Page 34 of When Monsters Rise
“Theghost…”
“Thatwas no ghost,”Sarqsays.
“No.”Afemale voice echoes around us. “Iam no ghost.”
Mystomach clenches becauseIknow that voice.
Ruehas gone tense and still beside me. “Showyourself.”
Afigure materializes in front of us—slender, tall, and regal, with shimmering dark hair and eyes like fire.
“Iknow you,”Ruesays. “I…IthinkIdreamed about you.ButIforgot and…Whoare you?”
Thewoman looks at me and smiles. “Hello,Shemyaza.It’sbeen a long time.”
“Hello,Priyana, or shouldIcall youJilyana?”
Chapter16
BASTIAN
Wemake it out of the tunnel just as the earth beneath our feet trembles.
“It’scoming down!” someone cries. “It’sall coming down.”
Behindus, the mall shudders and sinks into the ground.Itwas already partially submerged, but now the whole thing has slipped into the earth.
“No!”Beerushes forward. “No…”
Ican’t move.Ican’t fucking breathe. “Shegot out.Shehas to have gotten out.”
“Yes,”Beesays quickly. “She’llbe fine.Wejust have to…Wehave to wait to rendezvous.”
“Bastian, we need to move,”Tumielsays. “Wehave to find safe shelter before the sun sets.”
Iclose my eyes and force down my panic.Rueis a survivor.She’llbe fine.Shemhas her.They’reall fine.Probablyon the other side of the city. “Weneed to head across the city.Findthe others.”
Tumielnods. “Thereare a couple of buildings that might work as a shelter.Zaqscoped them out a month ago.”
Drawnby the sound of his name,Zaqjoins us. “Alibrary and a bank.”
“What’sclosest?”Beeasks.
“Thelibrary,”Zaqsays. “Butthe bank has shutters on the windows, and it’s more secure.”
Wehave maybe three hours before sunset. “Thenwe head for that.”
Aroundus, people huddle together, staring at the remains of their home while the children cry.
“Wemight need to take a few minutes to calm everybody down,”Beepoints out.
Assympathetic asIam, my job now is to keep these people alive, not mollycoddle them. “Tenminutes, and then we move.”
* * *
WithZaqscouting ahead,we make good time.Tumielends up carrying the boy,Sammy.Thechild has asthma and no medication.Thedust and rubble seem to have aggravated his condition.He’slimp and ashen in the watcher’s arms.Hismother,Clara, walks behind them, wringing her hands.
Mygut tells me he won’t make it if we can’t get him some medication soon. “Keepan eye out for a pharmacy.”
