Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [39]
“What do we want?” Markko strode toward him, a smile stretched across his face. “Just to have a little fun.” With his gaze never leaving the kid’s face, Markko barked, “Aleksander.”
Alek stepped forward, withdrawing something from his pocket. He flicked his wrist and his butterfly knife flew open, clicking into an open and locked position as he approached Liz and Rachel. Unable to do anything to stop it, Liz watched as he wrenched Rachel away from her.
“Lizzy!”
“Leave her alone! Don’t touch her.”
Alek held Rachel in front of him and slowly ran the tip of the blade in a vertical line from Rachel’s throat down the front of her shirt. “Or what?” Alek taunted as fat tears squeezed out between Rachel’s clenched eyelids, tracking down her face.
Desperately Liz pleaded, “Please. Whatever you want.” She took a bracing breath. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just let her go.”
A burst of clapping sliced through the tension around them. “Oh, you…you are so much better than I’d thought you’d be.” Markko strode toward Liz until he stood directly in front of her, a smug smile plastered across his face. “Oh, Lizzy.” His breath skittered across her face and Liz fought to hold her ground. “You know, I knew I’d like you when I saw you in the bar. The ones with a bit of fight, a bit of defiance, are always so interesting. Although…” Markko raked his gaze over her, “You are far more attractive than most. Too bad you’re not for me. You’ll be Ivan’s first.” Markko gestured to the young kid standing at the edge of the clearing. “And I promised my little brother I’d find him a true challenge; he’ll always remember his first.”
Liz’s stomach turned but she ground out, “Let her go.”
Markko smiled, “No.” He glanced over her shoulder and said, “Go ahead.”
The moment the words left his lips, Rachel started screaming and struggling, trying to twist away from Alek. His knife came up, flashing in the morning light, poised to slice Rachel’s life away, but plummeted down, cutting through the ties that held Rachel’s hands together instead. Alek shoved Rachel away from him, laughter filling the air around him.
Markko’s firm grip around Liz’s elbow prevented her from rushing to her friend. Rachel hit the ground hard and didn’t get up, sobbing into the earth beneath her.
Cold metal pushed between Liz’s hands and the ties around her wrists snapped apart. The moment he released her, Liz darted forward, dropping to her knees next to Rachel.
“It’s okay. Take a deep breath. Calm down.” Rubbing Rachel’s back, Liz looked around the clearing. Alek was busy slicing through the captives’ bonds as Markko rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, grinning.
“Come on, you’ve got to get up.” Liz got a firm grip around Rachel’s arm and forced her to her feet.
“I believe you wanted to know why you’re here.” The clearing went silent. “Every blue moon, we arrange a little game. The rules are simple. In a few minutes, you will be released.”
Whispering rustled through the clearing.
“You’ll be free to go.”
Liz tightened her grip on Rachel’s arm and waited for the ax to fall.
“You have until nightfall, at which point we hunt. Seems fair, no?” Markko smiled and nodded toward his men who immediately backed away.
“Hunt? What, you mean you’re gonna chase us through the woods, like with guns or something?” Texas asked, face disbelieving.
“No.” Markko’s lips pulled away from his teeth. “A true predator needs no weapon.”
Movement in the corner of her eye caught Liz’s attention. Alek stood off to the side, toeing off his shoes and pulling down his pants. She glanced at the rest of the men, shock shifting to bafflement. All of the men were stripping.
“Aleksander!” Markko barked. “Show them.”
Alek stalked, brazenly nude, into the clearing. He smiled and bent into a low crouch that reminded Liz of a sprinter setting in starting blocks. Shoulders pushed in and back arching, Alek grunted as the skin along his spine rippled from his neck all the way down his backbone.
Gagging but unable to look away, Liz watched as Alek’s body began to shift. Birdsong died and