Jerome is the first to fall.
The brutes see his absent minded kicking as a threat.
Fake-diamond-studded knuckles tipped with disease strike Jerome across the cheek and the silence is broken.
Maryl responds, but she makes a critical mistake. She includes Jerome in her magical barrier, unaware that he has been more than simply struck.
Courtney, unaware of Maryl’s response, is more alarmed by the sudden silence from the attackers, seeing and sharing the confusion on their faces as they unsuccessfully try to walk towards her only to make no forward progress.
The countless black crabs pay no heed to this.
But Hakon knew. He had seen it all before. This moment was why Hakon was there. He springs to his feet, but he is too late.
Maryl is already at Jerome’s side, his hand in hers, Hakon looks away for a moment as he frantically searches in his bag, and in that moment, Jerome’s teeth sink into the flesh around Maryl’s throat and the roar the brutes breaks through.
Part of the Twelve Stories collection.