The Monster Apocalypse

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Brin hoped she never had to wander through another dark, drafty corridor for the rest of her life, but just ten minutes since winding through the Vampire Underground, here she was, back in a mysterious setting, trampling through a massive abandoned mill that reeked of dust and smelled of centuries past.

"This place is spooky," Ash said.

"What was it used for?" asked Brin.

"Mining, I think," Paul said. "In the late 1800's. But it hasn't been used for anything productive in a long, long time. It's my father's home now."

"Droz lives in here?"

"Yes. Most of the Leifers of the Bodie clan live in the Underground, but the Volgas, including my father, stay above ground. Most live in the abandoned houses, while some live in the farmhouses. My father made this standard mill his castle many, many decades ago."

"I don't know whether to be frightened by that, or impressed," Brin said. "This place is humongous!"

"I know," Paul said. "But he doesn't take care of it. He has a couple of rooms he uses all the time, and leaves the rest of the building to rot."

When they heard a second scream, this one definitely from Droz, they picked up speed.

"Hurry up!" Paul said. "I know where that came from!" He made a sharp right, and they reached the world's longest staircase. "Come on! Up the stairs!"

Ash tried to catch his breath again. He shook his head and sighed. "Are you freaking kidding me?"

"It's not as bad as it looks." Paul started to climb, but Ash didn't budge. He planted his fists against his sides.

"I don't think I can do it, Brin," Ash said. "I've never been a fan of exercise to begin with, and I feel like all we've been doing tonight is running—"

"Ash, shut up," she said, grabbing onto his shirt and pulling him close to her. "We've almost got him. We dispose of Droz, and we can end this. I let Anaya out of my sight, and I'm not going to do the same for you. Understand me?"

"Yes," said Ash. He hesitated. "I love you, Brin."

She nodded. "I love you, too, Ash."

They both just stared at each other for a moment. Finally, Brin pushed him toward the staircase and started following him up the steps. They both started moving faster and faster, leaping up the steps two and three at a time. Her heart pounded. Her head ached. She wanted this night to be over. She wanted this nightmare to be over.

She reached the top step and nearly tripped as she entered a large bedroom, easily the most presentable room in the entire mill. She saw a fireplace roaring in the corner, a large king bed underneath a small window to her left. Paul and Ash stood to the right, both wanting to move forward, but staying resistant. Paul's face screamed panic, but Ash looked to be in a cheerier mood.

"Yes!" Ash screamed. "Mr. Barker! Get him!"

Brin crashed against Paul's side and looked toward the fireplace to see Mr. Barker, in his ferocious wolf form, knawing at Droz's neck, while Droz tried to move closer to the fireplace, slapping and punching the wolf's face. Droz managed to grab hold of Mr. Barker and slam him down to his side, but Mr. Barker, drenched in both his own blood and Droz's nasty blood, wasn't letting up. He jumped right back up on the clan leader and continued biting at Droz's head.

Ash kept on clapping, and Brin turned toward Paul, to see his panic slowly slipping away.

"I don't believe it," he said. "The wolf is killing him. This is going to be easier than we thought."