Authors note: Umm... more gore? And yeh... enjoy!
Chapter 45. Sacrifices and heartbreak.
"We need to move... Now!"
The moment the words left Jakob's mouth, the dead began to stir.
Their bodies twitched and jerked violently, as if yanked upright by invisible strings. Limbs twisted at grotesque angles, bones snapping with sickening cracks, forcing their lifeless bodies into motion once more.
For a moment, they simply stood.
Hollow, unblinking eyes turned in unison, locking onto the seven students.
Then, the sound came.
A low, guttural growl, rolling through them like a distant storm. It was more than rage. It was hunger.
And then, as if some unheard command had been given.
They charged. All of them.
Raw, unnatural screams tore from their throats as they surged forward, their feet's slamming against the ground.
their hands twisted, clawed in the air, desperately trying to reach for flesh.
Jakob reacted instantly.
He shoved Pansy hard, jolting her from her frozen state.
"Go!"
The command snapped through the air like a whip, breaking the paralysis that had gripped them all.
Without hesitation, they ran.
Behind them, the dead continued their chase with their shrieks filling the air as the horde closed in.
John risked a glance back, his wand already raised. He shouted an incantation, and the gravel and loose stones littering the path trembled before rising into the air, hovering for a brief second.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, this time without even looking, he sent them hurtling toward the charging dead.
The rocks struck with force, tearing through decayed flesh and splintered bone. One of them hit its mark, ripping clean through a skull, and the corpse collapsed instantly.
But the rest?
They barely stumbled.
Their bodies jerked with the impact but never slowed. Instead their hollow screams rose as they tore forward, completely unfazed by the damage.
The group kept running, their breaths coming in sharp, uneven gasps as they desperately searched for shelter. The houses lining the streets offered no safety, their doors either locked or broken open, leaving them exposed with nowhere to hide.
A sudden crash echoed from above.
Jakob barely had time to react before shards of glass exploded from a window on the second floor of a nearby building. He ducked on instinct, pushing forward just like the others. The sharp pieces rained down behind them, scattering across the path they had just crossed.
A heavy thud followed.
Jakob and a few turned at the sound, their eyes locking onto a small body sprawled on the cobblestone street. It was a little boy. His limbs were twisted at unnatural angles, his head bent in a way that no living person could survive. The impact alone should have been enough to kill him, should have kept him down.
But he moved.
With sickening cracks, his body snapped itself upright, the small bones in the boy's body started to shift as he pushed himself to his feet. His glassy, vacant eyes fixed on them, and as he opened his bloodied mouth to scream, he took off in a sprint, joining the horde of the living dead.
"They're damn near everywhere! What should we do?!" Carmen's voice rang out in panicked urgency.
Jakob's eyes darted around, searching for anything, anywhere, that could offer protection. His pulse hammered in his ears as his gaze locked onto a tall, stone building at the end of the street.
"There! The church!" he shouted, pointing ahead.
"We ain't gonna make it!" Felix shouted, his voice strained with effort as he flicked his wand. "Syrtim!"
The ground behind them twisted and churned, shifting unnaturally as it morphed into thick, swallowing quicksand.
Two of the dead sprinted straight into the trap and the moment their feet met the unstable ground, they sank. Their rotting hands clawed at the air, their bodies thrashing as the quicksand dragged them further down.
But the others did not falter.
The horde surged forward, relentless in their pursuit. They trampled over their own, breaking bones, caving in skulls. The fallen became nothing more than a bridge, crushed beneath the weight of those who came after.
Jakob could see it, the exhaustion creeping into his group. Their breaths grew heavier, their steps lost their sharpness, and their pace lagged as fatigue began to settle in.
John had seen it too. His gaze flicked to his sister, reading the fear in her eyes, the hesitation in her steps. If no one acted, they wouldn't make it.
He made his choice. Skidding to a halt, he turned to Carmen and gave her a firm shove forward as she hesitated beside him.
"Run. I'll meet you there!"
Carmen hesitated for only a second before nodding and sprinting ahead with the others, not daring to look back.
John turned to face the approaching horde, his grip tightening around his wand. With a sharp inhale, he raised it high.
"Fiendfyre!" he roared.
A monstrous firebird erupted from the tip of his wand, its massive wings unfurling in a blaze of living flame. It screeched, a sound so deep and powerful it heated the very air around it.
The fire tore through the horde in an instant, swallowing everything in its path.
Two-thirds of the dead disintegrated within seconds, their bodies reduced to nothing but ash. The fire raged forward, latching onto the nearest building, the hungry flames consuming it in an instant.
John nodded, satisfied with his work, and turned to follow his friends. He had barely taken a step when the sharp crash of shattering glass split the air.
His head snapped up just in time to see a woman hurtling through a broken window above, her body twisting midair.
There was no time to react. She slammed into him with full force, knocking him off his feet and driving them both hard into the ground.
Jakob had turned just in time to see it. For a split second, he thought, hoped, that the impact alone had killed him. That John had been spared the horror of what came next.
Then he heard it, a sound that sent ice through his veins.
John screamed. It was raw, agonizing, the unmistakable cry of someone dying in unbearable pain.
The dead woman, her body mangled and torn from the fall, latched onto his face. Her teeth sank deep, ripping into his flesh, tearing it away in gruesome chunks. Blood pooled beneath them, staining the cobblestone path.
The others followed.
The pursuing swarm of the dead abandoned their chase, turning their ravenous attention to John instead. They collapsed onto him in a frenzied mass, clawing, biting, tearing into flesh with insatiable hunger.
