Sixty-one

I've been here before. I know I have. A vague memory of red-eyed monsters with jagged teeth and horns springs into my mind, and I can't help the shudder that runs through me at the memory.

" Oh," That's all I can say as my eyes move to the horizon and notice in the distance, mountains covered in embers smouldering quietly. Judging by the faint glow, and the faint scent of smoke lingering in the air, the fire has subsided a long time ago.

" What happened?" I ask quietly as my eyes move around, trying to find any sign of life. However, I'm not sure if I'd be pleased when I do.

An angry groan shakes the jar in my hand, and I can't help but feel a little apprehensive. If he keeps doing that, the jar's integrity will begin to weaken.

Now. How do I get out of here?

Mason made it look so banal whenever he found an exit point out of these places. But this is not a pocket. This is another plane of existence.

I consider asking my windy friend but I'm pretty sure that my answer will be a resounding 'up yours'.

So, puffing my cheeks, I look for disturbances around, where matter oscillates, creating a weak spot where I can slip out of here. The problem is that on the other side, a police officer is waiting for me.

The ground beneath my feet begins to vibrate, more embers rise in the air. I've walked this path before but the problem is I don't remember how I got out. For so long I thought these places were rejecting me, treating me as an intruder. Until my windy friend came into the picture.

With a deep breath, I lift my eyes off the floor and look into the distance. I can't see them yet but I know it's them. They're closing in and fast.

" How do we get out of here?" I ask trying to keep the fear out of my voice. Fear would be nice but I'm beyond petrified at the prospect of facing this creature with my bare hands.

My windy friend laughs, the jar vibrates in my hand and I should've known better than to ask him for help.

Sliding the blade out of the sole of the shoe, I take a stance to prepare myself for the attack. It won't do me any good, but I try to tell myself that I stand a chance.

If anything, I'm good at lying to myself.

The ground begins to shake violently as my eyes scour the horizon, and against the glowing mountain, horns appear before the bodies follow shortly.

" Who or what are they?" I dare ask, and he laughs again. The jar vibrated with the force of his laughter.

But he doesn't supply an answer, and I don't have time to negotiate with him. At least not until I'm not out of this place. There must be a way out.

They stop, just like they did before on the knoll, darkening the horizon. Their red glowing eyes, fixed on me. They know I'm here and they probably know who I am.

Everyone does but me.

With a deep inhale I dig my heels into the flaking scorched ground, and steel my trembling body bracing myself for impact. In the low light, I can distinguish certain traits, but nothing distinctive other than their scaly flesh and ghastly appearance.

But in all honesty, I'd take fighting them over a confrontation with Ava any day.

That thought puts a smile on my lips, just as one of the creatures breaks away from the horde and charges my way.

" We're fucked," My windy friend mumbles from his very frail prison.

I can't help but agree with him on this one.

" Well if you'd tell me how to get out of here we wouldn't be in this mess," I say, keeping an eye on the rest of the horde who are at a standstill on top of the knoll.

The ground beneath my feet trembles, with each thudding step, the monster takes, closing the distance rapidly. Nimble, faster than anything I've ever seen.

Once he is a good ten feet away from me he leaps in pulling out a black blade, making my two meagre daggers pale in comparison. My odds of dying are increasing with each passing second. I can practically feel the ripper breathing down my neck.

Slightly stunned, I watch him descend the steep incline with his blade poised for attack. The hilt I've made out of the seals of Yaruun, still sitting in my drawer in the loft.

The tip of the blade catches a glimmer of light from one of the embers floating aimlessly in the air, and I snap out of my trance and gather enough commonsense to evade his blow by shifting to the side.

The blade impales into the ground with earth-shattering force, and little rifts appear in the ground, webbing away and out of sight.

Huffing steaming breaths he lifts his head, his red blazing eyes find me, still standing in the same spot, partly terrified and partly curious.

His roars sound so powerful that it changes the electrical charge in the air, making my hair stand on end, and my insides vibrate at the sound of it.

The horde follows at his signal stomping the ground with the same determination, as if they are standing in front of the biggest army they've encountered. Not a broken girl, holding a jar.

He straightens in front of me, standing at what I presume eight feet tall, his bulking frame blocks out my field of vision completely.

" Asadri," He says in a disembodied voice, and takes his stance in front of me, while the hoards surround us.

" Hmm...what now?" I dare ask, as I eye the jar in my hand, hoping that my windy friend would provide a helping hand.

He laughs, boisterously, the jar vibrates in my hand and I pray that the damn thing doesn't crack.

" You're fucked," He says mirthfully, and I can't help but sigh. This is not my day.

" So you've said," I say, looking around for a hole in the ground to place the jar. I'd hate to part ways with it before I can have a little conversation with him.

I do find a burrow, it might have belonged to an animal once upon a time. Raising my hand, I lift the jar and point at the whole. The monster gives me a curious look, maybe confused as I tread the ground and place the jar in the hole.

" You be good and wait for me right here," I say as I slip the jar inside the burrow.

My little windy friend groans in frustration and I turn and leave him to stew in his juices.