The Beasts of Baye Road

Before Battle

The moon was hiding too. Blanca peeped through the upstairs window and saw the lights of the town square and houses beyond. If she listened carefully she could hear the blood curdling screams of helpless locals caught defenseless against the beasts of Baye Road.

She glanced back at Susanna and Gianna who worked together to heal Debra. Susanna chanted words Blanca couldn’t comprehend over Debra while clutching Gianna's hand. Debra groaned, she tossed and turned on the couch.

Blanca couldn’t get the glow of the beasts eyes out of her head. She couldn’t imagine how someone walking home from work under the yellow streetlights only to be surprised by five massive beasts with hellish red eyes would feel. How could one white wolf protect an entire town?

‘What now? After this?’ Blanca folded her arms.

‘We have to make sure Debra's going to be okay.’ Karl was hunched back on a chair with his fists glued together.

Matteo walked toward her. ‘Then what? People are dying Matteo.’

Matteo shielded Blanca from the others. He rubbed her shoulders, though he couldn’t bring himself to tell her what he needed to say.

‘I know Blanca, we have a plan.’ He muttered.

‘What plan? What are you going to do with Gianna?’

Matteo shut his eyes and sighed.

‘You haven’t told her, huh?’ Karl hung his head.

David crossed his arms behind his head and whistled.

‘Told me what?’ Blanca burned her gaze into Matteo. Matteo knew he should have told her much earlier, he knew in his chest he had made a huge blunder.

‘You guys better start talking because I didn’t have plans of being sacrificed tonight.’ Gianna frowned.

Matteo ran a hand through his hair. ‘No, we’re not going to do that.’

‘Baye Road is falling and our heros are lounging.’ All heads turned to the door where Franz stood with his pipe and bronze cane.

‘One of our own is down!’ Karl shot up. Franz didn’t even flinch instead he turned to Matteo.

‘Your Father cannot lead us now. Our own are those whose cries will haunt us forever. You will be our Alpha boy!’ He slammed his cane against the floor.

Matteo growled. ‘Maybe I’m not cut out to be! I let this happen. It’s because of me Debra nearly died.’

Heads bowed or turned any other direction. Blanca placed her hand on Matteo's shoulder, she shouldered the same guilt.

‘It’s not all you Matteo.’ She whispered.

‘Now is not the time to burden yourself with guilt. Now is the time to give orders, Matteo. We need a leader now.’ The seriousness in Franz's voice made Matteo pick himself up.

The time had come and he needed to be what his pack needed. He nodded and turned to what was left of his team. He knew he was potential sending them to their deaths. Susanna was done with Debra. Her chest rose and fell smoothly.

‘Karl, David and Cameron you have to evacuate the city. Bring everyone you can find here. The Manor is the only place the beasts can’t set foot. Gianna you’ll have to go with them. Use the tunnels and whatever happens protect Gianna.’

‘I think I can make a cure for the beasts bites, but I need Gianna's blood.’ Susanna said.

‘Do what you have to do. I need your help preparing the ceremony.’ Matteo gave his ordered and the team dispersed.

***

Kyla rubbed her shoulders. It had been hours and Susanna had not yet returned. She couldn’t believe her best friend had said those things to her. Still the night wasn’t right. Even the moon couldn’t bear to watch the slaughter of its own people. Kyla and Cooper waited in Susanna's living room. The roars of the beasts sounded for miles, the cries of horrified victims pierced what had to be the darkest night in Baye Road history.

Cooper swept the aside the pink curtain and watched as a man rushed out of his house with a heavy suitcase, his family in toe. He threw it in the back of his truck and picked up his daughter then son and placed them in the cab of the truck. His wife got in after the kids. They disappeared leaving behind smoke and the sound of screeching tires echoing in the dark. They hadn’t even bothered to close their front door. Cooper caught another family burst through their front door and pack themselves into their vehicle.

Cooper turned to Kyla. She fidgeted with her fingers. Their eyes met and they saw nothing but uncertainty in each other’s eyes.

‘I’ve never wanted the guardians to do something more than I have now.’ Kyla chuckled.

Cooper’s phone buzzed and he fished it out. He shook his head.

‘Everyone’s leaving Babe. The beats have taken over West Baye Road, the town square. They’re honing in on strigoi land. A friend of mine told me he’s got a way out of Baye Road. Kyla we should go.’

Kyla lifted herself from the couch and grabbed Cooper’s cold palms. He looked away. He knew she couldn’t let Baye Road die. If they didn’t abandon the ship they would die.

‘Kyla listen to me. It’s only a matter of time before this place is flooded with beasts too.’

Kyla ran her fingers through his curly hair, she pulled him down and drew his lips onto hers.

‘What about Susanna? Our business? Baye Road's the only home I’ve ever known.’

A hair raising scream followed by the sound of metal and glass breaking kicked Cooper into action.

‘We don’t have time to think about that.’ He took Kyla's hand and burst through the front door.

An SUV had slammed into a tree near the side walk, the airbag spewed out of the front of the car. Two kids screamed in the back seat. Kyla turned her head down the street where a hairless beast darted raced to the car.

‘Damn it.’ Cooper gripped Kyla’s hand, hoping to guide her into another yard.

‘We have to help them!’

Kyla saw the beast race on all fours, working all its muscles to get to its next victims. Kyla pulled out her claws, harnessed her speed, her eyes turned deep blue. The beast howled as Kyla jumped in front of the car and ran straight to the monster. The screams in the car intensified. Kyla thrust herself forward, smacking the beast right in the midriff, sending it flying into a another yard.

Cooper pulled the injured driver out of the car and the children out of the backseat. The woman freed herself and jumped in front of Kyla who made a dent on the side of the car. The beast shook off the attack and started again after them.

The blonde woman muttered words Kyla didn’t catch. She stretched out her arms. Wind carried the woman’s hair and blasted the beast. It didn’t even stumbled. It roared in their faces, the scent of decay and flesh shoved them backwards. It turned and jumped across the street and vanished.

‘The spell, it’s real.’ Kyla pulled herself up.

‘Yes, but it’ll be back with more of its kind.’ The woman said.

‘We have to get out of here.’ Kyla rubbed her shoulder.

Cooper helped the driver on his feet. The woman gathered her kids and together they all ran down the street. Each home had an empty drive way. They had no mode of escape. A door to a house burst open and Karl jogged out with a little boy wrapped around his neck. Kyla breathed a sign of relief.

Another front door flew open and Gianna ushered a family into the street.

‘Oh thank goodness. Gianna!’ Kyla threw her hands in the air.

‘Kyla you’re okay.’ Gianna said, Karl appeared next to her with the boy.

‘Hardly, I’ve never been happier to see a guardian. What are you doing with them anyway?’ Kyla raised her brow.

‘Uh… long story right now we have to get out of here.’

The small crowed gathered in the front yard of a house with no electricity.

‘Everyone to the cemetery. There’s a tunnel leading to the Manor.’ Karl ordered.

They fled to the back of the modest home that took them to a small forest. Breaking glass and hideous roars warned them to quicken their pace if they wanted to make it to morning alive.