Through the Woods

by Rowan Thalia

  When we get back to the others they are pacing back and forth, yelling. The tension is so thick I could cut it with a knife. They all freeze when I let out a shrill whistle, the sound echoing through the area.

  "If we start fighting, he fucking wins. Put on your big boy panties, and let’s get the fuck out of here," I yell, all three of them hanging their heads as they realize what they were doing. I toss the keys over to Alex and he catches them, before I toss a second set at Sterling. They both sprint off to the camp pickup trucks, but each one is a dud.

  A faint sound starts pounding through the area, just loud enough to hear until it grows louder and overpowers the revving of engines. Both guys give up eventually and join us, the drums finally reaching a crescendo and pounding so loudly around us we can barely function.

  "Fuck this!" I yell, taking off down the road, not giving any fucks if it'll take three days on foot or not, I just want out of here. The guys run after me, until we're all sprinting in a line. I'm not much of a runner, but even my lungs were scared into submission by this and worked for once, or the adrenaline was taking over.

  All at once we all let out a grunt as we hit an invisible wall, our bodies flying through the air and landing on our backs. The drumbeats start up again as we stop, once again surrounding us. Asher yells as he starts flying backwards, as if something took his collar and started running away, dragging him behind.

  "Asher!" Alex and I yell together, scrambling off the ground and running after him. No matter how close we get, he seems to get further away. Tears threaten to fall as I watch my boyfriend’s face pale again, the boyfriend I just told I would end this. He looks up at me as he's being dragged away, and his words shatter my soul.

  "I love you guys," he yells, as a burst of speed hits, and we have to watch him surge forward through the camp and into the water. My body tenses in fear, but my feet never stop moving. Alex lets out a strangled sob next to me, but I refuse to look at him, knowing his facial expression might shatter me further. I love these guys so much, and they deal with way too much for me.

  I finally stop struggling and yell. "Here, you want my blood? Take it! You give him back, and I'll give you blood!" My screams echo over the lake, the surface still and glassy, no sign that my boyfriend was fighting for his life underneath. "You go get him when he surfaces, you hear me. For once in your life, listen to me," I tell Alex, my voice determined. He doesn't respond, but I pick up a rock and scan the area for our stalker. I finally spot him in the trees, as I hold the rock over my forearm and wait. I hear the movement of water, but don't look, knowing Alex will save him. I stalk toward the edge of the trees, knowing this is a bad plan, but also knowing I have no choice. If I don't give him blood, I lose Asher forever. I'd rather give the demon power than live in a world without Asher.

  Once I'm on the edge of the trees, I step through and close my eyes. Using everything I have, I slam the rock into my arm and scrape, not stopping until the warm trickle of blood seeps out. I let a few drops fall before ripping my shirt off and bandaging my arm. The demon comes closer, his movements rustling the trees and vegetation around me. When he appears, his greedy eyes are transfixed on the prize, so I take my chance. I reach into my pocket and pull out the lighter I stashed in there last night. Thanks to Sterlings planning, we all had lighters and sage. Once the demon has a few drops on his tongue, I light the sage and throw it on top, before brushing a few dead pine needles over it. Ignoring his screeches, I let the bundle go up in flames, taking the traces of my blood with it. I may be reckless and desperate, but I'm not stupid.

  "That's all you get, asshole!" I yell, backing into the sunlight and leaving him behind. Someone moves closer to me as the world wavers, my shirt already soaked through thanks to my not-so-precise gouging. Once I feel a warm hand on my back, I waver on my feet once more, before I fall backwards. The last thing I see before darkness takes me is Dexter and Sterling's concerned faces as they catch me, lowering me to the ground. Their mouths move, but I'm too far gone to hear their words.

  We have to end this, now more than ever.

