The Black Forest

by Jennifer Martucci

  Chest heaving and hands trembling, I turn my head toward Ara. I look at her. Mouth agape and pale despite the intense heat of the day, she looks as I feel: shocked. “Wh-what the heck was that?” she asks me, her lower lip quivering.

  I do not blink. “I have no idea,” I reply. All I know is I hope to never encounter it again. But in my gut, I know I will.

  Chapter 13

  Scurrying down the tree with every limb shaking and my heart beating so fast I fear it’ll explode, all I can see each time I blink are murderous, blood-red eyes. I can’t shake the image. Know I never will. The way the beast turned its head to one side and sniffed the air, catching my brother and Reyna’s scents. Allowing them to imprint on its brain. Marking them. It’s all I can think of. It’s what I fear. And I just want to get to them as fast as I can. I don’t even know how I’m descending. I feel like my arms and legs are moving independently of my brain. I’m sure my movements are graceless and clumsy, just as they were when I scaled the tree not long ago, but I don’t care. Getting my brother, sister, Reyna and all of the people in our group as far away from this area as fast as possible is what motivates me. Missing the lowest branch, my foot slides and I drop to the ground hard, but somehow manage to land on both feet. Ara is right behind me, her landing as lithe and fluid as the agile manner in which she climbed despite the terrifying ordeal we just endured. Reyna and Pike are by the trunk, eyes wide and shaken. “What was that thing?” Reyna asks, breathless from anxiety.

  “I have no idea. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like it,” I admit, still shocked and staggered, wondering what it was that attacked. “I mean, dad told me about creatures called bears that lived in woods and forests before the War,” I start rambling. “But that was no bear. That was a—”

  “Monster. It was a monster,” Pike says. His voice is low and tight and his gaze distant.

  I don’t argue his comment. I simply nod soberly. “We need to get everyone together and get out of here now. Before it finds them.”

  “Finds the others? How’s that possible? You shot it in the face and chest. It has to die, doesn’t it?” Reyna searches my face for answers I do not have.

  “Yes, it should’ve died. Any other creature I’ve encountered in the forest would’ve died. A Night Lurker would’ve been dead.” I think out loud. “But it didn’t die. It didn’t even go down…after being shot in the face.”

  “Yeah,” Ara agrees. “It didn’t fall. It ran.”

  “It ran fast,” I say. “Did you see how fast it ran?” I ask them.

  “It has to be dead.” Reyna rubs her temples and closes her eyes. “It doesn’t make sense if it isn’t,” she mumbles then gazes at me with stark confusion. I wonder whether she says the beast has to be dead more for her than for me, sheer terror inspiring her. I don’t have the heart to tell her I’d bet my life it’s alive and faring well. If anything, it’s just angrier now and will pursue us and track us with intensified determination.

  “I don’t think so, Reyna,” I say as gently as I can. “And I’m not interested in sticking around if it decides to come back for us.” I scan the surrounding area, anxious and listening and knowing it’s when not if it will decide to come back for us. “Let’s get out of here and warn the others. Come on,” I wave Ara, Pike and Reyna on. Without delay, they follow me, staying close as we retrace our steps and call out to the rest of our group. Little by little, everyone rejoins us. We meet back at the spot where we originally split up, the spot marked by Brad’s blood and his bones at the center of the trail. Nervous conversations are whispered quietly. No one has caught more than a squirrel and a small rabbit.

  Kai, holding the rabbit by its feet, approaches, “What’s wrong? Why’d you call us back together?” he asks. “Did you catch something so big all of us need to go with you and help you drag it back?” he tries to joke, but he sees it in our eyes that our moods are somber.

  “No. I didn’t. But I know what got to Brad and Tamara, what did that to them.” I point to the blood coating blades of grass and pooling in the dirt then to the bones.

  Kai’s gaze is unwavering. In a voice that’s so low it’s nearly a whisper, he says, “What?”

  I nod without hiding my emotions. I allow the terror to show. “We need to get out of here right away,” I say with urgency.

  “Why? What’s out there, Lucas?” Kai asks.

  I describe to him—to everyone—what happened, the beast that I shot.

  “That’s good news, isn’t it?” Aaron says.

