Cornered by the Beast

Dust and splinters filled the air as the alpha wraith smashed through the wall. Its green eyes glowed like lanterns, fixed on Lila with a hunger that made her skin crawl. She stumbled back, her boots slipping on the debris-strewn floor. The room erupted into chaos. Sasha swung her sword at the beast's snout, but it barely flinched, its spiked back bristling. Mara notched an arrow, firing straight at its eye. The shot hit, sinking deep, yet the wraith only roared louder, shaking the building.

Kade grabbed Lila's arm and yanked her toward the door. "Move!" he shouted, his voice rough with pain. Blood still stained his shirt from earlier, but he held his knife steady, ready to fight. She ran with him, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst. The baby kicked sharply, a jolt of pressure that made her gasp. She pressed a hand to her belly, whispering, "Hold on," as they bolted past the shattered table.

Ryn was already at the door, hatchet raised, hacking at a smaller wraith that tried to slip inside. The blade cracked its skull, and it dropped with a wet thud. "Out! Now!" she yelled, waving them through. Lila didn't hesitate. She ducked under Ryn's arm, Kade right behind her, and stumbled into the smoky chaos of the outpost.

The night was alive with screams and fire. Mara's archers fired from the watchtowers, their flaming arrows streaking through the dark. Wraiths swarmed the walls, claws tearing at the wood, some climbing higher than they should've. Rogues fought back with spears and axes, but the alpha's roar drowned out everything, shaking the ground under Lila's feet.

Sasha burst out behind them, her sword slick with black ooze. "Gate's our shot!" she barked, pointing east. "We hold it or we're dead!" She charged toward the wall, cutting down a wraith mid-leap. Mara followed, barking orders to her crew, her silver hair glinting in the firelight.

Lila stuck close to Kade, her scratched arm throbbing. He limped but kept pace, his jaw tight. "That thing's after me," she said, her voice trembling. "Mara's right. It's not random."

"Doesn't matter why," he replied, scanning the chaos. "We keep you alive. That's the plan."

She wanted to argue, to demand answers about this "old blood" nonsense, but a wraith lunged from the shadows, cutting her off. Kade slashed its throat, black blood spraying across his face. He wiped it with his sleeve, grimacing. "Stay sharp," he said. "They're everywhere."

They reached the gate, a heavy slab of wood and iron, already under attack. Rogues braced it with their bodies, spears jabbing at wraiths clawing through the gaps. Tor was there, his bald head shining with sweat, swinging a hammer at anything that moved. He spotted Lila and snarled. "Your fault, bitch! Brought this shit here!"

"Shut up and fight!" Kade snapped, shoving past him. He slammed his shoulder against the gate, reinforcing it as a wraith's claws scraped the other side. Lila grabbed a fallen spear, its tip chipped but sharp, and joined him. She stabbed through a crack, hitting something soft. A wraith screeched, pulling back.

The alpha's roar shook the wall again, closer now. Lila glanced over her shoulder. It lumbered through the outpost, tossing rogues like toys. Its massive paw crushed a shack, wood splintering under its weight. Mara fired another arrow, this one tipped with fire. It lodged in the alpha's shoulder, flames licking its fur, but the beast barely slowed. It locked eyes with Lila, and her blood ran cold.

"It knows me," she whispered, gripping the spear tighter. "How?"

Kade didn't answer. He grunted as the gate shuddered, a wraith's claw breaking through. He stabbed it with his knife, twisting until it retreated. "Hold the line!" he shouted to the others. "We've got this!"

Sasha reached them, her arm bleeding through its bandage. She swung her sword at a wraith climbing the wall, slicing its leg clean off. It fell, howling, and she turned to Lila. "You're a damn magnet for this crap," she said, panting. "What'd you do?"

"Nothing!" Lila shot back, jabbing her spear at another wraith. "I didn't ask for any of it!"

"Doesn't matter," Mara cut in, joining them. She reloaded her bow, her scarred throat tense. "It's here. Deal with it." She fired, the arrow sinking into a wraith's chest. It dropped, twitching.

The alpha charged, its spikes glinting as it barreled toward the gate. Rogues scattered, some too slow—its claws swiped, and a man screamed, blood spraying. Lila's stomach churned, but she held her ground. Kade stepped in front of her, knife raised, his chest heaving. "Stay behind me," he said, his voice low.

"No," she replied, stepping beside him. "I'm not hiding." She tightened her grip on the spear, her scratched arm burning. The baby kicked again, harder, like it was urging her on.

The alpha hit the gate like a battering ram. Wood cracked, iron bent, and the rogues stumbled back. Kade lunged, slashing at its paw. The blade bit deep, drawing black blood, but the wraith swatted him aside. He hit the ground hard, rolling into a pile of debris. Lila screamed his name, starting toward him, but Sasha grabbed her arm.

