Page 35 of When Monsters Rise
Beenods. “Alreadyon it.”
“Greatminds.”
“Totally.”Shesmiles, but the action is more reflex than anything else.
She’sworried aboutRue.Aboutthe watchers.Aboutwhat this means for us.Themall was our sanctuary, and now it’s gone.
Whatdo we do from here?Ihave no fucking clue.Thesepeople…Allthese fucking people, and the only personIcare about isRue.
“There!”Beepoints across the street at the green cross that signifies a pharmacy.
Ijog ahead to joinTumiel. “Weneed to make a stop.”Ipoint across the street. “Theremight be medication in there.”
“Seethe red cross painted on the ground outside the door?”Tumielsays.
“Yeah?”
“Meansit’s flagged as a no-go by the watcher scout team.”
“Thereare monsters in there?”
“Maybe, or maybe they suspect there are.”
Sammy’swheezing punctuates the silence, andTumiel’smouth tightens. “Fuck.”
Clarabegins to cry.
Theboy’s airways are closing.Ifwe don’t act soon, they’ll be too inflamed for us to get the medication into him. “Wehave to try.Ican do it.”
“I’mcoming with you,”Beesays. “I’msmall.Ican get into tight spaces if need be, andI’ma scout.We’retrained to be quiet.”
“Okay.”
Tumiellooks torn, his emerald gaze fixed onBee. “Anysign of occupation and you get out.”
“Ofcourse.”Shelifts her chin. “Idon’t plan on dying today.”
Hisgaze softens. “Good.”
Zaqdoubles back. “Allclear.Thebank isn’t far.Ablock away now.”
“Youkeep moving,”Beesays toTumiel. “We’llfind you.Go.”
Wejog across the street toward the boarded-up building.It’son the corner of a cluttered alley.Thedoor is locked, but there’s a window on the alley side.Wemanage to clear the debris of broken furniture and crates to get to it.Theglass is long gone.Itmakes sense that something may have crawled in here and made it a home.
Thisis the only exit.
“Weneed to make another exit before we head in, just in case,”Beesays.
“Agreed.”
Thewindows are boarded up from the inside, and there’s no getting the door open either.
Thereis only one entry point we can see, so only one exit.Thisis a bad idea.
Beelooks up at me, the conflict clear on her face. “Thatboy…Bastian, we have to do this.”
Iwon’t be able to live with myself if we walk away now. “Weget in and we unlock that door.”