Carmen's choked sob cut through the chaos as she stumbled forward, her wand trembling in her grasp.
"John!"
Tears streaked her face, her raw voice breaking under the weight of panic and grief. She raised her wand in a desperate attempt, ready to cast something, anything, but there was nothing left to save.
Felix reacted before she could.
He seized her arm, yanking her back with enough force to drag her away.
"We can't save him. Come on!" he urged.
She fought against his grip, but Felix didn't let go. Her sobs racked through her as he pulled her toward the others.
Jakob knew he shouldn't have looked back one last time, but he did.
John's body still moved, but not by his own will. His limbs twitched and jerked unnaturally as the dead tore into him, stripping away everything he had been, reducing a strong, capable fighter into nothing more than meat.
His arm shot upward, fingers trembling, grasping at nothing, a final, futile attempt to fight back.
The little boy from before, with the glassy, vacant eyes locked onto the movement and lunged forward. His tiny hands grasped John's wrist, and with a single vicious bite, he tore away two fingers.
Jakob closed his eyes for a brief moment before turning away. There was nothing left to do.
John was gone.
When he looked back at his friends, they were still staring at the scene, their faces frozen in terror.
"We're almost there, hurry!" he urged, pushing them to run faster.
John's unknowing sacrifice had bought them precious distance, but the dead were relentless. As the group of students ran through the streets, more of them emerged from alleys and crumbling buildings, drawn by the commotion.
Hollow eyes locked onto the fleeing group, then, with an unnatural burst of speed, they broke into a sprint after them.
The church stood just ahead.
The towering white structure loomed over them, its large bell glowing faintly against the dark sky. The hands read ten minutes past three. The heavy oak doors were just a few steps away.
They lunged up the stairs, nearly colliding with the massive wooden entrance.
Draco yanked desperately at the handles, heaving in air. "It's locked!" he shouted in frustration and panic.
Jakob rolled his eyes and shoved him aside.
"Don't let fear and panic cloud your mind." He flicked his wand. "Alohomora."
A soft click echoed in the air and Jakob seized one of the circular handles and pulled. The heavy door groaned in protest, its weight resisting before finally giving way, swinging open with a deep, grating sound.
They burst through the doorway and Jakob moved instinctively, stepping forward with his wand raised, his eyes sweeping the darkness. But the church was empty.
"Help me! They're coming!" Felix shouted.
Draco and Pansy sprang into action, shoving their weight against the heavy door as Felix pushed it closed behind them. The wood groaned under the strain, but finally, it slammed shut.
Felix's sweaty fingers fumbled for the massive key and turned it in the lock with a heavy clunk, sealing them inside.
Almost instantly, the door rattled a deep, violent shake as the dead outside began slamming their weight against it.
Jakob pressed his back against the heavy wood, inhaling deeply as the relentless pounding echoed through the church. To the others, it looked like he was catching his breath, but in reality, he was listening, feeling.
He closed his eyes, letting the back of his head rest against the door as he focused, assessing its strength. The wood rattled under the force of the undead outside, but there was no tell-tale creak, no splintering beneath the strain.
"It'll hold," he assessed, pushing off the door and straightening. "But not for long if more of them shows up."
Jakob turned to Felix and Carmen.
"Do either of you know how to ward a door?" He asked in a clipped tone.
Felix hesitated as he turned his gaze toward the blonde girl.
She was slumped against the wall, hands tangled in her hair, shoulders trembling as quiet sobs wracked her body.
"She was the best at warding," he admitted quietly. "But I don't reckon she'll be doing much of anything right now."
Jakob sighed and kept himself from rolling his eyes.
John's death was unfortunate, but a girl losing her mind to grief wasn't going to help them survive.
"Alright," Jakob sighed, pushing aside his frustration. If this church was going to hold as a defence, there was a lot to be done.
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he steadied his thoughts, running through everything that needed to happen. When he opened them again, his focus was razor-sharp.
He turned to the group. "Felix, Draco, Theo, search this place. Make sure we're alone."
Then his sharp green eyes landed on Pansy. "I need you to cover me while I ward the door."
Pansy met Jakob's gaze with a determent expression before giving one firm nod. "Got it."
"What about her?"
Felix's voice cut through, drawing everyone's attention. They followed his gaze to where he was looking and landed on Carmen, still curled against the wall, lost in silent grief.
Jakob didn't even spare the girl a second glance. "She's useless right now. She stays here. We'll deal with her later."
Felix frowned, his jaw tightening as if he wanted to argue. He opened his mouth, but after a brief hesitation, he closed it again. There was no point. Instead, he gestured for Draco and Theo to stay behind him as they began their search.
Jakob turned toward Pansy and gave her a small nod before facing the door. Without wasting another second, he lifted his wand and began chanting. As the incantation flowed from his lips, glowing runes carved themselves into the thick oak, sinking deep into the wood, weaving layers of protection around it.
Pansy turned her back to him, raising her wand as she smoothly shifted into a duelling stance. Her sharp eyes swept over the darkened church, scanning every shadow. Every nerve was on high alert, her muscles tense, ready to strike at the first flicker of movement.
A sudden yell of surprise shattered the silence from another room in the church, followed by a deep, guttural growl.
Pansy's breath caught as her eyes snapped toward the source of the sound. She aimed, bracing herself if something were to lunge from the darkness.
Behind her, Carmen had begun rocking back and forth against the wall, whispering brokenly to herself.
