The Totally Evil Thing

 

“Come on.”

 

Tightening her hold on Clarke’s hand, Lexa took a final look at the figure before turning back the way she came. She tugged Clarke along, her feet moving at a brisk pace, her mind running even faster. She wasn’t sure what exactly it was about that shadow that had her so on edge, so uneasy so damn quickly.

 

Lexa spared a glance over her shoulder and nearly stumbled, Clarke’s firm grasp the only thing keeping her on her feet. The shadow was closer than before, and Lexa’s heart seized for a moment as if its dark hand reached into her chest, wrapped its ethereal fingers around the muscle and squeezed it like a stress ball. Her breath ran cold in her lungs, and a heavy weight settled on her chest.

 

Whatever that thing was, Lexa was sure it wasn’t friendly, and she was beginning to believe it wasn’t human.

 

Lexa’s eyes found Clarke’s, and the worry written on her brow was enough for Lexa to break into a run. Clarke matched her pace easily, never letting go of her hand. When they were a few hundred feet from the building, Lexa reached into her back pocket with her free hand, her fingers wrapping around the hard plastic keycard.

 

They skidded to a stop in front of the door, chests heaving for air. Lexa fumbled the card in her shaky fingers while Clarke bounced on the balls of her feet, her eyes trained behind them. Lexa didn’t need to hear the frantic “come ons” or “hurry ups” to know that whatever was behind them was getting closer. She could feel it in the way her skin prickled, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

 

Lexa released a sigh of relief as that little light switched from red to green, and she practically shoved Clarke through the open door before stumbling after her.

 

Four hands slammed on the cold glass, shutting the heavy door as quickly as possible. The click of the lock echoed in the abandoned foyer, and Lexa looked up at the sound.

 

Two blood red eyes met her gaze just on the other side of the glass door. She gasped and took an involuntary step backwards, throwing a protective arm out in front of Clarke. Clarke wrapped both hands around Lexa’s arm, her left hand sliding down to intertwine with Lexa’s right.

 

Clarke’s palm was as clammy as Lexa’s. They slowly backed away from the door, their eyes never leaving the malicious ones in front of them.

 

“What is that?” Clarke whispered shakily, her breath tickling Lexa’s neck.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“Can it get in here?”

 

As if Clarke’s words were an invitation, strong dark hands reached for the handle. The door shook within its frame but remained firmly shut. Lexa released the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding, her shoulders dropping a bit of the tension coiled within her muscles.

 

She gave Clarke’s hand a little squeeze, and the gesture pulled a weak smile from Clarke. The corners of Lexa’s mouth began a short journey upwards when an electronic beep had her whipping back towards the door.

 

The door lock disengaged and before it could swing open, Lexa took off down the familiar hallway, pulling Clarke along as she went.

 

Even in the darkness of the night, Lexa navigated the halls with ease, her feet leading her effortlessly towards the back offices. Her fear muddled brain was banking on a coach still being here after hours. Not that a coach had magical powers. Why was it that young adults always sought the help of middle-aged men when presented with horror movie-esque situations? What could a forty-something really accomplish when faced with a superhuman villain? Maybe it was just the comfort of another living soul that drew them to find help?

 

Whatever the reason, Lexa tugged Clarke quickly along the dark hallway past dark office after dark office. No one was there. Lexa turned another corner and slid to a halt. Her heart caught in her throat as she was face to face with that malevolent entity.

 

It stood motionless in front of them. Its tall frame supported an inhuman amount of muscles. Its skin was as dark as night, and its chest rose and fell as it snarled into the still air. Lexa saw its muscles tense, the gesture informing her that it was about to give chase.

 

Fight or flight kicked in, and since she truly had no idea what she was facing, Lexa grabbed at the standing water cooler, toppling it in the direction of the demon and pulled Clarke up the nearest flight of stairs.

 

Lexa only had time to fleetingly chastise herself for being that woman who ran up the stairs when she should have been running out the front door because Clarke was suddenly pulling her to a stop on the landing.

 

“Clarke-” Lexa tugged on their still connected hands as she frantically glanced towards the stairwell, but Clarke remained steadfast and unmoving.

 

“What’s going on? What is that thing? Why is it chasing us? Why is there no one in the WAC? There is always someone here.”

 

“I don’t know. But I know that thing is evil. Can’t you feel it?”

 

“Lexa, I-”

 

A growl interrupted whatever Clarke was about to mutter, her words dying in her throat at the malicious snarl. The creature stood at the top of the stairs, its eyes glowing a deep dark red in the moonlight. Lexa tightened her hold on Clarke slightly, not caring if her grasp bordered on pain, and pulled her close. Their shoulders touched as they took slow but firm steps backwards.

 

The nearly pitch black hallway was suddenly cast in an orange glow as fire erupted in the creature’s hands. It stood there, snarling, tempting them, teasing them, toying with them.

 

“Okay, you were right. Evil. Totally evil,” Clarke muttered under her breath, and if they weren’t currently locked in a Mexican standoff with a demon from hell with no weapons of their own, Lexa might have chuckled at Clarke’s blatantly obvious admission.

 

The creature began its slow approach, and Lexa could feel the sickening glee radiating off of it as it closed in on its prey. For every step Lexa and Clarke took backwards, the creature took one forwards. The heat of the flames was almost tangible.

 

“What do we do?” Clarke breathed.

 

Lexa glanced to her left. The landing looked out over the foyer below. Climbing ropes dangled from the ceiling, stretching down parallel to the towering indoor rock climbing wall. To her right, an office door hung slightly ajar.