by Amy Cross
“Are you not drinking those?” Izzy asked as she got closer. “You look dressed up to go out, Annabel. Maybe you shouldn't open the cans before you take them to the party.”
Annabel's lips moved slightly, and she whispered something indistinct as she opened yet another soda can.
“This isn't creepy,” Rita muttered, glancing over her shoulder and seeing that Violet was already approaching from behind. “This isn't creepy at all.”
“What did you say just then?” Izzy asked, now just a few feet from Annabel. “Hey, Annabel, can you look at me for a moment? Is something wrong?”
Having opened yet another can, Annabel set it down and then took another from the machine. She whispered something again, but her voice was still too low.
“I didn't catch that,” Izzy told her.
Annabel paused for a moment, still staring at the can.
“What I said was...” She paused, her voice sounding frail and weak. “Have you ever noticed what these things sound like?”
“What do you mean?” Izzy asked.
“They sound like someone's neck being broken,” Annabel continued. She lifted one end of the ring-tab, causing a hissing sound as gas began to leak from the can, and then slowly, almost as if she was enjoying the process, she crunched the tab open, causing the metal to let out a series of grinding, clicking noises. “Don't you think so?” she whispered with a smile.
“Um...” Izzy glanced at Rita, who shrugged. “I don't know, I -”
“They do,” Annabel told her matter-of-factly, setting the can down and then taking another from the machine. She pulled the ring-tab, causing it to hiss. “That's the last, dying gasp,” she added, before very, very slowly opening the can all the way, “and that's all the little neck bones breaking inside.”
Izzy stared at her, not quite knowing how to respond, before turning as she heard Violet approaching from behind.
“Have you noticed something?” Rita asked, with a trace of fear in her voice. “When I said Violet had good posture, I think I was onto something. She hasn't turned her head once she we bumped into her. She always turns her whole body.”
“She does?” Izzy whispered.
“I do?” Violet asked, watching Izzy intently for a moment. “You're right. I suppose I do.”
With that, she turned just her head so she could look at Rita. As she did so, there was a faint but distinct grinding sound from her neck, as if all the broken bones were clicking and crunching together.
“That's a little uncomfortable,” she said calmly.
Hearing a hissing sound, Izzy and Rita both turned to see Annabel opening yet another soda can.
“Hiss,” Annabel said after a moment, before finishing open the tab. “Crunch.” And then she, too, turned to Izzy and Rita, and her neck crunched just like Violet's.
“And now,” Violet muttered, stepping closer, “you really need to come with us to the party. I promise it'll be fun.”
“Higher ground,” Rita whispered.
Izzy turned to her. “What?”
“She's blocking the exit. Higher ground, fast!”
With that, Rita grabbed Izzy's arm and half pulled, half dragged her up a stationary escalator until they reached the next floor of the mall. All around, shuttered storefronts stood in darkness as Rita turned and looked back at the top of the escalator.
A moment later, Violet could be heard calmly following them up. Further off, Annabel was still opening cans of soda.
“This isn't really happening,” Izzy stammered, trying not to panic. “What happened? Are we dreaming?”
“It's like they've been...” Rita paused as they both listened to Annabel making her way up the escalator. “It's almost as if something's taken control of their bodies. Shame about the snapped necks, I'm guessing that won't iron out later.”
“Come to the party,” Violet said firmly, with her eyes fixed on Izzy as she reached the top of the escalator. “It's in the forest. You're invited and we've been sent to show you the way. He's waiting for you.”
“I have to get home,” Izzy replied, turning to Rita. “My father will know what to do. He has to. He probably knows exactly what these things are!”
“First we need to find a way out of here,” Rita pointed out. “To be honest, all the options I know about are on the ground floor.” She and Izzy took a step back as Violet edged closer. “Remember what I said about not minding things that are scary, so long as they're interesting? I think maybe I've finally found something that challenges that viewpoint. I'd quite like to be bored right now.”
