Chapter 15

Harlow

The bus station disappeared behind me as Mason's truck sped off into the night. But I had no intention of leaving Grimsby - or Griiq. Love pulsed through my veins, fueling my determination to stay and fight by his side.

I hurried through the quiet streets, gripping my bags tightly. The Blue Moon Motel's flickering neon sign beckoned me. I ducked inside the dingy lobby and secured a room, ignoring the curious look from the pockmarked clerk behind the counter.

Inside the musty room, I tossed my bag on the threadbare bedspread and sank into a creaky chair. I had to come up with a plan to help Griiq trap the Camazotz. Maybe we could use my camera flash to disorient it, then-

BAM! BAM! BAM!

I jolted upright. Pounding shook the door. My heart leapt - was it Griiq? I raced over and peered through the peephole.

A strangled scream ripped from my throat. Glowing red eyes glared back at me from a monstrous bat-like face. Leathery wings unfurled behind it. The Camazotz!

CRASH! The door splintered as the beast's claws raked through, sending wood chips flying. I stumbled back, still screaming. The Camazotz burst into the room in a fury of flapping wings and gnashing teeth.

I turned to run, but its talons snagged my shirt, yanking me back. I struggled wildly, kicking and clawing, as it wrapped its wings around me in a suffocating grip. The stench of rotting meat made me gag.

It dragged me outside into the night air. I thrashed desperately, but its hold was unbreakable. The Camazotz shoved me to the ground, pinning me under its clawed feet. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. This is how I would die.

With a triumphant screech, the beast launched itself skyward, its wings beating powerfully as it carried me off into the darkness. Wind rushed past as the motel shrank below, Grimsby blurring into a sea of twinkling lights. My screams faded into helpless sobs.

Griiq, where are you?I thought desperately, hot tears streaming down my face. Please, I need you! But the night sky swallowed me whole as the Camazotz soared higher, its horrible laughter echoing in my ears.

The wind whipped my hair as the Camazotz carried me through the night sky. I struggled against its iron grip, but it was no use. The creature's leathery wings beat steadily, propelling us forward at a dizzying speed.

Through my tears, I glimpsed Griiq's castle below. The Camazotz circled it once, twice, before landing heavily on the ground. It hopped around, its clawed foot leaving deep imprints on the soft earth. I realized with a sinking feeling that it was setting a trap for Griiq.

Please, I silently begged, don't fall for it. Stay away.

As if sensing my thoughts, the Camazotz let out a guttural laugh and launched itself back into the air. It soared over the dense forest, pausing occasionally to land in various spots. Each time, it left an obvious trail of footprints before taking off again.

My heart raced as I prayed Griiq wouldn't follow. He had to know it was a trap. He couldn't risk his life for me.

Finally, the Camazotz landed near a small cave. It was so tiny that the beast had to hunch over to fit inside, its wings scraping against the rocky walls. With a rough motion, it dumped me unceremoniously onto the hard cave floor.

I scrambled to my feet, but before I could even think about running, the Camazotz pushed a massive stone over the opening. The cave plunged into darkness, with only a thin sliver of moonlight seeping in around the edges of the boulder.

"No!" I screamed, throwing myself against the stone. I pushed with all my strength, but it wouldn't budge.

Desperation clawed at my throat as I turned to face the depths of the cave. The darkness seemed to press in on me from all sides, suffocating and endless. I had to find another way out.

I felt my way along the damp walls, my fingers scraping against the rough stone. The cave seemed to go on forever, twisting and turning in a labyrinth of passages. I stumbled over rocks and roots, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

There has to be another exit, I thought frantically. I can't be stuck here.

But as I wandered deeper into the cave, my hope faded. The walls closed in around me. The air was growing stale and heavy. Lost in a prison of stone, I had no way out.

I sank to the ground, hugging my knees to my chest. Tears streamed down my face as the reality of my situation hit me. I was trapped, alone, and at the mercy of the Camazotz.

Griiq, I thought desperately, please don't come for me. It's a trap. Stay safe.

But even as the words echoed in my mind, I knew it was futile. Griiq would come for me, no matter the risk. And that terrified me more than anything else.

I slumped against the cold, damp cave wall, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The darkness pressed in on me from all sides, suffocating and endless. I couldn't stop the hot tears from streaming down my face as the reality of my situation hit me like a ton of bricks.

The beast had dumped me in this cave like a piece of trash, sealing the entrance with a massive boulder. I had tried to push it aside, but it wouldn't budge. I was well and truly stuck.

But even as despair threatened to overwhelm me, a tiny spark of hope flickered in my chest. Griiq would come for me. He had to. We were in this together, no matter the risk.

I thought back to what he had told me about the Camazotz. It saw Griiq as its competition, a threat to its reign of terror over Grimsby. That's why it had been killing and maiming around the castle, framing Griiq for its crimes. It wanted the community to turn against him, to get rid of him once and for all.

And now, it was using me as bait. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. The Camazotz didn't kill me because it wanted Griiq to come looking for me. It was setting a trap, lying in wait for when Griiq would arrive to rescue me. It would probably kill me after killing Griiq. Ice surged through my veins.

I couldn't let that happen. I had to find a way out, to warn Griiq before it was too late.

With a grunt, I pushed myself to my feet and staggered over to the boulder. I braced my hands against the rough stone and shoved with all my might. My muscles screamed in protest, but I kept pushing, refusing to give up.

Slowly, painfully, the boulder moved. Inch by inch, it scraped against the cave floor, until finally, a tiny sliver of light appeared around the edges.

I pressed my face against the gap, peering out into the night. The Camazotz was there, its massive form silhouetted against the moonlit sky. The Camazotz sat on a rocky outcropping, its glowing red eyes fixed on the cave entrance. Waiting.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I had to be careful. If the Camazotz saw me, it would know that someone had discovered its trap. I had to stay hidden, biding my time until Griiq arrived.

I settled myself against the cave wall, my eyes glued to the tiny opening. The minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out, that Griiq was walking into a trap he couldn't possibly escape.

But I had to trust him. Griiq was resourceful, and brave. He would know what to do. He had to.

As the night wore on, I fought to keep my eyes open. Exhaustion tugged at my limbs, but I couldn't allow myself to sleep. I had to be ready to warn Griiq the moment he appeared.

And then, just as the first rays of dawn painted the sky, I saw him. Griiq's massive form emerged from the trees, his eyes narrowed with determination. He was coming for me, just as I knew he would.

I opened my mouth to scream, to tell him to run, but the words caught in my throat. The Camazotz had seen him too. With a triumphant screech, it launched itself from the outcropping, its wings beating powerfully as it dove towards Griiq.

I could only watch in horror as it propelled itself to the one I loved.