A canter.
The Horseman is coming for us.
He bursts through the fog at the other end of the square, the massive black steed thundering down the street, its breath snorting out in thick clouds. The earth seems to shake as its powerful legs pound the ground with unholy force.
“Run!” Ichabod bellows, grabbing my wrist and pulling me along with him.
We bolt down a side street, careening around the corner. Hooves follow us, relentless, gaining on us.
I risk a glance over my shoulder and the Horseman is closer than I thought, sword raised. He swings.
I dive just in time, hitting the cobblestones and rolling. Pain flares through my right knee, but there’s no time to stop. I scramble back to my feet. So much for thinking my bloodline makes me immune.
“Keep moving!” Ichabod yells, pulling me forward.
“I think he’s on to us!” Brom shouts from up ahead. “Get to the university!”
The Horseman must know where we’re headed, and if he’s trying to stop us, that must mean we’re on the right track. Maybe he thinks we’ll use his bones the way the Order did, to control him. Either way, I doubt he’ll let us reach the university.
I’m running as fast as I can, but the Horseman is almost on top of us again.
“I need something I can use as a shield, or a weapon!” Ichabod shouts across to me.
“What? You can’t fight him!” I yell back. “Just run.”
We’ve caught up with Brom now, but the Horseman has also caught up to us. I can’t believe he hasn’t taken us out yet. I feel like he’s toying with us.
As if reading my mind, he takes another swipe with his sword.
Ichabod grabs me and pulls me into a narrow alleyway, and the sword narrowly misses my left shoulder. The Horseman continues on ahead, bearing down on Brom.
“Oh my god, Brom.” I stick my head around the corner, but they’re at the other end of the street now. Brom veers to his right, away from the university. The Horseman follows.
“Brom is leading him away,” I say quickly. Fear spikes in my chest. If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself. But he told us to get to the university, to follow through with the plan. It’s the best chance to save us all.
“Let’s go. This is our chance.”
We break into a full sprint, weaving through the streets until the university’s gothic outline comes into view. The gates are just up ahead, slightly ajar. Ichabod reaches them first, pulling me through and slamming them closed behind us.
Not that they can keep the Horseman out.
I pause for breath, hands on the bars of the gates, looking for any sign of Brom or the Horseman, but there’s nothing of either of them.
I lean back against the stone pillar, panting. I’ve never run this much in my life. Maybe when this is all over, I’ll join a running club. Hell, maybe I’ll set up my own.
Ichabod is pressing a hand to his injured shoulder, his face looking even more pale now.
“You all right?” I ask, still gasping for breath.
He swallows and nods, but I know the exertion is draining him.
“Come on. Let’s not waste the time that Brom has bought us,” he says.
Ichabod is right. I can only pray that Brom knows what he’s doing, and I can’t let that be in vain. We need to move, to start the search for the Horseman’s bones.
We turn as one and face the university. Threading our fingers together, we start up the long gravel path.
32
