The Night Walkers

by Elaine McGregor-Dawson

  Syria sighed and leaned against a tree trunk, watching as everyone else stared into the woods. Just through there, was where over half of them were going to risk their lives. Just in there sat a Hybrid, followed by a scared girl who Levi knew he loved.

  "Look, I won't, I can't, promise that these people will make it all the way through, it will be hard and harsh, but we have to stick through it, we all must manage." She stood up falling and Levi noted that she was quite tall, towering at least a whole foot above him. He grinned, I thought I was tall.

  The grin washed off his face as he caught a figure, crouching down on the ground, platinum blond hair spilling over her back as her cheeks pressed against her knees.

  Debra.

  "Hang on Syria, I'll be right back," he murmured, knowing that she caught what he was saying because she smiled in understanding. Levi slipped away from between the crowd until he stood over Debra's small figure.

  "Debra? Are you okay?" He asked as he sat down beside her, aiming his gaze into the woods. He hadn't been that close to Debra, he only really knew he because she was Kit's best friend. Debra looked up, and Levi caught the smallest tear drop that was left at the corner of her eye.

  She smiled shakily, "no, not really... I don't think I'm ready to back in there, not when they tortured me last time and tried to use me as an experiment!" She looked away, her eyebrows furrowing in worry.

  He sighed and gently lay his hand on her arm, "don't worry Debra, I promise nothing bad will happen to you," he promised her. "Just stay close to me and I'll protect you, I will not let anything happen to you and I'll do it for Kit."

  Debra looked up at that, her pale face seemed to crumble under the mention of Kit's name. "Levi..." she trailed off, not knowing what she should say. "Thank you." She managed to finish, watching how the corners of his lips turned up.

  "Don't mention it, just remember that I-"

  "Everyone! May I have your attention please?!" It was Syria's smooth and even voice that cut him off. Both their heads whipped around as they stared at the tall figure, who looked like a goddess with the moonbeams lighting up her platinum blond hair. "We must assemble... it's time to prepare for war."

  * * * * * *

  (Stacy's P.O.V)

  She remembered a burning sensation, and it coursed through her. Stacy remembered the screams that erupted from her mouth. The pain had lasted forever, as did the screams. She could feel every single part of her change, she remembered the sweat that glided down her forehead, a sudden reminder of what she was turning into.

  Now though, after the screams subsided, she felt so different, like the pain was worth something. She smelt blood from a mile away, she could sense a presence in the darkest of hours. Stacy could run for hours without stopping and she could have bit through a fence with her teeth.

  Now though, she had to do something because her master had called on her to do so, she was going to come to him, she was going to see what he needed because he was her creator.

  She barrelled her way past people who hurried by through busy Brooklyn streets, scurrying about their work, she pushed on, feeling her legs thunder down the roads, not bothering to stop for cars. Stacy knew it was probably midnight judging by the light of the moon surrounded by deep foreboding clouds of black.

  Tonight, was going to be difficult.

  Trees scratched at the bottom of her legs and she watched the blood trickle down in the most beautiful of scarlet colours, it always disappeared within the minute she got injured.

  She stopped mid-stride as she found that she stood before a cave, it was a very big cave with massive stone walls and deep collective darkness that appeared to barrel inside. A smirk played on her lips as she watched the darkness in satisfaction, taking a few steps inside.

  "Ah, Stacy, we've been expecting you miss," it was a witch’s grim voice that spoke through the darkness and Stacy could see the clear outline of the woman through her vast and amazing sight.

  "Yes, so I have heard, where is Claudius?" She asked, already stepping in and past the witch, uninvited as ever.

  She heard footsteps coming up behind her but avoided them anyway. "Look miss Stacy, he needs you to do something really quickly." The witch let out another wide cackle and it brought the theory to Stacy's mind that maybe whatever Claudius wanted her to do was very... evil.

  "Very well, where is he then?"

  " Follow me, Miss." The witch told her, heading deeper and deeper into the cave.

