Outsider skin always had a dry grey cast to it. Only a prolonged dip in MRG would restore it to anything close to normal.
It was hot, the sun was at its highest point in the blank slate of a sky. Not exactly Slither weather, but Malik kept a diligent eye out anyway.
The hours passed. A few of Ben’s admirers tried to see him, claiming phantom injuries, as usual they were quickly but gently dispatched. Ari’s line moved slowly as she chatted with the costumers but no one seemed to mind.
He wondered what it would be like to eat one of them.
Someone screamed.
For a moment Malik had no idea who, or why, or what, only that he was double over Duc’s grip on his collar the only thing that kept him or the crossbow from touching the ground.
His blood felt like it was boiling in his veeins and then it was no longer blood but acid devouring his insides. A strangled scream escaped his mouth.
Duc was saying something to him but he had no idea what it was. He was seeing things in fragments, Ari’s beautiful dark eyes becoming huge and round, the crossbow bolt that he must have accidentally discharged. It stuck out of the ground inches away from an Outsider still frozen in fright.
“Ben!” Duc yelled. “Get out here! Now!”
Ben was out the door in an instant already holding one of his throwing knives. His eyes swept over the whole situation, taking in the frightened Outsiders, the lack of Slithers, and Malik.
He went back inside.
Duc swore as he struggled to open the helicopter door without having his crossbow touch the acid.
“Gods dammit!” He dumped Malik inside. “You’re supposed to take your pills.”
“They weren’t working.” Malik tried to stay still but his body seemed determined to twitch, spasm and curl up without his input.
“Of course they were.” Ben had finally enter the helicopter holding a small case in his hand. “Why do you think we haven’t had this happen in a while? Close the door.” He said to Duc. In a moment they were separated from the fear and concern rising up outside.
He pulled what looked like a pen from out the case. “This should work.” He pressed it into the meaty part of Malik’s thigh. “It’s only temporary, so take your pills.”
He sighed then in a gentle voice he said, “You’re scaring us Malik, you’re scaring Ari, you scared everyone out there.”
Malik clenched and unclenched his fists, the tremors were slowly subsiding and he no longer felt like he was about to die. He was coated in a thin film of sweat and his voice came out a rough pant. “How long do you think I have?”
“You know no one knows that.” Ben rubbed his face, he looked as if her really wished he knew the answer.
“Guess.”
Ben looked away keeping his gaze turned toward the window watching as people began to settle down. “Six months to a year. Could be longer.”
“Or it could be tomorrow.” Malik said gloomily.
“I’ll try to figure something out before then.” They both avoided mentioning the fact that it was probably unlikely.
Malik folded his arms across his stomach. “You’d better get back to work.” He said changing the subject. “I mean that’s what we’re here for right?” He pretended not to notice when Ben took the crossbow with him.
He didn’t leave the helicopter looking at the window as Duc stood guard alone and the Outsiders pretended there wasn’t a crazy man only a few meters away.
It was never supposed to be like this. Being a Slither hunter, joining a Circle and protecting the city was supposed to be an honor. Every year the children born the year before were tested and those who passed were announced as the next generation of Slither hunters. It was a huge event and though he'd been too young to remembe his own Malik knew his family had been proud.
As the first Slither hunter the Ramsey family had produced in generations there had always been a pressure to excel. It was a burden he carried willingly pushing himself as far as he was able. He'd had big plans for the future but they were all being cut short by the very blood that was supposed to be a blessing.
He slumped futher down into his seat. He wanted to kick something, destroy it, but he couldn't even tell if that was a normal thought or a byproduct of the Slither blood flowing through his veins.
Ari kept glancing up at him, brows knitted in concern. He pretended to be busy when ever she did, fascinated by the stitch of his jeans. If he’d had any idea what was going to happen he would have brought a book.
He didn’t realize he had fallen asleep until he heard the sliding rattle of the door being opened.
"Wakey, wakey." Ari rapped at the top of head with her knuckles.
