They’re not that fast—not like wendigos. Their main objective is to bite us anywhere they can. Ghouls are usually recently dead, but don’t mistake them for zombies. Necromancers pick bodies that haven’t fully decomposed yet, because they need specific brain elements in place. Embalming practices on humans in the recent century make that much easier. The necromancer operates them like robots, seeing through their eyes. But, Jessica, like I said before, if you’re bitten, and their essence enters your bloodstream, you don’t become a ghoul—you become a wendigo. Death to the living.
His intensity stilled me. He was more worried than I’d ever heard him, even when we were in the Underworld. I understand. We can’t get bit.
He snarled his agreement, pacing forward slowly, edging to the left of the trees.
I followed cautiously. Do you think Enid is a powerful enough Hag to be a necromancer? Or did she hire this out? I asked.
My guess is she found someone in this area to do her bidding. My understanding is a necromancer has to be close to her creations. Distance plays a factor.
We reached another grove of trees, this one spread out in front of us. There was no choice but to go through. Rourke began to pace into them quietly, not making a sound. I followed closely—as close as I could get without jumping on his back. My wolf scented the area as we went. She’d already pushed much of our magic out as a shield to help protect us. I had no idea if it would keep the ghouls off us or not, but it did make me feel better. Rourke led us through the trees. They became denser as we went.
I heard rustling to our right.
Rourke began to trot. We veered away from the noise as quickly as we could, but I wasn’t fooling myself. We weren’t going to make it through this without incident. After a few moments, the forest fell away in front of us. We stood at the edge of a massive cemetery. The grounds were hilly, like soft rolling waves, full of shiny marble grave markers reflecting in the dusky twilight as far as we could see.
See all the mounds of freshly dug-up dirt? Rourke indicated with his tawny head.
I saw them. They didn’t look like someone had uncovered them nicely with a shovel. Instead it looked like a scene out of Night of the Living Dead. These ghouls had clawed their way out of the earth with their own bony fingers. I see quite a few, I said. That seems like a lot of recently dead bodies for one cemetery.
For a cemetery this size, it’s about right. We must be on the outskirts of a big city.
So, do we go around the edges or are we heading through? I glanced out into the expanse, trying to sense any movement. Nothing caught my eye, but the scent of decay was everywhere.
Let’s stick to the perimeter for now. That way we can either duck into the trees for cover or take off through the cemetery if the threat comes from the woods.
Sounds good to me.
He took off, moving at a brisk pace. Within a few moments, there was rustling in the trees to our left. Rourke roared his anger as he spotted them, but the two ghouls kept on coming, heedless of the scary big cat. One appeared to be an older man, his gray hair hanging limply in a few places. The other was a young girl, maybe ten years old, her long brown hair still mostly intact.
They came at us with surprising speed, but we were faster.
Go! Rourke yelled.
We took off at a run. It was more dangerous to run, because the smells were everywhere and we couldn’t tell precisely where they were coming from, not to mention it was harder to locate all the sounds.
Look out! I shouted. Three more ghouls emerged from the trees fifty yards in front of us.
I see them, he said. Time to veer back into the woods.
Do you think that’s safer than running through the open cemetery? At least we can see what’s coming at us from a distance if we go in the open.
Rourke growled, clearly not liking either scenario. In the forest we might have a chance to hide from them, but out here we were exposed. I followed his lead as we raced back into the woods. Rourke went wide, arcing away from the cemetery grounds, plunging deeper into the dense tree growth.
There was rustling up ahead.
Then, all of a sudden, it sounded like it was coming from everywhere. We’re surrounded, Rourke roared in my mind. Turn back the way we came!
We both slid to a precarious stop. As I backed up a few steps, wondering what to do, something reached out toward me and grabbed hold. Something has me! I yelled.
Don’t let its mouth get near you. Rourke turned like lightning toward me.
I snarled and snapped my jaws, dancing to the side. The ghoul wouldn’t let go. Its bony, awful fingers were intertwined in my fur. It was going to bite as soon as it could.
Rourke charged it from the side and sent it flying. It took tufts of my fur with it.
By the time we were done with that one, five more had closed in on us.
Good gods, I cried. Enid knew we would be right here in this spot! We can’t win against someone who knows our every move before we do. I didn’t even hear that ghoul behind the tree until it was on me.
She’s not going to win, Rourke snarled, his anger tearing through the woods. We’re just going to have to keep changing up what we do. I see an opening, straight and to the right. We’re taking it. Now!
He herded me forward, nudging my flank, trying to make me run faster. We broke through the small opening between two ghouls, dodging them, and ran.
Turn west, Rourke said. Even though that’s technically heading back the way we just came. We’re out of options. We weaved our way west for only a few yards before there were more sounds everywhere.
I’m voting for sprinting full-out, I said. Maybe we can move too fast for them to bite us.
It only takes one small nip, Rourke said. And just like you said, if Enid knows where we’re already headed, going blindly makes it riskier. If we go at a speed we can scent and track them, it gives us better odds.
