The woman who had raised them, their anchor, lay still in the dirt.
Benedict raised one gloved hand, and the Lucent halted instantly. “Are you done now, Lucy?” His voice was smooth again, almost kind. “Will you come with me before anyone else has to die?”
Lucy didn’t answer. Her eyes were fixed on Mary’s body and the darkness coiling around it.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” she whispered. “Something’s… moving.”
None of the others saw it at first, but Lucy could. The shadows crawling beneath Mary’s skin. The way her body trembled as if something inside was breaking loose.
Then it began.
Mary’s body convulsed violently. Bones cracked, skin stretched. Her arms and legs elongated with horrifying ease, her frame widening, twisting. Teeth sharpened, eyes turned black as ink. The sound of tearing flesh filled the air.
“What the fuck is that?” Corey muttered, stepping back.
“I—I don’t know,” Davina whispered.
“Neither do I,” Byron said, his voice low, steady but tense.
They all stood frozen as Mary — whatever she’d become — lifted her head and screamed. It wasn’t human. The Lucent opened fire, but it only made her faster. She tore into them with monstrous strength, rending bodies apart, devouring as she moved.
Blood painted the ground. Limbs flew. The forest shook with gunfire and screams, but nothing could stop her. The more she tasted blood, the stronger she became.
One soldier tried to crawl away; Mary’s shadow fell over him. She grabbed his head and bit through his neck like it was nothing.
Barnaby watched in horror — and awe. His tears dried as his mind tried to make sense of what he was seeing.
“Mary…” Corey breathed.
Within minutes, it was over. The Lucent were gone, ripped apart, shredded, unrecognizable. The field was a graveyard.
Even Benedict stood motionless, staring at the carnage. For once, he said nothing.
Then Mary turned. Her glowing eyes locked on them, her family, and there was nothing human left in them.
She moved slowly, dragging one long arm through the dirt. The air around her pulsed with heat.
Barnaby took a hesitant step forward. “Mum…” he said softly. “Wow… you did such a great...”
Her arm shot forward, straight through his stomach.
“NOOO!” The cry tore from every throat at once.
Corey dropped to his knees. “Barnaby!”
Lucy screamed so hard her voice cracked. “Mary,please stop!Please!” Her eyes flared bright violet. “STOP!”
The command hit Mary like a wave of energy. She froze, her monstrous body shaking violently as her form began to shrink. The darkness peeled away like smoke.
Barnaby slipped off her arm, blood pouring down his side, and Mary collapsed beside him, her body small again in comparison to what she just was, human and trembling.
“I wanted to save you,” she sobbed. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Lucy fell to the ground, gathering Barnaby in her arms. Tears streamed down her face, falling onto his. “No, not you… not you…”
She pressed her forehead to his, whispering frantically. “There has to be something, therehasto be.”
Barnaby’s hand lifted weakly, his fingers brushing her cheek. “It’s okay, sis,” he whispered. “I love you.”
