The Grey Ones

by Candra Baguley

  Chapter 21

  A high pitched scream cuts through the silence of the night. I twist back to peer over my shoulder and find four Grey Ones running straight for me. Only wearing shorts and a shirt, I sprint the other way as fast as my legs will carry me. Small rocks dig into my bare feet as the wind pushes against my cold skin.

  Behind me, I can feel their jaws snapping at my ankles; A few short yards ahead, the roof is coming to an end. Right beyond the ledge is another rooftop. As blood rushes to my face, I force myself to run faster. My feet push off the ledge, sending me flying over the narrow alleyway; my feet still moving in midair. When I land on the cement, my body rolls over my ankles. Their claws scrape against the roof as they leap off the building. Without wasting any time, I pull myself up to my feet and dart away.

  Their wheezing breaths are only a few feet back as they chase after me like a pack of hungry wolves. It’s only a matter of time until they catch up. I need to find a way out of here.

  When I leap across another alleyway I barely make it onto the next building. Landing on the ledge, my body wobbles before toppling over onto the rooftop. They lunge after me, coming into view out of the corner of my eye. One of their screams fades away slowly when it misses the rooftop completely, plummeting into the street three stories below. The remaining three beasts continue to chase after me. I run like a scared rabbit across the cold rooftop with the ruthless aliens close behind.

  The upcoming building is taller than the one I’m on. There’s no way I’ll make it onto the roof. I’ll need to come up with another plan. I keep running at full speed and glance over my shoulder. All three of the monstrous beings are only steps behind me.

  Focused on the next building, I search for a spot to land; bricks sticking out, a balcony, a drain pipe. Anything I can use to catch myself. Only seconds away from reaching the ledge I notice a window right below me. If I jump at the right angle, I may be able to make it.

  Right as one swipes dagger nails at my long hair, I leap off the roof. My eyes close tightly as I brace my body for impact. The window shatters around me. Small glass shards slice my legs as my body rolls across the hardwood. Coming to a stop, I lay on my chest, breathless. As I stare out the broken glass I listen to their nails as they scrape against the brick building. The sound is shortly followed by three loud thuds.

  My sore arms push off the ground. Hunched over, I limp to the window frame. The wind blows my hair back as I stand beside it, staring at the three Grey Ones below. On the black pavement, their skin glimmers in the moonlight. When they stand back up on all fours, they each scream into the night. Without any wounds, or even a limp, they pace around the dark street. Only to run away when the screams of their own erupt from around the corner.

  Hushed voices from behind catches me off guard. When I turn around to investigate I realize I’m back in the dusty tunnel at my house. I spin around to the broken window, but it’s gone. In its place is the steel door that leads into our home.

  A familiar voice brings my attention back to the bunker at the end of the tunnel. My feet move slowly as I tip toe towards the cracked open door. The conversation seems so familiar to me. When another voice whispers faintly, speaking Latin, I remember this conversation. It’s exactly what I heard that day at Bunker 1. As I listen carefully, I can only make out one word from before. “Ignis”. But this time, I remember what it means.

  Fire.