I woke up completely, and I rushed to the window. Despite the cold, I opened it and tried to spot the fire truck, not that I could see much from the first floor or past another three-story building on the side.
I gave up on the window and marched to the kitchen, where I turned on the radio and tuned it to the local news channel.
There was nothing. Only static. I changed to another news channel. Same thing.
The building shook and a loud boom sounded from outside, and I grabbed the counter to steady myself.
When everything stopped moving, I dashed back to the living room and unlocked the patio door. As I stepped out, the raven appeared by my face. I stepped back as it cawed desperately, circling my head. Added to the noise of sirens and screams, I could feel a headache coming.
I put my arms around myself, shivering in the cold. “Rok, calm down.” He didn’t. “I can’t understand you. What is it?” He came at me again, and I jumped back. He wanted me to get inside? To run? “I’m trying to understand, okay?”
My parents appeared at the door. “Nadine, what is it?” my mother asked, her eyes sleepy, but her expression tense.
“The walls were shaking,” my father said, pulling his robe tight around him. He stilled, watching Rok. “Shoo.” He raised his arms to wave the bird away.
Mom rubbed her eyes. “What is that crazy bird doing?”
Rok soared around me once more before flying away.
Okay. Think Nadine. Based on the sounds and Rok’s reaction, the city had to be under attack.
“Let’s go inside,” I said, pushing them past the door.
“You’re scaring me,” my mother said.
I closed the door behind us and leaned against it. They watched me, waiting for a response. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. Because really, how could they have found me? I had just escaped New York City. They couldn’t possibly have tracked me this fast.
More importantly, I was supposed to be far away from here when they came for me. I wasn’t supposed to attract them here. Not here.
I shook my head. “I …”
“I don’t know if anyone is hearing me,” a voice came from the radio in the kitchen. “But … our town is under attack. I think it’s similar to what happened in New York City. There are … creatures, or whatever they are, entering the town from the east, and they are destroying everything in their path. If you can, run. Now.”
Oh, God. Not again. No.
My throat felt raw, and I clutched my neck, having difficulty breathing.
My parents looked at me with wide eyes.
My nerves brought goose bumps to my arms. I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. I had gone through this before; they hadn’t. They needed me and I had to be strong for them.
“Come on. Let’s go.” I rushed to my bag beside the couch, changed into jeans, and put on my boots. When I turned, my parents were still staring at me. “We need to go. Now!”
Whimpering, my mother ran to her bedroom. My father followed close behind. I grabbed my bag and slid it over my shoulder, then marched to the kids’ bedroom.
“Nikkie.” I tapped her arm. “Teddie. Tommy.” I shook their feet. “Wake up, please. Wake up now.” I found an empty duffel bag under the bunk bed and stuffed it with some of their clothes.
“What is it?” Tommy asked, rubbing his eyes.
“We gotta move.”
“Why?” Teddie asked, sitting up.
“I’ll explain later, okay? Right now, we gotta move.”
I reached up, clasped Tommy’s waist, and helped him to the floor.
“Where are Mom and Dad?” Nicole asked.
“Here, sweetie,” Mom said, appearing at the door. She had put on pants and a heavy coat.
Coats. Holy shit, it would be freezing outside. I rummaged through their drawers, grabbed socks, beanies, sweaters, and coats, then pushed them out the door. I directed Teddie to Dad, Tommy to Mom, and picked up Nicole in my arms.
With Teddie’s hand firmly in his, Dad walked to the front door.
“Dad, is there a way through the back patio?”
He frowned. “Yes, but it leads to a back road.”
“Would that be to the west?”
He thought for a second. “Yes.”
“Then that’s where we’re going.”
As we exited into the chilly air, Nicole tucked Pinky between us, wrapped her arms around my neck, and buried her face in my chest. “It’s cold,” she whispered.
I rubbed my hands on her back, trying to warm her. “I know, Nikkie. I’m sorry about that, but there’s no other way.”
Nobody spoke as Dad led us through a long, narrow corridor between buildings. In the dark and with almost no lamps on the street, it was hard to see where I was stepping. I tripped a couple of times and almost fell.
When we reached the back road, Dad peered out.
“What am I looking for?” he asked.
I sighed. “Monsters. Really big, nasty monsters.” Nicole whimpered in my arms, and my mother shot me an are-you-crazy look. “I’m serious. Sorry I skipped this part about the New York attack, but I know the same thing is happening here.”
“How do you know?” my mother asked.
I pressed my lips tight. Because they are after me. Not a good answer.
“Please, just believe me. We need to get out of town ASAP. Not only out of town, but we need to get away fast.”
“Nadine, what aren’t you telling us?” my dad asked.
Once again, I opened my mouth and words didn’t come. What could I tell them? I didn’t want to get them involved in this. Too late for that. However, we didn’t have the time to discuss this. We had to move.
I walked past my dad and out of the corridor. At the intersection, about forty yards from me, an Ornek ran by. With a gasp, I retreated into the corridor and plastered my back to the wall. My heart raced. I closed my eyes and squeezed Nicole, trying to calm myself.
“What is it?” Mom asked, going to the edge of the corridor.
I held her arm. “No. Wait.” I shook my head. “One of them just ran down Magnolia Avenue.”
Her eyes widened. “One of them?”
“One of the monsters,” I whispered, afraid the kids would understand. Who was I trying to fool? They were too old not to understand.
“I want to see!” Teddie said, his voice too loud.
Dad shushed him. “Be quiet. They will hear us.”
I looked at Teddie. “This is not a game. This is real. If they see us, they will kill us.” Nikkie’s arms tightened around my neck. “We’ll be okay,” I said, more to calm their nerves than my own. Because honestly, if I stopped to consider this situation, I wasn’t sure I would believe me.
I peered down the street.
That demon walking down Magnolia Avenue was probably a patrol, sent ahead to check. Others would come via opposite streets and back roads.
What then? Wait for the demons to pass, or try to get ahead of them? Or follow the first one down Magnolia Avenue? I didn’t know what to do, and each second that passed was precious because it meant the demons were advancing and getting closer.
What I wouldn’t give to have Keisha and her weapons with me.
A loud boom shook the ground, and my ears rang. I leaned against the wall for support, my head spinning. When I recovered, my mom was pushing off the ground, and my dad was crouched behind us, his eyes wide.