Chapter 29

Twenty-Nine

My legs burned from forcing my muscles to perform past their physical capabilities, my arms screaming in agony as I helped carry Lazarus, his arm slung over my shoulders and weight bearing down on my small frame. His t-shirt was drenched in blood, the warmth soaking into my own clothes as we rushed towards the cemetery gates together. He may have taken the brunt of the injury, but the blade was meant for me. Cain wanted to hurt me. I knew he struggled with his temper and had abused me in the past, but this… this was different. He didn't just want to hurt me, he wanted to kill me. Us.

"I don't fucking care if that–that person is Cain, or John Crowe, or the mother of magic herself!" Ruby screamed through the wind and cold drizzle. "I am done! We're leaving this fucking town! Now!"

"That wasn't Cain!" I growled, pushing myself past my own extent as Lazarus and I struggled to keep up with Ruby and Jinx. "He's—" I stopped, my words unable to process what had even happened. What had happened to Cain?Was he possessed? But if so, how? How is it he is suddenly able to withhold magic? It's not possible. It can't be possible. My mind raced with an overflow of endless questions, unable to comprehend what was happening, when the most blood curdling, monstrous growl broke from deep within the woods.

We all froze, immediately petrified as the growl rippled through our bodies, sending a chill along our spines. I could feel the color draining from my face, my skin turning cold as I looked up at Lazarus' face, his fear matching my own. What evil was lurking in this darkness, waiting for us? What nightmare had we ignorantly stumbled into?

A whistle pierced from one side of the trees, another instantly pitching from the opposite direction. Alastair growled, his ears twitching as he listened closely. We all stood, rain pouring onto us as we listened, half expecting a third whistle. "We need to keep going. Cain won't be far behind us." Lazarus stated, pulling my body close. "If we can quickly reach the edge of the forest," he glanced at the rest of us, "we should be safe from Cain." He swallowed. "Hopefully."

"What about the monster in the woods?" Jinx asked him quietly.

"Yeah, what about that thing? We're just running from one monster to another." Fear tainted her strong voice as she gripped Jinx close.

"We were able to outrun that thing yesterday. Let's just hope we can do it again today." Lazarus took a step forward, picking up the pace as I wobbled alongside him.

The rain had slowly begunto pick up, the sky melting into a blanket of shadows as we shivered, unprepared for the extreme weather change. Ruby slammed the iron gate shut, her broken wrist tucked against her chest, nestled in the makeshift sling Jinx had created for her. We huddled together, our eyes taking turns observing the foreboding woods beyond. We had all stopped, unsure of what to do next.

"I'll go," Ruby broke our silence. "I can quickly slither through the woods and check the path ahead, make sure it's clear." My head shot to her, her words stopping me before I could respond. "It's okay. I'll be quick. Stay here with Lazarus; he needs you." She glanced at Jinx, struggling to sign to her with her injured wrist. "I'm going into the woods." Jinx shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. "I'll be okay, my love. Just keep that smelly mutt close." She smiled, trying to comfort her girlfriend.

Jinx's face tightened as she moved her hands. "Just hurry back to me." Ruby nodded, kissing Jinx's forehead.

Ruby pressed her head against Jinx's, their eyes locked as she clearly mouthed the words: I promise. She pushed herself away, glancing at Lazarus and myself. "Look who's saving who now," she teased, collecting a wheezed laugh from Lazarus. "Keep my girl safe."

"Will do." Lazarus nodded.

"You better." Jinx's hand immediately ignited. "Or I'll happily barbeque your sorry ass." She smiled at Jinx before slowly turning to face the frightening woods. She took a deep breath, reaching her platform sole forward, stepping into the tree line quickly disappearing from view. We stood in silence, waiting as the fading sounds of her steps carried with the growing wind. Lazarus's body sagged as his weight pulled me down. He removed his arm, falling to the ground, exhausted and in pain.

I bent down and pressed my hand against his chest, his t-shirt soaked in blood. I wasted no time, my fingers gripping the wet material, ripping it apart, exposing his skin. "Don't think now is the time for that, darling," he teased me. I shook my head, examining his wound, fighting back an innocent smile.

"Shut up." Always a tease.

The fresh wound wasn't large, but it was deep, deep enough that I could tell he needed stitches. The metal smell of his blood lingered in the air, filling my nostrils as Alastair whined, nudging his arm. Lazarus reached his arm around and playfully stroked the wolf's head. "Hey, it's okay." He scratched behind Alastair's ear. "It's just a scrape; it looks worse than it really is. Besides," he gently grabbed my hand, "can't leave my little dreamer alone now, can I?" His bruised throat, matching my own, caused his voice to crack as he strained to speak his words.

"I should've grabbed my bag; it had the first aid kit in it," I whined, using the torn edges of his t-shirt to wipe the blood away.

"Ironically," he removed his bag, placing it in my lap as he unzipped the main pocket, "I think I tossed it in mine." His blood-covered hand retrieved the small metal tin, handing it out to me with a wink. "Call it fate."

I moved his bag, gripping the metal box. "Good to know you can think with both heads," I poked at him. He laughed, wincing at the pain he felt with each little jolt. I quickly pulled packs of tiny square gauze and antiseptic from the kit, immediately untwisting the lid. "This might sting," I warned, pouring the sharp smelling liquid across his wound. The hydrogen peroxide seeped deep into the cut, bubbling as it pooled across his chest. Lazarus pressed his lips together, his jaw tensing as I used the gauze to clean the wound. I tried to wipe away the blood, but it just kept smearing across his tan skin. I needed to find a way to close the wound, and fast.

The kit didn't have any stitching or splints, only bandages and gauze. My expression sagged as I looked at him, defeated. "I need to find a way to stop the bleeding."

Lazarus reached into the metal tin, pulling a handful of bandages. "Don't worry about it, darling." He opened the bandages, squeezing his wound together as he stuck them across his skin, lining them up until it was fully covered. "See? All fixed." He smiled. We both knew the measly BandAids wouldn't last long.

Snap.

We all turned to face the trees. Alastair stood, listening intently as the sound repeated. A faint hint of maroon glowed in the distance, growing more vibrant until it was directly in front us. Ruby's hand burned as she stepped through the trees, her boots now drenched in mud. "It's clear," she huffed, her magic disappearing as she stopped to breathe. "No sign of anyone out there, and definitely no sign of that thing." Jinx rushed to her, the two women embracing with a kiss. I helped Lazarus to his feet, Alastair assisting as he gently pushed him forward. Lazarus grabbed my hand, his posture straightening as he stood.

Ruby glanced at the two of us. "When we get out of here, I'm kicking your ass." She pointed to Lazarus. He scoffed, smiling. "You two," she motioned between us, "have caused enough problems."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Lazarus joked, his voice strained. I could tell he was trying to force a front when, in reality, he was hurting.

"Sure." Ruby rolled her eyes. "We're not blind. Jinx and I both had a feeling something was going on between the two of you, but with Cain—" Her voice trailed as thunder boomed. "Forget it. Let's just get back so we can leave."

"Let's go home," Jinx signed to all of us. We quietly nodded, the four of us staring into the woods ahead. Despite Ruby's statement of the path being clear, something didn't feel right.