The ground was covered with a thick layer of ash. It swirled around their feet as they plodded forward. Some of it flew into Sam’s mouth and nose, and he coughed. Unable to help himself, he halted. Rhonda did, too. When he could breathe again, Sam glanced back at the man, ready to beg forgiveness for defying his orders to keep moving. The plea died in his throat. The man had stopped, too. He held the rifle in the crook of his arm, pointed away from them.
“I’m sorry,” Sam said. “The ash…”
“Doesn’t matter. We’re here.”
“W-what are you going to do to us?” Rhonda stammered. “We did everything you asked.”
“Yeah,” Sam said. “We won’t tell anybody. We promise.”
“Just let us go. Please?”
“You can both leave here once you’ve moved those rocks.”
Sam blinked. “Rocks?”
The man nodded his head at something behind them. Slowly, Sam and Rhonda both turned. Their eyes widened. A circle of round, gray stones jutted up from the ash. Judging by the marks on the ground, some of them had only recently been uncovered. The stones had strange carvings on them. One of them lay on its side, revealing a hole in the earth.
Sam turned back to the man. “You want us to do what?”
“I can’t touch the stones. But you can. I want each of you to move one.”
Rhonda frowned. “What for?”
“Because if you don’t, I’ll kill you.”
He pointed the rifle at them again and stepped forward, forcing the teens toward the circle. Sam and Rhonda walked backward, their eyes not leaving the gun.
“Besides,” the man said, his tone still emotionless, “there’s somebody waiting for you inside the circle.”
Sam balled his fists up at his sides. “Who?”
The man didn’t respond.
“His eyes,” Rhonda whispered. “What’s wrong with his eyes?”
Sam hushed her with a warning glance. Rhonda fell silent.
They reached the stones. The man kept the rifle aimed at them, holding it at waist level. He nodded at Sam.
“You first.”
Grimacing, Sam slowly turned his back to them and knelt down. He tensed, expecting to feel his head split apart at any second, but their captor made no move. Sam put his hands on the stone in front of him. It felt cool, but quickly warmed to his touch. He could have sworn that it was vibrating slightly. The fillings in his teeth began to ache. Sam winced. He needed to piss. His bladder felt like it was going to burst.
“Don’t pull it out yet,” the man warned. “Your turn, girl.”
Rhonda knelt next to Sam. They both waited. As they did, something occurred to Sam. Obviously, they were in the part of the forest that had burned down two years ago. The area was barren and desolate—but shouldn’t it have been alive again? It
“Okay,” the man said, interrupting Sam’s thoughts. “Pull those rocks out and toss them aside.”
Ignoring his bladder’s insistent urgings, Sam tugged and pushed until the heavy stone came free. Rhonda did too, but couldn’t get the stone to move. Grunting, she pushed as hard as she could. Veins stood out in her neck and forehead. She sat back, exasperated.
“It won’t move.”
“Do it.”
“Sam can do it. He’s stronger than me.”
“He’s already touched one. It’s your turn.”
“I can’t!”
“Do it or your boyfriend dies.”
With an angry shout, Rhonda freed the rock from the soil. It rolled aside, revealing more of the strange carvings.
“What now?” Sam asked, not looking back.
There was no response.
With the sigils removed, Nodens sent two more tendrils surging through the doorway and into the world.
Sam and Rhonda heard it at the same time.
A baby. Crying.
“Oh, God,” Sam gasped. “Oh, my fucking God.”
The baby’s cries grew louder.
