The Hunters of Artemis

Chapter 31: Through the Door

We walked along the streets looking for something to lead us to Lyra. I'm not even sure what that could be. It's not like there's going to be a huge neon sign with Lyra Belton Was Here written in blinking lights on it. I sighed. It was highly unlikely we would find her today. Or maybe any day. Addis Ababa was a huge city.

Then, when we were crossing a street, I heard a scream. "Did you hear that?" I asked Rhea.

"Yeah. Where did it come from?" Rhea turned in a circle as another scream rang out. 

"I don't know. But we should figure it out soon. Who knows what could be happening." I tried to keep my imagination from forming thoughts about what could be causing the screams. I kept walking and heard the screams grow quieter. "Rhea, it's the other way. Come on. We could be too late!"

I broke off from the group and ran towards the sound. I could hear the pounding of feet following me. Hopefully it was Rhea and not anyone or anything else.

I rounded a corner and heard the screaming get louder. At its loudest, I stopped and looked around. There were a few shops, but nothing suspicious. That was when I saw a staircase to my right and I grinned. 

I looked down the stairs and saw a door at the bottom. I motioned to Rhea, who had stopped behind me. She had everyone else behind her. "Over here!" I hurried down the steps to a metal door and tried the doorknob, expecting it to be locked. To my surprise, it opened up. "What the..."

I shrugged and stepped through the door. There was a narrow hallway with bright lights overhead and doors lining the hall. I took another step in and the door slammed behind me. I whipped around and tried to open the door. It wouldn't open. I banged on the door and yelled. Rhea looked frantic, trying to get the door to open. Robyn joined her sister in hitting the door. It wouldn't budge. My eyes widened in fear. "Rhea! Rhea, I'm stuck!" 

She tried the doorknob in hopes that somehow it would open. I got an idea. "Shoot it with an arrow! One of the exploding arrows!" 

Robyn nodded and asked Hannah for something. Hannah reached behind her and magically pulled out an exploding arrow. You can tell they're exploding ones because the tips are red and so are the arrow's feathers. She knocked the arrow and motioned for everyone to move. No one asked any questions.  

She let the arrow fly and it hit the door, emitting a cloud of smoke. I tried the knob but it still wouldn't budge. 

I groaned. Something crashed behind me. I turned slowly around but couldn't see anything. Suddenly, the lights flickered and went dim. 

"Rhea! Get me out of here!" I screamed. There was a shuffling noise and I pressed my back against the door. 

"Kat!" screamed a muffled voice. It was Liam. I was far to frightened to remember I was supposed to be angry at him, so I turned to face him through the small rectangular glass window. 

"Liam, what do I do?" I shouted. 

He looked down at his hands. I frowned. What was he doing? Then a sword appeared in his hand. My eyes widened. He motioned for everyone to step back again. Then he took the bronze hilt of the sword and got ready to smash the glass. I got the idea and backed away. I made sure I wasn't in the vicinity of the flying glass. 

I heard a crash, and then the tinkling of glass falling. Then shouting. "Guys!"

The window was shattered. There was no way I'd be able to fit through the window, that's for sure, but I was able to fit my arm through. Why did I put my arm through? Because the shuffling was getting closer and I was scared. 

There. I said it. I was scared. Usually I try to be the brave one, but that's Hannah's job. 

I fumbled for the first hand I could touch, and coincidentally, it was Liam's. I was about to let go, when I heard the shuffling again. Gripping his hand hard, I turned to Liam. "I'm sorry about what I said," I said quietly so the others wouldn't hear. 

"Kat, it's okay. I was telling the truth when I said I wasn't trying to kiss Emma. It just... happened. And I meant what I said. I really like you." Liam clasped my hand. 

I managed a feeble smile. "Thanks. I... I really like you too. Just... don't do that... thing again. 'Kay?"

He nodded. "Promise. Now, if you don't want to die, you should pay attention to whatever is behind you."

I tensed up. "What did you say?"

"That thing behind you. Can't you see it?" He frowned and pointed behind me, his sword mysteriously gone. I turned around and screamed. I let go of Liam's hand and yanked my hand back through the window, cutting myself on the sharp glass. 

I winced and held my arm to my chest. I faced the monster and backed as far away from it as I could. The monster was big and furry, plainly put. The fur was black and matted with something I didn't even want to know about. It was the size of a grizzly bear, and had glowing red eyes. Its mouth opened and froth began to fall out. I gagged. Its fangs were long, and dripping red. Blood, I would guess. I shyed away from it and it howled. Howled like a wolf would howl to alert its pack of a kill. 

Crap. I was the kill. 

I slowly stood up; I hadn't realized I had been sitting, and slid over to the window again. "Guys," I said out of the corner of my mouth. "Split up and see if you can find any other ways into this place. Okay?"

"Gotcha," replied Rhea. I heard them talking, footsteps up the stairs and then there was silence from the other side of the door. 

I took a deep breath and brought out my bow and arrows. I knocked one and aimed it right between the monster's eyes. I heard howling farther on and I panicked. I let go of the arrow and it found its mark. The monster wailed before falling on its side and crumbling to dust. That was way too easy.

I was about to find an exit when a man stepped out of the shadows. I could just make out who it was from the faint light coming in through the broken window. 

The man smiled at me before holding his arms out welcomingly. "Ah, Kat. I thought you might come here."

"Jackson Lang. I remember you. Where's Lyra?"

He grinned at me. "You'll be seeing her very soon. Come along now." 

I snorted. "Yeah. That's happening." I crossed my arms in front of me.

"You will come." His eyes narrowed as he spoke. He snapped his fingers and two more men came out of the shadows. These men looked like dogs. Literally. There was more hair growing on their arms and legs than on their heads. Their eyes were mud brown, but held an evil glint. 

I feinted boredom. "Oh. Lycaon's men. Of course. Is he not tired of being stabbed? Stabbed by a celestial bronze dagger, I might add."

The men snarled and one reached out to hit me. I bit him. He howled in pain and nodded to the other man, who brought out a black bag. 

"Oh, fun!" I said happily. Those were my last words before The bag was thrown over my head and I smelled something sickly sweet. Then everything went black.