Page 4 of Stalk the Dark
“Once we get home, I’m making cocoa,” Mary whispered. “You can have a hot toddy, and we’ll get the fire roaring.” Her voice quivered. “It’ll be fine. It’ll all be fine.”
People dealt with fear in different ways, and Mary was a talker. Grounding herself with thoughts of the mundane to stave off the horror. Jeremy, on the otherhand, was silent and watchful, his body all tension, ready to react.
Good.
A howl to the west, closer than the last.
“Fuck,” he said.
We picked up the pace, and the howling grew louder, coming from both sides of the trail.
Where was the damn road?
Movement in my periphery warned me that we were being tracked. If I told them, then they’d panic. I needed to keep them calm. Maybe if we acted oblivious, the wolves would hold off on attacking and?—
A growling mass hit me from the side, and the world erupted into fresh howls of triumph.
Chapter 2
Never let them take you down, Micah, my mentor, always said.If a beast gets you on the ground, if it manages to trap you beneath it, you’re as good as dead, so fight to stay on your feet.
The instructions were innate now, and my body reacted instinctively, bracing and twisting so we hit the ground with me on top, my dagger buried in the creature’s throat.
The fucker was huge—gray, coarse fur and teeth dripping with saliva as it snarled and snapped before falling still to stare at me with glassy dead eyes.
I yanked my dagger free and staggered to my feet. “Run!”
We sprinted, trees rushing by. The wolves couldn’t be far behind. But we’d be at the road before they caught up. I hoped. Sparser tree growth meant a breakwas coming up soon. Please be the road, please be the road.
We crossed into a clearing with a brook and a shack.
Mary’s cry of disappointment tore at my heart.
“It can’t be far,” Jeremy said, gasping for breath. “We can make it.” The road could be another mile away for all we knew, and although I might be able to keep up a sprint, these two wouldn’t. There was only one way to keep them safe.
“Cross the brook and get to the shack.”
“What?” Jeremy stared at me in confusion.
“Go. Now. I’ll lead them away, and when I do, you make a break for the road.”
“No,” Mary said. “They’ll kill you.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll double back. I’m fast. I’ll meet you on the road.” A howl clawed at the night. “Go! Through the water.” I made to shove her, but she pulled me in for a hug. “Thank you. The Order needs more like you.”
Jeremy gave me a nod, and they hurried toward the stream.
I backed up and drew my dagger. The best way to make sure the wolves left them alone and followed me was by leaving them a trail.
More howls. Almost on me.
I sliced the heel of my hand, then dove back into the woods in the opposite direction to the road. I coulddouble back. I just needed to give the Walkers enough time to get away.
The rustle of leaves and the pant and pad of pursuit grew louder. They had my scent. Panic flared, but I tamped it down.
Run.
Watch the terrain.
