Chapter Three: Not Much of A Fight
MAX'S POV
I place the flower crown on the ground before shuffling backwards and walking up the stairs. I stand with my back against the door, looking in every direction to try and see who is out there. The porch light does little to illuminate much past three feet from the stairs so I have to strain my eyes to try and see into the woods.
Oh how careless I was, sitting in the middle of the night outside when I know that someone is out there, watching me. I hear a quiet laugh but it rings throughout the quiet, still air. I snap my head in the direction of the sound to see someone step forward. As they walk forward, they multiply. There are four of them and because of the size, I know they are Jeb's hounds, the fucking Erasers.
I could take on two Erasers no problem but four with their even bigger size while trying to be quiet? Those aren't great odds.
The smart thing to do would be to wake up Fang and Iggy but that puts all of the tired kids plus Ella and my mom at risk. I can't let them get hurt or the house destroyed. We are the cause of too many repair bills.
I continue to stay where I am, my gaze never leaving the approaching Erasers. They come under the light and I notice how different they are from the other Erasers I've encountered. They're bigger, more wolf-like. And scarier.
They laugh and their smiles show larger, pointer teeth. It was not a good idea letting them corner me like this. Where is my head? It wasn't a good idea staying up so late after the new routine of so much blissful sleep.
"Listen, Maxie, we don't want much trouble from you or the Flock. We don't even want to Flock, only you." says the one closest to me. I look at them confused. They only want me?
Well, that's odd. I stand up a little straighter as he comes even closer, one of his paws on the bottom step. "If you come willingly, we won't hurt any of the Flock. But, if you refuse, we'll kill them all. You see, Maxie, they are useless. Only you are of great value."
I raise my eyebrow. I never go willingly but on one hand, I don't want to wake the others up. They deserve one night of peaceful sleep after the crazy night we had. I certainly don't want to sentence them to death.
Well, either way, going willingly isn't a Max thing to do but do I really have a choice? No, I don't think I do.
The Eraser comes closer and I glare at him. "I'll come but don't fucking touch me. If you do, it'll mean death for all of you."
He only smiles. "And we'll return the favor by killing all of you." He steps out of the way, allowing me room to walk. I huff, walking forward and down the stairs. Two Erasers walk in front of me with two behind. As we enter the woods, I look behind me, glancing first at Fang's window then my discarded crown sitting on the grass.
As we walk farther and farther away, I can't stop thinking that maybe I made the wrong decision by going so willingly. Then, as quickly as the thought comes, I argue against it. The others deserve their freedom and lives even if it means I give up my own. Unfortunately, it had to be willingly.
After probably two hours of walking in my heels, we reach a road where a dark car is waiting. I sigh in relief only because it'll mean my feet will get a break. I should have taken my heels off.
I climb in the back with a push from one of the Erasers. I glare at him as I run into one of the walls. He laughs and three of them take a seat facing me while the one who spoke earlier closes the doors and walks to the front, starting the car and driving off into the night.
It's completely pitch black and all that fills the air is the Erasers' breathing. I close in on myself, trying to get as far away from them as possible. I rub my sore feet as we drive on a bumpy dirt road. It finally hits me after a while that maybe this was the wrong course of action. It could have been bloody but all four could have been killed and the Flock and I would be on our way to hide somewhere safe.