by Kelly Blount
Brooklyn was too terrified to attempt to turn and face her attacker. So this is what it’s like to die… she thought.
“Brooklyn!” she could hear Ryder’s pleading and frantic cries, but it was too late. She knew it was over.
As she felt Grishma inhale deeply she could only guess what was coming next. She weakly attempted to cover her ears as it unleashed the worst sound she had ever heard. As the pain overcame her senses she looked out to see Ryder charging them, then everything went black.
Adrenaline coursed through Ryder’s veins as he ran toward Grishma. He couldn’t let it take someone else away from him!
He frantically searched the forest floor for some type of weapon. Finally, his eyes landed on a large rock with several sharp points. He picked it up and hurled it at the monster’s head.
Grishma ducked out of the way and laughed. “Is that all you’ve got, boy?”
“Damn you! Leave her alone!” he screamed as he picked up another rock and threw it.
The beast roared as the rock made direct contact with her jaw.
He sprinted toward Brooklyn’s limp body, but before he could get close enough, the gruesome monster snatched her up and raced into the woods.
Ryder attempted to follow them for several miles. However, the task soon became pointless as Ryder lost its track in the thick foliage.
He sat down and buried his head in his hands. “How the hell could I let this happen again?” he yelled. Tears of frustration and anger filled his eyes, causing his voice to choke. He pounded his fists into the damp dirt and screamed out in pain.
Chapter Five
“LET GO OF ME!” BROOKLYN screamed as she desperately tried to free herself from Grishma’s razor sharp claws.
“Ouch!” Thin leafy tree branches snagged Brooklyn’s clothing and swatted her in the head as the beast sprinted through the thick foliage.
How can I escape? Where is it taking me? Brooklyn’s mind flooded with questions of survival as she frantically scanned her surroundings, hoping for some type of escape route.
Is that a river? Brooklyn strained her eyes to see through the gradually thinning forest. Sure enough, a substantial, quickly flowing body of water was directly in front of them.
Dusk was approaching by the time they reached the muddy banks of the river. Grishma dumped Brooklyn on the ground with a thud. She pretended to be unconscious as the hideous beast inspected her. It was all she could do to keep from throwing up as it breathed directly on her face. Yuck! And I thought coffee breath was bad. This is the worst smell ever!
After Grishma left to drink some water from the river, Brooklyn surveyed the area around her and an escape plan began to formulate in her mind. If I can just make it to the river, the current might be fast enough to carry me away before Grishma can even react!
She waited for the beast to return and settle on the ground a few feet away. Bile was creeping up her throat. She tried hard to keep it down. After a short time, the beast appeared to be sleeping. This is my chance! Silently, Brooklyn crawled commando style toward the edge of the river.
Almost there, just a few more feet, keep going! I’m going to make it!
That’s when it happened. Her foot caught on an exposed tree root and made the smallest of sounds. Grishma instantly snapped its ginormous head around and zeroed in on Brooklyn as she was approaching the fast moving murky water.
Before the wretched beast could open its deadly jaws and release a bloodcurdling scream, Brooklyn hurled herself into the water.
Brooklyn gasped as her body entered the river. The water was so frighteningly cold her limbs struggled to keep her afloat.
From the corner of her eyes, she could see Grishma racing down the shoreline. Luckily, the gruesome beast appeared to avoid entering the fast flowing water.
I’ve got to get to the other side, she thought, paddling hard to the shore only a few feet away. “I’m going to make it!” she screamed.
Then something happened. The water’s already frigid temperatures dropped further and every laborious kick of her legs got heavier, like she was swimming through slush. She reached out to the shrubs. Her fingers grazed the leaves. She needed to find the strength to close her hands around the branches. Her teeth chattered and her hands were blue. Just a little closer!
Suddenly, something brushed up against her leg. Brooklyn began to thrash and flail in the water. She kicked her legs wildly, trying to move away from whatever just touched her. Now the branches were behind her and completely out of reach. The current sucked her further down the river. Her head bobbed below the surface. She gasped for air, but water took its place and she choked.
