Shielded - The Marilla Chronicles

Chapter 3

I looked up to see columns of Dark smoke around us, each containing a crouched over man. There were about twelve of them.

Smoke... I had just drawn the same type of smoke in the sand.

The dark swirls completely evaporated and soon all that remained were the black robed men.

"Shit." Max groaned. He swiftly pulled us both to feet and brought his hand out to protect my front. Jake saw Max's action, and furrowed his eyebrows, before turning to protect my back.

The black robed men all began to stand in perfect sync. I held back my shallow breaths as I looked at them.

They all looked the same with completely hollowed out eyes, that black smoke seeping out through the holes. They wore the same black coats that trailed to the ground, leaving the same type of black smoke.

Goosebumps rippled over my exposed skin as they all began slowly tilting their heads to the side. I did not need to know things, to be fairly certain, that this... Was not good.

"He felt something." They all said eerily together. Their voices crept over my skin and I felt my legs wobble.

"No." Max said calmly as he shook his head, "I think he got the wrong address." He looked around as if he were searching for someone.

"Dude?" Jake asked quizzically over his shoulder. I also looked up at Max. I felt lost and confused, and bloody terrified.

"Shh." Max snapped cutting Jake off.

"The Dark One felt something here." They said again, but this time taking a step towards us.

I felt my heart began to beat against my chest. What the hell was going on? Who were these men? I grabbed onto Max's hand in fear and squeezed back reassuring. He did not look down at meet my gaze though, his eyes were shimmering as he glared at the dark robed men.

In less than It took me to react, the one thing grabbed onto Jake and Max's friend. With one swift motion he ripped the boys head clean off with claws. Blood spattered over us.

I let out a painful scream and immediately felt Max grip onto me, stopping me from falling to the ground.

My face lost all colour as the creature chuck the remains to the floor. Blood poured out into the sand.

"What the fuck?" Jake yelled as his face darted around us with a panicked expression.

I tried, tried to remember my lessons, but if I had known I was actually preparing for a real fight, I would have taken it much more seriously.

The men or monsters, stepped in again, ripping their other friend away and soon decapitating him the same way.

Max let go of me and I had no choice but to hold myself up now.

"Marilla don't move." Max ordered as he fell to the ground.

My eyes widened as I released another scream.

I watched in disgust as Max's skin ripped and creaked. I heard his bones crack and watched as they morphed into a completely different shape.

He looked like he was growing while he transformed, fur covering his skin as he let out terrifying snarls that traveled all around us.

Soon a giant mutated wolflike creature stood in front of me. No longer were the hooded figures the most terrifying thing on this beach.

His fur rippled as he released a growl at the figures. They stopped and all tilted their heads again, waiting for something.