Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Whatever you just said, that doesn’t make it better,” Melantha countered in disgust.
I had so many questions. I wanted to dissect his words, to understand the dark promise beneath them, but the moment slipped away as we exited the small park, leaving the kids behind. I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. I had the urge to turn back and go to them, but then one of our heads could very well be their next kickball if Ciaran’s words were anything to judge by.
We entered a narrow alley and then turned a corner, descending a set of concrete stairs that led to a row of turnstiles. Our pace didn’t slow until we came upon Inferno Transit Hub.
It bore little resemblance to the stations I’d seen on television or in movies. Three trams sat motionless on tracks that disappeared into a dense tree line ahead. Each was a sleek capsule of steel and glass with barred windows.
Blood was everywhere.
It stained the platform in purposeful patterns as if someone had decided to make some impromptu artwork. More concerning than that were the clowns loading bodies into garish, funhouse-style cars, their bright costumes contrasting with the grim task at hand. Four people still remained motionless on the ground, one woman’s head nearly severed entirely. They must have run this way trying to save themselves and instead met with a brutal end.
It took the clowns a moment to notice us. The second they did, they all paused, just like the kids had.
Their masked faces were pure nightmare fuel. Some were streaked with blood, bearing exaggerated features with sinister grins and hollow eyes that seemed to see into your very being.
“Why aren’t they moving?” Dion asked, keeping his voice low.
That was a good question. I shifted backward and a strong arm wrapped around my waist protectively from behind. “They won’t touch you,” Ky promised.
Another group burst in from the opposite direction, stumbling down the stairs, one of them clutching a bleeding arm. The clowns turned their attention to them and this time they didn’t hesitate, dropping the bodies they had been about to load. One feigned left and darted toward Melantha. Dion intercepted, narrowly dodging the curved blade the clown wielded. He punched it in the face hard enough to make it stumble backward.
“Thanks for that,” Mel quipped.
“No problem,” he replied, quickly pulling her behind him and shaking out his hand.
“Don’t tell me that was your first punch, D,” Maverick playfully taunted.
“It wasn’t. I’m a lover, not a fighter is all.”
“We can add that to your epitaph,” Brody joked. He smoothly veered around Dion, disarmed the clown with disturbing ease, and flipped the blade. In one swift motion, he slashed it across the clown’s throat. Blood sprayed as the clown grasped at its neck, gurgling, before collapsing to the ground.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” Charon suddenly remarked, slipping away from our group.
“Get safe,” Ky commanded, shoving me toward the trams. “Brody, watch her.”
I stumbled forward, my heart pounding as chaos erupted around us.
I glanced back to ask where he was going, but he had already put distance between us, following behind his brother.
“Let’s go for Tram 1,” Lana suggested, moving up beside me with Mel, leaving Brody and Dion at our backs.
“Will the doors just open?” I asked as we ran.
“Only one way to find out.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw an older man trip over himself in his rush to get to the trams. He went down hard, his head bouncing off the pavement. I nearly did the same when I realized that I knew him. I wasn’t sure how exactly but just catching a glimpse of his face had recognition sparking in my head.
“We need to help him.” I broke away from Lana, and without question she followed right behind me, both of us ignoring Brody’s shouted objection. This was admittedly a stupid thing to do.
I hadn’t considered the fact he was an easy target for the clowns. “Get up!” I reached for his arm and Lana took hold of the other. With combined effort and a small grunt, we helped him stand.
“Shit!” Lana lurched forward and we half ran, half stumbled away from the clown that had decided to mark the man, and now us, as its next target.
“Do you two have a death wish?” Brody questioned as he came to our aid, blocking the clown’s path.
“Come on!” Mel yelled. She was in the doorway of the tram we’d been aiming for, Dion barely holding her back as she tried to get to us.
Someone screamed what I assumed was the man’s name and he hesitated.
“If you don’t get your old ass moving, I will leave you out here to die,” Lana snapped at him.
The expression he gave in response was a mix of defeat and offense. Thankfully he listened because I knew she was being serious. I noticed then that all three doors were open, and the clowns weren’t going on board. Tram 2 was closer to us, but I refused to be separated from the others. There was no way to know where these things would take us.