Page 71 of Wolf Trap

We took cover.

Well, actually we just crouched, but it is what it is.

The whole floor shook, built on metal frames and screams flooded the corridor that we were in.

The explosion was deafening, bits of bodies, metal, sprayed everywhere. We hunkered over the prisoners, trying to protect them from the blast. Splattered in guts and blood, I turned around, trying to force my mind not to think about it. Trying not to gag, not to shake. I wanted to run and hide. But I knew everyone felt the same. I also knew that if I, if we didn’t fight, these shifters, demons, the centaur would be tortured. I told myself that I didn’t have the luxury of being scared. I needed to embrace the fear.

Pressing my lips together to stop a nervous laugh, I thought, me? Lean into fear? As my body quivered, I forced myself onwards. Tensing, I saw the souls of the dead clinging to the walls, hanging from the ceiling but I said nothing. No need to add to everyone’s horror.

And I would never have thought that knowing I had more grenades in my pocket would make me feel so relieved.

Gasping, Hakon shouted, “Which way?”

Now Conor pulled himself up, standing protectively in front of his shifters. “Either. We think both can lead to the surface. A gun, anyone have a spare?”

I nodded. “Here, take this. Shout for more ammunition!”

Grinning, he added, “You’ve changed, Elsa! Werewolves will do that to you!”

“Not really. I’m as scared as the rest of you. But I’m more afraid of all of us not making it out alive.”

He grunted. “Come on, we’ll have to pick our way through the piles of corpses and I doubt Adara are just going to let us walk out of here!”

I chuntered under my breath. Adara. What a crock of shite. I’d never let hate get under my soul, but now?

Lycaon and I led, with Hakon and Anthony in the middle, and Austin and Conor at the rear. The prisoners, or victims, were between us.

Austin handed the Spear of Destiny to one of the angels, which I thought was fitting. As the divine man wrapped his fingers around the shaft, it glowed as ancient runes revealed themselves through the wood. A shimmer of light flooded from the spear into his hand, illuminating his cherub-like face. Just for an instant.

“Keep an eye above!” I called.

We moved as quickly as we could. No doubt some Godforsaken monster or trap lay ahead, but it seemed explosives were a good cure all. I longed for sugar, for a shower, for safety but my nerves were shot. Trying not to flinch as railings dropped, broken from the explosion and crashed far below, I tried to step up my pace.

Another corridor, another door. Up we go!

Lycaon shot the lock, then kicked it open, crouching, poised with his finger on the trigger. The first thing we saw, windows letting in lights from outside was a massive relief, Austin had said to send the angels a sign.

20

ARE WE THE MONSTERS?

No one was waiting for us. Wasting no time, we scanned for doors, but it seemed we were in a large corridor.

Using the end of his gun, Lycaon smashed the glass of a window and before I could blink, he had leapt through it.

Leaning back through the window, he looked around then drawing back, he shouted, “Hurry, Austin, get out here, let the angels know!”

Scrambling through the window, Austin was outside.

Worry tugged at my heart. We’d never get the centaur through the window. The look on the creature’s face, all hope lost. I locked eyes with Anthony. “Oh shit, we need a door!”

“No, we don’t.” Putting his head through the window, Anthony called, “Get back!”

Anthony placed the Hand of Glory beneath the window. An archway formed, burning through the walls. As the hole formed, Anthony’s veins turned dark green just for a moment. Wobbling slightly he stood away and beckoned to Conor, who replied, looking at the remaining shifters and angels. “Hurry, come, Hilias!”

The centaur nodded, the relief visible in his eyes. I wouldn’t have left him behind. Thank God for the gross, withered hand.

In minutes, everyone was outside. A few perimeter lights flickered, their cold white light dim under the vast inky sky. It was too quiet. I knew it, we all felt it.

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