Where is Rook?
I frantically scan the forest looking for him, but he’s nowhere. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad sign. If he got away… I will be happy for him. I won’t fault him looking out for himself. He’s already stepped into harm’s way twice on my account.
I don’t want him to do it a third time.
The shortest of the flying monkeys steps forward. He regards me with a tilt of his head, eyes glinting. “Cooperate and no harm will befall you.”
He can talk?!
His voice is deep, raspy, part animal, part man.
Arms limp at my sides, my shoulders burning with pain, I nod at the blood soaking my front. “I don’t believe you.”
“Nomoreharm,” another monkey, the one on the left, says with a sniff.
Toto barks again.
The monkeys glance down at him with suspicion.
“Run, Toto!” I yell and he pivots around, disappearing into the dark. He’ll find me later. I know he will.
The monkeys let him go, too preoccupied with their private conversation.
The monkey on the left turns to the shorter one and lets out three quick clicks.
The monkey with the deep, raspy voice says, “We must risk it.”
Another chitter. The group nods in unison, acknowledging whatever was said.
The forest goes eerily silent. Soon the only sounds are of my heavy breathing, and the rapid beating of my heart.
I turn a circle, wishing I had a weapon, wishing I’d had the foresight to grab one of Em’s kitchen knives.
All I have are my bare hands, and that’s not nearly enough. I’m no match for these monsters.
They rush me. I punch blindly and catch one across the jaw. They stumble back.
I fight with everything I have, fists flying, but it only takes a few seconds before I’m subdued, one arm wrenched behind my back, the other held in a monster’s grip.
The wounds in my shoulders open wider and fresh pain burns through my nerves.
I slump to my knees, sobbing.
I can’t fight anymore.
I don’t have anything left to give. I just want it to stop. I close my eyes, surrendering to my fate, my body aching.
I wait. And wait. And wait.
There’s a rustle to my left. A thud, then a hiss of air. My arm is dropped, then my shoulder, and I pitch forward into the moss and leaves.
I lift my head, catching the snap of black fabric in my periphery.
Rook.
I scramble to all fours, gritting down the pain. I use a nearby tree as leverage, hoisting myself back up to my feet.
One of the creatures unfurls its wings, trying to escape, but a large tree branch comes flying out of the darkness, knocking it off course.
