Something Wicked This Way Comes

Chapter 57

Fire cascaded over the bridge in a violent bomb. The flames exploded on contact with the shadow beasts, turning them into charred dust. Their shrieks and howls died with them.

The heatwave in the aftermath was nearly as unbearable as the flames themselves. Reyna poked her head from over a troll's massive arm. Aanya and Leo were still stood there, frozen in place. Both their skin was steaming. Leo's hair was smoking.

Then, like breaking from a trance, Aanya shook her head and turned to the clump of plants on the other side of the bridge. She took off sprinting, dodging dead bodies like they weren't even there.

"LAURA!" She screamed, tearing at the vines. She cursed as she ripped them from their hurried roots. Her eyes were wild with fear.

Reyna shot to her feet, running fast to her side, helping to tear the vines up. Her heart was pounding, terror driving her every movement. If either had died just now, torn apart by teeth and claws, Reyna was never going to forgive herself.

"Laura!" Aanya shouted again, voice hoarse. "Come on, please!"

"Aanya!" A muffled voice shouted from beneath the vines.

Nico.

"Nico, oh my gods!" Reyna cried in relief. "Are you okay!?"

There was a long pause, then, "I'm fine, but Laura is—"

"Is she alive?" Aanya asked, voice cracking.

"Yes, but the fight took it out of her. She's not..." he trailed off, his own voice going hoarse. "She's not looking great."

"We need to hurry," Aanya breathed, looking at her with tears in her eyes.

Reyna nodded, drawing her knife. "We need more hands."

Aanya turned, fire-red eyes landing on someone behind them. "Joel get your ass over here!"

Reyna half-turned, seeing a tall middle-aged Latino man helping the wounded. He turned when Aanya called, assessed the situation, then started jogging to them to help. She turned back to the clump of vines, sending a quick prayer to her mother for the strength in arms to free her friends.

***

They were getting closer. He knew it. He could feel it. Every step forward felt like ghosts were pulling at him, begging him to come to them. He didn't like the feeling.

Pickles was bringing up the rear now, evidently having smelled something he didn't like. Mama was sticking close to Harley, gazing at him with pale yellow eyes. The sound of their tails sliding in unison on the forest floor was welcome background noise, comforting in a way. Harley stepped closer to Mama, and she must have thought he had staggered because her head suddenly swung down as if to catch him.

"Hey, I'm okay," he reassured.

"Harley?" Jim called.

"I'm fine," Harley called back.

Pickles' face suddenly shot up. He turned, looking behind them. Even from here, Harley could hear him snarling.

"Uh, hey, Spooks?" Steve asked warily. "What is he growling at?"

Harley laid a hand on Mama's snout, feeling her skin quivering as she sniffed the air. A low growl echoed from the back of her throat. "They smell something."

"Duh, thanks Captain Obvious," Jamie retorted. "The question is what?"

"How am I supposed to know that, Jamie!?"