Prey

Day 15 – Just After Midnight

The woman stood still, hands raised, breath shallow.

Daniel didn’t lower his rifle.

"You’re being hunted," she had just said.

His grip tightened around the trigger. "By who?"

Erin hesitated. "Not here."

"Here’s fine."

She exhaled sharply. "Look, Holt—"

Daniel’s pulse spiked.

She knew his name.

He didn’t like that.

His rifle rose slightly. "Try that again. Who the hell are you?"

The wind whispered through the trees, rattling dead leaves across the ground.

Finally, Erin spoke. "Name’s Erin. I’ve been watching you for a couple days."

"Watching me?"

"Yeah. Making sure you weren’t some psycho cannibal or trigger-happy raider before I approached."

Daniel didn’t move. "And?"

She smirked slightly. "Jury’s still out."

Daniel didn’t return the smile. "You alone?"

Erin exhaled. "No."

Finally—a truth.

"How many?"

"Six, including me."

Daniel didn’t like those numbers. Too many. "Where are they?"

"Camped a few miles east."

"You planning to rob me?"

"If we were, I wouldn’t be talking to you."

"Then why are you?"

Erin’s expression darkened. "Because you’ve got a choice to make."

Daniel narrowed his eyes. "What choice?"

She hesitated.

Then—softly—"Come with us. Or stay here and die."

Daniel didn’t lower his gun.

"You’re assuming I trust you."

"I don’t expect you to," Erin said. "I expect you to listen."

Daniel exhaled sharply. "Then start talking."

Erin nodded slightly, running a hand through her short hair.

"There’s a group moving through this area," she said. "Not scavengers. Not raiders. Something worse."

Daniel’s stomach tightened.

"Define worse."

Erin’s voice was flat. "They don’t take prisoners. They don’t trade. They erase."

Daniel kept his expression blank. "Sounds like raiders to me."

"They’re not."

Erin took a slow step closer.

"They’re expanding," she said. "They hit a town west of here three days ago. Slaughtered everyone. Burned it down."

Daniel’s jaw clenched.

"Could’ve been a message," Erin continued. "Could’ve been routine. Either way, they’re moving east."

His stomach sank.

East.

Toward him.

"How do you know?" he asked.

Erin exhaled slowly. "Because I saw it happen."

Daniel forced himself to stay calm. "You said I have a choice."

"You do."

"Prove it."

Erin frowned. "What?"

Daniel motioned with the rifle. "Prove this isn’t bullshit. Show me why I should trust you."

Erin exhaled, then nodded. "Follow me."

She turned and moved into the trees, her steps silent and practiced.

Daniel followed, scanning for any sign of an ambush. If she was leading him into a trap, he’d drop her before she could make a sound.

But instead of taking him toward her camp, she led him toward something else.

A muddy trail.

She crouched, pointing at the boot prints in the dirt.

Daniel knelt beside her.

Deep prints. Heavy gear. Military tread.

Daniel’s stomach tightened.

Not raiders.

Organized soldiers.

He looked up. "How long ago?"

"Last night."

Daniel studied the pattern. The formation. They moved like a patrol unit.

If that wasn’t proof enough—

Erin pointed toward a tree just ahead.

Daniel followed her gaze—

And his pulse spiked.

Hanging from a low branch was a severed human hand, tied there with a strip of cloth.

A warning.

Daniel’s fingers curled into a fist.

This wasn’t random violence.

This was territorial.

A claim.

Erin’s voice was quiet. "They’re setting up camp."

Daniel exhaled slowly, his mind racing.

His cabin was already compromised.

If he stayed, he’d be dead within the week.

He hated being forced into decisions.

But this one?

There was no alternative.

Daniel stared at the severed hand, his brain working through every possible outcome.

If he refused Erin’s offer, he’d be fighting alone.

And if she was right about this group…

That wasn’t a fight he could win.

He exhaled sharply, lowering his rifle slightly.

"If we do this," he said, "I don’t take orders."

Erin smirked. "Wouldn’t dream of it."

Daniel studied her for a long moment.

Then he sighed, running a hand through his beard.

"Let’s go."

Erin nodded, turning back toward the woods.

Daniel followed.

Because something was coming.

And he wasn’t going to be here when it arrived.