"I'm sorry, John… I'm sorry."
Another growl echoed through the space, followed by a sharp, desperate, "Diffindo!" Before a heavy thud hit the wooden floor.
Pansy held her stance, listening, waiting. Nothing moved. No more sounds followed. Still, she didn't lower her wand.
"What happened?" Pansy called out into the silence.
She held her breath, waiting for what felt like an eternity for a response.
Then, finally, Draco's voice rang out. "It's alright! Theo found one of them, and Felix killed it!"
Pansy released her breath, the tight knot in her shoulders loosening. The tension bled from her limbs, but she didn't fully relax. Not yet.
Noticing that Jakob's chanting had stopped, Pansy turned back, expecting to see him finishing the wards. Instead, she found him already facing her with a sharp determination.
He grasped her open hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze as his expression softened.
"You know," he mused in a distant, almost dreamy tone, "right now, I really wish we were back in…"
He trailed off, his brow furrowing, as if searching for the words. For a second, he seemed lost in thought. Then, with a quiet chuckle, he shook his head.
Pansy frowned, confused that he couldn't remember. "You mean back in Hawaii?"
The moment the word left her lips, she felt it.
A familiar pull, that lurching sensation of magic taking hold.
Her eyes widened in shock and she barely had time to process what was happening before… nothing.
No surge of magic. No Port key activation. Nothing.
She blinked in shock before her eyes widened in realization.
Jakob let go of her hand, and her eyes dropped as she slowly opened it.
There, resting in her palm, lay the coin.
Her breath hitched. "You… you tricked me."
Jakob shrugged. "Worth a shot."
Without another word, he turned back, resuming his chanting to ward the door as if nothing had happened.
It took a moment for Pansy to fully grasp what had happened and before she could say anything, Jakob stepped back, his eyes sweeping over his completed work.
With a satisfied nod, he turned and walked past her, making his way to the window beside the oak doors.
The stained glass was placed high above the ground, too high to see through without effort. Jakob bent his knees and jumped, gripping the stone ledge and pulled himself up just enough to peer outside.
The street was swarming.
The dead pressed against the doors, clawing at the wood, their hollow groans filling the night. His wards held, for now.
But if more came, they wouldn't last.
Jakob sighed and dropped back down, landing lightly on his feet.
As soon as he turned, Pansy was there.
She had seen the look in his eyes when he had glanced outside, and worry crept into her voice.
"What should we do now?" she asked quietly.
Jakob met her gaze and, despite everything, he gave her a reassuring smile.
"We're not going to break down, and we're not going to cry," he said calmly. "We're going to think. We're going to find a way back. We can't do that if we end up like her."
He tilted his head toward Carmen, who still sat against the wall, rocking back and forth, whispering the same broken sentence over and over again.
She didn't react, didn't seem to hear him. She just kept rocking.
Pansy swallowed hard, her gaze flickering back to the broken girl before turning to Jakob with a small frown.
"She just lost her brother. Don't be mean."
Jakob sighed. He didn't argue.
Instead, he took Pansy's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Pansy, she lost her brother in the worst way imaginable. I get it." He began calmly, but there was an edge of finality to it as he continued. "But right now? She doesn't stand a chance. And I won't let that happen to you, Draco, or Theo."
His green eyes searched hers. "You know what I've been through. How many times do you think I wanted to give up, to end up like that?" He nodded toward Carmen's broken form.
Pansy didn't answer.
Jakob gave a faint smile.
"Zero."
He let the word settle before continuing.
"If I had stopped thinking, I would have died. I would have lost Amy. And if I do it now, I'll lose you too."
His grip tightened just slightly, enough to make sure she was listening. "You can feel later. Right now, put your fear aside, see the signs, and think. That's how we survive."
Unwilling to admit that he was right, Pansy broke eye contact.
Jakob didn't push her for a response. Instead, he turned his attention to the room around them.
Rows of wooden benches stretched across the space, their surfaces worn and aged from years of use. At the far end, an altar stood with a golden cross at its center, its surface catching the faint moonlight.
To his right, a narrow passage led deeper into the church, disappearing into the shadows. He turned his head left and saw another path, identical to the one on the right.
Before Jakob could decide which to investigate first, the three boys returned. Felix took the lead, giving Jakob and Pansy a quick update.
"Ran into one of them creatures. Killed it and locked it up, just to be safe," he said in an efficiently clipped tone.
He gestured toward the right passage. "Reckon there's a door leads out to the backside, I think."
Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he pointed to the left. "Kitchen's over there. Got some food supplies, too."
Jakob gave a short nod. "Good. I'll ward the other door, but I need someone with me." His gaze swept over the group before continuing. "The rest of you, start cutting up the benches. Bar the windows and reinforce the main door. We don't know how long we'll be here."
The boys and Pansy glanced around, taking in their surroundings before nodding in agreement.
Jakob turned to Felix giving him a thoughtful look. "That spell you used earlier, the one that turned the road into quicksand. Can you do it on this floor?"
Felix frowned, looking down at the stone beneath their feet before meeting Jakob's gaze again. "Yeah, reckon so. Why?"
Jakob pointed toward the benches. "We need to cut them into long stakes and drive them into the ground, angled toward the door."
Felix's brows furrowed in confusion at the idea, but before he could question it, Jakob kept talking.
"The undead are going to break through sooner or later. When they do, we need something to slow them down—something that will force them into a disadvantage while we escape."
Realization flickered across Felix's face and he gave a sharp nod. "Sure. I can do it."
