Page 53 of North

“I’m scanning now,” Sasha said.

“You think they were taken like the two boys?” I asked Jess. “To put in cocoons?”

“Maybe.” A groove formed on her forehead. “It’s all so strange. These different breeds of monsters working together. To what end?” She tapped a boot on the floor. “How are they communicating?” She looked lost in thought, then tapped on her communicator again.

“I reckon maybe the cocoon thing is like a fridge to them,” Marc said. “Keeps their snacks fresh until they need them.”

“Gross,” Zeke said.

“I have some heat signatures on screen,” Sasha’s excited voice filled our earpieces.

Everyone straightened.

“Did they head toward the forest?” Jess asked.

“No, they’re still tracking north through the ruins of Picton. They’re moving fast.”

“Can you pick up the five humans?” Jameson asked.

“No, they’re all too close together. The heat signatures are overlapping each other.”

“What’s north of here?” Jess asked.

“As far as I know, more ruins of the surrounding towns,” I said.

“Nothing of interest,” Sasha said. “Wait. I do see a larger, industrial building and…it looks like an orchard. Wait, yes, it’s an old apple orchard. They used to manufacture cider.”

“I like cider,” Marc said.

“It’s been abandoned for decades,” Sasha said, “but…”

“Maybe the monsters are using it,” Jameson said. “Keep tracking them, Sash.”

“Hell.” Sasha’s voice was taut with tension. “Jameson, the monsters just split into two groups, dammit.”

I leaned forward and dangled my hands between my legs.

“One group is continuing north,” Sasha said. “The other is milling around. Dammit, I can’t see where the humans are. They could be with either group.”

“Why did one group stop?” Kai asked.

“They’re waiting for us,” Jess said.

Heads whipped around to look at her.

“What?” Kai asked.

“They know we’re coming. They’re waiting to stop us.”

Jameson checked his carbine. “Then they’re in for a nasty surprise. Hunter Squad, let’s do this.”

“Fuck, yeah.” Marc lifted his own weapon. “Time to take down some monsters.”

I met Jess’ gaze and nodded. She nodded back.

Jess

“There they are,”Colbie said from the cockpit.

---