Page 41 of House of Horrors

We step outside to see red and blue lights dancing through the night. I tilt my head in confusion. Someone is crying, and I roll my eyes, laughing. They must have gotten too scared in the house. What a loser. The trees bend over us as the wind rattles through the area.

“Get on the ground!” a voice shouts, full of authority. Instantly, my back straightens, ready to revolt against anyone in charge. I’ll fight them. Who the hell do they think they are to talk to me like that?

Daisy grips my hand tighter and I squint, the flashing colors making it difficult to see. It takes a moment for my vision to clear and sharpen, but as soon as I notice the guns pointed at us, my hackles rise. What the fuck.

I glare at the police officers, though their faces are blurred as if smudged where they stand by their vehicles for protection. They don’t seem real, and I almost want to ignore them, but an unmistakable threat lingers, telling me to keep my teeth bared. Their presence isn’t a good sign. It’s never a good sign.

I pull Daisy closer. I don’t like this. What the hell is happening?

“Get on the ground!”

“Jason, what’s going on?” Daisy whispers as her body begins to tremble. Fuck, I don’t like seeing her scared. I growl, my grip tightening, because why are there guns being pointed at us? We just saved the town. How dare they scare my girl!

The world is alive, buzzing against my skin as I take a step forward. Weapons snap towards me.

I look inward, attempting to communicate with the voice to ask it what to do, but I’m met with complete silence. Our God has vanished. I blink, confused, and reach out again.

Nothing. I’m alone. Where has it gone?

Fuck.

My brain scrambles to come up with a plan. Keeping Daisy safe is my priority. Not even my own life matters.

“Get on the ground now!”

Panic rises within me. Daisy is scared. Someone screams. My thoughts are loud, frantically trying to work out what to do. Sirens blare. Radios crackle. Too much noise. There’s too much noise. Everyone just needs to⁠—

“Shut up!” I roar. “We just saved everyone, you bastards!” I thrust a finger towards the house. “There were fucking monsters in there.”

“Blights. They were blights, and they were going to infect everyone. We were all going to die, we had to destroy them,” Daisy babbles. “Jason, please take me home. I’m scared,” she adds quietly.

I yank Daisy behind me, shielding her body with my own before taking a step forward. If they want her, they’ll have to go through me. No one is going to touch her. She protected me, and I’m going to take care of her.

“Do not take another step, son,” someone warns.

“Get on the ground!” another shouts.

My body shakes with indignation, nostrils flaring, and I throw my hands out in rage, letting go of Daisy. “Fuck you!” I snarl. “We’re the saviors of Grimwood. You should be thanking us, you pigs. Bow down to us, or we will rain hell upon you.”

Everything is silent, and I think maybe they understand.

“Jesus Christ, they’re crazy.”

“You think they’re on drugs? High out of their mind?”

“Fuck man, it’s all the people they ate. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

People? They were blights. If they thought they were humans, then they’re idiots. The God chose Daisy and me for a reason. We could see the blights for what they really are—monsters in need of exterminating. “Your eyes are closed and you’re going to die for it,” I shake my head, lip curling.

Daisy screams, an officer grabbing her from behind while I’m distracted. “Get off of her,” I yell, and I spin around, giving my back to the threat behind me. The air shifts. Rough hands grab at me before they yank my arms behind my back. I thrust my body, trying to wriggle out of their hold.

“Get off me!”

They kick the back of my legs and my knees slam into the dirt. Pain bursts behind my eyes as my hair is gripped in fistfuls and I’m forced to kiss the ground.

A primal roar surges from me, and I sink my teeth into the nearest wrist. Sweat bursts along my tongue before a familiar taste floods my mouth.

The officer yanks his hand back with a yelp. “He’s trying to eat me! Little freaky bastard.”