“Run!” I yelled, flailing my arms to catch the snake’s eye. “Run away!”
It blinked at me.
In the next breath, it twisted its massive head, cold, deadly gaze trained on me.
And only me.
If we couldn’t hurt it, I could at least save some lives by risking my own.
“That’s it,” I shouted, arms flailing harder. “Come here!”
It flicked its tongue again.
Then it struck.
It moved with frightening speed.
My body contorted out of pure instinct, sprinting out of its way.
The monster was so large and fast, it created a wind tunnel that stung my eyes and almost knocked me down.
But I remained upright.
A ferocious grin twisted my face even as my heart thudded with the alarm of prey facing a predator.
It had taken the bait.
Just as it turned its head, I rushed, stopping ahead of it.
Its gaze honed in on me again, body coiled.
If I could draw it far enough away from the army–
It struck once more, even faster.
This time, I dodged its massive jaws at the very last moment. The force of it slammed me into the ground.
“Commander!” a terrified voice shouted.
I barely registered it as I jumped back to my feet right as the snake righted itself.
Then its eyes shimmered and glazed over.
In the distance, the Butcher twisted his hands.
He was controlling the beast–and there was nothing I could do to stop him.
The snake flicked its tail, knocking down half of my battalion.
Pure terror rushed through me.
“RUN!”
The snake coiled and turned.
Then it struck with unnatural speed.
A coldness unlike any other speared me.
