Authors: Ben Hammott
Jane, too breathless to continue the conversation and ask him how he planned to do that, put her trust in the man next to her.
They arrived at the door. Jack opened it.
“As soon as we're through, shut the door and keep on running to distract them.”
“And you'll be doing what?”
Jack held up the ice axe. “Waiting.”
Jane slammed a fist on the button when they were through and continued along the corridor.
The leading Clicker skidded on the metal floor and crashed into the door. It slapped the button and darted through as soon as the gap was wide enough.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
It sensed its prey fleeing along the corridor.
Jack punched the door closed to temporarily stop the other two from getting through and rushed at the Clicker.
The Clicker heard footsteps and turned.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
It was being attacked. It lashed out with a claw.
Pain seared across Jack's chest when claws ripped through the clothing layers to slide across his skin, leaving gouges in their wake. He slammed the axe with all his strength at the Clicker's head. The Clicker grabbed the axe, stopping it inches from its skull, snatched it from its attackers grasp and threw it away. Its other claw back handed Jack around the head. Jack slammed into the wall. Dazed, his legs buckled. He collapsed to the floor. The creature stepped toward its fallen prey.
Jane stopped and looked back. Jack's surprise attack had failed. The door slid open. A Clicker's arm was thrust through the widening gap. It smelt blood and was eager to taste it. She stopped the axe skidding along the floor toward her with a foot, snatched it up and rushed at the Clicker attacking Jack. The Clicker raised a claw to swipe at its prey. Jane leaped at its back, raised the axe and called out, “I hope your brain's hungry, because it's eating ice axe for dinner.”
The Clicker's head twisted toward her. With all her might Jane slammed the axe point into the creature's skull. She felt the barrier of thick bone momentarily resist the sharp point, and heard the crack when the force drove it through into soft brain tissue. She collided with the creature and rode it down when it toppled forward. Blood sprayed when she yanked the axe free. She jumped before the monster hit the floor, rolled when she did and jumped to her feet. She spun to face the remaining two Clickers stepping into the corridor.
The Clickers sent out a series of clicks and snarled at Jane.
Through dazed eyes and fuddled brain, Jack had seen the creature's arm rise for its attack, but he was in no condition to resist. The Clicker had turned away and then toppled toward him with a trickle of blood running down its face. Jack scooted back, but he wasn't fast enough; it landed on his legs, trapping him. He was vaguely aware of something leaping over him when he stared at the deep wound in the Clicker's skull.
“If you're okay, I could do with some help here,” Jane whispered. She reached over a shoulder and pulled out her own ice axe from her backpack.
Jack tilted his head. Jane stood aggressively with an ice axe in each hand. A globule of blood dripped from one and splattered on the floor.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Jack looked at the Clickers. Both were focused on Jane. They growled. The nearest monster rushed at her. Jack grabbed its ankle when it passed. It stumbled. Jane attacked before it could regain its balance. She avoided the claw that swiped at her and swung an axe. It pierced the side of its head. Blood spurted. It collapsed to one knee. Jane rushed around the side of the Clicker and buried the other axe in its back.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
The second Clicker moved forward to attack.
Jane slipped on a pool of blood. The axe buried in the Clicker's back was pulled from her grasp. A claw brushed the top of her head during her fall. She stared up at the monster she slid toward. It turned its head from side to side, searching for her. CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! Jane swung the axe into its stomach and let go. She slid through its legs and turned onto her front. She jumped to her feet, rushed forward and slammed a shoulder into the screeching creature. It stumbled over its dead comrade and tripped. Jane pulled the axe from the dead Clicker's back, straddled the fallen creature when it turned and slammed the axe into its face. The Clicker's death-throes didn't last long.
Panting with the exertion, Jane collapsed to the floor and leaned against the wall.
“Are they dead?”
Jane looked at Jack. “I damn well hope so. I've not got the strength to fight again.”
“I thought you needed a hand?”
“I got fed up waiting. What did you do, have a nap?”
Jack smiled. “I tried, but with that racket you and your friends were making, it wasn't happening.”
They laughed.
Jack groaned when he pulled out from under the creature and leaned against the wall beside her.
He took deep breaths. “I think Ripley would be proud of you the way you fought those monsters.”
Jane looked at the three dead Clickers. “You only
think
she would be proud. She had an assault rifle, I had two ice axes and a napping accomplice; of course she'd be proud. Probably invite me along on her next Alien monster hunt if she gets to learn of this.”
Jack climbed to his feet and held out a hand. “Well, we can't spend all day basking in your glory― things to do, you know.”
Jane smiled, took his hand and pulled herself to her feet. They ended up face to face. They stared at each other, both wanted to kiss, but both were hesitant to make the first move. The moment passed and Jane stepped back. She noticed Jack's shredded jacket tinged with blood. “You're wounded.”
“It's only a scratch.” He retrieved the ice axes, shook off the drips of blood and lumps of gore and handed one to Jane. “Let's go fetch Lucy.”
The patter of small feet directed their gaze at the door.
Jack grabbed Jane's arm and was about to push her behind him, but then remembered what she had just done and removed his hand. They both prepared for battle.
Three small Hunter monsters, barely a yard tall, appeared through the doorway, glanced at Jane and Jack, screeched, pounced on the nearest dead Clicker and began feeding. Larger footsteps drifted through the open door.
Jane and Jack edged around the body the younglings were feasting on and gazed through the doorway. Five Hunters approached. The breasts on two of them identified them as female― the younglings' mothers. On spying them, the monsters screeched.
Jane and Jack fled along the corridor.
“We'll come back for Lucy when they've gone,” said Jack.
Jane nodded. “Okay.”
