Definitely grateful for the week off, as I have been pretty out of it since the wisdom teeth extraction. Didn't help that the pharmacy took a few hours to fill my prescription, leaving me to writhe in pain after the initial painkillers wore off. I've had so much Jell-o and pudding lately, too. Hoping I can get back to normal food in time for Independence Day. Would be depressing to watch everyone eat at a family BBQ while I sit there with a bowl of mashed potatoes.
On the bright side, my post-op loopiness made for a fun video...until my wife had to tell me to stop talking because I started drooling blood. Oops. Might eventually post it online so people can enjoy the stupidity.
But for now, back to the madness of Scarred Steps!
The open road. Escape from Katai. Freedom.
They all sounded so exciting, and for the first hour or so, they had been. Adam had started Eve on a quick pace, eager to put distance between them and the town as quickly as possible, but once he felt confident with their head start, he decided stamina would benefit them more than speed. Nila had chatted eagerly about their future at first, but it didn't take long for reality to set in. Going somewhere new and starting over would be challenging, but at least it wouldn't be boring.
Riding quietly along the trade highway with nothing to talk about, on the other hand…
Three hours out from Katai, Adam understood why the merchants were so chatty when they traveled. The straight, open highway didn't provide much distraction. Nor did the unending forest on either side. A brief encounter with a merchant caravan heading the opposite way ended with a few curious glances and greetings before both parties continued on their way. Since then, silence.
The thrill of having a pretty girl hanging onto him had quickly worn off, becoming more akin to wearing a belt than anything romantic. Even if he couldn't see her, Adam could sense her uneasiness the further they traveled. He could feel her constantly looking around, nervously watching for any sign of danger from the treeline. Every sound jerked her head to the side, her breathing speeding up as she awaited some unseen horror. For someone who had spent almost their entire life in a well-protected town, being so exposed must've felt terrifying.
With that in mind, Adam steered Eve to the side of the path, stopping a little short of the treeline itself and dismounting.
"Why are we stopping?" Nila asked. As worried as she felt about traveling, she seemed intent on staying atop Eve, trusting her speed to save them if the worst should happen.
"Eve needs a break," Adam answered. It wasn't a complete lie. Eve could probably keep going a while longer, but a short rest would do her good. More than that, though, he needed to give Nila a chance to calm down.
The excuse of Eve resting helped to finally coax Nila from the saddle. She stumbled as he helped her down, her legs a little stiff from riding all afternoon. He had to imagine her backside would be a little sore, too, though thoughts of her rear had him blushing up a storm.
"I can hear some water nearby," Adam practically yelled, trying to hide his sudden embarrassment. "Probably a small stream," he continued in a much more reasonable tone. "Should be calm enough for Eve to get a drink."
"You can tell all that from here?" Nila strained to listen for the subtle clues.
"It's not loud enough to be a river," Adam explained, recalling some of the lessons Father Bernard had taught him long ago. "And this looks like a common rest stop. Big enough to pull off to the side, but not enough for an overnight stay. We should reach one of those in a few hours."
The signs were glaringly obvious to Adam. The way the treeline retreated further. The worn down grass and dirt. A log laying down nearby - not a full tree with branches and roots, but a trimmed log pulled a little ways from the forest.
Small rest areas like this were pretty common. They'd already passed two such areas since leaving Katai, though this one seemed a little larger than the others. He hadn't heard much at the other stops, though, so they likely didn't have a nearby fresh water source. More just places to catch your breath, stretch your legs, or take a leak. This one bore all the signs of a more used stop, and judging by the indents in the grass, the caravan they passed earlier had likely stopped here not long ago.
Nila seemed amazed at his knowledge, studying the rest area and picking up on a few clues herself. Adam sat down on the nearby log, stretching his legs a bit. He might've been more experienced than Nila in riding, but it had been a while since he'd done anything long distance. He rolled his head to the side, receiving a satisfying crack before breathing a sigh of relief. Nila followed his lead, claiming a spot beside him, though far less relaxed as she continued nervously glancing at the trees around them.
She's scared. Adam should've known this would happen. Stories of Grimm and bandits weren't exactly common at an orphanage, but they all knew of the possibility. She'd relax more once they got further without any incident, but her unease wasn't exactly helping anyone. But what can I do to help?
"You sure know a lot about this stuff," Nila said. "I always assumed you just kept going until you got somewhere."