Something tugged her under. I’m going to drown! I’m going to die here in Necoh! If she weren’t already underwater, tears would have flowed down her face. Her emotions made her chest heave and more water rushed up her nose. One final surge of adrenaline coursed through her body, giving her the willpower to reach the surface again. When her head finally burst through the surface, she gasped desperately for air.
Before she could think about death any further, she felt another more powerful tug. This time, she forced her eyes open to view her attacker.
A large blue tentacle wrapped itself around her leg and began to squeeze. Squinting to see what the tentacle was attached to was a huge mistake.
A muted scream escaped Brooklyn’s lips as the creature resembling a horrifying mix of a sea serpent and some type of squid tugged her under the frigid water.
The bluish-black creature was as long as a school bus and at least ten tentacles extended from its elongated body. Its head was shaped like a large pumpkin, the kind Brooklyn used to carve for Halloween when she was a little girl.
Checking on its prey, the snake-like beast turned its head around to inspect her. Additional tentacles poked and prodded her and its yellow eyes glared at her. She knew she only had seconds left until her air supply was fully depleted.
Damn it! What can I do? Then, an idea popped into her head. She had always been a huge Animal Planet fan and she remembered watching a show during Shark Week that gave pointers to individuals who were being attacked by a shark. Play dead! No wait—that was if a bear was attacking you. Oh yeah, if a shark was attacking you, you were supposed to poke it in the eyes!
Using her last bit of energy, she thrust her fingers toward the monster’s bright yellow eyes.
A loud hiss erupted from the creature’s mouth and it instantly released Brooklyn from its grasp.
Yes! It worked!
Without hesitating a second longer, she swam to the surface and sucked in air. It had never felt so good to breathe! After filling her lungs with much-needed oxygen, Brooklyn glanced at her surroundings. The woods had thinned and she was quickly approaching a clearing.
She looked over her shoulder. The water must have pulled her away quicker than Grishma could run. As she approached the shoreline, she cautiously eyed a makeshift wooden structure jutting out over the water. Is that a pier?
Anxious to get out of the water, Brooklyn propelled herself toward the pier as quickly as possible.
Reaching the rickety structure was strenuous, although the water temperature had warmed significantly, which allowed her limbs to work.
Oh thank goodness!
Wrapping her arms around the slimy wooden pillar, Brooklyn began to search for a way out of the water.
She worked her way around the pillar until she spotted a rope ladder that reminded her of the one she and Jax had used to enter their tree house as children.
Pulling herself up the ladder consumed her final bit of energy. As soon as she reached the splintery, weathered boards holding the pier together, exhaustion overcame her and she collapsed.
Nightmares flooded her sleep and she awoke screaming for the second night in a row, only this time Ryder wasn’t there to comfort her. With all that had happened, he had slipped her mind until now. Tears welled in her eyes. I wonder if he’s trying to find me?
Feeling somewhat re
sted and extremely exposed on the old wooden pier, Brooklyn got up and walked to the shore.
Why would there be a pier in the middle of nowhere? Someone must live near here.
Searching for some evidence of civilization, Brooklyn managed to find a path overgrown with vines that resembled poison ivy. That’s the last thing I need to deal with right now. Carefully stepping over the vines, she followed the dirt path until she reached a clearing. Oh no! What happened here?
Looking around, she saw remnants of several small cottages that had burned down long ago. Inspecting the ruins closer, she noticed cups, plates, and makeshift furniture appeared in some of the homes that weren’t damaged as badly.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” She knew she was taking a chance, but she was incredibly lost, not to mention scared. “Hello? Please, someone, I’m lost and I need help.”
Her heart was thumping too loudly in her chest to notice the slight movement in the bushes to her left.
“I… I… I can try to help you,” stammered a squeaky voice.
“Who’s there? Where are you?”
