Screaming Schemes - Tyler Locke

Shadows Hurt

Word Count: 1005
Chapter 12

"Where's Ellie?" Kinsey asks.

"It's only been an hour," Tyler says.

Charlotte has this uneasy feeling that settles over her when he says those words and takes comfort from his arm around her waist - trying to focus on him instead of the voices. "Something's wrong," she eventually says.

"She should have been here with the crown," Bode agrees.

"We just need to wait," Tyler assures them, "and stay ready."

Kinsey asks, "What happens if mom comes home?"

"This'll all be over by then," Tyler answers, clearly not believing that himself.

And even though they're all looking, Charlotte and Bode are the first ones to see Dodge working toward the house.

"Uh, guys?" Bode asks, catching their attention. "Look!"

Tyler grabs Charlotte's hand. Charlotte puts her other hand on Bode's chest, pushing him behind her slightly. Kinsey steps back.

"I hope you don't mind," Dodge begins, "I brought some friends." She puts the crown on. Kinsey swears as the woman lifts her arms and shadows listen to her every word.

"Just..." Tyler's struggling to stay calm too. "A scare tactic. Shadows are just shadows."

Dodge lifts his car and throws it across the yard.

"Get inside," Tyler states.

"Now," Charlotte tells them, her voice much sterner and calm than his. She thanks her training for this since Bode seems to have calmed a little too as he drags his siblings and the redhead downstairs.

Kinsey shouts, "Help me barricade the door!" Tyler is helping her while Charlotte hands Bode the light sword he had made.

Their silence lasts for longer than the redhead would like because the voices in her head say the opposite. She can hear the demons want - need - to kill her and her friends. They're louder than she can even tell the Lockes.

"There's nothing out there," Tyler says, confused.

"I don't like this," Bode admits.

"Where did she go?" Kinsey questions.

Charlotte feels the darkness. "It's too quiet," Tyler says, "I'm checking upstairs." The redhead starts toward the office.

"Not without me," Kinsey argues.

Bode frowns. "You can't just leave me here."

Kinsey grabs Charlotte's hand, taking her out of the trace the demons have her under - the voices have her under. Getting rid of the redhead would help the monsters win; Kinsey's aware of that. And had noticed her best friend walking away from the others. Tyler joins the two girls, his sights catching on the demon that breaks where their father's ashes live.

And without much thought, Tyler rushes into the room. "Stop!"

He's stopped quickly by another shadow that grabs his throat, shoving him hard against the wall. A scream splits from inside Charlotte Orion as soon as his back hits. Bode winces, covering his ears. The shadows seem to scream in pain. Tyler is dropped at the same time Charlotte falls to her knees. Kinsey realizes why the demons want her dead: she can beat them with her voice. And when a shadow monster comes toward the redhead in retaliation, Bode does the first thing he can think of and turns the light to the room on, shining bright on their tired faces.

"Are you okay?" Kinsey asks Tyler who is gasping for air.

He barely nods before he makes his way over to Charlotte, looking her over. His hand cups her jaw, turning her head to the side. "Your ear," he points out, his voice sounding raw. Charlotte frowns at him. He puts his finger to the bottom of her ear and she winces, looking at the blood on his skin.

More lights brighten the room from Kinsey and Bode who are turning them on.

Charlotte struggles to her feet. "I'm fine." Tyler looks like he wants to argue but she's gone before he can, working with the others to turn the lights on in the kitchen.

When everything seems clear, Kinsey says, "They're looking for the Omega Key."

"It's safe. They can't get to it," Bode assures them.

Tyler, knowing when to quit something with Charlotte, grabs her hand, trying to give her comfort through their intertwined fingers instead. "Keep the lights on. As long as they're on, they can't touch us." His other hand touches the base of his throat.

Charlotte moves his hand and moves so she's in front of him. "Let me see." He manages to nod, his eyes locked with his girlfriend's worried ones. She can feel his gaze on her as she checks the marks on his neck. They already seem to be fading but she can imagine the pain will still be there - shadows don't leave traces but their grip on him was hard enough to dent his skin. "They're already looking better."

"It doesn't feel better," He mutters with a chuckle.

The breath from his laugh fans her face catching her off guard. She looks up at him and his breath hitches in his hurt throat but he doesn't care. The space between them seems to electrify with each minute they look at one another and they're both glad that his siblings are doing other things because the tension is almost too much for them, much less people around.

Their moment is ruined when the lights flicker off. Everything flickers off. Bode seems to regret his choice of words.

"Fuse box," Tyler says sarcastically.

"It's in the basement," Kinsey says. She hands Tyler and Charlotte their own flashlights. "Char and I will turn the lights back on. You guys distract Dodge."

It turns out that Kinsey and Charlotte weren't meant to team up in this moment because before they get to the basement, Dodge is in front of them. Her sights are set on the redhead that can ruin her plans with a simple scream. Kinsey begins to stop, prepared to fight with her best friend, but Charlotte pushes her forward.

"Get the lights on!" Charlotte yells, turning to face Dodge.

Kinsey hesitates, the redhead can feel it, but she listens to the Orion girl a few moments later, taking off toward the basement with new resolve.