Laura Monster Crusher

by Wesley King

  I felt every muscle in my body straining as I drove the hammer forward, trying to break through to the leader. Allison was trying to stay with me, but it was complete chaos. Monsters hacked at us on all sides, and I just kept moving forward. The goblins fell back, stumbling to keep away from the hammer, which was now blazing red. The horde finally parted, revealing the leader. His yellow eyes flashed as he lifted his sword with two hands. Gripping my hammer, I prepared to charge.

  But before either of us could move, another goblin burst out of the woods and shouted something. The leader looked at it, and then turned to me and smiled evilly.

  “Fall back!” it shouted.

  The goblins instantly fled into the trees, while the imps flew off into the night sky, disappearing through the canopy. Eldon and the others killed a few as they fled, but in seconds the forest was empty again. I could tell Eldon wanted to chase them, but then Liz immediately dropped to the ground, clutching her side again.

  “Are you all right?” someone asked me.

  I turned and saw Allison looking at my cut. Blood was pooling onto my shirt and cloak, where the claws had ripped right through the material.

  “Yeah,” I said, cringing. “Fine.”

  She cut a piece of fabric off her cloak and started wrapping my arm.

  I looked at her in surprise. “Thanks.”

  “No problem,” she muttered.

  “What was that all about?” I asked.

  “No idea,” she said softly. “But I’m sure it’s bad.”

  “We need to get Liz back to Arnwell,” Eldon said, helping her up. “Whatever just happened, at least they fell back for now.”

  We started back for the house, slowly picking our way through the trees. Eldon and another Sword were supporting Liz by the shoulders, but she was very weak.

  Something felt very wrong about the whole attack. Obviously the monsters had been waiting for us. But if it was an ambush, why did they retreat before the fight was over? We were still outnumbered. It didn’t make any sense.

  “I know,” Allison muttered beside me, clearly guessing at my thoughts. “I don’t like it either.”

  We were almost to my house when I saw lights through the trees. Lots of lights. Frowning, I hurried to my backyard. Every light in my house was on. Feeling my stomach twist, my eyes fell on the back door. It had been ripped clean off the hinges.

  “No,” I whispered.

  I sprinted across the lawn, lifting the hammer. I didn’t care who saw me. They were in my house.

  “Laura!” Eldon shouted.

  But there was no way I was stopping. My brother was inside. I was halfway there when a hulking figure suddenly grabbed me from behind. I struggled to free myself, but a familiar voice stopped me. “It’s too late,” Uncle Laine said, carrying me back to the trees.

  “But they’re in the house—”

  “They’re gone,” he said brusquely. “I watched them leave.”

  As soon as we were in the woods again, he dropped me. I whirled to face him.

  “What happened?” I demanded.

  “A group came at me from behind,” he explained, looking sombre. His cloak was ripped and torn, as was his tunic. “I chased them back, but as I did, I heard shouting.”

  Eldon and the others had gathered around him. He looked away.

  “They were already leaving. I went after them, but they got away.”

  “But they can’t go in the house—” Eldon said, frowning.

  “Obviously they can,” Laine said. “We were wrong.”

  “Were they looking for Laura?” Allison asked. “Is everyone else all right—”

  “They weren’t looking for Laura,” Laine said quietly. “They never were.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

  Laine put his hand on my arm. “They took Tom.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I sat in my kitchen, unable to speak or move or do anything at all. The police were there, asking my parents questions and inspecting the back door. My parents had been looking for me in a panic, of course. I told them I’d heard Tom shouting and chased the kidnappers outside. Then I’d just broken down and sobbed so hard that my body was shaking and my legs were weak and they had to sit me in this chair. Eldon, Laine, and the others had fallen back into the trees, obviously unable to follow me inside wearing their cloaks and swords. I was alone, back in the real world, just staring at nothing.

  And now I couldn’t even cry anymore. All I could do was think about Tom.

  I’d let my brother down.

