Chapter Twenty-two: Jopp's Vision

The mainland we reached wasn't like the beachside we had before. Dark forests filled this land, and not a bird or cricket chirped. The silence was deafening until Thorn screamed like a little girl. I almost jumped . . . almost.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I blurted. "Grace should've had your voice."

"Something moved in there!" Thorn cried as he grabbed my arm. He was shaking harder than a whore's bed.

Once Chichi and Tark approached us, he stood up straight and ran his claws through his spiky hair. He smiled at her like a dumbass.

"Where is this place?" Tark queried as he surveyed the area.

"You're supposed to have the map," I grumbled.

"Oh! That's right! It should be on my . . ." He checked his pockets and grimaced. "I think it fell out."

"It's okay, hon," Chichi assured. "We can look for another one."

"Why can't we just use smartphones?" Thorn muttered as he pulled one out.

I crossed my arms as I watched him fiddle with it, completely wasting our time. "In case you didn't know, demons have taken over the world! There aren't any humans to keep the network going!" I slapped his head for good measure. "Where the hell have you been?!"

"On a godforsaken island with a trap!" he snapped. He tackled me to the ground and shoved his thorns in my side. "Don't make fun of me neither, asshole!"

"I'll do whatever the hell I want!" I blasted. "Psst. Knock me out," I added in a whisper. "It'll look good to Chichi."

He punched my head way too damn hard, that son of a witch. I growled before playing dead.

Thorn stood up, and just as I predicted, Chichi was fawning over him and hopefully talking his head off.

Rif and Golir poked my cheeks before a harsh slap flew through my left cheek.

"Wake up, Jopp!" Hekin hollered. "The minions are coming!"

"Damn it all to hell!" I blurted before he helped me to my feet. We ran to the cover of the forest to hide from whatever was pursuing us.

The thirty demons were visible at the horizon. If we stopped, they would definitely catch up.

"We have to get back to Penny Lee," I told Hekin. "Noforl is too powerful for just us."

"Can you teleport us there?" Hekin asked.

I sighed as I rubbed my forehead. "I'll try, but it takes alot of energy." I needed more spirits because of everyone.

"Maybe we can help you channel the necessary energy," Mil suggested. "Should we hold hands and give it a try?"

I scowled at her because it would hurt to try.

"All right, let me focus," I told them. Last time, I had pleaded with the spirits to help. Would they still be willing?

A roar from the dark forest was close, and I lost my focus. "Damn it! I can't concentrate with that racket!"

"Let's keep going!" Thorn urged. "There's a trekker nest nearby!"

I bolted my ass out of there, heading deeper in the woods.

"Jopp! Wait for us!" Tark ordered. "Aeklith! Come on!"

"Get your asses moving!" I demanded. "I am not looking forward to meeting a damn trekker!"

"What's a trekker?" Rif asked as we dashed uphill.

"You'll probably see soon enough," Thorn answered as he glanced behind us. "They can smell us for miles. We have to keep moving."

"Is that one?" Tark queried when he pointed ahead of us.

The trekker's rumbling growl sent shivers down my spine. Its huge head snapped open with sharp teeth longer than my arm. Glowing yellow eyes locked on me before it charged on two trunks for legs.

Its claws raked the earth as I rolled under it to avoid the strike. I stabbed its belly with a poisonous needle and hooked the creature to the ground. Black blood spewed from the injury, and it roared as it tried to break free. Gray entrails began to litter the forest floor, and the blood flowed faster.

A dozen roars sounded from the nest area. "Keep running!" I commanded as I pushed Thorn and Tark forward.

"It's hurt really bad," Golir cried. "Why did you kill it?"

"It's either kill or get killed with trekkers," Thorn responded. "Keep going! Hurry!"

"He was just curious!" Golir protested. "You didn't have to hurt him!"

I stopped and looked him in the eye. "What did he say, exactly?"

"He said you scared him," Golir wept. "He's crying for his kids, now."

I glanced at Mil, and she was kneeling beside him.

"You can understand him?" she started. "What are they saying?"

Golir gulped. "His kids are crying for him."

Mil turned to me with a determined gaze. "I'll catch up." She dashed into the forest with Golir in her arms.

"What in the blazes is she doing?" Thorn muttered.

Rif hopped onto Hekin's back and urged him to follow.

"You guys are insane!" I bit out as I watched them head towards the trekkers. Once Chichi followed them with Tark, Thorn bolted after her. So much for friendship. I sighed as I stood there alone. The dark forest didn't seem forgiving, and I didn't want to lose them. I chuckled. There was a time when I wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone that wandered in my forest. Could this be my forest, too?