Page 65 of Rebirth

“Freak?”

Nathan growls. “You know what the fuck I’m talking about. That thing! The alien. The one that was with you.”

My lips press into a line as I try to come up with a quick response.

“Don’t even think of lying to me.” His voice holds a deathly warning that I would be a fool to miss.

I hesitate. “He’rox doesn’t want to hurt people. He was trying to help.”

The gun presses into my back. “Tell me how to kill him.”

I stiffen some more. “There may be a way,” I lie. “But first you need to be cured. Otherwise, he’ll kill you easily in your state.”

Nathan hesitates. “I swear, if you try to trick me…” He leaves the rest unsaid. “You’re friends with that monster. Why would you help me kill it?”

“He’s my enemy.”

I start walking again, formulating a plan as I move through the bushes.

Gain access to a gun without alerting Nathan. Then blast him into nothingness. The tentacle suggests he may already be partly influenced by the parasite, not fully himself. Reasoning with him is impossible now.

As we walk, I glance over my shoulder and see two writhing tentacles now bursting from Nathan’s back. The infection is progressing rapidly. I have to act quickly before he’s totally lost.

When we reach the campsite, Nathan keeps the gun trained on me while I move about, gathering supplies. I notice three pistols lying on the ground near one of the tents, likely abandoned when the whole camp took off after me.

If I can distract Nathan even for a second, I might be able to grab one.

I turn to him, rambling about needing more medical equipment as I subtly edge closer to the tent.

“The infection is advanced,” I say. “We need a serum, anti-inflammatories…”

Nathan waves the gun impatiently. “Just do something!”

I keep talking, inching closer. When I’m within reach of the guns, I make my move, diving for the ground, fingers closing around a pistol. I hear the gunshot right before there’s a searing pain in my shoulder as I crash into the ground.

But before I can turn and fire to defend myself, there’s a sickening squelch.

I turn wide eyes to the man as I watch a white, clawed hand materialize, protruding from his chest.

He’rox comes into form behind Nathan as Nathan turns wide eyes over his shoulder. He tries to turn his gun, but it’s too late. He’rox tugs, dragging Nathan as he pulls his hand out Nathan’s back and I glimpse a bloody organ in his grasp, right before the world goes dim.

* * *

The pain in my shoulder fades in and out as darkness pulls at the edges of my vision. I’m vaguely aware of being lifted, strong arms cradling me gently.

“Sophie, can you hear me?” He’rox’s voice echoes from far away.

“You…came back,” I whisper, head lolling only to be supported by a large claw.

“I was always close by…”

I close my eyes, letting the rocking motion of He’rox carrying me lull the nausea.

After a while, I crack my eyes open again. We’re moving through the forest at a trot. He’rox’s eyes shine with concern as he glances down at me and I would smile if pain wasn’t shooting through my arm like a bitch on steroids.

“Where are we going?” I whisper.

“Somewhere safe,” he says.

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