Hellscape

Chapter 20: The Lost Boys

    In the guise of darkness, Melinoe and Lazarus scurry away from the desk, hiding behind a tower of books as they wait for the intruder to find them. But the grand library remains silent. Whoever has come in and caused the blackout, must know their way around and is carefully avoiding all of the creaky floorboards.

    Melinoe quietly backs into Lazarus, fitting into him perfectly as she bumps into his firm warm chest. A soft gasp is pulled from her lips and her eyes flutter closed as his hands find her waist, subtly hugging her from behind. Ignoring the tingles shooting across her belly, she looks up over her shoulder into the soft steely gaze looking back at her and she whispers, "time to go."

    He nods in silent agreement, reluctantly dropping his hands from her waist into her hand as he tugs her down an empty aisle. They sneak, on tiptoe, with Boy trotting after them — panting softly and sniffing the ground. The hound suddenly stops, lifting his little head and looking to his left, as if he's heard a noise. Lazarus pauses, watching the hellhound closely and pulling on Mel's hand to stop her too.

    With a furrowed brow, she turns around, eyeing the beast suspiciously. "Boy," she whisper-yells. Patting the side of her leg and calling him to her, the hellhound snorts and runs off in the opposite direction. "Boy!"

    "We have to go," Lazarus whispers.

    "But Boy-" Her voice wavers slightly, surprising them both.

    "He'll be fine," Laz assures as he pulls her along with him, shimmying through the open gate and ducking behind another shelf. Melinoe looks through the many levels of books in front of them with a teary eye, searching for Boy and not caring at all about the mystery person.

    "Where is that mutt?"

    And as if to answer her, a bark booms around them and a stack of books on a nearby table falls to the floor with a loud echoing thud. The pair of them freeze, standing frigid and waiting to see if the intruder is going to expose themselves. A dark shadow falls in front of them and Mel gasps. Lazarus' hand jumps to her mouth, covering and muffling the panic. Crouching to the ground with Melinoe safely tucked into him, his large hand covering most of her face, Lazarus closes his eyes — not at all prepared for the worst to happen. However, the shadow does not see or hear them and therefore does not loom long. With wide eyes, they watch it fade down another aisle.

    Dropping his hand from her lips, Lazarus sighs heavily in relief. They stand from the squatted position, peering over the shelf at the massive pile of splayed books. The shadowy figure must have bumped into them and knocked them to the ground, or perhaps it was all Boy's doing — maybe the mutt knew how close the intruder was getting to them and he barked to distract them from being found.

    Lazarus clicks his tongue softly, beckoning Mel to walk hastily away from the shadow of fallen books and she follows him begrudgingly, wishing that the hellhound hadn't run off but thankful that he had saved them.

    She quietly pssts, hoping to catch Boy's attention. The pup yips in the distance and she hisses again, "psst, Boy!"

    But as they quickly turn the corner, Lazarus comes face to face with the intruder — bumping into his lanky yet broad chest. In a second, the tall dark haired demon clenches his fists into the boy's shirt, throwing him up against the closest bookshelf. Pinning him there with a growl, the demon brings his index finger to his own lips, shushing the confused and frightened boy.

    "Let go of him! Stop it," Melinoe punches the strong arm in front of her, trying her hardest to defend and free the human. But the demon just looks at her, starstruck, and she lowers her fists, startled and confused, "Cha?"