  Shal and Mia had already been picked up by their parents, and they’d given me quick hugs before they left. They hadn’t heard me leave, so they believed the story.

  I’d pulled off the fabric Allison had wrapped around my arm before I went inside, and told my parents I must have cut it on a branch or something. It was way too deep for that, but my mom was putting antibacterial cream and bandages on it so fast I don’t think she even noticed. Her hands were shaking the whole time, tears pouring down her face.

  She was still crying, leaning against the counter with her face in her hands and sobbing. Stache was just pacing around, unable to sit still. They didn’t understand.

  Of course they didn’t. They couldn’t. I wanted to tell them what had happened, but Eldon had quietly told me the same rules applied before I went in. If I told my parents, there would be repercussions. He said the Swords were already tracking the goblins. They’d find Tom. But that was no consolation to me. Nothing was. My brother was gone, and it was my fault. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks again.

  Another officer knelt down in front of me. “You’re sure you didn’t see anything?”

  I shook my head. “Just their backs. Two of them. One was holding Tom.”

  He nodded and put his hand on my knee. “We’ll find them.”

  No, you won’t, I thought to myself. I will.

  It was another few hours before they left. Stache managed to install some new hinges and lock the door, and we all just sat in the living room for a while. No one slept. We just sat there in silence, and Stache rubbed my back as I sat there and wondered if the Swords had found anything. Uncle Laine had come inside soon after me, telling my father that he had seen the flashing lights, and told me when no one was listening that Eldon and the other Swords were searching for the tunnel the monsters were using. Uncle Laine left soon after to join the search—he seemed almost crazed, clenching his fists and telling me he would come get me the second he found something. He said he had tracked the goblins a fair way and had a vague idea of where the tunnel might be. He also told me he wouldn’t sleep until he found it, which made me feel a little better.

  I wanted to search too, but there was no way I could leave my parents now.

  When the sun was up and streaming through the windows, I told my parents I was going to try and lie down for awhile. My mom gave me a hug, tears streaming down her face.

  “We’ll be right here,” she whispered.

  When I was alone in my room, I finally let it out. I grabbed my eyes and sobbed, the tears rolling down my face like twin rivers spilling into falls. I started shaking and trembling and curled into a little ball on my bed, pulling my knees to my chest. All I could see was Tom with the monsters, and when my mind wandered to the worst, the sobbing would start again. I was completely broken.

  I lay there, crying for hours, before I finally drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

  —

  I woke to someone caressing my face. I snapped awake and found my mom sitting over me, running her fingers along my cheek. Her eyes were puffy and red.

  “Hey, Laura,” she said softly.

  “Hey,” I whispered.

  “Your uncle Laine is here,” she said. “He invited you to spend the night at their place. Said it might be good to get you away from the house for a bit—and away from these woods.” She ran her fingers through my hair. “I said I would ask you.”

  I didn’t wan
t to leave the house, but I knew what Laine was doing: giving me a chance to talk to someone about what had actually happened. He was giving me an out.

  “I think it might be a good idea,” I said, pushing myself up. “If you and Dad are going to be all right.”

  She smiled sadly. “We have each other for company. I’ve just been crying on his shoulder most of the day anyway.”

  I leaned over and gave my mom a hug. She buried her face in my shoulder.

  “I want him back,” she said, her voice cracking. “I want my baby back.”

  “We’ll get him back,” I said quietly. “Don’t worry.”

  She pulled away and looked at me, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “Sometimes I forget how strong you are. Much stronger than your mother.”

  I smiled faintly. “That’s because I’m twice your size.”

  She managed a little laugh and hugged me again.

  “All right, he’s waiting downstairs,” she said, climbing off the bed. “Promise me you’ll stay inside.”

  “We’ll be safe,” I said, not wanting to break a promise when I wasn’t sure I was going to see her again. The thought brought fresh tears to my eyes, but I held them in check. She was right. I needed to be strong. “I’m going to pack my bag.”

