The Amour series (Book 2): The Ashes of Amour

by Coushatta LaRue

  She slammed the branch into the Husk as hard as she could as it ran at her. It made a horrible whining sound as it fell forward.

  screeched. Abby stumbled through the snow and pulled herself up on her knees. The pain in her shoulder was getting worse. The Husk groaned and grunted as it tried to collect itself.

  Abby did not have her knife anymore yet she had a piece of the broken branch. She threw her hand up and slammed the branch into its back. She broke skin and felt the broken branch piece go deep. The Husk screamed and threw its head back. The back of its

  her nose broke, and her vision went black.

  She clawed at the snow and dirt under her and shook her head.

  It was like someone was stabbing her in the skull then scraping the knife back and forth. Abby spat out blood as her vision slowly came back. The Husk was tossing around in the snow trying to pull the branch out of its back. Abby vomited again. She was sure this time her body would explode and she would just black out

  and die.

  She got up and her mind spun. Her body would give out any

  moment. She just knew it. She stepped forward and swallowed the

  blood and began to slowly walk forward. Her head was dizzy and

  her vision blurred in and out. Her steps were a little faster, and

  faster, and faster. Until she was running again. Racing through

  the trees with blurry vision. Blood splashing from her nose onto

  her once nice jacket. She did not feel the cold anymore. Her blood was burning. The pain was so overwhelming that it

  made her puke again. She did not stop running to do so. The puke

  of stomach acid and blood landed on her jacket too. The footsteps

  “Fuck sakes,” She cursed.

  smelled water. It was close by. Maybe a large river or something? She could not swim though and drowning sounded like a horrible way to die. She ran towards the sound anyway. The trees began to thin out as she saw sunlight and noticed the sun was slowly going down.

  The Husk ran into her body. Hitting her like a car. She crashed into the snow and screamed. The Husk punched her in the ribs and she gasped in pain. It dug its nails into her skull and ripped out a chunk of hair and blood. Abby screamed and trashed around. She turned onto her back as it licked at the blood on her hair. She screamed and reached for its face.

  Her nails dug into its neck and it dropped her hair. The Husk looked down at her with its milky black eyes. Its face was badly bruised and its skin was starting to rot. It slapped her and she laughed.

  “No,” It grunted and hit her again.

  Abby tasted more blood but kept digging her nails into its neck. If it was going to kill her she would make sure it would not be easy. Then it reached for the bolt in her arm and twisted it. Abby

  She shook so violently she thought she would die then. The Husk

  her left hand and began to suck at her cut.

  With disgust Abby vowed it would be the last time anything

  its left eye. She pressed deep feeling something squish and pop. It screeched so loudly she thought her ears would burst. She ripped

  She clawed backwards and breathed deeply. She thought she would not be able to breathe any longer.

  She stood and grabbed onto a tree so she would not fall. She stared at the Husk and heard something else in the woods. It was loud and its heart beat heavily. It sounded large. Abby froze but did not dare to look around. The Husk stood up and screamed at her throwing its arms around. Abby looked at it in disgust and her eyes widened and her breath was taken from her as a large grizzly stood behind the Husk.

  Abby’s heart stopped. The grizzly slammed a paw with large deadly claws into the Husk. The Husk made a horrible groaning

  move. The grizzly turned from her and started towards the Husk. Abby ran and panted not understanding what she had just seen. She raced through some brush and to her surprise came to a large ledge.

  She screamed and stumbled. Tripping over her own feet and landing right by the edge. She stared downward at the rushing river below. It was not too far down but far enough to kill her if she fell. Abby’s heart pounded in her chest as she pushed her palms into the rocks under her. She felt rocks slide into the cut in her palm but it did not matter.

  She stood up shaking as wind blew hard around her. Abby swallowed hard as she heard the sound of heartbeats behind her. Her lips trembled as she cried. She wondered if she were ever meant to be happy.

