Nick got out of the car and didn’t walk far before seeing Evelyn sprinting toward him with her cheer bag. Despite her street clothes, she was still done up in her cheerleader makeup, which was always over the top and ridiculous.

“Moonrise is in forty-five minutes.” She stuffed her bag in the back. “I’ll stick the directions on my phone and then we can go.”

“Yeah. Sure. Here you go.” Nick tossed her the keys.

Evelyn almost dropped her phone trying to catch them. “Wait, what?” She stared at the keys like they weren’t hers.

“Dad’s rule, remember? When we’re both in the car, you need to drive.”

“No.” Evelyn tossed the keys back to him. “I need you to drive, because I need to get some of this makeup off.”

“And if dad asks you about this?” Nick asked.

“I’ll lie.” Evelyn slid into the passenger seat.

Lie. A small crime, because Walt was unreasonable. Like what Grizzizzik said. Except this wasn’t nearly as big as toilet papering the park.

Nick settled in as Evelyn hit something on her phone and the navigation speaker came on, giving them instructions. Nick started the car as Evelyn brought down the visor. Grizzizzik remained quiet in the back, though he shot confused looks at Evelyn’s face.

“Do you need me to drive carefully?” Nick asked.

“I hope you always drive carefully.” Evelyn touched the edge of her glitter fake lashes before easing them off her eyelashes. “But we’ve also got to get there fast. Just in case.”

Nick shrugged as he put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking lot. Once the glittery fake lashes were out, she went to work taking off the glittery eyeshadow.

“Why do you even put on that stuff?” Nick asked.

“Because it’s fun.” Evelyn got another wipe ready. “Cheerleaders go all out for school spirit, Nick. It’s in our contract.”

Nick wasn’t sure what to do other than keep his focus on the road. Though he noticed when she pulled out her mascara and applied a fresh coat on her glitter free eyelashes. “I doubt anyone in the group cares if your lashes didn’t have as much makeup.”

Evelyn shot him such a glare. He half expected her to wield the mascara wand like a dagger. “I care.”

Nick shrugged, logging this in as yet another thing he wouldn’t understand about his little sister.

She whimpered. “Dammit, there they are. I’m never sleeping in makeup again!” She rubbed her chin, whimpering. “Stupid cluster of zits.” She said it so harshly Nick wondered if she made up a new swear word. But he realized she was being truthful. There were three zits on her chin, and a few on her hairline that she covered again in makeup.

It took them fifteen minutes to get there, leaving less than a half an hour before moonrise. Nick pulled into a dirt parking lot. There was another hiking trail, but they saw their friends not that far.

Evelyn still kept her hair in a tight ponytail covered in glitter, but not only did she make her eyes not as glittery, but she got the EH off her cheek, and the wolf off the other. She picked some rhinestones off her temples as they walked over to meet their friends. Grizzizzik remained behind them, hands in his pockets.

“Everything go okay?” Nick asked, moving toward Tyler.

“Yeah. Rafael got here early and helped set up. Ezekiel’s still praying, so we’re trying to give him a semblance of privacy.”

Nick saw Ezekiel kneeling in the dirt a few yards away. There were three objects in a triangle with him in the center. Nick shook his head. “He’s got to be exhausted.”

Tyler checked his phone. “He’s approaching twenty-four hours of no food or water. At least he’s got his friends. They’re preparing a huge feast once this is all over.”

Nick watched Grizzizzik move toward Clarissa and Hraktar. The rogue didn’t get too close, folding his arms and standing at a distance. Milo sat cross-legged on the ground, his wrench out as he fiddled with some sort of mask, strings of red mana weaving in and out of the wrench.

Alejandra and Derek were talking to each other. Considering the cold look Alejandra shot him, he did nothing more than wave. Derek returned his wave with enthusiasm as Alejandra dropped her gaze.

“Hey, Evelyn. Everything alright?” Tyler asked.

Nick glanced at his sister, seeing her holding her hand over her chin, covering her zits. “Yep. Fine.”

“Oh. Yeah, cool.”

“She’s got some—”

“Everything! Is! Just fine,” Evelyn said, cutting Nick off.

His sister was weird.

“But what about you, Tyler! You got a girlfriend,” Evelyn said.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Tyler smiled, glancing over at where Ezekiel was praying. “Yeah. Charlette’s pretty great.”

Evelyn lowered her hand enough to show a smile. “Where’d you two meet?”

“My alien class. I love that class.”

Evelyn scrunched up her face. “Alien class?”

“It’s what we call it. It’s a science class that talks about the possibility of aliens.”

“Huh.” Evelyn sounded confused. Tyler just chuckled.

“Yeah, we went on a few dates, then we’ve been hanging out a lot during the week. She’s getting her degree in nursing, and she’s working each weekend at a nursing home as part of the support staff. She’s the most wonderful girl, and I am the luckiest guy.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet.” Evelyn found an excuse to keep her hand against her chin, glancing away.

Nick folded his arms. “Does she even know what you’re doing over the weekend?”

“I mean, I’ve tried to explain it to her. Pretty sure if she actually heard me, she’d freak out more.” Tyler rubbed the back of his neck. “I certainly did when I heard. I hate that I’m keeping a secret from her, and it almost hurts worse that I don’t have a choice about it.”

That statement hit a bit too close to home. He glanced at his phone again as Tyler and Evelyn started a conversation about the football game. Rafael was standing as close to Ezekiel as he could, watching him while also scanning the area to keep him safe. Ezekiel really didn’t look that great. His off-white fur was thicker. He had a pointed rat nose and big front teeth, but he remained in fervent prayer.

A hand grabbed Nick’s hair, even if there wasn’t much there to grab. He was about to fight when a blade pressed against his throat and every muscle in his body stiffened.

