by Valerie Puri
She went back to sharpening arrows. “Coward,” she mumbled.
Jennie shifted uncomfortably. She wasn’t sure how she could help this situation, so she changed the subject.
“That’s a lot of arrows. Are they all for you?”
“No, they’re for everyone. There’s no time to make the amount we need with proper arrowheads.” She held the one in her hand up. “These will pierce a lemeron’s thin flesh just as well as a tipped arrow. It’ll kill one just as well, too.”
“Good thinking, Tulsi,” Ethan said approvingly.
Jennie’s heart stopped when she heard something move across the ground below them. “What’s that? A deer?” She peered through the leaves, trying to spot a pair of antlers.
Tulsi leapt up, gathering the finished arrows. She put them in a wool-lined bucket to have them at the ready.
Low groaning swept through the air.
“That’s no deer.” Ethan pulled his dagger from its sheath. “I need to sound the horn.”
“Go Ethan! I’ll protect Jennie.” Tulsi snatched a training bow from the platform as Ethan took off across the nearest bridge.
Jennie’s hands shook, but not from fear. Something inside of her snapped. She didn’t want to need protecting anymore. She was sick of these monsters. They all needed to die. She was sick of being afraid of them and being helpless around them.
No more.
Never again.
She didn’t know how to shoot a bow, but she did see a pile of stones on the platform. She bent down, easing her hands under a large one.
It was heavier than it looked, but she heaved it up. Cold seeped through her sweater as she held the stone against her body.
Making her way to the edge of the platform, she watched the lemeron stagger closer.
“Jennie, don’t. Let me take care of it,” Tulsi whispered, aiming an arrow at the approaching threat.
“No,” she hissed. “This one’s mine.”
Tulsi nodded, lowering her bow.
Jennie flashed a quick smile before turning her attention back to the monster.
Crackling rose from the lemeron’s throat as it shambled forward. It was nearly beneath them.
Jennie hoisted the large stone over her head. She timed her throw carefully. Killing this beast on her first try was her only option.
Ethan sounded the horn from a few platforms away. But now the lemeron might see them and become aggressive. It would turn into a harder target. She had to kill it now.
She inhaled and thrust the stone to the ground with all her strength. It smashed into the lemeron’s head in a brown explosion. It happened so fast; the monster didn’t have time to croak before it fell, dead.
Her heart pounded. She actually killed her first lemeron. She would take control of her fear and use it to power through the fight with these walking horrors.
“You’re stronger than you look.” Tulsi gaped at her. “Grown men struggle with stones that large.”
Jennie chuckled. “I didn’t spend half my life throwing hay bales around for nothing.”
“I can see that. Maybe you can teach us a thing or two.”
She brushed the dirt from the stone off her hands. “Thanks. Maybe you can teach me to shoot a bow.”
“Any time, Jennie.”
Another horn sounded from a platform to their left. Then another echoed from further off.
Jennie bit her lip. “Are they just now responding to Ethan’s alarm?”
She heard a groan from the forest floor. Then another. Her breath caught in her throat.
“More are coming,” Tulsi readied her bow.
Jennie stood by the stone pile, ready to grab one when the time was right. She scanned the trees below, trying to spot any other lemerons. She hoped there would only be one or two stragglers.
Footsteps thundered over the bridge behind her.
“They’re coming,” Ethan panted. “There’s at least six more.”
Jennie’s stomach plummeted.
Through the trees, she saw them approaching. Their legs shuffled through the dead leaves on the ground. Crackling groans carried on the wind, sending a chill through her.
She glanced behind her at the pile of stones and hoped there were enough.
Tulsi groaned. “Ugh… not again.”
Forty-Three
Ethan
“We need to pick them off before they get too close.” Ethan loosed an arrow. It cracked against a tree trunk. “Damn it. I can’t get a clear shot from here.”
“The last thing we need is another pile of bodies for them to crawl up.” Tulsi released an arrow, striking one in the leg.
It paused, swinging its head from side to side, trying to understand what happened. Seeing nothing, it continued forward, unbothered by the shaft protruding from its thigh.
“Nice shot,” Jennie said.
“Not good enough, it’s still moving.” Tulsi nocked another arrow.
The lemerons staggered forward, weaving their way through the trees. Someone shot a crossbow bolt from a nearby platform. It sunk into the ground, falling short.
Ethan clenched his jaw. Footfalls landed heavily on the bridge behind them. He turned around, surprised to see Chester.
“Aren’t you supposed to be manning the south platform?” Ethan asked.
“Alice has it covered. I wanted to be here with you,” Chester’s eyes darted to Tulsi.
A smile flickered on her face before she narrowed her eyes sternly at him. “Are you trying to protect me or something?”
“Huh? No. Yes,” he shook his head. “Look, I want to make sure nothing happens to you like yesterday.”
She rolled her eyes and turned back towards the approaching threat. “Then hurry up and load your crossbow. You’re no good to anyone standing there like a tree stump.”
