Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Vhaena
DAMN BIRDS
Perhaps it was the delusion that came with the lack of water, but my first instinct was to assume that the black raven flying toward me through the trees was Neo. Though I knew it couldn’t be. I saw and heard his neck snap when the demons came for me at my mother’s house.
I wondered if he had been trying to protect me…
The raven perched on a limb above me. Its head twitched, looking around until it tilted to the side, staring down at me. I stared right back for a few moments, trying to shake off the eerie feeling of familiarity.
Neo and I had had a strange relationship.
While he was annoying at times—especially at the beginning when he first showed up—I had grown attached to him.
He had become a comfort in my life, and his presence was something I could always rely on.
He offered a distraction when I was having a bad day, shifting focus from my crippling thoughts.
But this bird did just the opposite.
Seeing the raven, thinking of Neo, brought to the surface everything I had forced myself not to think about.
Vosten.
He had given his life protecting me and Ma without even knowing what was happening. Or maybe he did. Maybe he knew the moment the demons showed up.
The scene played in my head over and over. Neo lying motionless on the porch. The hammer in Vosten’s head. Ma’s screams. The pure terror that overwhelmed me as I was taken.
A tear slipped down my cheek as I finally acknowledged the gaping hole in my heart. I wiped it away angrily. If it weren’t for these fucking demons, none of this would have happened. Pa never would have been killed. Vosten would still be alive. I wouldn’t be here. And Ma wouldn’t be alone.
“Hells, you really have no chance here.”
I startled at the voice and whipped around, pulling out my spoon to ready myself for attack. But when I saw the woman resting against a tree with her arms crossed, I let my hand fall to my side.
“Amalia,” I breathed with relief. “What are you doing here? I would have thought you’d be farther inland by now.”
“I was, but I backtracked to lose a couple of demons last night. The last place they’ll expect to find me is right back where I started,” she said confidently.
“Oh.”
There was an awkward silence between us for a moment.
“So,” I began, “why aren’t you still running?”
“Because I’m not being actively chased right now. No demons are around, so why risk running right into one? Besides, I saw you and the other woman, and I got curious how you two were managing. I’m surprised you’re still alive, with her slowing you down and all.”
I shrugged my shoulders, not really knowing how to respond to that. “Well, we are.”
“We’ll see how long that lasts.”
“And we’ll see how long you last. How’s sleeping going knowing that there’s no one here to look out for you?
” Her jaw ticked, and I knew I had hit a nerve.
“You might be able to go a day or two without sleeping, but you can’t go much longer than that before it starts to fuck you up.
How well can you survive when you are so weary you can barely function? ”
Her fists clenched at her sides, but she didn’t argue. Her eyes softened just a bit, and I could tell that I was making sense to her.
“Look,” I sighed. “You can work with us. Together, we can all evade the demons. We’ll all take turns sleeping, and you can help us out, too. Right now, we’re trying to find water.”
She pursed her lips, and I could see her contemplating. But then her eyes turned cold once again.
“Thanks for the offer, but no. You won’t make it to the eighth dawn. Just pay attention to your surroundings. You completely zoned out, and I was able to sneak up on you.”
“Wait. You’re giving me advice?” After that whole speech from her on the ship, I was shocked.
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I want you or anyone else dead.
But I’ve seen just how many women died on the first night, and it was a lot more than I expected.
I need at least a few of you to survive longer so the demons can be occupied by others while I evade them.
If you’re all dead too soon, they’ll all be hunting me by the end of it. ”
“You’re kind of a bitch, you know that?” I scoffed.
The side of her mouth lifted. “I may be a bitch, but if that’s what I have to be in order to live, then so be it.”
I bit my tongue. There was so much I wanted to say, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to change her mindset, and I didn’t really care to try anyway. Inka and I could make it together.
“Northwest,” she said, after a moment.
“Huh?”
“There’s water northwest from here that you two can go to.
There’s a closer stream to the east, but it’s the one most of the women have found and are sticking close to, but they’re just going to attract the demons there.
The one northwest will be less monitored, and it’s surrounded by rocky terrain, so you’ll be able to hide easier.
I don’t recommend sticking near any water source for long, though.
That’s where they’ll be watching because they know we can’t go long without it. ”
Amalia turned away but stopped after only a step.
“Oh, and I’d watch out for that friend of yours. Survival births selfish creatures who are willing to sacrifice anyone to keep breathing. She won’t hesitate to trade your life for hers. You should be willing to do the same.” Then she ran off, disappearing into the trees.
At least she was helpful. But I hated that it was only to ultimately benefit her. Not that I only wanted to prove her wrong by surviving, but if I could make it out of here, I’d slap her with my spoon.
A squawk grabbed my attention, and I glanced up to the raven and narrowed my eyes. “What are you looking at?”
I threw my shoulders back and took a deep breath, gathering up any strength I could muster. I had to survive this. I had to get back to my mother. She had lost her husband and now her son. I refused to allow her to lose her daughter. Or herself.
Spinning on my heel, I made my way back to Inka, no longer paying attention to the raven.
I hadn’t gone far, so it only took me a minute.
She had come around the other side of the tree and was waiting.
She smiled as I approached, and I was about to tell her about my encounter with Amalia, but before I could return the smile, I froze. I felt the blood drain from my face.
From behind a distant tree, a demon emerged.
Hooded and masked—this one had two yellow slashes across the mouth—I could see him looking directly at me.
Even from here, I could feel the hunger burning in his eyes, leaving my skin cold and clammy.
He tilted his head as if curious as to why I hadn’t run yet. Then he stalked forward.
My eyes widened before I glanced back at Inka. Her smile had fallen as she watched me, unaware of what was approaching from behind her.
“Demon,” I mouthed without a sound.
I subtly flicked my wrist, drawing her attention to my hand, and patted the air to tell her to stay down. I hoped she understood. It was all I could do to warn her without giving her away.
The demon’s steps were measured and deliberate, like a cat toying with a half-dead mouse before it pounced. Twigs snapped beneath his feet, the sounds like thunder booming in my ears. The forest fell silent, seeming to hold its breath as even the wind stopped.
Run, Vhaena.
I willed my feet to move, but it was as if I were in a trance, crippled by fear. Inka shifted slightly, and it was enough to bring me back to myself. Then, I turned and ran.