  I look at him like he’s just sprouted feathers and a beak.

  “It’s off dying somewhere if it hasn’t died already,” Aaron says with a level of certainty that borders on smug. The look I’m giving him must register somewhere in his brain as his tone changes. “No living creature can take multiple shots to the face and body from an automatic weapon and live.”

  “Aaron, I want to believe it is dead just as much as anyone else,” Ara says. “But it moved pretty quickly after Lucas dumped the last of his ammo in it.”

  Aaron rubs his hands down his face then rakes his fingers through his hair. “Maybe you missed?”

  “I didn’t miss. It was like I said,” I tell him levelly.

  “Then we should be safe now. It has to be off bleeding to death somewhere,” Aaron insists.

  His words don’t have a chance to settle over the group and inspire comfort. As soon as they leave his lips, a retched howl so horrific and filled with rage it claws at my eardrums rips through the ether. The blood-chilling bay is immediately followed by the sound of heavy footfalls slamming against the forest floor. They grow faster, louder, and nearer. ‘

  “Run!” I yell. I shove Ara and Pike forward, ahead of me, my muscles twitching to life, and run as fast and hard as my legs will take me. I struggle to avoid tripping over vines that creep along the forest floor alongside fallen logs and thorny bushes. Leaves and branches lash my face. Twice I feel a sting close to my eyes. Skin breaks, but my eyes do not tear. My hand wants to cover it, to feel the scrape dangerously close to my eyes but slowing long enough to do so isn’t an option. I push myself harder, urging Ara and Pike to do the same, making sure they’re ahead of me. It’s imperative they stay in front. The beast is chasing. It’ll attack from the rear. As long as I’m behind them, it’ll get to me first. Ara and Pike will have a chance to leave, to run and hide. And live.

  Footsteps filled with fury thunder through the woods. My side aches. Everything aches. My stomach is hollow and my mouth is so dry my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. I’ve stopped producing sweat. Not a good sign in the blistering heat. Dehydration is depleting me fast. Labored breaths and pants are all I hear. No one can continue starved and dehydrated. I’m sure Pike and Ara can’t. I certainly can’t. My eyes dart left and right, scanning the surrounding area for something—anything—that’ll help us. “Please, please,” I mumble, begging the woods themselves for an answer. In the distance, all I see is an enormous boulder. Roughly ten feet tall, it sits at the base of a dry hill in a bed of dirt and rubble. Whether it was a mud slide that caused it or it simply rolled down on its own matters little at this moment. An idea is forming, “Stop! Everyone stop!”

  Feet slow until eventually halting completely. Xan and Micah clutch their sides while Aaron, Jonah, Ashlyn and several others double over catching their breath. Everyone looks back nervously.

  “Why’re we stopping?” Kai asks. His deep voice is roughened by thirst.

  “I don’t hear it anymore,” Ara says. “Maybe it’s gone. Maybe it did die.” Her eyes look sunken and the vibrant green of her irises has dulled. She needs water. She needs food. I didn’t lead her out here to starve or succumb to dehydration.

  “No, it’s not. It’s not gone or dead.” She knows it as well as I do. “It’s stalking us, being careful.” My eyes roam the surrounding trees. Though I don’t hear it, I feel it. Watching us. Waiting for the right moment to strike when one among us wanders off from the group.


  “If you think that, why are we stopping?” Xan asks.

  “We can’t outrun it. We’re weak from exhaustion, from dehydration and from lack of food. We can’t go on,” I say.

  “What’re you suggesting?” Micah snaps at me. “That we forfeit our lives and die now?”

  “No, I’m not,” I reply.

  “Then what are you saying, Lucas?” Reyna asks, eyeing me warily.

  “We make our stand, that’s what I’m saying.” I look around at everyone in our group. “It’s not going to attack us all at once. If it were going to do that, it would’ve done so already.”

  My words settle upon the group. Grumblings fall silent.

  “He’s right,” Kai says after several moments pass. “It’s only attacked one-on-one. Two at most.”

  “Exactly. So what I want all of you to do is go around the back of that boulder there.” I point to the oversized rock. “Climb it. Stay out of sight. I’ll go back, draw it out and lead it here. We still have two guns with ammo, right?”

