Page 112 of The Silent Mountain
Fuck!
Grabbing Elio’s hand, I tug him along and start running. “Alana?” he protests. “But you said we should be quiet and careful!”
“It’s too late for that!” I exclaim.
That’s what Ros was sensing!
Elio and I weren’t undetected here. I am not sure where to run to, but at this point, even swimming with the sea monsters sounds like a better option. “I will shift again,” Elio says. “I will try to carry us as far as I can!”
“That would be the third time today that you shift. Aren’t you exhausted?”
“It’s still our best bet,” he says.
“You have a point.”
We make it out of the building, stumbling into the freezing cold air. Instead of smelling like fresh sea air, it reeks of mold and decomposition. “What’s that?” Elio gags.
I push him behind me, while staring into the darkness of the night. There, hidden by the night, I can make out several people. They look like the ones we spotted down in that hall. They are eerily quiet, just circling us. “Why do they all look the same?” Elio whispers.
“I have no idea,” I mutter. He is right. There is no distinctiveness about them, as if they aren’t individuals. They have the same height, the same body, the same clothes, and when they raise their heads, the same empty eyes look at me.
Cold sweat appears on my forehead, and my heart stutters. They have been waiting for us. They knew we were here. But for how long? Was it all just a game? Elio’s fingers cling to my arm as I try to keep my feelings in check. I can’t show him how terrified I am.
More and more birds fly over us, settling down on the trees and rocks around us. I don’t know what’s creepier: the group of silent people circling us or the birds with the dead eyes. What is even going on here?
We seem to be at a stalemate here. None of us moving, none of us daring to even breathe. I feel like this would be truly something my brother Flinn would be good at. He is a great chess player. I am not. I have no poker face, nor am I a great strategist. I am just a good fighter, but I have a handicap now, and I don’t know how to work around it yet.
While I am still struggling with my thoughts, desperately trying to find a strategy that will work for Elio and me, a weird chanting sound fills the area, sending another chill down my spine. It’s cold outside already, but the feeling this sound elicits makes me feel even colder.
Fight or run? Should we fight or run?!
We can’t run, can we?I ask Ros.
No chance, there is literally nowhere to run to. Prepare yourself for a fight.
I grab my spear tighter, noticing how Elio tenses up too. He must have seen the change in my posture. For a moment, nothing happens, then a low rumble goes through the crowd, and without further warning, they all start moving at once.
“Let’s buy some time,” I call towards Elio. “Fend them off, until I can come up with a plan to get us away from here!”
“I could shift and fly us away!”
“With the birds chasing us?”
“Shit,” Elio mutters.
I will be forever thankful that Favian made sure Elio joined the warrior training. He is so much better already, and at least can defend himself. Due to my own predicament, I am not at full power. Fuck, I am not used to fighting one-handed! That’s a skill I have never learned. Everything I did was always with both hands available.
When more and more men come pouring out of the building as if they wanted to flood us, Elio pushes me to the side. “We have no choice,” he mutters, not giving me a chance to argue before shifting to his dragon form. As if they smell blood, the birds suddenly begin flocking to him, attacking him from all sides. He is giving it his all–Favian would be so proud if he could see him. But it’s obvious he is struggling with exhaustion. I try to support him as well as I can, wielding my spear and trying to knock any attacker away who comes too close.
To my horror, Elio suddenly succumbs, his strength leaving him and forcing him to shift back. Having shifted several times today has taken a toll on his body, leaving him lying on the ground, motionless, while more and more of the men and birds start gathering around him. Soon, I can’t see anything of him anymore.
Ros,I say.We need to do it!
Yes, let me take over.
I take a step back and allow Ros to take the reins, feeling the familiar feeling of my bones elongating and changing. It hurt when I did it the first time, but now it's second nature to me. Ros’ left paw is missing, the equivalent of my hand. When she wants to attack, she stumbles, falling over.
Don’t overthink it,I say.You have hurt one of your legs before. It’s… it’s the same, right?
