exploded in guts and blood. Ethan, Alan, and Price stumbled in shock at what they witnessed. What the fuck?!
Through their bodies, a metal barb of some sort skewered them like butter. The end dripping in dark liquid from a horror movie scene. The guy choked while Grace appeared like she couldn't breathe. Despite knowing he needed to help, Ethan couldn't move his legs. They wouldn't obey, only trembling like his heart that was going to burst. Things only got worse from that point.
To his horror, their bodies raised from the ground and lifted until they were several feet up. Ethan didn't hesitate to pull his gun but he had no idea where to shoot. There's nothing there! But then, he heard the most monstrous roar, inhuman and full of bloodlust. That was when he saw a fuzz of electricity flow over some form. It was massive and unlike anything he's ever seen.
"Bastards!"
Alan openfired without hesitation. The bullets hit the figure but bounced like it was nothing. Ethan did the same but held his ammo when it also did the same. But the figure made a clicking sound and then threw the guy and Grace so far that only a beast could do.
"Fuck! They're here! We need to get out of dodge!"
"But Grace . . ."
"Screw them! Those things are going to kill us next!"
Alan barely pulled Price with Brad in his arms when Ethan saw two more invisible forms coming from the sides. If he saw correctly, two blades unsheathed from them. No question asked now. But are those things the same ones from before?
Ethan ran as fast as he could, hearing another roar from behind. Despite being bigger, Alan was incredibly fast but his worries were on Price and Brad. They were lagging behind, being one is still too injured to move on his own.
"Keep up! We're almost to the other side!"
"I'm trying. But Brad is—"
Out of nowhere, a net enveloped them. Like animals, they fell hard. Ethan and Alan stopped in their tracks, watching them struggle to free themselves. "Shit!"
Alan runs to them in an attempt to break them free. The net was squeezing Brad and Price like a vise, slowly and painfully. "Give me some help!"
Ethan came and tried to yank the netting but as soon as his hands touched them, he pulled back and hissed. Sure enough, he looked to see burned line marks across them, even seeping to his muscles, "What is this?!"
"Just cut it!"
Ethan got his knife and tried to cut the lines. The blade breaks into pieces at the slightest pressure, destroying the last bit of hope like a candle blown out. This wasn't normal netting and he'd never seen anything like it.
"I can't cut it. This is unbreakable."
Suddenly, Alan punched Ethan in the jaw. The pain shot into his head as he landed on the ground, his back getting the brunt force and he swore that he felt something crack.
"You're useless as fuck! You did nothing but watch!"
Alan points his rifle at him. Ethan held his jaw, holding his breath as he stared up into the barrel. He lost it.
"I should have killed you sooner!"
He heard the pulling of a trigger. Ethan wanted to close his eyes, pretend that this is all a dream. This seemed too much to be real but he waited for the end to come like a true soldier.
Just as he was about to feel the bullet run into his skull, Alan screamed. The rifle went off and hit Ethan by the skim of his shoulder, leaving a burning sensation. He gasped, turning to vent his rage but it vaporized in a split second by what he saw. A creature from a horror movie bit into Alan. It looked like a long-spiky porcupine with teeth, gnawing and ripping any open flesh it found. Alan tried to throw it off but another similar creature got his leg, bringing him down with a crash.
He screamed as the beasts began to rip his back open. He tried to reach for his rifle but he was pulled away by the leg. Ethan saw the desperation on Alan but he was frozen. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
By the time he could think, the beasts were eating him alive. They tipped Alan on his back and ripped out his intestines, chomping down on them like noodles. The stomach was next and it wasn't long before Alan went silent, eyes filled with death as he took his last breath and the beasts were feasting on the remains.
Fucking Christ!
Ethan heard the clicking again and saw the figure was right in front of him. He didn't have time to grab his handgun when he felt large fingers wrap around his neck. Something pointy and sharp cut into his flesh. He grabbed for it, feeling that it was an arm. He was lifted off the ground with ease and pulled closer, swearing that he felt breathing on him.
For a split second, he saw behind the figure two more of its buddies standing over Price and Brad. He watched in absolute fear as the figures materialize. They were huge, humanoid beings in metal armor and razor sharp weapons decorating them but have reptilian skin. They stood there, as if waiting for something.
This isn't happening!
Ethan felt the hand wrap tighter around him. From its strength, he knew it wouldn't be long before he would be strangled to death. As if reading his thoughts, the figure made a gurgling sound, almost like a chuckle. Encouraged, the grip grew tighter.
His head began to throb. His lungs burned, struggling to get in air while his vision went almost dark. I have to do something . . . and quickly!
Instincts kicked in and Ethan reached for his small pocket knife tucked in his leg pouch. It wasn't strong but could be enough to distract. Without hesitation, he stabbed the figure where he assumed its arm was. In an instant, he was thrown out of the way as he heard it screech. He landed with a thud, air knocked out of him. He got himself together quickly, seeing what he'd done. Wet liquid dripped from where the knife was embedded but it had a green color to it. The figure growled, turning with a glare that Ethan could feel.
I need to get out of here.
Ethan struggled to his feet and ran as fast as he could, only thoughts to reach the trees on the other side of this barren land. But he knew this wasn't the end of the nightmare as he heard the creature roar.
A declaration of war.
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