Page 62 of These Unhallowed Halls
Jeb was still walking that front row, his fingers grazing the people who reached up for him, this massiah among lowly mortals in their eyes.His line got shorter, focusing on just the people in the center of the front row, and I took two more steps back, so close to the exit that I could feel the cool air outside blowing across my ankles.
We’re almost there, Temps.We got this.We’ll call Caleb right away.
I couldn’t bring myself to even think anything back.I was too nervous, too on edge as our escape hung in the balance.The crowd was practically roaring now, overcome by the heightened energy in the tent as they all called out to see who the new “chosen” would be.
One more step, then another, and there.I could feel the rough, fraying edges of the tent.Lizzie slipped out first when I hesitated, something making me look down at that front row one more time.
“You.You are His Chosen.Rise and face the people you save for His glory!”
No.
The world around me dropped away as I watched my mother fling herself up from her seat, a massive smile stretching over her face.She bounced up and down, happily shrieking as she spun around and faced the crowd.The Ring Leader, Pastor Jebediah Paine, Junior, stood at her back.
Something flashed in the spotlight, this white light that forced me to squint as I pulled back.Then Jeb’s hand was in front of my mother’s neck.Just as realization struck, a line of red appeared across her skin, and then it rained down her white suit, her pearl necklace breaking and scattering across the ground.
The crowd roared in approval.
“Temps,” Lizzie was behind me, pulling me backward toward the exit, “we need to—Oh, gods.”
The Ring Leader smiled as he held the bloody knife high for everyone to see, my mother’s body slumping to the dusty earth as he let her go.
“We need to go.Temps, please.”She hauled me backward as I stared straight ahead.“Now.”
And then it all disappeared as the flaps of the tent fell in front of me, Lizzie grabbing me by the hand and yanking me forward, sprinting away from the carnival as quickly as we could.My heart pounded, my stomach was on the verge of turning inside out, and I couldn’t think.
We just ran.We ran around the side of the tent toward the alleyways that spilled out into the large area the carnival had rented.My legs burned, but we just ran.We ran and ran and ran.
Until, just as we were getting to the edge of the fairgrounds, the metal fence only a few feet away, we collided with something solid and tall, knocking Lizzie and me backward to the dry grass.
“What the hell are you two doing out here?”
Twenty-Three- Ramifications Have Far-Reaching Wings
Lizzie
Dullpainthuddedupmy assbones as I craned my head back to see whoever we’d collided with.I was ready to give ‘em hell if necessary, but relief shot through me so hard, I actually let out a tiny sob when I saw Caleb standing in front of us.
Temps was quicker than I was, shooting up off the ground and straight into his arms.His brows remained pinned to his hairline as he held her, looking down, confused and slightly out of breath.
“What happened?Temps, you’re shaking?”He leaned her back to make eye contact, and I dusted myself off as I stood up, covering Temps with my body from behind.“It isn’t safe to be here.”
“No shit, Sherlock.Temps…” I sighed, shaking my head as I tried to force the image in my head away.“The Ring Leader just took another sacrifice at his stupid cult party.Her…mom.”
Not speaking or moving, Temps kept her face buried in Caleb’s chest.I watched him put the pieces together, and the shock played over his face before it melted into empathetic sorrow.
“Oh my gods, Temps.I’m so sorry.That’s…Fuck, we need to get out of here before they see us, though.”He shuffled her up into his arms, carrying her bridal style.“Come on, little flower.I’ve got you.”
I was right on his tail as Caleb carried Temps out of the fairgrounds and toward the alleyway ahead of us.We ducked into a shadowy corner, out of sight and earshot of the carnival, and he set her down, where Temps landed shakily on her feet, her stare fixed to the middle distance and unblinking.
“Baby, I need you to come back to me.”I held her face as I moved in front of her.“Don’t stay there.Come back to your people.We’re all right here.”
Caleb stood behind her now, and I watched just his hand shift, turning into this monstrous, clawed appendage covered in fur.A low growl rumbled out of his chest, and in that voice that was actually two voices, he said, “We will ensure you have your revenge, little witch.They will pay for this.”
Unable to keep from smiling, I chuckled lightly, which I knew was so inappropriate for the moment.Temps looked up at me at that, though, and I met her eyes as she found her way back to the present.
“Why are you laughing?”She furrowed her brow at me.
“You have a werewolf promising to help you get revenge on a circus.”I snorted.“That’s wild, babe.”
