“Thank you,” Betty chuckled. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “We all already knew Tav liked hoes,” Anna said with a pointed look at Tara.

  “Hey!” Tara laughed and hit the redhead on the arm.

  “I do like the hoes,” I chuckled as I took another bite.

  “That sounded so wrong,” Paige said seriously, but then her expression cracked, and she broke into a laugh.

  “Oh,” Betty said. “I almost forgot.”

  The old woman reached behind the stove and pulled out a bowl filled with some meat chunks and hoe cakes.

  “Is it okay for him to have the hoe cakes?” Bailey asked quickly.

  “Oh, yes dear,” Betty said as she set the bowl down in front of Winchester. “It’s just cornmeal.”

  “Okay,” Bailey said. “Thanks for keeping an eye on him.”

  “Of course,” Betty said with a smile.

  “He’s feeling better,” I said. “So he’ll probably want to come out to do chores with you. But don’t let him out until we’ve been gone for a while. I don’t want him running after us.”

  “Alright,” Rolly said, and he reached down to pet Winchester’s black head.

  “I’m done,” Anna said. “So I’m going to go gear up.”

  “I’ll come with,” Paige said as she shoved the last bite of hoe cake into her mouth.

  “That girl is forever hungry,” Betty chuckled after the two had gone.

  “She told me that she used to forget to eat because she studied so much,” I said.

  “Oh, my.” Betty frowned. “No wonder she’s always hungry.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Bailey said.

  “Yeah,” I said. “I think that’s why she loves home-cooked meals so much.”

  “Well, she can have all of them that she wants,” Betty said with a grin.

  “Speaking of cooking,” Tara said to Bailey. “What kind of cake do you want?”

  “We’re making cake?” Rolly asked.

  “It’s Bailey’s birthday in a few days,” Tara explained.

  “Well, happy early birthday,” Betty said.

  “Whatever cake is fine,” Bailey said softly.

  “What cake do you want, dear?” Betty asked in her best mom voice, and there was no arguing with that.

  “Ch-chocolate?” Bailey stuttered.

  “Chocolate it is,” Betty said with a smile.

  “Alright,” I chuckled. “Let’s go gear up. We have a long day ahead of us.”

  “Right,” Tara sighed. “Killing cannibals and all that.”

  “Yes,” I said. “Killing cannibals and all that. Now go gear up.”

  “I like it when you’re bossy,” Tara said, and she gave me a peck on the cheek before she danced out of the room.

  “We’ve got things covered here,” Rolly said. “You all go do what you do.”

  “Thanks,” I told the old man. “We’ll be back before dinner.”

  I headed to the front door of the dorm building where I had taken off my vest, helmet, and gear the day before and started to put them on once more. Soon the whole team was ready, and they looked badass with their military helmets and vests on.

  Anna wore all black athletic gear with running sneakers, and her usual long braid was under her helmet. She looked like a true Major with her determination and athletic physique.

  Tara wore black skinny jeans, a green sweater under her vest, and her platinum blonde hair was pulled back into a low ponytail to accommodate her helmet. Her striking features and fierce look reminded me of a viking woman ready for battle.

  Paige looked incredibly fitting in her role as team medic. Her large glasses sat under her helmet, and she had a serious expression that said she meant business. Her blue jeans and hiking boots were typical, but today she wore a tight fitting black hoodie under her vest, and her long brown hair was pulled back into a low ponytail.

  Bailey, my sweet, flower child sniper looked deceiving as hell. She wore ripped up skinny jeans, hiking boots, and a green zip up hoodie. She smiled at me as she stood with her scoped M14, and I knew that if anybody saw her right then they would never believe the devastation she could bring.

  “You all look ready,” I said with a soft smile.

  “Let’s do this,” Anna said with a nod.

  “I’m ready.” Bailey grinned.

  “Me too,” Paige said, and she pushed her glasses further up on her nose.

