In the Beginning

Chapter 11

Time slowed as Emma leaped across the train tracks.

Literally. It was like the air was being sucked out behind her. Her limbs felt pulled backwards by an elastic force. She was barely aware of her hands sticking as if welded to the train, instead listening for the dull thud of Kell and Ro as they jumped on.

Thud. That had to be Ira. She could see the witches' hand next to her own. Her skin was a bit lighter than Kell's.

Thud. Kell, judging by his laugh.

Thud. Ro swore, seemingly out of fear, as she struggled to get a hold on the train, which began to move.

"Elsin!" yelled Akim. Emma's heart skipped a beat. The younger girl couldn't see. How was she supposed to hop onto the train?

"I - I can't - !"

Emma twisted around. The lights on the rails had gone out, a dense green mist starting to seep through the tracks. Elsin ran alongside the train, struggling to keep up as its speed increased.

"You hear my voice, don't you? Follow it, jump, come on - "

"Akim - !"

"Now!"

Elsin hopped from one rail to the other, then leaped onto the edge of the tram. Her sneakers slipped, the bottoms worn too thin to have proper traction, and for one heart-stopping moment Emma thought she might fall.

She slapped one hand to the train, and it caught her just in time. Akim tugged one hand off the train to steady her into place. The train sped up, racing through the pitch-black tunnels. It was terrifying. Emma could feel her shirt pulled back with tremendous force, hair whipping around her face.

"Ira!" barked Akim.

"What?"

"Is it following?"

Emma's stomach rolled unpleasantly. The witches knew what was following, but they didn't want to let the rest of them know. Was it really that bad?

Ira paused. Emma got the sense she was listening.

"It's close."

"Shit."

"I can't tell exactly how close it is, but it's near," Ira said, lowering her voice. The train rounded a corner at break-neck speed, and Emma crouched against the train, gripping onto the tram with the pads of her fingers.

"Uh - what - exactly - is following us?" asked Kell.

Ira started to say something. Her voice died off.

"It's old," Elsin whispered. "Older than Grimms. Older than Legends. It's a Fairytale that spawns every few centuries, and kills hundreds every time it does."

"So it spawned just as we were walking through the city?" Ro groaned. "Of course. We have the worst luck."

"It's not about luck," Ira said. "You have to understand. The six of you send out a homing signal not only to each other, but to every Fairytale in a hundred mile radius. You're part of a prophecy. That gives you a kind of...scent."

"Can you smell it on us, then?"

"Like we just stuck our noses in an Altoid tin," muttered Elsin.

"Never mind that," Emma said quickly. She wanted to know what this thing was. "Keep telling us what - "

A loud screech echoed off the tunnel's walls.

"Fuck!" Kell bent his head forward, trying to block out the ear-splitting sound with his arms. The others shuddered. The train slowed, it's brakes shooting streams of sparks under their feet. Emma could hear a mass of confused voices inside the tram.