“No, brother. I am taking them to the other side.”

Arlen plunged into Chance, pulling his gun off his shoulder, knocking him to the ground.

Her heart thrumming in her eardrums, her lungs burning, Calliope pushed Eunjoo against the wall. They wouldn’t make it out in time, but Calliope could distract the Suuke so the others could get out. She turned her back to the demon/god, shielding Eunjoo and the corn girl, shimmying out of the woolen sling so it wouldn’t take the corn girl too.

Mara caught up, yelled, “What are you doing?”

Calliope squeezed the gun in her hand. It wouldn’t kill the Suuke, only anger it further. She dropped it to the sand, thrust the corn girl into Mara’s arms. “When it gets to me, take the children to Chance. Take them through the portal.”

Eunjoo yelled, “No!”

“Turn away, chica. No te preocupes, remember.”

Tears in her eyes, Calliope stepped between the others and the doorway; in the Suuke’s path, she braced herself. As its scraggly white hair swept against her skin like coarse grains of straw, she clenched her fists, set her jaw. Closed her eyes and thought of Phoenix.

The Suuke plowed past her, lunging at Chance and Arlen fighting in the dirt.

Calliope’s body, still rigid from bracing for the attack, slackened. She let out the breath she’d been holding.

The demon hadn’t been coming for her, but for Chance.

Chance was the one who had killed the Suuke’s partner, not Calliope. It had been Chance holding the other Suuke’s dagger. Chance who had sliced into the Suuke’s skin.

“Stay here.” She ran to the back of the truck, her mind racing. The sun barreled down from the center of the sky; sweat beaded her skin. She had no idea how she could do this.

She lifted the tarp, and from beside Amy’s rock, she grabbed the long, machete-like knife that Amy had picked up from the snow and thrown there just in case.

The scarred Suuke clenched both men in the air from their necks like kittens by the scruff. He would choke them to death. Chance was kicking wildly, struggling to get free, his face reddening.

Calliope gripped the dagger in front of her body and barreled forward, running as hard as she could, pointing the blade straight for the Suuke’s ribcage.

The Suuke threw Chance to the ground.

It grasped Arlen with both hands.

Chance’s body lay on the dirt between her and the Suuke.

She cried out.

He couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t be.

Chance gasped for air, rolled onto his side, reaching for his gun.

He was safe.

She slowed. Arlen choked out, “Help me, brother.”