It feels like I’ve been walking for hours, aimlessly in circles at that. Every second that ticks by is one second too many, and the desperation to find my friends makes it hard to concentrate or think clearly.
The barn is only a few miles from Emerald Ridge if you go in a straight shot. There are hundreds of acres of woods out here though, and I could spend all day looking in the wrong places, walking right past the entrance to the root cellar. If I can find the pond, I’ll be able to find the root cellar.
And then I can find Harrison, Ethan, and Hunter.
I stumble my way down a ravine and splash through a shallow creek. I have to be getting closer to the pond. Mist rises from the water’s surface, looking unnatural. Creepy is good, right? Creepy means I’m closing in on the demon. I slip on the slick muddy bank and throw my arms out to regain my balance. As soon as I have my footing, a snowy-white Pricolici steps from the fog. It shows its fangs, and for a brief moment, I consider letting it grab me and take me to the demon, but it’s not like the Pricolici is going to be gentle on our way there.
I hold out the dagger, heat collecting around my hand. I square my shoulders and stare down the Pricolici. It lunges for me, leaping over the creek. I thrust the dagger up, cutting deep into its chest. Fire ignites inside the Pricolici, and I scramble back just in time to see it explode into a smoldering pile of fur and guts.
My sense of direction has been thrown off—again. If I close my eyes, Ryan might be able to show me where to go. But if I close my eyes, I’ll be an easy target for another demon dog. I think of Ethan and my brother and Hunter. My eyelids fall shut, and I take off in the direction that feels correct in my heart.
I lean against a tree to catch my breath, peering through the woods. My breath clouds around me, swirling into the cold air. Goosebumps rise over my arms, and my cheeks are flush from fear. Every noise makes me jump, and I feel eyes on me. The ground is slick from yesterday’s rain, and I slip as I hike up another hill. Something feels familiar and muted sunlight reflects off the pond. Yes! I’m almost there!
My nerves prickle as I run to the disturbed ground where I fell through the covered root cellar. I resheathe the dagger, turn the flashlight on my phone, and sit on the ground, feet dangling in the opening. I’m fucking terrified, both of demons and of losing those I care most about in this world. Closing my eyes, I drop down, landing on the wobbly desk that Ethan had moved over.
“Ethan?” I hold up the light, whirling around. “Harrison?”
But no one answers. The basement is empty.
Chapter Thirty-Two
No, this can’t be. This is it. I saw it. Ryan confirmed it. This is the spot. If they’re not here, then…I have no idea where they are. I blink back tears and fight off the dizziness that crashes down on me.
I don’t know what to do.
“No,” I say to myself, refusing to give up. I climb down off the desk and shine the light around the cellar one more. This place is full of broken furniture and pieces of the original barn, which probably fell in while they were burning it down.
Slowly, I shine the light from my phone around the cellar and notice a literal hole in the wall. I move pieces of wood away from what looks like an old, boarded-up-door frame, and step down a couple feet onto a hard dirt path leading to a roughly dug-out tunnel. Following the creepy demon-made tunnel is a surefire way to die, I know, and I’m about turn around when I notice light flickering ahead.
I turn off the flashlight and pocket my phone, not wanting to give myself away. I press up against the dirt wall and slowly edge forward. The tunnel turns sharply into a large cavern. Stained and tattered sheets hang on the dirt walls, dividing the large room into little sections.
I slip behind one of the curtains, shaking, terrified of finding Harrison and Ethan strung up with their throats slit, blood draining into dirty buckets. A large, rusty metal cage holds back a huge dog.
Hunter.
He lets me know the metal of the cage is enchanted and will hurt me if I touch it. I don’t know exactly how the turning into a shadow-spirit works, but I was hoping he’d be able to shift right out of the cage.
Hunter growls, and I whirl around. Three Harvesters, a Pricolici, and a pretty blonde girl stand behind me.