The Summoning

I - Ritual

I never stayed too long in the parking lot, especially when classes got out this late. All I had to do was get through one last semester of night classes and this walk of fear to my car, clutching my keys like a weapon, could end.

This night was different. My breath came out in small puffs of fog as I shuffled to the little 4runner and glanced around the empty lot before fumbling to unlock it.

Just as I got the door open and threw my bag haphazardly onto the passenger seat, a high pitched scream rang out into the night, echoing against the buildings of the long closed college.

Chills traveled up my spine and I glanced around again, as if I would be able to see the source of the scream, before hearing someone cry out.

"Help!" It was a woman's scream, sounding as if it came from Tech Hall.

Before thinking twice, I slammed my door closed and began jogging in the direction I thought the person was. Absently, I reprimanded myself for leaving my phone in the car. What if the police needed to be called? But also, what if there was no time to waste? I didn't want to risk leaving someone alone in their time of need.

"Hello?" I called as I rounded the corner to the Tech hall and stopped in my tracks.

Three men were circling the woman in the dim light of the flickering street lamp. My blood ran cold as one of them struck her, metal glinting in the light from the gun as it whipped against her cheek.

Her head snapped to the right and she faltered, falling to the ground.

"Stop!" It was all I could think as the man with the gun raised his hand again. The three of them turned to me and the woman's head lulled to the ground when she tried prying herself up.

I floundered for something to say before coming up with a white lie.

"Police. Stop where you are and move away from the girl." I pretended I held my own gun, putting my hands together in hopes they believed my acting.

When they took a few seconds pause, I went on. "Hands where I can see them! Now!" I yelled, hoping my voice was strong enough to be believable.

A couple of them raised their hands to their sides, but the one with the gun stood frozen in place, seemingly assessing me.

I was balancing on the hope that they would do as I said. If I stepped any closer, I would be directly under a street light and they would see my ruse.

After a brief moment, the three of them bolted in opposite directions, leaving the girl on the ground.

Jogging to her, glancing around the dark buildings, I held out my hand and hissed, "come on, come on!"

She took my hand and I pulled her up.

Everything happened in a fraction of a second. Shots rang out and one of them shouted, "she's no cop!"

Just as she and I began running, hand in hand, another volley of shots echoed past us.

Shattering pain shot through my leg and I cried out, faltering before falling to my knee. Asphalt bit into my knee, but it was nothing compared to the seering pain pulsing through my calf. I had been shot.

"Run!" I yelled to the girl who had tried waiting for me. I shoved my keys into her hand and pushed her away. I tried pointing in the direction of my car and shielded my head as the gun went off again.

Oh, God we were gonna die here.

She sprinted into the alley and out of sight before they found me and I prepared myself for my inevitable death.

I had just enough time to turn before the sharp pain of the cool pistol cracked over my face.

Everything went black.