Suddenly, incongruously, Deena stepped out in front of me, pulled my weapon out of its holster, and shoved me back a few steps. She wore a look of utter disdain.
Stunned, I found footing on a couple of rocks and balanced myself.
A creature, a wicked looking thing, snaked up behind Deena and crawled over the rocks behind her, up to her. I heard Kek howl in anger and anguish behind me.
It happened in slow motion. The thing came closer. Deena stiffened and two spear-like things protruded through her abdomen. She yelled, “Fuck!” The spears pierced me, through my chest. I immediately stilled, and knew the weapons had hurt me badly. Then the beast pulled its prongs out of me, and out of Deena, and the spears punched through us both again. The creature had hunched up behind Deena immediately before it plunged them through us a second time, and I saw that the spears were attached to its head. They burned as they went in and out, and in again. A chemical taste welled up in my throat. Poison? The second time, the weapon broke my spine. I hung, unable to speak or move. The creature pulled its spears out of us and scuttled back the way it had come. It moved rapidly on what seemed like a hundred pointy limbs.
I must have fallen; my head hit something hard - a rock? My vision blurred. I heard the sound of running and weapons firing, but they seemed so far away.
Jack rushed up and fell down on his knees beside me. His strong, gentle hands cradled my head. The scent of his citrus soap, sweat, and breath became my universe. For a moment I felt his wet cheek against my face, and then, nothing. I died.
Chapter Nineteen
The Realm of Conscience