Alex Finch

by Cate Dean

  “I’m not—”

  “I’ll stay with him, Alex.” Misty dropped the dying flare in the water, turned on her flashlight. “Get him back to the surface. We already lost the element of surprise, so the fewer going after that thing the easier it will be to hide. Besides, you’re too short to get him up the ladder.” She flashed a smile at me, then draped Dad’s arm across her shoulders, wrapping her arm around his waist. “Come on, Mr. Finch. Sam will take good care of Alex. Not that she needs it—I’ve seen her in action.”

  “Alex.” Dad reached out his free hand. I gripped it, and he pulled me in. “Come back, sweetheart. Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  He leaned in, kissed my forehead. “Take care of my daughter, Sam.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Misty moved forward. “Let’s get you out of here, Mr. Finch, while that jacked-up teddy bear is licking its wounds. Seriously, a monster teddy bear? That is so wrong.”

  I stared after them, the knot in my stomach tightening every time Dad let out a moan. How much more would we pay to stop this thing? I rubbed my face. We would find out soon enough.

  “Alex?” Sam’s quiet voice calmed me. I looked up at him, saw the blame reflected in his eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

  “He’ll be fine. Let’s just get this done.”

  21

  I limped past Sam, headed back to the nest.

  It was home, and probably where the monster went to lick its wounds. I was done hiding and creeping in the dark. The Devil knew we were here; time to face it head on. Of course, Sam completely disagreed.

  He grabbed my arm, stopping my limp-march. Before I could protest he pulled me into a side tunnel, one that sloped upward so it was, thank heaven, relatively dry. We kept going until it curved around, the main tunnel out of sight. This far in, the lights were still intact, blinking like the line had been damaged at some point.

  “Are you out of your mind?” he whispered. “You saw what it did to Jake, to your dad. How can you possibly think you’d survive a face to face with it?”

  “Because if it wanted the kids dead, they’d be dead by now.” Or eaten. Okay—shoved that one right out of my head before it could take hold. Though it would probably take on a life of its own later. The downside of a vivid imagination. “And someone, or something, sent that video of the first kid. The Devil wanted attention. Well, it got exactly that.”

  “Okay, but let’s be a little more cautious. There’s no need to go storming in when we can check things out first, see if we can find an advantage. Any advantage,” he muttered.

  “Right.” The adrenaline from Dad’s attack faded, and my temporary sense of invincibility went with it. “Forget what I just said. It was the need for revenge talking.”

  He flashed a smile. A real smile. “Been there.” He glanced at my feet. “Can I make a suggestion?”

  “I’m not going to like it, am I?”

  “Definitely not. Your boots are—loud.”

  “You mean ugly and obnoxious?” And full of water. I let out a sigh. “Fine. But I’m going to need your help.”

  He set our duffle bags on the cement floor, then helped me sit, pulling the boot off my good foot first. Water came gushing out. I rolled off the dripping sock, figuring barefoot would be better than sloshing around in cold, wet microfiber. I didn’t think my miracle moisture-wicking socks could wick away this much moisture.

  The second boot hurt, every single inch of the way. Once Sam got it off, I hugged my leg, my ankle on fire. He carefully eased my sock down, and sucked in his breath. My ankle was swollen to twice its size, bulging against the ace bandage. The bruises looked black in the flickering, sickly light.

  “Can you walk on that?”

  “I’ll run if I have to.” I let out a breath, slowly straightened my leg. My ankle practically screamed at me. “Or maybe not.”

  “You should stay—” He cut himself off, grabbing the wall.

  “Sam?”

  “Okay—just lost my balance. Give me your hand.”

  I did. His skin felt clammy; mine probably did, too. The water down here was cold, and seemed to feel colder the longer we slogged through it. He pulled me to my feet, and leaned against the wall. I touched his arm, startled to find him shaking.

  “Sam.” He looked like he did the other day at school. Just before he collapsed. “Sam—”

  I caught him as his knees gave out, and he knocked us both to the cement floor, landing on top of me. Impact left me breathless, but I recovered quickly enough to feel the difference in the skin under my fingers. He shuddered against me, every muscle clenched.

