#stazel

“I can only hold them off for so long,” Lettie screams over the sound of claws against wood, roars of frustration that turn to confusion every time Lettie unleashes another horrifying illusion on the creatures that are desperate to tear us all limb from limb.

“I’m working as fast as I can Lets,” I shout back, candles spread out around the room. Spencer places the last one down and I close my eyes, lifting my hands slowly and every one sets aflame simultaneously.

Ethan paces, shaking his head from time to time as the shift threatens to take over his body. By the sound of the frenzy outside, he won’t have to hold on for much longer. Laurel stands by her sister with a hand to the wall that separates us from the chaos, waiting for something to change. Maisie is holding Isaac’s face in her hands and talking to him in a low voice, trying to keep him calm as his hold on his human form threatens to slip, just like Ethan’s. James is hunched in the corner, a thick trickle of blood running down the side of his face. His eyes flutter, and Spence is at his side in an instant. “Haze, we’re losing him,” The panic in his voice hits me like a knife to the heart, and makes the room shake, if I’m going to do this – if I’m going to save my friends, I can’t hear their fear. I can’t feel fear of my own.

I hear Wren’s voice ringing in my ears, the words she said to me that night in the woods. “You’re why they’re here, Hazel. You’re like nothing they’ve ever seen before and they want to control you before you know how to control yourself. They fear what will happen the moment you realise who, and what, you really are.”

“Someone else is here,” Laurel shouts above the commotion, I look at her. Eyes closed, swaying slightly as she focuses her energy on what is being shown to her.

“The backup has arrived,” Wren’s voice comes from behind me and I jump, turning to see her stood there with Adam, a smirk on her face. I turn to look at Spencer, whose face relaxes into relief at the sight of Adam.

“A little help over there,” I say, nodding my head towards Spencer and James, Adam nods and rushes over to help. Spencer steps back from his best friend and lets Adam get to work, a warm light begins to radiate from his hands before he places them either side of James’ face.

“You’ve got this, Haze,” Spencer says, gripping my shoulders with both hands. I laugh, because I’m not sure that I do. “Shit, how’d we end up here?” He laughs, “I sure picked a good one.”

He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head, “I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else,” he says quietly against my hair. I gulp, a lump rising in my throat. He reluctantly lets go of me and takes a small step back. I take a deep breath and shake out my hands, trying to shake out the tension but it’s everywhere, in every bone and every vein, every fibre of my being.

“I wish I could blame this on my bad life choices, but this is entirely not my fault this time,” I say, and Spence grins devilishly.

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that one, babe.” I give his arm a light knock for the sass, but I’m thankful for it.

“Are we ready?” I ask the room, the wood on the doors is beginning to splinter and crack, the roar outside grows louder as our defences begin to fail. “Get behind me, now.” Laurel guides her sister and begins to back up, Lettie’s hands still outstretched as she holds onto the remnants of her illusions. Spencer heads over to help Adam lift James from the ground, he groans loudly with the limited time Adam’s not able to heal him completely, but at least he’s not inches from death. For now, I think. 

Matty cracks her knuckles and rolls her neck. Gives me a nudge in the side as she ignores my command and stands at my side. “Ride or die, remember?” She smirks and I roll my eyes.