Page 2

CHAPTER 2

T he bottles on the shelf behind the bar rattled again. The vodka danced closer to the edge as if contemplating making a fatal leap. Noah gave the bottle a nudge back to safety. They had been rumbling all week. And much to his horror, he’d learned that Wales did experience earthquakes, but not regularly and not big ones. Though there had been one six months ago that had caused a rockslide and killed one hiker, left one wounded and another unaccounted for.

Some of the locals blamed mysterious beings. Mythological beasts, citing everything from oversized hellhounds to knockers and dragons. As much as Noah loved the local lore, he wasn’t about to blame cryptids for natural occurrences. Even if the scientists couldn’t agree on why the quakes were happening. When even scientists were saying it was weird…

He shook his head and poured a beer for the regular who did buy into the mythical causes, though he liked to blame ley lines and fairies.

The regular handed over some notes. “These earthquakes aren’t going to stop. We have pissed off the fae, and they’re going to take what’s theirs.” He nodded as if he was sharing a great secret.

Noah smiled. “Well, when you find out what they want, I guess we’ll be able to appease them. What will it take? A cow? A barrel of beer? A wheel of cheese?”

The man wagged his finger. “Don’t mock the fae, even if you don’t believe.”

Noah held his hands up. “You know I’m not mocking. You’ve explained a lot of the local legends to me. But I’m not sure any of them were up for causing earthquakes.”

The glasses rattled again. This time, the vodka made its break for freedom, launching off the shelf and shattering on the ground.

“You’d best leave some milk out and hope you’ve got a friendly bwbach in the bar to protect you.”

His grandmother already left out milk. She believed in the old lore and saw no harm in taking precautions. Noah glanced over at her as she talked to another local at the other end of the bar. Nan had run it with her husband, and then after his death, she just kept going instead of selling and retiring. Everyone knew her and liked her, and she saw no point in sitting at home and being bored when she liked her life. Which was good for Noah, as it meant there’d been a job waiting for him when he’d arrived.

If it hadn’t been for his aunt agreeing he could stay with her, he was pretty sure his parents would have refused to let him leave. Not that they could’ve kept him in Australia as he was legally an adult, but they might’ve made things difficult.

More difficult.

Linda grabbed the broom and shook her head as if the bottle had misbehaved by jumping off the shelf. “I think we should send people home.”

They’d only just opened.

The rattling of bottles increased. The vibrations in the ground intensified and traveled up Noah’s legs. “Should we be standing in doorways or something?”

He should be doing something other than serving beers. Or telling people to head home. There were some who would not be happy if the bar closed early.

A loud bang outside made everyone pause. The normal chatter and noise of the bar died as people listened. The pop song continued to play in the background. A couple of people pulled on their coats, choosing to flee. Others chugged down the remains of their drink as if reaching the same conclusion.

A groan echoed through the building like the undead were rising and were very unhappy with the living. Three bottles smashed on the floor behind him, splashing liquor up the back of his jeans.

It wasn’t only the bottles vibrating. The walls hummed as if possessed. And that awful bone-deep groaning continued and settled in the pit of his stomach.

People who’d been making to leave hesitated. Noah didn’t blame them. Was it safer in or out?

There were a few muttered curses, and then two ran for the door. Others decided that crouching under the table was a better life choice.

There had to be a third option. Noah glanced at his grandmother. “Nan?”

The building screamed, and the wall to his left peeled away as if a giant hand had ripped it off.

“Fuck…” Noah stepped back—not that there was anywhere for him to go. His teeth buzzed in his jaw, and the world around him shuddered as if being pulled apart. The floor bucked, and he fell, landing on his ass. He wrapped his arms over his head, expecting the roof to fall on him.

Another bang. But no debris fell. He peeked out from beneath his forearm.

The wall had returned.

What the hell?

The lights flickered and went out, and the world stopped shaking and groaning. There was a breath of silence, and then it became filled with sobs, sirens, and screams.

Noah drew in a couple of slow breaths. It was over. He was fine. He took another couple of breaths as he worked out what to do next. Without the lights, the interior of the bar was dim, but there should be a torch near the cash register.

He reached out and hissed with pain. His palm stung as if he’d poured alcohol on a cut.

Oh, shit. The broken bottles.

He was sitting in spilled alcohol and broken glass. He grabbed the edge of the bar with his fingers and pulled himself up to avoid more cuts on unseen glass. His eyes adjusted to the gloom, and he inched over to the cash register and then ran his hand beneath until his fingers brushed the hard plastic of the bright yellow torch.

He flicked the button and set the torch on the bar, pointing up at the ceiling to cast light around the bar. “Is everyone alright?”

He needed to check his own hand, but he wasn’t quite ready to do that, even though something warm trickled over his skin. There should be a first aid kit beneath the cash register, too. He felt around with his other hand and then set the metal tin on the bar next to the torch.

A few people murmured that they were okay. Anyone who is dead wouldn’t answer, which wasn’t a comforting thought.

“Nan?”

When she didn’t answer, he grabbed the torch and swung it toward where she’d been standing. She slumped against the bar, eyes closed.

No, no, no.

He rushed over and crouched next to her. As he reached for her, she drew in a breath.

He also noted the torchlight glinting off the bloodied gash in his hand. His stomach turned.

“Nan.” He gave her a shake, needing her to wake up. He didn’t know what to do. This wasn’t an emergency he knew how to deal with.

Sirens bounced off the buildings as the cops, and ambulances and firetrucks dealt with worse situations.

Nan made a noise and blinked a few times. “Get the light out of my face.”

Noah exhaled and smiled. She’d be fine.

“Don’t get up yet; you banged your head.” He glanced at his hand. He needed to deal with the cut before he did anything else. Nan would insist on helping the customers before she worried about herself. “Give me a moment to check on everyone else. Promise me you’ll stay there.”

She touched the side of her forehead. “What happened?”

“Earthquake.” What else could it be? But when he glanced over his shoulder, it wasn’t the pub wall that had returned but something else entirely. Something with a large wooden door.

And that’s where the screams were coming from.