  22

  Jun

  When I regain consciousness, Asher is sitting beside me soaking wet and clutching my hand. It’s damp, and the air smells like mold and turned earth. Dexter and Sterling are standing by my feet, whispering angrily. Their faces are almost touching, and their arms grip one another. I momentarily question if they will stay together when he takes me. I try to take it back, but I feel in the pit of my stomach that he will. A tear escapes my eye, and I look back over to Asher, my sweet lover. Alex has his arm around his brother, his eyes are bloodshot, and his face looks drawn. My eyes water, and my heart clenches just looking at the twins. I did this, and I need to end it.

  “Come here,” I rasp as I pull Asher toward me.

  Ash smiles faintly and tumbles over me, his arms scooping my neck off the ground, and his lips brushing against mine. The kiss is soft but fills my stomach with butterflies. My arms tremble as I search his body, making sure it’s really him, and I’m not stuck in one of the demon’s waking dreams.

  “Purple, you’re gonna fucking kill me one of these days,” Alex complains.

  “I’m sorry,” I sigh. And I am, although I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I had to save Ash.

  “Can you get up and walk?” Sterling squats over my feet. His glasses are gone, and his brown eyes are lasered in on me. “We need to bandage you up, you’re still bleeding … which means you’re feeding him more.”

  “I could try,” I groan. When I look at my arm, I can see what Specs is talking about. A small stream of blood runs down my elbow and drips onto the ground. I gasp, wipe the blood off with the hem of my shirt, and cover the wound. Shit, I’m an idiot. Why did I cut myself so deep, and out here in the woods with nothing to bandage it? With a grumble at myself, I start to sit up.

  Asher and Alex back up, Alex helping his brother stand. Sterling nods, holds his hands out, and helps me rise into a sitting position. My vision wavers for a second, and I feel like I’m going to barf, but I take a deep breath and stand up. Getting my bearings, I scan the area around us. The forest is foggy, a thick mist rolled in while I was out, making it hard to see beyond the large oak tree that we’re standing next to. Just watching the white clouds float around gives me the heebie jeebies. We need to get the fuck out of here - stat.

  “Give me your hand, babe,” Dexter whispers.

  When our hands meet, a warmth passes through me, and I’m able to shake off some of the gloom. It’s enough to get me moving, but dread still settles deep in my gut. With a sniffle, I motion for him to get started. Following his lead, we slowly trace our way through the thick fog, one tree at a time. Leaves squelch under our feet as we walk, and a hoarse voice taunts me, “I’ll have more, soon. Your blood, then your soul.”

  “My soul is not up for grabs, asshole,” I bark as Dexter and the guys herd me along. The voice chuckles in response.

  All I can do is spin the wheels of my mind, trying to find a way to end this. This Demon has to have a weakness, other than love and blood. But what is it? I mean, if we break it down to the basics, we’ve just got to get out of here and burn the blood that ties him to me. Simple, right?

  Random screaming and howling follows us through the woods for the rest of the trip. The sounds wear me down from the inside out, the only thing keeping me from losing my mind are the hands that clench mine and push me forward. The trees pass slowly, and it feels like we may never find the camp. I’m close to crying when the first crunch of gravel sounds beneath my feet. I swear, I almost drop to the ground and kiss the damn rocks.

  “This way,” Sterling’s voice is strained.

  He shoves his way through the door of the clinic and Alex slams it behind us, looking out the window and frowning. The lights flicker like an old B-rated horror flick, and the weight in my stomach drops lower. I don’t know what he sees, but I can’t bring myself to ask. Without a word, I walk over to the exam table and hop on. Sterlin
g and Dex both step forward. Dex brushes my hair back, a frown on his face.

  “Where did all of these scratches come from?” He winces.

  “I … don’t know,” I sound hollow.

  He and Sterling share a look, but say nothing. The air in the room is heavy, and the guys crowd so close to me that their breathing sounds loud. Dex and Specs work in tandem to clean and bandage the gouge I ripped in my own flesh. They carefully pull back the cloth I have wrapped over it, and flush it with a saline solution. Bloody water runs down my arm and into the basin that Sterling placed next to my leg. I wince, but try to still my body and mind while they work.

  “Juniper, this is becoming too much of a habit,” Sterling grumbles as he begins winding gauze over the wound.