Jakob glanced at the three remaining Slytherins, giving two of them an expectant look.
"Who wants to come and keep me company while I ward the door?"
Neither of the two boys made any move to volunteer. Theo avoided his gaze entirely, while Draco shifted uncomfortably, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
Jakob rolled his eyes.
"I can go?" Pansy offered, stepping forward, but Jakob shook his head.
"No. You're staying here. I'll take Draco with me."
Draco's head snapped up. "Why? Pansy just—"
"Because you need to stop acting like someone's always going to save you!" Jakob cut him off frustratedly. "If you keep thinking like that, you're going to get yourself killed. Both of you."
His glare flickered between Draco and Theo, sensing his patience wearing thinner by the second at their behavior. The two boys exchanged a nervous glance, clearly caught off guard by his tone.
"You will follow me, and you will watch my back while I put up the ward. And when we're done, you will come back here and protect the people who matter to you. Understand?"
Jakob didn't wait for an answer. Instead he just turned and walked away.
Draco stood frozen in place, stunned by the outburst. His best friend had never spoken to him like that before.
He turned toward Theo and Pansy, their expressions mirroring his own—confusion, but also recognition.
Did they actually agree with what Jakob had said?
For the first time, Draco wasn't sure if he was more shocked by his best friend's words or the fact that he knew, deep down, that Jakob was right.
Draco hurried after Jakob, falling into step beside him. They walked in silence, moving through the narrow corridor toward the back of the building. As they approached the door, Draco turned and raised his wand.
He slipped into a dueling stance, one he had learned from the Dueling Club the previous year.
Jakob didn't need to look to recognize it.
It was Lockhart's stance.
Draco should have known better than to learn anything from that useless garbage.
"Why did you say that?" Draco asked, keeping his eyes forward, scanning the corners of the dark hallway for any sign of movement.
Jakob let out a quiet sigh, never pausing in his work. This conversation had been inevitable. In truth, it was the reason he had brought Draco with him.
There were things he needed to say, things Draco wouldn't take well, especially if the others were around to hear them.
"Because you're weak, Draco."
The words were blunt, cutting and Jakob didn't soften them. "You've never been in a truly dangerous situation until now, and I can't protect you if none of you are willing to help me."
Draco stiffened at the insult, his head snapping toward Jakob with an affronted look. "I'm not weak! And what the hell have you done that makes you so confident?"
Jakob finally turned to look at him, meeting his best friend's glare head on.
"I've done shit that would make your worst nightmares have nightmares." he answered steadily. There was no pride in his voice, no condescending tone. Just facts. "Why do you think I was accepted into the Slytherin Five?"
Draco didn't answer, but Jakob could see the question in his eyes.
"They saw me for what I could do. And I see that in you, Draco. You have so much potential. But you need to start carrying your own fucking weight and stop acting like the world exists to serve you."
Draco's mouth opened, but Jakob kept going, with a sharper tone.
"You brag about your family name like it's a shield, but one day, you won't have your father behind you, wiping your ass every time you screw up. If you don't learn how to stand on your own, you're going to fall. And when that day comes, no one's going to catch you."
Draco broke eye contact, his jaw tightening as he turned his gaze away.
"You… I try to be better every day because of you, and you repay that by telling me I'm weak? Fuck you."
He spun around, ready to walk away, but Jakob's hand landed firmly on his shoulder, stopping him in place.
"I'm telling you this because I'm afraid I'll lose you tonight."
Draco froze.
Jakob didn't let go. Instead he kept his grip steady but not forceful. "I've been there for you every time you've gotten into trouble. How many times do you think I had someone to do the same for me?"
Draco didn't answer.
"I don't know if I can protect you this time," Jakob admitted, his voice quieter now, but the weight behind it remained. "And that worries me. I need to know that you won't hesitate when the time comes, that you'll kill those things if you have to. That you'll make the hard choice if it means surviving."
Draco slowly turned back to face him, searching Jakob's face for any sign of deception.
But there was none.
His best friend was worried, genuinely worried. And somehow, that terrified Draco more than the creatures outside.
He swallowed hard before nodding. "I won't. I..." he eyes seemed to search the air for answers before they lit up and he continued. "I know fire spells, and my father taught me something that I think will work on them. But that's a last resort."
His grip tightened around his wand as he straightened his back, giving his best friend a reassuring nod.
"I won't die here, Jake. I promise."
Jakob patted Draco's shoulder, offering him a small, grateful smile.
"Good. It would be awkward spending the rest of the summer with your parents after carrying your corpse back to them."
Draco let out a short chuckle, shaking his head as Jakob turned back to his work. The blonde kept his wand raised, his stance more deliberate now, more prepared. There was something different in his eyes. The scared boy from before was gone, replaced by someone sharper, more focused.
Jakob finished the last of the warding, his wand carving the final glowing rune into the stone before the magic settled into place.
Together, they made their way back to the main hall.
The others had been busy.
The benches had been dismantled and repurposed, stacked high against the windows and main gate as makeshift barricades. Felix was just finishing up, transfiguring a spear with a sharp metal tip before pressing it into the softened stone beneath them. The rock hardened instantly, locking the weapon into place.
Jakob looked a bit surprised as he observed the setup.
Nine spears stood firm, angled toward the entrance like a deadly trap waiting to be sprung.
He nodded, satisfied. "This will do."
"What do we do now?" Pansy asked, adjusting a wool blanket over Carmen's shoulders.
