Chapter 8: 8. Natasha: Nowhere to Go

Gripping her weapon Natasha gave one last quick check outside. She could see that one of the creatures had stopped circling and moved to sniffing along the floor between cars. It seemed interested in the truck that had the dogs in it. She hoped they had been taken out. The other creature stood to the right of the car and had its oversized front claws on the hood as it surveyed the deck around them.

She could use the other cars as cover if she stuck low to the ground. At least there was that. Natasha counted to ten, her hold on the scrapper’s handle tightening, and then made for the door handle.

A pang of panic made her freeze as she looked out the window. Frost from the creature's breath was slowly melting away, finally revealing to her that there were more of these things prowling around. They were clearly searching, wandering with their noses to the ground or sniffing the air.

At that point though there was no stopping, it was time to give into what her body was screaming since they got on the ferry. Her feet felt itchy; it was time to move. As quietly as she could manage she pulled the door handle and pushed it open enough for her to slip out.

The car jiggled as, one foot after another, she stepped out of the vehicle and for a brief moment she worried that it was caused by her exiting. A soft clacking of nails on the rough metal floor of the ferry told her the one hound had gotten off the hood and was moving again.

Natasha held her breath but she was out and needed to keep moving. Keeping close to the cars as much as possible she crawled along, groping for the path ahead of her in the soup like din, stopping only to check if there were any creatures stalking around that she might’ve missed.

It was slow going but she was nearly to the door that led to the upper decks when she heard the squeal of a creature stepping onto the car she was next to. Her heart began racing. It took everything Natasha had to stop herself from breaking out into a full sprint. Instead she held her breath and focused on where it was.

A resonant growl emanated from the thing above her. It was deep and echoed through the corridor. Natasha’s jaw clenched tight. The rumbling changed to a sound akin to laughing. In her mind, or maybe it was from all directions around her, Natasha heard a harsh rasping voice. The rumble of the speech resonated through her body. It was the same voice as back at the terminal.

“There you are, child. No more hiding in the dark.” The words were drawn out, breathy, and set Natasha on edge.

Natasha panicked, trying to get up to bolt. The hound above was too quick however and dropped down on top of her. Air gasped out from her lungs as her back hit the floor. Struggling, she managed to roll in a way that the beast needed to move off. She rolled onto her hands and knees clambered away. Voices all around her echoed off vehicles and walls, cruel laughs mingling with the one that spoke before.

“There you are.”

“Ahaha there’s no running child.”

“Nowhere to go.”

“Poor thing, can’t even run.”

“No one to protect you now.”

Natasha felt like a mouse being batted around by a cat. Being toyed with. Rather than more fear setting into her heart, it steeled her. Made her angry. That building heat boiled up in her veins. Spilling over. Hot tears of rage ran down her face as she scrambled away. She didn’t want to die being laughed at and definitely not by being eaten by some horrible shadow monster.

Natasha twisted over to face the horrid creatures hunting her. They had all begun converging on the aisle she was in.

“Why? Why are you after me?” Natasha managed to stutter out, her rage catching on her tongue.

The question earned Natasha a chorus of chittering laughs. The one in front stepped closer, mouth gaping and dripping with black slime. Natasha knew her mistake as it lunged towards her with unnatural speed. The blood drained from her as its claws pinned Natasha’s arms on either side of her. It didn’t weigh as much as she would’ve thought but as it touched her arms went numb. A kind of cold she’d never felt before crept up her body.

Struggling against it, the locks Natasha had placed on whatever force inside her broke. The fear, the panic, and the pain overflowed from her veins and everything she’d been straining against suddenly released. Instinct took her over, like there was someone piloting her body, and she grabbed at the beast’s face.

Her hand glowed a brilliant orange and a blast of flames shot out searing the monster’s face. Surprised, it reared back with a yelp. As it flailed in pain Natasha had enough time to pick herself off the floor.

She started running; not looking back as she went fast as she could down the close quarters aisles.

There was no hiding now and Natasha was quickly running out of space as she approached the back of the ferry. The monsters were still on her heel as she broke out of the line of cars. There the ferry was devoid of cars and opened out to the blistering cold of the ocean air. Natasha swore to herself as she ran out into the now fully raging storm. Snow whirled around her, blowing her hair around in all directions, as she turned around looking for an escape.

“Nowhere to go.” This time it was an actual voice that spoke.

A person.

He walked out into the inclement weather as the monsters split to give him room. Instep with him Natasha took a big step back and scrutinized the stranger.

He was built like a runner, lithe and long limbed, cutting a sleek figure. Thick, dark hair blustered in the wind around him, the waves of it reaching to his shoulders. He looked to be maybe a year older than Natasha; his face still had some of the child-like roundness to it. Wearing a black crewneck sweater with the sleeves rolled Natasha could see that his arms were heavily tattooed. The shape of them reminded Natasha of the swirling underneath the hounds skin. They now gathered behind him.

“Forgive my Shadestalker, Shard.” The guy patted the largest of the slobbering creatures on the muzzle, the one that she had burned already. It whimpered in response. “Tenebrae is very enthusiastic about his job.”

