With a whispering rattle, it reached for her.
Kat grabbed her and pulled her back, out of its reach. “Don’t let them swarm you. That’s how they claim their victims and drag them down. If they pull you from the light, you’re done for!”
“Stay to the light!” William warned.
Rosie used a torch to scatter the takarum back into the crevices of the ship. They made a peculiar scurrying sound that was similar to that of bat wings and rushing rodents, and yet unique to the beasts. “Aye to that! They fear light and fire. It’s the only thing we have to fight them with.”
Yet a takaru doubled back through the shadows, and grabbed another sailor who was at their rear.
With a scream, he was pulled into the shadows and then vanished as if he’d never existed at all.
Only a faint image of his screaming face was left behind as an impression in the dark wooden walls, and the faintest of outlines of his body.
Cameron froze as she realized he really was gone. Completely. Those … those things had dragged him away quicker than she could blink.
The others scrambled to light the corner, but it was too late. “Is there any way to get him back?”
Belle shook her head. “It’s done. Whatever you do, lass, don’t let them sink their claws into you.”
“Janice!” Simon shouted, rushing past them. “Can you hear me?”
More of the takarum crept across the boards, reaching out for them like insidious puffs of smoke that only the light could disperse.
Valynda handed Cameron a torch. Cameron swung it as one of the shadows reached for her. She twisted out of its reach.
Bart tried to open the door, then cursed. “We’re sealed in with them.”
William scowled at those words. “What do you mean?”
“I mean we’re locked down here.” He kicked at the door as hard as he could. It rattled on the hinges, but didn’t give at all. “Someone’s latched it from the other side.”
William tried the handle. “What the hell?”
Zumari shoved them aside so that he could try it, but as when they’d attempted it, it didn’t budge. The anger in his eyes said that he was about to have a fit to make a toddler proud.
Cameron felt her cheeks growing warm as she tried to think of a way out of this mess. The room grew darker and darker as more shadows closed in on them.
The torches began to dim.
What new hell was this?
Suddenly, she heard her brother screaming outside, in the hallway.
Her jaw went slack. “Paden?” She headed for the sound.
Simon caught her by the arm.
Fighting against him, she tried to get free. “It’s me brother!”
“It’s a trick.”
“Nay! I know his voice!”
He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, refusing to let her go. “’Tis their cruelty, lass. Trust me. Your brother’s not there. It’s a lure they’re using.”
It didn’t feel that way.
Nay, she even smelled his cologne. “Paddy!” she called. “Is it you?”
