Disgust churned in Mike’s stomach when he realized this was where most of the demented pricks spent their time.
“I was wrong,” Mollie murmured. “We haven’t stumbled ontoThe Island of Doctor Moreau, they’ve turned this island intoThe Most Dangerous Game.”
“Holy shit,” Doug whispered as his eyes darted around the room.
Mike vaguely recalled the story from high school English, but he knew it involved a man hunting humans because he’d grown bored with killing animals.
“This is nothing but a game to them, ayearlygame, and we’re the prey,” Mollie breathed, her lower lip quivering.
Mike draped his arm around her shoulders and drew her against his side. “They willnotget you.”
Mollie wanted to believe his words, but they’d been plunged into a nightmare, and she had no idea how they were going to get out of it.
“Our escape threw a wrench in their plans,” Doug said. “But not much of one.”
“But why do they starve some of their victims before turning them loose?” Mollie asked. “There’s no challenge in hunting someone who can barely get out of their own way.”
“I bet the vamps who participate in this little game paybigmoney to do so, but not all of them are as good at hunting as some of the others,” Mike said. “They may not be as skilled, but they’re still here to kill, and if they don’t get their kill—”
“They’ll demand their money back and spread the word that this hunt isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” Doug said.
“Yes,” Mike agreed, and Mollie paled.
“The more skilled hunters probably leave at least some of the weakened vamps and humans for the novices, while they chase the bigger thrill of the more lethal game,” Mollie said.
“Most likely,” Mike replied.
“But why, if they’re Savages and already killing, would they pay big money to come here to do what they already do?” Mollie asked.
“Because they can really unleash their viciousness on this island. Humans can never know of our existence, and the Savages don’t want to draw attention to themselves, so they have to cover their tracks when they kill,” Mike answered. “But here, the Savages don’t have to cover their tracks, can do whatever they want, and be as brutal as they wish with whoever they catch.”
Mollie held her hand over her mouth as she fought the wave of vomit rolling up her throat. “We have to get off this island,” she choked out.
“We will,” Mike said.
Mollie’s gaze fell on the jars again, but she didn’t go any closer. After everything she’d learned, she suspected the writing on them would match the years of the heads on the walls, and the contents were more trophies from the elusive kills mounted to the wall.
“And there’s a memorial wall,” Doug said.
Mollie hadn’t realized it, but he’d roamed over to stand by the wall closest to the door. Mike and Mollie walked over to join him. Staring over his shoulder, Mollie read the bronze plaque. At the top of the memorial were the words,“In honor of those brave souls lost in the hunt.”
Below the inscription were names, and after every name was some little saying like, he fought hard, or she was a brave soul, and a hunter until the end.
The disbelief and anger coiling through Mollie threatened to choke her. How hard could he have fought while hunting the starved? And how brave could she have been to pay money to destroy captives? How much of a hunter could he have been, if he lost?
She almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it all, but she couldn’t find any humor in this vile room.
“Why would they put this here?” she asked. “Wouldn’t they be afraid that broadcasting those they’d lost would scare off potential clients?”
“It might scare off some, but it will entice those looking for a bigger thrill. This is proof the game isreal,” Mike said.
Mollie hugged herself. “It’s time to get out of this room.”
Doug had already walked over to the door and had his hand resting on the knob. When Mike nodded to him, Doug cracked the door open and poked his head out before exiting the room.
Chapter Thirty-Six
They searchedthe rest of the downstairs before making their way upstairs. With the length of the wings, it could take them over an hour to search the upstairs, but they agreed not to split up and to hold off on exploring the third floor.