I couldn’t really argue because it was two sides of the same coin. Quick or not, we were still in a shitstorm of trouble. I had to remind myself these weren’t mindless zombies. These were calculating horrors operated by a powerful supernatural. Whoever was pulling the strings was a master.
Rourke, I said. I think we need to really change our tactics, like out-of-the-box change.
How?
If we don’t do the opposite of our gut response, like Jeb said, we will never survive this. We need to stop making rational choices. I think it will only take one big change to throw us off the path we’re on that Enid can see. If that crumbles, she will lose her advantage.
That’s easier said than done, he said. In fact, I don’t think my mind works that way. My beast won’t allow me to lower my guard like that.
I’ll take the lead, then, I said. We have to be unpredictable, and my wolf is on board. I’ll let her take the reins first. How we were going to achieve this was anyone’s guess, but it was worth a shot. He growled, but moved to the side so I could take the lead. Clear our brain the best you can, I told my wolf. This was going to be easier for her to do than it ever would be for me. Think of nothing until the moment we do it. She barked, assuring me she had it. If we can do this successfully, we have a chance.
There was movement all around us. I took off at a trot, thinking about the last good book I read to take my mind off what we were doing to help my wolf. It seemed like eons ago when I actually had time to do something other than fight the next supe in line or battle through a ghoul-infested forest.
Rourke snuffed at me from behind, voicing his trepidation, but went along with the plan, staying close to me.
What was the last good book you read? I asked him as my wolf began to zigzag, based only on smell.
What? His response couldn’t have been more incredulous.
Just play along. Instead, what’s your all-time favorite book? You know, when you used to have spare time? My wolf was doing a good job of dodging the threats, but there were so many. I didn’t know how long it would take to throw Enid off—if it was e
ven possible. You had to have read a book sometime in your life before you met me and our lives were turned upside down.
Jessica, I haven’t read a book in too long to remember. Watch out for those two! he yelled. Two ghouls, one a female about seventy and one thirtysomething male, came at us from behind a huge pine tree. The male was moving faster. Maybe age had something to do with it?
I see them. My wolf smoothly dodged them but picked up the pace immediately. And I’m not letting you off the hook about your lack of reading. We’re going to fix that in the future. But since we’re talking about it, my favorite of all time is Lord of the Rings. After the movies came out, I read them all one after another. So good.
He huffed at me. This is not the time for this discussion.
It’s the perfect time for this discussion—because we shouldn’t be having it! My wolf wove us in and out of trees, while I kept my mind on good books. Each time I heard a rustling, we shifted our movements and then shifted again. She had great reflexes.
Rourke followed me with no issue, but he was on high alert and couldn’t shut it off. I just hoped Enid had been tracking my movements and not ours together. Jessica, you’re moving toward the cemetery, Rourke said. I don’t think that’s a good idea.
My wolf is in control, I said. The sounds are coming more infrequently now. I think it might be working. If Enid doesn’t know we’re heading there, the cemetery can be safe, because all the ghouls are in the woods.
Nothing is safe, Rourke grumbled, veering with me out into the open.
I switched my mind to my favorite TV shows as we sped past several tombstones. I was feeling quite confident that maybe we’d thrown Enid off.
Not a second later, low moans came from a hill to our right. My head snapped to it in alarm.
Run! Rourke shouted, shoving into me from the behind. As fast as you can. Now!
The horror scorched into my mind like a blistering brand as I watched them come at us like loping zombies over the grassy knolls.
Wendigos.
24
Keep to the open spaces! Rourke yelled as we dodged and leapt over gravestones. The wendigos were running hard. They were very different from the ghouls. These guys were alive. We can’t fight off both ghouls and wendigos. We’re going to have to do something drastic.
Like what? I asked, glancing behind me. We’d gotten in front of them. I spotted only two, but that didn’t mean there weren’t more.
I don’t know yet. When I think of it, I’ll tell you.
We continued to run. And the wendigos continued to gain. They were clearly supernatural now, with the essence of the necromancer inside them. I took a peek over my shoulder. They looked disheveled, their faces smudged with dirt and their clothes ratty. I think they were cemetery workers. One guy looks like he could be a grave digger. Do they even have those anymore?
They’ve been turned recently, Rourke agreed.
Rourke turned and followed a path over another hill. At the top we caught sight of the other edge of the cemetery. It was at least a hundred yards away. Rourke, we have to make a decision. They’re gaining on us. I’m not sure we’ll make the other side, and when we do, there’s a wall of ghouls to contend with. A line of ghouls was emerging from out of the woods on the far end. They weren’t moving very fast and were likely just going to sit and wait for us to be dumb enough to try and get through them.
We have to fight the wendigos. They’re the biggest threat, Rourke said. We keep running until they’re almost on us, then we turn and attack. Use your claws and slash right through their necks. It’s risky, but we have no other choice. But whatever happens, don’t let them bite you!
That was easier said than done, especially if that’s what Enid thought we’d do. I promised Tyler I’d get in touch with him if things went south, I panted as we continued running. This is pretty far south. Ray can be here in a matter of minutes and Tyler will follow quickly. If Ray shows up, we can use him as a distraction, and because he can fly, maybe he’ll be safer?
