I grit my teeth and tried to ignore the pain in my calf. “Well someone lied. There’s no way he can come back, he’s long gone.”

Worry crossed over the little girl’s brow and she looked up at her ‘big sister Raan.’

The young woman pushed Tii behind her and snapped back at me, trembling slightly, “shut up!” She crouched down, putting her hands on Tii’s shoulders, “don’t listen. He doesn’t know anything, he's just saying stuff to scare us.”

Tii nodded, “I know.”

Raan stood up sharply and walked towards the shed. I stepped forward as well, trying to drag the trap along behind me. She reached the door first and slammed it shut, plunging Death-Bringer and I into darkness. A lock clicked.

“Shiiiit.” I hissed out, dropping to one knee.

“This isn’t good.” Death-Bringer said weakly.

“Yeah, no shit.” I gritted out, straining as I tried to pry the trap apart.

“Where’s Gale?”

Grunting as I struggled against the trap, I answered, “he’s on the outskirts of the town.”

“Why’d you come alone to rescue me?”

“I wasn’t supposed to.”

Death-Bringer fell silent. Even her feverish panting stopped for a moment. Then she sighed, “this is really bad...”

The biting jaws of the trap finally released my leg. Blood gushed out as I pulled my leg away. I sighed as I let it snap shut.”

“Are you ok?” Death-Bringer asked.

“Yeah, I got my foot out.” I scoured across the floor until my back hit the wall. I rested my head against the wall and closed my eyes. In, one two. Out, one two. Blood was oozing from my leg in time with my heartbeat. I turned my head to where I remembered Death-Bringer was, “hey, what do you think will happen if the demon takes over Night Lover’s body?”

“Not sure... But with his connection to the Demon Lord... it can’t be good.”