A group of brown-skinned monsters charged at the four-wheeler, the curved horns jutting from their heads, filling me with terror. Thick, hooved feet tore at the grass, throwing tufts into the air as they closed the distance. I guessed they were minotaurs, and their bulging muscles and sharp teeth shot a wave of panic through me.
“Hurry, Karl. Hurry! They’re getting closer.”
“We’re going as fast as this thing will go.”
We drove across the battlefield, weaving to the left and right, trying to keep the minotaurs from grabbing hold of the four-wheeler. The fastest of the monsters surged forward, getting closer.
“It’s about six feet behind us,” I moaned. “Do something.”
I tried the deep breathing exercises, but panic made that impossible. Instead, I took short raspy breaths as if sucking through a straw.
Prickling fear stabbed at my mind, making it difficult to focus. The Skull of Fear somehow sensed this and drove daggers of terror into my soul. Nightmares of what the minotaurs might do surged through my mind. I knew these ANTs to be lies, but the black skull in my hands made them feel real. My head spun as buzzing hornets attacked me from within, making me almost lose my grip on the four-wheeler. A fall would be fatal.
The minotaur closed in. The monster’s hot breath blasted across the back of my neck. It smelled of foul decay, of death. Claws scraped at the back of the four-wheeler, sharp nails gouging the paint.
“Karl . . . please . . . hurry.” My weak voice was barely audible over the vicious snarls of the monster.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you down.” The baseball captain turned sharply just as the minotaur lunged for me. With a growl, the creature stumbled, then bellowed a deep-throated roar and renewed the chase.
Karl headed into the cluster of students. “Cameron . . . on your left . . . NOW!”
I tossed the Skull of Fear to a lacrosse player.
Instantly, the lurking dread and sizzling terror in the back of my mind disappeared.
I can breathe!
The girl caught the black skull in the scoop of her lacrosse stick, then threw it to another player. The black skull soared through the air, its polished surface sparkling under the red light of the fading moon. The next lacrosse player, a tall redheaded boy, caught the stone with practiced ease and then ran with it, dodging imps and goblins. Two soccer players moved to his side and acted as blockers as they ran across the field, playing keep-away with the monsters of Agartha.
“I want that skull,” Malphas screamed. “It’s mine!”
The demon extended his nightmare-black wings, took a deep breath, then looked up at the moon and screeched. Silvery sparks formed on his feathered body, then shot outward, engulfing the battlefield, monsters, and students.
Overwhelming panic encompassed my mind, making the Skull of Fear feel like just a bad dream. I fell off the slowing four-wheeler and curled up into a ball, shaking, every other creature and student on the battlefield doing the same. Only the Demon Lord remained standing, his dark form like a shadowy void, consuming all hope. Pain enveloped me, my nightmares attacking me with jagged blades. I gasped for breath as Malphas’s demon-magic pressed down on me like an immovable weight.
Will this ever end? I thought.
With a great flap of his wings, Malphas rose into the air and glided across the lawn, landing next to the redhead. He picked up the black Skull Key, the demon’s body still shimmering with magic, holding the shroud of fear in place.
Somehow, I managed to glance at the moon. Only a tiny sliver of red still showed across the lunar surface.
If Malphas gets that skull in place before the Super Blood Moon ends, the doorway will stay open forever. I clenched my teeth as a feeling, like that moment just before you fall, overwhelmed me. Every nightmare came to life in my mind, crippling fear emerging from my soul as terrible thoughts invaded my senses.
Around me, the other students moaned and wept. None of them were prepared for this kind of terror. But fear was my old friend, and I knew I could stand against it if I had the courage.
I started counting by 9’s, then listed state capitals, then made lists of words, but none of the typical distractions worked. With every bit of effort, I forced my chest to move, taking deep breaths. My head filled with the savage buzzing I’d come to know too well, the Beast claiming its prize . . . me. I struggled against the fear, trying to resist the waves of terror, but it seemed too much. Desperation filled my soul as I struggled in vain against the demon’s magic.
Just then, a presence filled my head.
Don’t let Malphas take that Skull-key back to the cave.
I recognized the voice. It was me, but the words were not my thoughts. They came from another place, or maybe another time.