His voice was like ice. As he sauntered closer to Natasha she glanced around and down seeing the crashing waves below. She swallowed. The ferry kicked up a slushy wake behind it. Above them were the passenger decks where people sat looking out towards the island. Maybe if she screamed–

The guy laughed and shook his head.

“I wouldn’t—they can’t see you now. There’s nothing to be done,” Natasha’s hunter said, tilting his head. “But I’m not here to hurt you. Just bring you back home, Shard.”

His voice annoyed Natasha.

“Home—are you confused?” Natasha had enough of this. Her body was shaking from fear but she couldn’t let it show. “I’m not going with you anywhere.”

“I thought you might say that.” He hunched over, looking all the more like a predator looking down at its prey. “Then, guess I’ll just have to catch you, little bunny.”

He lunged and so did the beast next to him. Natasha’s legs tensed reading themselves to dodge the attack. The two made for a pincer attack trying to pin Natasha. Seeing that, she made to move forward, only getting it a step as the creature read her movements and pivoted at the last moment. Natasha yelped as it bound in front of her, blocking the way.

“You’re very easy to read,” The man said with a scoff as he wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her away from the monster into his body. “It seems like you’re untrained… give it up already.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The beast chuckled along with him. Her attacker smelled of an odd sort of burning that made her mind swirl. Natasha grabbed at his arm trying to free herself as he began to mutter something under his breath. Her sight flashed white and her body flushed. Everything in her fought against the frigid grip of her assailant.

The man swore as he was engulfed in white flames. He pushed Natasha away and stumbled back into the railing of the edge. The heat climbed up the side of the ferry, flash melting whatever snow had gathered on the ground.

Natasha coughed, her system shocked with the sudden outburst. The man behind her grunted picking himself off the railing. His sweater was singed, burned across the arm that had held Natasha.

“You don’t have control of your element,” He said, flicking his arm to douse the flames. “Playing dangerous then.”

The grin that spread across his face was almost inhuman as he doubled over into a low crouch. The beasts behind her chuckled, almost singsong-like, taunting her to try and run. Darkness emanated out of him, both smoke and a sludge poured onto the floor from his tattoos. It smelled like burning tar. His whole body was obscured almost instantly. Before she could track what he was doing he disappeared.

Natasha glanced around and at the beast behind her. They too had become little more than sludge, merging with each other, eyes and mouths undulating all into one incomprehensible mass.

The horrible sight made Natasha gag. The entire entrance to the car deck was blocked by the gibbering mess.

Without thought she pulled to the side just in time to dodge as the hunter landed where she had just been. The black mist puffed out again as he took off. Several spears of goop shot out at her from the creatures. It was too quick to dodge out of the way. Natasha put up her hands as a meek defense—realizing too late what was happening, and closed her eyes.

The pain never came however, instead someone landed in front of her with a light thud. Natasha waited a moment before opening her eyes. She was taken aback by the array of shimmering kaleidoscope colours that distorted the world around her. A different man stood in front of her, arms outstretched, fingers glowing with the same multicoloured light.

“Took my eye off yeh, fer one second…” A familiar, accented voice chided, muffled with exertion. “Sorry lil’ lady, but I’m here now.”

Benjamin looked over his shoulder with a wry smile. This time he was wearing a bomber style jacket, lined with fur. He winked at her. Natasha felt something brush against her hand; she gasped and pulled back. Looking down she was greeted by another friendly face—one of the dogs from the truck wagging it’s tail furiously. The other waited at the ready for a fight, heckles up and tail lowered, watching the creatures outside their bubble.

The darkness circled outside formless but the multitudes of wide eyes which dragged along the shield in the tide of swirling. It was unnerving that something so flimsy looking was pushing them back.

“Alright, lil’ lady.” He turned around to face her, strings of colour still attached to his fingertips. It was nice to see a friendly face, however odd the situation was. “This shield’s not gonna last too long. Me ‘n the boys will take it from here, don’t want you gettin’ hurt.”

“Wh-what’s happening?” Natasha stammered out. “I don’t understand any of this—why’s he calling me ‘Shard’? Who is—”

Benjamin frowned. “I didn’ realize your mom didn’t teach you,” Benjamin ran a hand over his hair. “She kept everything a secret then?”

Natasha could only manage a weak nod. She was shaking, sweat soaking her hair, and now that she had a moment to take stock, she felt more tired than she’d ever been before.

“Right.” Benjamin’s brows furrowed in deep concern. “No time to explain now then, unfortunately. There’s… well it’s a whole thing. I swear, you can trust me, I’m er, well…”

He looked off and Natasha stared at him waiting for the rest of the sentence.

“I’m your uncle.”

The sound of cracking glass broke the moment and before Natasha could react to anything Benjamin put a solid hand on her shoulder. A reassuring warmth ran down her spine. He nodded.

“I’ll make a path for you ’n take care of the Runebinder kid.” He stabbed his finger back to the outside. “You get yourself back to the car. Looks like yer mom put a protective enchantment on it. They can’t see or smell you in there.”

“What about you?” Natasha asked as she nodded again, feeling a knot forming in the pit of her stomach.

