Blood Moon Lake

Chapter 21

Trigger Warning! Su!cide

Chase's eyes fell on the backpack.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Oh, don't you dare.

He lunged toward the abandoned pack as I sprinted after him. His hands wrapped around the fabric, and he ripped it open. Snatching hold of the straps, I yanked it away from him. Chase pulled his arm back, and his closed fist collided with my nose. Yelping in surprise, my hands flew up toward my nose. Taking the opportunity, he rolled away with the bag.

A demon shrieked and launched itself toward him. Shoving his hand into the bag, he yanked out a handgun. Quickly loading it, he aimed and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit it square in the head. Its head snapped sideways from the force, but the bullet bounced off its skull and fell to the ground.

Its head whipped toward him with a crack, and an angry screech tore from its throat. Four more figures clad in navy blue masks emerged from the tree line.

Chase shot it again as Amelia scrambled toward the bag. She pulled out another handgun and began firing at the demons, too. The bullets bounced off harmlessly. Doing nothing but slowing them down.

What do they not understand about bullets not working?

Someone shoved something in my hands. Grabbing it on instinct, I saw the backpack. Leo was crouched in a fighting position beside me, a knife in hand.

"That didn't work last time," I reminded him.

"I know," he snapped.

I stuck my hand in the bag and began rifling through it. Ella backed toward us.

He glanced at me. "What are you doing?"

"Holy water," I replied, "It's supposed to kill demons."

I heard the gun reloading from somewhere nearby and saw Jack joining our slowly forming circle. "When will he get the hint that doesn't work?"

Leo's eyes shot from tree to tree. "No idea. Any luck?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

"Splendid," he muttered.

Anna sprinted into the circle.

"Now is the perfect time to ditch these guys," Ella said.

I nodded. "Good point. Let's go."

Dashing away from the fight, I saw Jack stop to grab a stick.

"Why are you stopping!?" Leo hissed.

Jack sprinted after us. "I need a weapon!"

I don't think that will do much, but if it makes him feel safe, I won't say anything about it. Another gunshot went off, and I heard the clicking signaling to reload. There goes our distraction.

Dropping back, I shoved my friends forward. "Go! Go! Go!" Wrapping my hand around Jack's wrist, I watched in terror as a demon lunged at him. Time seemed to slow. The stick in Jack's hand flew back as the demon's claws scraped down his back. A squelch sounded through the clearing as the stick drove through the demon's neck. It waled as it dissolved into an inky, goopy sludge.

A crunch rang out from somewhere behind us, followed by Amelia's devastated wail.

The demons shrieked, and the sound of retreating steps filled the air.

A click and then a bang.

We stilled.

The woods fell quiet, and no one made a sound.

The five of us stood there sucking in short, shallow breaths. My heart jackhammered in my chest. A demon almost caught Jack. He could have died. I almost failed him. The only reason he survived is because of that stick. My eyes drifted to the goop-covered stick. Its thicker size and slightly pointed end made it a good weapon. Good enough to kill the demons.