I hope.
“What do we do?” I ask Niki, keeping my voice low.
I thought I was useless helping with the birth, but that was a walk in the park compared to this. At least I could google answers and make educated guesses. I can’t fight a beast ten times my size, even with a weapon.
If any of the beasts make it onto the bus, I might as well offer myself as a sacrifice, because there’s nothing I can do. Fear and hopelessness take me back to the alley, where I first laid eyes on one of the horrifying creatures, and familiar feelings start bubbling up.
Only this time, I’m trapped in a metal cage. We can’t even make a run for it.
Niki looks at me, her eyebrows pinched together with worry, even though she tries to mask her fear. She squeezes the bundled baby even closer to her, and my chest seizes.
Fuck. I’m probably not helping her by panicking.
I take a deep breath and exhale. If I can get a peek outside, maybe I can come up with a plan. Or maybe, if I can catch a glimpse of the guys obliterating a bunch of evil beasts, it’ll help my nerves a bit.
Hell, maybe I can hijack the bus and leave them all in the dust.
Do I have a CDL? No, but how hard can it be?
“I’m going to go see what’s going on,” I say,sounding much braver than I feel. Truthfully, I want to stay holed up in the bedroom with Niki and the baby, but the anxiety of not knowing what’s going on is threatening to eat a hole through me.
I want to know what’s happening, that everyone’s okay.
That Tobias is okay.
At the thought of him, I drag myself off the bed and swallow my fear.
“Be careful, Jos,” Niki warns, fighting to keep her voice level. “Just look outside. The guys will handle it.”
I nod and attempt a reassuring smile, which I’m sure falls flat.
I trust the band, I do. I know they’re capable, and I know Tobias is a good fighter, but I don’t know how they’ll hold up against an army. If I’m going to die, I’d rather be proactive and try to do something about it, rather than waiting like a sitting duck.
Besides, it’s not just myself I have to think about. I have to think about Niki and the baby too. If there’s a chance, even a tiny one, that I can help or get us out of here, I have to try.
Creeping out of the bedroom, I close the door behind me. Not that it’ll help keep out a giant demon from Hell, but knowing Niki is sealed behind another layer of pressboard makes me feel a little better. Delusional, but better.
My throat tightens as I slowly pad toward the window, my pulse ratcheting up another notch. I try to brace myself for the scene outside. Cautiously, I peek just around the edge of the glass and hold my breath.
At first, I see nothing. The intense darkness swallows everything in the parking lot, making it impossible to see. But then, my eyes begin to adjust. The darkness shifts, rippling like smoke, shadowed figures emerging from the pitch black. A few at first, but they quickly multiply.
My stomach drops.
There are hellbeastseverywhere.
Dark, hulking forms crawling, sliding, and trudging toward the tour bus. Tobias and the other Ennubi are fighting, claws and weapons flying, doing their best to keep the creatures away.
I count the familiar demons, making sure everyone is still on their feet, and my eyes land on Tobias.
Air sticks in my lungs as he slices his way through a massive black form with two heads. He barely hesitates before swinging his swords toward another and cutting it down. It’s so dark, I can barely make out his form, tearing through our enemies with ease. He’s amazing, fighting unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Like something straight from… Hell.
I catch my breath when he staggers, but then he’s right back at it, swinging his swords and downing more creatures. My eyes are glued to the scene, squinting and trying to see better in the darkness, until a giant form slams into Tobias and knocks him to the ground.
“No!” I scream, unable to keep it in.
I feel completely helpless as he crawls to his feet. He shakes his head before throwing himself at the hellbeast, weapons raised, but his movements are slower. Less precise. That last hit must have hurt.
My stomach knots, nausea slamming into me. There’s nothing I can do to help him, and going outside right now is out of the question. I would only be a distraction, and none of them can afford that.
