Relative Strangers (Book 2) No Man Is An Island

12. On The Hunt

Jess brought them good news by revealing that there was a sound system in place in the building, which had speakers in most of the main rooms.
This meant that their plan to overload the Predators brains by playing a high pitch frequency, would work.
"So, you just plug it in and it starts playing?" Questioned Connor.
"Yes, but you're the one who's going to turn it on, not me" replied E.
"I don't follow" frowned Connor.
"You're going to take this to the office and plug it into the speakers, while I go and find Matt and the others"
"What! Why aren't you coming with me?"
"You don't need me to press the button. It is better if we split up so that we can complete our separate missions. The radio silence on the comms is worrying me, so I need to get out there and find out what's going on".

"Matt will kill me if he finds out that I let you go somewhere with me" admitted Connor.
"Matt doesn't own me, and I certainly don't need his permission to do this. Look, I know you are worried about me going out there alone. But I know these creatures, more than you can ever understand. Besides, I work better alone, and if you are with me, you'll only hold me up. No offense" replied E.
"But what if I don't plug this thing in properly, or it doesn't work? You're the only one who knows how to work this thing"
"Look, it's simple, you plug it into the computer via the USB port, and press the on button. It's really easy to use, because I need it to work quickly in life and death situations. It won't falter you, I promise".

"So you're really O.K with me taking this?" Questioned Connor.
"I mean, I want it back, but yes, I trust you to use it" answered E.
"Alright then. Let's do this" replied Connor.
The pair crept towards the broken door together, and then went their separate ways.
Being alone didn't make E nervous as it was what she was used to. She worked better when she didn't have to worry about having anyone else's back.
She was concerned for the rest of the team, but she tried to push thoughts of them from her mind, so that she could focus on tracking them down, while avoiding Predators.

It had been a while since E had been in foreign territory, with enemies lurking around every corner.
But hunting down creatures was like second nature to her, and something she would never be able to forget.
E removed one of the knives from her belt and held it tightly in her right hand.
She then removed a smaller one and held it in her left, so that she was protected on all sides.
Predators preferred darker places where they could hide unseen, so E was thankful that the cinema was so bright.
Jess had returned power to the building before they arrived, so that they wouldn't be stumbling around in the dark.

As E made her way through the building, she kept her footsteps light and silent, so that she didn't attract any unwanted attention.
Once she had secured the second floor, without coming across any creatures, she made her way downstairs to where she had last been Becker and his team.
She followed her instincts and walked towards the part of the room where food and drinks used to be served, because something about that area looked out of place.
This was when she heard a small shuffle of a body, alerting her to the presence of another being.
After gripping her blades tightly she volted over the desk and landed on the other side.

"Easy, it's just me" whispered Matt, as E brought her knife to his throat.
"Sorry. Are you O.K?" Asked E as she lowered her guard.
Matt looked worriedly at Abby who was sat by his side.
E noticed how pale she was and when she looked closer she saw blood dripping down Abby's arm.
"I'm fine, it's only a scratch" mumbled Abby, before E could ask.
"Where's Becker and Emily?" Questioned E.
"I don't know. Me and Emily met up with Becker and Abby down here, and then we were ambushed by Predators. Emily and Becker went one way, and we went the other" explained Matt.

"I take it that Abby got injured during this ambush?" Asked E.
"Yes. And I'm so sorry for not believing you earlier, when you tried to warn us about the Predators in the building" apologised Matt.
"Don't worry about it now. I'll gloat later, but right now we have more pressing issues" admitted E.
"Yes... I wanted to try and find the others, but I didn't want to leave Abby alone"
"No, that wouldn't have been a good idea, as she can't defend herself right now... You should stay here, while I try and find the others"
"I'm not just going to let you go out there alone"
"I got here by myself didn't I? Besides, I have a plan, and it doesn't involve you"
"You do?"
"Yes. And once Connor has done what he was supposed to do, I'll let you know, so that you can come out".

"What exactly is Connor doing right now?" Questioned Abby.
"He should have reached the main office by now, and hopefully any minute now he'll plug in my device which will stop the Predators. It will overload their nasty little brains, and give us the chance to kill them" revealed E.
"How will you know if he's succeeded?" Asked Matt.
E raised her wrist and flashed him her watch.
"It, like all my devices, is connected to my watch. So I'll know when he's turned it on" answered E.

Matt stared at E with a look that she didn't understand.
"What?" She frowned.
"Nothing... It seems that I have a bad habit of underestimating you" admitted Matt.
"Thats not exactly new news. You've all been underestimating me, ever since we met. I'm used to people not believing that I'm capable of doing something. Most of the time I can use this to my advantage. But it does hurt when it's my friends who don't believe in me" replied E.
"Well, I promise not to do it any more"
"That's an empty promise, because I know that you will".
E's watch vibrated and she looked at it, a smile creeping onto her face.
She then raised her knives once more, with a glimmer in her eye, "Let's go and hunt ourselves some Predators".