The older girl had passed out against the wall, the only sign of life being her slow but steady breathing. Probably passed out from the shock, Jakob thought as he observed the older girl for a moment. But at least she was no longer sobbing and worsening the moral of the group. His gaze flickered back to Pansy and the others.
"Now, we take a moment to rest, to think." He answered in a calm and measured tone. "We need one person to stand guard while the others rest. I'll take the first watch. If you hear banging, get ready to fight."
Felix glanced to the corridor leading to the other exit and then leaned forward. "What about the door in the back?"
Jakob shook his head. "We don't need to guard it. There are no windows, and if they break through, we'll hear it from here." His eyes flickered toward the blocked-off passage. "I also placed a ward. If anything tries to get in, I'll know."
That seemed to be enough for now.
The group moved some benches toward the center of the room, arranging them into a square so they could sit with their backs against something. It wasn't much, but it created a small illusion of security. Jakob flicked his wand, and a small flame hovered in the middle of their makeshift circle.
It didn't give off any warmth, but it pushed back the shadows. Better than just sitting here in the dark. He thought and looked around.
He was right.
The others seemed to relax, if only slightly. Pansy pulled her legs up onto the bench, resting her chin on her knees. Felix sat beside Carmen, having levitated her onto a softer surface. Theo let out a slow breath, leaning his head back. Even Draco who had looked tense and restless a moment ago, let some of the stiffness leave his shoulders.
Jakob, however, had no intention of sitting down.
He levitated one of the broken benches and climbed up on it, his sharp green eyes scanning the outside through the high window.
The situation was getting worse.
At least thirty of the undead had gathered outside the gate, some pacing mindlessly, others pressing forward. Each time they reached the threshold, something invisible shoved them back.
They stumbled, hesitated—then tried again.
"They seem docile… almost like they're only trying to get through because of the magic," Jakob murmured to himself.
His gaze flickered back toward the group. The tiny hovering flame cast a soft glow over their faces as they whispered quietly to one another. Their voices were low, almost hushed, as if speaking too loudly might break the fragile moment of peace they had created.
Jakob smiled to himself.
If it weren't for the imminent death lurking outside, this might have actually felt almost cozy.
Like camping, just with a much higher chance of being eaten alive.
But there was no point in wishful thinking. He turned back toward the window, his mind already moving, piecing together the puzzle in front of him.
Alright, what do I know?
He closed his eyes for a brief second, gathering his thoughts.
They made a sacrifice. They let something loose that only affects Muggles. Whatever it is, it turns them, makes them mindless, violent. They're not Inferi. They're closer to Draugr, but stronger. Faster.
They die when their brain is destroyed.
But why are we here?
How do we get back?
From her seat by the fire, Pansy glanced toward Jakob. The others were still whispering, their quiet reassurances meant to keep themselves from spiraling into fear. But as she watched Jakob standing by the window, she saw what they didn't.
The tiredness in his eyes.
The slight twitch near his temple.
The almost imperceptible movement of his fingers, a restless habit he had when he was thinking too hard, when his mind was racing to solve something none of them could see yet.
A sad smile made itself briefly known as she looked at the boy.
While the rest of them were trying to calm themselves down, Jakob was trying to make sure they all survived.
She sighed. She knew he needed this moment—needed time alone with his thoughts. If she interrupted now, he'd brush her off. Instead, she turned to Draco.
"How much food is left?"
Draco thought for a moment before answering. "Not much. Maybe enough for one meal each, if we don't eat like Crabbe and Goyle."
Pansy nodded, resting her head against the back of the bench. She closed her eyes, trying to will herself into sleep, but the uneasy presence of the dead outside made it impossible. Even with the barricades and wards, she could in a weird sense feel them. Wandering. Waiting.
Her gaze flickered back toward Jakob.
He hadn't moved.
His fingers still twitched.
"Maybe we could touch the book and get back?" Theo suggested hesitantly.
Draco shook his head. "I didn't see any book when we were there, and I looked."
"It might be hidden in another house," Felix suggested, frowning as Theo let out a sharp snort.
"Yeah? Good luck searching for it then."
Felix crossed his arms, looking rather unimpressed at the support. "Well, if you've got a better idea, let's hear it."
Theo opened his mouth to retort but stopped as his brows furrowed in thought for a moment. Then, suddenly, his eyes widened.
"The gold coins!"
He dug into his pocket, pulling out his own and looking over at Draco, who blinked in surprise. Slowly, a grin spread across the Malfoy heir's face.
"You are bloody brilliant!"
"They won't work," Jakob's stated flatly, his voice cutting through their initial excitement. "And it would mean leaving Felix and Carmen behind."
They turned toward the window, where Jakob now sat, his fingers still absently tapping against the ledge. His bored sigh made it clear he had already run through this possibility.
Felix's eyes narrowed. "Ya tried yours?"
Jakob didn't answer, his unmoving gaze still staring out the window.
Felix's glare sharpened. "Were ya just gonna leave us here?"
Jakob let out another sigh, slower this time. "I haven't tried mine. But I know."
Felix scoffed. "And how exactly do ya know?"
Before Jakob could answer, Pansy rolled her eyes. "Because he tricked me into using mine."
Felix glanced at Pansy, then back at Jakob. He understood. In Jakob's position, he probably would have done the same for Carmen right now. But instead of saying so, he remained silent.
"Can we go back to thinking of a way to escape?" Pansy pressed. "They're gathering out there."
Jakob's frown deepened.
She hadn't looked out the window.
