Afflicted

“Come on,” he urged as he shoved me forward and I tried to blink my vision clear.

I ran blindly and stumbled over my own feet, only staying upright because Spencer’s hand clamped around my elbow and forced me to. He dragged me on and I ran faster, the howls of the wolves making me forget the pain in my head and focus solely on escape.

“This way!” a girl yelled ahead of us but I couldn't tell who it was.

Spencer dragged me around an overturned car and I finally made sense of what was in front of me. We were almost at the coffee shop and Rose was holding the door open ahead of us. The rest of our friends were staring out through the glass windows and the looks on their faces were enough to let me know how closely we were being followed.

I put on a spurt of speed to close the final few steps and flew past Rose with Spencer right beside me. She slammed the glass door behind us and the sound of locking bolts followed us.

The wolves howled angrily as we escaped and I turned back to see three of them glaring through the glass. I stepped back involuntarily as the closest wolf snarled, revealing a row of razor sharp teeth.

We were safe again though. At least for now.

“Where's Bryony?” Tommy asked suddenly.

Everyone started looking between each other to search for her.

“She was right beside me when we jumped out of the van,” Chloe said shakily.

A scream from outside drew our attention back beyond the glass.

Bryony leapt out from behind a parked car and started sprinting for the door.

Everyone began yelling and screaming at once as Rose ran to unbolt the locks.

The wolves yapped excitedly, rushing to cut her off before she could make it to us. Spencer and Ryan grabbed two chairs and headed for the door, holding them ready to swing.

Rose fumbled with the bolts as we screamed for her to hurry while Bryony tried to duck away from the advancing wolves. Before she could get any closer to us, a wolf leapt from the roof of a car and tackled her to the ground.

Her scream was louder than all of ours combined and the rest of the pack howled as they raced to join their meal.

Bryony’s scream cut off abruptly just as Rose undid the final bolt. Ryan and Spencer rushed out and five of the wolves turned their way.

Bryony was on the ground behind them. Her eyes stared at us glassily as blood soaked the floor from a massive wound at her throat.

The wolves snarled as they approached the boys, Bryony’s blood dripping from their teeth.

“Come back!” Jason shouted. “She’s… you can't help her.”

Ryan hesitated and the closest wolf dropped low, preparing to pounce. Spencer launched his chair at it and backed into the cafe as the wolves scattered. Ryan followed suit and Rose hurried to bolt the doors again.

We stared out in horrified silence as they descended on Bryony again.

I felt numb. A voice in the back of my head was screaming in fear and rage and horror but on the outside I just felt cold. I couldn't tear my gaze from the feasting wolves. Couldn't even blink.

We were standing in a coffee shop in the centre of town watching a pack of wolves eat one of our friends. The police weren't here. The army wasn't here. There wasn't even a security guard in sight. Whatever was happening couldn't just be an isolated incident. My whole world was caving in on itself around me and I was powerless to stop it. All I could do was stand and stare and hope to hell that I might make it through the journey home.

Demi took a deep breath as she looked out at the carnage on the street. “She always was a slow runner,” she said quietly.

Chapter Twenty Two

Kaitlyn

“Rose?” A voice sounded behind us and I turned suddenly, raising my steak knife against the unknown man.

A tall guy with dark skin stood behind the counter pointing a shotgun at us. He was wearing a green hoodie with the sleeves cut off to reveal his large arms and plenty of ink.

“Shilo!” Rose exclaimed as she ran for him.