  *

  "Claudius, we have a guest you summoned," the witch rubbed her hands together mischievously as she walked through a set of old wooden doors. Stacy had been following behind her, a little worried about the witch because she'd been talking tiny murmurs to herself.

  There was the faintest sound of feet shuffling before a figure emerged from the doors to stand before Stacy. He was tall with a mess of brown hair atop his head. His grin though was the most horrid thing she had yet seen, "Stacy, so glad you could join me! I need a favour from you."

  She smiled up at him, knowing just how dangerous he was, however, she enjoyed that about him. "What is it? It shall be done one way or another." She followed him into his quarters where he sat in a big chair, still smirking at her.

  "There is a group just in the forest who don't know they are being stalked by my kin, follow my other set of... minions into the woods and together, you will kill as many as you can," he stood up and brought her hand to his lips, gently kissing it. "Tonight, is a full moon and in half an hour it will be at its fullest, when it does you will undergo your transformation, you will be at your strongest... that's when you attack!" He told her savagely, letting his words sink in.

  For the first minute, she wasn't sure what she should say. Killing people? But who could it be? When she first transformed into a Hybrid it was as if she had never had a life before-hand. She was born to kill!

  "Master Claudius, it shall be done, as I said before," she gently bowed before him before turning around to walk through the doors.

  "Oh, and Stacy!" He quickly cut in just as she was about to fade through the doors. She turned with a grin and raised her eyebrows in question. "Spill all their blood!"

  * * * * * *

  (Levi's P.O.V)

  He shuffled his feet in the mud, making some faces at it as he did. I am an idiot! I can't go into battle! He told himself mentally, already looking around nervously at the people who stood around them, their weapons pressed equally in one direction.

  "Everyone!" It was Headmistress' voice that spoke through the cacophony of murmurs. "Get ready to take charge in the plan." She held her hands up and Levi knew it meant that they were about to attack. He gripped Sally's small hand in his, while in his left hand, he held his sword. Levi swallowed bile in his throat and forced himself to stare at the crowd of students around them.

  "Get ready! Five, Four, Three, Two-"

  They were cut off by the biggest and most horrifying howl, it killed his ears, forcing him to trample to the ground. At least twenty other students joined him.

  I know that howl... It's the howl of a Hybrid! He turned around, closing his eyes and the ear-splitting sound proceeded in such horrid ways. Sally screamed beside him, tears streaking her eyes because she knew as well, what it was from.

  Just in front of them, a screaming Debra shook on the ground, curled up in a ball, her white hair streaming across the mud, turning brown at the ends. Levi leaped towards her, just as a figure dashed out from the thick of the trees. He shouted for Debra to get off the ground.

  "DEBRA!" He screamed at her, ordering her to get up, to run, to get away from the beast that was attacking. He drew his sword from his waist and held it up, taking one strike that the massive beast before him. It hissed at him with massive sharp teeth.

  If Levi didn't act soon he would be dead, and so would Debra. He thrashed the sword at the Hybrid's chest, but its massive talon-end nails latched out and knocked the silver blade from his very fingers. Levi cursed under his breath and ran f
orward towards Debra.

  He felt the rain begin to batter against his back as another big mutt came barrelling towards him. How many were there?

  "Debra, you have to get up!" He yelled, already pulled her up by the shoulders. He felt extraordinarily bad for the girl who had gone through torture! But she had to get up or she would go through it again. Debra wouldn't budge though.

  "I've got her! You go find Kit or get these mutts away!" It was Sally who was before him in a second, hauling Debra's motionless body over her shoulder. "I'll help you as soon as I get her away, be careful!" Sally disappeared into the shadows with Debra over her shoulder, that managed to bring him back to reality because a second later something came out from no were and smacked him across the face.

  It was another Hybrid, its eyes beamed with radiant darkness like the sky above. He yelled something over the sounds of everyone's screams, remembering just how many people were falling despite there being hundreds of them and only at least twenty Hybrids.

