Wednesday's Week

Hunted for Woe

They stationed the teams at different entrances to the woods. A spell border wrapped around the whole thing in black ash. We could jump out but the monster couldn't. And if we did, we'd lose. The other students who wouldn't be playing camped out by a big bond fire. They waited nervously for us.

"Whatever you do, come back," Eugene urged. "We've got a big honey harvest next week and I can't do it without you." I know he wanted to say more gushy things to me and I appreciated him holding back. Ajax wrapped Enid into a tight hug.

And for the first time ever, I found myself missing Tyler. I hated that feeling. It was betraying me. I was a raven. Goody told me I flew solo. So why was I lingering on a monster that wanted me dead. But even after rationalizing it, I could still picture us at the dance. They way he tilted his head and tried to keep up with me.

"If you see any sign of foul play, promise me you will escape," Weems interrupted my thoughts. She rung her hands nervously as she floated back and forth in front of me.

I met her ghost eyes, "No."

She huffed, "Young lady, you may not speak-"

The horn blew. It signaled that we needed to get into position. I looked back at the crowd one more time before falling in line beside Enid. We were stationed on the far east side. Farthest away from the school.

"Wednesday!" Xavier called. He was running down to us.

I stepped away from Enid, "You are supposed to be with the other students.

He nodded, out of breath. "You left too quick before I could say anything."

"What if I don't want you to say anything?" I asked curtly.

Xavier pushed his hair back, "Then you'd probably have not left Enid's side. Besides, I'm not here to argue or convince you to be safe. That's not very Wednesday of you." He took something out of his pocket, "Salt's cry has very different rules then us." They were ear plugs. "They will use their siren song on you guys."

"Thank you," I let out as I took the ear plugs. He looked down at me, silent. We stood there for a moment before I cleared my throat, "Go back to the other students Xavier." I turned before I could see any reaction.

I stepped over to Enid and gave her the ear plugs. She put them in and then signed to me. We really need to talk about you and Xavier.

I looked back at her I'm irritation. There is no me and Xavier.

The horn blew again, significantly louder then what our ear plugs could block out. We stepped over the ash line and into the forest.

Enid looked up at the full moon illuminating our path. She howled and began to transform. I hadn't witnessed her transform before. She didn't rip apart and elongate the way a Hyde would. Instead her body morphed smoothly. She didn't look hurt. She fell to her knees but suddenly they weren't knees.

Enid was full werewolf. Just as we had planned, she let me climb onto her back. I could feel her muscle under her pink tinted fur. She pointed her about into the air and sniffed. Then Enid darted.

I cling to her fur and kept my head low and away from tree branches. We had discussed at length the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents. The only other team that might beat us to whatever the monster was would be the vampires since they could fly and had impeccable night vision.

My night goggles turned everything black and green. I could see any movements. But everything was a blur as we ran. Suddenly, Enid jerked. I was thrown off of her back as she tumbled to the floor. I jumped up, ignoring the wind kicked out of my chest. Enid shaped back into human form.

What happened? I signed. She rubbed her bruised forehead and then pointed to the ground. I moved over to her. A trip wire. Weems said nothing about traps. This was either from another student or the stalker.

I helped Enid back up. Stay Vigilant. I warned. The hunt had begun.

Branches cracked under heavy pressure in the distance. Enid turned her head towards it. We are near.

Two other figures emerged into the clearing. Just as I had predicted, it was the vampire twins. They fell from the sky, going from bat to human. Their fangs glinted in the moon light. They had no ear plugs. I read their lips as best as I could, but I was an amateur lip reader.

I made out this. Giant animal. I turned to Enid and nodded. We began to run again. I knew I couldn't outrun a vampire, but they were being cautious. They might even wait for someone else to discover the monster.

The gorgon guy came running the opposite way. His shirt was singed. I stopped him from running farther and pulled out an ear peice. "What happened?" I asked.

His eyes looked crazed. "We saw the thing. It's huge. And the venom. I lost my partner. I don't know where she is!" He pulled away from me and ran off. His partner had the ability to go invisible so I doubt she was in too much trouble.

It's venomous?

The trees before us cracked and fell as the monster came around the hill. It was a huge scorpion. It towered over me, blocking out the moon light. I watched its tail whip around when it spotted Enid.

I shoved her to the ground and we rolled. The scorpions venom shot from its tail. An acid burning liquid shot across the tree, immediately burning it up. It caught fire and smoke began to rise.

The other players joined around. They darted back and forth, trying to stay alive and looking for a good place to throw their block.

One of the sirens stepped forward. She started to siren speak. I could see the power radiate off of her voice. She was trying to command the scorpion. Instead, one of the vampires stopped running. It turned to the siren and swayed back and forth.

At trying to be controlled, the scorpion was enraged. It let out a roar and whipped around. The siren dove, but it's tail whacked right into the stationary vampire. It flew across the opening and slammed into the dirt, unconscious.

Enid and I dove behind a tree to gather our selves. "Look at the collar around its neck," Enid shouted as she pulled out her ear plugs. "It should be glowing with a protective spell to keep its venom from killing us."

But there was a slash across the rune carved into it. The stalker had tampered with the scorpion's strength. "We need to get everyone else out of here!" Enid warned.

I watched at the ferocity of the other siren as he weaved around the monster's legs. He poured water on himself and I could see his scales. He got close. His fingers inches away from placing the block on the scorpion.

It's tail sunk into his back. The siren let out a blood curdling scream.