Stepping out of the bushes, a small furry creature with teddy bear-like ears and big round dark eyes appeared. “You look like an Ewok,” Brooklyn said with a smile.
“What’s an Ewok?”
“Um, don’t worry, it’s not important. My name is Brooklyn.”
“Really? Because you look just like Princess Sophie.”
Brooklyn scrunched up her nose. “Princess who?”
“Princess Sophie, don’t you know who that is?” he inquired.
“Nope, not a clue.”
“Wow, you must live in the Halias Swamp or something, I thought everybody knows who Princess Sophia is. Or was,” he replied correcting himself. “Anyways, my name is Albie, and I am from the Tribe of Topher.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Albie from the Tribe of Topher.”
“Where do you hail from?” he asked.
Should I tell him where I am from? Maybe not just yet, I better play it safe until I know I can trust him.
“Um, my family lives underground in a cave system, across the river, and deep in the forest.”
Albie gave her a quizzical look. “How in the world did you get here, my dear?”
“Well, that’s a bit of a complicated story, but the short version is that Grishma attacked my friend and me, and then it kidnapped me. I tried to get away by throwing myself in the river. Then, some creepy snake-like thing with tentacles froze the water around me and attacked me, so I poked it in the eyes, swam away, and pulled myself out.”
“Grishma kidnapped you and you got away? And a Nalun in the Swive River attacked you? How did you ever survive?”
She shrugged. “I guess I just decided I wasn’t going to die today.”
“I do believe you are the bravest young woman I have ever met. It would be my honor to escort you to my village. You may eat, rest, and stay as long as you like.”
“Well, I do believe you are one of the kindest Necohians I have ever met! Although I cannot stay long, I would be extremely grateful if I could get something to eat and a bit of rest before I depart to find my friend,” said Brooklyn.
“Come, Princess, ahem, I mean Brooklyn. Please follow me.”
Chapter Six
HOW COULD I LET GRISHMA take her? Why didn’t I take her home last night when I had the chance? I wanted to keep her here longer, that’s why! Damn it! I’m so selfish!
After the attack, it took awhile to peel himself off the ground. To say he was feeling dejected was the understatement of the year.
Okay, get it together damn it! You have got to find her! Ryder turned and sprinted back to the caves. He needed to pick up some supplies and most importantly, his father’s sword. Find the tracks, get the girl, and kill Grishma. It became his mantra and he repeated it as he emerged from the caves and back into the forest.
Breaking into a sprint, vibrant shades of green whizzed by his face. Even at this breakneck speed, the beauty of Necoh never ceased to amaze him. Vivid red and indigo lera berries dotted bushes. Brilliant chartreuse flowers shot out of the mossy earth.
Sweat poured down his face and dripped down his back. His shirt clung to his body, revealing long, lean muscles. Exhaustion swept him like a strong breeze on a still day. Giving up wasn’t an option. No matter how tired he got, he had to press on.
What the hell does Grishma want with her? Is it taking her to Bastu? The thought of the notorious stronghold made Ryder’s stomach sink and his breath quicken.
Pushing through the thick brush felt like walking through wet cement. Each step was heavy and strenuous.
Ahhh! Frustration began to mount to dangerous levels the third time he had to retrace his path back through the brush to find Grishma’s footsteps.
By dusk, Ryder approached the banks of the Swive River.
What happened?
Switching from purposeful, Grishma’s tracks suddenly appeared frantic. Looking around the muddy riverbank, Ryder saw strange marks and a second pair of tracks.
Panic washed over Ryder. She must have jumped into the water to get away from Grishma.
For the second time in only a few hours, Ryder’s heart sank. Rumors swirled that the notorious Swive River had taken hundreds of lives every year. An outsider like Brooklyn would have never survived, especially when even the supersized, terrifying Grishma trembled at the river’s gruesome flow.
If Brooklyn threw herself in to escape Grishma, what were the chances she survived? If she did, how far down the river did she get?
