Page 40

40. Frenzy

Gemma

Bang!

“What the—”

“Wake up!”

“Incoming!”

I shot off my cot as the shouts turned into screams. Half a dozen lesser demons stormed through the door. My heart accelerated into warp speed. This was my worst nightmare, my greatest fear.

Evil had come for me in the darkness, and I was helpless against it.

“Grab your mattress and use it like a shield!” Jax shouted. “Rush them!”

It was a plan, at least. While I struggled with the awkward mattresses, he, Chance, Tara, and Maddy pulled theirs up and rushed into the whirl of wings and talons, trying to shove them back out the door. Spin pushed Monkey into the bathroom and shut the door, then ran past me, grabbed the mattress I’d half-levered off a bed, and jumped into the fight.

I glanced at the front door to measure how much time I had and caught a glimpse of Castle behind the demons. As he croaked out commands, his eyes - black as space and just as devoid of emotion - met mine.

A shiver shook me, but I wasn’t going to let him know that. I lifted my chin and went back to yanking at another mattress, but I quickly realized I wasn’t going to be able to use it like the others were. This wasn’t my memory foam at school. It was saggy and old, heavy with metal coils, and at least six feet long. All I’d manage to achieve with this thing was to trip myself or the others.

As I gave up on the mattress, I heard a cut-off shriek and swung my head to see a demon had lassoed Maddy with one of those poles used by dog-catchers. As Spin and Tara tried to distract the other five demons, Jax and Chance worked to free her without choking her or breaking her neck. Most of the demons were armed with metal-tipped sticks and struck at us with vicious jabs that the mattresses blunted, but couldn’t stop completely. Blood flooded down Spin’s and Tara’s arms and Jax’s cheek, but no one gave up.

And I stood there like a ninny.

I couldn’t think over the deafening noise at the door: Shouts and hisses and a disturbing infrasound that made my insides squirm and my heart thump with dread even though I couldn’t hear anything. Shaking my head, I spun around in search of a weapon. my eyes landed on the workstation - and Chance’s pocket knife.

Well, it’s something sharp, anyway.

I raced over and scooped it up, then turned back toward the fight. All eyes were on the struggle around Maddy. I had an idea. Not my best one, but I went with it. Dropping to my hands and knees, I began to crawl through the throng with the knife clutched tight in my right hand.

Kerry’s always teasing me about my size. Might as well use it. And who knows? It might work.

I dodged legs and feet and talons to wind my way toward the door. Someone - maybe Jax - shuffled his feet quickly, and his heavy boot landed on my left hand. Stars burst behind my eyes as I bit back a scream. Jerking my hand free, I cradled it to my chest and whimpered as my fingers turned red-hot and throbbed. I tried to block out the pain like Kerry did, but only learned that it wasn’t as easy as he made it look.

Freedom was only three or four feet away. I knew I could make it if I hurried. Doing a sort of hop-crawl with one hand, I focused on the gravel I could see on the other side of the door.

Then a pair of brown leather shoes blocked me. Fear choked me. I looked up at Castle, but he was too busy calling out more orders to his minions to notice me.

Stop being such a scared little mouse and do it!

I pried the blade out of the knife, drew my arm back, and drove it through his shoe. He howled, raised his foot, and hopped around - and I made a dive for the door. I thought I’d made it until fingers dug in my hair and hauled me to my feet. I fought, but he grabbed both my wrists in one gloved hand and twisted my arms behind my back.

The largest demon screeched in a language that made my ears hurt.

“I’m not going to kill her,” I heard Castle reply. “Hurt her a little, maybe, but not kill her.”

He shoved me out the door and, as soon as I stepped outside, my power flooded back.

You’re in trouble now, you jerk. Just let me get a finger - one finger! - on your skin and it’ll be nighty-night for you.

From behind us, I heard a door slam shut and the rattle of a metal bolt sliding in place, then Maddy screamed and I realized the demons had brought her outside, too.

“Where are they taking her?” I demanded.

“She’s already dead. Worry about yourself, little girl.”

“No, she’s alive! I hear her! Maddy!” I screamed. “ MADDY! ”

“Not for long. When they get her back to their lair, the other demons will swarm her. It’ll be a feeding frenzy in seconds.”

His words became images in my mind. I turned my head in time to vomit on the ground instead of down my front.

“Watch it! You almost got that on me!”

That does it. This guy deserves no mercy.

He dragged me along. I did my best to be as difficult as possible, digging my heels in and trying to yank my hands free. When we reached a small outbuilding, he shoved me up against the door and clamped his free hand on the back of my neck.

Pre-vomit bile flooded my mouth again.

“Come into my office, little girl. We need to get better acquainted.”

#

I wobbled a little as I slid between shadows, edging my way closer to the workshop where the others were imprisoned. Close to going into shock, I had to concentrate hard to get one foot in front of the other and not lose my grip on the crate I carried, but I finally made it.

My hand was shaking so hard, I couldn’t grab the bolt at first, but I finally managed to slide it back and push the door open.

“RAHHHH!”

Jax launched himself at me.

I don’t know if he thought I was a demon or what, but he slammed me into the ground so hard, I saw stars again. I lost my grip on the crate, and it went flying with a loud clatter. The supplies I’d scrounged rained down around us.

“ Gemma?!” Jax rolled off me. “I am so sorry! Let me help you up.”

Holding up one hand to ward him off, I closed my eyes and flooded my aching body with healing power.

“I am so not built to be tackled,” I muttered.

“What were you thinking, Jax?” Tara fussed. “You could have killed her! Gemma, are you okay?”

I forced my eyes open and saw Jax still had his hand outstretched, and I took it. Once I was on my feet, I started sweeping things back into the crate as I talked.

“We don’t have much time. The demons are distracted. I knocked Castle out. We have to get out of here.” I found the brochure I’d hastily swept into the crate and handed it to Spin. “Here. I grabbed this. It’s old, but maybe you can find some place for us to hole up.”

“Let’s get Maddy and get out of here.” Tara bounced on her toes and flexed her fingers.

“Everyone, grab some blankets and our gear from the worktable.” Spin scanned the map on the back of the brochure. “And anything else from the bathroom that may be useful.”

We all took a blanket and shoved our meager belongings into our pockets. Some towels and soap and such went into my crate, and Chance offered to carry it.

“Do you know where Maddy is?” Spin was all business as he looked at me. “Did you see which direction they took her?”

“She’s… ” I didn’t want to say it. I had to force the words out of my tight throat. “She’s gone. They… They killed her.”

“No!” Tara covered her mouth with her hands. “No. Not Maddy! No!”

As she started to cry, Jax put his arm around her and drew her into a tight hug. I had to blink against the sudden rush of tears, too.

Stay strong. Get out of here first. Break down later.

“You’re sure?” Spin demanded. “You’re sure she’s dead?”

“I am.”

Chance nudged my arm with his elbow.

“What’s distracting the demons?” he murmured.

“They’re—” My lower lip trembled and I swallowed a sob. “They’re eating .”

His eyes widened, and I knew he understood what I wasn’t saying.

“I see where we can go!” Spin called out and we turned to him. “I’ll lead and, Gemma, you follow with Monkey. Stay close to me and keep her moving. Jax and Tara, pair up in the middle. Chance, you bring up the rear. Everyone clear? Good. Let’s go!”