"Some of the villages are too spread out for that," Adam shrugged, taking a long swig of water before handing it over to Nila. She didn't hesitate to follow suit, though he didn't exactly expect her to shy away from an indirect kiss.
After all, she never seemed to mind the direct kind.
"The caravans can only go so far each day. We're moving faster than them, but we also started a lot later." No merchant wanted to travel at night. The sooner they could leave a village, the sooner they could reach the next rest area and set up camp. "We'll start out early tomorrow, so we'll cover a lot more ground. Should be able to make it to the next village tomorrow if we keep up a good pace."
"Really?" Nila brightened at the last bit. Even after only a few hours, she seemed ready for a return to safety and civilization. He had a feeling convincing her to set out from there would be a tough sell, now that she knew what travel really looked like. But he wouldn't feel safe only one stop away from Katai. Where they'd stop, he couldn't say. A small village was more likely to not ask questions and need extra hands for work, but there'd be more opportunities at a larger town.
"Mmhm. We're a lot lighter than a wagon full of goods and don't need to stop as often." They also had less supplies, so a protracted journey wouldn't be a great idea. The sooner they could resupply, the better. "It'll be a long ride, but we'll have plenty of time for breaks. If all goes well, we'll get there before dinner."
"You think so?"
Nila's eyes practically begged him to say yes. "I know so," Adam promised, putting an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side with a reassuring squeeze. Nila leaned into it before handing the water bottle back. "You'll see. Everything will work out."
Adam wished he felt as confident as his words sounded. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried about what came next. There was no guarantee they could find a place to stay, but right now, Nila needed encouragement more than honesty.
Even if they made it on their limited supplies, he'd need to stretch his lien for food and shelter. As much as it hurt, he planned to beg from one of the local families when they arrived. A quick sob story about them getting separated from their caravan or just getting lost in the woods should do. If only some kind souls could provide two desperate children a hot meal and a place to sleep for a couple nights.
It would be humiliating and deceitful. Hopefully, he could leave Nila with Eve while he talked with whatever family he targeted. He hated the idea of her seeing his little act, but he'd do whatever it took to make it work. If that meant tricking some older couple or stealing whatever supplies he couldn't buy, then so be it.
Eve nudged the bottle in Adam's hand, reminding him that one of their party hadn't had a drink yet. "Looks like Eve needs some water," Adam laughed, rubbing his horse's snout before standing up. "C'mon. Let's go find that stream."
"Do you know where it is?" They could both hear the water somewhere nearby, so finding it would be as simple as following their ears. But Nila felt lost in everything right now, relying entirely on Adam for everything. If a little expertise would help calm her down, then he'd flex his limited knowledge any chance he got.
Adam pointed to a gap in the trees, just wide enough to lead a horse through. "There's a trail here. Odds are, it leads right where we want to go." The path wouldn't be so worn without constant use, and anyone stopping here would want to fill their water supply. Nila may have been relying on him, but Adam knew he could rely on the expertise of those more familiar with traveling on the highway. As Father Bernard always told him, when in doubt, look for what everyone else has done. People would only do something over and over again if it worked.
Sure enough, the path they followed soon opened up to a small clearing alongside a calm stream. Eve ignored the old saying about leading a horse to water and immediately started drinking. Adam found himself relaxing to the soft sound of the water flowing past. It was nothing like the roaring river and waterfall back in Shizukana, yet his mind drifted there nonetheless. Back to a simpler, happier time and his happy place.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Nila asked, snapping Adam out of his trance.
"Huh?" Adam shook off the familiar memory. Nila was watching him curiously, likely having noticed his distraction. "Nothing. Well, not nothing. Just…this place sort of reminds me of ho- of Shizukana."
The easy topic seemed as good a distraction as any. "How so?"
"The water," Adam answered before realizing she'd need more. "Back in Shizukana, we had a waterfall nearby that I loved visiting. Dad took me there a few times. It was beautiful."
"There's no waterfalls here," Nila needlessly pointed out.
"It got calmer downstream," Adam assured her, "but I loved sitting on the cliff and watching the water rush by below. It wasn't far from the village, but no one else really went there. It was sort of our own spot. Somewhere I could get away from everything and relax for hours."
"It sounds wonderful."
"It was." Sadly, he wouldn't be visiting it anytime soon. Shizukana stood on the other side of Katai, which he had no intention of going near anytime soon.
"Maybe you could take me there someday." Nila's request caught him by surprise. "You know, once we're all settled in in our new home."
