The monster's brother did not run away or cower. He was ravenous and full of anger. Frothy saliva covered his ragged mouth as his eyes flashed, red and menacing. "This stops tonight, Lucian."
"You can't have her," the other muttered and patted the ground with his tremendous hands. Rugged ink covered his body. He was more menacing than I first thought.
My defender stood as his brother circled around me. They were both waiting for one to slip up, and the worst part was that there was no longer a path of escape.
In the distance, I heard a pop and crack. I saw the red flash of a flare break apart above our heads, illuminating the forest as well as their faces.
My protector was… handsome. That was something I wasn't prepared for, but his noble qualities were clear to me now.
For a brief moment of time, I could see the outline of a two-story cabin. It was dilapidated and decrepit, like something from my nightmares. The porch was long and narrow, and the front door was open enough for me to see a looming shadow inside. Somehow, I just knew that was where I was going to end up.
"Dad!" I screamed.
Mother. I closed my eyes and prayed for her guidance, but nothing changed. My calls for help only worked against my needs.
Both of the beasts were looking at me, possibly deciding whether or not they should both team up or continue their battle for familial power. I shut my eyes and trembled.
"Lilly!" My father's voice rang across the forest, but it was muffled and distant. I twisted toward the sound, but the light from the flare burned out.
"I just want to go home," I muttered. "Please, let me just go back. I won't come here again. I won't—"
The cabin door was kicked open, and I saw the dark figure come into clearer view. He was an older man, around the same age as my father, and he was wearing a protective yellow suit. It covered his head and body, and it gleamed against the light of another flare.
My attacker rose and got his attention. "Father, I found her! She finally crossed the line. It is as you predicted.”
As the man walked forward, his face became easier to see. He had been horribly scarred. It looked as if chemicals had seared the skin into the bone. It was the most horrible thing I had ever seen.
"Good work, Kahn. Now, bring the cunt to me," he said, voice shaking and terrifying.
As the man saw me, my defender lunged forward. He swept me off my feet and took me into his arms.
Again, I pushed away, but his muscles choked me like an anaconda's coil. He ran behind a set of trees.
"Get her!" the old man yelled.
"You fool," he whispered, low
and gruff into my ears. His voice carried a frantic vibration to it, and his breathing grew rapid. "You were never supposed to cross that divide."
"I-I-I needed to know," I stammered.
"Your curiosity will be the death of both of us," he said through clenched teeth.
The man was getting closer, but my protector wasn't moving.
Why?
Why the fuck wasn't he moving?
"Run, dammit! Get us out of here," I yelled.
"You should have killed me and my family when you had the chance," he said.
"Who… are… you… people?"
"I am Lucian. I will save your life,” he said.
He held me down and stood, ducking out from the protection of the trees. Two violently trained German shepherds ran and caught his skin.