“Something's coming,” Izzy said suddenly, turning and looking the other way.
“No kidding,” Rita muttered.
“Something else,” Izzy continued, feeling a strange buzzing sensation in her chest. “Something... I don't know, bigger. More powerful.”
“Come to the party,” Violet said again, stepping toward Izzy. “You've always wanted to be cool, haven't you? So come to the party. Why wouldn't you? He's been waiting so long.”
“Maybe you should stay back,” Rita replied, unhooking a knife from her belt and holding it out. “No offense, but you're being just a little -”
Before she could finish, an unseen force twisted the knife from her hand, almost cracking her wrist in the process. The knife clattered against a nearby storefront before spinning across the floor and sliding under a bench.
“Come to the party,” Violet continued. “Izzy, it'll be fun, I promise. It's in the forest -”
“You've already said that,” Izzy pointed out.
“He's waiting.”
“You've said that too,” Izzy replied, “but who are you talking about? Who's waiting?”
“He's been calling to you for a while now, Izzy. He's missed you.”
“Missed me?” She took a step closer. “Who -”
“This way!” Rita stammered, grabbing her hand and pulling her past some of the nearby stores. When they reached the next turning, they both glanced back and saw that Violet was following, albeit slowly.
“I need to find out what she meant!” Izzy hissed.
“There'll be time for that later.”
“But who's controlling her?”
“No idea,” Rita replied, “but whoever it is, they don't seem to be very good at it. Look at her legs.”
As Violet continued to step toward them, it became clear that her left leg was trailing a little, as if it was damaged.
“That's good,” Rita continued. “It'll slow her down while we find a way out.”
Hearing a bumping sound nearby, Izzy turned and listened to a series of loud metallic thuds on another stationary escalators. A moment later, she saw Annabel running into view at full speed and racing toward them.
“It might slow Violet down,” Izzy stammered, “but what about -”
Before she could finish, Annabel let out a high-pitched scream and lunged at her throat.
Chapter Thirty-Six
“This is gonna hurt!” Rita gasped, a fraction of a second before she slammed face-first into a support column and slumped down to the ground.
Briefly winded, she rolled onto her side as she felt a crackle of pain in her ribs.
“That definitely hurt,” she tried to say, but the pain was too much and instead she simply let out a low gasp.
Hearing a sudden scream, she turned and saw Annabel lunging at Izzy again. Having managed to clamber behind one of the metal benches, Izzy was momentarily protected as Annabel launched a furious attack, throwing herself repeatedly at the metal frame as if she expected to somehow break through. With each impact, Annabel could be heard cracking more or her own bones, but nothing seemed to slow her as her frenzied assault continued.
“She's insane!” Izzy yelled, trying to crawl free, only for Annabel to scurry around on all fours and attack from the other end.
“Come to the party!” Annabel screamed, frantically trying to pull the bench aside as Izzy cowered in the corner. “It's in the forest!”
<
br /> “We already know that,” Rita said with a sigh, wincing as she got to her feet. Spotting a fire extinguisher on a nearby wall, she ripped it away and then limped up behind Annabel, who seemed completely preoccupied by Izzy. Raising the extinguisher, Rita took aim for a moment and then brought it crashing down against the back of Annabel's head.
“Watch out!” Izzy shouted.
Before Rita could react, Annabel turned and pushed the extinguisher aside, sending it clattering to the ground. She quickly grabbed Rita's shoulder and shoved her into the wall.
“Wait!” Izzy yelled, scampering out from behind the bench and rushing to help Rita, only to be yanked back.
Grabbing Izzy's throat, Annabel shoved her against the wall and began to squeeze tight, as if she was trying to crush her neck. Izzy reached up and began to pull Annabel's hand away, but the grip was too firm.