"You want to see the waterfall?" That seemed like such a random idea. He really had no connection to Shizukana now. He was sure he could find another waterfall somewhere just like that one if he really wanted.
"I want to see where you came from," Nila corrected. "Your home. The church. The waterfall. All of it."
"Why?"
"Because they were part of your life," Nila replied, as if the answer should've been obvious. "Because I want to be a part of your life."
Adam could've melted at the sweet smile Nila gave him. Part of my life? He'd been so focused on getting them away from Katai. In his desire to protect and provide for Nila, he'd somehow forgotten how big of a sacrifice she'd made coming with him. She'd abandoned her comfortable life and risked everything on his dreams for the future without any guarantees.
She was already a big part of his life, but now, she'd as good as tied herself to him. He'd sometimes wondered if they'd get married someday, but honestly, he couldn't imagine them not being together. Not after she'd left everything behind for him.
Shizukana was his past, but Nila could very well be his future. Adam swept forward without warning, wrapping her in his arms before gently kissing her. "What was that for?" Nila asked, though she hardly seemed upset at the sneak attack.
"Thank you, Nila."
"For what?"
For coming with him. For believing in him. For being his friend. For being more than his friend.
"For everything," Adam summarized. He had debated for so long if he could've run away on his own, but right now, he couldn't imagine not having her with him. Adam pulled her closer, tightly hugging the most important person in the world to him. "Thanks for coming with me."
"Well, I wasn't gonna let you get away that easy," Nila joked. "Like it or not, you're stuck with me now, Adam."
"I love it." I love you. Maybe it was just a case of puppy love, but even puppy love was real to the puppy. In coming with him, Nila had already promised him more than most couples ever did. Many swore their lives to one another, but few proved it so thoroughly. "Someday, once we're settled down, I'll take you to see Shizukana."
Nila hummed in agreement. "Promise?"
"I promise," he answered, finally freeing her from his embrace. She stepped back just far enough to look up at him, her eyes shining with hope before she softly closed them, tilting her head in a clear invitation. Adam leaned down to claim her lips once more.
Only to jerk away as a different set of lips met his cheek.
"Eve!" Adam yelled, furiously wiping his cheek clean as Eve tried to nudge him again. His horse seemed unconcerned with the water lazily dripping from her snout, but Adam definitely didn't appreciate the sloppy kiss he'd just gotten from her.
Nila could only laugh at the display, slipping out of his grasp. "Looks like someone's jealous."
Adam placed a hand on Eve's forehead, both to calm his excitable mare and keep her from soaking him further. He looked back to Nila, but the moment had passed. She gently stroked Eve's side, instead.
"Guess she's ready to hit the road again," Adam said, hand slipping down to Eve's reins and steering her toward the path once more. For ruining their tender moment, he'd get his revenge. Maybe it was time to quicken their pace a little.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
They reached the campsite just as the sun reached the horizon, giving them more than enough light to prepare for the evening. As usual, a decent supply of firewood waited for them. Adam set up the campfire, wishing the entire time that he had one of his father's fire starters but thankful for all the lessons as he drew forth a small glow using the old methods. He carefully nursed it into a healthy flame, building it up as Nila watched in fascination.
"That was amazing!" Nila cheered when he finally stepped back, content with the roaring fire before him. "How'd you do that?"
"My dad taught me," Adam answered proudly. "Most of the merchants use packets of fire dust or lighters," Adam grumbled about cheating at a distant memory, "but he always said it was important to learn the basics, in case I ever needed them."
"Looks like he was right," Nila agreed, rubbing her hands together near the fire. It hadn't gotten too cold yet, but the comfort of a warm campfire helped her relax nonetheless. "What else did he teach you?"
Everything. "Basic survival skills. First aid. Fishing. Tracking. Foraging."
Nila looked impressed at the list of skills she had never had reason to learn. "So now what? Are you gonna hunt down some dinner?"
Adam relieved Eve of her saddle, setting it across a nearby rack. He tied Eve's reins alongside it, placing her food well within her reach for the night before rummaging through the saddlebags and pulling out a pair of wrapped sandwiches, holding them up for Nila to see. "Ah! Another successful hunt."
"Idiot." Nila chuckled before catching the sandwich Adam tossed to her. With a fledgling fire started and food in hand, the runaway pair finally relaxed, sitting down on the bench next to the campfire. Nila leaned against him as she ate, the two silently celebrating making it this far.
