Page 176 of Starside

Screaming. So much screaming.

We sprint as fast as we can, and I try to pull more people into the light, but one by one, they’re dragged away. We all need to get to higher ground. At least there, we wouldn’t have to worry about being taken from below.

Daphne has the same thought. “The cliffs!” she yells.

Then, her hand is ripped from mine. An immortal has grabbed it, in an attempt to be saved from attack. I stop and turn, lifting my sword.

Blood spatters onto my face as Daphne is torn in half by teeth sharp as knives.

“No!”

Roaring fills my ears. Fills the forest.

I stumble back, screaming, into a strong body.

Raker.

He’s fighting them off, one by one. A demon emerges a few feet away, outside the crown of light, and Raker’s sword gleams as it cuts the beast in two. But there are too many.

They’re everywhere.

Hundreds of them. As if they’ve been called.

And the demons might not be able to pierce our light … but the immortals can. Bloody and desperate, a woman who served me food lunges for me, reaching for my throat, trying to rip the necklace off.

My back hits the ground. My head cracks against a root.

The immortal is clawing at me, reaching for the orbs.

“I can—I can help you!” I say, knowing there’s room for a couple more people. Wondering if I can break the necklace so more can use its light. Trying to keep her from choking me.

But it’s like she doesn’t hear me or doesn’t care. And there are far too many to even fit anyway. I hear the rest of them rushing forward, toward the bright glow.

The woman’s sharp nails scratch my check, and blood streams down my face. “Please stop,” I say, not wanting to hurt her.

She doesn’t. She reaches again, and I push her away, until her legs are out of the light.

And she’s immediately pulled into the ground. A blood-curdling scream pours from her mouth, and she manages to grip a root, keeping herself outside. I can’t just sit and watch. I lunge forward, trying to drag her out, but strong arms band around my middle, pulling me into the air. My legs thrash as I’m lifted away. Raker. He unceremoniously throws me over his shoulder.

“Let me go!” I say, watching from over his back as the woman disappears beneath the dirt in a spurt of blood.

Raker doesn’t. He’s running toward the cliff face.

“Climb,” he snarls, turning me in the air and hurling me against the rock with brutal force. Ears ringing, head pulsing, I grip on to the stone and climb all the way to the closest ledge, a sheet of jutting stone with just enough room to stand, planning on helping the rest up. On showing them the way. But when I turn around to help, Raker is there, pinning me to the cliff.

Screams pierce the night.

“We need—we need to help them,” I say, shaking beneath the cold of his armor.

Raker is silent.

“They’ll die!” I say, raising my voice so he can hear me through the yells for help.

He doesn’t move a muscle.

“Fine. Stay. I’m going.” I try to push against him, but he doesn’t budge. He’s as firm as the stone behind me. He’s pressing me against the rock face, his body shielding mine, not for protection … but to cage me. I can’t move without him moving first.

Their voices become more desperate. Their begging. My mind goes back to a time when I was helpless. Those screams are like knives through me.