Thirteen (Otherworld 13)

"Which would mean they'd be accustomed to looking for victims on the ground."

I wasn't sure how true that was, but it had worked, so I wasn't arguing.

As she slid down, a nearby shriek sent her tumbling to the ground. I backed her to safety between me and the tree. A ragged girl about thirteen stood on the path. Her mouth opened so wide her jaw cracked as she shrieked again.

"She's calling the others," I said. "We need to get out--"

Another girl joined the shriek-fest from the opposite end of the path. I grabbed Jaime, pushed her into the forest, and we ran.

Not my best idea ever, as I realized about ten seconds later. It was boggy ground and we slipped and slid. The Tengu ran as fast and surefooted as antelope. I herded Jaime left and circled back to the path.

We'd just hit it when the thunder of footsteps had me pushing Jaime into the forest again.

"Wait!" she said.

She gestured and I followed her finger to see the blue glow of my mother's sword. A second later, Mom appeared . . . mere steps ahead of three Tengu-possessed children.

One of our pursuers burst from the forest. My hand flew out, hitting her with a knockback before the first incantation word left my mouth.

"Head back to the motel," Mom shouted. "I'll be right behind you."

"Is it this way?"

"I sure as hell hope so."

It wasn't. Not exactly anyway. After about five minutes, we could see a road ahead. We ran to it and found ourselves about a quarter mile up from the motel. One car passed us as we ran and it didn't even slow down.

A guy in the motel parking lot did notice us. He was halfway out of his car when we roared around the corner, raced to our rental, and hopped inside--Jaime and me in the front, Mom in the back. He stared at the kids pursuing us, took in their blood-flecked clothing and scratched, bloody faces, hopped back into his pickup, and went in search of more amenable lodgings.

I put the car in reverse just as two kids launched themselves onto the trunk. Another flew onto the hood. The others went for the side windows.

"You know, I think I've had this nightmare," Jaime said as they banged and howled and plastered their bloodied faces against the glass. "Except with zombies."

"Close enough," I muttered. "Hold on."

I gunned it in reverse. I guess I should have paid more attention in physics class. The one climbing onto the roof shot over the car, but Sara, still on the trunk, flew backward.

I hit the brakes before I ran her over. I knocked the gearshift into drive, hoping I had enough room to turn. The kid who'd flown from the roof leaped up right in my path. I checked the rearview mirror. Sara had wobbled to her feet, holding on to the trunk for balance. Another boy climbed onto the roof.

"Son of a bitch!" I said. "Why do they have to be children?"

"For the same reason you aren't hitting reverse and saying to hell with it," Mom said.

"The kid in front is bigger," Jaime said. "He can handle the impact better."

"Great," I said. "We've gone from 'Don't hurt the kids' to 'Which one will get hurt the least.'"

"Ease forward," Jaime said. "Knock him down carefully."

"Run him over. But gently," I muttered and gently pressed the gas.

The kid on the roof started jumping up and down. A girl took a running leap onto the roof and did the same, setting the car rocking.

"Just keep--" Mom began.

Jaime screamed as her window shattered. A boy reached in and grabbed a handful of her hair. Mom caught the kid's arm and twisted until he howled and let go, but another was already reaching through.

A crash. Something struck the side of my head so hard I saw stars. A brick dropped beside me. Hands reached through the broken driver's window.