Page 40 of Little Risk of Fall

11SACRIFICE

Alex

My heart was pounding in my chest, my fingers trembling as I clicked on the Barista’s name. It rang once, and then his brusque voice echoed through the truck.

“Alex? What’s wrong?”

“We’re in trouble,” Jasper said loudly. “Witches. Something. I don’t know, but you need to come up here.”

“They’re all the way up there?” the Barista growled.

“Apparently,” Jasper said, pressing even harder on the gas pedal.

The truck lunged as we hit the empty highway. The sky was starting to darken with black clouds, the sun slowly disappearing.

“I’ll be there in just a few minutes—”

I screamed as a shadow smashed into Jasper’s side of the truck. Everything screeched, metal crunching as the world rolled and rolled, glass bursting around me.

My body jerked in the seat, my ears ringing as finally everything stopped moving.

I was panting, tears springing to my eyes as panic emerged. I looked over at Jasper, at his limp body.

I heard the Barista’s voice echoing from the phone somewhere but I couldn’t decipher his words.

“Daddy,” I croaked, reaching over to touch him.

He was still unmoving, his body slumped forward. Blood dripped from his head, down his neck and chest.

“No,” I whispered.

I reached forward just as massive claws reached through the now broken windshield. I let out a scream, fear now swamping me completely.

It came straight for me, the black tips wrapping around my chest. I fought it, slamming my fists down as it ripped me from the seat and through the front of the car.

I was met with what could be described as a demonic beast. One that oozed darkness and had glowing red eyes. It was like a massive werewolf with black fur, but with massive jaws that could split me in half. Its body was covered in blinking black eyes, a low howl leaving it.

Words came from its chest and it lifted me with its one hand, reaching back into the cabin of the truck with the other. I watched as it pulled out my phone, holding it up. The screen blinked, the picture of Jasper and I gleaming in the darkness.

The Barista’s voice was still speaking, desperate.

“Barista,” I whispered, knowing he would hear me.

“Alex, Alex— I just need to know where you’re at!!” he roared.

I opened my mouth to speak, but then the claws around my chest began to squeeze. Pain flared through my entire body, a scream leaving me.

“Lucifer’s,” the beast growled.

“HANG ON, I WILL FIND YOU!”

It was all I could make out before the beast tossed the phone, a deep laugh leaving it. It pulled me closer and then began to run, carrying me through the forest.

I watched through blurry eyes as the crushed truck was left.

Was Jasper dead?

A new, fresh searing pain torn through my chest— but it wasn’t from the beast.

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