As the SUV sped out of the parking lot, the two motorcycles followed. The Vampires continued to fire at them, despite the other cars on the road, and the bikes couldn’t quite keep up. Dodging flying bullets made it a little more difficult to drive on full-speed ahead. The roads weren’t overly crowded, but the Hunters on the motorcycles were fearful that they might accidentally harm innocent humans if they crashed, or one of the bullets aimed at them hit the wrong target, and eventually they lost contact with the SUV, which disappeared into the night.
Clayton was driving like a bat out of hell because that was essentially what he was—a Vampire bat from hell. He was laughing maniacally the whole time as he sped toward the river and the appointed meeting place. Once the motorcycles were out of view, Meat and Howard pulled themselves back inside of the vehicle through the windows and turned their attention to Preston’s wounded leg; Martin was gone.
“How are you?” Howard asked his teammate who was sitting next to him in the backseat, grimacing in pain. His face looked even more pale than usual, if that was possible.
“I think the bullet’s still in there,” Preston muttered. “It burns like hell.”
Howard knew that having a silver bullet lodged in his leg could kill him, but he didn’t know if he would be able to manage an extraction in the back of a moving vehicle, especially without touching the silver himself. He didn’t exactly have the right tools to operate, nor the surgical skills. “How much longer until we reach the rendezvous?” he asked Clayton.
“About ten more minutes, tops,” Clayton replied, the grin still plastered on his face despite the groans of agony coming from Preston.
Clayton annoyed the hell out of Howard, and that’s why he usually gave him a task where none of the other team members wouldn’t have to spend too much time with him. Still, Clayton was a good shot, and a good driver. He was useful, even if he was one of the craziest Vampires Howard had ever met. Giovani might just take the cake on that one, though.
“Can you hold on ‘til then?” he asked Preston. “Zabrina will be able to help you if you can just tough it out until we reach her.” He’d heard Zabrina was about the best Vampire healer around.
Preston nodded, but Howard could tell by his expression, he was beginning to fade. As the silver entered his veins, it would begin to spread through his body like a poison. Despite there being no blood to carry it, the substance would move quickly, and it would kill off the tissue as it went until there was nothing left but another pile of ash.
“Damn it,” Howard muttered. He reached into a pocket of the military vest he wore and pulled out a long, sharp piece of metal. He always carried this tool with him, just in case he needed it.
“Pull over,” he yelled at Clayton. They had reached the forested area near the river and would be hidden by the trees once Clayton took them off road. He protested at first, but another bark from the commander and Clayton brought the vehicle to a stop.
Howard was thankful for his thick gloves which would prevent him from touching the silver himself. He swiveled Preston around so he could get to his leg. There was no need to turn a light on since he could see just as well in the dark. He stuck his fingers into the hole already formed by the bullet and ripped his pants open. The wound was charred and black and smelled of sulfur. The infection had already spread up his thigh and down his calf. Preston was breathing hard, and Meat turned around from his seat in the front and grasped his hand. Steadying himself, Howard took the tool and stuck it into the bullet hole. Preston shrieked in agony. Howard continued to probe the wound, searching endlessly for the bullet while Preston screamed. Pinning his leg down with his own, Howard attempted to keep his teammate from pulling away. Finally, after several minutes of searching, he located the bullet. Rather than attempting to pull it out through the hole where it had entered, he used the tip of the metal piece to push it through the back of Preston’s leg. It was the most efficient way to get it out, though it was excruciating. With one last shriek, Preston passed out, and Howard grabbed hold of the bullet and pulled it through the skin on the back of his leg, ripping the back of his pants to get it completely free.
He held it up for Meat to see and then opened the door and tossed it into the river. “Let’s go,” he said to Clayton as he slammed the door. Clayton didn’t hesitate and stepped on the gas, barreling through the trees as if he had driven through her thousands of times before.
Even though the bullet was out, Preston still did not look well, and Howard didn’t know if he would make it. The thought of losing two of his teammates infuriated him, and he hope that it would all be worth it. He was trusting Giovani with his entire operation. He’d better pull through.
As they approached the rendezvous spot, they saw the helicopter take off over the river. They couldn’t see the rest of their party through the thick foliage, but they assumed they’d already made their way through the narrow passage that led to their hiding place. Clayton pulled to a stop, the brakes squealing as he ground into the pedal with his heel. “I’ll let you guys out and then go hide the vehicle,” he said over his shoulder.
Howard didn’t answer. Instead, he and Meat climbed from the SUV and made their way to the entrance to the tunnel. The backseat was now empty save a pile of ashes.