  “Sorry Specs. How can we get out of here so we can take care of this Blood Demon once and for all? I mean if we can’t leave, how are we supposed to fight him?” I agonize.

  I expect him to chastise me, but he doesn’t. In fact, I feel weirdly alone. When I look over, the room is empty, except for a billow of fog that has rolled in through the open door. My body stills, and I cup my injured arm to my breasts. The fog creeps closer, whisps tickling along my shoulder like tendrils of freezing ice. I open my mouth to scream, but my lips are sealed shut. Panicking, I back up on the exam table away from the evil mist. There’s a whisper following it, but I can't quite make out the words. I’m not sure I even want to. Hoping to wake, I clench my eyes shut.

  When I look around the room again, tears roll down my cheeks. The cabin has disappeared, and I’m back in the deserted hallway in Dudley. The sound of something dripping sends a fresh spear of fear through my already trembling form. I turn my head to see Asher hanging from the ceiling, blood dripping down his body and pooling on the floor. His legs are tied together, and his body hangs upside down, tangled in a web of ropes. The arch of his back makes him look like he’s mid fucked up yoga pose, and it turns my stomach. Holding back a sob, I crabwalk backward until my ass bumps the wall. My teeth are clenched so hard that they hurt, and my legs are weak. This has to be a waking nightmare, there’s no way Ash is dead.

  “Why are you so upset, little human? Isn’t this where you wished to be?” The demon appears beside Asher’s swaying form. He runs a finger down a rivulet of blood and brings it to his lips. The groan that comes next is the last straw, I lean forward and wretch. Thank goodness my lips are unfrozen, or I would have thrown up in my mouth and suffocated. After my stomach is empty, I wipe my mouth and look up.

  “Let me out of here! I know this isn’t real,” I scream.

  “Do you? Really?” He chuckles and grabs Asher’s hair, ripping his head back. “You tell her, pet. Is this real?”

  “Juniper?” Asher chokes. “It hurts,” he gurgles as some of the blood from his neck runs into mouth.

  Hoping to snap myself out of the nightmare, I hold out my arm and press on the wound. Pain flares through my spine, but nothing happens. I cry out in frustration, close my eyes, and slap myself in the face. My cheek burns, but the dripping of Asher’s blood still echoes through the hall, and the coppery taste of blood hangs in the air. Why can’t I wake up?

  “Sweet little human, you shouldn’t have given me more blood. With the taste you gave me, I’m powerful enough to hold you both here. I can smell your wound you know, give me more, and I’ll let your lover go,” his voice is deep and throaty, as if he’s trying to be sexy. “Your others are waiting by the water, screaming and hoping for you both to surface, though you never will.”

  “Let him go first, then we talk,” I cross both my arms and lift my chin.

  “No deal,” his chest vibrates as he kicks Asher’s body. The groan that fills the room breaks me in half. I don’t know if this is a dream or not, but I’m about to lose my soul if I have to hear one more second of Asher in pain. My throat tightens, and I sneak another glance at my guy, trying to see something off. Anything that will tell me this is all a dream. As hard as I try, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s telling me the truth. Did I doom us both when I gave up my blood? How did we get here, and when? The questions roll through my mind and make we waver on my feet. All I know for sure is that I can’t keep doing this to the ones I love.

  “Fine. Take me then. But as soon as you touch me, he better go back,” I whisper.

  “Juniper! NOOOOO!” Asher thrashes around. It’s then that I realize, we really are back at Dudley, and I’m fucked.

  23

  Jun

  Fear fills me as reality sinks in. How the fuck did that little amount of blood in the forest lead to this?! He was just toying with us, wasn't he? Which means Asher is hanging there suffering. Oddly, relief fills me knowing that he's with me and not on the bottom of that lake.

  "You want me to send back another plaything for just your blood? You aren't the only one who can offer it to me," he taunts, running a finger down Asher's body, who struggles in his hold. His face is red, meaning I need to get him turned properly, and fast.

