Page 24 of Insatiable Hunger

“Lazarus!” I yelled through the pouring rain as the wind began to pick up. “We need to go! Now!” He nodded, looking back at Cain.

“Cain! Come on, man, let’s go!” Cain refused to look up from the skeleton, as if locked in a strange trance. “Cain!” Lazarus screamed again. Cain was frozen, ignoring his voice as he stared down into the empty sockets of John’s skull. A faint flash of green reflected across his eyes from one iris to the other. “Fuck this, man. If you get struck by lightning, that’s your own damn fault!” Lazarus turned, grabbing my arm as he led me away, thetwo of us rushing from the unearthed grave with Alastair trotting at our side. My head turned, glancing over my shoulder as I watched Cain bend down deeper into the grave.What the hell is he doing?

The three of us sprinted, gaining speed until we caught up to Ruby and Jinx. We didn’t think of where we were going, only that we wanted out of the cemetery. Another strike of lightning struck a statue just ahead as we neared it. Ruby screamed as the stone crumbled, the broken chunks collapsing over her, pinning her to the muddy ground. She had dragged Jinx down with her, the two struggling to get back to their feet. Lazarus released my arm as he tried to help the two up, straining to move the heavy pieces aside from their bodies. “Alaska!” he called, his voice tight as he lifted a large, broken piece of the statue, asking for help.

“I got this!” My hands burned, my magic wrapping around the remaining pieces. They glowed a light blue, rising as I controlled them with my power, removing them from the women. Ruby and Jinx scrambled to their feet, scuttling out of the way as I whipped my arms, the rocks flying away from them and slamming into the earth.

“I’m right behind you,” he breathed. “Now, let’s go!” Lazarus pointed towards the direction of the entrance. I nodded, rushing with Alastair as we aimed for the gates.

“Alastair,” I shot to the wolf, “lead us out of here!” The wolf bolted, barking for us to shadow him. Lightning struck again, nearly missing the group as Ruby raised her hand, her maroon magic burning from her palms as she blocked the debris from our path, forcing it aside.

We continued to follow Alastair, Ruby and Jinx closely behind as we sprinted through the cemetery. I couldn’t hear Lazarus, but I hoped he wasn’t too far behind. A high-pitched whistle, much like the one before, pierced my ears. Alastair froze, ears perched high as he listened intently.

“What is it?” I breathed, stopping next to him. A second and third whistled chimed. The sounds came from all directions, surrounding the cemetery. It was as if someone was communicating deep within the forest. A frightening thought. Alastair howled, quickly resuming his pace. We continued to follow him, racing towards the direction of the gate, rain and darkness clouding our view. Another whistling in the distance made me jump, the unknown scaring me more than the storm.What in the hell is happening?

All I wanted to do was get out of this storm and back to the cabin.

Run, little witch. Run.

Chapter

Twenty-Three

ALASKA

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.

---