Page 35 of Outcast

It smelled of rotten food and garbage with a hint of smoke. I couldn’t quite see over the buildings, but I guessed somewhere else in the city smoke was rising into the air.

The farther we walked down the sidewalk, the worse it got. As we rounded the corner near what locals called downtown, I could finally see the fire, and hear the first sounds of life.

Smoke, thick and black, hung over this area like a cloud. From the hint of burning rubber in the air, we likely found where all the tires had gone.

Cries of anger and anguish hit our ears and I gripped the spear in my hand as if it could stave off what was coming.

“We all have our weapons, right?” I questioned. We didn’t know who or what was coming for us, but if the demons were now influencing humans, it wouldn’t be easy. I had no doubt the demons would feel us coming and react accordingly. To them, I wasn’t their leader, I was an impostor, and that would make me a target.

If not for Crew and what he meant to my best friend, we wouldn’t even bother with going farther into the city. My job was in Dark Haven and the portal making all this possible.

There was also a morbid curiosity. I wanted to know how far the demons had gone and see firsthand what the humans are experiencing.

Even worse, they were still following Hel’s last orders. She offered them this freedom to gain her own and she knew exactly how they’d react. The gods would swoop in and clean up this mess. They couldn’t remain complacent. I doubted she had much faith in me closing it alone.

At least Odin was giving me a semblance of a chance.

She hadn’t anticipated how strongly he’d react to her betrayal. It wasn’t just a small lie or something unnoticed. This was widespread fear, destruction, and death. All on her.

In reality, Odin was likely humoring me. I may rule over the realm and have an insane amount of power, but I was not like the other gods and rulers. Even in the afterlife I was an outcast, something that didn’t quite belong. For the first time in my existence, I embraced it. There was a balance to the world and maybe this was my contribution and the reason the realm could heal.

Only time would tell.

The closer we reached the source of the fire, the more unsettling it became. Jeers and taunting screams were made from raspy demon voices but there were humans mixed in. A fury that wasn’t just my own, but Helheim’s as well, filled me at the realization. They’d openly defied their orders to not harm humans and were quickly ensuring the downfall of the human race.

Monty had been right. The demons that remained in Helheim were nothing like the demons who’d escaped. They’ve gone feral here, lost their sense of reason and intelligence. Now they thrived on easy thrills and base needs.

“Let’s get a better view from above,” Hiro hissed as he walked to the firestation. He wound around the building until he found a roof-access ladder. It was chained off for safety, but Drake didn’t hesitate to pull it free, muscles flexing as he tore it apart.

My heart hammered in my chest as I climbed the rungs. The cold metal did nothing to ground me. I knew whatever we saw below would be burned into my memory forever.

“Keep low,” Drake warned as he crouched down to an almost crawl as he neared the edge of the building.

Of course Monty didn’t bother.

In the town center, what used to be a memorial gazebo was now a large fire pit. They’d lined it with tires and there were doors, jagged wood planks, and furniture poking out of it as more demons threw new fodder into the flame.

“They could be burning worse things,” Monty noted dryly.

“I expected it to be bodies if we’re being honest,” I agreed. All of our faces were marred with angry expressions as we watched them move below, spotting humans following their lead like mindless zombies.

“There’s Crew,” Drake hissed. I followed his pointed finger to the steps of the former town hall. The entire top was gone, stone walls crumbling around it, and our former friend standing front and center with two demons by his side. They were merely observing but it was clear they were the ones in charge. And Crew was their human puppet.

Crew looked like a character from a post-apocalyptic movie. White war paint was in sigils over his dark skin. His hair was covered by a bandanna and strips of cloth held his tattered clothing together.

“Why give up Dark Haven for this?” I said to the others. I couldn’t wrap my head around him leaving Layne for this life. It was survival and nothing more out here. And he was at the center of the exact beings he hated. He’d never been quiet about his feelings on the demons and supernatural. Hell, he refused to believe the truth until he couldn’t deny it any longer. And even then, he was ready to leave. Though he had nowhere to go and no one to look out for him.

Had he sought a sense of family in the demons? But how could he justify the death and destruction here?

His face was screwed up in a deep scowl and his eyes, even from this far, appeared to be a deep red. If not for my sharpened senses, I might not have noticed.

“His eyes are red, and his features are almost grotesque,” I whispered. My chest clenched at the realization I might not be able to save him. How far was too far gone?

“He’s possessed,” Monty said. “They likely needed leaders among the humans as well and saw him as an easy target. It would have taken time and patience but if they’re locked on a goal, demons are relentless.”

“So how the fuck do we get him back?” I questioned as he yelled out an order and everyone on the ground congregated in front of him.

“That’s not in my expertise,” Monty admitted. “If the demons have broken his mind, it’s likely over for Crew.”

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