They were halfway through the tables when the hair on the back of Cassie’s neck stood on end and a shiver of terror wracked her. She froze, her gaze scanned rapidly over the darkened tables and benches. Julian turned back as he stopped in front of her. “Cassie!” Julian hissed.
“There’s something here,” she whispered back.
He stepped closer to her, his eyes flashing briefly red as he scanned the room. “Where?”
She shook her head, turning helplessly back to him. She couldn’t see any threat in the room, but she knew that it was there, stalking them. She could feel it amongst the shadows, lurking, waiting to pounce upon them. Dani was impatiently waiting for them a few feet away. Cassie shook her head slowly, trying to rid herself of the feeling but unable to shake it.
And then, she knew.
Ever so slowly, she tilted her head back. Her heart hammered in trepidation, her mouth instantly went dry. A gasp of shock escaped her when she spotted the thing amongst the beams; its red eyes gleamed down at her as it watched them in hungry fascination. Julian seized hold of her arm, shoving her out of the way as the thing launched itself from the beams with an eager growl.
Cassie’s hip slammed into the corner of a table, the chairs skidded away from it as pain exploded through her. Julian seized hold of the creature’s throat as it landed upon him. Flipping the monster over his head, he threw it easily away from him. It flew a good ten feet through the air before crashing into one of the tables. It offered a soft grunt as it bounced off of the table before disappearing into the darkness again. Julian turned toward the creature as it scurried into the shadows. It darted swiftly through the benches and tables with an inhuman agility that stole Cassie’s breath from her and left her shaken and horrified.
Dani moved closer to them, huddling by Cassie’s side as they all followed the creature’s fervent movement through the dark. A bench was knocked aside, and then it seemed to disappear once more. Julian took a step closer to her, blocking her with his large frame. “Stay close!” he commanded.
A table to their left skidded slightly backward causing Cassie to jump in surprise. Dani’s shoulder brushed against her side. Cassie fought the urge to push her away, but Dani was the only reason they had even made it this far. No matter how cruel Dani had been to them, Cassie could not bring herself to be so vindictive to the frightened girl.
A shadow reared up out of the night as it launched itself at them. A scream caught in Cassie’s throat as it snagged hold of Dani’s arm, an eager hiss escaped it. Dani screamed loudly, throwing her hands up in a useless attempt to dislodge the creature. Cassie grabbed hold of Dani’s arm, trying to pull her away as the thing clawed at her arm, tearing her sweatshirt to shreds. Strange noises escaped from it, its misshapen teeth snapped as it tried to latch onto Dani’s neck.
Julian lurched toward them, moving swiftly in a rushing blur, but Cassie was even quicker. Reacting on instinct alone, she drove her fist into the things cheek, snapping its head to the side. With the thing knocked momentarily off balance, Cassie was able to rip Dani away, shoving her aside as she lurched at the thing.
Cassie relished in the anger that boiled swiftly forward, the powerful surge that came flowing with it. Leaping over the table, she caught hold of the things leg before it scurried into the darkness again. It howled in rage, rounding on her in anger and bloodlust. For a moment it seemed to hesitate, its eyes widened as it caught sight of her. Cassie paused, confusion swirling through her. Devon had said that these things had no reasonable thought, no fear, no survival instinct but this thing seemed rational for a brief moment of time.
Then it was coming at her, moving with inhuman speed as it lashed out with vicious looking claws. Cassie dodged the blow, her nostrils flaring with anger at the attack. She jerked the monstrosity back, ripping it toward her by the ankle. It howled with rage, clawing at the floor for purchase as it tried to get away from her.
“Cassie!” Julian shouted.
She felt him at her shoulder milliseconds before she lashed out, driving her fist into the things chest. Bone crunched beneath her hand, driving deeper in as flesh and bone gave out completely. The thing screamed in pain, its hands shoved fiercely at her as it tried to dislodge her.
Julian jumped over top of the creature, clearing the thing in one single leap. Landing behind it, he seized hold of its head, ripping it to the side in a violent, jerking motion. The loud sound of bone shattering echoed throughout the room. The thing squealed, staggering back, its head twisted disgustingly to the side on its broken neck.
Julian’s eyes were bright red as they met hers, his nostrils flared harshly. “Turn away!” he snarled at her. Cassie blinked in surprise, but she was unable to move. “Cassie turn around!” he commanded harshly.
She started slightly, seeming to come out of a haze as she turned away, stumbling slightly as she fought the desperate urge to flee this place and never look back. Lingering remnants of adrenaline and revulsion coursed through her. For a moment, for one horrifying moment, she had truly enjoyed fighting the creature, had truly enjoyed destroying it. And now, well now for the first time since she had been placed in this awful place, she was finally feeling the real her bubbling beneath the surface again. And she was disgusted and terrified by it.
Dani grasped hold of her arms, pulling her forward as the thing began to squeal again. Cassie winced, hugging herself against the pain that she heard in those inhuman squeals of pain and terror. A sickening crunch and a squishing noise finally silenced the pathetic creature.
Cassie shuddered, Dani’s hands on her tightened. “Are you ok?”
Cassie glanced up as Julian appeared at her side, his reddened eyes narrowed with worry as he surveyed the wounds marring Cassie and Dani’s arms. Cassie gazed down at the scratches on her arms, hardly noticing the trickle of blood that seeped from them. She healed fast; the scratches would not remain upon her skin for long. Julian pulled Cassie gently away from Dani, his eyes narrowed fiercely upon Dani for a moment. Tenderly turning her arms, he lightly fingered the jagged wounds.
“I’m fine,” she said softly.
His eyes were still red upon hers, but there was a softening in his features as he studied her intently. “You’re in control?”
She frowned at him. “Of course I am,” she retorted.
His hands cupped her face gently, lifting it toward him, he peered at her intently. “Your eyes are red.”
Cassie started, her mouth parted on a gasp. Instinctively, she jerked away from him as she backed up a couple of steps. She needed to flee; she needed to get far away before she hurt one of them. “What!?”