Phoenix Fire: From Witin the Flames

Night Creatures

Chapter18
"Night Creatures"

It has been abouta week since we arrived in this 'city', Sector 64 Caroline hadcalled it, she had also said we stay a while until the guards settleddown. Caroline was a lovely lady, even with the sad misfortune oflosing her husband because of Warner.

Her children weregreat to have around; they filled me with unbelievable joy, to seethem so happy to have a guest, just seeing them like that, so happymade me want to have a kid.

I smile, Adrian'sarms wrapped around me, his warm body pressed against mine as hecuddles me close

"Oh get a roomyou two!" a voice groans making me smirk as I flick a cheeky grinto Luke

"We have a room;you can leave if you wish not to see us cuddle..." I say cheekilyas Adrian nuzzles my neck, his warm breath creasing my skin making mybody tremble with thrill and pleasure. Luke groans again

"You realizethere are children here... younger children... innocentlyminded children, some of which live here" Adrianpulls his head back before kissing the back of my neck and whisperingin my ear,

"Perhaps weshould tone it down a bit" he murmurs, his warm breath gentlycreasing my ear, making me close my eye and nod gently; In time,I thought, soon it will be...

"Pardon me forinterrupting, but I think I need to tell you something of importance"Caroline said entering the room followed by the rest of the gang. "Ithas been almost a week since you came to use... no, no, that's notthe right words... since those guards were chased you here... well...I have bad news, and please, don't get the wrong impression; it'sbeen nice to have more company other than my own youngsters and mygrief but... it might be time you left, the others in the buildingare getting... restless, and are unease by having such a large numberof... um... ahh..."

"Abnormals?" Isuggest and Caroline nods

"I'm sorry,there's nothing else I can do, but I suggest going tonight, thereis no moon and our city has no street lights that work but only one,in the centre and I suggest avoiding the centre of the city, manyguards patrol the centre at night as well as the skirts of the city."

"Then wont itmake it more dangerous to go tonight, a moonless night? Won't therebe more guards?" Adrian asks tightening his hold on meprotectively, but Caroline shakes her head

"No, there is areason there is a curfew and it's not just because Warner like toremind everyone he's in charge; but because there are... otherthings out there, things that only come out at night." I look toAdrian who looks at me, concern ravaging his features. I look back toCaroline and nod

"Thank you," Isay standing, Adrian at my side; wrapping an arm around my waist, Ilook up at him and smile, then look to the rest of the gang, they nodtheir head in acquiesce and I return their nods, "Very well, atnightfall we depart"

Night descended asthe burning sun slipped below the horizon, leaving the dying worldbehind, the silver moon did not shine like it always did, but it'sout line remained in the sky surrounded by great dazzling galaxies.

Adrian and Islipped out of the building first, to scan the area and check forguards before giving the all clear and signalling the others to come.We had thanked Caroline and her children for their hospitality, thechildren were sad that we had to leave but I'd promise to visitsometime. Jamie had then told us that he knew a place where we couldgo, where we would be accepted where we would be safe.

We snuck throughthe empty city, the shadows tall and dark hiding secrets all theirown. I could feel something watching us, something moving through theshadows but told no one, I did not want to worry them; but I knewAdrian could sense my worry.

Adrian movedcloser to me, lacing his finger with mine as we walked quicklythrough the shadows. He brushed my long hair behind my ear andwhispered, "What's wrong" I glance at him and give him a smallsmile, trying to be reassuring and to hide my worry but a sound ofhustling bulky bodies made my smile drop as I flicked my eyes back tothe darkest shadows.

"It's going tobe alright," he whispers into my ear before he let go of my handand runs to the front of the group, signalling them to move faster.Luke shrugged Jason higher up on his back as he ran Luck runningclose by his bothers' side, Charlotte ran at the back of the group,Jenny and Linda ran near the middle alongside the twins; and I ran atthe very back of the group.

I jog toCharlotte's side, "Come on Charlotte, we need to hurry" Iwhisper just as a deep rumbling growl sounds behind me from theshadows, making my heart stop and my stomach churn. Everyone stoppedto stare into the shadows, an outline of a huge dark shape loomedover us. I stare at it, eyes wide as the creature reared onto itshind legs

"Run..." Isay, almost frozen but force my legs to move, running with the othersas the creature chases after us. I create a fire ball with my hand,twirling around for a second to throw it at the creature's facebefore turning back and run. The creature howled in pain, its deepgrowl making the ground rumble.

Suddenly a longblack, spike covered tail snapped out of the shadows to my right andwrapped around Charlotte's leg, the spikes slicing through her skincausing her to scream in pain before she's pulled from her feet anddragged into the shadows.

"Charlotte!" Icry, hearing her screams for help. I ran towards the shadows beforesomeone grabbed my wrist and pulled me back as a dark misshapen headsnapped out of the shadows, its teeth gleaming a deep horrible redwhich made my stomach churn.

"Charlotte...no..." I murmur as Adrian drags me behind him, forcing me to run astears ran down my face. We break free from the city and continue torun even after the night creature stopped at the border of the city.

I drop to myknees, tears in my eyes. "Charlotte... oh Charlotte" I sob asAdrian kneels next to me rubbing my back "Poor, darling Charlotte"and I let the tears fall. That was no way a child should die...