  She walked forward and looked over the edge as the Husk crashed through the trees. Abby looked back and took in a long deep breath. All she could think about was how much she just wanted to taste chocolate again. How she wished she could have seen Rome. How she wished she could have known love again.

  would sound like. In that moment she could not accept that it would never happen even when she saw the darkness pouring in. She did not know if it was because she was stupid or because she was just too hopeful.

  edge feeling the world disappear under her feet.

  The Husk jumped for her as she fell downward. She reached at the rocks by her and one cut her face. She struggled to grab onto the rocks as she fell. The Husk and grizzly came over the edge together. The Husk had been torn up. It was missing an arm. Yet it still reached for Abby as the grizzly dug its teeth into its skull.

  Abby caught the rocks with her hands but almost slipped with her bloody palm. The grizzly roared and reached out. Abby screamed as two of its claws caught the back of her leg. Abby let go of the rocks but grabbed them again quickly. She was not sure how she managed it. Yet she was barely holding onto the rocks as the grizzly and Husk fell.

  She heard a loud thud and looked down. They had hit a ledge jutting from the rocks. She watched them fall into the rushing water together and closed her eyes. She opened them again and looked down at the edge under her feet. She breathed. All she wanted to do was let go of the edge.

  “I’ve come this far,” She laughed and cried as she let go of the rocks.

  backwards onto the ledge and let out a long scream. She shivered and covered her face with her hands. She felt warm blood and looked down at her hands. She knew her face had blood on it. She stared at the palm of her left hand and could tell it was already healing. She pulled her under shirt from under her jacket and ripped a piece. She tied it around her hand.

  Abby looked forward and wind hissed in her ears. Warm blood dripped down her nose and onto her lips. She stared blankly at the hills in front of her. They were beautiful with the sunset. Abby leaned forward aching with every inch. She stared down at the water below and felt faint. Moving back to the rock behind her she trembled. Heights were not her favorite thing and it made her heart race.

  She could not understand how she was even alive. She should be dead by now. She let out a laugh and cried some more. The pain in her shoulder only got worse as she sat there. Looking at the bolt in her shoulder she laughed again.

  “Right,” She muttered annoyed.

  She reached forward and touched it. She winced in pain and groaned. Pain shot up her right leg and she pulled her pants leg up. Two long deep gashes sat nicely on the back of her leg. She smiled and her lips trembled. The cold brushed past her face gently and she listened to the water below. She thought how strange it would be to die there. Bleeding to death sounded like such an easy way out.

  She looked up and saw the edge above her and decided she would try to climb. Abby struggled to stand up, legs wobbling, bones aching. The bolt in her shoulder shifted and caused a lightning bolt of pain in her arm. Abby dropped to the hard ledge again and cried out. Shivering she stood up, clinging to the rocks.

  reach it.

  She let her body drop to the ground and she hung her head. She could probably climb the rocks but the risk of falling was too much. She was bleeding to death and her vision was going in and out. Her bite wounds were burning and causing too much pain in

  and let it end.

  rolled down her bloody cheeks. Rocks moved above her and sn
ow tumbled over the side. Abby froze and her heart pounded in her

  in the snow and waited. A small nose appeared over the edge and then two tiny ears. Biddy black eyes stared down at her and then Pooch barked.

  “Pooch!” Abby shouted happily.

  This time when she cried it was happy tears. Pooch whimpered and walked along the edge staring at Abby. Abby tried to stand but her left leg ached too much. She put a hand up and pointed it at Pooch.

  Pooch tilted her head to the side and then jumped. Abby screamed as Pooch fell downward. Abby stumbled forward, hands out, reaching for her beloved dog. Pooch landed in Abby’s arms hard. They both crashed to the ground. Abby scooted quickly from the side of the edge. She gasped for breath and then looked down at Pooch who was licking her face. Abby shook her and held her.

  “You idiot.” She snarled.

  Pooch tilted her head again and whimpered. Abby could not help but laugh. She held Pooch tightly then winced at the

  Abby closed her eyes and wondered how long it would take her to die. She could feel blood dripping from her wounds yet somehow could tell it was not coming out as fast as it should.

  moaning in pain. She looked down at Pooch and the little mutt eyed her with a confused stare. Abby grinned, “I think I could nibble on those little legs for a few days.”

