Chapter 31 · Code Red: Anomaly

"Move, Jessa!" Kane shoved me sideways as a hooked limb punched through the space where my head had been.

The thing hit the wall and stuck there. Three black claws scraped stone inches from my face.

I grabbed Kane's coat and yanked him back. "You said this passage was clear."

"It was clear ten seconds ago."

"Then your map sucks."

"My map doesn't account for a dungeon having a personal grudge against you."

Another creature crawled through the crack ahead. Then another. Then six more behind them.

Their bodies were wrong in different ways. Some had too many legs. Some dragged blades of bone behind them. One wore a cracked metal mask over a mouth that opened sideways. Red marks burned across their backs, the same red that flashed through the walls whenever The Maw spoke.

ANOMALY LOCATED.

The message pulsed in the air above us.

HUNT PROTOCOL ACTIVE.

Kane's hand closed around my wrist. His grip was hot, even through my sleeve. His other hand held his sword low, but the blade shook once before he forced it still.

Blood ran from beneath his armor and dripped onto the floor.

"You need to stop pretending you're fine," I said.