“Speck?” My voice cracked. “It’s me.”
In a blink, he hurled himself at the bars, razor nails clawing the air. “Sera,” he shrieked, his cry a high-pitched wail.
I covered my ears, choking on a sob. That wasn’t him. It couldn’t be.
“Come away, Sera. There’s nothing you can do for him now.” Thorne grasped my elbow, and I shook off his grip.
“No!” I spun to face the men, fists balled. “I’m not leaving him here. Speck is coming with us.”
“To what end? The boy’s a monster,” Drazen said.
“I don’t care. I won’t leave him to rot.” I turned to Thorne, clutching the front of his shirt. “Please.”
He winced, glancing at the others. “One boy shouldn’t be too hard to carry.”
“One ghoul, you mean,” Drazen said.
“I will do it,” Kronk grasped the door of Speck’s cell as hisflesh darkened, his skin turning to stone. Without straining, he tugged, popping the lock free.
He stepped into the cage, and Speck screeched, flinging himself at the athos. Sharpened claws and daggered teeth had no effect on Kronk. Quickly, he tied Speck’s wrists and ankles, then slung him over his broad shoulder like a sack of grain.
“Shut him up, will you?” Drazen barked. “Before he alerts the others.”
As if on cue, the captives erupted in a chorus of unholy screams until the cavern shook with noise.
“Too late,” Thorne winced, shouting. “Move!”
We raced back the way we’d come, sprinting past cells filled with enraged monsters. Arms thrust through the bars, sharpened claws reaching. Blackened eyes glared their rage while their screams threatened to deafen us.
At last, we burst free of the holding pen, stumbling into the tunnel. Speck continued to wail, so I ripped fabric from the hem of my shirt and used it to gag him.
“Follow me.” Kronk led us into the next corridor. Scuffing feet and the groan of undead voices resonated from the tunnel. The sort of sounds I’d come to associate with the ghouls. We skidded to a stop.
“Flark, they’re after us.”
“Now can I blast them?” Drazen huffed.
“Absolutely,” Thorne snapped. “Kronk, get her out of here.”
“What? No way. I’m not leaving you behind.”
“Come, Serafina.” Kronk scooped me up and tucked me against his hip, carrying me like a sack of turnips.
“Kronk, wait!”
From behind, a masculine whoop of glee rang out. Drazen? Fire exploded, an orange fireball illuminating the dark.
The ear-piercing screeches reached a fevered pitch. Tears stung my eyes. Those monsters were once people. Would this be Speck’s fate as well?
At last, Kronk stepped free of the darkness, into the root cellar. The stench of rotting produce was almost sweet compared to the monster’s lair. He set me down, and my legs nearly gave out. Stars swam in my vision, and I leaned against a shelf.
“Where are they?” Surely, Drazen and Thorne weren’t that far behind us.
Explosions sounded from the dark opening, along with the grind of crumbling rock.
My blood ran cold. “It’s caving in.”
“Here. Watch him.” Kronk dumped Speck beside me, then braced his hands against the tunnel walls. He closed his eyes, grunting. “The blasts fractured the rock. I will hold it as long as I can.”