  Abby laughed and her chest hurt. She touched her right breast and it felt sore. Her whole body was trembling now. Abby shifted uncomfortable on the ground and felt coldness on her butt. The snow was melting under her.

  sighed.

  Petting Pooch her cheeks burned with sadness. Pooch did not deserve this. She wished she could have given the good little

  as she cried with a smile. Abby breathed deeply as snow fell on top of her head. She gasped with fright and Pooch growled and barked. The fear of a Husk above her made her move to the side. She grabbed a large rock and held it in her hand.

  “How the hell did you get there?” Ava snarled with a disgusted look on her tired face.

  Abby stared at Ava with disbelief. Ava’s clothes were

  and a backpack. Pooch barked at her and Abby calmed her. Abby tilted her head and lowered her eyes.

  “You look like shit.” Ava spat as she knelt downward, “Give me the damn dog.”

  Abby nodded sluggishly and slowly sat up. She gave Pooch to Ava. Pooch snarled and barked but Ava ignored her. She disappeared for a second. She leaned over the side and reached for Abby. Abby hesitated for a moment not sure if she should go on anymore. The pain blinded her for a moment and all she wanted was for it to stop. She looked over the edge and listened to the water below.

  “Abby life is too short already.” Ava said with kindness.

  Abby looked up at Ava and there was a calmness in her eyes she had never seen before. Something of kindness and a motherly care in her large eyes. Abby grabbed Ava’s hand and groaned in pain as Ava lifted her. Ava was much stronger than Abby would have thought. She cried in pain as Ava pulled her into the snow above.

  Panting she rolled onto her back as Pooch licked her face. Abby pushed Pooch away carefully knowing that she still had blood on her face. Ava knelt above her with an eerie expression on her face.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Ava growled then she shook her face and said, “Doesn’t matter. We need to hurry and

  enough to keep you from bleeding to death.”

  Abby groaned as she sat up. She was starting to feel numb and did not know if that were good or not. Ava touched Abby’s face then was looking at something in her hair.

  “You have a chunk missing.” Ava said in a hushed voice, “And what is this?” Ava reached for the bolt in her shoulder then paused, “Out of all things.”

  as the cold traveled across her face. She looked around and saw nothing but snow twirling in the air. The sky was darkening and it was getting colder. Ava dug in her bag as Abby glanced down at Pooch. Pooch stood in the snow shaking as she whimpered. Abby heard metal hitting metal and looked back at Ava.

  Ava pulled out large pliers and pulled a strand of hair behind her ear. Ava’s dark skin glowed in the setting sun behind her. Ava reached for the bolt in Abby’s arm and Abby winced pulling back.

  “It will hurt,” Ava started, “But I need to get it out. As long as it is in there the wound will stay open. When it is out the infection inside you will work to close the opening to start the healing process.”

  Abby stared at her with panic and disbelief.

  “How can you be so sure?” Abby said breathlessly. “All the research I’ve seen says so. I could be wrong” Ava said very slowly, “But, I am pretty sure you will heal when I take this out.”

  Abby nodded her head and Ava reached for the bolt. Ava opened the pliers and clamped tightly on the end. Abby cried out

  other end out the back. Abby grabbed the wound and cried as pain raced through her shoulder. She felt bones cracking inside. Ava grabbed Abby’s hand and jerked it away.

  “Don’t.” Ava snapped, “The less you mess with it the better it heals itself.”

  “That’s impossible,” Abby cried, “That is crazy.”

  of this could be possible. She could not heal. No one could heal. That was just insane. She was going to die. Bleed to death right there in the snow.

  “This isn’t happening.” Abby cried, “I can’t. This is impossible.”

  “I know,” Ava said kindly, “This all seems crazy. But, this is what you get when you play God. You will heal… consider yourself lucky.”

  Ava put the pliers away and took out some alcohol and before Abby could protest she poured it through the hole in her jacket. When Abby went to scream Ava covered her mouth with a strong hand. Abby panted as Ava took her hand away.

  “The Husk aren’t all dead. Be quiet.” Ava hissed.

