As soon as we stepped through the door I saw them, standing on either side, as if they'd been waiting for us. They didn't look like normal Erasers, but there was no doubt in my mind that's what they were. At the moment they looked like male super models, but I could see their features itching to morph into wolf like nightmares.
I could feel the kids tense against me as they realized we were in serious trouble. The two Erasers who had been waiting by the door stood up, circling us slowly. From the other side of the building I could see more, and another two walking towards us down the street. Six Erasers. No…wait, there were two more directly in front of us, smiling evilly as they surely knew as much as we did that we were trapped. Eight Erasers. We were impossibly outmatched.
"You know you can't escape, right?" one of the Erasers asked, his voice low. He stood right in front of us, his arms folded and his mouth stretching in a morbid smile. Something seemed to overcome me in that moment. My fists clenched and I crouched slightly, preparing myself in case they attacked like they did in the forest.
"Apparently you underestimate us," I told him coldly. The Eraser smiled slightly, seeming almost amused with my comeback.
"Keep telling yourself that, kid," he told me. And that was the last straw. Taking one step forward, I swung my foot up and caught this guy straight in the jaw, catching him completely off guard. Catching all of the Erasers off guard, judging by the way they stared at me in shock. But I kept my eyes on the one at my feet, feeling at his chin with one hand, and propping himself up with the other.
"I stopped being a kid when you bastards locked us up in that hell hole," I said, my voice dripping acid. I took a step back, my arms shaking. I did not want a fight. I just wanted to get the kids out of there, to get them to safety.
"Lil…" I could hear Ash behind me, felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Run," I said quietly, my eyes still on the Eraser I'd knocked down.
"But Lillian—"
"Take the others and run." I turned to him, giving him a look that meant I was not joking. He hesitated. Then, without looking away from me, he took Flint by the arm.
"Come on, guys," he said quietly.
"What?" Flint demanded. "No! I want to stay. I want to fight with Lillian."
"Now's not the time," Ash said, turning fully to the others. It hurt him to leave, I could see that. But I was in charge. And if I told him to do something, he'd do it. That was the agreement we had.
"We can't just—"
"Move it, Flint!" Ash roared. It was shocking enough to make Flint move back a step. Ash never yelled, ever. Which meant this was serious. So, with tears in his eyes, Flint gave an angry scream and grabbed Willow's wrist before taking off down the sidewalk. Giving me one last look, Ash scooped Apple up in one arm and grabbed Cedar's hand with the other. I gave him a single nod of reassurance and he took off running. This was the best we could do, he knew that. None of the kids knew how to fight, they wouldn't be safe. This way, at least, Ash could get them to safety while I held off the Erasers.