Chapter 18: Experiments

Despite his resolve, Reid can barely stand to leave their wrecked salvation behind. He's not the only one. He catches the

sound of weeping among the others, the occasional wheezing sob cutting through their panting as they follow him back into

the forest.

The fence isn't safe now. Not for a while, anyway, he figures. The hunters will find their trail and keeping to the fence

will only make it easier for them to hunt the kids down. He regrets leaving it, certain he is right about a gate, an

exit, but is determined to keep the barrier's position firmly fixed in his sense of direction so he can track it again.

"That was a missile." Drew has somehow managed to keep up with Reid. From the huffing and puffing the kid is doing the

effort is costing him, but they can't afford to slow down. "I'm sure of it. Surface-to-air. Anti-aircraft. Freaking

military issue."

It actually takes Drew a few minutes to pant out those short sentences in between gasps of air. When he is done, Reid

slows and stops, turning to look at the chubby kid. He tries not to feel sorry for his cherry-red face and the sweat

streaking down his cheeks to soak the collar of his stolen t-shirt.

"Military." Reid's mind flashes to the duffle bag, the cabin. Could the army be involved? Was Drew right and this is an

alien invasion or something?

Drew's head is bobbing as he gulps breath after breath, glasses fogging around the edges. "I'm sure of it."

"And how would you know, smart ass?" Milo's attitude is getting on Reid's last nerve. But before he can shoot the kid

down, Drew does it for him.

"Because I studied about it. Duh."

Reid can't help it. He laughs. There is so little to laugh about, but Drew's casual brush off triggers Reid's funny bone.

He starts laughing and can't stop. He finds himself doubled over, gripping his sides, barely able to catch a breath as

his stomach aches from the pressure. Tears well in his eyes, spill over his cheeks. When he is finally able to breathe

again, his laughter echoes back from the trees.

He hears the others laughing around him and absorbs as much of it as he can. Trey snorts air as he giggles in a tiny

voice. Drew's laughter is more robust, slightly piercing but full and pure. Leila's sounds like liquid light.

For that brief and shining instant, everything is all right in the world. They are safe and happy normal kids. Even Milo

starts to snicker after making a rude face.

"Seriously," Leila recovers first, though Reid sees her dabbing at her eyes with the collar of her T-shirt, "how do you

know?"

Drew grins at her. "Seriously," he says. "Are you kidding me? I love this stuff."

That sobers them up. Drew's smile fades. "Well," he says, "I used to, anyway."

"So now we think the army is after us?" Milo's attitude is back, but the edge is gone from his voice and even he looks

embarrassed after he finishes speaking.

"No," Drew says. "But someone with access to serious military hardware. Mercenaries, maybe. Hired guns." He turns and

looks up at Reid. "I've been thinking about it. And I know you guys are right, this is no alien invasion. But, maybe it's

an experiment of some kind."

"Great experiment." Milo helps hold up Trey who has started shaking and can't seem to stop.

"Guinea pigs," Trey whispers. There is still humor in his voice but not the nice kind. When he looks up his lips are

twisted into a grimace, eyes full of madness. "Mice in a maze. Food for thought." He starts to giggle again, body

twitching. Leila rushes to help Milo while Reid just watches, Drew by his side. "Freaking lab rats!"

No one says anything. Reid hates to admit it, but is pretty sure Drew is right. Why else the fence, the secret drop offs

of the kids in the middle of the night? The question is, what's the experiment and how much longer will it run?

The idea that they are almost at the end of it first makes Reid hopeful before dashing him down to darkness again. There

is no way of knowing. Besides, if it is almost over, the likelihood that whoever brought them there will just let them go

is idealistic at best and damned gullible at worst. Chances are, like most test animals, when the project is over they

will be destroyed.

Reid exchanges a look with Drew. From the pinched look on the boy's face they are following the same train of thought.

"We have to get out of here," Drew whispers.

"Now you tell me." Reid actually manages a real smile. "Figure it out then, genius."

They have been at rest long enough that Drew has regained his natural paleness. When he blushes, it's painfully obvious.

"Don't call me that," he whispers, "and I'll do my best."

Seems fair to Reid.

Trey has calmed down and Reid knows it's time to move on. He doesn't have to say a word. Everyone falls in behind him.

This time when Drew stays at Reid's side he doesn't mind so much.

They don't make it far. Reid just turns to say something to Drew when he catches a flicker out of the corner of his eye.

The hunters are on them. He's failed them for the last time.

Reid opens his mouth to shout a warning, but it sticks in his throat. Not hunters. Kids, like them. At least a dozen of

them, sliding out of the forest, surrounding them. Reid spins, looking for an exit, too late. They are boxed in.

He isn't sure why this makes him nervous. They should all be on the same side, right? But his tension only rises as the

silent crowd stares him down. He feels his new friends closing in for protection. Someone bumps into him. Reid reaches

out, catches Leila's hand. He feels a skinny body press to his back and hears the familiar whimper of Trey's terror. Drew

stands his ground, but barely. Reid can feel him shaking.

Milo's voice comes from behind Reid, very close. "Tell me they aren't cannibals."

Reid knows it's supposed to be a joke. But no one is laughing.

The kids are all as dirty as Reid's group, and just as desperate looking. He shakes himself internally. This is a great

opportunity. He has nothing to fear from them. When he steps out to talk to them, he is mirrored by one of the other

group.