  When I had stuffed a change of clothes into a duffle bag, I went downstairs and saw Uncle Laine waiting with Stache by the front door. I noticed that Laine was standing a little bit away from my dad and not really looking at him. He obviously felt guilty and probably wanted to explain to my parents what had happened to their son. I knew the feeling.

  Stache gave me a hug. “You’re sure you don’t want to stay here?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “Uncle Laine is right. I could use a change of scenery. Everything here just makes me think of Tom.”

  He nodded. “All right, Laurabell. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I hugged them both again and followed my uncle outside to his beaten-down truck. Climbing up into the passenger seat, I waved goodbye as we pulled out of the driveway and then roughly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. I’d done enough crying. It was time to be the Monster Crusher.

  “Are you ready?” Laine asked softly, looking out the window at the setting sun.

  “Yeah,” I said. “Did you find the monster’s tunnel?”

  He nodded. “It wasn’t too hard, really. Saw goblins waiting before I got within fifteen metres of it. They didn’t spot me, so they won’t expect us.”

  “Where are we meeting the others?”

  “They’re going to meet us at the side of the road, directly north of where we’re going. We’ll just walk in a straight line south.” He looked over at me, and his big brown eyes softened. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “Telling you guys to move here. I put you in this situation. I never thought any of this would happen. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

  “It’s not your fault,” I said. “I made the choice to open the panel. I made the choice to keep coming back. I wanted to be something special.”

  “And you are,” he replied. “I’m very proud of you.”

  “What about Sandy and the kids?” I asked. “Do they know what’s going on?”

  Laine shook his head. “I sent them to your grandma’s on Friday. Didn’t want them around, no matter what happens in Riverfield tonight. Sandy was a bit confused, but I told her I was just worried about these kidnappers and wanted them to stay out of town. It’s for the best.”

  “I wish I’d sent Tom out of town too,” I murmured.

  We drove in silence the rest of the way. A few minutes later Laine pulled onto a small side street at the south edge of town, right by the woods. The sun was already falling below the trees, and the first shadows stretched out over the truck, welcoming us to the forest. Laine grabbed two hooded cloaks from the back of his truck, along with a huge broadsword and a knife. He also handed me the worn leather hauberk.

  “Put this on,” he said. “There will be plenty more claws and teeth where we’re going.”

  I stepped out of the truck and slid it on. I had just wrapped the cloak over my shoulders when Eldon and the others appeared in the shadows. Laren stepped forward and handled me the bundled Iron Hammer, as well as the small silver knife and leather sheath to tie to my ankle again.

  “I had to leave a few Swords to guard Raven’s End,” Eldon said. “Just in case. But that means there are only six of us. We will have to move quickly and quietly.”

  I strapped the sheath to my left ankle, pulling it tight and then tucking it under my jeans. Then I unwrapped the hammer and propped it up on my shoulder. I didn’t need the sheath. This time I was keeping the hammer ready.

  “Stay close,” Eldon said. “We don’t want to be seen before we get there.”

  We set off into the woods, Laine and I joining Eldon at the front, while Allison, Steven, and Laren took up the rear guard. We walked for about ten minutes, trying to move as silently as possible through the ever-darkening woods.

  Finally Laine slowed down. “It’s close.”

  We slowly moved forward, watching for shapes in the darkness.

  I followed Uncle Laine, sticking close behind him. As we walked, I noticed that he was wearing the same cloak he’d had on last night when Tom was taken. The rips and tears were still visible. He was lucky they didn’t go any deeper—there was no blood surrounding the tears. The goblins’ swords must have just missed piercing his skin.

  “There,” Uncle Laine said, pointing ahead.

  We all froze, and through the darkness, I saw two wiry shapes standing in the shadows. Despite the gloom, I could see just a bit of light reflecting off their swords.

  Goblins.

  Eldon nodded at Allison, and she stepped up beside him, drawing her bow. He did the same, moving with a deadly silence that almost made me shudder. The two of them were killers through and through. Maybe we had a chance after all.