They still had a long way to go. Tomorrow would be a long ride if he hoped to make the next village. If his plan to mooch off of some couple's kindness failed, their lien should be enough to get them through the night, but not much further. He'd need to make it last if they hoped to continue their journey. Maybe at the next stop he could do some work and earn it back, but first, he needed more distance between him and Katai.
Between him and Alyssa.
"What's wrong?" Sitting so close, Nila must've felt his shiver at the thought of her name.
Adam pulled her close once more, mostly to distract her. "N-nothing. Just a little cold."
Even a day's ride from that horrid place, he still didn't feel safe enough to tell her. Once they were far away and settled down - well beyond her clutches at last - he'd tell her everything. She deserved to know the truth of why he had to leave. That wouldn't make telling her any easier, though.
Adam left Nila to tend to the camp, making sure she had her knife handy and instructing her to yell out if she saw anything. Rather than wait until morning, Adam figured he could overstock the woodpile now so they could leave at first light. A pair of large barrels in the center of the clearing provided a decent supply of water, refilled naturally by rainfall. He made sure to fish out a few leaves that had drifted into the open containers before topping off their bottle. By the time the shattered moon claimed the night sky, the two of them were ready to settle down for the night.
They hadn't brought any camping gear with them. The ground hardly looked comfortable, even compared to the cheap mattresses back at the orphanage.
Still, Adam couldn't complain as Nila snuggled against him as he sat with his back against a boulder near the fire. Pragmatically, the shared body heat would help get them through the night, but he just enjoyed the feel of her against his side. She shifted around a bit before finally settling for his lap as a pillow. His hand softly stroked her hair as she hummed in contentment.
"Get some rest," Adam whispered. "We'll head out first thing in the morning."
"Aren't you gonna sleep?"
"Soon," he promised. "It takes me a while to unwind and someone's gotta watch the fire for a bit. At least until it dies down a little."
A forest fire wouldn't exactly do them any good, but Adam's real reason was a lot less environmentally focused. Nighttime on the trail came with a host of dangers. The larger merchant caravans would have a rotating shift of guards keeping watch. Smaller groups with only one guard would have merchants working the rota with instructions to wake their guard should they even think they saw something.
Asking Nila to keep watch half of the night wouldn't help. She'd be so jumpy, she'd probably summon every Grimm for miles. Better she sleep and let him handle everything. Once they reached the next village, he could get some sleep. Besides, Eve would do most of the work tomorrow. But tonight, it was all on him.
"Well, don't stay up too late," Nila ordered, rolling over to look up at him. "We've got a big day ahead of us."
"We sure do." Adam leaned down, meeting Nila halfway as she slipped a hand behind his head, pulling herself up to meet his lips. "Goodnight, Nila."
Nila kissed him again, this time just a quick peck on the lips before settling back down on her new pillow. "Goodnight, Adam."
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Flames danced along the wood, slowly consuming their stage in a beautiful display above a glowing pile of embers. Small sparks and wisps of light floated amongst the lazily rising smoke, sparkling as they took flight before burning out amidst the night sky, cheered on by the crackling applause of the fire below. The night held its breath at the elegant show, daring not to whisper the faintest breeze lest it spoil the theatrics.
And through it all, a single pair of eyes watched.
Nila continued sleeping through it all as Adam - the lone member of nature's audience - kept watch. The warmth of the campfire caressed him gently, bidding him to rest his weary eyes. Twice he nodded, barely resisting the siren call of slumber as he jerked back up before carefully inspecting his counterpart to make sure he hadn't woken her. The moon peeked at them from between the trees, waiting to see how long his vigil could endure.
Adam shook his head, driving the night's tendrils away from his heavy eyelids once more. Must…stay awake.
He knew it was a losing battle, but he couldn't afford to let his guard down yet. The early night hours were fraught with danger. Bandits were known to sometimes strike under cover of dark, waiting long enough for the camps to fall asleep first but before the moon stood directly above, bathing the open expanse in its soft glow. Ambushing a lone sentry or two would be easier in the dark, after all. While Adam knew they had nothing of value to entice a raid, some bandits were known to dabble in human trafficking. He dreaded to imagine what might happen to Nila in that scenario.
And, of course, there was the Grimm to worry about. His night vision meant little against an adversary whose senses were twice as keen, not to mention their fabled ability to sense negativity. A foe who could hunt by emotion had little need of light. Most attacks happened early, though, according to the merchants he had met before his time at the orphanage. The weariness of travel and the displeasure of sleeping on the trail had a tendency to draw the Grimm. Less so once the camp fell asleep. He hoped the same would hold true tonight.