  He drew his sword from the silver sheath at his waist, knowing that the silver in the blade was very toxic to Hybrids. Levi lashed out at the Hybrid, watching as his blade scraped a huge red gash in the side of the Hybrid’s fur.

  It screamed very lowly and came out at him with its claws fully extended. Levi ducked and watched as it barrelled the other way, its teeth fully extended. Right then, as it prowled through the debris of leaves, watching Levi with sharp intent eyes, it reminded him of no more than a wolf.

  If that's what I make of it, then that's what it's going to be. He thought to himself, feeling his feet thundering through the mud towards the Hybrid, his arms were extended and so was the blade. The Hybrid launched itself at Levi at the exact same time he did, but this time, he won over and he felt his blade being dragged into its heart.

  He pushed further, feeling a blood-gurgling sound that came from the Hybrid as it wailed beneath his fury. He smiled, maybe it was going to be a little easier than he expected it to be.

  He turned around as soon as he knew the mutt was dead... to see even more than he thought. Syria was doing a bunch of twists and turns as she fended off two Hybrids at once, she looked so graceful with every movement she made, and it was beautiful.

  He could see fury in her eyes as her blade went digging through the Hybrid’s heart. Levi's breathing was slowing down rapidly, and he turned around, unable to see all that blood and cries.

  It was a horrible move because as he turned around, he realized the very thing that was in his way.

  Stacy... the Hybrid.

  "Hello Levi, remember me?" She snarled. She was obviously her wolf self, he could tell as much by her massive paws and the way she walked on all fours. She prowled towards him in the exact same way the previous mutt did.

  "Stacy... yeah, I remember you, I always hated you!" He growled, showing off his white teeth as he grinned at her, trying his hardest to use manipulation on her. She only growled now, and he watched as her fur began becoming wet with the millions of drops of rain that fell on her.

  Levi bit his lip but kept his blade aimed solely at her heart, "you ready for death, Levi." She hissed through gritted sharp teeth. "Because I am desperately craving your blood!" And with that she leaped forwards until she was on top of Levi, her teeth were out and trying to get to his neck.

  His hands came up around her neck and tried to shake her off, he pulled and gripped her neck as hard and tight as possible, but she just came further into biting him.

  "You won't win!" She hissed further and opened her teeth.

  He shook his head and felt around for his sheath - which was nestled at his waist - when he felt his hand's grip the cold metal her brought it up and leaned it against Stacy's fur, watching as it burned a whole in her fur.

  She cried out in pain and leaped off him, growling in annoyance. "That was a bad move!" She urged and ran towards him. He aimed the sword up and watched in horror as her large talons came out, they connected with his face and scratched a massive gash down the side of his face... too close to his neck.

  His eyes widened with fear and he swung his sword in her general direction, watching as she took a step back each time he got closer and closer. "You just can't beat me, can you? The best you can do is burn my fur off!" She, or it said.

  "Oh yes I will!" He yelled and closed his eyes. He felt the streak of the blood from his wound, he felt the burning sensation that poured through him, he could see everything even though his eyes were closed.

  I have been trained my entire life to kill and kill I will!

  With that thought on his mind, he felt his eyes open fiercely, he felt the silver short-sword leave his fingers, not even allowing him time to think of how his plan would fail. His eyes widened with concern as the blade was sent flying through the air, looking like it was gliding along the sky in an oppressive and hard manner.

  The sword sailed through towards her heart and she didn't even get any time to relax before it sunk into her heart, sticking there, leaving nothing more than her cry of behind. Levi wanted to laugh at her, but he found nothing good in doing that, what good would come to him.

  He ran towards her and pushed the blade in deeper, watching as she let out a strangled cry that was so horrible that it sent the birds in the sky to fly off the branches.

  "You... won..." she breathed raggedly, letting the snarl on her lips disappear. "I always knew you would succeed." Her breathing stopped, her eyes no longer moved, there was nothing left but a tear that streaked down through her black wolf-eyes.

