Page 79 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Samonsturned and glared at Becker's narrow back as the thin man looked through thepartially broken window. "We had a plan, Becker," he reminded himroughly.
"Blownup, shot, what's the goddamn difference?!" He turned from the window toface Samons, his face a mask of impatient rage.
Sanabacked up to the back wall of the cabin, removing herself from the crossfirebetween the two. From this position, she could see the gun inside Samons'waistband.
"It'sa hell of a lot different from them getting blown up from their own mistake ofnot reading the signs we will put up versus a bullet in their heads," hebit out angrily, sweat beading off his face. "When the county coronercomes to investigate their bodies, they can just focus on the facts that theyare monsters and not focus on investigating the source of the bullet."
Beckerscrubbed an agitated hand down his face before giving Samons a hard look."Look, you dumb, fat fuck. They are not going to hire you back, ok?!"he shouted. "Whether we lead them into a trap or shoot them, no one willbe dumb enough to believe they weren't murdered either way. Once this is over,I’m not sticking around to soak up the imaginary glory for their deaths. Yougot that?"
Samonsface reddened in splotches across his jowls and forehead. "That's…that'snot what we discussed," he hissed.
Donewith arguing the matter, Becker turned back to the window. "Yeah, well,things have chan—What the fuck?" Becker stiffened as he stared at thewindow before straightening and stomping to the front door and jerking it open."Wilson, what the fuck are you doing here?" he yelled out. "Youwere told to stay put!"
Sanacould hear the shout of another man's voice but didn't move. Samons, who nowheld out his own gun, pointed it to her, silently commanding her to stay inplace.
Beckerwatched from the door as Wilson made his way through the designated safe pathand finally made it to the door, his pale forehead glistening in sweat from theheart-racing task.
Assoon as his pale eyes caught hers, Wilson breathed a sigh of relief, showingher more emotion now than he had since her arrival in Tarki.
"Areyou ok?" he asked, stepping towards her.
Sanacouldn’t make herself speak. There was too much information flowing through herright now as she tried to piece together all the facts.
Realizingshe wasn't going to reply, he frowned and stepped closer. "This wasn't howit was supposed to happen. You were supposed to be asleep. They…they were justsupposed to take you to get to him."
Hereyes narrowed. "Get to who? You mean Zach?"
Toddflinched at that before a look of anger swept over his face. "Zach,"he said the name as if it were a curse. "Is a goddamn monster. That…youdid not see what I saw that night. You…" he swallowed his chest, heavingat the words and the memories. "It was a monster, taller and bigger thanSamons. Full of teeth and claws," he gasped, holding his hands out,imploring her to understand. "It took nearly a year for my mind and myvoice to come back to me. Doctors couldn’t explain what happened to my hair andeyes. But I know," he pointed a finger to her. "I know what true fearlooks like when I saw your precious boyfriend rip those guys apart and thenturn to me. I saw the hatred in its eyes as it looked at me."
"You'rewrong!” Sana choked. “Zach found you and took you to the hospital."
Todddidn’t say anything, he just turned from her to look at Becker. "You saidyou wouldn’t harm her, just use her to lure him out here. Why is she herewithin range of the landmines."
"Sheain't in range. If she was, then that means we would be, you albinofreak," Becker threw over his shoulder before turning back to lean ontothe window sill and stare out into the woods. "Now shut up. I thought Isaw something."
Everyonequieted for a moment. Silent, tense waiting as they all strained to listen.After a few more dragging moments, Todd finally spoke again, his voice ahissing whisper.
"Weneed to-"
Ahowl sounded in the distance, and both she and Todd stiffened. Samons andBecker both just stared out their respective windows on either side of thedoor, neither one of them visibly caring too much about the sound. They didn'tknow what they were quite dealing with, she realized. Becker was simply out forrevenge, and Samons only seemed to believe that the Waateses weren't normal.Todd looked at her, and she caught the recognition and fear in his eyes. But heknew, she thought, Todd knew all along. All three men seemed to have differentagendas. Just how long had they been planning this moment, all three hoping forsomething different? She imagined Todd trying to sit down and talk to Samonsand Becker about what he had seen and pretty much pieced together thehalfhearted nods and fake interest from the men. They just used him. Hell, theywere all using each other for their one shared goal of killing Zach Waatese.
Herknees felt weak at the thought.
Again,Todd spoke. "We need to get her out of here, she may be pregnant, and Idon't think…"
Bothmen, Samons, and Becker turned and looked at her with a mixture of shock anddisgust.
"Well,if what you say is true,” Samons sneered at her, “then she should stay righthere then, shouldn't she? We don't want any more of their kind-"
Withhis fists clenched at his sides, Todd stepped towards Becker, interrupting hishorrific words. "This was not the plan we discussed. You were onlysupposed to get him,the monster," Todd shouted, pointing to thefront door.
Sanawatched, petrified to her spot near the back wall as a look passed betweenSamons and Becker, something cold and understood. Todd was looking at Beckerwaiting for his reply when Samons lifted his pistol.
Liftingher hand as if she could stop the act, Sana screamed. "No!"
Butthe shot rang out, and the scream from her throat stopped short as she watchedTodd propel forward from the shot. Staggering, he tried to catch himself, butshe could see his pallid face grow somehow paler as he looked down at his chestto the forming pool of dark blood spreading across his shirt.
Fromthere, everything seemed to happen at once.
