Page 33 of Surviving Hallow Hill
We’re being attacked.
Not by walking dead. By another team.
The hard impact of a fist striking haphazardly against my temple stuns any thoughts from my mind. Stars bleed white behind my eyes, and my weapon is in my hands before my lids even fully flash open.
Finally, something normal. Something I’m used to. Somethingfun.
The wind is sliced beneath the force of my blade as I lash out at the darkness before me. It’s a wasted strength as I stagger forward without a blow against my unseen opponent. My ears search the sounds of grunts and growls, and I just barely count two additional tones who I don't recognize. Two of them? Two co-eds had the balls to attack all of us?
Stupid, stupid move coming to us like this.
That’s what desperation does to a person, though. That’s what Hallow Hill does to us.
The slamming of fists, snapping jaws, and just all-out rage carries louder as desperate anger turns to fear. And they start to run. I follow after the unsettling mixed sounds of breaking of limbs and the cracking of bones. I race behind my team until the scraping trees against my skin fall away, and bright white moonlight opens up to the divide in the earth. The cracked canyon where the walking dead once crawled out of is a dry blood-kissed land now, littered with fallen friends and mutated monsters. The background isn’t at all what I’m focused on, though.
Within the cutting silence stands a new monster. One I’ve never truly laid eyes on.
And I wish I never had.
Slick, unfleshed arms are spindly, hanging long past the creature's knees. The thing's body is frail and exposed without anything but raw muscle covering its thin figure. The mouth that breaks open, comes apart so wide that its eyeless sockets look up at the sky, just before it lurches forward and devours the young girl’s head in one single, bloody bite.
“A skinwalker,” the stranger from the other team whispers.
It’s the last thing he says before Amrose snatches up his skull as well, letting the man’s body thump to the red-kissed ground.
And I blink at her in disgusted admiration.
“You’re fucking incredible,” I whisper. Yup. I’m her number one fan.
The creature’s spider-thin body turns my way as the dark emptiness of her eye sockets looks my way. Thick crimson drools from the gaping hole of her mouth. I think she smiles...I think.
The men, who have clearly noticed the woman’s flawless beauty for the past few days, are now looking at the monster with a tinge of terror and a hint of hesitation.
Good boys.
Smart boys.
“It’s not a derogatory phrase. Don’t say it like that,” Kira groans. “Although, I do have questions. What do humans taste like? I’ve never been brave enough to eat one, not even in my dragon form. Do they taste like pork? Or beef? I bet they taste like pork.”
Amrose’s slick hand comes up lazily to wipe the mass amount of blood from her lips. Not that it helps much, but it’s a kind effort. Her head rolls back and forth, working the muscles there before the blood against her frame starts to mat together strangely. It thickens. It pools along her body. It dries instantly.
Flesh forms.
And then, the beautiful woman I met before stares back at me with her gorgeous shining eyes.
“It tastes like human,” she says sweetly. It’s a tone that doesn’t match the vicious thing she was moments before.
Kira frowns. “That doesn’t quite narrow it down, though, does it? I read an article, and it said humans taste like pork. But we aren’t wholly human, are we? I wonder if supernaturals taste differently. Like, Rue, what does blood taste like? I’m sure for Em and Sia it tastes like pennies. But for a vampire? It’s a fucking aphrodisiac. I always imagine blood to taste like chocolate or a nice, rich wine. Ooh, now I’m craving wine. And chocolate. Gods, I’m so hungry. Is anyone else hungry? Not for flesh, I mean, though I could ‘dragon out’ and eat somebody, too, I guess. I like medium rare steak as much as the next person, but medium rare pork flavor? No, thanks. Speaking of, I think we should totally have a cookout when this is done. How fun would that be?”
“Kira!” I interrupt.
“Yeah?” She’s bouncing up and down on her toes, and I think the high of the fight got to her. Her eyes are glowing in the darkness.
“Breathe.”
She nods and sucks in heavy breaths, one after another.
I roll my eyes and turn back to Amrose.
“Are we ready, then?” she asks carelessly, motioning with a delicate hand to the jagged crevice in the ground.
“Ye—yeah,” Sia stutters. He actually stutters. It’s fucking adorable.
I can’t help but smirk.
It’s the briefest moment of happiness, and I cling to it. It’ll be the last I have here in this hell-hole of a place.
Because we’re leaving.
Right now.