Just a little longer. A few hours of sleep was all he'd need. He could make up for it once they were safe in the next village. For now, their safety was far more important than his comfort.
Yet again, Adam couldn't help looking down at the young girl snuggled against his lap. Her long ears lay softly across his legs as she slept. With the fire slowly dying down, she'd instinctively bunched herself closer to him, slipping a hand under her improvised pillow to seek what extra heat hid under his thigh. He fought off the urge to reach down and stroke her beautiful face for fear he might wake her.
He still couldn't believe she'd come with him. As much as they liked each other, leaving everything behind for him was insane. How could someone so wonderful care so much for a broken man like him? Not that she knew how broken he was.
Would she still love him once the truth came out? Once she realized he was damaged goods, would she want him anymore? She was special to him because she was his first love, but she wouldn't be the first for anything else. He would be her first, but she'd never be his. Would she always be left to wonder how she measured up to Alyssa?
Not that Adam would ever prefer that monster to the perfect girl before him. She could be the worst kisser on Remnant - which he could confidently say wasn't the case - but she would still be far ahead of anything Alyssa could ever offer him. But how could he convince her of that? Would she even believe him?
I'll have to trust her. Because in the end, there was nothing else he could do. He'd tell her in time and leave it up to Nila what happened next. If she couldn't bear to be with him at that point, he couldn't even blame her. Nila deserved better than the mangled leftovers from Alyssa.
Adam felt a chill run up his spine as his mind recalled what that demon had done to him. She'd taken everything from him, leaving behind a filthy, broken boy forever tainted by her disgusting desires. Even now, he could feel her overwhelming presence weighing on him. Her claws digging into him as the cruel reminder of her dominance hung in the air. It was enough to remind him of why he had to leave. At least out here, he didn't have to fear her presence any longer.
"Did you really think you could escape me so easily?"
Adam jolted so hard that his head banged against the solid rock behind him. Stars danced before his eyes, but through it all, he focused in on the terrifying voice as a shape stepped from the trees to his left.
"Alyssa!"
"Sh!" Alyssa brought a finger to her lips. No, not a finger. Adam saw the glint of metal in the dim light, revealing his father's knife in Alyssa's grasp. "Wouldn't want to wake Sleeping Beauty, now would you?"
Adam's eyes darted down to Nila just long enough to see she was still asleep. She shifted slightly at his movement with a frown, but nothing more.
"How did you-"
"Find you?" Alyssa laughed, striding into the center of their camp without a single concern. "Silly boy. I always get what's mine."
Adam shook Nila, but she merely rolled over and burrowed her face against his stomach with a whine. A second shake - more violent this time - still failed to wake her. Alyssa smiled cruelly as she watched his attempts, calming resting the tip of her knife against her finger.
The knife! Frantically, Adam reached for his own knife, desperate for some sort of protection against his tormentor. His fingers brushed against the edge of the handle, rotating it away from him. He strained further, but it evaded his grasp once more.
Before he could make another valiant effort, Alyssa was upon him. Or rather, beside him. She kicked his weapon away, kneeling as she cruelly clutched his jaw in her free hand. "You can't escape me, Adam." Alyssa leaned closer, whispering in his ear, "Ever."
Adam retched as her lips brushed against his cheek, but Alyssa didn't stop there. His head jerked to the side as she slammed her lips against his. He clenched his mouth shut before she could deepen it, wincing as she painfully bit his lip but refusing to yield. Then, like an owner prying a dog's mouth open, her fingers dug painfully into his cheeks, parting his teeth and granting herself entry once more. Adam gasped for air as her tongue penetrated deep within his mouth, batting his own aside forcefully.
Finally satisfied, Alyssa pulled back, maintaining her iron grip on his jaw as she licked her lips triumphantly. Her eyes reflected the cruel flames nearby as she looked between him and Nila.
"Running away like that wasn't very smart, Adam. You could've gotten hurt." The tip of his father's blade traced against his cheek. Halfway down, she pressed harder, tracing a thin line of blood. Before he could cry out, Alyssa shifted her grip to cover his mouth. "I know you're happy to see me, but let's keep things quiet, shall we? It would be a shame to be interrupted."
Alyssa tore the knife away just before it reached the edge of his mouth, flicking a few droplets of blood aside. It hovered over Alyssa's sleeping form, making it clear what would happen if he disobeyed.