  “Now,” Eldon whispered.

  Two arrows sailed through the night like bats, and both found their mark. The goblins toppled to the ground, arrows in their hearts. Eldon nodded. “The monsters don’t know we’ve found their main tunnel, so they’ll be assuming we’re coming through our own. But we should prepare for a trap regardless. Laura, you go in last. Laine, stay with her until she’s through, just in case there are goblins nearby on the surface. Give us a few minutes to scout the tunnel before you enter. If we don’t come back, don’t follow us.”

  “Right,” Laine said, stepping close to me and brandishing his sword.

  Eldon looked at the others. “We move quickly. If it’s a trap, fall back.”

  He darted forward, staying close to the ground. I watched as he reached the two bodies, his hand sweeping across the ground, looking for the hidden tunnel. He paused, finding a crack, and then heaved a massive circular opening upward, using both hands. Judging by the size of that opening, even the most massive of ogres could have entered Riverfield.

  He nodded at the others, and then quickly descended the stairs. The other Swords followed, leaving Laine and me alone. Laine looked out over the woods, his eyes narrowed dangerously, his hands firmly gripped on the hilt of his sword. As we waited in uncomfortable silence, my eyes fell on his cloak again. Suddenly something else came to mind. I hadn’t really thought anything of it earlier, but now that I thought about the dates, it didn’t make any sense.

  I frowned. “Uncle Laine, when did you say you sent the kids to Grandma’s?”

  “Friday,” he said distractedly, looking around the woods. “Why?”

  “Why did you send them away on Friday? Nothing had happened yet.”

  Uncle Laine glanced at me, looking confused.

  “I was worried,” he said. “I had a hunch.”

  There was something odd about the way he was reacting. Like he was nervous. I couldn’t even believe I was thinking it. But there was something else that didn’t add up.

  “Why would
the monsters take Tom?”

  Laine snorted. “Who knows?”

  “I do,” I said quietly. “They took him because he’s a Shadow Sight.”

  Laine stiffened for a moment. I would have missed it if I wasn’t watching so closely. I felt my stomach turning in disbelief. It couldn’t be.

  “How did the goblins get in the house?” I asked quietly.

  “I don’t know,” Laine said, growing agitated. “They just did. What is this about?”

  “You scouted this tunnel,” I whispered. “You insisted you alone watch the house. You brought us to Riverfield in the first place.”

  Uncle Laine looked really agitated now. “So?”

  “What happened on that mission? The one where you were taken prisoner?”

  Laine looked away, shaking his head incredulously. Then, without warning, he started to run. He would have gotten away, but I was ready. I stuck the hammer out and tripped him, and he toppled into the grass. I still couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

  He turned and looked up at me, his eyes wide. “I was never going to hurt you,” he said, almost pleading. “Or Tom. You have to believe me.”

  “Why?” I whispered.

  “They tortured me. I broke. I wanted to get back to my family. So I made a deal.”

  “What deal?”

  “I told them about the other tunnels,” he said, his eyes welling with tears. “I told them they could use them to invade Derwin and the other realms. The war would be over in a day.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “The humans were losing the war anyway. It was only a matter of time. Months. Maybe a year.” His voice cracked. “I’m losing my job, Laura. My house. I pleaded with Eldon to let my family move to Derwin, but he refused. It was the stupid rule about surface humans not being allowed to live in the Under Earth. Dungan made me a deal.”

  “Dungan?”

  He paused, and for the first time in my life, my uncle looked afraid. “The leader of the monsters. A troll. Trust me, you don’t want to meet him.”

  He slowly climbed to his feet, leaving his sword on the ground.

  “They promised me Arnwell for my own. A whole castle, Laura. I had to take it. All I had to do was bring them Tom. I know most of the tunnels to Derwin, but I don’t know the secret pathways to the other realms. They needed a Shadow Sight.”