EMILIO
Emilio felt like a fraud. He’d volunteered to go on this expedition to save innocent souls, to do the right thing for once in his life. Even if he was scared. Even if the voices in the back of his head were screaming at him to run, to retreat to his self-preserving ways. So how on earth could he justify leaving Masika behind?
“Are youinsane?!” Olivier strode up to Catherine, frantic. “Do you know what they’re going to do to her?”
They’d been arguing for the better half of an hour. Catherine and Dina believed that going back to Blackwood would be pointless, and the better course of action would be to head back to the Resistance’s base and regroup. The mere suggestion had sent Olivier into a tailspin, and they hadn’t stopped arguing since. Emilio understood Olivier’s anger…he couldn’t stomach the thought of leaving Masika behind. But he also knew, deep down, that the others were right. If they were to have any chance of breaking into Blackwood and getting Masika back, they needed backup.
Catherine’s jaw clenched. Her voice was low, barely audible. “Of course I do.”
“They’re going to torture her.” Olivier’s hands trembled. “They’re going to rip her apart. And you want us to simplyletthem?”
“Our main priority needs to be the mission,” Catherine said simply, though Emilio could see the anguish in her eyes. As if speaking the words out loud physically pained her. “We have to go back to the base and strategize.”
“Then send them a message!” Olivier bellowed, hands tossed in the air.
Catherine pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes shut tight. For a moment, she stood like that, seemingly lost in thought, and then she dropped her hand and met Olivier’s prodding gaze.
“Let’s say you’re right. Let’s say sheisbeing held prisoner. But if that’s true, then what good will it do if we waltz up to Blackwood right now? With no army? We need to go back and get the others. Form aplan.”
“There’s no time for a plan!” Olivier snapped. “Think of what they’re doing to her!”
“I am!” Catherine shoved Olivier hard in the chest. He stumbled backward, a momentary flash of surprise passing over his face. “I am thinking about it. Every fucking second since they took her. You don’t think I want her back? That I’m not dying on the inside, thinking about the fact that I’ve failed her—again?”
“Guys.” Dina’s voice echoed behind them, but Emilio ignored her, his attention focused solely on Olivier and Catherine.
“Then why don’t you do something about it?!” Olivier shot back incredulously.
“Iam.” Catherine’s voice shook with anger. “I’m trying to strategize, instead of barreling in there with no plan!”
Again, Dina’s voice echoed, this time more urgent.
“Guys.”
Olivier groaned, turning to face her.
“What—” But Dina raised her hand, silencing him. She pointedinto the distance, movements slow, index finger pressed tightly to her lips. It took Emilio a few seconds to realize why.
Standing a few yards in front of them, hovering right at the center of their path, was a shadow creature. The same kind that had attacked them in Blackwood all those weeks ago. It was smaller, though that did little to quell the terror building inside Emilio. Long, feathered wings sprouted from its shadowy form, needle-like claws jutting out from its crooked fingers. But though they stood only a few yards away from the creature, it didn’t move. In fact, it gave no indication that it saw them.
Dina slowly reached down her thighs, unsheathing two of her daggers. Her movements were steady and measured as she drew the blades, careful not to accidentally brush the handle against her scabbard.
“Cat…” she whispered, voice shaking. “Any ideas?”
Catherine shook her head, though the rest of her body remained frozen, perfectly still.
“I’m working on it.”
The creature remained fixed in its place.Is it staring at us?Emilio wondered. It was nearly impossible to discern whether the creature had a face—they saw nothing but a complex web of undulating shadows.
“Maybe it can’t see us,” whispered Olivier with a hopeful shrug. “Maybe if we move slowly we can—” But Olivier never finished his sentence, the words dying in his throat as the creature turned suddenly to face them.
There was a second of silence.
And then the creaturepounced.
Emilio’s reaction was instinctual. He gripped Olivier’s hand and began to run.
The others jumped into action as well, sprinting away from the creature, though Emilio couldn’t quite tell if they were close behind or if they’d run in the opposite direction. It didn’t matter. Not when he could hear the creature shrieking and roaring behind him. Not when he couldfeelthe creature’s presence like a tightening cord around his throat. There was no telling how close it was. If it was mere seconds from catching up, swiping its razor-edged talons across his back.
