Beth nodded. We took a step, and then froze. A large man that I recognized from the pub stood in the way, his eyes bulging black spheres. His mouth moved, but he spoke in a different language. Something I’d never heard before.

Beth let out a small gasp, and she took a step back, pulling me with her. A dark, metal side door opened, and the bartender stepped out. Her expressionless face and dark eyes signaled that she had shelled as well.

“Oooooooh sh—” Beth began, but I pushed her against the brick wall, right beside a dumpster.

“It’s okay. Jared and Chad will be here any minute,” I said. I turned, holding up my hands in a defensive pose.

The two shells approached me, the woman with a frightening smile, and knife in her hands.

“Chad!” Beth yelled. “We’re in the alley!”

“Help!” I called. I could still hear yelling from the sidewalk fight. It would be difficult for anyone to hear; not that any of them would come to our aid. I deduced that Jared was dealing with Shells of his own, or he would already have reached us. The Shells came closer, and I braced myself.

“Crap,” I said.

The woman lunged at me, and I dodged. I kicked, buckling her knee. Her head hit the brick cement wall just a few feet from Beth’s feet. Beth covered her mouth and let out a yelp. The bartender regained her feet, blood dripping from her hairline, and took a step toward Beth. I picked up a branch beside the dumpster and swung with both hands. The woman fell to the ground. The knife clanged against the asphalt.

Beth leaned over, picked up the knife, and held it in front of her, shaking. “Don’t go near her!” she said. “She’s pregnant!”

The man smiled, and spoke something inaudible once again. He ran at me, and I jumped over him, letting him careen at full speed into the brick wall. He stumbled back, and I attacked. My hands balled into fists, and I punched his face over and over, and then grabbed his leather jacket with both hands and threw him to the ground. He grabbed my ankle and yanked, knocking me off my feet, but within seconds, I was standing, my hands out and ready.

My senses were heightened again, signaling that more additional danger was coming, but it was too late. Someone burst out of the shadows and hooked an arm around my neck.

“Leave her alone!” Beth said, running at us with the knife.

I held out my hand, palm out. “Stay against the wall, Beth!”

She stopped mid-step, confused, and then I jerked my head back, hitting my assailant in the nose with my skull. I turned to see another man, this one skinnier and lanky, on the ground. Blood was spattered on his cheeks and forehead.