  “Sam—”

  “No,” he whispered. “No—” The whisper escalated to a hoarse gasp.

  I gripped his waist, braced myself to roll him off me. I froze when his eyes stared into mine, and started to change.

  The clear grey-blue turned icy, primal. His pupils grew, black and furious. Those frightening, animal eyes stared down at me, mesmerized me.

  He hauled me up and I let out a harsh gasp when he slammed me against the wall. “Alex,” he whispered, his low voice coming out a growl. “Run.”

  Without warning the fingers digging into my arms turned lethal. Claws pierced through my hoodie, my shirt—he snatched them away just as the sharp tips brushed my skin.

  “Sam—”

  “Run!” I stumbled backward, but I couldn’t leave him. Not like this. “Alex, please—”

  He doubled, dropping to his hands and knees. Muscles bulged, and his t-shirt split at the seams. His ragged breathing turned into panting, and I pressed against the wall when hair started to sprout from his skin.

  “Sam . . .”

  His head flew up, and his lips curled back from teeth that had grown longer, pointed. His panting became pained yips as his nose stretched, and his cheekbones widened, the cracking sound of his bones shifting the most horrific thing I’d ever heard.

  I didn’t want to see anymore, but I stayed. For Sam. For some reason, I thought being here would help anchor what was still human in him.

  “Sam.” I forced myself to push off the wall, kneel down close to him. Those primal, inhuman eyes watched me, an icy grey-blue in a face that no longer resembled Sam. “I’m here. Stay with me, Sam. I need you to stay with me.”

  “Alex.” My name came out as a low snarl. “Go.”

  I swallowed. “Not a chance.”

  He barked at me. Literally barked. “Go!” The word changed to a howl that echoed through the tunnel. If the monster didn’t know where we were, it knew now. He lowered his head, panting and grunting, his newly formed claws scrabbling against the cement floor. “Won’t—remember—”

  “You will. Jake told me he remembered things when he changed. You can fight this, Sam. Please,” I closed my hand over his, ready to be clawed at the very least. He went still. “Fight it, Sam.”

  After an endless minute he jerked free, crawling away from me. He left the shredded remains of his shoes and socks behind, clawed, hairy feet sliding over the cement. The seams of his jeans ripped with every movement, and with a horror that froze me, I watched him finish his transformation.

  Seven plus feet of grey fur and sharp claws rose in front of me. I couldn’t move. I wasn’t sure I was still breathing. He looked terrifying and magnificent, his eyes glowing in the darkness. One claw reached for me, a low growl rumbling out of him. It reminded me of Jake—and snapped the paralysis.

  With a shout I scrambled to my feet and ran down the tunnel, ignoring the screaming from my ankle. My heart pounded so hard I expected it to burst right through my ribcage, and so loud I couldn’t hear anything behind me. I risked a glance over my shoulder, turning back in time to see the lip of the tunnel entrance. Just before I tripped over it.

  The snarl echoing behind me was enough to push me back to my feet.

  Clutching the wall of the main tunnel, which was pitch black, I pulled the small flashlight out of my pocket and flipped it on. I limped forward, and took
the closest, driest tunnel. The more noise I made, the easier it would be for Sam to track me.

  My limp-run slowed to a limping walk pretty quickly. My ankle shrieked every time I put weight on it. And I had no idea where I was. Sam had the map. Abandoning the kids twisted my stomach, but I had nothing—no direction, no weapons, and a furious, freshly minted monster at my back. I kept going simply to put distance between us.

  The tunnel took a sharp turn. And dead ended.

  “No—” I stomped down my panic and searched the far wall. The beam found a ladder bolted into the wall, similar to the one that led down here.

  I grabbed the ladder, put my right foot on the lowest rung before I turned off my flashlight and stuck it inside my hoodie. Taking a deep breath, braced for the inevitable pain, I pushed up. My ankle didn’t disappoint.

  The climb took forever, my left foot not cooperating at all. But I used the leverage of my arms to compensate, and only had a couple of heart stopping slips by the time I reached the top.