  A tear also streaked down his as he watched the beast, where a pull of blood had formed around her like a flood of nightmares. He had just killed someone he use to know, did that make him a murderer. Levi wanted to scream, he wanted to throw himself at Claudius and rip his heart out! He was the reason why all these people he knew were dying.

  Ever body that crumpled to the ground was because he couldn't kill Claudius in time. If he had done something better, none of this would have happened. He managed to pick himself warily off the ground, completely oblivious to the fighting students around him, in all their eyes fire burned, in all their heart grew a renewed fight.

  Levi clenched his fists and turned to face the trees. Somewhere through all those trees and darkness, is Kit, and somewhere near Kit is Claudius, and wherever Claudius is, death usually follows close behind.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  He watched in horror as more Hybrids came charging from around him, he managed to slip away from them and hide within the dark green brush around him. They were everywhere and all he was thinking about was a way to rescue Kit at the same time as getting back to find Debra and Sally.

  He needed them safe but judging by the number of beasts that were all here, he knew he had to do something to get her out, after all, she was his greatest treasure.

  Levi crept into the shadows of the dark green brush, watching the fight rage on as his face stung from where he’s gotten cut. It was a deep cut and he could feel the blood dripping down his face, gradually mixing with his normal paleness.

  Right, get it together, right now; you must figure out a plan! He ordered himself, feeling like he was in two different wars. One with himself and one with Claudius. You must get away from this and into the cave, you've already taken down Stacy, it should be easy now!

  He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists together at his sides, feeling the lack of circulation flow through his freezing knuckles.

  That's it, his mind was set. He was going to go in right now and save Kit.

  Quietly, he stepped through the bushes, ducking beneath the trees and stepping over rocks and stray twigs to make sure the sounds of his stepping were muffled. He cautiously slipped the hood over his head, making sure the shade shielded him quite enough,

  Now he faced the cave, and he watched as the darkness loomed right before him. He steadies his gaze, a thousand horrible thoughts pounding through his brain, but he pushed them all to the side as he pulled out a bow and steadied
an arrow, aiming at the figure that stood guard at the foot of the cave.

  He had no thoughts left as he released the bow, watching it fly and strike the hag on the side of the head, leaving nothing but a blood curdling cry.

  The edges of his lips tilted up as he stood from his crouching position and hurried through the opened cave.

  One thought was on his mind: Save Kit.

  "Levi?" It was Sally's voice and Levi spun around to face her, his instinct - when being startled - was to hold a weapon up, and so, he unsheathed his sword and aimed it at her head. His eyes widened as he saw who it was and instantly he wrapped his arms around her neck.

  "Sally," he breathed, "I was so worried about you. We must come up with a plan. Where is Debra?" He looked around at the war that had unfolded feeling his stomach clench at the metallic smell of blood.

  "Don't worry, she's safe." Sally promised.

  He just nodded and pulled back. "Right then, a plan." He sighed and tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear. "We'll get Kit out then?"

  "Yeah... still haven't figured how though, any suggestions?" She looked so innocent, Levi though, she was smaller than he was by a foot and a half, but still looked tall. Her stance looked quite tired and warns out and her eyes pulled the slight effect of half-moons from barely any sleep.

  "Yes, I do have one or two suggestions, but they would be to spill up. You find Kit and I'll look for Claudius, I won't really do much though, I'll spy on him and wait for you guys to come back." Levi said, seeing Sally's worried look.

  "I'll be okay, and I need you to be as well. I promise we'll both be okay." He assured her.

  She looked up from the muddied ground. "Promise?"

  "Promise." He told her, taking her small delicate hands in his. Sally looked up and smiled.

  "Alright, I'll check on Debra and then go." She took one step back from Levi, her hands leaving his. Levi shivered from the cold breeze as he figures disappeared through the tattered smog.

  * * * * * *

  (Sally's P.O.V)