“Is that…?” I tried to ask.

But I didn’t get the question out as I heard Clarissa begin cursing next to me, doing so whilst struggling to get out of bed.

“What are you doing?” I gasped, seeing her shaking with the sheer effort required.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” she snapped. “Fucking help me up already.”

“Hey! Stop being so rude to—.”

“No!” she yelled, cutting me off. “From here on out you shut up and listen to my instructions. Now pick me up.”

“What?”

“Pick. Me. Up. Onto your back. You’ll need to carry me for this.”

Stunned, I started to help her out of bed, but couldn’t stop myself from asking another question anyway.

“What’s happening, Clarissa? Are those howls…?”

“What’s happening is that we’re going to run and get Myra,” she said, speaking as if I were a child. “Hopefully before it’s too late.”

“Too late for what?”

And she paused then for a moment, just long enough to look up and allow me to feel the full gravity of her words.

“…They’re here,” she said. “The hunt begins