idea of Colton putting himself out there as a shield, but if he was feeling uneasy, I wasn’t going to distract him. I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and let him pass me.
The passage rounded toward the left to an empty corner and then turned again—this time, to the right. The deeper into the passage we went, the thicker the air seemed to become. My heart sped up with each step I took. Fear crept up my back. I looked at the others and was met with wide eyes that I was sure matched my own.
I have to be strong for them. Show no fear, Belleeza.
We stopped before rounding the second corner. The air was getting colder, and the large, worn-down bricks looked worse for wear. I could hear the steady of drip of water as it trailed down from walls and landed in a small puddle.
We slowed our pace as the air suddenly got thicker, making it difficult to breathe. I had a bad feeling about why this place was so unguarded. Things were about to go from bad to horrible in about two point seven seconds.
This was the part of my job that I hated. Even I get scared in the dark. Anyone would if they knew the things that thrived there. The hair on my arms and neck stood up. I looked at the others and saw them experience the same thing. We knew it was coming before the pungent odor of evil forced its way through our noses.
Heavy steps at a steady pace were headed toward us. The smell intensified with each step. I said a quick prayer that we would all make it out alive and there was only one beast. I shook my head as the sounds we had thought were whispers became louder and louder; I realized it was not whispers at all, but the sound of horns scratching against the ceiling. I felt stupid.
“Brace yourselves,” I warned the others, not bothering to whisper as it already knew we were there. I was unaware if Olivia and Liam had even faced one of the beasts of Hell before. I risked a glance, and their wide fearful eyes suggested they had not. They were newer, and even if they had some experience with a beast, it couldn’t have been much.
The steps grew heavier and louder, causing loose mortar to fall from the brick walls. The smell intensified. It was repulsive. I backed up, taking the others with me until we were against the wall. I wanted us to have more room so we kept backing up until we were out of the corner. I had no idea how big this one was going to be. From the footsteps I would have guessed big . . . very, very big. Hell creatures come in all different forms of atrocious and various sizes. To look upon them is to know the face of evil . Many mortals have seen them and it does not end well for most. If they don’t get ripped apart or literally scared to death, they usually go cuckoo for cocoa puffs and end up in some sort of asylum.
My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing, and my head was spinning with a mix of both fear and courage. Courage won out—as it always did. No matter what was going on in my head, my body and hands maintained their steady offensive stance.
Out of the darkness came a monster made from the same stuff as nightmares. I was staring at an unnatural beast that came from the depths of Hell. I heard Olivia inhale loudly as her eyes began to try to make sense of what she was seeing.
Every human act of evil comes with a price. Every wicked deed falls to the pits of Hell .
As the evil accumulates, it creates the horrific beasts of Hell. Only there is no life in the creatures, no emotions, no feelings—they are the very definition of true evil. Demons—my fallen brothers and sisters—even they have feelings and emotions, darkness and light. The beasts of Hell know no mercy, no fear; they know nothing but evil. Even the demons avoid them when possible, for the creatures do not recognize sides. My grip tightened on my weapons. I looked at Liam and Olivia and saw that their grips on their weapons were so tight, their knuckles were white.
“My, you’re a pretty one,” Colton
The passage rounded toward the left to an empty corner and then turned again—this time, to the right. The deeper into the passage we went, the thicker the air seemed to become. My heart sped up with each step I took. Fear crept up my back. I looked at the others and was met with wide eyes that I was sure matched my own.
I have to be strong for them. Show no fear, Belleeza.
We stopped before rounding the second corner. The air was getting colder, and the large, worn-down bricks looked worse for wear. I could hear the steady of drip of water as it trailed down from walls and landed in a small puddle.
We slowed our pace as the air suddenly got thicker, making it difficult to breathe. I had a bad feeling about why this place was so unguarded. Things were about to go from bad to horrible in about two point seven seconds.
This was the part of my job that I hated. Even I get scared in the dark. Anyone would if they knew the things that thrived there. The hair on my arms and neck stood up. I looked at the others and saw them experience the same thing. We knew it was coming before the pungent odor of evil forced its way through our noses.
Heavy steps at a steady pace were headed toward us. The smell intensified with each step. I said a quick prayer that we would all make it out alive and there was only one beast. I shook my head as the sounds we had thought were whispers became louder and louder; I realized it was not whispers at all, but the sound of horns scratching against the ceiling. I felt stupid.
“Brace yourselves,” I warned the others, not bothering to whisper as it already knew we were there. I was unaware if Olivia and Liam had even faced one of the beasts of Hell before. I risked a glance, and their wide fearful eyes suggested they had not. They were newer, and even if they had some experience with a beast, it couldn’t have been much.
The steps grew heavier and louder, causing loose mortar to fall from the brick walls. The smell intensified. It was repulsive. I backed up, taking the others with me until we were against the wall. I wanted us to have more room so we kept backing up until we were out of the corner. I had no idea how big this one was going to be. From the footsteps I would have guessed big . . . very, very big. Hell creatures come in all different forms of atrocious and various sizes. To look upon them is to know the face of evil . Many mortals have seen them and it does not end well for most. If they don’t get ripped apart or literally scared to death, they usually go cuckoo for cocoa puffs and end up in some sort of asylum.
My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing, and my head was spinning with a mix of both fear and courage. Courage won out—as it always did. No matter what was going on in my head, my body and hands maintained their steady offensive stance.
Out of the darkness came a monster made from the same stuff as nightmares. I was staring at an unnatural beast that came from the depths of Hell. I heard Olivia inhale loudly as her eyes began to try to make sense of what she was seeing.
Every human act of evil comes with a price. Every wicked deed falls to the pits of Hell .
As the evil accumulates, it creates the horrific beasts of Hell. Only there is no life in the creatures, no emotions, no feelings—they are the very definition of true evil. Demons—my fallen brothers and sisters—even they have feelings and emotions, darkness and light. The beasts of Hell know no mercy, no fear; they know nothing but evil. Even the demons avoid them when possible, for the creatures do not recognize sides. My grip tightened on my weapons. I looked at Liam and Olivia and saw that their grips on their weapons were so tight, their knuckles were white.
“My, you’re a pretty one,” Colton
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