The whip began to recede—dragging me with it. My body slammed into the ground, head smashing against my arm. I was getting battered, pulled over every rock.
My ankle burned like I’d stepped in a bear trap, spikes imbedding deep. And my hand was one pull away from dislocating.
That’s when I realized why.
Pogue’s hand was securely padlocked to mine as he violently followed in tow. His other hand held a blade.
He lookedmurderous.
Tears stung my eyes from the pain radiating across my back.
We were almost to the forest edge—to the menacing face. So I forced my free foot down, trying to slow us, but the pulling force was unstoppable. A second attempt nearly snapped my ankle, my foot twisting unnaturally against the raging ground.
It was useless.
“Let go!” I cried out to Pogue.
There was no sense in us both getting sucked into whatever hell was about to claim us.
Gunshots echoed—but the creepy smirking face still remained.
I was most definitely fucked.
“Let. Go!” I screamed.
He painfully squeezed harder, wincing. Most of the damage now ravaged one side of his body. His voice dropped low and lethal as he gritted his teeth.
“No.”
Then, the darkness swallowed us whole and the ground beneath finally came to a halt. I could hear nothing but my own rapid breathing. It was so dark I couldn’t see in front ofmy face. At least, not until two fiery eyes blazed inches from mine.
I scrambled, desperately trying to crawl backwards.
The teeth were longer than I’d thought, like hundreds of white needles embedded in a monstrous jaw.
With a hiss, the creature moved. The whip jerked, casting a sickly yellow light.
It was still lodged around my ankle, made of?—
Whattttt theeee fuck!
Bones.
All the blood drained from my face as I took in the barbaric device.
The whip was entirely made of spine—hundreds, if not more of them. Vertebrae, twined and woven together into a sadistic, spiked lash.
Distant shouts echoed but somehow didn’t get closer. Like some invisible barrier held them back.
I couldn’t see Pogue through the darkness, but still felt his grip—secure, unmoving.
The creature’s eyes flared, faintly illuminating the space around us. It was as if a black hole had swallowed Pogue whole, wrapping him in a cocoon of darkness.
Washedoing that? Or the creature?
The monster bared its teeth. A low, shrilling voice slithered through the air.
“They said I would find you hereeee . . . Caught yourmouthwateringscentttt.”
