Page 67 of Only Fangs

“Remember that year they just stood there? Didn’t even try to run, dumb bastards.”

“So dull.”

“At least they’re all a little more clued up now though. Remember at the beginning when they didn’t even realise what we are?”

“I had one who kept asking what was going to happen. Like he could convince me not to chase him.”

Both men chuckle. My blood turns to ice.

They sound like they’re talking about a hunt.

A human hunt.

I wait inside the cubicle until I’m completely sure the two men have left. My heart is beating so fast I’m worried I might have a heart attack right here in the bathroom of Hele House. I take a few deep breaths in an effort to calm myself down but it doesn’t really work.

Eventually I make my way back to Ari, who has managed to extricate herself from the weird age-gap couple and is hanging around a table laden with sweet treats: cakes and tarts and little tiny pastries.

“Are you OK?” she asks when she sees me.

I shake my head, unable to form even the most basic of words.

“Here.” She shoves a slice of cake in my hand. “Get some sugar in you.”

I nibble the edges. It’s flavoured with cinnamon and topped with a creamy frosting. It’s delicious and even in my current state I can’t help myself but eat the rest of it. No wonder I’m getting the man boobs Matt pointed out to me yesterday.

“What happened?” she asks when I finish chewing.

“I overheard two guys in the bathroom. They were talking about…” I trail off and look around me, making sure no one can hear what I’m about to tell her, “a hunt.”

Ari looks at me for a few moments and then she smiles. “There isn’t a hunt.” She chuckles softly, like this is all a brilliant joke.

“That isn’t what I heard.” I’m steadfast.

“You’re sure?” Her smile drops.

“Yep.”

“But…” she starts and then trails off, a pensive look clouding her features.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She shakes her head as if trying to dislodge an image from her brain.

“You know something, don’t you?” I try not to sound accusatory, like she might be in on this. Involved somehow. She can’t be.

“There were rumours once,” she says eventually. “Well more than once if we’re being wholly honest about it. But it was years ago. Don’t look like that. I wasn’t part of it. Never have been and never will. You know me, Brody.”

I nod. I do know her and I know she wouldn’t. But it pains me that she’s maybe turned a blind eye over the years.

“You know I can tell what you’re thinking, right?” she asks. “They were just rumours. Nothing ever concrete enough to know what was happening or who was involved. You can’t stop something you don’t know about.”

I will concede she kind of has a point there.

“But if there is a hunt,” she adds. “Then I’ll try to find out more. Get enough information to stop it. OK?”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“Did they say when it was?”