  “Yes,” Aaron says. “I have one.”

  “And I have one,” Ashlyn says.

  “Okay, good,” I say, my mind working, envisioning the many ways this could happen. “Ashlyn and Aaron have guns with ammunition, and four of you have bows and arrows. Once I get the beast there and he has me trapped against the boulder, I want all of you to fire on it. Let it get close so it doesn’t run—”

  “So what, you’re going to be bait? You’re going to let it find you?” Ara’s chest heaves. Her face is contorted in anguish. “No, Lucas! No! That’s a terrible plan! It’ll kill you!” she cries out her voice strident and laden with emotion.

  “She’s right,” Reyna adds. “Using yourself as bait?” Arresting blue eyes are trained on me, pleading with me. “It’s not a good idea.”

  “If we don’t do this, it’ll kill all of us. One by one, we’ll all die.”

  Reyna throws her hands in the air and allows them to land against her thighs with a slap. She turns from me.

  “Hey,” I call to her and grip her upper arm lightly. I turn her to face me. Suddenly, we’re the only two people in the forest. She faces me and I see that she’s scared. For me. My breath catches in my chest. “It’ll be okay. I’ll be okay.”

  “You better be,” she whispers. She holds my gaze and places a hand over mine.

  “No, Lucas! You can’t,” Ara says. I let go of Reyna then turn to face my sister and the rest of the group.

  “I have to. There’s no other way. At least my plan gives us a chance. A chance to kill it and survive.” Conversations that are too quiet for me to hear break out. But reluctantly, everyone agrees. All but my sister. I look at Ara. Her lower lip quivers. Fear is evident in her entire body. I want to hug her, assure her I’ll be okay. But I can’t guarantee that. I can’t guarantee anything at this point. I close the distance between her and I and grip her shoulders. I stare directly into her eyes. “Aim for its eyes. If you blind it, it won’t be able to see me to kill me,” I say. I realize my words, though meant to rally her, are feeble, but I want her to have hope. I need for her to have hope.

  “I will,” she replies. She notches her chin. Her posture straightens. Resolve echoes in her tone. “I won’t miss, Lucas. I promise you I won’t miss.”

  “I know you won’t,” I say and hear my voice catch. I draw her close and hug her. “Now go.” I release her. “All of you go. Get yourselves in position as fast as you can.”

  Everyone turns to head off. Kai, Pike, Ara and Reyna linger.

  “Good luck to you, brother,” Kai says. His large hand gives my shoulder a squeeze. “I have faith in you. You’ve gotten us this far.” He nods then pats my arm before turning and jogging to catch up with the others.

  Pike lowers his head and looks at his boots. When he raises his chin, I see the worry in his face. “If anyone can do this you can,” he says. “I know you can. Just…be careful.”

  “I’ll do my best,” I reply.

  “You always do,” Pike says. “Let’s kill this thing and get to the village.” He tries to harden his features. To me, he’s a little boy, the same little boy who followed Kohl and I everywhere we went. He is why I’m doing this. He and Ara. I will face a monster for them to live.

  “You got it, Pike,” I say. I reach out and rub the top of his head, messing his hair the way I did when he was younger. He pulls away for a split second then embraces me. The hug is quick but tight. He lets go and joins the others.

  Ara and Reyna are left. Ara tells me, “Hurry up and get the monster to the boulder so I can shoot its eyes out.”

  Stunned, my head rears. “Okay,” I say with a smirk.

  “You know what I mean.” She shakes her head. “I love you, Lucas.” She turns on her heels and takes off, her gait as light and agile as a deer.

  Reyna stands before me. Before I can wonder what she’ll say, she walks up to me, rises up onto her tiptoes and places a kiss on my cheek. Wordlessly, she backs away, her eyes never leaving me until she pivots suddenly and catches up with Ara. I place my hand to my cheek where her lips just were and hold it there. I wish I could freeze time, right at this moment. I would hold the feeling I have inside me forever. But I can’t. I have a bloodthirsty beast to lure from its hideout.

