Chapter 21
Jude remembered seeing horror movies with Piers when he was younger. They never scared him because they never seemed real. Vampires were just people who were immortal and had a hunger for human blood. They also had a weakness to direct sunlight, so it wasn't like you had to be scared of them for a long time. Zombies were the undead, walking on frail bones and spreading their disease to the living to make an army. Werewolves were huge, scary dogs.
Never did he think he would enter a world where all of that existed. Never did he think he'd have to fight either of those things.
But here he was, racing out of the hiding spot in the castle with James and Emma to make it outside as fast as possible. Sherlock said the dead was coming, and he didn't have a clue what he meant, but if movies gave him any indication, it was that zombies were among them.
"They're not zombies," Emma informed as they ran, as if reading his mind. "They're called Inferi which is plural for Inferius. They're made by dark wizards. They're not real, they just look real so don't be afraid to kill them. Watch out with slashing spells. Those don't work."
"They look a bit scary too, so try not to scream," James told him as they finally made it outside, staring fearfully at the horde of crawling Inferi in front of them. He swallowed dryly and gripped his wand tightly, "Just…don't cry."
Jude glanced at his friend incredulously, ignoring his pounding heart, "I feel like I should be telling you that." He inhaled shakily and winced when it felt like his ribs were very close to stabbing his lungs, "How do we get rid of them?"
"L-light, I think," Emma mumbled, her body trembling fiercely.
"Light and fire," A new voice came in. The three turned to find their teachers; Young, Wilson, Neal, Walton, Alexander, and the other teachers they hadn't meant. Wilson licked his dry lips as he watched the horde get closer, "They're creatures of darkness. Light draws them away but fire is the only thing that can keep them down."
Jude blinked, squinting his eye when a bead of sweat fell past it, "Fire. Fire." He nodded firmly, glancing back at his teachers, "Okay. Let's do this."
"You know, I don't know how this happened, but when it comes to you three, I learned to ask questions after everything is over." The trio beamed when they saw Professor Harmon approach from the castle. She brought up her hand when her colleagues turned to her, "Like I said, ask questions when this is over. Right now, we got bigger things to worry about."
She nodded to the students, "Onwards, kids."
The witches and wizards charged at the horde, shooting specific spells to pull the Inferi back or to diminish them to nothing.
Jude stole glances at his friends and teachers as he shot another light blast towards some of the Inferi. He hoped and prayed that no one would get hurt, that no teacher would die like the others.
But that never got him much. All he could do was take action.