Page 74 of When Monsters Rise
Idrop my gaze toGabriel, still on the ground, his body tense as if torn between taking flight or running.Go,Imouth.Please.
Hefalters for a moment, gaze flicking from me toMichael, and then he turns and runs back into the barn.
Theknot in my chest eases a little.
He’llprotect her.
He’llkeep her safe.
Michaelhauls me toward him, his sapphire eyes blazing with zeal.Hissword flashes as it comes up.Ican’t move.Ican’t defend myself.
Good.
ThiswayIdon’t have to fight my primal instincts.
Hecan have me.Becausewith me gone, theDominionwill leaveRuealone.They’llthink the key to fixing theMorningstarhas been eliminated, and we’ll have hope once more.
I’msorry,Rue.Sofucking sorry.
Firepierces my heart, and my vision goes dark.
* * *
RUE
Shemhung suspended in the air with a sword through his chest.
Michael’ssword, becauseMichaelhad stabbed him.
Stabbedhim through the chest, andShem…Shemwasn’t moving.
Hewasn’t fucking moving.
Shardsof ice exploded in my chest. “NO!”
Beeslapped her hand over my mouth, wrestling with me to stop me running toward the fight and force me into the shadows behind the house.Ifought her on instinct—the need to get toShemburning through all logic.
“Fuck!”Beelost her grip on me, andIran out into the moonlight.
“SHEM!”Athick arm snagged me around the waist and hauled me back.Ikicked out. “No!Shem!No.”
Michael’sgaze locked on to me—cold fire and nothingness.
“Rue, stop!”Bastiansaid. “Youhave to fucking stop.He’sgone.He’sfucking gone.”
“Gether!”Michael’scommand reverberated around me, and the next instant, every sentinel was aiming for me.
“Move!”Tumielordered.
Shemwas dead, and ifIdied here, then theDominionwould win.
Istopped fighting and turned to flee, knowing deep down that it was probably too late to escape, but we ran anyway becauseI’dbe damned ifIsimply rolled over and allowed myself to be executed.
Mysurvival instinct kicked in.I’dmade a promise toShem.Hide.Run.Survive.
Barbsspeared my heart and my lungs, butIkept running through the pain.There’dbe time for that later if we survived.
“Thewoods!”Bastianyelled over and over as people, gripped with terror, scattered. “Thefucking woods!”Bastian’scommand must have registered because people adjusted their trajectory toward the tree line and away from the open road.