  “Well, let’s go then,” I laughed.

  “Let’s go fuck up some cannibals,” Tara said seriously, then she looked around at the blank faces of the girls. “What? Wasn’t that a cool line?”

  “No,” Anna said.

  “What would you have said?” Tara asked with a hand on her hip.

  “Oooh, ooh, I got one,” Bailey said excitedly, then she spoke in her best male voice, which was absolutely terrible. “Time to devour some man eaters.”

  “I think that was worse,” Paige laughed.

  “Much worse,” I agreed.

  “Damn,” Bailey said.

  “Don’t listen to them,” Tara told the other blonde. “Those were great.”

  “I never realized how difficult writing for movies must be,” Bailey said as we headed outside, and I shook my head at their antics.

  We were quiet for a while as we made our way through the woods. The sun had yet to rise fully, and the forest was still tinted with the deep blue hue of the morning.

  Birds had just woken up for the day, and they chirped above us as we walked. I led us toward the log we had used the day before to cross the river, but something felt off as we walked. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I felt as if we were being watched.

  Perhaps I was just antsy for the battle, but still, I stopped for a moment and scanned the area for signs of anyone.

  There was nothing.

  “Tav?” Anna asked. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not sure,” I said. “I just have a bad feeling. Like we’re being watched.”

  “Maybe you’re just excited for the fight?” Paige suggested.

  “Maybe,” I said as I continued to scan the area.

  “I feel it too,” Bailey said softly.

  “You do?” Tara asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Yeah.” Bailey nodded. “I’ve been looking around though, and I don’t see anyone.”

  “We need to be careful,” I said seriously. “If these people are out hunting, it could be dangerous for us.”

  “Do you really think there’s anyone out here?” Paige asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said seriously.

  We crossed the makeshift bridge from the day before, and the feeling grew as we walked deeper into the woods.

  “Hey,” Bailey said after a while. “I see something over there.”

  The blonde pointed into the woods in the direction that the road would be if you went a mile or so down.

  “I see it,” I said and I ran over to the small, shiny object on the ground.

  “It’s a necklace,” Bailey said as she picked up the locket.

  “Where did that come from?” Paige asked. “We were out here yesterday and I didn’t see anything.”

  “It looks like there was a struggle here,” Anna said as she pointed to the disturbed slush and leaves on the ground.

  “Anna’s right,” I said and I walked a bit further. “Whoever this was ran this way.”

  “You think they were being chased?” Bailey asked with wide eyes.

  “I believe so,” I said solemnly.

  The track on the ground showed the story of someone running for their life. Someone had definitely chased them up that way, and if it was the cannibals, then that meant they were hunting far too close to our home.

  “So you think they ran up here from the road?” Anna asked.

  “It looks that way,” I said.

  “So there must be other people who found shelter around here,” Paige said.

  “Yeah, and then they got chased by crazy cannibals,” Tara said dryly.

  “If this happened recently, then maybe we’ll get there in time to save her,” Bailey said.

  “Let’s go,” I said quickly, and we took off through the woods once more.

  The trip was long on foot, and I didn’t want to tire us out, so I kept us at a quick pace, but not a run.

  “How did you guys know there was something wrong back there?” Paige asked as we walked.

  “I don’t know,” Bailey answered. “It just felt like something wasn’t right.”

  “But I mean,” Paige pondered. “There’s no actual explanation as to why you would feel that way.”

  “Sometimes our bodies and minds can pick up on things that we don’t cognitively think of,” I explained.

  “So it’s like when you get a gut feeling about a guy,” Tara said.

  “What do you mean?” Paige asked.

  “Like when some guy seems totally fine, but then you just get a feeling that he’s a creep,” Tara elaborated. “And there’s not really a reason for it, you just kind of feel it, and then later you find out he, like, tried to roofie some girl or something at a really shitty Hollywood party with all these C grade actors.”

  “What the fuck?” Anna said.

