Page 27 of Cursebreaker

I take Will by the hand, dragging him along behind me. I can feel him pull right, toward the pool of blood and the lion, standing over its kill, facing down the immobilized soldiers. But I squeeze his hand tighter and follow Gabriel toward the railcar.

Gabriel reaches the train first. He throws out his hand, and the heavy metal door slides open with ease.

Margaret leaps inside, taking Jack by the hand and pulling him up into the railcar. Henry follows, then Gabriel. My heart throbs painfully in my throat as I hurtle toward the train. I know I’ll have to let go of Will’s hand if I’m to climb up, but he’s still pulling me, harder now. A sharp pain tears my shoulder, and I worry he may rip my arm off.

Let go. I hear a voice, familiar, but I can’t seem to place it. You have to let him go!

Will’s fingers slip from mine as I throw myself at the open railcar.

Henry and Jack grab me by my arms, pulling me inside, and as I turn to see if Will has followed, I spot him a few feet from the open door, facing the bloody carcass, his back to us.

I can’t tell if the low, menacing growl comes from Will or the lion.

“Will!” Jack whispers as he crouches at the entrance, his hand outstretched.

Will stands perfectly still, his spine straight.

“Get in here!” Jack raises his voice, just enough to be heard over the growling. “Quickly, before they see us!”

I jump down from the railcar just as Gabriel reaches for me.

“Will,” I whisper, taking a slow, cautious step toward him, my hands straying to my daggers. “You can fight this. Look at me.”

His teeth click. He cocks his head.

I touch his shoulder.

He jolts, as if electrified. But when he whirls to face me, his eyes are green.

Not gold. Not red. Just green.

And then he’s pulling me up behind him, into the railcar—into his arms.

Will clutches me tightly, his body trembling, as Gabriel closes the metal door, sealing us in darkness.

“I’m sorry,” Will whispers frantically, his voice strained with the sobs that rack his body. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry—I—”

His words catch. He coughs, his grip on me tightening once before going slack.

Will collapses.

Inside, a dull thud as his body drops to the floor of the railcar.

Outside, a muffled pop as the soldiers seem to regain control of their bodies. We listen to their muffled shouts, followed by gunfire.

“It’s getting away!”

“Good riddance!”

We wait as they approach the railcar, their voices drawing near. I feel Henry crouch beside me, checking Will’s pulse. He squeezes my thigh once, as if to say, He’s all right. But for how long? And if they discover us and Will is unconscious…

“Poor bloke,” comes the voice of a soldier just on the other side of the door.

“I’ll send for someone to deal with the body,” says the other. He bangs his fist on the railcar. “But we’d better get going. We’re already running behind schedule.”

Beside me, Gabriel unsheathes his swords halfway, positioning himself at the door.

Tick. Tick. Tick. In the silence of the railcar, I can hear the timepiece of my compass steadily marching forward.