Page 28 of Insatiable Hunger

The gate of the cemetery was cracked open, burn marks soaking the iron in blackness, a gift from Ruby’s magic. “Alright, let’s hurry. The sun is beginning to set, and we need to head back soon.” Lazarus approached the gate, pulling the metal door back, the hinges squealing, holding it as the rest of us flowed through. Cain flashed him an odd look as he passed by, Lazarus’ face twisting in confusion.What was that all about?

Alastair barked, leading the way through the cemetery as we followed, taking in the sight of all around us, gawking at the changed plot of land. The entire structure and landscape of the cemetery appeared different in the light. Crumbled piles of stone were now scattered along the path in various places, offering a new challenge as we carefully stepped over the rubble. It was a visual reminder of the close encounters we had experienced in the dangerous storm. We remained huddled close, Cain trickling behind as we picked up the pace and continued to follow Alastair.

The growing afternoon was already passing by sooner than we expected, time rushing past us with little patience. We needed to hurry if we wanted to return to the cabin before nightfall, before whatever thatthingwas returned.

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

LAZARUS

My foot dipped over the edge of the deep hole we had dug the night before, the muddy depth filled with dirty rainwater, leaves and debris swirling around the edge of the coffin. The lid to the coffin was torn to pieces, a full skeleton laying fully exposed, staring up at me with empty eyes. I wasn’t sure if it was the fading sunlight or presence of rainwater, but something about the corpse seemed off. It was missing a rib. As I squinted, peering closer, a soft push against my back startled me, breaking my focus. The sole of my boot slid along the mud, the force almost causing me to fall into the ditch had I not thankfully balanced myself in time.

“Careful,” Cain purred from behind, approaching to the side of the grave. I stepped back, calming myself. He bent down, reaching for a large hunting knife that was sitting, pierced into the edge of the muddy pit. He yanked the knife, raising it to his chest as he wiped the thick mud across his leather jacket, speaking to me. “You never know who might stab you in the back.” He smiled, examining the reflective weapon a moment before sheathing the knife into the back of his jeans. The whole interaction made me uneasy. With the blink of an eye, Cainchanged, an odd shift in his demeanor. His eyes were red, deep, heavy bags hanging, as if he hadn’t slept in days. Beads of sweat rolled down his drained face despite the cool breeze that circled around us. His irises met mine, a green flicker moving across one of them as his smile branched further into his cheeks in an unnatural way. I couldn’t look away, paralyzed by a foreign fixation.

“Okay,” Ruby huffed as she approached from behind, breaking my eyes from the strange trance. “We found our bags. Most of what’s in them is ruined from the rain, but we got the dowsing rods. Now let’s head back.” Her words faded off as she noticed the change in Cain’s persona and appearance. “What’s going on with you, Cain?” she questioned. “You’ve been acting weird all day.”

Cain ignored her snarky words. He removed his leather jacket, his sleeveless shirt clinging to his sweat-soaked chest as he tossed it aside, fixated on the hole in the ground. Even his stance seemed off, as if he was purposely carrying himself in a new form. Ruby and I glanced at one another, puzzled by whatever it was he was doing.

“Cain?” He ignored me completely, almost as if he was completely unaware of our presence. He lurched into the muddy hole, his boots thudding against the disturbed coffin as he landed, crouched and on his feet. His hair disappeared from sight as he bent down, finicking with the coffin. “Why are you ignoring me? What’re you doing?” I stepped closer, confused by what he was doing.

“Hey, where’s Cain?” Alaska asked as she and Jinx joined Ruby and me, Alastair close to Alaska’s side. I glanced behind, looking at the three women, pointing back to the grave.

“He’s in the fucking ground.” My words reflected my confusion and annoyance.

“Come on, Cain.” Ruby crossed her arms, frustrated. “Cain, get out of the fucking hole!”

The sound of Cain grunting, followed by the echo of something cracking, vibrated through my bones. We could hear him moving in the dug-up grave, curious to see what the hell he was doing. All of us stood in silence, waiting impatiently.

