The Return of the Scribe

"Come on," Daniel said, "we must run...there are too many of them. I’m going for Cyndil and Johnathan now." Daniel looked at Steven, who was old and frail...almost too weak to do anything. "Good luck, my friend," he said sadly, knowing he would never see Steven again.

Johnathan almost ran over his father while racing down the hallway with Rachel behind him. He had his bow in hand. "The book was true, Father!" he yelled. "We’ve got to get out of here!"

"Where are your mother and Marion?"

"I don’t know!’ Johnathan trembled, trying to look deep within himself to remember all the things the man had told him about the future. A lover? A relative?

"Come with me s..." A window exploded, and a hideous thing over eight feet tall, drooling spittle, landed by Daniel and eyed him. It roared.

"Run, Father!" Johnathan cried. "Get mother and meet us at the trail to the forest! It’s the only way!"

Daniel turned away from his son and ran toward the kitchen. The awesome creature followed, running on two gigantic, muscular legs, black and spiny.

Steven rolled out of bed and got to his feet. Out of the window he saw houses burning and people running madly in all directions. "The night has finally come to claim the heir," he said, running as best he could to the door.

* * *

"Marion!" the queen screamed. Cyndil watched as two creatures made quick work of Marion. More monsters poured through the windows looking for scraps of meat, smelling the scent of fresh blood. Cyndil waited, choking back the tears. "Johnathan!" she shouted. She ran to the door when an arm grabbed her.

Rachel, held onto by the prince, was hysterical. She breathed heavily and coughed uncontrollably.

"Come on," Johnathan said, "we’re almost there." They rounded the corner. "Remember my secret side door in the pantry?" Rachel nodded. "Well, we’re using it. Then we should have a sure shot to the forest. Okay," he said as they turned around the next corner, "here’s the pantry."

Cyndil shrieked when she was grabbed, but then she realized the hand was human, and that it belonged to Daniel. One of the monstrosities noticed the king and spoke.

"Where is the boy?" it growled.

Daniel looked for a way out, but all paths were blocked except for the stairs behind them. But they lead upwards, and surely the creatures will follow. He had to get to the forest. Pushing Cyndil in front of him, he darted up the winding staircase.

Johnathan opened the side door and slipped through behind Rachel. Outside, people laid on the ground, some missing legs, others arms. It didn’t matter, though, they were all dead. A few survivors dashed here and there, madly screaming and throwing their arms in the air. Rachel looked on, horrified, and tried to speak, but her constant sobs and choking didn’t permit it. Johnathan let his gaze wander to the forest. He grabbed Rachel’s arm and started to run.

"Hurry, Cyndil!"

She slipped on a stair and lost her balance, but Daniel righted her and helped her forward. He could hear the shrieks of the devils behind him following closely. He felt their hot breath against her back.

"Head for our bedroom!" the king exclaimed. "I have to try to get my bow!"

"But there are too many," Cyndil protested, running out of breath.

Daniel ignored the comment. He knew. "Just keep going," he said. As they scrambled up the last stair and into the room, Daniel turned and slammed the door behind them, bolting it.

Nothing can get through that bolt, Cyndil thought, or hoped. Nothing. "What can I do?" the queen cried.

"Pray," Daniel answered as he brought out his bow from underneath their bed, "Pray for sunrise."

The door shattered, showering splinters of wood over Cyndil, knocking her over. She saw the bolt split in two and fall to the floor, then watched as six monsters poured into the room, each fighting to get in before the others. Cyndil heard Daniel scream, "Where are my arrows?" and knew it was over. A taloned hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled at her. She spun around, and faced the horrid thing. Its long snout dripped drool, and yellow eyes glared at her. The dark creature’s mouth opened.