The Sluagh came at me like a mass of black knives.

There was no way I could dodge them all and keep up with their speed.

I decided to switch things up.

As one came at me I crouched low. It followed suit and as its head craned down. I leapt up and turned around midair so that I mounted its neck. The creature screeched in protest but I grabbed a handful of feathers and yanked upward causing it to take flight.

Up we went into the air and suddenly my mount became confused as its brethren turned on it and started attacking it. I leaned in and clenched it with my legs so that I wouldn’t fall off. As other Sluagh came at me the soaring arcs of my katana kept them at bay.

We got too high and I pushed the massive birds head down forcing it into a dive. The wind picked up, blowing through my hair. The whole host was at my back and I lead my bird to fly in between the columns. I vaguely knew the way back to the entrance we had come through and I directed my bird as best as I could.

The other Sluagh couldn’t keep up and many of them ran headlong into the ebony stone pillars. Bones crunched and feathers flew. We weaved back and forth, but I felt my Sluagh losing steam. I turned my winged steed almost completely sideways to zoom straight between two massive stone columns. The weird outdoor light struck my face and fresh air filled my lungs.

I did it. I got out of there.

Below me my friends rushed down the flight of stairs that served as the entrance to the fortress. But the Dullahan and the ⅓ dead Banshee cut them off. The Dullahan struck escapees down with his spine whip, while the Banshee flung helpless victims like ragdolls with her sonic scream.

Nehemiah did his best to defend the helpless people, but there was only so much he could do.

I forced my Sluagh low scanning the crowd for Charice. I could fly to her and be there at her side, but I brought the whole host of bird monsters in my wake. I decided to fight fire with fire and headed for the Dullahan.

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Whipping the shotgun slung on my shoulder around, I aimed it point blank at the back of my fowl’s head and pulled the trigger. The Sluagh’s head blew clean off and the wings went limp instantly.

I rode the corpse into the Dullahan head on, and took him and his horse to the ground with me. My dead bird absorbed most of the impact. As soon as we slid to a halt I used the momentum to spring up and spin, cocking the gun and firing into another Sluagh that would have punctured a hole in my back if its beak wasn’t immediately blown off. Nehemiah ran past me taking the Dullahan to task with his staff.

With the wizard guarding my back I cocked the gun and discharged it five more times, each shot echoing off of the pillars of the colonnade silencing the screeches of five more Sluagh. The mass of corpses piled, one on the other. I climbed on the top of the heap.

“Come on! Let’s do this!” Slinging the gun over my shoulder I switched to my katana. Hopefully this would buy my friends some time.

I thought about Charice, about my family. I recalled the jogger, and the unidentified victim from the alley. This was for everyone who had been hurt and everyone who would be hurt.

Starlight reflected off of the blade, its bowed edge begging me to butcher some birds.

As they swarmed me I danced atop the pile of winged corpses. I hacked off talons, wings, and heads. I stabbed, kicked, and punched, doing anything to survive.

This would end with me.

Retribution possessed my body and revenge poured through me.

At some point the birds stopped attacking me. I looked around and saw that Nehemiah and the gang making their way back to the pathway. The remaining flock eyed me warily, maintaining their distance.

“Fine by me,” I said, sheathing the sword and loading the last seven shells into my shotgun.

Step by step I moved steadily into the flock. I fired the shotgun into the fold, shooting from the hip. Plumage littered the ground.

Before I knew it I was down to the last few shots and the birds took flight, fleeing before me. I switched back to the katana.

“I’m not done with you!” I screamed my throat raw. Some of the birds didn’t ascend fast enough and I hacked them to pieces.

I was left standing in a puddle of black blood and feathers, carnage in my wake. My adrenaline died down, and the strength afforded me by my rage taxed me almost double the strength given me. I fell to my knees.