“My dad was into comic books, so he named me Lana for Superman’s girlfriend Lana Lang.”
You will serve me.
“And my mom added Arwen for the elf princess in The Lord of the Rings.”
I will use your power as my own.
“And I never, ever do what I’m told.”
Your power will give me shape. I will feed. Grow strong again. And with the body I will form using your power, I will escape this place.
Your power will give me freedom.
Lana was shaking. The gasoline smelled, and the fumes were making her woozy.
Now or never. Now.
Never.
“Pack Leader!” Lana shouted. “Pack Leader! I’m going to blow this mine to hell, Pack Leader. Do you hear me?”
“Pack Leader hears,” the coyote sneered.
“You get yourself and your filthy animals out of here or you’ll die with the Darkness.”
Pack Leader leaped heavily onto the hood. His fur was up, the ripped mouth slavering. “Pack Leader fears no human.”
Lana snapped the pistol up and fired. Point-blank range.
The sound was stunning.
In the glass there was a hole surrounded by a star pattern, but the glass did not blow out like the rear window had.
Blood sprayed across the glass.
Pack Leader yelped and jumped clumsily from the hood, hit. Hurt.
Lana’s heart jumped. She’d hit him. A solid, direct hit this time.
But the glass was still there. It was supposed to shatter. It was her only escape route.
Your power will give me freedom.
“I’ll give you death!” Lana raged.
Lana took the pistol and used it like a hammer, beating on the glass, breaking it out, but only a little at a time. She kicked at it, frantic. It gave, but too slowly.
The coyotes could take her if they made a concerted attack.
But the coyotes held off. The injury of their leader had left them confused and rudderless.
Lana kicked, crazy now, panicked.
You will die.
“As long as you die with me!” Lana screamed.
A big section of the safety glass gave way, folding out like a