Hunter: Escape

I awoke the next morning with tension and anxiousness. Today we would escape. The plan Jake laid out for me last night was racing across my mind. A distraction…we needed to come up with a distraction and I had one in mind that was sure to get everyone's attention.

The guards entered the room with Dr. Allan and Dr. Chaplin. He seemed excited…but not for the same reasons I was. "Well Little Fighter, did you have a pleasant sleep?"

I gave him a venomous look and hissed lightly.

"Excellent. Well today I'd like you to interact with one of the Predators and we'll observe."

I started my act of ignorance, "Why?"

He smiled as he did when I questioned him like that, "They named you aptly it seems…always confrontational. We've never witnessed their kind peacefully interact with any humans before and we'd like to observe this new side of them…for curiosity's sake."

Smiling fakely at him I got up from the bed and the guards assumed their positions around me before leading me out the door. Inside I was smiling. They were all about to get exactly what they deserved and they hadn't the slightest clue. On the way to the cell chamber we passed Jake traversing the halls. His eyes met mine for a brief instant but we tried to remain inconspicuous in our manner. I just hoped everything worked out.

When we finally reached the room Dr. Allan asked me to choose a Predator. I selected Garv and as soon as I did the guards moved me into an airlock chamber with doors on both sides: one opened out and the other opened into Garv's cell. The doors hissed open and I strode in.

Garv came to my side instantly and began to look my body over, "Have they hurt you?"

I smiled at his concern for injuries, "No. I'm fine."

"Why are they allowing you in here with me?" he asked harshly glaring at the observers all around.

"They want to see how we interact. I don't know what they hope to see or learn…Garv we're getting out of here." I stated.

He clicked in amusement, "How?"

"Jake is going to help us escape."

At the sound of the man's name Garv tensed and straightened himself, "WHAT! That spineless worm! Why would he help us?"

I gave him a hard look, "I know you don't like him…and I know why. But he's our only chance to escape."

He crossed his beefy arms and rattled, "And…how does the Flathead propose to aide us? He could scarcely save himself without you."

"We need to create a distraction and he will open these cells for us and then he'll show us where your weapons are and then lead us out of this place." I explained.

"I don't trust him." He growled bluntly. "How do you know he won't betray us or if not that, fail to do as he proposes?"

I ground my teeth at his stubbornness. "Garv, he's our only hope. I'm only asking you try to go along with the plan."

An undulated rumble signaled his disdain and frustration, "Fine…I'll trust your belief, but not him."

I guessed that was as good as it would get. "Ok. We have to give them a distraction so he can get his job done."

His spiked brow inclined slightly, "What kind of distraction?"

"Act like you're going to kill me."

"What?" he clicked.

I reiterated, "Act like you're going to kill me or something. That will definitely get their attention."

His lower mandibles slid sideways a bit, "But…I could hurt you."

"If that gets us out of here I really don't care. Just do it Garv." I insisted.

He shifted, which was almost amusing because he was so hesitant. But now wasn't the time.

I narrowed my eyes and took on an aggressive tone to start the ball rolling, "Dammit Garv! Show some aggression! WHAT? Do I have to motivate you?"

Then he got a funny look on his face I couldn't exactly pin down, but it was a look I'd definitely never seen him give. It was almost an aggressive look but it was something else too. A deep rumble emanated from his barreled chest as he stepped toward me. I stepped back. Suddenly he surged forward and took hold of both my wrists in one hand and effortlessly held me up. I mimicked fear as he hissed at me, flaring his mandibles. Forcefully, but not full force, he dropped me and shoved me back against the opposite wall in the same motion. I hit hard enough but recovered by the time he was within a few feet of me. He was growling and hissing as he stalked over to me. GOD! He was scary even if this was fake!

Lunging forward he tried to catch me again with a shriek. I ducked, giving the onlookers the impression that I was desperately trying to escape him. Already I could hear Dr. Allan shouting something and a good majority of the guards were beginning to race toward the cell. It was working!

I shouted at Garv to make it seem like I was trying to calm him down, "It's working! Come on big guy! Come on!"

