Grimm Games

Chapter 32: Camera Tricks

The wailing sirens from the speakers pierced my eardrums. I had less than thirty seconds to arrive at the gaming area. And although the urge to return to the safe zone to check on Jade nagged at me, the overwhelming urge to find Millie and get to the arena seized me.

I sprinted far from the presence of the Piper and closer to the familiar lit-up stadium surrounded in a ten feet high chain linked fence. My feet thundered across the ground with the force of a charging bull, each step pounding the earth harder than the Troll's stomps and propelled me forward faster than the Wolfman's canine-human paws.

The main entrance into the arena was closed. Instead, the gate to the enclosed chain-link compartment that had previously held the brothers remained wide open.

Where was Millie? Surely, if she was safe from harm, she would have made it here by now. I ran so fast I knew I was the first to arrive.

In a panic, I searched for an additional opening but could not find one. Pain pulsed in my ribcage and the palm of my hand from my injuries, I ignored the throbbing and stood by the main gate as the siren continued blaring.

Finally, in the distance the straw kicked up behind a fast-moving figure racing toward me. The slim frame, dark skin, and unusually white hair made my heart patter in excitement.

"Millie!" I waved her over.

Her pace didn't slow, and I realized it wasn't just because of the countdown. Behind her, on all fours was the Wolfman, keeping pace with her as she sprinted like a hurdler toward the gaming arena. I tightened my grip around my blade, preparing to use it on the beast that stalked her.

In no time, she was at my side, only slowing when she realized the main gate wasn't open. She pulled me by the arm and rushed us inside the open door that led to the enclosed compartment. "Come on!" she yelled.

My eyes were on the Wolfman as his gaped jaw and slimy tongue hung from the side of his mouth. He skidded on the straw as he tried to stop and turn, and I swung the blade before dodging out of the way.

Although I aimed at his head, the blade lodged directly into his shoulder, right beside the emblem of the prestigious school he'd attended as a young man. His howl was so loud, it managed to drown out the sirens for a brief second. I twisted my cuff causing the blade to rip more muscle as it dislodged to return to me.

I ducked into the open gate where Millie was and watched as it slammed close, trapping us inside. And as soon as ours shut, the main gate swung open.

The beast's breaths tripled in pain as he licked at the wound on his shoulder, not noticing the Jeffrey brothers running up behind him to zoom past like the sprinting athletes they claimed to be, not slowing one bit as they entered the gate and continued toward the stage.

But as they whizzed by, the straw they kicked up caught the Wolfman's attention and he growled before directing his anger at me.

Millie shouted, "I'll kill you. You just wait." It wasn't until Sonya appeared in my periphery that I realized she had been screaming at her and not the beast before us.

The Wolfman was too preoccupied with his shoulder and the black ooze seeping from the wound to acknowledge Sonya. And she zoomed past him and us, and into the open gate. Not even her injured foot seemed to slow her.

The beast looked up too late, snarling at the dust she left in her quake. The sirens finally stopped, bringing an eerie quietness to the environment. The huffs and puffs of the injured creature was heard alongside his cautious steps as he approached the main gate, sniffing the ground as he went.