Peter Tulliver and the City of Monsters

Chapter 20: The Stand

The dark grey smoke that poured from beneath President Rhoda’s gown rolled onto the riverbend. Consuming every inch of the green grass with its toxic fog. As she glided across the embankment the shadowed faces of her minions came into view. Two peacekeepers, the feral rat from the subway, and Gavier strode beside her. Moving closer at a pace so slow it was almost mocking. Their eyes glowed a toxic shade of yellow completely devoid of an iris or pupil. When Rhoda tilted her head to the side her minions followed suit possessed by her magic. The mist crept closer rolling over Peter’s feet and slithering up his pant leg. Quip searched the ground completely obscured by the fog. Tensely expecting an enemy to jump from the smoke and strike at any moment. From behind them Sergio's throat gurgled with unswallowed spittle. His beady eyes rolled to the back of his head mimicking the same unnatural gleam of Rhoda’s posse. His head tilted forward towards Peter. The same sinister look of the feral rat washed over his face. He seemed to look right through Peter. A frightening screech tore through his body and he bounded on all fours towards the boy.   Sergio vaulted into the air, his splintered incisors poised to shred Peter to bits. From beneath the fog Zura lept between them. Claws extended to attack before Peter had a chance to lift his hands in defense. Zura and Sergio rolled onto the ground. Hissing and growling as their claws split thin layers of each other's skin.
    “It’s the fog!” Quip shouted, “That’s how she controls them.”
    Peter’s necklace pulsed against his chest, sending tingles down each limb. Energy vibrated through him whispering words he didn't understand. Quip yanked his slingshot from his pocket and placed a leftover barnacle shard into the rubber strap. He pulled the band tight, exhaling a slow breath. Rhoda lifted her arm commanding her minions forward. They ran towards them at a sprint. Quip took aim and slipped his finger from the loop,  releasing the rock in one graceful movement. The barnacle whistled past the rushing mob landing in the center of the mask. Rhoda howled as the porcelain shattered into a dozen fragments. The pieces cut into her cheeks and fell to the ground with a crash. Having lost her concentration the fog dissipated releasing the spell.
    “You wretched creatures will die!” she wailed.
    No one moved. Peter stared at the woman standing before him. Rhoda was Fallen. Her pale skin dripped with streaks of blood.
    “Take a good look.” she spat. “My father was a Fallen. That vile creature crushed my mother’s heart so that not even the love of her own child could keep her here. I will do what she should have done and end all of you and anyone that stands in my way.”
    Rhoda yelled for attack. Her minions ran forward shaking off the last of the spell. Peter sprinted towards the river fending off Gavier with a branch as best as he could. The skilled guard knocked the boy aside, only unmatched in Peter’s speed and small size. By pure luck Peter managed to trip the guard,  slamming his head onto a protruding rock on the shore. He ran from Gavier’s motionless body, jumping on the back of a peacekeeper that had pinned Quip to the ground. He held on for dear life as chaos broke out around him. The peacekeeper spun trying to shake him off. Quip shot a rock into the guard’s forehead sending both Peter and the creature down to the ground.
    As Sergio fought the feral rat and Quip and Zura took out the last guard Peter realized he had lost sight of Rhoda. His necklace pulsed. A searing pain shot through his body. Peter touched his side feeling the warm blood trickling between his fingertips. He fell onto his back staring up at Rhoda’s crazed eyes. Everything was spinning. He could feel his energy draining from his limbs as the grass beneath him grew damp.
    “You ruin everything!” she yelled lifting the blade again.
    Peter held the charm tight and thought of his parents back at home. His mother especially. She was probably at work, unaware that today had been the last day she would ever hear from him again. He closed his eyes gripping the charm tighter between his fingers. Fighting against the vibrations. Rhoda lifted the knife again stabbing down towards his heart. A sharp pain seared Peter’s chest. The world exploded in a burst of white light and everything went black.