They stopped. Almost as one, their steps faltered, their heads turned, and their eyes followed the sound.
At the far end of the alley, a young woman stood frozen with her back pressed against the brick wall, her arms spread protectively in front of two small children who clung to her legs. The mother was trembling, her face pale, but when the shadows moved and the monsters poured in following the trail of Kaiden's group, her voice broke into a desperate growl.
"Get back!" she cried, forcing strength into her tone that her body could not carry.
Her hand darted to the side, snatching up a wooden broom that must have fallen from a doorway nearby. She then began swinging it wildly, shoving at the beasts with sheer defiance.
"Mom!!"
"Mommy, I'm scared!"
The children sobbed behind her, wailing for their mother in hopes that she could pull off a miracle as the monsters tightened their circle.
The beasts were not in a hurry, contrary to how fervently they rushed after Kaiden's group.