  “Yeah,” Paige agreed. “That was oddly specific.”

  “Yeahhhh,” Tara sighed. “Some guys are assholes.”

  “Tara’s right,” I said. “Sometimes your instincts just kick in.”

  “I’m kind of jealous,” Anna said. “I didn’t feel anything.”

  “It’s okay,” Bailey said. “You will.”

  “Thanks, Bail,” Anna said with a smile.

  “I can’t get this damn locket open,” Bailey said, and then handed it over to Anna. “Will you try?”

  “Sure,” Anna said.

  The redhead fiddled with the locket for a moment, then finally pried it open with an audible groan.

  “What’s in it?” Paige asked.

  “It’s a mom and son,” Anna answered in a low voice.

  “That’s so sad,” Bailey said.

  “Do you think they took the kid as well?” Tara asked.

  “I don’t know,” I answered. “But we should hurry and find out.”

  It was already bad enough that these assholes were eating people, but if they were eating children, too? That was just a whole other level of fucked up.

  We passed Briar’s home, then Betty’s, and soon we were on the hill behind the Millers’ house.

  “Alright,” I said quietly. “Everyone remember the plan?”

  “Got it,” Anna answered.

  “Yup,” Paige said.

  “Yeah,” Tara added.

  “Me too,” Bailey said with a determined look.

  “Alright,” I said. “Nobody shoot until you see my signal.”

  “Right,” Anna agreed.

  “Okay,” I said. “Anna, you’re with me to the right, Paige and Tara, you’re on the left.”

  “And I’m up here,” Bailey said with a nod.

  “Correct,” I said. “We’re going to try to do this quickly. Don’t approach them, wait for them to come to you.”

  “On it,” Bailey said.

  “When they come out to chop wood, I’ll give you the signal,” I told the blonde.

  “You guys be careful down there,” Bailey said.

  “Don’t worry about us,” Tara said. “We’re prepared.”

  I smiled at the platinum blonde. She had finally learned the difference between being cocky and being prepared. I was always nervous when they went into a fight. There was no way to predict how any situation would play out, and there was always danger. These crazy assholes we were about to fight were no exception, but as on edge as it made me feel to send the girls into battle, I was also incredibly proud of how capable they had become.

  “Alright,” I said. “Let’s go.”

  Anna and I took off through the woods to the right. The redhead jogged easily ahead of me, and her long braid bounced against her back with every step.

  We found a small clearing that was surrounded by trees so we were well hidden. Once we were in position, I looked for Paige and Tara across the way.

  “Do you see them?” Anna asked as I searched the area.

  “Not yet,” I whispered.

  “I got eyes on Bailey,” Anna said, and I followed her eye line to see the blonde hippie perched atop the hill.

  “There’s Tara,” I said with a point.

  The platinum blonde’s green sweater was barely visible through the trees, and if you weren’t looking for it, she would be impossible to spot. I searched around her and saw the reflection from Paige’s glasses. Everybody was in place, now we waited.

  I scanned the house while we waited. People milled about, but one man sat in the attic window and stared down at the pile of bones.

  “That guy up there is freakin’ me out,” Anna whispered.

  “He might be the leader,” I said.

  “He’s just staring at the bone pile,” Anna said with a grimace.

  “It is a bit unnerving,” I agreed.

  Just then two guys came out the back door. It was the same two as the day before, and I figured maybe there was a hierarchy and that they were low on the chain. Both of the men had shaggy hair, one blonde and one brunette, and they were both covered in dirt and blood.

  “That blood looks old,” Anna whispered.

  “They must help with the butchering,” I whispered back.

  One of the men began to chop wood, but the other wandered around the backyard in search of kindling. He walked toward Tara and Paige first, and I was almost concerned that Tara would try to take him out right there, but the platinum blonde waited for my signal and let him pass by.

