Page 10 of The Hunt

And on occasion when the government wanted to disappear certain person, they’d dump them off near Serenity Falls where the human reapers like Otis Smith and Terry Woods, patrolled the surrounding area for people who found themselves too close to their town.

Serenity Falls was a picturesque slice of Americana to the any outsider who stumbled across it but the residents were anything but. About two thirds of the residents looked human and could mask amongst the average human, but there were also members in the community with deformities that made it impossible for them to ever leave town without instantly being labeled mutants.

But beyond appearance, most residents were ruled by their animal instincts. Some were able to control them better than others while the rest became what Colt and his brother labeled ‘zombeasts’. Zombie like beast creatures who could think of nothing but feasting on fresh meat.

And then there were those like Colt and his brothers who were on borrowed time. They had what the scientist called beast regression where they would eventually give in to their animal instincts completely unless they found a compatible made with blood that would reverse the effects of their condition.

Colt didn’t understand the scientific explanation for it but there was something in the life essence of humans, like their blood and other bodily fluids that had a calming effect to the animal threatening to burst free.

The condition was escalating quickly in Leland and Zeke, while for him, he was taking injections that were supposed to help calm him down. But each time the effects wore off quicker than the previous time. Colt feared by the end of theyear he would be one of the zombeasts and his brothers would eventually follow suit.

That’s what Rolf was probably counting on. That fucker.

It was why the hunt this year was more important than ever.

The front door of his house opened and a shirtless Leland stepped out on the porch with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. “I thought I heard voices out here. Who were you talking to?”

Colt sighed, racking his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Rolf Hendrickson came by for a visit as expected. You knew he’d make a fuss over his son’s death.”

Leland snorted as he cupped the lighter in his hand to guard the flame as he lit his cigarette. He squinted as he took a deep drag and then exhaled a puff of smoke. “Hmm, he didn’t seem to mind when his boys wiped out the entire Jones family last month, in the name of self-dense. Isn’t it convenient that the council was able to claim the Jones land after that and guess who’s living there now?”

It wasn’t lost on Colt that Rolf’s eldest two boys were staying on the former Jones property. There was no doubt he and his brothers were also being targeted. “Yes. That’s why we can’t give him and those bastards a reason to come for us.”

“Fuck them.”

Leland’s chest and arms were covered in a light coat of russet hair. But it didn’t hide the multitude of scars covering his body from the many scuffles he’d gotten into recently.

Lately, the smallest things set his brother off. The once good natured boy was now an ill-tempered man who was ready to fight at the slightest provocation. It wouldn’t be long before he would be completely feral.

“I thought you gave that shit up.” Colt pointed to the cigarette.

“It’sthe only thing that’s calmed my nerves lately. I’m not a huge fan of it either but there’s a reason why this is the number one drug in the world. Besides, it’s better than the shit you’re injecting yourself with,” Leland said in between puffs.

Colt sighed. “You’re probably right. It’s not working like it used to. I nearly ripped Rolf’s head off.”

“Oh yeah?” Leland took one final puff before tossing the cigarette butt to the ground and squashing it beneath his heel. “It would save a lot of us the trouble. He’s gonna end up getting on someone’s wrong side eventually and not be able to talk his way out of it.”

“He’s managed to worm his way out of situations before. I guess only time will tell.” The more Colt thought about that pain in the ass Hendrickson, the more his blood boiled. His beast stirred once again so he quickly changed the subject. “Are you going in to the shop today?”

Leland planted his hands in his jeans pockets and leaned against the pillar. “I might go in a bit later to finish up that project I’ve been working on for that out of town order.”

From the time they were younger, Leland had always been good with his hands. He’d whittle things out of wood. Their father had helped him to hone his craft which had manifested into him making his own custom furniture and woodworks. Colt helped him set up a connection out of town so that his items would sell.

Unable to ignore the elephant in the room any longer Colt decided to tackle the topic head on. “So, last night…”

Leland shrugged. “What about it? They started it. Zeke and I finished it.”

“There’s no getting through to you is there? You know there’s a target on our backs the size of a planet. You can’t keep giving them ammunition to make things harder for us.”

Leland’s gaze narrowed. “When did you become such a pussy?”

“What?”

“You had the worst reputation in town. Starting fights, taking down anyone who challenged you. You used to be a God in this town. And now you’re just a shadow of the man you used to be. Those injections stole your manhood.”

Colt clenched his fists at his sides. The muscles in his jaw flexed as he grinded his teeth together. The familiar rumbling in his chest squeezed his insides and the beast within him fought to break free. He took several calming breaths before he spoke.

“I know you’re just trying to provoke me and it’s not going to work. I’m trying my best to keep you and Zeke safe and to make sure the two of you don’t share the same fate as our parents.”

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