"Fight, not fuss!" Sasha barked, dragging her back. She swung her sword, catching the alpha's flank. It roared, turning on her, and Lila saw her chance. She thrust her spear into its side, aiming for the gap between its spikes. The tip sank in, and the wraith thrashed, black ooze spilling.

Mara fired another arrow, this one hitting its neck. Flames spread, the beast howling as it staggered. For a second, Lila thought they'd done it. Then it reared back, slamming the gate again. The whole structure groaned, splintering, and the rogues yelled as it gave way.

Wraiths poured through the breach, smaller ones rushing past the alpha. Lila swung her spear, catching one in the chest. It fell, but another leaped at her. She ducked, the claws grazing her hair, and stabbed upward, gutting it. Black blood splashed her face, bitter and cold. She wiped it off, gagging, and looked for Kade.

He was up, limping toward her, his knife dripping. "You good?" he called, slashing a wraith mid-stride.

"Yeah," she lied, her arm screaming now. "You?"

"Alive," he said, reaching her side. They stood back-to-back, weapons ready, as wraiths circled. The alpha loomed over the broken gate, its burned fur smoking, eyes still locked on Lila.

"We can't kill it," she said, panic rising. "It's too strong."

"We don't have to," Mara shouted, running up. She pulled a small horn from her belt and blew—a sharp, piercing note that cut through the chaos. The wraiths flinched, heads snapping toward the sound. The alpha roared, shaking its massive head, but didn't advance.

"What's that?" Lila asked, her voice shaky.

"Old trick," Mara said, blowing again. "Confuses 'em. Buy us time." She nodded at Sasha. "Get your people out. Back gate, now!"

Sasha didn't argue. "Rogues, move!" she yelled, waving her sword. Survivors rallied, grabbing wounded and kids, sprinting for the outpost's rear. Ryn appeared, dragging Tor, who cursed but followed. Kade pulled Lila along, his grip tight on her wrist.

They ran through the smoke, wraiths snarling behind them. The horn's blasts kept the alpha at bay, but smaller ones still lunged. Lila stabbed one, her spear snapping in half. She dropped it, grabbing a fallen axe instead. It was heavy, but she swung it, splitting a wraith's skull. Blood sprayed, and she kept moving.

The back gate stood open, a narrow exit into the forest. Rogues poured through, Mara's archers covering them with volleys of fire. Lila and Kade made it out, stumbling onto a muddy path. The air was cooler here, the wraiths' stench fading. She leaned against a tree, catching her breath, her scratched arm dripping red.

Kade slumped beside her, clutching his chest. "Close one," he muttered, wiping blood from his face.

"Too close," she said, her hands shaking. She pressed them to her belly, feeling the baby settle. "That thing… it wouldn't stop."

"It's not done," Mara said, joining them. Her horn hung at her side, her bow still in hand. "Wraiths don't quit. Whatever's after you, it's big."

Sasha limped up, her face smeared with soot. "Lost half my people back there," she said, glaring at Lila. "Hope you're worth it."

"I didn't mean for this," Lila snapped, standing straighter. "I'm just trying to live!"

"Live somewhere else," Sasha shot back, but Mara raised a hand.

"Enough," Mara said. "She's not the enemy. Something else is. We need to figure it out." She turned to Lila, her scarred throat tight. "That wraith blood reacted to you. Old blood's rare—means power. Means trouble."

"Power?" Lila's voice cracked. "I don't have any power!"

"You do," Mara said, her eyes hard. "And it's waking up. So's whatever's hunting you."

A rustle in the trees made them all tense. Kade raised his knife, Sasha her sword. The wind carried a faint growl—distant, but growing. Lila's heart sank. The wraiths weren't gone. They were regrouping.

"We need to move," Kade said, pushing off the tree. "They'll find us again."

Mara nodded. "East, deeper into the hills. Got a safe spot—if it holds."

"If?" Lila asked, dread pooling in her gut.

"Nothing's sure now," Mara said, starting down the path. "Not with that alpha still breathing."

They followed, a battered line of survivors. Lila stayed close to Kade, her axe heavy in her hand. The growls faded, but the forest felt alive, watching. Then she heard it—a whisper, soft and eerie, like wind through bones. It came from nowhere, everywhere, curling around her ears.

"Lila," it hissed, her name drawn out slow. She froze, her breath catching. The others kept moving, oblivious. She spun, axe raised, but nothing was there. Just trees and shadows.

"Lila," it whispered again, closer. Her skin prickled, the baby kicking hard. She backed up, heart racing, and bumped into Kade.

"What's wrong?" he asked, grabbing her shoulders. His gray eyes searched hers, worried.

"You didn't hear that?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Hear what?" he said, frowning.

The whisper came again, cold and sharp. "Mine." This time, the trees shook, leaves falling like rain. A shadow flickered—tall, thin, not a wraith. Something worse.