The wind began to pick up, the surrounding trees rustling as the air suddenly dropped in temperature. It felt as though a storm had immediately rolled in, darkening the sky as the clouds gathered. Shadows drenched the woods and world around as thick clouds quickly formed in the sky above and thunder threatened us in the distance. “I swear, Cain, we will fucking leave you behind!” Ruby’s hands were burning at her side as her words growled at him.

“Cain!” My patience had gone. It was getting dark and now a storm had appeared, and all I wanted was to leave this damn place.

Cain’s body rose, his back positioned towards us as he fumbled with something in his hands. He slowly turned, facing us, a human skull firmly in his palms. Not just any skull, but John Crowe’s. His eyes peaked up from beneath his rustled dark hair, shielding half his face.

“What the fuck—” Ruby gasped, stepping back as her words were hushed by Alastair’s growls. His body crouched, ready to attack, his ears folded back and the hair along his spine raised high. He stepped in front of Alaska, ready to strike, focused solely on Cain.

Cain continued to fidget with the skull, positioning his fingers through the empty eye sockets and nasal cavity, his arm muscles flexing as he groaned loudly and yanked the front of the remains. The veins in his arms and neck bulged, turning green as his fingertips glowed fairly similar to Alaska’s and Ruby’s.That’s not possible. Cain ripped the front of the skull apart from therest with one motion, chunking the remnants aside, exhaling as he smiled at what he had done. He held the fractured piece up in his hand, examining the weathered bone carefully, a faint green glimmer dancing across his eyes.What the hell was happening?

“Finally,” a distorted voice played from Cain’s lips. He bent down, ripping his laces from his boots and began to tie them around the rim of the human remains.

“The fuck are you doing, Cain?” Ruby demanded, slowly backing away, her own hands lightly ignited. I stared at him, shocked, realizing what he was creating.

Cain ignored her question, placing the makeshift mask across his face, exhaling a loud sigh of relief as the bone gently settled against his flesh. He shifted his neck, cracking it while rotating his limbs and spine. It was as if he was settling into his own skin and getting a feel for his own body. The whole display was sickening and obscene. The broken skull of John Crowe was now resting atop Cain’s. He was insane.Fuck this.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said to the others, all of us glued to the twisted sight before us.

Cain’s head snapped up, his eyes instantly meeting mine. One iris was its usual dead, gray-colored self, the other now tainted in a neon green glow.That’s not possible.Before I could speak, thunder boomed nearby as an eerie laugh escaped through Cain, rupturing through his mouth, his body jolting in reaction. Alastair snapped a warning, chomping his teeth as his claws dug into the earth.

“What ever is the matter, Lazarus?” Cain straightened as the sound of my name rolled from his tongue, emphasizing the ‘s’. “You’re not frightened now, are you?” He lifted his arms, examining his faintly green fingertips. “My, such strength this Cain possesses,” he snapped, a green flame emanating from his skin. “Strength fueled by such rage. How absolutelymarvelous.” A chill ran along my spine at his altered tone.

“Cain?” Alaska’s wavering voice startled me as she stepped closer, her hand touching my arm for support. “What’s happened to you?” Cain’s gaze moved to her, his single green eye sparkling as he studied us closely.

“I am afraid your dear Cain is preoccupied at this very moment, little hexer.”Hexer?“But do not fret.” Cain’s hands glowed vibrantly as his body raised from the hole and hovered over the grave. “It has been long since I have stumbled upon another of our kind. Too long. And you, my lady, have consumed my curiosity.”

The group collectively remained still, confused and frightened by his words as he hovered in the air, something Cain had never been able to accomplish prior to this day as he was not gifted with magic.How is this even possible?

“You see…” Cain’s muddy boot tapped the earth as he stepped onto the damp ground, the power he showed fading as he walked towards us. “You,” he pointed at Alaska, “have taken something from me. And I want it back.” He bit the last word, snarling at Alaska as he neared her. I raised my arm, blocking him from reaching her as he halted, his chest pushed against my arm, looking me up and down. “Others are such ignorant fools, always thinking they can stop those of us with power. Tell me, Lazarus.” He placed his hands behind his back, leaning towards my face. “Do humans still bleed red?” His smile was more sickening than his odd question and foreign words.

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