The rooftop was fire and smoke. The hunters moved in, rifles raised, mandibles clattering under their masks, and all Zara could hear was the blood rushing in her ears. Her veins glowed faintly, silk twitching under her skin.
Across from her, Reed stood with claws dripping red, grinning like a demon. His voice was gravel. "Truce, baby girl? Or should I just let them eat you first?"
Zara's fists clenched. "Fuck you, Reed."
The first hybrid leapt. Zara blinked out of sight and reappeared above him, heel smashing into his chest. He hit the rooftop hard, bones cracking like gunshots. Reed was already moving, tearing into another soldier, laughing as black blood sprayed his face.
"God, I missed this," he growled, claws sawing through a mask. "Screams taste better than pills."
"Shut up and fight!" Zara snapped, silk cutting another soldier's throat open.
It was chaos—gunfire shredding the air, hybrids shrieking as mandibles split wide, Reed tearing limbs off bodies while Zara blinked through shadows, blood streaking her hoodie. Every time she struck, the hunger roared, and it felt good. Too good.
A hybrid slammed her into the wall, claws digging into her ribs. Zara snarled, silk bursting from her palms, wrapping its skull. She yanked hard until its head snapped sideways with a sickening pop. The body twitched, still caught in her threads.
Reed dropped beside her, blood dripping from his jaw. "You feel it too, don't you? Every time we spill, every time we break something, it feeds us. Stop lying to yourself."
She shoved him back, chest heaving. "I'm not you."
"You will be," Reed spat, his smile sharp. "You're already halfway there."
Her stomach twisted. She hated that he was right.
One soldier's bullet grazed her shoulder. She hissed, teleporting behind him, sinking silk around his throat until he gurgled and went limp. She didn't even hesitate.
The hunger purred.
When the last hybrid hit the ground, silence suffocated the rooftop. Webbed corpses swung in the night air, blood soaking the concrete. Zara's chest heaved, her hands slick and trembling.
Reed licked his claws, grinning. "See? We're unstoppable together. Forget Tammy. Forget your pathetic little crew. You and me could own this fucking city."
Zara snapped her wrist and silk wrapped his mouth shut. She yanked him to the ground, her eyes blazing. "Say her name again, and I'll end you right here."
He ripped free, laughing. "I'd love to see you try."
Before she could answer, floodlights cut through the smoke. Helicopters roared overhead, blades chopping the air. Voices barked through megaphones, cold and merciless.
"PROJECT Z. STAND DOWN OR BE TERMINATED."
Zara froze. Reed tilted his head, blood dripping from his teeth. "Well shit… looks like round two just walked in."
Hybrids dropped from the helicopters, mandibles snapping, rifles aimed. And then she heard it—high above, faint but sharp.
Tammy's scream.
Zara's blood ran cold. Her stomach dropped.
Reed's grin widened as he watched her face. "Guess Spider-Bitch has to make another choice."