Tulsi let loose another arrow. It got tangled in some lower tree branches before it even got close to a lemeron.
She growled. “This is ridiculous. We can’t let them get close because we don’t want a repeat of yesterday, but we can’t get off a good shot yet. Some plan, Ethan.”
“Then we just have to wait. We can’t waste arrows,” he said.
Jennie hovered near the pile of stones. “Do you normally have problems like this when lemerons come through here?”
“No. We usually have one or two lemerons at a time.” Ethan gripped his bow and readied an arrow.
The lemerons continued their approach, leaves and twigs crunching under their feet. Their low groans got louder as they neared.
“This is too much. Are we going to have lemerons come through Arborville every day now?” Tulsi asked.
Ethan swallowed. “It’s a possibility as long as the hoard at the wall is there.”
He finally had a clear shot. Drawing back his bowstring, he took aim at one’s head and released. He hit it between the eyes, toppling it over lifelessly.
The lemeron with the arrow in its leg emerged from behind a tree. Chester shot it with his crossbow, finishing the job Tulsi started.
“Two down,” Jennie said.
Tulsi sent an arrow directly into one’s chest. “Make that three.”
The others from the next platform over fired off arrows, taking down one more.
Jennie picked up one of the bulky stones and approached the edge of the platform. One of the monsters with a crooked leg limped near. “This one’s mine,” she declared.
“Have at it.” Ethan gave her room to line up her throw.
As it stumbled closer, Jennie raised the stone and took aim. She grunted as she hurled it at the Lemeron, hitting it on the side of the face. The creature’s head snapped to the side, leaving its neck bent at an odd angle. It groaned, flailing its arms before falling down. It lay in the leaves, twitching.
“Well done.” Ethan released an arrow, sending it into the monster’s heart. It went limp, finally dead. “For good measure,” he winked.
The last lemeron screeched. It dashed through the trees, running ci
rcles around some, trying to locate its prey.
“Moving targets are always harder,” Tulsi said, keeping an arrow trained on it. Someone from the neighboring platform fired a crossbow, but the bolt missed. “You have to remember to lead your target.” She released the arrow. It sunk into the lemeron’s shoulder. It spun in a circle while Tulsi drew back again on her bow. “Sometimes you have to immobilize your mark before you can get a clean shot.” She let go of the bowstring. The arrow penetrated the center of the lemeron’s chest, killing it.
Tulsi lowered her weapon, facing Jennie. “Take that as your first lesson in archery. I’ll teach you how to properly grip a bow next time.”
Ethan raised his eyebrows. “Tulsi Amden, archery instructor? When did that happen?”
She shrugged. “Today. Jennie’s got promise, you know. She might look like a fresh sapling, but she has some serious muscles.”
Jennie blushed.
Chester peered over the platform, surveying the ground. “I count seven dead lemerons. Six from just now and one from earlier?”
“That’s right,” Tulsi said. “That first one was Jennie’s handiwork.”
“Wow,” Chester exclaimed. “There’s nothing recognizable left of its head. Wouldn’t want to piss you off.”
Tulsi narrowed her eyes. “She’s not the only one you don’t want to piss off.”
Chester scratched his head, messing up his already shaggy hair.
Ethan chuckled and leaned against the tree in the middle of the platform. “Now, we wait for the all-clear.”
Jennie came over beside him, and he took her hand. “I’m proud of you,” he said. “You took down two lemerons by yourself.”
“Only one. You helped finish off the other.”
“You still took it down.”
Two short blasts from the horn sounded through the trees.
Jennie tensed as she snapped her gaze to the forest. “Are there more coming?”
Tulsi put her bow away. “No. That’s the all-clear.”
Jennie’s shoulders relaxed as she let out a sigh. “I’m glad it’s over.”
“For now,” Tulsi brushed past Chester, giving him a sidelong look before leaving the platform.
He screwed up his face. “Why is she so mad at me? I thought she’d be happy I fought with her today.”
“She thinks you don’t care that lemerons almost killed her yesterday. She’ll only be happy if you help fight the hoard at the wall,” Ethan said.
“I do care that she almost died! But how can I abandon my post here? I have a responsibility to Arborville.”
“So do we all, but others are willing to fight with Jennie and her people. We’ll save Arborville by destroying the lemerons at the wall. Only then will attacks like yesterday and today stop.”
Chester fiddled with his crossbow, pretending to clean it with his sleeve. “I’ll think about it.”
Three short horn blasts echoed through the trees.
“What’s that one mean?” Jennie asked.
“Another community gathering. Come on.” Ethan took her by the hand and lead her across the bridge.
Forty-Four
Marlene
Marlene scanned the residents of Aborville collected on the platforms and bridges. Many met her eye, giving her a curt nod. These were her soldiers.
During the lemeron attack today, she helped Brenden stand guard on a northeast platform. She could see Jennie, Ethan, and his friends fighting off the lemerons in the distance. They had a better position than her for picking the monsters off one by one.
