The helicopters thundered above, blades slicing the night sky. Spotlights cut across the rooftop, catching the shine of blood and broken bodies. Zara's chest heaved, her ribs aching where Reed had slashed her earlier. Her palms twitched with silk, sticky and trembling, her veins glowing faint.
Then came the scream. Tammy's voice, raw and terrified, echoing from the helicopter doors.
Zara's stomach dropped. "Tammy."
Reed tilted his head, grinning through cracked teeth. Blood dripped from his mouth as he licked it away. "Guess the cavalry came with party favors."
Zara snapped her wrist, silk flaring between her fingers. "Shut your fucking mouth, Reed."
He laughed low, guttural. "Make me, Spider-Bitch. Or better yet—choke me out right here. See if I care."
Her blood boiled. She wanted to rip him apart. But Tammy's scream came again, pulling her attention upward. Soldiers leaned out of the helicopter, rifles aimed, mandibles clicking beneath their masks. Tammy was bound, gagged, dragged toward the edge.
"PROJECT Z," a mechanical voice boomed through the megaphone. "SURRENDER YOURSELF OR THE HOSTAGE DIES."
Zara's vision tunneled. Her heart pounded so loud it drowned out the helicopters. Her body shook with hunger, anger, and guilt.
Reed leaned in close, claws glinting under the spotlight. "So what's the play? Surrender like a good little lab rat? Or burn with me?"
Zara spat in his face. "Fuck you."
He wiped the spit with the back of his hand, then laughed. "God, I love when you talk dirty."
The first hybrid dropped from the helicopter, claws clattering on the rooftop. Zara teleported instantly, slamming her fist into its skull. It cracked, spraying black ichor across the concrete. The hunger purred, urging her on.
More followed, swarming. Bullets tore through the smoke. Zara blinked from one enemy to the next, silk snapping throats, blood slicking her hands. She moved like lightning, but each jump made her weaker, dizzier, more starved.
Reed was in his element. He tore hybrids apart with savage glee, his claws carving flesh from bone. "You feel it, don't you?" he shouted over the chaos. "Every kill makes you stronger. Every scream feeds you. Stop pretending you're not like me!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Zara snarled, teleporting behind him and slamming her knee into his spine. He stumbled forward, laughing even harder.
"You like it!" he roared. "I can see it in your eyes, Zara. You want this as much as I do!"
Another hybrid lunged, catching her side. Claws tore into her ribs. She screamed, silk bursting in a violent web that ripped the creature in half. Blood sprayed warm across her face. She was trembling, but her mouth twisted into a grin she didn't recognize.
The hunger sang.
The helicopter above shifted closer. Tammy's muffled cries grew louder, desperate. Zara's head snapped upward, rage flooding through her veins.
"Hold on, Tammy!" she shouted.
She launched a silk strand, teleporting upward in a burst of light. The world blurred, then snapped into focus as she landed on the helicopter's side rail. Soldiers shouted, mandibles snapping as rifles swung toward her.
She didn't hesitate. Silk cut through the first soldier's throat. She kicked another into open air, his scream swallowed by the blades. She ripped into the cabin, blood splattering the walls as she moved.
Tammy's eyes widened with terror. Zara's chest ached at the sight—her best friend bound, gagged, tears streaking her face. Zara cut her free with one swipe, dragging her close.
"I've got you," Zara whispered, voice shaking. "I swear, I've got you."
Then a claw punched through the roof.
Reed pulled himself into the cabin, grinning wide, blood dripping from his jaw.
"Always stealing my fun," he rasped. His claws flexed, eager.
Zara shoved Tammy behind her, silk snapping from her palms. "Try me, Reed. I'll choke you out right here, you incompetent bitch."
Reed's eyes gleamed with hunger. "Do it. Let's see which one of us dies first."
The helicopter bucked, bullets shredding through the fuselage. Tammy screamed again, ducking as sparks rained from the ceiling. Soldiers swarmed from the other side, guns blazing.
Zara blinked forward, slamming Reed into the wall. He laughed in her face, claws digging into her arm. Blood spilled hot between them.
"Every time you fight me," he growled, teeth flashing, "you make me stronger. Keep feeding me."
Zara gritted her teeth, silk tightening around his throat. "Then starve."
The helicopter lurched violently. Metal screeched. Flames burst from the engine. They were going down.
Tammy shrieked, clinging to the cabin frame. Soldiers scrambled for balance. Reed just laughed, his claws tearing through the floor.
Zara locked eyes with him, fury boiling hotter than fear.
"We're not dying here," she hissed.
Reed's grin widened. "Speak for yourself."
The helicopter nose-dived toward the city. Glass shattered, flames roared, and all Zara could do was wrap herself around Tammy as the world spun into fire.