SNAFU: Hunters

“I got you, buddy.” He yanked Deacon from the thrashing creatures, their green arms now adorned with fresh ribbons of human flesh and ligament. Nathan backed up a few steps and heaved Deacon to dry land beside the bay. Hiro was in the middle of the chaos, leaping from one demon to the next, plunging his knife into their skulls.

“Hey, over here,” Donaldson shouted from a dozen paces away. He took careful aim then fired. One of the creature’s heads exploded from the shot, and the body fell. The swarm rushed in Donaldson’s direction. He took out two more before they closed on him. Slashing arms took out his Achilles tendon, and Donaldson crumpled. He dropped his rifle, started fumbling with something he pulled from his pocket, and the swarm enveloped him.

An explosion ripped through the cluster of demons. Nathan instinctively shut his eyes, shielded his head. The blast knocked him back, and he was pelted with chunks.

Nathan took advantage of the distraction provided by Donaldson’s grenade and dragged Deacon deeper into the forest, three-dozen paces from the demon-filled bay, then turned his attention to the wounds. Deacon’s lower legs were missing, bones exposed. The thighs were half-butchered. Deep-red blood was pouring out, and Nathan could see a trail of blood from where they’d come.

“My legs.” Deacon looked down at himself. “My fucking legs.”

“You’re alive.” Nathan pulled two field tourniquets from his jacket pocket. “Now let’s keep you that way.” Pulling out his KA-BAR, Nathan sawed away the pant leg, tore the fabric away, and exposed the gashes. He wrapped the tourniquet strap around Deacon’s right thigh, and tightened it. “Stay with me, buddy.” He tightened the second tourniquet above the deep gouges in the left thigh. “How you doing?”

“I’ve been better.” Deacon groaned.

“This should help,” Nathan said, injecting Deacon with a syrette.

A rustling in the brush behind; something coming towards them. Nathan’s grip tightened on his weapon. The leaves brushed aside. Hiro stepped out with a smile.

“Holy shit,” Nathan said. “I think he got the rest of ‘em.”

“No way. That’s not possible,” Deacon said, his voice slurred.

Hiro walked towards them calmly. “Opium,” he said. “Ngu’Tinh, no eyes.”

“I think…” Nathan paused. “I think he’s saying they can’t see him when he’s high.”

“Bull-fucking-shit.” Deacon’s voice stronger this time.

“How the hell else did he kill all those things? And with nothing but a knife?”

Nathan tossed the bag to Hiro, who fished out the metal spoon, lighter, a vial of brown liquid, and a syringe. He heated the drugs into a bubbling brown liquid, filled the syringe, injected it into his arm then smiled.

“All right, Hiro.” Nathan rolled up his sleeve then held out his arm. “Hit me.”

Deacon watched with wide-eyed disbelief.

Hiro nodded; prepared another dose. Nathan clenched his fist and Hiro aimed for a vein on Nathan’s inner elbow. He felt a pinch as the needle went in. Then Hiro pushed the plunger.

Calm. That’s what Nathan felt. The high wasn’t mind altering or disorienting. He was wide awake, just suddenly happy, mellow. Then he remembered the mantis demon. Nathan quickly checked the tracking device.

“That thing is still out there,” Nathan said. “I’m gonna go kill it.” Then he turned to Hiro. “Protect him,” he pointed to Deacon. “I’ll be back.”

Hiro nodded, and Nathan walked into the forest.

On the tracking device, the red dot was slowly circling the bay. Nathan gauged its path, positioned himself for intercept, then crouched in the brush and waited.

A twig snapped.

Leaves rustled.

The creature was there, a few paces away, slinking through the trees.

It edged closer, within arms-reach. He’d seen how fast it could move. He’d get one chance. Nathan steadied his CAR-15. How did I get myself into this shit?

He pulled the trigger.

Click.

The creature turned towards the sound. A stabbing fear ran through Nathan’s spine as he realised the weapon misfired, and he found himself staring face to eyeless-face with the demon. Heart pounding, breath caught in his throat, the stare-down seemed to last an eternity.

You can’t see me, can you? He tossed his rifle to the side. It landed among some reeds with a splash, and the demon swivelled to face the sound. Then it lurched towards the water, slowly stalking the source of the noise.

I’ve got you now. Nathan drew his KA-BAR then followed the creature. It had a plodding gait, rising and falling a full meter with each lurching step. Nathan stepped carefully behind, slowly, matching its rhythm. The creature bent to the reeds, probing with its serrated arms. Then Nathan leapt.