NOLA REYNOLDS

“Kalden! Do something!” I croaked, feeling for my throwing knives behind me as the weight of the spongy shadow creature rested thickly on my midriff.

My neck was numb from the bites on the creature’s punctured tongue, and I felt my mouth open with a panicked gurgle as it reared a bald, misshapen head above me.

More tongues burst from its back before the silvery glint of a long, curved claw caught my eye, just as it came down on the meaty mass with a loud clang, and more of the black goo splashed across my face.

“Nola? Nola! Can you hear me?” Kalden’s somber rasp sounded disjointed...