Free Demon Squad 7: Exit Wounds by Tim Marquitz

experienced its gnashing teeth and soul-shredding power firsthand, I might have pitied it…then shot it in its face, if I had a gun, that is.
    The constant repetition started to grate on my nerves, and I wondered if my fear of it had come from my being tied down, bound and helpless. Now that I looked at it, hovering back and forth without purpose, it didn’t seem so scary, so threatening. It was a poor man’s Angel of Death, clad in shoddy FX with a voice that made Gilbert Gottfried sound frightening. At least that’s what I told myself. I could still remember its teeth chewing me into pieces and swallowing me down into the blackness, every moment an agony. Still, I made myself face it, stared it down—even if it was only the back of its head—and not flinch when it came closer to our tenuous hideout.
    Finally, after what seemed hours, it appeared to find a hint of resolve as one of the dragons—its scream too distinctive to miss—roared somewhere in the distance. The devourer stopped its muttering and aimless drift and turned to stare off into the trees in the direction of the sound, its ghostly form going rigid. And then it was off, vanishing into the gloom, the flicker of its eyes gone a moment later. I let out a non-breath in relief and slumped to a seat on the ground.
    “It’s gone,” Katon told everyone, though he held his position.
    “You okay,” Karra whispered as she came over to me, wrapping her fingers in mine. And to my surprise, Rala was right there beside her, concern etched across her sour expression. She must have known what I’d been thinking the whole time
    I nodded, grateful for my undead host’s ability to remain frigid—literally. It wasn’t like I could puke or shit myself or even squeeze out a drop of pee. It made appearing unfazed so much easier. “I’m fine,” I answered, also glad my vamp-voice didn’t quaver.
    “ Iiiiiii nnnneeeeeeddd aaaa bbeeeerrrrrr. ”
    “You and me both, CB. You and me both.”
    “Those things creep me out,” Rala admitted.
    I nodded in agreement. “Didn’t realize there was more than one.”
    “They are legion,” Mia said, keeping her voice low. “Connected in spirit, though not in flesh.”
    Which somewhat explained why it rambled on exactly like the one that had munched on my guts. Had it seen what the other had seen, experienced it? It was freaky to imagine that being the case. The damn thing had eaten me. Had the others tasted that? Did they want more?
    A tremor rattled through me, but it brought along an interesting thought in its wake. One I hadn’t allowed myself to think since we’d been tossed through the portal. I disengaged my hand from Karra’s and stood, peering once more through the cracks in the net and out into the night, letting my eyes and ears wander.
    Strange sounds still echoed in the darkness, shrieks and roars and who knows what else, reverberating through the ebony pall, making it clear there was more out there than just the things that had stormed past our hole and the devourer. This world was full of creatures, all of which clearly wanted blood, if Mia’s reaction was any indication. There would be death and pain and terror. But there was also hope, slim and fragile, but hope nevertheless. I smiled as an idea took root in my skull, and then turned to Mia.
    “How long does this night last?” I asked, remembering to amend my statement before she answered. “And don’t tell me until morning.”
    The flash of a grin brightened her lips. “It will be many hours until the sun returns to the sky and the darkness retreats. We must stay here until it does.”
    I nodded. That was exactly what I wanted to hear. “How about you get some rest,” I told Karra, helping her to her feet, one handing gently caressing her belly. “It’s gonna be a long night.” I led her and Rala to the middle of the hole and gestured for them to sit, Rahim, Veronica, and Chatterbox already stationed there in a loose circle, Mia’s leash