Suspension

Chapter 3

Slashing at the creature with my Swiss army knife, I managed to make contact with its disturbingly furry head. It growled at me before turning away and running out into the corridor. I spun around and ran to Carolyn. She looked up, tears running down her face.

"What in the holy hell of every single living or frozen thing was that?" She yelled. I was surprised that she could still over-talk in her state of shock. I shook my head and nudged Delta.

"We have to get back into my classroom. That thing will be back and you can see more of the corridor from mine. Plus," I said, taking her arm, "we have to go and tell your brother that you're fine. But he is a fool who is blinded by his love for a girl who clearly does not love him back. I'm not even sure you crossed his mind."

"That was harsh, Lia. But you're probably right." She smiled shakily at me and collected her bag. I took it from her and told her to stay close. "Nice clothes by the way. What's the deal with them?"

"I used to wear them when I went running and when I had those self-defence classes. I usually just wear them under my school clothes nowadays. I guess this has put them to good use."

"You make this sound like a good thing."

"Everything has its positives."

"It does not."

"It does."

"No, it doesn't."

"That's only because you're a pessimist, Carolyn."

She huffed at me as she pushed open the door to my classroom.

"Alex!" She yelled. I shut the door tightly behind her and turned my back on Reece before I could convince myself not to do this. Reece, luckily, hadn't noticed why I had locked myself out of the classroom. I remembered that none of the others had seen what went on in Carolyn's classroom.

Carolyn would probably be telling them now.

*

I thought about Delta. The creature had been snacking on her flesh. I sighed. I would have to use my gift to bring the creature out of its hiding place. I had to kill that thing. It was a threat to our survival in this weird scenario and I had to do everything I could to keep Carolyn safe.

I crouched down and held my arm out so the bare flesh was in the sunlight. I heard another growl and swallowed. I watched my arm shake and tried to steady it as best I could. I was expecting pain as I had never experienced it before.

But I had to do this. As the creature came bursting out of a dark corner, I heard multiple cries from the classroom and I wished to close my eyes at the impact but I didn't. I watched as the creature swallowed my arm and attempted to chew it off. It hurt like hell. It hurt more than anything. But I was ready for that.

I launched the Swiss army knife into the creatures head with my left arm. I kept hitting the creature but nothing seemed to be working. And so, I pulled my half-eaten arm out of the creatures' throat.

Then I took my hands under the creature and slit it from navel to neck.

*

Before I knew what was happening, Reece was attempting to wrap material around the bone extruding from my wrist. My hand was completely gone.

"It's ok, Lia, you'll be ok. Oh...Why did you have to do this? We could have found another way." Reece murmured. He shook his head and I lightly pushed him away.

"Reece; I know you mean well, but it's ok. I'm fine." I said in a hushed tone. Reece shook his head. I sighed.

"How can you say that? Half your hand is gone!"