In a last glimmer of lucidity, my hand crawled over the grass, groping a cluster of roots until I found a fallen branch.

I drove the branch into its right eye, no questions asked.

It let go of my throat, releasing a pained howl. I brought in my other hand, pushed and twisted the branch deeper. Blood gushed from the wound, dripping and nearly missing my mouth.

The howl intensified, and I scattered from underneath. I gulped for sweet air, struggling to rise on vacillating legs. I nearly reached the cover of the trees when several others sprung out and snarled.

I receded, looking over at the crumpled creature behind trying to pull the stick from its eye, then at its peers.

Bony fingers clasped around my forearm.

Next thing I knew, an extraordinary white-hot pain burst along my shoulder. A crack rattled me from the inside. And it radiated to the point I saw swirls.

Something small and jagged sunk into my forearm, feeling like a million miniature needles puncturing inside. I screamed and doubled over. It tore through skin and muscle, rushing tears to my eyes. I was flung on my back again.

The creature did not move. It watched me, held me down.

I understood soon why. The one from earlier neared, right eye missing and replaced with a hollow, bleeding socket. The other backed away, almost bowing. It opened its jaw inches away from my face, drool exuding from its vengeful lips. I felt its will to kill me slowly and painfully in every cell in my body.

I tried to fight, but I was weaker than before. My hands and legs were slug, and despair kicked in.

I can't die like this...

Leaves rustled as if the forest came alive and angry.

It was obvious, but it took all its meaning. Impossible. My family... My face will not end up on those cursed doors at school.

And yet, before I could try anything, a powerful wave pushed us apart, propelling my own body into brutal rolls until I landed on my stomach. Blistering heat blew over, wrapping me in a cocoon.

The sky blurred into colorful smears and lights. The overpowering weight of the creature was gone... I was alone.

Shadows fused lightning-fast through my closed lids. Suddenly, the piercing shrieks amplified, laced with distress. I came to, straining to find the source of the turmoil.

There was... something moving insanely fast at the far end of the clearing, a bright smudge or rather a giant glow stick. It was blinding, illuminating the whole meadow and visible from afar like the northern star.

From the rustling leaves emerged more creatures. They hurtled toward the light source, forgetting all about me. For a moment, I watched as the light fought them all off, switching places in a flash, and burning them in its raging path.

The ground spasmed under my body. Static filled my hair.

Two 'arms' rose from the light. The beasts were driven apart like a ghost hand swept them off their feet. They smashed into trees, whining in agony.

As fast as I could, I crawled along the treeline, praying there would be no more predators concealed. Running was impossible. I'd fall face-first before covering any distance. Waiting it out, hidden, until I found a better solution was the only affordable option.

My gaze slid upward. Could I climb without hurting myself?

Behind me, the creatures were drowning in cries, sounding like their bones were being torn apart. Their unearthly crescendo was gut-wrenching. I hunched over, thinking I would puke.

But I commanded myself not to.

I'd rather risk hurting myself than stay vulnerable a second longer.

I found a tree more accessible than the rest with its branches closer together. Grinding my teeth against the vicious ache, I thrust the arm with the intact shoulder. My muscles were sore, complaining with every move.

The more I progressed, the more I felt the wound oozing. I kept my eyes on the ball. A safe place. The rest would come second.

I scaled higher, settling into the least agonizing position that allowed me to hug my perch for dear life.

The rips of bone and flesh grew faint as time went on. I tried to peep through the canopy to see what was going on. A motionless body thudded to the ground. Everything stilled.

The creatures, all at once, broke into an ear-splitting chorus that rose the small hairs on my arms. They began retreating like ghosts, barreling outward and sprinting right under my tree. I clung on, panting. But none of them stopped or even acknowledged my presence.

All except the one-eyed monster. It stared at me before joining his bloodthirsty companions.

I let my head flop over the bark. With the flow of adrenaline, all I wanted to do was huddle in a ball and dissolve into tears.

Silence smothered the clearing. The last thing moving was a hypnotic pulse in the middle of the field and that... oh, that scared me somehow more.

My fingers and face were numb from squeezing so hard. The light in the glade mellowed, gradually sizzling inward until that dangerous sound was gone. It took a human shape—distinctive arms and legs with a torso and a head. How hard did I hit my noggin?

Hands appeared first. An arm dressed in a sleeve, a back with a jacket, long denim-clad legs and sneakers followed. A dark head of messy waves came through last. Then everything went out.

"I thought we made it clear you shouldn't come up here, Sunshine," it said to me. "Your luck just ran out."

▲▲▲

I sucked in a breath that made me lightheaded. I didn't know what this was, but I wasn't falling for it anymore. And since when did light bulbs turn into people? I didn't move or speak, flattened on the branch like a lizard. It paced, both hands in pockets.