“Come to the party,” Annabel said firmly, giggling slightly. “It's in the forest and it'll be -”
Suddenly Rita slammed the base of the fire extinguisher against Annabel's arm, cracking it at the elbow. She quickly struck again and again, each time crunching the arm a little more until finally Annabel let out a frustrated gasp and let go of Izzy's neck. She swung at Rita, trying to punch her, but the broken arm simply swung wildly. A moment later, she was slammed into the railing as Rita hit her from behind.
“Run!” Rita yelled at Izzy, as the slow-moving Violet limped closer. “I'll be right behind you!”
Frozen to the spot, Izzy watched as Annabel began to push Rita over the railing's edge.
“Come to the party,” Violet said calmly, edging toward her. “Why wouldn't you? It'll be fun.”
“This bitch is strong!” Rita hissed, as Annabel shoved her up onto the edge of the railing and prepared to push her over. “Even with only one goddamn arm!”
“Something's coming,” Izzy whispered, still feeling a sense of growing anticipation her chest. She looked around, convinced that she'd see something approaching, but there was no sign of anyone else. She could feel, it though. Some kind of immense force was rushing toward the shopping mall.
“Izzy's coming to the party with us,” Annabel sneered at Rita, using her remaining good arm to push her further over the railing, “but you're not invited.”
“That's cool,” Rita gasped, struggling to fight back. “I only go to parties I'm not invited to. They tend to have higher standards.”
Twisting around, she tried to get free of Annabel's grip, only to get shoved further over the edge. Feeling her weight shifting and starting to tip her past the railing, Rita grabbed Annabel's shoulders and tried to haul herself back up. As her hands brushed against Annabel's neck, she felt broken bones beneath the skin, and she heard a faint grinding sound. Scrambling desperately, she pulled herself up a little further, fighting back as Annabel tried to push her the other way. Finally, grabbing the railing, she managed to pull herself to safety, while at the same time Annabel slipped and tumbled over the edge. Rita turned and tried to grab her, only for Annabel to fall away and tumble down until she slammed into the atrium floor far below.
“No!” Rita shouted, her eyes wide with shock, but she already knew she was too late.
Several meters below, Annabel was flat on her back. Her head had tilted to one side and one of her legs was bent under her body, and a puddle of blood was slowly spreading across the floor.
“Come to the party,” Annabel gasped, her voice still sounding calm, albeit a little tight. The puddle of blood was growing rapidly. “Why not, Izzy? It's in the forest and it'll be fun. Come to the party.”
Rita stared at her for a moment, horrified as she watched Annabel trying but persistently failing to stand on shattered legs.
“Come to the party. Come on. It'll be fun.”
“Come to the party,” she heard Violet saying suddenly, over her shoulder. “It'll be fun.”
“Rita!” Izzy screamed.
“Where's Annabel?” Izzy gasped, as she slipping away from the slow-moving Violet and hurried to join Rita.
“Um... She went a little... overboard...”
“Don't you feel something in the air?” Izzy asked, looking around and still expecting to see someone else. “It's like my skin's itching. Something's coming!”
“I'd say something's already here,” Rita replied, watching as Violet limped ever closer.
“Something else,” Izzy muttered. “Something -”
Suddenly they both turned as they heard a loud bumping sound in the distance. Violet turned too, and the broken bones in her neck scratched together in the process.
“We really, really need to get out of here,” Rita pointed out.
“There!” Izzy shouted, as she spotted a figure making its way up the stationary escalator. She stared for a moment, before realizing with a sense of horror that she'd seen the figure before.
“What the hell is that thing?” Rita asked, her eyes filled with shock as she saw a dark-cloaked figure with a featureless face. Squinting, she realized that the face was covered in a series of small scratches, like constantly-shifting words written in an impenetrable language.
