FEARLESS (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 13

"Release it," Derek called. Apparently, this was my way of proving to the Lord that I was his daughter.

I was in a middle of a ring, like a boxing ring, they'd call it, in my world. The crowd was surrounding around it, watching. Waiting to see my blood spill, watch me die if I didn't win this 'task'. As Priscilla suggested.

Atleast, I am not back at that dungeon.

I trembled to the marrow of my bones as a grate groaned, and then a slithering, swift-moving noise filled the chamber.

My hands rose toward my ears. That noise.

The crowd quieted to a murmur, silent enough to hear a roar, so I could feel the vibrations in the ground as whatever it was rushed at me.

Oh, shit. This was it. I was going to die and no one would give a damn about it.

Priscilla clicked her tongue, and I whipped my head to her. Her brows rose.

"Run human, if you want to live." she whispered.

Then it appeared.

I ran.

It was a giant serpent, or what might have once been a serpent had its front end not become an enormous mouth filled with ring after ring of razor-sharp teeth.

It barreled toward me, its pinkish brown body surging and twisting with horrific ease.

These trenches were its lair and I was dinner.

Sliding and slipping on the reeking mud, I hurtled down the length of the trench, wishing I'd memorized more of the layout in the few moments I'd had, knowing full well that my path could lead to a dead end, where I would surely-The crowd roared, drowning out the slurping and gnashing noises of the Serpent, but I didn't dare a glance over my shoulder.

The ever-nearing stench of it told me enough about how close it was. I didn't have the breath for a sob of relief as I found a fork in the pathway and veered sharply left.

I had to get as much distance between us as possible; I had to find a spot where I could make a plan, a spot where I could find an advantage.

Another fork-I veered left again. Perhaps if I took as many lefts as I could, I could make a circle, and somehow come up behind the creature, and-No, that was absurd. I'd have to be thrice as fast as the worm, and right now, I could barely keep ahead of it. I slid into a wall as I made another left and slammed into the slick muck.

Cold, reeking, sliding. I wiped it from my eyes to find the leering faces of faes or hunters sitting around me, laughing.

I ran for my life.

I reached a straight, flat stretch of trench and threw my strength to my legs as I bolted down its course.

I finally dared a look over my shoulder, and my fear became wild and thrashing as the serpent surged into the path, hot on my trail.

I almost missed a slender opening in the side of the trench thanks to that look, and I gave up valuable steps as I skidded to a halt to squeeze myself through the gap. It was too small for the worm, but the creature could probably shatter through the mud. If not, its teeth could do the trick. But it was worth the risk.

As I made to pull myself through, a force grabbed me back. No-not a force, but the walls. The crack was too small, and I'd so frantically thrown myself through it that I'd become wedged between it.

My back to the worm, and too far between the walls to be able to turn, I couldn't see as it approached.

The smell, though-the smell was growing worse.