When the Lights Went Out #9

Chapter Nine

Leprechaun [leh-pruh-kahn]: The shortest creature in the monster realm, shorter even than the knees of a young human. They have orange-red hair, green tunics and hats, and full beards. Due to a love of gold and money, they serve as the debt collectors for the realm and live in the Hordes.

London stayed quiet to the end of the Blue Road. A scowl had etched itself into his face, so Coyote didn’t dare try to speak either. That left Coyote alone with his thoughts, and he didn’t care to be there.

His father had been an enabler. His mother had a problem. Who knew how many times Coyote had ignored her cries for help? Glaring at her and blaming her and accusing her as all of the monsters in this realm did when it was obvious that London couldn’t help himself.

As he shook these thoughts off, he and London came upon platforms with melted objects like chairs and lamps spilling off them in a way that reminded Coyote of that painting of misshapen clocks. A faint twittering noise brushed against Coyote’s eardrums, but he couldn’t decipher what it was or where it was coming from.

Coyote frowned.

“It’s called the Hordes.” London took a step forward, shiny black boot kicking up dust.

The twittering swelled into a shrill roar as soon as the sole struck the earth. Gray lightning flashed in the sky. Fireworks exploded almost directly overhead. The first barrage spelled out APB Alert, APB Alert, followed by firecrackers interrupting the roar. Then a second wave of fireworks read London sighted at Blue Road entry point.

“What—” Coyote began.

“Run!” London shouted, snatching Coyote by the arm.

The vampire burst into a sprint. Coyote stumbled along behind him, mostly being dragged. They had barely reached the first deformed landmark when a bunch of pint-sized people surged toward them. Each wore the same green getup, hat, and scraggly beard.

“Leprechauns!” Coyote exclaimed.

Their progress halted at the writhing mass of debt collectors swarming the path. Their sharp claws grabbed at Coyote’s arms and legs, pulling him to the ground.

London jerked him upright. “Fight them off!” He flung three leprechauns off one arm and kicked another two. “We have to make it to the end of the Hordes!”

Coyote ripped his arm free to better swing the Fictionary around. Leprechauns pressed in, shoving Coyote’s body into London’s. Instead of drawing away, London pivoted against Coyote so they were back to back. Leprechauns leaped from the crowd. Coyote struck them down with the heft of the Fictionary.

Together, Coyote and London side-shuffled through the raging leprechauns. The roaring continued, and the sky flashed. Coyote didn’t know how long the Hordes extended, but the leprechauns themselves seemed to go on forever. His arms ached. The only comfort he found was in the cold seeping through his hoodie from London’s sturdy back.