Page 138 of Walking in Darkness
When the gift I’d been given became a weapon.
I could feel it smoldering inside me then. Rising up from deep within. A whisper that echoed through my spirit to fight.
Dani wavered for a moment before she seemed to come to a resolution; then she inhaled a shaky breath as she unzipped her bag and pulled out a bow. Her words were hollow as she muttered, “Well, I guess it’s a good thing my parents made me do some kind of sport in high school and I picked archery. Never thought I would use it for this.”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” I told her.
She stood, a new ferocity taking over her expression. “Yes, Aria, I do. I owe it to the people we have always fought to protect. Now that fight just looks a little different.”
She tossed the strap over her shoulder, then pulled out a quiver filled with metal-tipped hunting arrows. Her movements were quick and concise and proficient as she prepared her weapon.
Timothy did the same, pulling out a crossbow and a large knife that was sleeved, one that had a sling that hung around his waist.
Then he dug back into the bag and pulled out more, passing one to each of us.
I quickly strapped mine on.
Pax was quick to work through the guns, his actions focused and succinct as he loaded them. Then he stood, tossing two rifles onto his back and handing another to Timothy. He’d already given him instructions on how to use it on the long drive here.
“You sure you have it?” Pax asked.
“Yeah, man, I’ve got it—at least, the best that I can.” Timothy slung the rifle onto his opposite shoulder; then Pax turned to the Laven we’d first seen who’d stuck close to us as we crossed the field.
“What’s your name?” Pax asked him.
“Keith.”
“You know how to shoot, Keith?”
“I’ve gone hunting once or twice.”
“Good.” Pax shoved a handgun into his chest, then packed up the rest of our things, voice clipped as he issued instructions. “Everyone, stick close. Right up to Aria’s side. Our job is to protect her at all costs. She’s the one who holds the power to end Ambrose. She has to get to him.”
Grunts of understanding went up, and Pax gestured with his chin out toward the mayhem. “Let’s do this.”
He set his boot on a low rung of barbed wire, pushing it all the way to the ground and lifting the one above it to create a larger opening. Timothy ducked through, then stretched out his hand to help Dani; then Keith slipped under.
Pax’s gaze met mine. One moment shared.
Together.
I ducked under, feeling the stir of energy curl around me as I eased over to the other side. Pax was right there, following close behind.
Then we stepped out into the madness.
Chapter Forty-Three
Pax
We hustled out into the bedlam that had taken control of the small town, keeping low as we weaved through the cars and trucks that had been left in the middle of the road, headlights still on and engines still running.
Doors had been left open where the slew of degenerate humans had crawled out to bend to the will of the wicked.
We slunk for the cover of the convenience store on the other side, the sky fucking alive and boiling with death above us.
A fissure ran straight through the middle of it.
From within, Kruen peered down, colossal, rising from vapor and amassing in their monstrous forms.
