The Second Streets

Shadows Approaching

Chapter 5

Shadows Approaching

A shadowy figure stood against the Center's wall, observing the new girl. Covered in mud, it was practically invisible against the stone.

Easy prey, it thought. Its long fingers clenched and unclenched into fists behind its back. A glint on each one was the only sign of the rings it wore. The pale patches formed by its eyes were the color of sand, and just as dull, not shining in the firelight. The creature moved its eyes to either side, making eye contact with each of its companions. Seeing them in position, it flexed its fingers the way it knew how only by instinct. The rusty rings clicked and emitted an inch-long, gleaming silver needle. It tilted its head slightly to the left, and each companion returned the signal. As one, they leapt forward.

A scream ripped through the air.

"CHENTAGUE ATTACK!"

Tristan gasped and pushed Ember towards the nearest exit.

"Run! Don't worry about us, just go!" Ember almost decided to do the cliché thing and shout that she wouldn't leave without them, but Tristan clearly was more experienced with Chentague and she would only be a burden. Of course, she was also terrified and didn't want to get killed, but that part doesn't matter, right?

Ember ran. Her arm bounced painfully against her stomach, inducing nausea, but she ignored it and kept running. She ran down the narrow corridor that was the second street equivalent of Charlotte Path. She ran across Kayzom Avenue. She ran through Castleton Street. She ran smack into someone else.

"Ember?"

"Xanda!"

"What are you doing here?"

"Chentague! In the Center! Tristan told me to run!"

"And you just left him?"

"I would have been a burden!"

"That's true."

"See?"

Xanda sighed. "Yes, I see. Ok. Let's get you somewhere safe and then I'll go back to help Tristan."

"Sounds good to me. Let's go!" Xanda's eyes widened. She placed a hand on Ember's shoulder and pushed down hard, jumping feet first over the unsuspecting girl. Ember crumpled from surprise and the older, more muscular girl's weight.

Xanda's foot smashed into a ring- bearing hand, directing it away from Ember's vulnerable back. The hand recoiled, the beast attached hissing in pain. The ebony pupils in its sandpaper eyes narrowed further, naught but slits.

"Go!" Xanda shouted. "I'll get this thing off your back! Just run!"

For the second time in a just a few moments, Ember turned her back on her companion and ran. She felt like a coward or a useless cripple.

Ember turned onto what would be her street. She would hide in the pond until Xanda came looking for her.

If Xanda comes looking for you, nagged the little voice in her head.

Ember shook away those negative thoughts. She took one last look over her shoulder. A shadow rounded the corner. She glimpsed the mottledbrown skin of the Chentagues. Turning back around, Ember took a deep breath and slid into the pond.

About half a minute later, Ember was out of air. She pulled herself up to the surface and took a quick gasp of air before letting herself back down. Her ankle was met by a bony hand. Ember gasped and inhaled a large mouthful of water.

The hand yanked. The precious air went from a foot away to a yard. Then two. Then three. Ember clawed at the water, kicking at the hand that held her. A second hand caught her other foot, and there was nothing more she could do. Ember, out of air and energy, succumbed to the snatching fingers and was pulled down into darkness.

Hey guys! Sorry for the short chapter, but that felt like a good place to stop a chapter. Thanks for reading!