The Monstrium

Chapter 6~ The Monster At the End of This Book

Claudia grabbed Lucas and Aidan by the arm,"We have to hide. If Malphas gets the key..." "Monstermageddon?", Aidan inquired. Claudia gave a nod.

The trio hurriedly made their way through the crowd, and got out into the hall. Claudia then poked her head back in the gym, screaming to look out outside. She grabbed the boys, pulling them back as the doors shot open, panicked students rushing to safety. She gave a small bow,"Ta da."

The lights above them flickered, and Aidan pointed down the hall,"The library has a back room. Malphas wouldn't know it was there." Lucas smiled,"Sounds like a plan." With Aidan leading the trio, they sprinted down the hall.

Turning a corner, however, the three stopped in their tracks.

A pack of demonic dogs with fiery red eyes stalked toward them, their fanged mouths frothing with lava that melted into the floor. Their bodies were boney and dark, and their black fur was matted. They all three growled in unison in deep, guttural sounds worse than any wolf Lucas had ever heard.

Claudia gasped,"The Hellhounds." "Run?", Aidan asked aloud. Claudia gave a nod,"Uh huh."

They broke out into a dash as the hellish hounds charged, their horrible scent of sulfur filling the air. Skidding around the corner, they ran outside.

A dark chuckle arose from behind them, and the trio looked in horror to find Malphas standing on the roof. Midnight fire ignited in his hand, and he threw a blast at the group. The black fire encircled them in furious flames, rising high in all directions.

Malphas jumped down, his glowing serpent eyes flickering with rage,"Clever trick, Boy. But I'm afraid the time for games are over. I do believe you owe me a key." In his hand twitched the Monstrium, which seemed to get anxious at the mention of its key.

Lucas stood in front of Claudia and Aidan protectively,"We don't have it. It was lost." Malphas looked into his eyes, and Luke felt himself being read like an open book,"No, you fear I'll take it. Which means you have it."

He opened his hand, and Lucas felt movement in his pocket as the key flew out. He tried grabbing at it, but it was too quick, darting into Malphas's grasp in a blur. He grinned,"It's time the Old One lived again."

Suddenly there was a flash of light as a car came out of nowhere, ramming Malphas. The trio found Theodora stepping out of the Fairlane as the ring of flames around them snuffed out.

"He has the key", Lucas frowned. She turned, and Malphas rose from the ground. He disappeared into a shadow, flying toward the football field. 

Theodora held out the quill,"It's alright. If we can get the Monstrium back, we can return the monsters back from whence they come." Claudia frowned,"Where's the ink?" Theodora grimaced,"The ink was lost when the monsters were released. I fear the blood of the Writer is the only thing that can imprison the monsters again."

"Which one of us is the Writer?", Aidan asked. Claudia looked to Lucas,"You were the one who were drawn to the book. Maybe it means you're connected to it." Lucas shrugged,"I don't know if I am or not." Theodora handed the quill to Lucas,"You are the Writer, Luke. You're the one who must return the monsters into the book."

Across the field, Malphas unlocked the Monstrium. He casted the key aside, and the book blasted open, flying out of his arms. The tome flew to the ground, and lights flashed as a vortex of darkness spun out of the book.