Page 99 of Deck of Scarlets
But nothing sent the hairs on my arms rising faster than the noise that came out of its mouth. A screech so terrorizing that my stomach turned inside out.
Remember what I said about them? quizzed Josh.
I nodded, reciting his words. The most human-looking abomination to walk the planet.
Yes. A ritual creates them, stripping them of their humanity until all they have left is an empty void inside their minds. They become mad and starve for blood, he informed. And he looks hungry.
Right on cue, the Drarkoth stalked forward, its pace picking up until it sprinted down the hall full-on, emitting a sound so horrific it could have curdled milk.
The fueled nightmare jumped, about to land mouth first, when Josh and I rolled in opposite directions. Josh fired an arrow, piercing its shoulder, and dark blood seeped from the wound. I watched it rip the arrow out, throwing it at my head.
I dodged just in time, and it barely missed my ear as it pierced the ugly wallpaper. “Well, that was rude.”
“Please, don’t have a conversation with that thing,” complained Josh, knocking another arrow back.
It hissed, catching me by the cape, the sound of it tearing down my back. Driving my elbow back, the crunch of bone to its chin was enough to stun the foul thing. Dipping low, I kicked a leg out, knocking the Drarkoth on its ass.
Seconds from ending the fucker’s life, the same ear-piercing screech came from the first floor.
Don’t hesitate! Kill it now! ordered Josh.
Just as the tip of my blade pierced skin, the second Drarkoth came into view, and two more appeared seconds after. The others were just as homely. One even had a missing eye, both wearing the same battered clothes, blood staining their faces.
Three against two.
Finishing the job, I worked in the limited space, catching the eye of a second Drarkoth at the top of the stairs. Josh had already removed himself, firing arrows left and right, hitting different limbs.
I got the last two. Don’t keep your eyes off the one in front, instructed Josh.
Got it.
My dagger glowed triumphantly, and wielding the blade in close combat, I battled the next Drarkoth, slicing its throat two seconds into our fight. Blood oozed from the wound, and it began choking dramatically. I kicked the ugly son of a bitch over the railing, its head smacking on the floor.
But when one fell, two more took its place.
I kicked another in the chest, my boot creating a dusty imprint. We’re going to get overrun.
Josh grunted with each arrow that was fired. Well aware. We need to find Father Abraham’s prayer room.
I stabbed another Drarkoth, this time in between those ghastly yellow eyes. I didn’t know priests had them in their homes.
Do you trust me? An arrow flew into its eye, blood squirting everywhere.
Do I have a choice?
His answer never came because he was too busy retrieving one of the makeshift bombs in his quiver. Fighting back as much as I could, Josh turned it on, lights flashing, beeping noises coming from the contraption.
Duck!
In a matter of seconds, Josh tossed the bomb right into the mob of Drarkoths, hitting one directly in the head. He dragged me with him until our backs hit the window at the far end of the hallway.
That was when the bomb went off.
Covering our heads, debris flew in every direction, body parts in pieces scattered throughout.
That was our chance to move.
Josh searched vigorously, for what I had no idea, but I watched his hand glide against the wall, almost as if he were searching for some secret knob to get him out. I stood frozen, afraid to even try and help, figuring I’d distract him, when a light tap came from his knuckles, indicating a hollow surface just beyond the wallpaper.