The Adventures of Atlanta Johnson: The Golden Arrows

Chapter 15: Tricks Beat Brains.

A small bright yellow path had appeared as soon as we started walking. It was leading us toward Harmony. I couldn't wait to see her again.
Drake had taken hold of my hand, holding onto my fingers lightly. I didn't know why. It was dark. Maybe that was the reason.
The path was getting stronger and more visible. We were getting closer. I was scared of what we would arrive too.
When the path of light faded, I stopped abruptly.
Drake looked just as confused as I did. He grasped my hand tighter.
"Where did the path go?" I asked.
"I don't know. Maybe we went off track?" Drake suggested.
I turned in a full circle. I saw nothing but darkness.
"We didn't go off track. She should be here."
I then, heard a small voice. Very weak and soft, but audible. "Atlanta?"
I perked up immediately. Drake did too.
"Where is my hippocampus when I need her?" I muttered.
I whistled, to see if she would come. She appeared from the kelp, but she wouldn't let me touch her.
Are you okay? I asked her telepathically.
Too many monsters! She replied.
All I need you too do, is to give us some light. That's it. I told her petting her comfortingly.
She started glowing. Okay.
"There." I said aloud.
I turned back to where the path ended.
A stump crab cage lay near a bundle of wires. Something moved inside of it.
I lowered myself to the cage, about too unlatch it. Drake stopped me, yelling, "Watch out!"
I rolled to the left, something barely missing my feet. I landed on my back with a grunt.
I turned onto to my stomach to face where the cage was. Six figures had surrounded the crab cage. Drake ran to my side.
"I guess Andy was right when saying she was heavily guarded." Drake said.
I nodded. "How are we going to do this?"
Drake thought for a moment, then turned towards the guards.
"Leave it too me." He stated confidently.
"What are you gonna do?" I asked.
He hugged me, and patted my arm.
"Don't worry about it. Stay here."
Before I could respond, Drake ran off toward the plants, pulling his pack off of his shoulders.
I sighed. There was no way I was gonna sit still for long.
I took my dagger out of its sheath and stabbed it into the sand. I stared at it.
I don't even know why I chose a dagger. It was unbalanced, too light. Drake tried giving me a sword instead. But they had the same problem. They were either too long, or too heavy. I gave up and just stuck with the dagger.
I heard a shuffling noise and pulled my dagger from the ground. I squinted and saw Drake, crouched on the ground.
"Drake." I whisper-shouted. "Drake!"
"Shhhhhh!" Drake hushed from behind me. "Do you wanna get noticed?"
I jumped, and looked quizzily at Drake. He grinned.
"Tell ya later. We have to hide!"
I ran towards the opposite bush Drake did and peered over the side. I finally got a good look of the guards.
They were super tall, buff, and not exactly human. They were human from the waist up, but snake from the waist down.
They all stood in a circle, ready to fight.
"Where did they go?" The tallest one out of them asked.
"Maybe they ran off?" The one next to his asked.
"Quiet!" The shortest one spat. "Do not speak, and look for them."
All of them but the short one split of into different directions. The shorter one walked circles around the cage.
"Can we take him?" I whispered.
Drake shook his head. "He's too clever. He'll outsmart us. We going to trick him instead."
The words popped into my head. "With help from trickery, in a great fight."
Drake's eyes gleamed as he smiled, "Exactly. Now, let's watch to see if he'll do what I'm hoping for."
Just as we turned our attention back to them, one of them questioned, "What is this?"
"What is what?" The small one asked, walking over too the others, who were gathered around Drake's decoy.
"Looks like a frozen boy." One said.
Drake tapped my shoulder. "Come on."
Drake slowly walked towards the cage, me following. He motioned me to stop, and grabbed the edge of the cage. The guards noticed nothing. They were too busy arguing. Drake pulled the cage all the way behind the bushes and pulled open the top.
Harmony lay there, almost dead looking. Drake and I grabbed her hands and feet and pulled her out of the cage.
I whistled for my hippocampus. She waddled over and I laid Harmony on top of her.
Get her to safety! I said to her.
She neighed unhappily. What about you?
We will be fine. Stay close enough to give us light, but far enough to be safe.
She nodded and raised up toward the surface.
Drake had put the cage back and was standing next to me.
"What now?" I asked.
"We leave, before they notice it's all a trick."
"Good idea."
We started walking away. Soon after, one of the yelled, "This is an outrage! It is wood! We have been tricked!"
I snickered. "He's clearly not happy."
Drake smiled, and flung his elbow on my shoulder.
"Nope."