“Ah, don’ worry bout me. That boy won’t know what’ll hit him.” He flashed her a genuine grin. Confidence exuded from him. “If you’re anything like your mom—I think you are—there’s nothing in the world that’ll stop you, lil’ la—”

“Natasha,” She said, holding back tears. “I’m Natasha.”

Benjamin’s eyes glistened with some recognition. He choked on an emotion Natasha didn’t recognize. In that look Natasha realized the family resemblance. She saw the creases in his face and it mapped so closely to hers. That expression hit close to her heart as it was the one her mom gave her with every greeting. It was the kind of love that could only come from family.

“‘Course it is.” Benjamin looked up as scrutinizing the shield and readied himself for the fight ahead. “Elu, make sure Sasha gets back safe. Hold on to his collar real tight, alright?”

It struck Natasha that he automatically knew her family’s nickname for her. It wasn’t time for scrutinizing that though.

Elu, the friendly dog leaned against her and whined in response. Natasha grabbed a hold of the thick black leather band of the dog’s collar. Benjamin began to trace a symbol in the air with his hands. Fingers bent in an odd way he began to chant in a language Natasha didn’t understand in a whisper. The other dog’s fur bristled as he began to circle the perimeter.

“Will I see you again?” Natasha asked, looking back to Benjamin.

“I’ll make sure you get to safety, and find you all again as soon as possible.”

That was a non-answer that Natasha wasn’t sure what to do with. They weren’t given any more time to discuss however as with a cacophonous shattering sound they were forced into action. Jeering laughter pierced the air around them and tar like arms shot out to attack, focused on Benjamin.

He threw bits of shining material above them. The symbol he had traced sparked to life and bright motes of light appeared as the fragments hung midair. With a single word, ‘Furar’, these fragments turned into arrows that flung out at the attackers. In a display almost akin to fireworks the blob disintegrated.

“Right, Angus—” Benjamin began to call out.

The other dog, Angus Natasha figured, leapt forward as soon as there was space to lunge at the leader of the pack. Benjamin scanned the deck looking for the other man that had attacked Natasha. From inside his jacket he slipped out a knife that looked to be hand crafted out of black iron.

“I’m sure your mom had a plan.” He looked at Natasha with an intense eye. “Whatever your dad’s doing, he’s likely following it.”

An odd feeling took over Natasha as Elu took a step forward. Like every fiber of her dissipated and was pulled outward. Before she could register what had happened she stood on the other side of the deck. Benjamin behind them swiftly dodged away from an attack by the hunter, who landed behind him, turned on his heel and with deft hand grabbed the younger man’s hair. With a flash of the knife, the hair was cut, and the hunter grunted in annoyance.

Elu took another shifting step forward and Natasha lurched with the unfamiliar feeling. The Shadestalkers noticed that the two of them had managed to get completely free of them and turn for them. The pack leader made to go after the pair but, like a cold mist over a meadow in the morning, Angus appeared in front of it and with a vicious bark rushed for what could be considered the thing’s throat. Natasha didn’t have a moment to watch the real fight begin as Elu pulled her forward. The rest of the pack rushed up for the chase.

The chittering laugh was on their heels as the pair reached the cars parked at the back of the ferry. It was uncomfortable to press on as Natasha bumped into cars being shifted by the creatures in the aisles. Car alarms started to go off as the creatures opted for the higher ground and ran along the car tops. One snapped at Natasha catching her collar just as Elu shifted forward again, earning a howl of frustration. In a rush Elu and Natasha appear at the Honda. Panicking, Natasha pulls the door to the driver's space open, flinging it into the car next to it. She didn't have time to look at any damage caused though as she hopped in and pulled the door closed behind her. With a quick flick of a button, the car was locked.

She had expected the dog to follow but instead Elu twisted and snapped at one of the monsters, tearing at its rib cage. The thing yelped but didn't seem to try and get away.

One jumped on top of the Honda’s roof and set to furiously dig into the metal. Natashed yelped and climbed over the middle section into the passenger seat then stooped down to reach her previous hiding spot.

Seconds later the fight outside stopped. The scratching and buckling of the car went quiet. Natasha waited for a heartbeat, wondering if they were planning something, then peeked outside. She didn’t dare try to exit the car but looked out all the windows.

There was no sign of the creatures that had been snapping at her. Elu was gone too, not even the silvery mist was left over.

Had all of that just been a fever dream?

After a few moments of looking around she noticed the ding in the door of the car next to hers, the one she had just caused, then the crack in the windshield of the family car.

It took a moment before the adrenaline wore off and Natasha noticed how badly her arms hurt, like it was bruised, so she took off her jacket to inspect it. There was a deep purple and black bruise in the distinct shape of a paw forming where the Shadestalker had pinned her down.

So that wasn’t a dream.

Natasha pulled out her phone. If this was real she needed to know her family was alright. She grimaced, the screen had been badly cracked. It at least lit up and with a wave of relief she unlocked it. No new messages though—not from anyone. There still was no signal though. Natasha sighed and slipped the phone back into her pocket. The exhaustion hit all at once and though she tried to fight it with a few nods she fell asleep.