When Jennie heaved a stone up and crushed one of the creatures, it stunned Marlene. The girl had fight in her.
After the attack was over, Brenden pulled her aside. “We can’t continue to survive daily lemeron attacks.”
Marlene agreed. “Then, we move up the plan.”
“I’ll make the announcement,” he said.
Brenden brought her to the center of Arborville, where he blew the horn. When everyone gathered, he squared his shoulders and addressed his people.
“We suffered the worst lemeron attack in our known history yesterday. Today we had seven more of the beasts threaten our community.” He made a fist. “Enough is enough. We can’t survive daily lemeron attacks for long. It’s time we made our move to destroy the larger threat.” He glanced at Marlene. “We can’t afford to wait, we leave for the Commune tomorrow.”
Some nodded their heads in agreement.
A stocky man with disheveled hair, who Marlene recognized as Chester, spoke. “What about those who can’t fight, like Old Nan? Are we supposed to leave them here to fend for themselves?”
Chester, Chester. Always one to protest, aren’t you?
“Anyone who can fight needs to come with us. The rest take up residence in the caves.” Brenden pointed to the nearby cliff. “The entrance is off the ground and the best defense for those who stay behind.”
“What if lemerons climb up into Arborville? Then they can cross the bridge and reach the caves just as easy as any of us,” Chester said.
“That isn’t going to happen.” Brenden held out his hands like the answer was obvious. “But, in the worst case, they can cut the ropes suspending the bridge. When the bridge falls, it cuts off the only way to get to the caves.”
Chester rubbed his head. “But the ties are thick, and if those who stay aren’t strong enough—“
“Dear boy,” Old Nan cut him off. “I can cut a rope as easily as the food I prepare. I’m not completely helpless.” She winked.
Brenden nodded at her. “Those remaining here, bring any essentials and provisions to the caves. We can afford for a few scouts to stay behind and stand guard, but please no more than ten people.” He slammed his fist on the platform railing. “I can’t stress enough that we need our most skilled fighters with us. This won’t be an easy battle to win, but losing is not an option.”
Chester swallowed and looked up at the autumn leaves above as if they held the answer. Tulsi watched him from a neighboring platform, her lips pursed. She didn’t berate him like she did yesterday. Perhaps she was waiting to see what he would do.
Chester leveled his gaze on Marlene. She arched an eyebrow at him, prompting him to speak up.
He either needs to help or go hide in the caves already.
He cleared his throat. “I’ll fight beside you and your people. Although, I worry what will become of my own who stay behind.”
Marlene nodded her approval at him. “The caves sound like the safest place for them. They will be protected.”
“Good man, Chester,” Ethan said. “Thank you.”
Brenden looked around, as if taking in his home for the last time. “Everyone coming with us, get your weapons ready. Tomorrow we leave.”
Marlene took Brenden’s hand in hers, squeezing it. She accomplished what she came here for: she found her husband and her son and recruited a small army with their help.
In the coming days, they would fight to save both Arborville and the Commune. The hoard at the wall tugged at her mind, their song begging her to join them. She would destroy the lemerons or draw her last breath trying.
Acknowledgments
There are many people who supported me throughout the process of writing and publishing this book, including my family, friends, and loyal readers. You inspire me to keep writing so I can share my stories with the world.
Thank you to Brass Rag Press for making sure this story is the best it can be. Thank you to the amazing Covers by Christian for creating this amazing cover.
A special thank you to my readers who chose to read this book. You have many books to choose from, and I’m honored you selected my story. I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this book. Thank you!
About the Author
Valerie Puri is an author of Paranormal, Fantasy, and Young Adult.
As an author of both short stories and novels, she enjoys the flexibility of writing tales of any length. Her favorite aspect of writing is the abi
lity to create something out of nothing. She loves building worlds readers can visualize and filling those worlds with complex characters and storylines. Valerie believes that the experiences we have in life are just stories waiting to be written.
In 2016, she published her debut novel, The Crimson Tree, a thrilling paranormal tale inspired by true events. The main source of inspiration for this story was a number of experiences her sister encountered in her home. She went on to publish The Dociles, book one of The Secret Archives Trilogy, her young adult dystopian series. Valerie’s work can be found in anthologies such as Demonic Anthologies, Thrill of the Hunt, and Once Upon Academy. Readers can look forward to future novels and short stories with paranormal and urban fantasy aspects in the near future.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, or listening to audio books. She is a Florida transplant, but part of her will always call the Midwest home.
www.valeriepuri.com
Also by Valerie Puri
The Secret Archives Trilogy
The Dociles
The Lemerons
The Undesirables (Coming Soon)
Standalone Novels
The Crimson Tree
Short Stories
Spite and Pride
Anthologies
Once Upon Academy: Year 1
Thrill of the Hunt: Buried Alive
Thrill of the Hunt: Cabin Fever
Demonic Carnival
Scary Snippets: A Halloween Microfiction Anthology
We Know the Truth, Do You?