Halo: Headhunters Novels & Stories

AVA Without another word, Hunter moves swiftly away from the lockers, passing by his two friends whose names I'm guessing are Preston and Gomorey. They had been gawking at Hunter with a mischievous grin playing on their lips, and Hunter didn't waste a chance to shoot them both with his penetrating glare. I noticed their pupils retrench as they stared at him, meaning they were conversing with each other through mindlink. It was brief, lasting a couple of seconds before Hunter turns left and straight down the now-empty halls.

Alicia was mazed. “Mother, what are you…” A stiff gush of wind charged through the windows, flapping the curtains every which way. Martha’s eyes glowed orange and a luminous ring appeared above her head. Alicia remembered the halo. It was the exact one she saw when they were back in the forest fighting the talking Vurhan, when the creepy figures emerged and healed it. It emanated the identical aura she felt that day. It was then that her suspicions were confirmed, the stranger was definitely a member of the Heads.

My palms were sore as well, as we stared at the strange sight before us. Two of the wolves darted off in different directions. I assumed they might be scouts. The other three ran at different men, and to my astonishment, crashed into their chests, merging with their form. The men’s eyes snapped open and began to rise. As I stared at the sight before me, I realized that there was now a large wolf head tattooed on each of their bare chests.

The thought of that wiped the smile clean off my face. “Oh come on, cheer up. You’re gonna do great!” Melissa said, trying to bolster my spirits. She was always good at that and I genuinely appreciated the effort even though it wasn’t working this time. “I hope so Mel. I hope-“ the sound of the horn that announced the beginning of the Hunt stopped me mid sentence. I gasped in shock. “They aren’t supposed to blow it yet. They’re supposed to send people to make sure everyone is at their station” Mel winced. “I think they did hon”

He is standing with his back turned against me, his eyes trained on the other person. I focus on him instead. He looks stunned, his eyes widened, and his lips parted. “That is impossible,” he mutters, shaking his head. “That veil hasn’t been breached in years. Who could have…” “Only one breed,” he drawls. “Hunters.” “Shit!” I didn’t think they were going to figure it out so fast. My breath hitches in my throat when he angles his head a fraction, when everything suddenly stops, as if he can sense me.

Silas tried to hide his discontent, but unknown to him, his face had already scrunched up in dissatisfaction. Whereas, Wanda was shocked to see him “James? What are you doing here?” James grinned, taking a chair to join their table without being invited. “I brought lunch today as usual, but I only found Andy. He was sleeping soundly, so I left to find you” Wanda nodded “Yeah, but you somehow figured out my exact location?” James shrugged, “Dumb luck.” his gaze flickered from Wanda to Silas. He said to Wanda “I'm guessing you met the Doctor here by chance?”

Every step felt like walking on thin ice. Suddenly, a loud, static chime echoed through the entire sector. The massive holographic billboards hovering over the central plaza flickered from colorful advertisements to a bright, flashing red alert. High-frequency sirens began to blare from the watchtowers above. I stopped in my tracks, my heart slamming against my ribs as I looked up at the sky. My face was plastered across every floating screen in the lower city. SECTOR-WIDE MANHUNT: CROWN PRINCE THEODORE MISSING

Sean had to leave early because of a contract his company needed to finalize. Before he went, he patted my shoulder reassuringly. "I will be back soon. Wait for me." I saw his glistening eyes, and a strange mix of emotions slowly welled up inside me. "You don't have to. Go handle your business," I said. "No, I have to make sure this money is properly accounted for," Sean insisted. "Okay," I relented. By the time I sent Sean off, Mr. Harrison had already finished his speech. "Next, please welcome our charity ambassador, Vera Hawthorn, to the stage for her speech."

"Clara, come on. Let's just go home and talk. Don't do this out of spite." I looked at them both, then yanked my arms free. Turned to Alex. "Vectorial Corp doesn't keep freeloaders. Cut out everyone who doesn't belong." "Yes, ma'am," he said without missing a beat. And I walked out.

He looked at the monitor, then at me. "Mommy?" Leo whispered. His voice was a tectonic groan, vibrating through the floorboards. "Papa... he doesn't smell like the rain anymore. He smells like... like the machine." I couldn't tell him that Kael had just killed his own soul to give us a weapon. I could only watch as the bone-white claw of the Collector vessel finally slammed through the remaining basalt pylon, its jagged teeth inches from Leo’s quartz head. Halloway, still on his knees by the dais, looked at the monitor. His bionic eye spun frantically as he read the first few names on the saved list. His jaw dropped, the plastic of his mask cracking.