Page 23 of Hunted

“What is this?!” Valerian snarled.

On the other side of the corridor wasn’t an exit, or a way out, but another section of the department store. I could see it from here, the clothed mannequins staring at us from across the way.

I shook my head. “This can’t be happening,” I said. “Where’s the exit?”

“It’s the creature,” Valerian said. “This is the same thing it did to us in the woods in Arcadia.”

“No. No way. We were still moving in Arcadia. The woods felt different wherever we went.”

“In that case, it would seem this thing’s abilities have improved.”

I turned around, noticing that the darkness was starting to encroachintothe department store. I couldn’t help but shriek at the sight of a mannequin standing not far from where I was. I hadn’t seen it a moment ago, so I hadn’t expected to see it now.

“Can you sniff a way out?” Valerian asked, “It can’t have closed all the exits off.”

“What if I get into wolf form and humans show up?”

“We may have to cross that bridge when it comes.”

“I’m not sure, Valerian.”

“We either get out of here, or that thing gets us—” his eyes narrowed, and he glanced across my shoulder.

“What is it?” I asked, turning my head.

He didn’t have to answer. There were three mannequins behind us, each contorted in a weird pose, as if they had been caught moving toward us. My heartrate started to rise, each pulse of my heart coming harder, and faster than the one that had come before it.

“Valerian,” I said, trailing off.

“Yes?” he asked.

“Did those things just…move?”

“I’m…” he paused, scanned the mannequins. “Maybe…”

A cold wash of fear rushed through me. “No way,” I said, “Nobloodyway.”

Valerian took my hand and backed up a step. He glanced across his shoulder, expression tightening. The mannequins which had been at the other end of the hallway were now crowding around the mouth of the hallway, as if they had moved while we hadn’t been looking.

When I turned back to look at the mannequins nearest to us, their poses had shifted. Not by much, but by enough for me to notice.

“They’re moving,” I said, “They move when we don’t look at them.”

“So, we need to look at all of them,” Valerian said, “All the time.”

“And not get close. I don’t know what’ll happen if we get too close.”

“That one looks like it wants to grab us. I think they’re here to slow us down so that the creature can get to us.”

“All the more reason to get moving, then.”

Valerian looked over at me. “Ready when you are.”

I took a deep breath. I hadn’t done this since we were back in Arcadia. When Valerian had asked me whether or not I was able to shift forms, I had confidently answered his question. In truth, I wasn’t totally sure this was going to work. My shapeshifting wasn’t a magical gift. It was part of me, something as simple to me as breathing. I could feel the wolf inside of me, always there, always waiting.

But we were on Earth, now, and the rules were different here; especially those for Arcadian gifts.

Carefully, not letting the mannequins in front of me out of my sight, I dropped to my hands and feet. My transformations were usually quick, and instinctual, but this one… this one felt awkward, and drawn out. I shook my back, relaxed my muscles, and snorted at the floor, waiting for the wolf to rouse.