  Pausing long enough to steel my nerves and ensure everyone is out of sight, I set off at a run back in the direction from which we came. I’m only on the trail briefly before heavy footfalls plod through the brush. I feel eyes on me. The beast recognizes my scent. He’s picked up on it. I resist the urge to run for a count of ten then take off, running faster than I dreamed possible given the circumstances. I race back, passing the place where Reyna kissed my cheek and head for the boulder. Deafening footsteps crash through the forest. I pull my sword from the sheath at my back and wait, gripping the handle so tightly my hands hurt. Suddenly the footsteps stop. The press of eyes is upon me. It’s watching. Stalking its prey. Waiting to see if I’m alone. I scan the trees and bushes around me, fearing my heart pounds so loud it’ll hear it. Nothing moves. The chirp of birds has fallen silent. The buzz and hum of insects has ceased. The entire forest has fallen silent. A minute ticks by. I inhale. Before I can release my breath, the beast bursts from the brush, running on all fours at first, charging me. Sharp teeth are bared and strings of saliva drip from them, trailing behind it as it races toward me. It stops just a few feet from me and rises onto its hind legs. Roaring to the heavens above, its head whips back, mouth wide open and razor-sharp teeth on full display. The sound is deafening, bloodcurdling. Blood drips from its wounds. Bristly hair along the back of its neck stands on end. Every cell in my body screams for me to run. I’m the size of an infant to the beast. Towering over me, it must weigh at least three thousand pounds. My sword looks like a twig. I start to doubt my plan. What was I thinking? That question repeats itself again when it lowers its head and glowers at me with ruby-red eyes filled with an insatiable bloodlust. A bloodlust that demands my blood. It looks at me, advancing slowly. A shudder passes through its body, jiggling all its heft at once and causing every inch of fur to rise and quiver. I wait until he’s nearly upon me then call out, “Now!”

  At my command, arrows shriek from above and guns blast. I see the bullets connect and watch an arrow sink into its left eye. The beast screams out, thrashing and swinging a mighty claw at me. I raise my blade, not knowing what else to do and manage to deflect being gouged by its blade-like claws. But still the force of the blow sends me hurtling backward, into the boulder. Pain shoots through me, snaking from my spine and vibrating through my bones. The back of my head clips the rock, too. My body absorbs the majority of the impact, but darkness encroaches on my field of vision along with small bursts of light that look like shooting stars. I fight the darkness, struggling to remain conscious. Fight, Lucas! Fight! I keep thinking, willing my eyes to remain open. To remain awake and not surrender to the warm, welcoming relief of darkness. My eyes are open when I see a second arrow drill the beast’
s right eye. Rearing in agony and swatting, the beast charges. With limbs that feel leaden, I manage to dive and roll, narrowly escaping being squashed by it. The beast hits the boulder with such force, the massive rock moves, throwing Xan Micah and a bred human named Derek to the ground. They land a few feet from me. Sightless, the beast swings a giant arm. Its claw catches Derek, who is close by, and nearly tears him in two. He dies instantly. Cries ring out from atop the boulder, along with the cry of arrows launching. One by one they drill the beast’s body. It flails wildly, its head twisting in all directions as it bays. Seeing its midsection exposed, I run toward it. Gripping my blade I do not break stride as a claw attempts to bat me to my death. I dive and carve its belly horizontally, opening its gut. It yelps. I know I’ve inflicted a mortal wound. But I don’t relent. I avoid its deadly floundering again, plunging my sword in the left side of its chest, where a heart should beat. The beast wails. I leave my sword where it is and dive away from it. I land on my chest hard, then scramble to my hands and knees, crawling away as it emits a sound so horrid it will haunt my hearing for years to come. It teeters for a moment, staggering before if finally falls with an earth-shaking thud.

  For a moment, I remain on all fours, panting and watching, waiting for it to get up again. Though I know it must be dead, I take nothing for granted. After several minutes pass and the beast still does not move, everyone from the boulder climbs down. They gather around the body of the monstrous creature, forming a circle. Kai walks over to me. He reaches out a hand and hoists me up. “Lucas, you’re the bravest man I’ve ever met,” he says still clasping my forearm in his large hand. “I’m proud to know you.”

  “Me, too,” Xan says. “I’ll follow you and fight with you. Anytime. Anywhere.” Mutters of agreement ring out.