  Wrapping my left arm around the top rung, I dug out my flashlight, turned it on with the beam pointing down, carefully inched it up. The first thing the sliver of beam caught was the back of a sagging, wood building. With a sigh, I leaned my head against the ladder. I was in Hyattown.

  22

  Once I climbed out of the hole, I lowered myself to the dirt, flashlight tucked into my side, and took the time to catch my breath. Quietly. The monster could be anywhere, and it already had my scent. If that was how it hunted. I hoped not—though running through algae infested water may have helped me. I sniffed my arm, and shrank back from the stench of sewer and me combined.

  I wanted to find the kids, but I was alone, didn’t have any idea where they might be, and not a weapon in sight. The duffle bags were with Sam.

  Feeling like I failed everyone, I got to my hands and knees, the flashlight clutched in my teeth, and started crawling over to the building. After testing the wall for stability, I used it to stand, leaning against the welcome support. I took the flashlight out of my mouth, shined it on the mess of bruises and swelling that masqueraded as my ankle, and put some weight on it. My left leg cried and moaned, but if I kept most of the weight on my right, I’d make it to the exit leading up to—

  Wait—Candace and Jake were here, with the injured boy. Probably Dad and Misty as well. I wouldn’t be alone, and maybe they already found the other kids.

  Anxious, and relieved that help was nearby, I used the building as a support, limping down the side alley, hoping I could get my bearings when I reached the front—

  A noise stopped me. I held on to the building, straining, waiting. There—a low moan, like someone was in pain. I lifted my head, spotting the window right above me, the broken glass looking like jagged, ugly teeth. I stiffened at the next sound that floated out—a sob, coming from the other side of that broken window.

  Adrenaline pushed me forward, masked the pain of my ankle. I pulled myself up to the boardwalk, inching along the front, my flashlight pointed down, lighting far enough ahead of me to make sure I didn’t go through rotted wood.

  The door was locked, and there was fresh glass in the window next to the door, which told me I was on the right track. Dread knotted in my stomach, because there was no way a giant, punk black teddy bear could walk into the local hardware and buy a piece of glass. It had an accomplice. A human accomplice. It confirmed the suspicion I’d had since I saw the video in Mrs. Swiller’s office.

  Covering my face, I smacked my elbow against the corner of the window. It shattered under the pressure—and a sharp pain shot up my arm.

  “Ouch—oh, damn,” I gripped my elbow, expecting to find blood dripping from a nasty gash. It sure felt like the glass had gone straight through my hoodie and into my arm. No blood, but man, that hurt. At least I did what I intended.

  Using the cuff of my hoodie to protect my hand, I knocked the loose shards out of the frame, reached in, and unlocked the door. It squealed when I opened it. I froze, waited for an attack. When nothing happened, I squeezed through, leaving it open. If someone, or something came in behind me, it was a guaranteed alarm.

  I moved the flashlight over the room. It was empty, with only one other doorway, leading toward the side of the building where I heard the distress. I inched forward, along the wall, and discovered the old trick of walking along the wall to avoid a squeaky floor was a lie. At least in this case. Every step announced my presence.

  A gasp echoed out of the doorway, and scrambling sounds. They already knew I was here. I didn’t want to scare them any more than they already had to be. So I moved as fast as I could, the flashlight pointed straight at the dark doorway.

  “Hello. I’m not going to hurt you—I’m here to help—oof—” I almost fell backward as a small weight slammed into me. I managed to hold on to my balance, the shaking body, and my flashlight, which I moved until I could see what held on to me with a death grip. My heart jumped. “Katie?”

  “Alex—you came—you found us—” Quiet, heartbreaking sobs cut her off.

  I wrapped my arm around her, whispered soothing words until she calmed down enough for me to talk to her. “Is there someone else here with you?”

  She nodded. “Matt. He’s in the other room. His leg is hurt, so I came out to make sure the monster didn’t hurt him again—” She took in a shaky breath. “I thought you were it, or its accomplice.”

  “Did you see their face?”

