The Last Escape by T.W. Piperbrook & Bobby Adair

Author:T.W. Piperbrook & Bobby Adair
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi

Chapter 30: Ella

Ella plowed through the forest. Her stomach felt empty and starved. But she couldn't eat. Not after what the demons had done to that boy. She pictured his mangled, half-eaten body and shuddered. She called out to William, preemptively keeping him close, determined to keep her own child safe.

The survivors' tracks were thick and obvious enough that she could see them. Brush was broken to the ground, drops of blood sprinkled on the fresh-fallen leaves. She prayed they wouldn't find another body. The prospect of locating the survivors alive had been slim before.

The chances were even worse now.

"How long ago was that boy killed?" she asked Bray.

"Hours ago, judging by the condition of the body," he replied.

They continued through the forest until daylight waned. The tracks grew harder to follow. She pictured the survivors barreling through the forest, shuddering with fear. Were they armed? If not, they were as doomed as the slain boy. If the survivors had barely escaped Davenport, they might have nothing other than the clothes on their backs.

She envisioned herself in the forest a few days ago, before she'd been suitably armed. Before she'd understood the danger. She'd known what had lurked in these woods, of course, but to see it was a different thing.

She couldn't fathom fighting the demons with bare hands.

She stared at her sword. The edges were stained with blood. She'd barely thought before she killed the demons earlier. She was learning. The only way to survive was to react quickly. William traipsed next to her. Despite his earlier strangeness, he seemed focused and attentive, keeping up with her and Bray.

They kept moving, long after the sun had sunk on the horizon. Chirps of birds gave way to the chatter of night insects and the hoots of owls. Ella refused to stop moving, afraid they'd lose the survivors for certain if she did. She forged ahead, passing Bray and taking the lead. After a while, she could barely see her companions' features.

Finally Bray stopped her. "Ella. We're going to need to rest."

"But if we lose them—" she started.

"If we go the wrong way, we'll be farther off course. Then we'll never find them."

"Can't we use a torch?"

"If we do, we'll draw the demons. During the daytime, we have a chance at defending ourselves, but out here in the dark…" Bray trailed off. "The survivors would've stopped somewhere, too, if they know what's good for them."

Ella's breath was ragged and determined. She stared past Bray and into the gloom, still considering the journey. It wasn't until she thought of William that she came to her senses. She desperately wanted to find the survivors, but if she continued, she'd put her son at greater risk. And so she stuck her sword in the dirt, fighting the nagging feeling that the survivors might already be dead.

"Where will we stay?"

"I saw a hill a half mile back. It's not ideal, but it'll give us a position from which to defend ourselves in case anyone or anything stumbles on us.

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