  Abby panted more and looked over at the woods behind her then said, “What happened? Where is everyone?”

  leaned back and started to look in her bag again. She pulled gauze

  her. Her shirt was soaked in blood and sweat. Ava patched up the wounds on her shoulder the best she could. Ava gave Abby’s jacket back then stared at the woods behind them. Her face was full of fear.

  “It was an ambush. We lost a lot of people. Some did get

  away.” Ava explained as she looked down at Abby’s leg, “We need to get going now.”

  Abby looked at her pants and at the scarlet color that had dyed the snow. Ava lifted her pants leg and turned Abby’s leg. She sneered and glared at Abby.

  “What the hell is this?” She asked.

  “A bear,” Abby said sighing.

  Ava glared at Abby with disbelief but did not say anything.

  She cleaned the wound then wrapped it in gauze. Standing she

  up and then her backpack. She jerked Abby upward and ignored

  Abby’s moans.

  “Stop,” Abby begged, the pain was unbearable, “Please.” “We have to go now.” Ava shook her.

  “Okay but stop being so rough with me.” Abby said. Ava let Abby go for a second and then Abby’s body began

  to shift and fall. Ava grabbed her again and pulled her close. “Where is Evan and Jessie?” Abby cried.

  Ava began to pull Abby towards the woods. Abby pulled back and Ava glared at her with daggers in her eyes. Abby stared at her blankly.

  “I don’t know.” Ava grimaced.

  Abby allowed Ava to pull her through the snow and woods. They ran some ways then jogged some before Abby had to slow down. They rushed as fast as Abby could walk. Pooch right beside her. Abby’s lungs burned as she listened to the woods around them. Limbs cracked and moved around them. She saw shadows at the corners of her eyes. She was sure she would faint.

  Ava dragged her out of the forest quicker than Abby would have thought. Abby began to cough and stumbled. She began to throw up and Ava cringed away from her. Then as fast as she stepped away Ava stepped forward again and grabbed Abby. She did not even let her clean the puke from her jacket.

  The road w
as burnt and cars were still smoking. Bodies lay everywhere. Abby saw a Marine’s body twisted and broken. Pooch growled at the scene. Abby smelt the smoke around her

  the lodge Evan and Jessie and she had ran into was burning. Abby stopped suddenly and gasped.

  “No!” She screamed.

  She began forward towards the trees again. Ava grabbed her hand and jerked her backwards. Abby tried to pull away but Ava was too strong.

  them.” “Hush the Husk are-“

  Ava paused and looked around. Screeches entered the air

  distance and screamed. The thought of losing another loved one made her mind spin. She felt her body being lifted and Abby saw Ava was picking her up. She had no idea Ava had that kind of strength.

  Abby hit at Ava and Ava tossed her towards a truck. Ava was opening the door before Abby could make any protest. Husk were starting their way and Pooch was going insane. Ava screamed at Pooch to stay as she forced Abby into the truck. Abby clawed

  from the tree. Why had she not thought of it before? She felt like an idiot. She tried to push past Ava but failed.

  “Stop it damn it!” Ava shouted. She slapped Abby across the face and Abby stared stunned, “They’re gone.”

  Ava shut the door and hurried to the other side. Pooch whimpered outside the door. Abby was trying to breathe as she watched Husk race towards them. Her body was frozen and she could not move. Her hands shook by the door handle and she cried. Her head shot to the driver’s seat as Ava opened the disappeared and came back with Pooch.

  Pooch snarled and bit at Ava but she ignored the tiny dog. Ava got into the car just as a Husk got to the trunk. She slammed the door and stared at the Husk that screeched. Abby covered her ears and begged for it to stop. All she could see as she closed her eyes was Evan and Jessie’s faces. She could not bear the thought of losing them.

  Abby reached for the door handle but was jerked back violently. Abby looked at Ava through teary eyes and stared into Ava’s large almond eyes. There was much sorrow and pain in them. Abby stared at the ring around her neck and her lips trembled. Abby tried to pull away when something slammed into her door. A female Husk was staring at her. Her face bruised and gray. Hair falling out, teeth rotten, eyes milky white.