She hadn't moved, hadn't checked, so how did she know they were gathering?
He didn't ask. Instead, he leaned back against the window frame, watching as the others continued their discussion for a while. After an hour they slowly, one by one started to nod off, exhaustion finally winning out.
Jakob remained awake, his sharp green eyes fixed outside as more of the creatures slowly, methodically joined the horde already waiting at their doorstep.
The sky shifted.
Faint hues of orange and pink bled into the horizon as the first hints of sunlight stretched across the town.
Jakob rubbed his eyes and stretched, feeling the ache in his back settle deeper. He needed some rest if he was going to be useful.
He pushed himself up and walked over to Theo, crouching beside him before giving his shoulder a firm shake.
"Take over for me," he murmured. "I need some rest. When the clock hits eight, wake everyone up. And if you count more than seventy of them outside, wake me immediately."
Theo groaned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up with a yawn. "Yeah, yeah… seventy of them wake you up, or eight o'clock. Got it."
Jakob patted his shoulder and stepped back, watching as Theo dragged himself toward the window.
Then, with a quiet chuckle, he saw the exact moment Theo's sleepiness vanished. It was when the Nott heir's had looked outside and his eyes widened.
Jakob didn't bother to hide his smirk as he turned away.
He made his way back to their makeshift resting spot, lowering himself onto the floor beside Pansy. With a tired sigh, he rested his head on her legs, using her as a pillow.
This makes no sense, Jakob thought as his eyelids grew heavier.
To go back in time, you needed a time-turner, or at the very least, some form of controlled magic. No one had ever successfully traveled back more than five hours without suffering severe consequences. The magic was unstable, dangerous, impossible beyond its limits.
Yet, here they were.
Jakob closed his eyes for a moment, his thoughts refusing to settle. Something doesn't add up.
The next thing he felt was someone shaking his shoulder.
"Jakob, wake up. It's eight o'clock."
His eyes snapped open. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colored patterns along the stone floor.
He sat up, rubbing a hand across his face as he exhaled deeply. "How many of them are outside?"
"About sixty," Theo answered before moving to wake the others.
Jakob nodded, pushing himself to his feet. He turned to Pansy, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, it's time to wake up."
She stirred, blinking up at him before offering a small, sleepy smile.
"Good morning, I had this…" Her voice trailed off as her surroundings sank in—the ruined church, the barricaded doors, the distant sounds of the undead outside.
Reality settled over her like a heavy weight.
"Never mind."
Jakob gave her an apologetic smile.
"We'll find a way. But first, we need to eat. Come on."
He stood and helped Pansy to her feet.
Draco and Theo were already up, watching as Felix knelt beside Carmen.
"Hey, Carmen, we need to eat something before we keep moving." he softly whispered to her.
The girl's eyes fluttered open. She looked at Felix for only a second before turning away.
"I'm not hungry."
Her voice was hollow, barely more than a whisper. She curled in on herself, facing the wall, shutting them all out.
Felix raised a hesitant hand as if debating whether to ask for her attention again but hesitated before pulling his hand back and dragging it frustratedly through his hair. He looked toward the others, silently asking for their help.
Jakob gave a faint understanding nod.
"Go ahead and get some food. I'll stay with her. Bring back something."
Felix stood and followed the other three Slytherins toward the kitchen, casting one last glance at Carmen before disappearing down the corridor.
Jakob waited until they were gone before moving closer. Slowly, he sat down beside her.
"I can't say I understand exactly what you're going through," he admitted calmly. "But I know John wouldn't have wanted to see you like this."
Carmen didn't respond. She didn't even acknowledge his presence.
Jakob continued.
"You're putting the others at risk." His tone didn't change, but the weight of his words did. "If you keep shutting down like this, you won't survive."
Carmen finally turned, tears running freely down her face.
"I have nothing else to live for." she said in a broken voice. "He was everything to me. And now he's gone. I just want him back."
Jakob nodded his understanding, giving the blonde girl a sharp pointed look.
"Then I suggest you make his sacrifice worth it."
Carmen's breath hitched.
"Because the only way you're getting him back is if you join him."
Neither said anything for a moment.
Then Carmen's face twisted with emotion. She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but after a moment, she turned away from him again, curling back into herself.
Jakob studied her for a second before pushing himself to his feet.
She was deadweight.
And if something didn't change, she wasn't going to make it.
The others returned, carrying what little food they had managed to scavenge, some bread, dried meat, and a jug of water.
They sat down in the same rough circle, silently eating, savoring the taste of the small portions they were having.
"I wish there was more," Draco muttered, scowling as he finished his portion too quickly.
Jakob smirked as he stood, stretching his back. "Yeah, that usually happens when you vomit."
Draco shot him a glare. "Hey, I wasn't the only one. On paper, you're the weird one as you were the only one who didn't throw up."
Jakob rolled his eyes, about to fire back a retort when.
Bang.
His instincts took over.
In one lightning fast motion, his wand was in his hand, pointed toward the entrance door.
The others froze.
The steady, relentless pounding had started again, louder. Heavier this time.
The room filled with tense silence as they turned, their eyes locked on the wooden barricade. Even Carmen, who had been unmoving on the floor, flinched at the sound, her body curling tighter at each thunderous impact.
The door shook.
"Felix, now!" Jakob shouted as he sprinted toward the window.
His wand was already raised before he reached it, his sharp gaze locked on the scene outside.
The ward had failed.