Go ahead and sound the alarm, and then I want you to get ready to fight.
Tyler! I called. We’re in trouble! Not only ghouls, but we’re also being chased by wendigos. Get here as soon as you can.
We’re on it, my brother answered immediately. We guessed it would get bad. We have your scent. Ray will be there soon.
Tyler, you have to be very cautious. You can’t risk getting bit. Contact me before you hit the area and I’ll give you the plan.
Got it.
I tuned him out and focused on our situation. Then I had a thought. Rourke, my gut is we have to make change happen in a big way right now. If we don’t, we’re going to become wendigos.
We just tried that and it didn’t work! he answered.
No, we were still moving forward in the same way, just putting our minds on something else. I’m talking about doing something completely unexpected.
Like what? I could tell by his tone he was leery of my plan already.
I don’t know, but it has to be out of character—something shocking. I leapt over a tall grave marker and spotted something in the distance. It gave me an idea. This way. I careened to the right, not giving him a choice. Rourke followed, staying close to my flank.
Where are we going? He nudged closer.
I saw some mausoleums. Two, side by side. We’re going to jump on top of them and hide.
Jessica, they will see us do that. Even if we aren’t doing something predictable, like hiding, they can follow us by sight.
Not if we can reach the buildings before the wendigos see us, and the key word was “hide.”
I still don’t get it.
Follow me and find out, I said as I made a sharp turn. I raced downhill over the terrain, thanking my lucky stars these mausoleums were over the next hill. I’d just gotten a glimpse of their roofs at the right time. If we ran fast enough, we could get there before the wendigos rounded the incline behind us, giving us a few precious seconds where the hill would obstruct their line of sight.
This is crazy. These guys are gaining on us and they can jump just as high as we can.
I huffed. I’m trying to do something unexpected, and having you not on board is actually perfect. Just follow me and try to stop overthinking it. I just need to make sure they can’t see us for a few seconds. Look behind us and watch. Let me know when we duck out of their line of vision. I raced toward our goal. Once we rounded the top of the next hill, I could see the mausoleums clearly. They each had flat roofs and large columns and a small peak in front, which would give us something we could crouch behind.
Okay, we have about four seconds before they come over the top of the last hill, Rourke called.
Perfect. I sprinted the last few yards and leapt, stretching my body as far as I could, landing on the roof of the closest building. The mausoleums were at least fifteen feet high. Rourke made a move to follow me but I yelled, Jump on top of the other one!
Rourke swerved at the last minute and did as I asked but was snorting his dislike as he went.
Now duck down, I said. Flatten yourself out so you’re smaller.
He did it as best he could and then turned his big tawny head toward me. Jessica, this is the craziest thing you’ve ever had us do so far.
No, it’s the most brilliant, and you want to know why?
If cats could look sarcastic, he was achieving it. I can’t wait to find out. Why?
Because it feels wrong.
He stayed down, but his ears were pinned back and he snarled, What do you mean it feels wrong? That’s not what I want to hear right now.
No, wrong in a good way. We’re hiding from the threat. It wouldn’t normally be something we would do. A few minutes ago you wanted us to fight them, and I agreed with you. I poked my head up and looked, careful not to make a sound. The wendigos were barreling over the hill in front of us but were not aiming for the mausoleums.
Even if the wendigos pass us by, they’ll figure it out soon enough and turn aroun
d, Rourke said. They won’t give up the hunt.
Probably, but I don’t think it will matter. By jumping up here to hide, the die has been cast, I said. All we needed to do was to change the game enough—to make the future a little more unpredictable. If we achieved that, we survive. If not, we become horrible flesh-eating supernaturals.
I’m not sure it’s going to work like you hope—
There was a whooshing noise and Ray landed on the mausoleum next to me. “What the hell are you two knuckleheads doing up here?” he bellowed. “Don’t you know you’re under attack by a horde of shitty, awful-looking zombies?”
I huffed at him, my ears down, showing him my displeasure. I couldn’t talk to Ray internally, so there was no real way to tell him to leave besides swiping at him with my paw and trying to knock him off the roof. I raised my front leg to give it a try.
“Hold on,” he said. “Don’t get your undies in a bunch. We can fight these things. They don’t look that tough.”
I glanced over at Rourke. Do you see the wendigos? They must have heard Ray’s yelling. Tyler must not have stressed to Ray how dangerous this was. Ray was too new and cocky to know better.
I snarled.
“You don’t have to thank me yet, Hannon,” Ray said. “We’re not outta the woods by a long shot. Those two ran past, down the—”
The wendigos howled as they changed their direction. I poked my head up. They were running at top speed toward us. The reason Rourke hadn’t answered me was because he’d readied himself for a fight, crouching low. The wendigos made good time, and when the first one sprang toward me, I was ready. But before I could do anything, Ray intercepted it in midair and tossed it effortlessly to the ground.
It bounced and rolled a few feet and then was up again, snarling, pus and drool running down its chin. I howled as the next one flew at Rourke. With his huge paw, Rourke batted it away, tearing open its middle. The wendigo tumbled through the air and landed with a loud thunk on the ground.
They were both back in business within a minute.
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