"I know you're still close. I know you don't understand what you're seeing. There's a lot to talk about."

My pulse roared between my ears. My head felt like it was filled with cotton, buzzing with a high-pitch ringing.

For now, the instinct of survival ruled everything else out. I wouldn't let this... this thing approach me. If he couldn't find me, then it'd stay that way.

The thing that looked like Luc moved around, mindfully studying the surroundings. It wasn't searching high, only low. If it had been able to stand up to a pack of—I didn't even know what those were—without a scratch, then it was a massive threat to me.

He raised his arms in surrender.

"It's really me, I swear. Same Luc you pissed off in the woods, same one that's right next to your locker and has English and Biology with you. Sadly." He paused and waited. The back of my eyes burned, and I held in a gasp. "We argued at Adam's party tonight. I said you were crazy again." He snickered, and I felt my blood boil over the weariness.

Damn that asshole. It was Luc, all right.

But if this was him, then the Luc I knew was never human in the first place. How could I trust this when there was no witness? Nothing would stop him from wiping out a girl who found out his secret, no matter what it might be.

He waited, longer this time.

"I have all night," he called. "I promise it'll be okay. The insurance would be annoying to deal with, remember?"

I shivered, close to melting down. With my injuries, I'd never make it far and if he'd wait me out. It wouldn't surprise me if he'd start combing soon. He seemed sincere, though. Maybe I could trust him—I hoped so. What I did next took all my willpower.

"I'm here," I rasped.

Luc whirled in my direction, eyes gleaming in the dark. "I knew you didn't make it far, Sunshine. Can you move?"

I'd climbed this tree, regardless of whether I'd cause more damage on the way down. "No..."

He used that to guide himself, and I heard disbelief color his tone. "Did you actually climb a tree?"

"Yes."

"Keep talking, I'm moving in."

I watched him walk closer with caution, and unease pricked my skin. What would I do once he saw me?

"I told you I wasn't crazy," I said sheepishly. "Although I believe I'd just made the most terrible and traumatizing decision of my entire life."

He disappeared under the tree zone. Dry leaves crunched under his approaching footsteps. "For once, we agree. You're on some strong idiot juice. Even I'm impressed."

"You better have one hell of an explanation to give me." My voice surprisingly grew mocking.

"I sure do," he sighed.

Then, a beam of light flooded up my face. It lowered, and I could see again. Blinking to allow my sight to readjust, I realized it came from Luc's palm. He gave a half-relieved, half-tense smirk.

"Found you."

I didn't know what to say anymore. My eyes stung.

There was this added shame to being discovered all banged up, the acceptance of it because I was utterly helpless. I dropped my head on the bark, in a world of pain, refusing to take in anything other than my heartbeat.

"I'm going to die," I whispered. Either he was going to kill me or these injuries would do me in. There was no hospital nearby, let alone any time to get there. In both cases, these were my last moments and I had nobody else but this... boy? This wasn't a boy. I didn't know what the hell that was.

"No," he said firmly. "No, you're not dying. Look at me."

I did. He was right below, head tipped up.

"We have to get you down where I can help. I'm not going to hurt you." He waited but I wasn't answering. "How on Earth can you trust me enough to give yourself away but then not let me help you get down?" he chided, resting his fists on his hips.

"I... I don't know. It's just going too fast."

That had not been the right choice of words. I meant dizzy, the ground moving too fast when it shouldn't move at all. He rolled his eyes so far I thought they'd pop out.

"Listen, there's not much we can do about it right now, but I can take you to dinner after. Get to know each other a little, maybe even—"

A distant wail reverberated through the woods, and it rang too familiar to be anything else. I was losing sensation in my limbs. I looked at Luc. He had squared his shoulders, staring into the thick shadows, jaw tight.

"Are they still around?" I asked.

"You ought to come down because I don't know how much time we have before they round up for a rematch," he said, almost growling out the words. I didn't understand how none of it fazed him. Those creatures were literal killing machines and he just... "If you can, crawl to the edge of the branch, and then freefall to me."

I bit my tongue, sizing him and the ground. This was a solid twenty feet. I had no idea I went that high, didn't even suppose it was humanly possible with my injuries. Adrenaline sure operated wonders.

"Okay," I breathed, soaking in the idea of trying this. I prudently wormed as far as I could, pushing past other branches that could snag during the plunge. The slightest tug stretched the wounds in my bad arm. He bent his knees.

"Ready when you are."

How was this feasible? My weight, the gravity... "You sure you can catch me?"

"We'll find out soon enough if I can't."

I wished he could die already. I counted to ten, dreading the explosion of pain that would come with landing. At ten, I finally let go.

✩