I don’t know which will give out first: the effects of the fly agaric or the door standing between us and the berserkir. I have no idea how long the fly agaric will last. Once it wears off, Nils made it sound like they’d turn human again.
If spirits don’t possess them first.
I push against the door. If only there was some way to make them turn back…
Wait.
That scream Maeve mentioned in class once. Skrækr?
When I was in the wilderness with Tala, Isaac, and Kris, as soon as I screamed, they all covered their ears in pain. What if I have that ability? What ifthat’swhy they reacted differently to my scream?
Not just them: My dad did too on that awful night. I remember him coming for me as a wolf, and then suddenly he was human again, with his hands over his bleeding ears. Maybe my screams have been tapping into that strange power that Maeve talked about. MaybeIcan do the skrækr. Maybe I can save the berserkir after all.
“I have to go out there,” I say.
“You can’t,” Bea squeaks.
“She’s right.” Valerie gives a disbelieving laugh. “Have you lost your mind?”
“This won’t hold for much longer.” Wincing, I lean against the door. “I think I can turn the berserkir human again.”
Valerie frowns. “How exactly?”
“Something we learned in class. A scream that can make them turn back.”
Valerie doesn’t look convinced. “If you’re wrong, then…”
Bea shakes her head. “Edith, don’t you dare.”
All of a sudden, the pounding stops.
The grunts and growls on the other side of the door go quiet.
Valerie and I exchange a look. “Something must have happened.”
I peer between the deep gouges in the door. The berserkir are all looking toward the entrance now, distracted by something. Or someone.
This could be my only chance.
“I have to go,” I say, cracking open the door.
Valerie frees one of her daggers. “Then I’m going with you.”
“Me too,” Bea adds.
“I don’t think so,” Patricia says, scooping Bea away. “Let your sister and her friend handle this, sweetie. Jim and I need you with us.”
Nodding, I take one last look at my family before leaving.
Valerie follows me out into the gym.
We aren’t invisible like Amund was, but we might as well be.
None of the animals pay us any attention. None of the berserkir move a muscle, instead standing completely still like an eerie exhibit of taxidermy animals. All of them stare at the entrance, like they knowsomethingis coming.
A powerful blast of wind knocks me and Valerie down to the gym floor. It howls through the gym, agitating all the animals. Hundreds of balloons burst as loud as gunshots. The lights start flickering. One by one, bulbs pop and explode overhead, sending sparks showering over us.
“Shit!” Valerie shouts, covering her head.
