Hunting Season by Erik Williams Read Free Book Online Page B

pawing at his arm.
    Martin paid her no mind, pushing the barrel against Tommy's forehead.  "We live in a tiny society governed by laws and honor, Tommy.  And you've taken my honor."
    "No, I didn't."  Tommy's whole body shook.  "I didn't mean to."
    "Blame me, Martin," Bonita shouted.  "Me."
    Martin turned to her, the gun still pressed against Tommy's forehead.  "Don't, worry.  I do."
    Tommy moved.  Martin felt the sudden shift of the teenager against the barrel and saw arms and hips pivoting out of the corner of his eye.  It happened fast, as did his reaction.
    Martin squeezed the trigger and the back of Tommy's throat exploded on the wall.  His body slumped to the ground, twitching and pumping blood.  It should have been a head shot but Tommy had moved quickly and Martin hadn't bothered to aim.
    Bonita's scream rivaled the gunshot.  "What did you do?"
    "He was attacking me."
    "He was running away."
    He was running away.  Martin knew it now, looking down at the twitching boy pumping blood out of his neck.  But it wasn't his fault.  And it wasn't Tommy's.
    Martin turned to Bonita.  He felt the warmth of Tommy's blood on his chin.  "You did this."
    Bonita backed away from him, her hand over her mouth.  "No, Martin.  No.  He was just a kid."
    "I thought he was a man."  Martin leveled the Glock at her.  "To hell with you."
    Bonita screamed again and for a moment, Martin thought it was because she knew he was going to kill her.  But she wasn't looking at him.
    Martin spun around, the Glock already finding its target.  Tommy sprung from the floor, his hands outstretched, grasping Martin's left forearm.  The strength of the Muncher threw him off balance, screwing up his aim.  Before he could get a shot off, Tommy's teeth bit into the flesh above Martin's left wrist.
    He screamed and kicked with his right leg, knocking Tommy backward long enough to aim the Glock.  Martin squeezed off three rounds in rapid succession, placing them all in Tommy's head.
    The Muncher's face ripped apart and his left ear flew off.  He collapsed but still clawed across the floor toward Martin.
    "I thought you could kill them," Bonita said.
    "With fire."  Martin backed further away.  "Head shots only slow them down enough to put flame on them.  Get out of here now and get a fire unit."
    Bonita fled.
    Martin was in the bedroom doorway.  He shot two more rounds, one in the neck and the other in the chest.  It slowed Tommy enough to get the door shut.
    Fuck, Martin thought as he looked at his wrist.  He'd lost a lot of blood.  Lightheaded and dizzy, Martin pulled on the door with all his strength and weight, trying to keep it shut until the fire unit showed up.
    It took five more minutes before they came.
    "Through here," he heard Bonita shout.
    Martin looked down the hallway.  Bonita came running in the door wearing a firefighter's jacket over her naked frame.  Behind her two men entered.  One carried a water hose.  Another manned a flame thrower.
    "He's in here," Martin said.
    Tommy unleashed a fresh attack on the door.
    "I'm going to count to three," flame thrower said.  "On three, let go of the door and sprint passed me.  I'll light him up once you're clear.  Got it?"
    "Got it," Martin said.
    "It bit him," Bonita said.
    Martin smirked.  He wasn't surprised she'd said it and she was right to.  For the good of the community.  Martin knew the law as well as anyone.  But he also knew she hadn't said it for the good of the community.  She'd taken advantage of the situation.
    "Is she telling the truth?" flame thrower said.  "Are you bit?"
    Martin laughed.  "Yeah."
    "You know the law," flame thrower said.
    "Go on and do it."  His breaths were shorter and his vision blurred.  The change was spreading through him, he could feel it.  "Do it now before I turn."
    "I'm going to count to three-"
    "Just fucking do it!" Martin screamed, saliva pouring from his mouth.
    "Water ready?" flame thrower said.
    "Water ready," the