WHEN THE DARKNESS COMES I NICK CLARK

Tally-Marks

Tally-Marks

"Everyone ready?" Travis asked, glancing round at them all, trying and failing to feign a confidence he didn't feel.

Lourdes bit her lip as everyone nodded, faces bloodless, shoulders tense. Travis nodded in turn, before taking that final step, opening the door into the unknown. Almost immediately, a group of hooded men swarmed the shop, Daniel and his family managing to break through the flood of bodies, stumbling into the street outside, Chris caught inbetween, Travis trapped against the wall. But Lourdes was swept further back into the shop, Liza frantically grabbing the back of her t-shirt, only to find her fingers closing around empty air.

"Lourdes!" Liza screamed, rushing forwards, only to be shoved backwards, crashing into one of the barber's chairs.

Lourdes was only aware of an almost emptiness beneath her feet, like she was being taken by the tide, the current carrying her away. But then she was being slammed against the wooden wall, the brick beneath burning the back of her neck, forcing her head up, only to find a face inches from hers, bright green eyes boring into her own. "You wanna play, baby?" he taunted, making kissing noises. "The night's only young."

"So pretty" -

- "C'mon, man, we don't do this shit" -

- "Says who?"

As they argued, their voices muffled by the bandanas wrapped around their faces, Lourdes dimly heard her father shouting, Liza screaming, Daniel yelling in the doorway – And then her blood-splattered t-shirt was suddenly torn open from the neck-line down, bringing Lourdes back to life, the blade from her back pocket just as suddenly flashing through the air, slashing her attacker's face. As he doubled up in agony, screaming, clutching his cheek, Lourdes dived forwards, only to collide with Chris who shoved her behind him, one of the men making to grab her, Chris slamming a cut-throat razor into his shoulder.

"Run!" Travis bellowed, his voice almost hoarse from yelling, his dark eyes wild. "Goddamn fucking run!"

Liza hauled Lourdes outside, cursing and crying in Spanish, Chris on their heels, Travis punching one of their pursuers in the face, before turning tail. As they ran, fighting their way through the crowd, Lourdes glanced up, only to find Ofelia by her side, Daniel and Griselda some distance behind. Ofelia's gaze travelled downwards, her eyes widening, hand flying to her mouth, but Travis only pushed her onwards, sending her crashing into Chris, who caught her with an impatient hand, steadying her.

"Come on!" Travis hollered, trying to hold himself together, even as he was falling apart. "Head for the fucking truck!"

As Liza dragged Lourdes down a flight of steps, Lourdes felt her face becoming increasingly wet, only to realise with vague surprise she was crying, the tears falling thick and fast, obscuring her vision. But Liza was merciless, dragging her daughter on, Travis herding Ofelia and Chris onwards, shooting frantic glances over his shoulder at the straggling Daniel and Griselda.

"Dad!?" Chris called out, slowing to a stop, his horrified gaze becoming drawn downwards.

But Travis barely glanced at the police officer being eaten alive in front of them, only thinking of getting his family out of hell, the flames threatening to devour their flesh before the dead did. "Keep moving!" Travis bellowed, shoving Chris forwards, making him stumble.

"Fucking Mary Mother of fucking God!" Liza yelled, pulling Lourdes away, almost yanking her arm out of her socket.

"This way!" Travis shouted, waving his arm at Daniel and Griselda, indicating for them to follow him.