People simply disappeared, always during the night. This morning it was our turn. Simon was gone. It was only a matter of time before the hunters became the hunted.

We looked for him until a gathering storm appeared on the horizon.

Mikey gave up first. “There’s no sign of him. We need to turn in.”

Sam turned on him. “I don’t remember asking you a goddamn thing!”

The radio I carried for emergencies blasted some static and emitted whispers. I strained to hear it. “Shh. Guys, listen!”

Everyone fell silent.

“-that’s my nightmare. Crawling, slithering, along the edge of a straight razor…”

It was Simon. He sounded delirious.

“I’m going out there.” I said.

“Why don’t we just wait here for a little while- see what happens-” Mikey hedged.

“Shut up Mikey.” Sam looked at me. “You know they mostly come out at night- it’s dangerous to go alone. Take this.”

He handed me a blade longer than my forearm. “We’ll protect the settlement. Now what’s our motto?”

I grinned. “If it bleeds, we can kill it!”