You’re stronger than you realize, the other-me said in my mind. Set aside your fear and be the person you know you can be. The words became thunder in my head. Push aside the fear and find a solution, NOW!
The faintest flicker of courage came to life within me as the other-me in my head disappeared.
An image materialized in my mind.
It was of the wall in the gym, the camp’s Alma Mater written in large, purple letters. And for the first time in my life, I truly understood its meaning.
“The hallowed shores of Pontchartrain.”
My whispered words drove back the rippling waves of terror a bit.
I climbed to one knee and sang, my voice weak.
“Will always be our home.”
My words grew louder as I stood. Challenging every terrifying thought, I let the fear pass through me. Imagines of monsters tearing at me with sharp claws tortured my mind. I knew none of it was real; Malphas created the terrible images in my head. They were fake . . . a lie.
“No matter where our paths may lead,
And despite how far we roam.”
Another voice cut through the weeping moans of terror; it was Elisa.
“Your majesty and history,”
I took a deep belly-breath, then sang along with her as we struggled to our feet and walked toward each other.
“Are lessons for lifelong
Alone we strive to face our tasks,
But together, we are strong.”
More students rose to their feet and sang their school’s song.
“THE FEAR IS A LIE!” I shouted, then raised a fist and brought it down, slamming it into my chest twice. “DON’T GIVE IN . . . EVERYONE SING!”
“You taught us that our courage
Shall shine a golden light.
And cast away the darkness
For fears that we shall smite.”
Thump—thump, raise . . . Thump—thump, raise.
More kids stood with chins held high. The voices of the students became thunder, the sparkling wave of fear shrugged off by distracting lyrics.
“Camp Pontchartrain
our hearts belong to you.
Your sons and daughters sing your praise
And to thee remain true.”
I raised my fist in the air again, then brought it down, and the other kids did it with me, THUMP—THUMP, raise. THUMP—THUMP, raise. The sound grew louder as more kids joined the beat, everyone glaring at Malphas.
“I don’t believe it,” the demon screeched. “No one can stand against my fear-magic.”
“The Order of the Stones can.” Mrs. Chakoté moved to my side and pointed at Malphas with her cane, the black stone at the top now dark.
“We’ll see.” The Demon Lord fumbled with the Skull Key for a moment, then extended its wings.
“No, you don’t!” Before I realized it, I was sprinting straight for the monster.
Malphas glanced over his shoulder and sneered, the sharp pointy raven’s beak glowing a dull red under the waning Blood Moon. He flapped his wings once.
I ran faster, trying to reach him, but I knew he was too far away; I’d never make it.
Malphas flapped them again, then slowly rose into the dark sky.
A tingling sensation formed inside my head. At the same time, everyone around me moved slower, the battle now in slow motion. Malphas’s wings beat at the air, at half-speed. Everyone moved as if pushing themselves through thick honey . . . except for me.
I dashed toward Malphas, closing the distance as the demon slowly rose off the ground. Leaping with all my strength, I soared through the air and landed on the demon’s back, arms wrapped around the creature’s neck as the monster climbed higher and higher.
Time returned back to normal, making me feel dizzy for an instant. The ground fell away as Malphas flew higher. On the ground, the students fell upon the monsters as they started to rise, the Demon Lord’s fear-spell slowly fading.
“Drive them back to the cave,” Chakoté shouted as she struck at a group of minotaurs with her cane, Leonard by her side.
I gripped Malphas with all my strength. “You aren’t taking that skull.”
“We’ll see, Earther.” The Demon Lord laughed. “I’m going to enjoy watching you fall, but first, I think I’ll take control of all of your friends and make them my unwilling servants.”
Glancing at the ground, I realized most of the students were staring up at us. If Malphas used his glowing eyes, he could put the students under his control.
I must do something.
A savage heat started building around the demon’s face, a ruby glow covering his scarred beak and feathers.
He’s about to do it, and I can’t stop him! Despair washed over me as he stared down at my friends, their eyes peering straight at us, expecting me to do some kind of miracle and save them all. But all I could do was watch as Malphas prepared to use his demon-magic to take control of their minds and destroy their lives.