A Cat's Chance in Hell Read Online Free PDF Page B

minutes.” Kyle pulled the gun apart to show the tiny ampoules inside. “Needless to say, it is best to avoid shooting anyone on our side with one of these, as they will have the same effect as a real Werewolf bite – death or turning furry at full moon.” He drew in a breath to continue when a shout went up from a group near the edge of the stadium.
    “ Heads up,” a male voice yelled. “Here they come.”
    The air between the parking lot and the stadium began to turn hazy and everyone began scrambling into position. Kyle and Gabi strapped on their new Dart guns and ran for the fence line to scramble through with the other Hunters.

 
    Chapter 3
     
    Gabi felt the air around them grow bitingly cold as a thick, throat-clogging mist roiled up out of the ground. The five Hunters stopped just on the other side of the fence, fanning out into a defensive line, the five offensive Magi hovering slightly behind them. Even though they were standing over a hundred metres from the place where the roiling mist was bubbling out of the earth, the cold was seeping into their bones, their breath turning white, and a gag-inducing stench was threatening to choke them.
    “ Alright,” Doug called in his deep urgent baritone. He was the most seasoned Hunter among them so the others deferred to him. “Let’s see what comes out of that, then we’ll split them up amongst ourselves.” Then he turned back to the Magi. “Banishers and Trackers, you can pick up any that get away from us, but stay behind us as much as possible. We’re relying on you to send back any we can’t kill outright. Give us a chance to strike a deathblow first, but the priority is to keep them from leaving the area. The Clean-up teams have orders to follow any that do escape us, at a safe distance, and we’ll catch them once the rest are destroyed. Don’t be tempted to attack any that escape on your own, don’t forget how easily these things can poison you, wait for back-up and do not engage one alone. Am I clear on that?” he roared like an army sergeant.
    Gabi had to bite her lip to stop herself saluting and yelling back, “Yes, Staff Sergeant!” Doug would not be amused.
    The Magi murmured agreement and moved apart into a loose line, their expressions calm and resolute as they began their own internal preparations for the battle. Gabi was quietly cursing the fact that she had run out of sweets, and took to pacing in a small circle as she tugged on a pair of fingerless gloves. Lance was playing idly with a small ball of fire, tossing it casually from one hand to the other, while Kyle was rechecking his weapons and Matt was stretching out muscles, a grin of anticipation on his rough, unshaven face.
    Gabi suddenly became aware of another change in the air, an electric charge seemed to crackle angrily across her skin, and a thick, oily darkness descended into her brain. She looked quickly around at Kyle and the others, they were looking uncomfortable too, and she heard a quick, hissed intake of breath from the group behind her. The Demons had made it across the void.
    “ Buckle up boys,” Gabi drawled loudly. “Time to kick some fucking Demon ass!” Her last words came out as a scream of defiance. A snarl broke from deep in her throat as she ripped Nex from her sheath, a look of vicious determination on her face. The darkness swamping her brain immediately dissipated, and her outcry seemed to have the same effect on everyone around her as they all drew weapons and issued war cries of their own.
     
    The Demons emerged from the mist; a motley group of repulsive aberrations from the darkest depths of hell. Four grotesque creatures lumbered into sight, and the group collectively breathed a sigh of relief. The relief was short-lived as another smaller Demon flew out of the fog and hovered a few feet above the others, and then another wraithlike being floated out and to the right of the gathered hoard. The Hunters froze in tense expectation, wondering what