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Gods, there was no getting through to her.
He stared down at her, his jaw clenched, as he made his decision. With one easy movement, he grabbed her by the waist and hurled her over his shoulder.
“Put me down!” Elyse demanded, though she kept her voice low. Her fists collided with his back repeatedly, but thanks to the magic of the blood oath, her punches were no more than light pats.
Her legs flailed as she tried to kick him, but Killian kept walking toward the gate.
“Put. Me. Down!” she insisted. “I swear, if you don’t—”
She stopped abruptly, her whole body going rigid. At the same time, the hair on the back of Killian’s neck stood on end. The entire forest went gravely still, wickedness devouring it.
He knew he should run. He knew he should take off without looking behind him. But he couldn’t fight it as he slowly turned, his eyes searching the path.
At first, he saw nothing but a forest enshrouded in darkness. He held his breath, icy shivers whispering through his body.
Then he noticed a shadow that was slightly darker than the surrounding landscape. As he focused his vision, the shadow started to take shape. The silhouette was humanoid, but far too tall. Its head was smooth and bald, flanked by two pointed ears. Its fingers were long and thin. They twitched unnaturally.
Killian froze in place. This was the walker.
The creature began to sink as if it were melting. The ground darkened into an inky black puddle as the creature descended. It was like a nightmare seeping into the forest floor. The shadow deepened into an unnatural, sickly shade of ebony. It coursed with a haunting power before it surged forward at a harrowing speed.
It was coming for them.
“Run,” Elyse breathed in his ear.
Killian didn’t need to be told twice. He turned back toward the gate and began to sprint, still carrying Elyse over his shoulder. They were only a short distance away, maybe fifty yards at most.
“It’s coming!” Elyse cried.
Killian didn’t look behind him, but he could feel the creature bearing down on them. The air grew colder as his heart pounded in his chest.
“We’re not going to make it,” Elyse shouted, utter panic in her voice.
Killian felt spindly fingers wrap around his ankle and pull. He crashed forward, landing atop Elyse as her knife flew from her hand. It landed several feet away, just out of reach.
Killian immediately spun to his back, but what he saw made him freeze. The creature was sprawled on the ground, half sunk into the shadows. This close up, he could make out its mangled face, its nose nothing more than two slits. The falaya’s sharp teeth gnashed as it reached for Killian with its grotesque fingers.
Elyse’s boot smashed into the creature’s face, and it let out a howl that tore Killian from his trance. He struggled to his feet, pulling Elyse up along with him.
“Run!” she screamed again.
But Killian didn’t run. Instead, he reached for the knife at his belt.
“What are you doing?” Elyse’s voice was frantic.
The creature was taking shape before them, its body towering high.
“We can’t outrun it,” Killian panted. “We have to attack.” He lunged at the walker, swiping his knife and following with a punch, but the creature dodged the attacks with fluid, unnatural movements.
“Fuck.” Elyse scrambled for her knife, apparently resigned to agree with Killian.
The walker pounced, and Killian rolled away. Elyse charged, her attacks nearly as swift as the creature’s as she thrust her knife. Before she could do any damage, the walker faded into the shadow of a tree.
“Move!” Killian commanded, grabbing Elyse’s wrist and dragging her toward the fence.
They both sent panicked glances over their shoulders, waiting for the walker to appear. Killian had never known such terror as he pushed Elyse ahead of him, urging her to safety.
They were only twenty yards out when the walker attacked again, flying in front of them as a shadowy phantom. Killian and Elyse both toppled over it, their knees crashing into the hard dirt. Killian spun quickly, his knife ready.