“Every single one of you take three steps away from me.” Akshi never spoke loud, but everyone heard. Alejandra covered her mouth as she moved back, grabbing Derek on the way, her eyes wide.

“No, Nick!” Evelyn moved toward them instead of back. Tyler grabbed her arm, moving her back with him. Milo and Clarissa leapt into action by throwing themselves in front of Ezekiel, weapons in front of them. Ezekiel kept on mumbling his prayer, which was good. He couldn’t lose his concentration. Grizzizzik already had his short bow out, looking delighted to have a chance at hurting his father. Hraktar kept his body stiff, ready for anything.

With a clinking sound, Akshi pulled out a pair of old manacles, linked with a short length of chain. “Put those on slow and careful.” Akshi handed them to Nick before grabbing the back of his head again.

“You can’t hurt me,” Nick muttered as he placed the first manacle on his wrist.

“Yes, I can.” Akshi’s voice brought a chill down Nick’s spine. “I’ve been practicing with Robert Stower. True, I can’t go too deep into the skin, but you don’t need to plunge far into the neck before you find an artery.”

Nick had a sinking feeling in his gut as he put on the second manacle. If Akshi tried to hurt him, even a punch, the gray marks on his skin would react. He wasn’t too keen on having Akshi find out about those. The conversation was more to distract Akshi from making sure he didn’t ask Nick to manacle his hands behind his back, because he was already thinking of something reckless. Perhaps even chaotic.

Grizzizzik nocked one of his arrows on the string. “Let him go.”

“You stole a weapon from me.” Akshi forced Nick forward. He had no choice but to comply. “I’d like it back, please. And for your lesson, I’d like your cleric in his wererat form, so you know never to steal from me again.”

In reply, Clarissa held out a hand, something burning in her palm before it lengthened into a blade and she grabbed the hilt, swinging it around to get a better grip as she glared at Akshi. “You will let the boy go.”

“Or what?” Akshi sounded genuinely curious. “I’ve already defeated you once. Would you like a rematch?”

“Deities above, yes.” Grizzizzik lifted his bow and pointed it right between Akshi’s eyes.

“Grizzizzik,” Alejandra whispered, terrified.

The rogue did nothing but smirk.

“Where is Pippa?” Milo asked, his crossbow out.

“With Emma. As always.” Akshi kept his eyes on Grizzizzik.

“Believe nothing he says.” Grizzizzik kept his arrow pointed right between Akshi’s eyes.

Nick kept his gaze downcast, doing his best not to bring attention to himself. He could almost feel his heartbeat against the blade as it pressed tighter against his throat.

“We are wasting time. Give me my other weapon,” Akshi hissed.

“You’re right. We are wasting time,” Grizzizzik said.

Time froze.

Roll to hit.

Nick let out an uneasy breath as he had a moment alone to process that Akshi was here with a sword against his throat.

“You alright, kid?” Grizzizzik asked.

It took a lot more out of him to not jump, but having a blade to his throat helped in his desire not to move a muscle. His stomach still clenched at someone else observing him. He looked over at Grizzizzik, who was busy staring at Akshi. The rogue held himself so still that it took Nick a second to realize he wasn’t frozen.

“Yeah. Just figuring out how to get out of this.” Nick attempted to push against Akshi’s frozen hand holding the blade. It was harder than moving a boulder.

“If you return home with blood on your shirt, it won’t be chaotic enough,” Grizzizzik whispered.

“Good to know. I still hate you for that.”

“I’m well aware. It’s why I don’t make friends easily.”

Nick closed his eyes, feeling grumpy. “You make friends fine. It’s keeping them that you struggle with.”

Grizzizzik snorted. “Agree to disagree.”

“Now is not the time for this.”

“I know. Because we need to kill him.” The bow tightened. “Can you move?”

Nick had been trying the entire time. Akshi’s grip was like stone. He didn’t like that a sharp long sword was placed against his throat, because it made moving difficult. Instead, Nick grabbed the excess chain and circled it around the blade before holding onto the chain again.

“I can try this, but I need you to not hit me,” Nick said.

“You’re the one rolling the dice.”

“That gives me no comfort.”

Grizzizzik’s eyes remained on Akshi, cool and calculating as he kept one of his tooth arrows pointed between his father’s eyes. “Once you get down, run straight for me. Or Hraktar. Stay close enough to be within arm’s reach, but far enough that you’re not getting blood splattered on you. Once we’re done protecting Ezekiel, I’ll pick the lock of those manacles.”

Nick nodded, opening his palm as the d20 flew into it. The chains clinked as he shook the dice, then watched as it bounced and spun on the invisible table. The twelve +4 was more to ease his anxiety, as a d6 appeared.

“Thank god, you’re going to hit,” Nick mumbled.

Grizzizzik kept his eyes trained on Akshi. “I know.”

Nick rolled the d6, and it landed on a one. Despite the +2, he decided not to let Grizzizzik know about that.

Nick used the surprise of time unfreezing to pull with all his might on the chain, making sure the sword jerked away from him. Once it was gone from his throat, he dropped to the ground, the manacles almost bringing the long sword down with him. Grizzizzik shot his arrow, and despite the jostling Nick caused Akshi, the arrow sliced through his arm. Akshi hissed as Nick got free, running straight for Hraktar. The fighter was closest to Grizzizzik, and Nick felt safer running toward a half-orc than anyone else.

Hraktar pulled out his great sword, waiting for Nick to get closer before stepping in front of him and snarled at Akshi. The crime lord, holding his shoulder, simply smiled at the group. “Fine. I’ll kill you all, then my prize will be the cleric in wererat form.”

Time froze again.

Roll for initiative.