Read Online Hunger Chronicles (Book 1): Life Bites by Tes Hilaire - Free Book Online

to work our way around to the roof of that hotel. Once you see us up there, I want you two to draw this horde out into the intersection and down the street. We’ll pick off those we can as you pass, but the goal is to draw them away from that building so we can get the other team out.”
    I look again at the hotel. It may be dilapidated, but it’s the tallest building in this area. Though I hate to admit it, his plan has merit.
    “How long do you think you’ll need?” John asks.
    “Five, ten minutes, max. After that you can assume the mission is either a success or a failure and head for the rendezvous point.” Convict hesitates, tugging at his bottom lip with his thumb and index finger as he eyes the large group of zombies ahead of us. “Just make sure you don’t bring the entire party with you.”
    John nods curtly, his gaze hard on the shuffling threat before us. I wait for Convict and Brian to leave before saying anything, but I think I’m adept enough to read between the lines to know what Convict was saying, which is if we don’t ditch our trailers, we can count on finding ourselves another ride home. Of course, that’s all assuming I get a chance to make it back to the Humvee in the first place. Freakin-A. Vampire hunter.
    “So…” I whisper, glancing up at the empty roof of the hotel as I shift a touch closer to John. “Does Marine… um, Commander Derwood know what Brian did before the zombie wars?” I really don’t like the idea of Brian being up there on that roof with a high caliber rifle. Just a hair off target—whoops! My bad. Nope, it wouldn’t take much to convince the others it was a mistake.
    John casts a look over his shoulder at me. “The commander didn’t send you on a suicide mission, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    Wow. John is either really good at reading between the lines, too, or I am that obvious. Istill have a small problem believing him though. It’s simple logic: vampire plus vampire hunter equals at least one body.
    “I’m not,” I say, feigning a serenity I don’t feel. “It just seems an unlikely pairing.”
    John looks forward again. “Brian is a minimalist and doesn’t tend towards being trigger happy.”
    “Really,” I drawl, thinking of our companion and the mountains of ammo he’s carrying.
    John gives a slight shake of his head. “He doesn’t kill needlessly. He won’t pull the trigger without a good reason.”
    I frown, gnawing my lip. “So why did you want me sticking close to you then?”
    John hesitates then shrugs. “I’m not a hundred percent sure what he’d construe as a good reason.”
    Oh yeah, that’s reassuring. Regardless, I’m beginning to get Marine’s strategy. Placing me on a team with a known vampire hunter—assuming I manage to make it back to the base in one piece—will prove to the rest of the soldiers that I’m not a threat. All I need to do is prove it to Brian first. Huh. How did Angel do it? I’ve no idea. Guess I should have been watching Buffy reruns rather than trying to outdistance Nathanial in the race for valedictorian.
    John and I spend the next five minutes in silence, our attention split between the ambling group of zombies and the roof of the hotel. Finally, two figures pop into view a couple floors down, silently sneaking up the fire escape.
    “There they are.”
    John glances up then back at me. “You ready?”
    I shift, wincing at the sting of needles in both my legs, but nod.
    “Here we go, then.” John pushes up off the low wall into a crouch.
    The answer is yes, it is possible to move slower than turtle. It’s called snail speed. Ah! I can’t take much more of this. My legs can’t take much more of this. My stomach can’t take much more of this. I glare at John’s back as I crouch-walk behind him, seriously considering biting him just to let him know how much he’s ticking me off. We’re supposed to draw the zombie’s attention, not sneak by them.
    Yes, but not until you’ve hit that