He spread his arms wide, with a loud shrieking roar and leaped at me. Placing his massive hand just below my sternum he pushed me forward and put my back to the clear wall. My eyes went wide with shock as his hand slid up my chest, hesitating slightly between my breasts and finally clasped around my slender neck. Slowly he lifted me off the floor by my throat, but as gentle as he could.

My eyes darted from him to the door as I dangled there. The guards were coming in. Come on Jake! Come on!

No sooner had I thought those words the lights in the cell and the entire room went out enshrouding everything in pitch blackness. I couldn't see but I knew the Predator's could; one of the many benefits to heat vision. In the darkness I could hear the guards' shouts of confusion and the hissing of the doors opening.

Without wasting a second Garv released me and with a thunderous roar of unmitigated rage he attacked the blind mob of men. I squinted but my eyes could capture no light at all. All I could hear were the sounds…the awful sounds of death screams, spilling body fluids, bones breaking, and bodies hitting the floor and the walls with awesome force! I remembered…

Across the room I could hear more screams and the distinct roaring bellows of Hunter and Fire Blood as they burst from their cells and proceeded to kill all the men in the room! Intermitted muzzle flashes of guns gave the room a strobe light-like glimpse of the carnage. I watched for the glowing green blood of my friends but it never came. Outside Garv's cell I caught brief silhouetted horror scenes of the slaughter my clan wreaked upon their enemies: a man's head bending back and a fountain of misted blood erupt from his screaming mouth, necks snapping at unnatural angles under the unforgiving strength of a Predator's clawed hand, viscera spilling and flying across the room like gory confetti…and many more horrifying visions.

Scream after scream filled my ears and the sounds of death and carnage surrounded me. My clan would not stop. Then…things became quieter. The screams lessened until all could hear were the heaving breaths of barely contained blood lust coming from the hunters.

After a moment more, the lights returned and revealed the bloody scene. I stepped over the bodies of shredded, broken men. We'd hunted before…but this was rage/revenge killing. No weapons. It struck me the damage my clan could inflict without the use of weapons. I scanned the bodies hoping secretly to find the smug bastard Dr. Allan among them. But…I couldn't find him. There were a few white suited bodies but none of them were him. Did the coward flee and leave his men behind in the heat of the blood bath? That sounded like something he'd do. I cursed. If given the chance I would've loved to knock the shit out of him for what he tried to do to my friends. Of course, I'd have to beat the Predators to it.

Hunter turned to me, blood covering his hands and streaked across his chest, "How did you get the doors open Little Fighter?"

"Jake did that. He's helping us escape." I said finally snapping out of my silent staring.

He gave me a surprised look but said nothing.

Behind me Fire Blood was looking at Garv and asked directly, "And just what the HELL was that Garv?"

"What?" he clicked.

The giant Predator snorted, "THAT! Do my eyes deceive me or were you pulling a few mating ritual moves on Little Fighter?"

I gasped in shock. Was THAT what he was doing?

Garv stole a quick glance at me and tilted his head from side to side slightly, "Well…she wanted a distraction."

Fire Blood barked a quick deep laugh and shook his head, "You're a sick bastard Garv."

"Shut it you two! We must find our weapons and get out of her and back to the ship…NOW!" Hunter growled commandingly.

The younger Predators nodded and Garv looked to me, "So where's the Flathead?"

I was about to answer when all at once a door opened across the room and we all heard Jake shout from outside, "Come on! We don't have much time!"

Immediately I ran to the door to check and make sure it really was him but Garv got in front of me and looked instead. I peered through the space between Garv's arm and his body and could see Jake standing outside the door. Judging from his expression it was the first time he'd seen my friends without their masks. I had to stifle a snicker. For a first timer they were rather…shocking to behold. Garv rumbled low at Jake giving him the evil eye as he ducked under the doorway.

Jake tipped his head slightly, "Nice to see you too Garv."

I entered after the Predators and met Jake, "How you know Garv?"

The man shrugged, "Just a guess."

"Jake we need weapons. Where weapons?" I asked urgently.

"Follow me," he stated taking the lead. I followed directly behind him and my friends followed too; reluctant to let an Ooman take the lead.