Angie looked around in panic. They had come. The mysterious and deadly creatures of the night were here, and suddenly she wasn't sure that she wanted to know their secrets anymore.
Their blood-curdling cries rang out like sirens, making her turn cold with fear.
There was nowhere to run. Forest was all around, and in the darkness between the trees she thought she could make out glowing eyes and the flash of teeth.
She looked up at the sky. The moon had risen fully. Its ghostly glow was the only light.
Night time had come. She could not go back now. The whole place would be in lock down, and they would let no one in. It was too late.
Suddenly she realised that Dax was tugging urgently at her sleeve.
"Angie!" he whispered anxiously. "Angie, we have to run. We have to..." He trailed off and his eyes widened in horror.
Angie spun around, and screamed.
* * *
Zef was running desperately. He could hear the creature's shrill cries in the forest around him. He hoped that Angie would have got away, but he could not take that chance. He couldn't bear to lose her. Not after everything they had both been through.
Suddenly he heard a scream, and he froze. That was Angie's voice. He was sure it was!
He opened his mouth to call out to her, but his foot caught on a tree root and he hurtled forward, crashing into the ground.
For a moment he was dazed. He tasted blood, and his head throbbed. He knew that he had to get up urgently and keep running, and he wondered vaguely what had been so important. Then he remembered. Angie!
He tried to get up, but pain pierced his forehead and he fell back down. He had to save Angie! She had screamed, a terrified shriek that still rang in his ears... He had to...
Zef froze as a silky voice sounded just a step behind him.
"Well, well, well... Zef. It's
so good to see you again."
Zef scrambled around to face the person, ignoring the pain. He stared at the beautiful woman standing there. Her face was pale and ageless, and her white dress billowed around her, even though there was no wind.
"Mother?" he asked weakly.