Darkness Unleashed

The neighborhood where Ayesha's motorbike led them to was a deserted place south of the cathedral, closer to the East river than ever before. Maddie glanced around. They had drawn up in front of a large factory, which looked as if it had been destroyed by a terrible fire. The hollow brick and plaster walls still stood, but metal rods poked through them, crooked and scarred with burns. In the distance Maddie could see the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the black figure of the Statue of Liberty, farther out to sea.

They got down from the motorbike and Ayesha whistled. The whistle sounded loud in the chilly night air, metallic with the smell of rain and thunder. A dog barked in the distance. Jason rolled from behind a couple of trashcans, followed by Cassie, both of whom were also dressed in fighting gear.

"What took you guys so long?" Jason asked, barely out of breath as he cartwheeled to a stop before them.

"Sleeping Beauty here," Ayesha nodded towards Maddie "was enjoying her nightmare