This guy is big, taller than Reid's six feet, heavy dark hair hanging over an angry brow. His nose looks like someone

broke it on purpose at some point. He's the only one in the new crowd that doesn't look hungry.

"You're in our territory." Big guy's voice is a hammer on an anvil.

"We'll just keep moving then." Like it's going to be that easy. Reid knows the type. Bully.

Reid catches a dark-haired Hispanic guy watching him, eyes almost black. His scowl is so deep it's devouring his face.

Reid returns his attention to the leader as he speaks.

"Better not be bringing hunters to our spot." His chest thrusts out and Reid can't help but be reminded of a gorilla he

saw once at a zoo.

"Doing our best not to." Reid's flippant attitude will get them nowhere, but his anger won't let him be diplomatic. They

are on the same side, damn it.

"Heard you punks for miles. Might as well wear signs around your necks."

Reid fights not to roll his eyes. Like that made a whole lot of sense.

"I think you mean noisemakers." It's so hard not to laugh. Drew's done it again. Reid glances to the side and finds his

chubby friend right next to him, looking defiant. Reid wonders when he started considering the kid his friend.

"What?" Big guy knows easy meat when he sees it and Drew is a prime target. But before bullyboy can do anything about it,

Reid steps in front of his friend, all amusement gone.

"We'll be going then." Despite the guy's size, Reid has been watching him move and knows he's soft. In a fight, he's

pretty sure he could win as long as he didn't let Gigantor pin him.

Reid really hopes it won't come to that.

Someone squeals from behind him and he hears Leila say his name in a whisper. Reid spins, keeping the bully in his

peripheral vision, and sees two of the surrounding kids have a hold of Trey. One of them pushes the skinny boy and the

other bounces him back. A couple of the kids laugh but most are as silent and expressionless as ever.

The dark haired young man just scowls and stares at Reid.

He has to act. Damn, he didn't want to have to do this. He considers appealing to the pack, to the knowledge that they

aren't the enemy. But he is certain bullyboy won't let it slide. From the looks of the other kids' faces, no one is

willing to put themselves on the line.

Reid need to rescue Trey disappears. As one entity, the pack of kids tense before vanishing into the underbrush. Reid

doesn't have to think twice, already turning and shoving his friends into the trees. Fortunately the undergrowth is

thicker here, more like the brushes and shrubbery he encountered when he first started running, or they would have been

out of luck.

As it is, Reid barely has time to push Drew into shelter and tuck himself in before he hears panting and dull footfalls.

He risks a look through the tightly growing leaves and spots a kid staggering his way down the trail they just left.

Reid is about to lunge for him when a hand holds him back. Reid scowls at the Hispanic guy who points with one long, thin

finger. When Reid looks back, he understands.

There is no saving this boy. A hunter is right behind him. Trailing him almost casually. The kid keeps moving forward,

barely managing one foot in front of the other. He looks defeated, broken, but still he forces himself on.

When he trips and falls on his face, Reid's heart bleeds for him. So close, almost within touching distance. The kid's

head turns to the side, dirt glued to the sweat that coats his skin. His hazel eyes stare, but he sees nothing. Reid is

grateful because the boy's face is pointed right at him.

He can't look away either. Refuses to let the kid die alone. Reid hears a soft sound, the pad of a step and sees a black

clad foot settle beside the fallen boy. In the last moment before the end, awareness returns and the kid's eyes lock on

Reid's with purpose. He has nothing to offer but his attention, his presence. The boy's naked gratitude outshines his

fear.

A whoosh of air, a squeak of sound from his mouth and his light goes out, draining slowly until the last spark is

extinguished.

But the horror isn't over yet. The kid is flipped over as two more pairs of feet join the first. There is a tearing

sound, the ground flooding with a rush of blood. The hunters crouch, just inside Reid's vision, and begin to stuff raw,

steaming bits into their mouths.

He can't react. It's impossible to even comprehend. Milo's cannibal joke returns, still humorless but at least relevant.

He tries to look away at last, but is locked in the horror of the truth. Not just hunters, but devourers, eaters of their

flesh. It drives Reid's mind to the edge of madness.

Someone cries out, leaps from the bushes and bolts. It pulls Reid out of his spiraling descent into the black. He sees a

familiar pair of sneakers on the trail, army pants tied at the ankles with yellow rope. One of the hunters leaps, is gone

in a flash, lands next to the fleeing shoes. A voice Reid knows shrieks, body dragged to the kill site. Forced to his

knees into Reid's view. Trey screams over and over, barely drawing breath. There is a chuffing sound, like laughter. And

then, another whoosh of air and a groan so mournful it takes Reid's breath away. Trey falls to the path, his coffee-

colored face washed pale in death.

Reid is forced to huddle there in total silence while the hunters eat his friend, too.

It's not long before they seem satisfied. They rise and grab the bodies, dragging them away down the path. Reid watches

them go, wishing they would hurry so he can turn and throw up.

Just as they vanish down the trail, the hunter in the rear spins and looks right at Reid, flashing him a smile, teeth red

with blood. Then they are gone into the forest. It takes him a heartbeat to move, but when he does, it's not to puke, but

to punch the tree he rests against.

They knew. The hunters. All along. They knew the kids hid there and did nothing about it. Reid is so furious he hits the

tree again, feels the skin of his knuckles part, the bones protest. He pulls himself free of the brambles, aching to

fight back, knowing at last he was right, that this is a game to the hunters and the kids are just toys.

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