  The brunette made his way around the backyard until he arrived by Anna and I, and I watched him intently as he gathered small sticks in his frail arms. He was just feet away from us but he had no idea we were there.

  The blonde continued to chop wood, and the rhythm was almost soothing as he kept a steady pace against the seriousness of the situation.

  The brunette returned to the blonde, and they began to whisper to one another and glance up at the man in the attic.

  “They’re lined up,” Anna whispered. “Shouldn’t we take the shot?”

  “Not yet.” I shook my head.

  “But they’re right there,” Anna protested.

  “Trust me,” I told her with a soft smile.

  “I do,” she said seriously.

  “Alright, then,” I said. “We’re going to wait a bit longer. I think others will come out.”

  “Why?” the redhead asked.

  “They’re taking too long to chop the wood,” I said. “My guess is they need that to cook whoever it is they caught.”

  “Gross,” Anna said.

  “Yes,” I agreed, and I went back to watching the two men outside.

  They continued to whisper for a few more minutes before they resumed their task of chopping wood, but I watched the men in the house grow restless as they waited for the others.

  Finally, another two came out into the backyard.

  “What’s taking so long?” a tall, thin man asked in a rough voice.

  “We’re workin’ on it,” the blond snapped.

  “Well, work faster,” the short, dark haired man said.

  “If you want it done so quick why don’t you do it?” the brunette asked.

  “We all have our jobs,” the thin man said. “We hunt, you chop wood.”

  “Our jobs are bullshit,” the blonde man said, and he threw the axe down.

  “Well, it’s not our fault you two are idiots,” the thin man said, and he walked toward the blonde.

  “Yeah,” the short man added. “You’re lucky we even let you eat!”

  The two men had just approached the other two, and they stood chest to chest arguing with each other. This was our chance.

  I raised my hand to give Bailey the signal, and a split second later the blonde man went down with a bullet through the back of the head. Blood splattered on the tall man who had stood in front of him, and he raised his hands up and was about to yell, but Bailey took him down with a shot to the mouth.

  The brunette turned toward the hill, but before he could even make a full turn he was taken down with a shot to the side of the head. Blood and brain matter splattered on the short man, and he turned to try to run.

  Bailey was ahead of him, and her rifle cracked once more. The short man went down with a bullet through the ear, his small body added to the others who had fallen.

  “Fuck yeah, Bailey,” Anna whispered with a grin.

  “She’s good,” I agreed.

  “What the fuck is all this noise about?” another blonde man asked as he came out the back door with a heavy set older guy.

  “What the hell?” the heavy set guy said as he looked around at his dead buddies.

  “Fuck,” the blonde said, and he shoved the pudgy one down and made a break for the trees toward Anna and I.

  “Hey!” the husky man shouted as he scrambled to his feet and followed his companion.

  “I got the big guy,” Anna whispered as the two ran toward us.

  We lined up our shots.

  “Fire,” I whispered.

  Both men went down with a shot to the face, and their bodies fell limply to the ground.

  I heard Paige’s shotgun crack and I turned to see another guy go down. He must have tried to sneak out the other way without realizing that Paige and Tara were hiding in the woods.

  “That’s seven,” Anna whispered.

  “That just leaves the man in the window,” I said and I looked up to see he was still there.

  “You’ll never catch me,” the man shouted, and he hid halfway behind the window.

  “Should we engage?” Anna asked.

  “Fuck you!” Tara shouted from her side of the woods.

  “Looks like it,” I said with a shake of my head.

  “You’ll taste so good,” the man taunted, and he darted to the other side of the window.

  “What the fuck is he doing?” Anna asked.

  “I have no idea,” I said.

  “The feast will go on!” the man shouted, and he followed it with the creepiest laugh I had ever heard.

  “What the fuck...” Anna said with a grimace.

  “You’re fucking crazy!” Tara shouted.

  “You’re crazy!” the man shouted. “You’re crazy if you think the feast will ever stop! The feast will live on!”

 

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