“Have you seen my dad?” Jorick asked.

“They’re gone!” Marten pulled away. “Those creatures took them all. We have to save ourselves now or—”

Jorick cried out and Marten spun around. One of the monsters emerged from the smoke, shadowy and backlit by the flames. It snarled, then opened its jaws and howled, the sound like some vicious laugh.

It raised its axe high, and for a brief, terrifying moment, Evin thought the monster might slice his only brother in two. Instead, the creature brought the flat side of the blade down against Marten’s head. There was a sickening, heavy clang and Marten collapsed to the ground. His limbs were slack and bent, like a marionette with its strings cut.

“No!” Evin cried, and the monster’s yellow eyes darted up from Marten to look at him. The flames reflected in its pupils, making its eyes look as if they were glowing.

Evin’s stomach fell, and he felt as if his legs had turned to string. But when the monster moved as though to come at him, some reserve of strength surged through Evin’s aching limbs. He grabbed Jorick by the arm and ran.

They reached the edge of the village, where the cobblestone streets met the now blackened grass. There, gasping for air, Evin finally let go of Jorick’s arm.

“We have to leave now,” Evin said, his voice trembling. “We have to go back to the woods.”

“We can’t!” Jorick shouted. “We have to stop those monsters!”

“With what, our fists?”

“If we have to!”

The inn groaned beside them, letting out a final creak as its remaining wall fell. Soot and dust rose. Sparks swirled through the darkness. Coughing, Evin stepped farther back into the clearing, the cool night air soothing the tender, dried skin on his cheeks.

“We’re leaving,” Evin said. “Everyone is gone. We got here too late. We have to run before those things come after us too!”

Jorick recoiled. “But my dad! And your brother! He—”

“My brother said we have to save ourselves!” Evin shouted. “And … and he was right. Now come on!”

Jorick opened his mouth to say something, but he stopped short as the monsters’ horrible, howling laughter rose somewhere through the smoke behind them. Without another word, Jorick nodded at Evin. Then, the two boys ran once more—away from the village and back into the woods.

Chapter Three