Skinwalker

Chapter 11

I question my decisions in life. 

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It was one of the monsters from her nightmares.

            This one was on all fours like a crocodile with spikes all the way down its back. It snarled at her and rose to its hind legs, threateningly. Saliva dripped from its yellowing, jagged fangs, its spike tail weaving back and forth, cutting into the old walls each time it struck.

            Anwen backed away and fell down, “No… no-“

            The monster lunged and she managed to wrench herself to her feet again and ran.

            She could hear it in pursuit behind her and she turned down another corridor. But this corridor led downwards.

            Anwen didn’t see the steps and fell.

            She struck her head and her torch fell into a small puddle. The impact caused her to be disoriented as she looked round. In the spluttering of the flames, Anwen could just make out the monster advancing upon her, growling with triumph, its pointed tongue licking its jowl in anticipation.

            But before it could strike, there came a yell and it was knocked aside.

            “Get Annie!“ she heard one of the twins say and the other scooped her up. The beast tried to get at them and Anwen heard the twin that carried her let out a cry of pain and the torches extinguished.

            Anwen was plunged into darkness and her head fell back.

            The shouts and roars soon fell away.

“What were you two thinking!?”

“We just wanted to play- we didn’t know-“

“Of course you didn’t know! The two of you never think!”

“You guys could have gotten her killed!”

            Anwen heard voices and tried to say it wasn’t the twins’ fault, even if it was. They had tried to protect her.

            But her head felt heavy and she could quite get her eyes to focus.

            A dark shadow fell upon her and she felt warm lips brush against hers, “It’s okay,” she heard Victor say softly to her, “You’re okay now- you’re safe.”

            “…not their fault…” Anwen managed to breathe out before letting her head fall back onto the cool, soft pillow, listening to Blackie’s comforting purrs.

When Anwen came round, her head felt clearer than before and she managed to prop herself up on her elbows.

            Looking round, she found herself in the guestroom again with Victor dozing on the chair by the bed with a book, face down on his chest. Blackie laid at the foot of her bed, fast asleep as well.

            She pushed her hair back and winced as her hand brushed against a sore bruise the size of a chicken’s egg on the side of her head. It must have been what had knocked her out when she fell.

            That was when she remembered- the monster attacked her- the twins had tried to stop it-

            The twins! Where were they!? They must be hurt!

            Anwen tried to get out of bed but the world spun around her.

            Victor suddenly awoke from her sudden movements and immediately grabbed her and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Are you okay? The doctor said it’s just a bump on the head and that you’ll be fine, but are you hurting anywhere? Is your vision blurred? How many fingers am I holding up?” he demanded.