The adults stepped through the doorway, glanced at the two fleeing creatures and then at the three Clicker corpses. Deciding on the easier opportunity to feast, they gathered around the dead creatures and ripped off chunks of flesh.
*****
Richard sped along the corridor and passed through another door. With no regard for his friends that might be following, he closed the door. For a moment, he remained in total darkness while he calmed his beating heart and allowed his fear to reach a manageable level. He switched on the headlight. Though the familiar bonelike struts highlighted in the torchlight gave him confidence he headed in the right direction, his panicked rush had left him uncertain of his bearings. He pulled out the camera and examined the photo of the route. But as he had no idea where he was, it failed to supply him with any clue to his position on the ship or which way he should go.
He carried on until he reached an intersection that offered him two choices. Straight ahead or turn right. Believing the right turn might lead back to the engine room corridor Henry, Max and Theo were on, he headed in that direction, but paused after a few steps and cocked an ear. Something breathed up ahead. His fear level began to rise. He felt Lucifer squirm beneath his jacket. He pulled down the zip enough to reveal its small form and sighed; its fur had turned red. Convinced his fears were real and something waited in the darkness ahead, Richard zipped up the jacket and slowly retreated to the intersection.
Cloaked in the darkness of an open doorway, the Hunter watched the strange being approach and stop. The old creature was not as fast as it once was. A damaged leg received in an affray with another creature slowed it down even more. Though its preferred method of attack was to lie in ambush and wait for its victims to come to it, it would give chase if required. Its retreating prey indicated the ambush had failed. The old Hunter stepped out of the room and headed along the corridor.
When the Hunter appeared in the furthest reach of his headlamp, Richard turned and ran. He turned right at the intersection. Fuelled by adrenalin and the will to survive, he fled for his life.
*****
The creature Henry had knocked unconscious, regained its senses and groggily climbed to its feet. It shook its throbbing head and stared at the dark opening above. Sounds of movement within drifted out. It reached up and pulled itself inside. It sniffed the blood leading away from the opening and licked some up. It stared along the dark tube and let out a frightening howl.
*****
The ravenous Hunter had left its forest lair to prowl the ship’s corridors in search of something to fill its empty belly. A distant howl brought it to a halt. It directed its gaze upon the ceiling vent where the sound had come from. It moved closer and peered through the metal slats. Though it saw only darkness within, it heard strange sounds uttered by unfamiliar creatures. It gripped the grill with one claw and yanked it free. The discarded grill clattered to the ground. The Hunter climbed inside.
*****
Max shot a terrified glance behind when the terrifying howl echoed through the narrow space. Something was in here with them. Claws scraping along the metal shaft announced its approach. Henry and Theo had also heard. They increased their speed.
A mass of cobwebs choking the vent brought Theo to a halt.
Max looked past the others and saw the reason for their halt. “That doesn't bode well.”
Henry agreed, but however uninviting the blockage, they'd have to pass through it or face the horror approaching behind them. “We have to keep moving before that thing behind catches us.”
With vision of giant spiders foremost in his thoughts, Theo dragged the webs aside, shivered from revulsion at their touch, and crawled through. After travailing a short distance, he again brought Henry and Max to a halt. His eyes focused on the crossroads of side turnings a little way ahead. He thought he had heard something come from one of the openings, but was unsure which one. He glanced back at Henry directly behind him for confirmation. “Did you hear that?” he whispered.
“What, apart from that monster coming up behind us?” asked Henry, anxiously.
Theo nodded.
Henry shook his head.
“Probably my imagination playing tricks?”
Max shot a glance behind. “Move!” said Max fearfully. “That thing will be upon us in a minute.”
Hoping his nerves were responsible for creating the sound, Theo chose the route directly ahead and led them on. He glanced into both side turnings and saw only cobwebs.
When Max crossed the intersection, a shuffling noise from the vent on his left, directed his frightened gaze into the gloom and cobweb-crammed tunnel. The shuffling grew louder. Something sprung through the cobweb barrier. Max screamed in terror at the vision of the monster caught in his light. Its sharp-clawed hands grabbed him.
Henry's head spun when the scream echoed through the vent. He glimpsed Max's terrified expression and the vicious Web monster dragging him into the side tunnel out of sight. Max's screams continued. The metallic tang of blood filled the confined space. Henry shot toward the opening. He was halted when something grabbed his leg. He turned. Theo was responsible. “What are you doing? Let go.” Henry struggled to free his leg. Theo held on tight. Blood oozed from the intersection. The gruesome sounds of the monster feeding upon their friend were loud within the narrow vent. The screams fell silent. Henry stopped struggling. Max was dead.
Theo released his hold on Henry's ankle. “You couldn't have done anything to save him, Henry.”
Angered by the man's actions, Henry glared at Theo. “But I could have tried.”
“And gotten yourself killed in the process. Come on, it’s not safe in here anymore, we need to move.”
Henry glanced at the vent that concealed the monster feeding on his friend. Though he knew Theo was right, he might have also been killed, the death of another team member weighed heavily upon him.
A screech from back along the tunnel reminded them of the other threat. The monster was gaining fast. They needed to get out of the vent before it caught up with them.
Henry turned and followed Theo’s hurried dash through the narrow tunnel. The monster, Max's terror-filled eyes, his screams, and the stench of blood would forever remain with him.
The Hunter in pursuit warily approached the intersection. It sensed another's presence and smelt the appetizing aroma of fresh spilt blood. With its gaze directed at the darkness shrouding the creature it sensed within, it paused at the crossroads to lap up the tasty red pool. It did nothing to quench its hunger. Wanting more, it continued its rush after the fleeing creatures.