“It's from the road,” Izzy told her, as the Sentinel made its way closer. “It's some kind of -”
“You have no place here!” Violet screamed, turning to the Sentinel. “Get back! You're not allowed to be -”
Before she could say another word, the Sentinel grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her closer. She continued to scream, but the Sentinel simply grabbed her jaw and ripped it away from her face. Tossing the jawbone aside as Violet spluttered and sprayed blood, the Sentinel took hold of her flapping tongue and pulled hard, tearing it from her throat and the immediately pulling on her brain-steam, as if it was trying to disconnect some kind of machine.
“This is gross,” Rita stammered, her eyes wide with shock. “I can't look away!”
Violet was still shuddering and rasping, as if she was trying to speak, as the Sentinel tore her face open to reveal the upper part of skull, which he then proceeded to pull out. Once the skull had crashed down to the floor, the Sentinel tore open Violet's chest and snapped her ribs, finally reaching her frantically-pumping heart and ripping this, too, from her body. Reaching up with her hands, Violet ran her fingertips against the top of her spinal column, which was poking out from the meaty mess. Blood quickly covered her red-painted nails, and she continued to examine the damage for a moment longer, as if she was trying to determine whether there was anything to salvage.
Finally, as if she'd given up, she let her arms fall to her sides and then the Sentinel let go, leaving her to collapse in a heap. Her hand reached out and touched her own skull, and then she fell still.
“Target disassembled,” the Sentinel said calmly, turning to Izzy and Rita. “No other targets detected.”
“I've never fainted before in my life,” Rita whispered, staring in shock at the bloodied mess all over the floor. “Oh well. Here goes nothing.”
With that, her knees gave way and she passed out, landing next to Izzy's feet.
“You're not safe here,” the Sentinel told Izzy as it got closer. “You must return to your family home immediately.”
“Yeah,” Izzy replied, her face drained of all color. “No kidding.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Where have you been?” John called out, hurrying down the stairs as Izzy carried a still-unconscious Rita through the front door. “What are you doing with that -”
Stopping suddenly, he watched in horror as the Sentinel followed. Too tall to quite fit through the doorway, the Sentinel had to duck down slightly, and the carved lettering on its otherwise blank face shifted slightly, displaying a new set of figures.
“Isobel,” John said cautiously, reaching out to take her hand, “come over here! Quickly!”
“It's okay, Dad,” she told him. “He's with me.”
“Isobel, you don't understand! That thing -”
“He saved us,” she replied, looking down at R
ita's face. “We were attacked in the mall, and he came and helped us out. I still don't really understand what it is, but...” She turned and looked at the Sentinel. “He saved us.”
The Sentinel's face glowed briefly, with just a hint of life from within.
“Isobel, that is a weapon of war,” John hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the doorway. “It might seem friendly right now, but it's designed to follow orders and if it did help you, then that was purely a coincidence. It's only aim right now is to contain the...”
His voice trailed off for a moment as he realized how difficult it would be to explain the situation.
“Well, he helped us,” Izzy said firmly, “so in my books, he's not a bad guy.” She slipped past her father, heading toward the stairs. “I have to put Rita on my bed. She'll probably wake up soon.”
“I need to talk to you!” John called after her.
“You needed to talk to me several years ago,” she replied, glancing back at him. “You can't suddenly play the urgency card now!”
“You don't understand -”
“Thanks to you,” she pointed out, with a trace of bitterness in her voice. “We can talk later, Dad. We've waited this long, we can wait a few more hours. Rita and I were attacked by two girls in the mall, but something was very wrong with them. It was like they'd been possessed or something. I'm sure the Sentinel can fill you in on the rest. Right now, I have to take care of my friend.”
Left standing at the bottom of the stairs, John watched as Izzy made her way up, and then he turned and looked toward the Sentinel.
“You shouldn't be here,” he told the creature. “This is my home! You have no business in my goddamn home!”
Reaching the top of the stairs, Izzy carried Rita toward her bedroom door, only for O'Malley to step out of the shadows.
“What's that thing doing down there?” he asked, watching the Sentinel down below.
“It saved us.”
“From what?”