Page 55 of When Monsters Rise
Armorplates run down its back and over its head, which is shaped like the head of a hammer.Itsbulbous eyes sit at either end, and in between is a mouth designed for tearing flesh.
“Attack!”Sarqbellows, jolting me out of my shock.
Thewatchers fly at the beast, butIaim for the bus, my instinct to get toRue.
Thebeast vanishes before the watchers can touch it.
“Whatthe fuck?”Sarqsays. “Wheredid it go?”
Iland on the side of the bus, and for a moment the world is still, the only sound the cries of shock and pain from within the metal contraption.Butthere’s a strange smell in the air…sulphur and…Isthat fuel?
Fuck! “Getthem out.Geteveryone out now.Thisthing is going to explode.Wecan worry about the beast later.”Ipress my face to the windows that peer up at the sky and call out a warning. “Steerclear.Ineed to smash the glass.”Iwait a moment before punching out a window.
Ibarely register the scrape and sting of glass asIclear the aperture.Withthe bus on its side, everyone is crushed against each other close to the ground.
Frightenedeye whites gleam up at me, but the eyesIwant to see are absent. “Rue?Rue!”
“I’mhere.Getthem out.”Hervoice is muffled, and my heart squeezes painfully in my chest, and for a momentIcare nothing for any of these people.AllIwant is to shove them aside and reach for her, wherever she may be.ButIcan’t see her.She’shidden somewhere beneath all these insignificant bodies.
Ihave to clear them. “I’mcoming.Don’tmove.”
“Ican’t move,” she admits.
“Ihave her,”Bastiancalls out. “Getthe others off us.”
Hesounds breathless.They’rehurt.Ineed to get to them now.
Tumiellands on the window farther down and punches it out, calling out forBee.
Wework in a frenzy, hauling people out of the window whileZaqushers them to the other side of the road, ordering them to stay together.Baraqeland his troop surround the humans, eyes on the road as they scan for threats.
Thebeast is gone, but it might come back.Thepriority is clearing this vehicle before it explodes.
Move, humans.Outof the way.Ipractically fling them to safety, searching the dark interior for the only humansIcare about.
“I’vegotRue,”Tumielcalls out a moment later.
Theknot in my belly unravels.
Ilook over at her cradled inTumiel’sarms for a moment, before he hands her toSarq.There’sblood on her face.She’shurt.
Fuckeveryone else.
“Shem?”Bastiancalls out from inside the bus.
Igrab his arm and haul him out.Myheart hammers against my ribs with the desire to go toRue.Ican’t.Notyet.ButBastiancan. “GotoRue.”
Bastianclambers off the bus and jogs across the road.
“That’sit,”Tumielsays. “Wehave everyone.”
Heleaps off the bus and grabsBee’shand.Theycross the road to the others.IspotRue, and our gazes meet.She’ssafe withBastian.Bloodybut safe.Shebeckons for me to hurry.
Aquick check confirms the bus is empty, andIjoin the others on the side of the road.
Ruemelts into my arms. “Whathappened?Whathit us?”
“We’renot sure,”Sarqanswers for me because my throat is too tight to speak.