  "You can't take it, or you would have. It has to be offered, so you aren't the one with the power here, fucker," I taunt as my eyes scan our surroundings, hoping for some sort of breakthrough. I pat my pockets, finding only a lighter and my keys. Fuck!

  "Leave me, Jun. Just go!" Asher pleads, his tone full of defeat. My eyes meet his, and I can easily tell he means it. But the moment he closes his eyes, I know he saw how much I was against it.

  "You don't get either of our blood. We are going to end you," I promise, picking up a chunk of stone and throwing it at him, before sprinting past and jumping up to grab onto Asher's ropes. I can hear the demon's growl, but I ignore him as I try to climb the ropes and free Asher, but this girl failed that lesson in gym class... every time. Asher grunts under me, the added weight likely pulling on his back. I screech out as I'm ripped off of him and slammed into the cinderblock walls behind us.

  Warm blood trickles from the spot my head hit the stone, the demon's sharp intake of breath my only warning before he hurtles toward me. I dive out of the way, forcing back vomit at the sight of his long tongue licking the wall. Using the distraction to my advantage, I hurry back to Ash, this time struggling with the ropes behind his back. My fingers fumble in my panic, but I refuse to stop, as this is likely my only chance.

  "I'm sorry, Ash," I whisper as I pull the lighter out and light the knot on fire. To his credit he doesn't cry out as the flame licks his skin. I pat it out as soon as the top layer of the knot is gone, pulling the fibers free as they smolder under my fingers, blistering the skin immediately. Suck it up Jun, if he didn't cry you can't either. Once his hands fall free, I do the same at the top, hoping he can stop his head from hitting the hard floor. I snuff the fire out as it has only a string is left, not wanting to burn the entirety of Dudley down. Well... if we had a clear path, you bet I'd burn the fucker down, ending this once and for all.

  Scorching hot hands wrap around my leg, yanking me down, but thankfully in the process, Asher comes with me. He struggles to get to his feet as I block him with my body, not willing to let this fucker get any closer. My eyes meet his soulless, red eyes, and it sends a wave of panic through me. My heart is beating so hard that I'm sure it's clear to both of them, giving me away under the cool, calm mask I try to keep in place. Get it together, Jun, you're a badass bitch, and he can and will be beat.

  "Fuck you, stop this," I order, keeping my eyes locked on his, while I help a weak Asher to his feet. The only other exit to this place is through the middle stairwell that leads to the maintenance halls. If we can get there, we can burn my blood. He's already cleaned my blood here, but maybe there's something more to the blood that summons him.

  "But I am just starting to have fun, my little treat," he taunts, his raspy voice echoing as he fades into the shadows, disappearing and leaving us in stunned silence.

  "Go, please," Asher tries again, but I won't hear of it. The pure hopelessness in his voice is breaking my heart.

  "Look at me," I order, pullin
g his face to mine, "I won't let you think this way. We are strong, and we will get out together. I love you so much, I would never leave you behind. You know me better than that, and I know you better than this. This isn't you talking, you're letting him get to you." A flicker of life glows in his eyes, before his defeated expression returns. "Oh fuck this," I grumble, pulling him closer and kissing him fiercely. In that single kiss, I show him how much I love him. Not just as a part of our group, our family, but as his own person. Sometimes my quiet boyfriend gets lost in the chaos of our lives, always taking care of us, but being outshined by the loud ones. But he never stopped loving me, fighting for us, and that means so much to me. Even the others would be lost without him, he may be our protector, our nurturer, but he is the fucking glue that holds us all together and keeps us on track. As I kiss him, I keep thinking of all the ways I love him, all the plans I have for our future. A future that doesn't have room for this evil we are facing. I'll go back to dealing with the random spirit encounters and keeping the rest of this shit in the past.

  The moment he comes back to himself, I know. His cold lips warm as he pushes back, kissing me with an equal amount of passion.

  A slow clapping echoes down the hall, the demon at the other end looking happier about it than he should be, which only makes me worry more. I glance at Asher, relieved to see him stand taller, stronger, and more determined.

  "Thank you, I always knew I was a good kisser," I joke, making Asher chuckle beside me.