Welsh Road (The Depravity Chronicles) by Joshua Grove

need it.”
    “Brilliant,”
Matthew whispered as he pulled his car to the side of the road, parking behind
a large Dodge Charger. Standing in front of the car was Anna.
    “How’s your Hebrew?”
Anna said with a smile as they greeted each other with a friendly embrace.
    “My Hebrew?”
Matthew asked, somewhat surprised. “It’s pretty good. Why do you ask?”
    “Follow me,”
Anna said. Together they walked toward the crime scene and Anna brought Matthew
up to speed.
    Be not afraid , Matthew
ordered himself. He hoped for the best.
     
     
    * * * * * *
    3
    It didn’t take
long for the group to arrive at the hospital. Anish circled the hospital twice
while reviewing the plan with the three teenagers. Together they scoped out the
most effective exit through which he, Jena, and Simon would rescue Nicholas
before the Demon Master could get to him. Jena could tell that Trevor was still
disappointed with his assigned task.
    “Cheer up,
Trev,” Jena said, trying to make him feel better.
    “Easy for you to
say,” Trevor said. “You get to actually do something.”
    Jena rolled her
eyes. Sorry I said anything , she thought to herself.
    “I’m going to
park at the ER entrance and then you’ll take control of the car,” Anish said to
Trevor. “The rest of you, prepare yourselves. Trevor, if something happens,
honk the horn.”
    “Yes, Miss
Daisy,” Trevor said. Jena and Simon laughed.
    “Am I missing
something?” Anish asked, looking confused.
    “Not important,”
Simon said.
    “Good luck,
guys,” Trevor said.
    As Jena limped
into the ER waiting room, she immediately began scanning the area for a
wheelchair. She figured it would be smart if she appeared to have a legitimate
need for the chair.
    Then, suddenly,
her self-confidence plummeted. Up until last night, her life had been pretty
simple and manageable. Aside from a few blackouts, and a few weird
coincidences, she was just your average geek who happened to be spending time
with the star quarterback. Up until last night, the only demons that might have
frightened her were the ones she read about in her novels. Sure, she believed
in demons. Just like she believed in angels and in God. But she sure didn’t
think she’d ever meet one.
    Jena shook her
head. It figures I meet a freaking demon. Why couldn’t it have been an
angel?
    “Just my luck,”
she said aloud.
    “You okay?”
Simon asked her.
    “Yeah, I’m
fine,” Jena said confidently, trying to convince both of them. “You see
anything?”
    Simon gestured
toward the wheelchair sitting in the corner of the room. Although no one was
sitting in or near it, Jena felt like there was a neon sign flashing above it. Someone
is Going to Steal Me . Everyone in the room seemed to be watching her.
    Anish put his
hand on Jena’s shoulder. Her anxiety began to fade, but a sliver remained. This
time she was committed to heeding that vibe. A little fear never hurt anyone. In
fact, it might just save her life. She hobbled over to the chair and fell into
it with just the right amount of drama.
    “Stay here for a
few more minutes,” Anish said to Jena and Simon. “I’ll head up to the third
floor. Try not to look suspicious.”
    “Yeah, I’ll get
right on that,” Jena retorted. As Anish left the waiting room, Simon sat down
in the chair beside her. He took her hand.
    “I know this is
intense,” he said. “Me, I’m about to piss my pants.”
    Jena laughed.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
    “That’s the
idea,” Simon grinned. “Epic fail?”
    Jena shifted in
the wheelchair, smiling. “You passed.”
    “Are you ready?”
he asked her.
    “As I’ll ever
be.”
    As Simon pushed
her through the waiting room, Jena put her elbow on the armrest and laid her
forehead in her hand.
    “Not fair,”
Simon kidded her, pushing the button for the elevator. She tried not to smile.
    “Thank God,”
Jena said as the doors closed. The elevator was empty.
    “Alone at last,”
Simon agreed.
    “What?”