Ryder rarely traveled down the riverbanks of the Swive. He knew the risks and they almost always outweighed the opportunities provided further downstream.
Ryder tripped over a root coming out of the soft ground, which caused him to lose his balance and his mental composure.
This is impossible! I’m never going to find her tonight. I can’t even see my own feet, let alone Grishma’s tracks!
He leaned against a nearby tree and ran his hands through his damp hair. Exhaustion was overtaking his will to stay awake. He needed to find a shelter and quickly. Grishma wasn’t the only creature in these woods to fear.
The beautiful twirling twitter of the giggy bird and the faint light from the rising sun woke Ryder from a restless sleep. Shaking the fog from his head and looking around the unfamiliar scenery caused a momentary panic to wash across his body.
Looking at his surroundings and seeing his father’s sword caused a flood of memories and urged him to sit straight up in his makeshift shelter.
Come on, Ryder! Get going! He gathered his supplies, pushed off the large sur leaves he had draped over this shelter the previous night, and began crawling through the low-lying branches and out into the open.
The tracks were easy to find once he made his way back to the riverbank. Brooklyn’s sliding body was clearly marked, as were Grishma’s frantic attempts to snatch her up before she plunged into the dark, swirling water.
Grishma must have followed her downstream from here. Did she get out on the other side of the river? That would be her only chance to escape. Even Grishma wouldn’t attempt to swim across the Swive River. Dread filled his thoughts. What if Grishma made it to the bridge on the outskirts of the city walls and doubled back to come find her?
Reaching the bridge would take at least three more days at the current pace. Grishma would make it there in less than two and she already had a head start.
He forced the terrifying thoughts out of his mind and started to follow Grishma’s tracks down the bank.
Breathing heavily as he sprinted along the never-ending river, he never lost site of Grishma’s grotesque tracks. The beast’s horrendous smell still hung in the air, which caused bile to creep up the back of his throat.
Suddenly, a small stumpy figure covered in thick brown mud jutted out in front of his path. Ryder collided with the creature at full speed, which caused them both to fall to the ground.
“HEY! Watch what you’re
doing!” screamed the orvba in a shrill voice.
“Excuse me? Have you lost your mind? If so, let me refresh your memory. YOU ran out in front of ME!”
The orvba pulled himself to his feet. “Doubtful young man. What are you doing running so fast down this riverbank, anyway? Are you trying to draw attention to yourself?”
“Look, I’m not the one covered in mud crouching alongside the river!”
“These are times when it’s best not to be seen, lad. Speaking of which, I repeat, are you trying to draw attention to yourself by sprinting down the Swive River?”
Not wanting to divulge too much information, Ryder stood up slowly and answered, “No, no, I’m not. I’m just trying to find something.”
“Well, you best be careful. There was a Nalun attack yesterday and a Grishma sighting.”
“What? Yesterday?” A new wave of fear washed over Ryder. “Where? Here?”
The orvba’s eyes widened and he nodded as he spoke. “Yes, my brother Cridifer saw it with his own two eyes. The beast attacked a girl just upstream from here. Amazingly, she got away and climbed out onto the pier! Can you believe it? I’ve never heard of a Necohian surviving a Nalun attack!”
Relief swept across him like the forceful waters of the Swive washing over the riverbed. “What about Grishma? Was it in the river as well?”
“Oh no, no, Grishma is just as scared of the Swive River as the rest of us! It took off that way,” he said, pointing downriver toward the bridge and the city walls.
“The girl who survived the attack—what did she look like?”
“Ah, well that’s the thing. Cridifer said she looked just like the missing princess. In fact, he swore up and down that it was she, but I’m just not sure. Why in all of Necoh would the missing princess suddenly show up in the jaws of a Nalun? Perhaps he had been drinking fermented lera berry juice again.”
“Wait, the missing who?”
“Princess Sophie, the missing princess of Sumner! King Debnor’s daughter? She’s been missing for ages!”
