Page 41 of The Prince of Demons

Focus,I reminded myself. Just take some photos. Don’t get discovered. Maintain a distance to avoid detection. Get my one clear photo and scramble home. Avoid Reaper noticing my presence. Fulfill Flora’s bargain for now.

What did the police force see that was so horrible they all quit? The group boasted strong alumni. They’d never backed down from a challenge before.

Screw this annoying deal. I could only handle one catastrophe at a time.

Rain poured from the sky. It had been cloudy this morning, but the clouds irked me with their torrent as I ran. The thump-thump-thump of my feet on the ground matched the splatter of rain against dorm rooftops.

When I reached the woods, the trees had deviated from their usual location. The arched sign had been ripped in two jagged ends cutting off right after BEWARE.

I kept hustling. This time, the flickering lighting above the tree canopy hurt my eyes. Rain bounced off my eyelids, and lightning flashed over my vision. My run slowed to a walk. The near—darkness consumed me, and muscle memory alone guided me to where I found the last body.

My foot caught, and I catapulted, hard, onto the wet ground. I pushed myself off, wiping the mud off my hands. Gross. But… hot. Wait, hot?

Lighting struck, illuminating my hands.

Blood-red.

I gasped, shaking my hands like it would get rid of the steaming fluid. My whole body was wet and dripping, but from what now? Rain, mud, or flesh? What did I run into?

I pulled out my phone light.

Gore lined the walkway. Flesh, blood, and unidentified bits of bone lined the forest floor. Little skin-colored pieces of fur littered the ground, covered by puddles of steaming blood.

Wolf.

Shaking, I wrapped my arms around myself. I covered my mouth with my hand, only to gag at the smell. The foul, coppery taste.

Mangled trees surrounded me. I hadn’t noticed before, but the roots had been upended from the earth. Branches were down, trunks slanted like some terrible beast had gone through here.

That miserable scent—decay—struck, forcing my steps back.

This was a mistake. I had to get out of here. Flight kicked in, and my leg instinctively moved back. But before it did, I closed my eyes and swiped up, then pressed down on my camera. The camera clicked. I couldn’t look.

Voices sounded from the side. I staggered into the nearest bush—was this the same one? Didn’t matter. My head was down. I needed to get out; I needed to go home; I needed to go—

“Stay still,”Gaksi ordered.“Danger is near. Help isn’t.”

I wished I could tease him. But I couldn’t.

You’re a scholar,mother always said.You should always study first, and save fighting for when you have real skills.

I should have listened.

How much time had passed? The tree canopy obstructed the moon. I refused to pull out my phone again. The light might alert the hellion to pursue me.

Home, I thought. I should go home. Quietly.

CRACK! The sound of breaking glass came from behind me. Woods didn’t have glass, but dorms did. Never mind. That escape route was out.

The trees grew and shrank, branches popping and breathing in and out. What was happening?

The wailing got louder.

I blinked. Breathed. And begged myself to stay quiet as shrill screams lit up the night.

* * *

“Save this,”Gaksi commanded. Time had passed, but I didn’t know how much. Gaksi had popped in and out of my head, alternating between finding my escape route and soothing me. Something pushed into my hand. A rectangular metal piece brightened as soon as my fingers brushed it. The lock screen flared.

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