324
Lucy
Adrenaline surging, I grabbed Michelle and pulled her after me deeper into the inky depths of the tunnel.
“Quick!”
She panted. “What’s going on? Peter—”
“He’s possessed,” I said. “Just keep running for now!”
I saw my Allison up ahead, leading me down another tunnel. Behind us, I heard Peter's guttural snarls, the rhythmic thud of his feet echoed eerily in the confined space. We had to lose him and the other one quickly, but we didn’t seem to be putting enough distance between us. Panic coiled in my gut, urging me to run faster and push my body beyond its limits. Michelle kept up relatively well. We twisted and turned, navigating the treacherous path by torchlight and the spectral murmurs of White Moon's fallen. But the passage seemed to twist back on itself. When we were back at the forked path, the faint light that had been illuminating the tunnel went out, plunging us into darkness.
Michelle shuddered. She drew closer to me and tightened her grip on my hand. I saw Delilah nearby, watching me. She met my gaze and nodded. I saw David fighting a wolf I knew was Tony somehow, but there was something wrong with him. Was she telling me to hold on? Was she trying to buy David more time?
I didn’t know, and I wasn’t sure it mattered.
Michelle's choked sob snapped me back to reality. I still couldn’t use magic, but I tugged her closer and just to the side.
“W-What do we do?” Michelle asked. “I don’t… He was fi-fine earlier.”
“This is all Selene’s plan,” I said. “He’ll be okay.”
“Will he?” Michelle asked, her voice trembling. I wasn’t sure.
I fumbled for a flint and tinder, a spark of defiance flickering in the face of despair. The meager flame, once lit, cast grotesque shadows on the tunnel walls, dancing ominously around us. A stream of light floated around me. I saw the binds of bright light around my wrists, and then they vanished.
Suddenly, I called an orb of light to my hand and almost screamed when I saw Peter just in front of me. His eyes glowed with that unnatural light.
“Run—”
Michelle screamed. Peter yanked her towards him with an iron grip. A guttural snarl ripped from his throat; his lips contorted into a mask of feral rage. I darted forward, driving the heel of my palm up under his chin. His head flew back. He stumbled back, and he released Michelle. I grabbed her arm and led her down another path.
Then, the other werewolf appeared, snarling. I pushed him back with a solid wall of water that sent him tumbling back and turned down another passageway. The sound of our running footsteps and heavy breathing filled the space. It was so dark that the light I’d conjured didn’t illuminate more than a few steps ahead of us, but it was enough. We had to get out of here, somehow.
I pulled her around a corner and into a dead end. I looked around, biting my lip.
“W-What do we—” I put my hand over her mouth and met her gaze. Her eyes seemed fine, normal even, but they were wide with fear.
“Breathe.”
She nodded shakily. I turned back. There was no sign of Delilah, Allison, Eve, or any of the other spirits. We left the alcove and took a different turn. Were we lost? I stopped as we ended up right back at the forked path again.
No. The tunnel… was magical. It was leading us where it wanted us to go. We’d gone down one, come out the other, and gone down the other to a dead end.
We had to be going the wrong way all together. I led Michelle back down the path we’d come from. I didn’t remember there being this other pathway, but I took it. The ground started to shake from above like there were explosions happening above us. Were we under the Festival somehow?
“Lucy!” Selene snarled with Peter’s voice. Michelle let out a frightened squeak as we turned down another pathway. His footsteps came up behind us. Michelle shrieked as she was yanked back. I turned, aiming my fist at him. He dodged and shoved Michelle back. I slammed my foot into his chest. He snarled, and the other werewolf lunged at me. I tumbled him over my shoulder, slamming him to the ground hard enough to hear something crack. He snarled and pulled me off balance, tumbling me to the ground.
I could hear David’s voice in my mind as I hit the ground, and he surged to his feet.
Now you’re on the ground. How do you get out of my hold?
I gripped his arm as hard as I could and pulled. He didn't budge, but I managed to slide back and under his legs, pulling hard, but he didn't fall. He twisted around, still holding my hand. I pulled myself up hard and fast, aiming my knee for his chest. He stumbled back. I twisted and slammed my forearm onto his wrist. The satisfying crack of bone echoed through the tunnel. The werewolf let out a wail of pain. Blood started to pool in his eyes as the injury purpled quickly, turned a sickening green, and seemed to heal in a matter of seconds. I shoved him back. He hit the ground. I pulled the dagger strapped to my chest. He rolled out of the way with a snarl. I went low, trying to sweep his feet from under him. He jumped.
The moment my feet leave the ground is the moment I lose most of my control.
I sent a gust of air up and slammed him up against the ceiling. He writhed, and I slammed him back to the ground before burying the dagger in his shoulder, pinning him there. He howled in agony and writhed. The scent of blood filled my nose, and I resheathed it.
Then, I heard Michelle scream. I turned, rushing after the sound. I could hear Peter chasing after her. I followed as fast as I could. The tunnel twisted and turned before spitting me out in an open space just as Michelle crashed to the ground. She turned over, holding her hands up and crawling back and away from Peter. She looked up at him, shaking her head. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with him.
I shuddered and went after him, attempting to tackle him, but he just threw me aside. I caught his arm, trying to take him down, but he was bigger than the other guy. He lifted me off my fee. I twined my legs around his arm, wedging my foot against his neck, and pulled, but he jerked and shook me off. I hit the ground with a grunt but lunged at him again, aiming for his legs. He went down, and Michelle got up.
“Run!” I yelled just as she took off and slammed into an invisible wall over the other entrance. I clamped my arms around Peter’s legs as he struggled. He slipped his leg out and kicked me. The pain was blinding, making me see stars. My nose ached, and something warm trickled down my face.
I curled forward, clenching my face and trying to clear my vision. What was I supposed to do? I aimed a gust of wind at him, but it bounced off him. Selene appeared nearby, smirking down at me.
“I told you what would happen if you resisted,” she said as Peter stalked closer to Michelle.
Something gripped my foot and started to pull me away. I turned back to see the werewolf I’d stabbed earlier growling.
Then, I recognized him. It was a member of Blue Moon. I snarled and slammed my foot into his face as hard as I could. Again and again, until he let go. I scrambled to my feet, tearing away from him. My gown ripped, and I heard Michelle pleading with Peter. The werewolf grabbed me again, and I kicked him again before rolling onto my knees to punch him as hard as I could. He tried to push me off, but I kept punching him in the face until he went still.
"Peter, please," she choked out. "It's me, Michelle. It’s me…Peter—"
Her plea was cut short. An unseen force clamped down on her throat, silencing her scream. She reached for her throat and started to thrash. Then, Peter froze, his body rigid, but his eyes burned with a tormented, unfocused rage. Tears started to stream down his face as he grabbed her by the front of her gown and raised his arm.
Now! Eve yelled at me.
Allison’s dagger burned against my thigh. My stomach lurched as I pulled the dagger out and lunged forward.
There are people who are not meant to kill…
I was going to be sick.
A dead threat is no longer a threat.
My eyes burned, and I screamed, aiming for Peter’s side.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