The undead had broken through, their bodies pressing forward in a chaotic, mindless surge. The ones in front slammed into the wooden gate, their weight making the barricade tremble, while those behind them pushed harder, forcing the pressure forward.
Felix joined him and together they unleashed a rapid series of curses.
They couldn't reach the ones closest to the gate, but the creatures in the middle and back weren't so lucky. Blasts of magic tore through their heads and upper torsos, sending bodies crumbling to the ground.
Pansy's voice cut through the chaos. "This is a bad idea, Jake! They're attracted to the sound!"
Jakob abruptly stopped, his wand lowering slightly as he turned to her.
"I know. But how the bloody hell do you know that?"
Pansy, who had been about to answer, halted. She blinked in surprise, as if the thought hadn't even occurred to her.
Before Jakob could press her further, movement caught his eye.
From the side streets, more of them came.
They burst through broken doors, stumbling out of ruined houses, then, as if drawn by instinct, they turned and sprinted toward the spell fire.
The pounding against the gate grew more violent by the second.
Wood groaned at first then it splintered and cracked. The barricade wouldn't last for much longer.
"The door is about to give! Get to the back, now! Don't look back!"
The Slytherins bolted, they didn't need to be told twice.
Felix and Jakob fell into step behind them, racing toward the only way out.
"Carmen, come on!" Felix yelled as he grabbed the girl by the arms, forcing her to stand.
Jakob had nearly reached the back door when he turned, his frustration spiking at the sight of Felix still struggling with her.
"Felix, move! She's going to get you killed!"
Felix hesitated, his gaze shifting between his childhood friend, who remained limp, unresponsive and the gate, which was seconds away from breaking under the relentless assault of the undead.
Jakob clenched his teeth. "You can't save her! We need you!"
Felix turned, and for the first time, Jakob saw real pain in his eyes.
"I'm not leaving her!" he yelled.
Jakob held himself from punching the older boy. Why is this stupid idiot playing the hero now?
They didn't have time for this.
He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay calm. "Felix, you still have a responsibility. We need you."
Jakob didn't wait for an answer. He turned and ran.
Felix stood frozen for a split second, his grip tightening on Carmen's arms.
She didn't look at him.
Didn't react.
Didn't even flinch.
She was gone, and he knew it.
His throat tightened as he pulled her in for one last hug, holding her close, feeling nothing in return.
"I'm sorry, Carmen," he whispered in a low greifing tone. "I never meant for this to happen."
Then, with tears burning in his eyes, he let her go.
And he ran.
He ran after Jakob, after the others, leaving the unresponsive girl behind.
Carmen kept her eyes on the door, waiting, hoping, for it to break. For her ticket to see John again.
The moment the barricade finally gave way, she raised her wand.
The undead poured in, their rotting faces twisted into grotesque snarls. Guttural screams filled the church, a scream of hunger for her, for her flesh.
Carmen felt no fear, no panic. Nothing but unrelenting grief, and it demanded to be unleashed on those who had taken the only person she had ever truly cared about.
The boy who had helped her when no one else would.
The boy who had always been her hero.
"This is for you, John."
The first wave of runners slammed into the barricade of spears, impaling themselves instantly.
The second wave crashed into the first, their bodies piling up, a tangled mess of limbs, torn flesh, and snapping jaws.
But then the third row surged forward.
The weight was too much. With a loud crack, the spears snapped under the pressure. The flood of the dead kept coming.
"Bhris a' ghrian!" she shouted, aiming her wand toward the ceiling.
At first, nothing happened.
Then. A glow.
It started as a small golden flickering flame at the tip of her wand. Then it grew.
The flame came alive.
Her eyes burned with fury as she turned her wand back toward the approaching horde.
"You can all go to hell!" she roared.
A sphere of pure light shot forward, emitting a dull, plump sound as it bounced once against the stone floor before disappearing into the horde of runners.
And then, it detonated.
For a brief moment, she saw nothing but light.
It was Blinding. Consuming. It swallowed everything, turning her world into a vast, empty white.
Then came the sound.
A high-pitched ringing pierced her ears, a sharp sound that drowned out everything else, the roars of the undead, even the sound of her own breath.
For a second, she felt calm again.
And then, the heat struck.
Flames erupted outward, rolling through the horde like a living force. It burned through flesh, tore through bone, reduced bodies to nothing but charred remnants.
The shockwave followed, crashing into the entrance of the church with violent force. Wood shattered, stone cracked, debris rained down as the very crumbled beneath the impact.
Carmen had known the cost of using that spell in tight quarters, and she had been prepared for the consequences.
The moment the explosion erupted, the sheer force of it caught her, lifted her off her feet, and sent her hurtling backward.
Her world tilted violently, the rush of air around her vanishing in an instant as she crashed into the stone floor. The impact rattled through her bones, and the force of it ripped the breath from her lungs, leaving her gasping as her vision blurred.
Disoriented, dazed, she barely had time to blink before countless shadows loomed over her.
A small smile flickered across her lips.
The last thing she saw was rotting mouths, jagged teeth, descending upon her.
And then, there was only pain.
Felix slammed the door shut behind him, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he took an unsteady step back.
From inside, Carmen's fierce and defiant voice rang out but it was short-lived.
Then, the explosion hit.
A thunderous roar tore through the church, shaking the ground beneath the group of survivors. Heat and dust burst through the cracks in the door and the walls shuddered violently as the sheer power of the blast settled.
Felix closed his eyes, knowing that he would never see her again.
Carmen was gone.
