Free MayanCraving by A.S. Fenichel

Her expression a mix between rage and fear, she no
longer looked lost. “Nancy?” she asked.
    “Yes, Robyn, it’s me.”
    Nancy got up. Her body ached, and her legs felt like rubber.
The werewolf moved its head. Robyn stepped back, but Nancy pulled the handgun
from her belt and put one round in the animal’s skull.
    The blood would attract other predators. Nancy needed to get
the girls moving again. Her exhaustion would have to wait, since stopping in
the middle of nowhere was not an option.
    A half hour later, Nancy’s vision started to blur. She would
have to stop soon and began to think about how she would get the others to
continue without her. Robyn was more alert by the moment and Grace would
understand. She stumbled. Robyn’s arm came around her waist and they continued.
    “Thanks,” Nancy said.
    Robyn didn’t respond, but Nancy thought she felt her grip
tighten.
    A short time later, they stopped near some low, leafless
trees. Nancy wrapped her blouse around her bleeding shoulder. The wound hurt.
She bit her lip against the throbbing of infection that was setting in quickly.
    “Let me.” Robyn pulled the makeshift bandage tight.
    They walked on. The dark was only broken by the occasional
appearance of the moon from behind clouds. Something small scurried away from
their footsteps. Nancy imagined they had disturbed a lizard and hoped it had
not been a snake. Either way, the animal had moved away. She shivered in the
cool night air. This could be shock. I may not make it. I’m going to have to
tell Robyn and Grace to lead them.
    The drone of an engine drew close behind them. Another surge
of adrenaline spurred Nancy to turn with her gun ready. The others
instinctively crowded behind her.
    The last thing she had expected was a yellow school bus to
come barreling down the road or Asher’s smiling face to be behind the wheel.
    His smile faded when he looked more closely at her face and
her shoulder wrapped in a bloodstained shirt.
    As if a switch had been flipped, all Nancy’s energy rushed
away from her body. Her legs finally gave way and she sat down in the sand.
Asher jumped from the bus and herded the others inside. They were reluctant,
but finally complied with Nancy’s weak encouragement. Then he came back, lifted
Nancy off the ground and into the safety of the bus.
    “Where did you get the bus?” she asked.
    “Near the Pyramid. Started right up and had a full tank of
gas plus an extra stock of fuel in the back.”
    “The demons must have been using it then.” She stated the
obvious.
    “I know, but it was the only option. Like I said, we can’t
walk home and the motorcycle won’t hold nine.”
    She barely saw his hand move and she looked back into the
bus. The girls were all huddled into the front seats, but she could see the
glint of chrome in the back. “You picked up the Indian?”
    “It was on the way.” He shrugged. “Besides, we may need it
for something.”
    As the bus headed north toward Teotihuacan, Robyn moved to
the front seat to sit with Nancy. It was a good sign. Nancy sank down into the
seat. She felt like her muscles and mind had been on alert for five years and
finally she could relax.
    Asher looked at her in the mirror. “You better clean that
bite before it festers. I took the tequila and there are some antibiotics and
sulfa in my bag.”
    Nancy moved to grab his bag, but her sister touched her
shoulder to keep her in place. Robyn dug through the pack, first finding the
alcohol and cleaning the wound. The pain was excruciating. Nancy clenched her
jaw so she wouldn’t scare the others. Surprised by the good job her sister had
done dressing the wound, she found herself wondering what Robyn had gone
through during the last five years. Taller than Nancy remembered, Robyn had
sharp angular features, probably due to how thin she was. Her entire demeanor
had changed from the happy child who had gone to Florida with her parents.
    “Thanks.” Nancy took two pills from Robyn and