  “No. But it was a man. I saw that much before he tossed me in here. Matt’s brother Marky escaped, but I heard him—” Her voice broke. She held on to me tighter. “Is he—”

  “We found him.” Katie pressed her face against me, crying again. “He’ll be okay, sweetheart. Candace and Jake are taking care of him. I’m going to get you both out of here.”

  Katie led me into the room. My flashlight found Matt, huddled in the far corner, a rough bandage on his right thigh. The monsters—I lumped the accomplice into that category now—left them here, in complete darkness.

  I moved over to him, slowly, talking the whole time. “Hi, Matt. My name is Alex, and I’m here to take you both home.”

  Tears stained his face. “Marky—”

  “Is okay. A friend of mine is taking good care of him.” Hope lit in his eyes, and he straightened. “Let’s go join him.”

  He nodded, grabbed my outstretched hand. Katie helped him stand, and even though he topped her by several inches, she kept him steady as he limped forward. I moved ahead of them, checked the outer room again before waving them forward. The breaking glass would have brought anything in hearing distance.

  We made our way to the front door, the youngest and smallest of us the most able bodied. I sincerely hoped we didn’t run into either of their abductors.

  Edging around the partially opened door, I scanned both sides of the building, and the alley beyond. I hated not being able to see anything coming at us. But in the scan I caught sight of the still lit main street, which put us close to the exit leading up. To safety.

  “Stay close,” I whispered. “We're almost home free.”

  My fingers brushed over what felt like a big, old key, sticking out of the wall next to the door. Shining my flashlight on it, I realized what it must be. Swallowing, I tested my theory, and turned it.

  Gaslight flickered to life, inside the room, and along the outside of the building.

  Katie looked up at me as I let out a breath. “Cool.”

  Smiling, I hugged her, then Matt. “Let’s get out of here.”

  I turned off the flashlight, keeping it in my hand. I felt better having some kind of weapon—just in case.

  I got us off the squealing boardwalk, but stayed next to it, wanting the cover of the buildings at my back. Matt gasped every time he moved his right leg. I heard Katie talking to him in a low voice, coaxing him.

  “We're almost there, Matt. I know you can make it.”

  I wanted to believe her.

  We reached the main street, and I
was relieved beyond belief to recognize our location. We were just down the street from the exit, and freedom. The town sign was just a block away when my ankle twisted under me. I grabbed the splintered wood of a support post, felt a small hand on mine. “Alex?”

  “Okay, just a hinky ankle.” I pushed off. “Let's get out of here.” We headed to the ladder leading up to the surface. I expected Candace and Jake to still be here, taking care of Marky. Or at least Dad and Misty, resting before they climbed up to the surface. I must have been down there longer than I thought. “Come on. Katie, I want you and Matt to go up first, and wait for me at the top. This leads to the back of the McGinty house, so don't be scared when you come out.”

  Matt spoke for the first time since I found them. “I won't be scared of much, ever again, compared to this.”

  My heart ached at the grim look on his face. He was too young for such a memory. Hell, we all were.

  Katie flashed a smile, helped Matt to the ladder. “Take your time,” she said. “I'm right behind you.” She sounded like a pint sized grown up. I was just glad for her calm, even if it was faked. I saw her hands shake on the ladder.

  I took my flashlight out, snapped it on. “I’ll shine this up behind you. It’ll help until you get to the top.”

  Katie helped Marky on to the ladder, waited until he started climbing before she stepped on the first rung. She glanced down at me. “Thank you—Alex, look out!”

  I swung around. And the flashlight beam found a furred black chest. “Katie, move!”

  I shot the beam right into the glowing green eyes and ran.

  An inhuman scream echoed behind me. I knew I only had seconds before it shook off the effects of the light. I scrambled up to the boardwalk and into the first door I found, backing into the pitch black room as I heard heavy footsteps just outside.

  Good news—it came after me, like I wanted, to give the kids time to get away. Bad news—I didn't think beyond that. Now I'd trapped myself inside a dark building, with no way to defend against it. I decided to remedy that, while I had the chance.