He waved her hand away sliding his fingers under the frame of his glasses to rub his eyes. "I'm awake Ari, gods."
The sun was low on the horizon, blood-red and overlarge. They'd stayed out longer than they would normally. That could only mean one thing.
"We probably won't be coming back here." Ari said as the helicopter lifted into the air. She looked sad as a few Outsiders waved at the departing craft. She didn't say why but she didn't have to, his attack had drawn too much attention and now all those Outsiders were going to be deprived of even the middling bit of assitance they got from the city.
"Something's burning." Ben said.
Malik had no idea how long they'd been flying while he'd been lost in thought but they were off their usual flight path and the last wisps of twilight were quickly vanishing providing a stage for a flickering orange glow.
"We should check it out." Ari said.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Duc pointed out.
"Why not? What's a little fire to Slither hunters?"
"Roasted Slither hunters, maybe?" Ben proposed and Malik hid a smile.
Despite their ribbing Ben touched down a safe distance away and they all piled out. Malik hesitated for a moment before letting Ben take his crossbow, with his luck he'd probably have two episodes in one day.
It was a small neighborhood, not much than a block if they'd still been in Amaryllis City. Malik could see that it'd once been a part of a larger suburb before the rain had wittled down the buildings and nibbled holes in the streets. He stepped carefully, in the dark one misstep meant losing a leg.
The neighborhood like most communities Outside, was a firetrap but in this instance only one house was burning.
"Looks like they made it out." Ben said as they got closer. A family of three stood in the middle of the road. Their hulking son held a backpack in one hand.
"Is everyone okay?" This close he could feel the heat the flames tightening his skin.
The family looked startled. Husband and wife drew closer while the son just gave them a flat stare.
"We're fine." The wife said eventually. "That's not our house."
He felt it was an odd thing to say given the circumstances but he didn't get much time to dwell on it.
"Slithers!" Ari called out. "Inside."
He whirled around catching a flash of dead white skin through the flames and it went down with a shriek.
Malik's hands itched for a crossbow. "Is there anyone still inside?"
He was met with three resentful stares. He took a step back. It was as if they wanted the house to burn.
"Niko." The son eventually ground out. "She's in there."
He turned toward the conflagration. "Be— "
He barely got the first word out before the door flew open and Ben, who had been concentrating on keeping the threat contained and Slithers out of the neighborhood loosed a bolt without thinking.
For a moment she stood in the doorway haloed by flames, the shaft of the bolt potruding from her body. The harsh light from the fire cast deep shadows on her brown face, highlighting her confusion. Then her knees buckled and she collasped.
"That wasn't a Slither you dumbass." Ari shouted.
Ben was already running toward the house. Luckily she'd fallen inside her home instead of on the ground outside.
Luckily, that is if she was even still alive.
Ben, Ari and Duc crowded around the doorway, Ari was still upbraiding Ben about the bad shot. Malik was slower following them. The family of three stayed where they were completely ignoring the fallen girl they dug through the backpack exclaiming over what they found inside.
"She's still alive." Ben carefully picked her up. He stepped away from the burning building. "This is the one we were looking for wasn't it?"
Remembering the folder Malik nodded.
Adjusting his grip around her unconcious body Ben turned toward the helicopter. "We'll treat her in the city."
"But. . ." Malik thought that went against their whole plan.
"What about them?" Duc jerked his thumb toward the strange family and Ben said two words that described Malik's thoughts perfectly.
###
About the Author
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Kayti Nika Raet moved down South when she was 11 where she was bit by the writing bug as well as other less friendly insects. She the author of the YA dystopia, NIKO, as well as a short story SLITHER. She's also the script writer for an upcoming tablet game featuring romance hungry aliens.
Her procrastination aids are reading, K-pop, and photography.
Kayti lives in Milledgeville, Georgia. Visit her online at https://KNRwrites. tumblr.com, Youtube, and Facebook.
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