Jakob barely reacted. He turned to Felix with an unreadable expression. "Good choice. Next time, we won't be waiting."
Felix didn't have the strength to retort, to argue, or even to process what had just happened.
Instead, he let his gaze drift, scanning the area around them.
The others had already taken care of the few undead that had been waiting for them, their lifeless bodies now strewn across the ground.
Jakob gave a sharp nod toward the road leading out of the village. "Let's see where that leads."
The group followed his gaze, their eyes locking onto the direction he had nodded toward.
Then, in unison, they took off into a sprint.
As the sun's morning rays crept higher over the horizon, Jakob could finally see the settlement more clearly.
The streets were empty almost as if this nightmare had never happened. If not for the ruined buildings, it could have been just another quiet morning.
The horde had been pulled toward the church, just as he had planned when he and Felix had lured them there from the window.
Jakob let a small, relieved smile crossed his lips. The plan had worked.
And with Carmen's sacrifice, the undead hadn't even bothered to follow.
Nothing stood in their way now. At least, not yet.
Draco's voice was hoarse as he lifted a hand and pointed toward a lone house in the distance. "Over there."
It stood on a slight slope, just beyond the settlement, its wooden frame weathered by time but still intact.
They slowed their pace as they approached, a few of them gasping for breath as exhaustion began to set in.
Jakob was the first to steady his breathing, his chest rising and falling in controlled rhythm. He clicked his tongue, his sharp green eyes scanning the house.
"We need to be ready. There could be undead inside."
Felix, still slightly hunched, wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "Ya really think something's in there?"
Jakob didn't lower his wand. "Yes. And we've already lost two people. We're thinning out. We're getting weaker."
They moved as one, closing in on the entrance with careful, measured steps.
Theo stepped forward, positioning himself by the door. He shot a quick glance back at the group with a tense expression, making sure everyone was prepared for whatever waited inside.
Jakob met his gaze and gave a firm nod.
Theo returned it before lifting his foot and driving it hard into the door.
The wood splintered under the force and the door swung open with a loud creak as dust stirred in the dim light.
Theo quickly stepped aside to give the others a clear shot at anything that might be lurking inside, but as they peered into the darkened space, nothing moved.
The house was empty.
Cautiously, Jakob entered the house first, motioning for the others to follow as he continued.
Pansy was the last to enter. As soon as she crossed the threshold, she turned and shut the door behind them.
The kitchen was in shambles. Cabinets hung open, their contents ransacked. Broken dishes littered the floor, and the stale scent of rot and feces lingered in the air.
Two lifeless bodies lay sprawled near the overturned table, their faces frozen in what looked like fear rather than the mindless hunger of the undead.
Jakob frowned. They showed no sign of turning, no blood, no nothing.
That was unusual.
They carefully stepped over the bodies and made their way deeper into the house.
Draco and Theo immediately set to work, rummaging through the remaining cabinets, searching for anything edible or useful.
Pansy positioned herself by the window, her gaze scanning the village beyond, keeping watch for any movement that might come their way.
Felix and Jakob pressed forward into the next room.
It was a bedroom. Modest but well-kept, aside from the clear signs of someone leaving in a hurry.
The blankets were pulled back, a trunk half-packed, its lid left wide open. Clothes lay scattered on the floor, as if someone had abandoned the task mid-motion. The wardrobe doors were slightly ajar, but still full. Whoever had lived here had planned to leave but never finished.
Felix glanced around before turning to Jakob. "Ya reckon someone else survived?"
Jakob lowered his wand, giving a faint nod. "Looks like it. But if they did, they weren't Muggles."
Felix frowned. "How do ya know?"
Jakob gestured to the half-packed trunk with a thoughtful expression. "Muggles wouldn't have known what was coming. The dead came too fast. This?" He motioned to the abandoned belongings. "This looks like someone who knew. Someone who had time to prepare."
Felix nodded slowly, his confusion shifting into realization. "Which means they might be magical."
Jakob's eyes turned a shade darker. "And if they are, we need to find out if they're friend or foe."
Felix opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of faint rustling from inside the closed wardrobe froze both boys in place.
They snapped their wands up in unison, exchanging a sharp glance.
Felix took a slow step forward, his hand hovering over the handle. Jakob, in the meantime, stepped back, angling his wand for a clear shot.
Felix turned his head, meeting Jakob's eyes and mouthed the count.
"One. Two. Three."
He yanked the door open.
Jakob's wand-arm snapped forward, already prepared to strike, ready to decapitate whatever was about to lunge at them, but then his words faltered.
Felix caught the moment of hesitation and frowned, shifting his gaze toward the wardrobe.
Squatting inside with her arms wrapped tightly around her legs sat a girl with a wand clenched in one white-knuckled hand. Her eyes were wide, wary, exhausted and locked onto them instantly.
It wasn't her posture, that she held a wand, or the fact that she looked like a kid who hadn't been turned that caught Jakob off guard.
It was her clothes.
She wasn't dressed like the villagers, not in the heavy, outdated fabrics of this time.
She looked modern just like them.
Felix's breath caught. His eyes widened in pure disbelief as he dropped to one knee.
"Jess?"
Author's Note:
I had to cut this into two parts since it would have been too long for a single chapter otherwise. This also took longer to edit because, honestly, some scenes were a bit too much to go over again and again (and again).
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this little horror segment, and I'll see you in the next one!
P.S.: There will be more of this… well, horror and gore in the next chapter, but not as much as in this one. So, we can all breathe a small sigh of relief.