"Now, are you gonna be a good boy and obey?" Adam nodded his compliance, eyes fixed on the threat looming over Nila. Alyssa released her hold on his face, leaving him to quietly gasp for air. "Very good."
"What are you doing here?" Adam asked, paling at Alyssa's displeased glare.
"I've come to rescue you!" Alyssa's laugh lacked any mirth despite her smile. "When I heard you'd run away, I knew I had to bring you back safe and sound."
Adam felt anything but safe at the moment, but arguing with her felt like a surefire way to remove what mercy she had left for them. Instead, Adam waited with baited breath to hear what else she might say. If he was lucky, she'd lower her guard if he behaved and he could fetch his knife. Then again, she didn't know they had a second one. If he could reach that, maybe he could end his suffering once and for all.
"Mother was so upset when you didn't come back. I told her I would handle everything, though, and here I am!" Alyssa shrugged with her free hand, never removing the knife from above Nila's chest. "She didn't think I could do it, that wretched old hag. Well, I'll show her. I'll bring you back and make her eat her words." Alyssa's eyes darkened as she tilted her head down. "And then, we'll see about your punishment."
"Punishment?" he asked, instantly wishing he hadn't.
"What? You thought you could pull a stunt like this and not pay for it?" Adam knew better than to answer that. "Oh, don't worry. When I'm through with you, you'll think twice about ever betraying my trust again."
Adam gulped, mind reeling with horrible ideas of what twisted things he would be forced to endure. If everything up until now had been kind in comparison, he wasn't sure he'd survive this new type of torment. He doubted he'd get another chance to escape like this, either. They'd watch him like a hawk. Nila too. Adam instinctively bucked against her threats, only to still as Alyssa shoved him back, pinning him by the shoulder as her knife slid closer to Nila's throat.
"None of that now, Adam. After all, it would be a shame if I got here too late to save your friend."
"You can't!" Adam protested uselessly, fully aware they were at her mercy now. No one would be coming to save them here. She could kill them both and ditch their bodies. Or claim she'd found them like that, robbed and killed by bandits on the dangerous trail.
"I can." There wasn't a shred of doubt in Alyssa's voice. A snort from Eve nearby drew her attention away. Not long enough for him to do anything, but enough for her to realize something. "Hm. Riding back will be difficult with all three of us. Guess I'd better lighten the load."
Adam saw her look down at Nila with nothing but hatred in her eyes. He saw the knife rise before plunging downward. Helplessly, he saw the moment it pierced flesh and Nila awoke, her eyes frantically searching for answers as darkness swallowed her.
"Nila! No!"
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Adam struggled against the hand holding him back, jerking it free as he screamed in agony.
"Adam!"
His fist froze before it could strike the face above him, which was very much not Alyssa's. Nila looked down on him with fear and confusion, so much more alive than a moment ago. His hand slipped up to her neck, feeling the smooth skin where Alyssa had plunged her dagger.
A dream. It was all a dream. Or a nightmare, really. It had all felt so real to him. Even this far away, he still couldn't escape Alyssa, it seemed.
"Adam, we have to go!" Nila squeaked out. Before Adam could ask why, a howl pierced the night air, far closer than Adam was comfortable with. A second echoed in the distance. Then a third.
The threat of Alyssa might have been confined to his nightmares, but a very real threat lurked somewhere in the shadows. One he was all too familiar with. Adam grabbed his knife, knowing it would do little against the coming terrors but unwilling to go down without a fight. Eve stamped nervously nearby, sensing his dread. He couldn't see anything moving in the dark yet, but another howl from their right told him it wouldn't be long now. Death was coming for them in the form of black fur, red eyes, and gruesome claws.
The Grimm had found them.
Still laughing at last chapter's Author Note about a Grimm attack. Bit of a joke for myself, knowing this chapter would end with the Grimm coming.
In case it wasn't clear enough, Alyssa showing up was just a bad dream. I'm sure some of you were questioning how she caught up on foot, by herself. I try to keep things somewhat reasonable, so if you see something completely outlandish, there's probably a good explanation (or the painkillers are taking hold). And the absolute terror Adam feels from that nightmare becomes a Grimm magnet, summoning yet another Beowolf encounter. He sure does run into them a lot.
So, two teenagers with knives against a trio of Beowolves at night. That'll definitely go well. I mean, we had a pleasant ending last chapter, so you had to know it would hit the fan soon.
Next chapter: Adam and Nila try to survive against a Grimm attack.