Lassoing the Cresent Moon

31. Boss Fight

My facade didn't last. As soon as I thought I'd gotten myself together, Catnap jumped on the elevator and started climbing with us as it went up.

The elevator shook and slowed down as his claws wrapped around the cage. I screamed as I felt the elevator struggle against him. I thought we were safe in here- but no. Not even close.

His grin distended in smug mockery. His body was closer to a corpse, deathly Grey and pale with bones sticking far past his skin.

Skulls and screaming children pressed against his skin as if wanting to escape- and i could see their little faces.

Their muffled cries for help.

That could've been me.

I left them alone.

I left Sam alone!

Terry tugged at my shirt with surprising strength to get me to look at him, but i struggled. How could you look away from this?

"Audriella! It's not real. It's just the red smoke. Audrey!" He growled as he gave me another harsh tug, pulling my head to focus on his eyes.

When my gaze met his i was shaking, but he looked steady and determined. There wasn't an ounce of fear in his eyes. "It is not real. You know what's real, I'm real! I'm here, Angel. I've waited well over a decade for this moment, and I'm standing on my own decaying waist to tell you- You will get through this! You will divert the smoke, and if you need to kill Catnap to do so, so be it. You can't leave us- not again. Do you understand me?"

My eyes widened as I felt myself able to breathe.

He was right... He was counting on me, Sam was counting on me, Poppy, Kissy, even Theo as stubborn as he was! I couldn't afford to let my fear take over- not now.

I'd found Terry again after all these years. I'd found Theo. I knew finding Sam was NOT impossible- but I'd need to be alive to get there.

I was a coward, I'd never been a bad ass- but right now, my life relied on how well I could pretend to be.

"I understand..." I whispered.

Almost as if fueled by my words the elevator began to rise as Catnap let go of it and began to climb up the wall instead.

"Where's he going?"

"I don't know, but it can't be good." Terry replied.

The moment the elevator stopped in the upper room i froze. I dragged my heavy legs to get out of the elevator.

This room was huge, with multiple battery holes randomly embedded in the walls. It was hard to see, the room full of a dark red smoke. My heart started to race as my mouth went dry. There were batteries spread haphazardly across the ground with two energy receivers on both sides of the room. As great as an actress as i could claim to be that didn't change the fact that i had no idea what I was doing.

I expected a big red button, a lever, something simple- not this!

Poppy's voice broke through the silence. I had no idea where it was coming from but my guess was she was using some kind of speaker.

"I hope this is coming through... There's no time to waste. CatNap is on his way. The room you're in used to be a sort of panic room. It's... not what it used to be, but it can protect you. Learn how it works. Try putting the batteries in the different glowing spots."

I had never felt so relieved to hear Poppy's voice. I did as i was told. I picked up a battery and put it in one of the spots.

"Good! Okay... now, in between the hallways, there's those two side rooms, on the left and the right. There'll be green power receivers in those little rooms. They can block off the hallways before CatNap gets to you. Try them!"