Chapter 23

Twenty-Three

Mud coated my legs, the heavy rain soaking me entirely as I paced in front of the gate, waiting for Ruby and Jinx. They weren't too far behind, Ruby's maroon eyes bobbing as she ran, glowing through the darkness. The two were holding hands, rapidly approaching Alastair and myself.

"Why are you stopped? We need to keep going!" Ruby shouted as she approached the metal entrance.

"Where's Lazarus?" Ruby tried to open the iron gate, but it was stuck, holding us prisoner.

"He wasn't too far behind us." Her breathing was rapid, her voice raising as she shook the iron gate impatiently. "Why the hell isn't this opening?" Her hands began to glow, her rage pouring through her magic. She stepped back, groaning as she blasted the gate with her power, the iron squealing as it swung open. She turned to look at me, her face, arms, and legs all scratched and bleeding from the flying debris. A single drop of blood trailed from her dark lips as she spat a mouthful into the mud. "Alaska, I know you want to find him, but we need to leave." She grabbed Jinx's hand. "We're leaving. Now."

I swallowed hard, my feet firmly still. "Not without Lazarus," I growled.

Her eyebrow raised as the corner of her lips curled. "Not your boyfriend?" Lightening cracked in the sky above, the loud roar of thunder rolling through the air. "Suit yourself."

Ruby and Jinx stepped past the charred gate and quickly disappeared into the thick woods. Alastair whined, wagging his tail, as I turned to see Lazarus approaching.

"Ruby and Jinx?" he questioned, panting as he stopped at my side.

"They just left through the woods. Where's Cain?" I glanced over his shoulder, the cemetery black and empty. My eyes returned to him, his cheeks reddened, his body exhausted from sprinting so far so quickly. His arms were coated in mud from the grave, stains of it soaking into his t-shirt.

Lazarus shook his head. "Don't know, don't care." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "There"s something wrong with him, Alaska. But right now, we need to get out of here. This storm," he breathed heavily, "is too dangerous. I don't know what the hell is happening, but we shouldn't be wandering around in these woods." I agreed.

"Come on." I grabbed his hand, leading him to the edge of the trees. My free hand ignited, offering us a guiding light. We hesitated a moment before taking a deep breath and stepping into the woods.

Together, we carefully began to trek back in the direction of the cabin, Lazarus and Alastair both close to either side of me. The faint light of Ruby's maroon flame bounced in the distance, alerting us to their position as we moved, trying to catch up.

The maroon light grew with each step, our quickened pace closing the distance between us. My muscles screamed in agony, pushing them past their comfort as determination fueled me. I wanted out of these damned woods. Now.

Alastair stopped, causing Lazarus and myself to halt, watching him as he backed away from the direction we had come. He dug his nails into the ground, growling as the hair rose along his spine. I had rarely seen him act in such a protective manner, his aggression startling me. The wolf snapped at the air, his canines fully exposed as he growled deeper. "Alastair?" The wind blew, carrying with it a foil odor I had never encountered before.

Lazarus tapped my shoulder. I glanced at him, his face drained of all color. He was looking in the direction Alastair was positioned, his gaze pulling mine in the same as my eyes were met with those something else. Just in the distance, peering through the dark shadows of the woods, were two glowing red eyes. A chill crept up my spine, clawing at my chest. My gut instinct told me that whatever unknown thing this was, it was dangerous.

A distant, eerie, chatter-like screech seeped through the woods and storm, followed by a low growl, vibrating every bone in my body. Alastair barked a warning at the set of eyes, growling back. "Run," Lazarus whispered. I couldn't process his statement too focused on the source of my fear. "Run!" he screamed, pushing me in the opposite direction. My feet kicked into gear, sprinting away as Lazarus and Alastair quickly followed.

We ran, faster than we had run all night, our breaths echoing as the sound of my raging heartbeat throbbed behind my ears. I didn't know if the source of those eyes were following us, but I didn't care to stop and check.

"Ruby! Jinx!" I screamed, fastly approaching the maroon light. "Run!" The women turned to face us, confused by our warning. "Run!" I screamed, terror soaking my hoarse voice, my eyes widened in fear. They quickened their speed, joining us as we raced through the woods. Alastair galloped to the front of the group, leading the way as the four of us struggled to keep up.

An unnatural growl soared through the woods from deep within, the sound of something rushing through the trees. Branches snapped and broke, the ground shaking as heavy, galloping thumps quickly shadowed us. Whatever that thing was, it was chasing us and gaining. The cold fear I felt in my veins was unlike any I had ever experienced before.

A whistle shot through the air, closer than the previous chimes. The heavy pounding immediately stopped. Another whistle echoed the first as the shaking trembles faded in another direction, the horrid, unnatural smell slowly dissolving from the cold night. My lungs screamed in agony, as if they were about to burst from my rapid breathing. Alastair barked just ahead, the woods thinning as we approached the edge of the forest.

The four of us rushed through the last few trees, stepping into the open landscape of the property, the cabin visibly just up the small hill. I collapsed to the ground, my hands clawing at the mud as I tried to calm my breathing. Ruby and Jinx stumbled, their legs giving out as they did the same, rolling onto their backs as rain drenched us. Lazarus stood next to Alastair, his hand high above his head as he breathed heavily, his hot breath fogging the air around his face. The rain continued to pour, cleaning the mud from our bodies as we all stared into the dark night sky in shock.

"What," Ruby heaved, "w-what the hell was that?" She rotated onto her stomach, glaring at Lazarus and myself, her long hair pooling into a muddy puddle.

Jinx mimicked Ruby's motions, struggling to move her hands as she spoke to us. "Did you see it?"

I shook my head. "No," I huffed. "I have no idea what that was." My eyes reluctantly returned to the tree line. "But whatever it was, it would've caught up to us if it wasn't for those whistles. Someone else is in these woods." Thunder added to the ominous moment as we stared at one another, unsure of what to do next.

"We should get inside," Lazarus breathed, taking charge.

"What about Cain?" I asked, my eyes glued to the trees. "If that thing is still out there—" I stopped, my words trailing.

Lazarus helped Ruby and Jinx to their feet. "We can wait for him inside, but we need to move. The storm isn't letting up, and if that thing is still out there, we're safer inside and away from these woods." He approached my side, reaching his burned hand out to me.

I carefully slid my hand into his as he raised me to my feet, our bodies inches away. His chestnut eyes studied me, searching for any injuries. "I'm okay," I whispered, watching the terror in his face melt away.

He nodded as he raised his hand, gently brushing my hair from my face. "Good."