Page 30 of When Monsters Rise
Twice.
Comeon.Myvision began to blur.Icouldn’t channel for much longer.
Threetimes now.
Severalmore creatures rushed forward to join the first.
Theybashed the weakened wards.
Four.
Five.
Ohfuck, they were through.
Theyslowed, twitching and jerking as if they couldn’t quite believe it, and then all eyes were on me.
Icut off theMorningstarpower and ran.
* * *
BASTIAN
“Move.Everyone, keep moving.”
Ileft her.Ileft her behind.
“It’snot your fault,”Beesays, telling meI’vespoken out loud. “She’llbe fine.Rue’sa survivor, and she’s withShem,Sarq, and the other watchers.”
ButAmarosandPenemuearen’t fighters.TumielandZaqare, and they’re here, with us.Herdingthe people.Hereto protect them when they should be protectingRue.
It’sselfish.Iknow, but fuck it. “Ihave to go back.”
Beegrabs me. “Stopit!Juststop!Iknow you love her, but you have to think logically.Evenif you get to her, you can’t help against the celestials.You’llbe another body that needs protecting.Shemwon’t let any harm come toRue.”
“Ishould be the one comforting you.”
“Yeah, you should, and you can whenIfall apart later.”
“Obstructionahead.Everyone, all hands on deck!”Tumielcalls out.
Ihave to get out of here and find her.Ican’t lose her.Wehave time.Ineed that time.
* * *
RUE
Therewas no time to breathe asIsprinted through the tunnels with the devolved watchers on my tail.Don’tlook back.Don’tfucking look back.
Scuttling, screeching, and wet, hungry sounds followed.
Hungryfor me.
Hungryfor theMorningstarpower that clung to me.
ButI’dgive them a meal soon enough.I’dgive them a buffet of celestials to chomp on.
Ihit the stairs and barreled into the final tunnel where the red door loomed, propped open and ready for me to burst through.
