Stone Guardian(7)
And then there was Leonard.
Yeah, Dad didn’t do too well with choosing Leonard.
Still, he hadn’t been so horrific, and she was a tad ashamed of the momentary glee she experienced the next day when Dad told her Leonard’s car had been mysteriously crushed.
Besides, if it worked out with Nick, she would be spared her brothers accusing glares during Saturday dinner when she told them that, once again, there was no spark and no chance for further romance.
So, reframe this whole set-up situation. Maybe she didn’t want to go over to Dad’s, but there was always a chance it could be a real blessing.
She breathed in the autumn night air, taking in great lungfuls as she moved toward her car. There were no better nights than these, when the leaves were changing colors and the bite in the air made every breath a pleasure-pain mix.
And then her breath stopped, frozen in her chest as every muscle in her body locked when a roar sounded through the empty streets, the unholy sound coming ever closer.
Chapter Three
Larissa’s mouth went dry, her palms dampening in spite of the chilled night. She looked to the sky to find the source of that inhuman sound.
What was that? This was a protected area – humans-only. The magical wards had been recast only last month with the specific purpose to fend off any non-human race or species.
The low hum of voices brought her attention back to the street. Three bodies moved toward her. Probably male from the taller height and broader shoulders, but she couldn’t be sure. They wore hoods to hide their faces and jackets hid any shape of the upper torso. She had seen similar groupings many times at the high school she taught at. Still, they seemed… wrong. Their bodies were at odd angles, their steps uneven, more akin to a series of lurches rather than the awkward gaits of adolescents or the surer steps of adult males.
If it feels wrong, run. Even before the echo of Dad’s oft-repeated advice faded she was turning away from the group and sprinting the back way to her car.
Their steps quickened behind her, faster than their shuffling led her to believe. It took seconds for her to feel a brush of fingertips against the back of her coat. Adrenaline surged, fueling her muscles and she shot forward, increasing the distance.
She turned the corner to see three other men in front of her. Skidding to a stop she rotated on her foot, turning to go the opposite direction, but found that the three who had been trailing her had already come out of the side street and had now surrounded her.
Her heart beat double time, a staccato that urged flight, but no avenue was open. The men had formed a loose circle, blocking any escape, and several more beings coming from various directions. All she could do was stand there.
The wash of tears clouded her vision. Images of Dad, of her brothers, of school and Olivia and even her damned stuffed giraffe she had since kindergarten.
They bore down on her, their heads still covered by hoods. Thin hand with a skeletal appearance reached out for her, the faint whiff of decay in the air around them, like meat that had been left out.
She wrapped her arms around her middle, hunched over for protection from that first touch.
The primal scream ripped through the air again, closer this time, and a mountain of a man with wings descended from the sky at a rapid pace.
He landed on the street before her with such force the pavement under her feet shook. No, he wasn’t a man. Stone-grey skin, long black hair, and those huge wings, but before she could get a better look the creature advanced on the things that surrounded her.
The hooded men turned their attention to the creature. One of them rushed forward, but the creature picked him up by the front of the hoodie with one hand and threw the man against the building, the impact causing the hood to fall away and reveal his face.
One eye bounced against its cheek, only a ligament keeping the eye attached to the body, while on the opposite side of the face the skin of its jaw was gone and the white bone underneath visible. Its nose was half chewed away and the remaining skin was bloated and pus filled.
Larissa screamed, her hands covering her eyes in reflex against the wrongness.
Zombies? Zombies here? No, not in the protected zone, it couldn’t be. Things like these weren’t allowed to be here.
Zombies meant…
Zombies meant…
“This is not happening, this is not happening, this is not happening…” But it was, and Larissa clenched her jaw hard to stop the flow of unconscious words. What would Dad say, what would Dad say?
Always be aware of your surroundings, kiddo.
Larissa forced her hands down and watched as the zombies brought out knives and flung themselves at the creature. He towered over the zombies, but for something as big as he was, the creature was graceful, dodging the weapons while he used his wings, hands, and tail to fight off his enemies.