Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Thirty

     The sun had just begun to rise. The hairs on Rhett's arms stood on end and the lump in his throat told him to turn around and go home. But his best friend was out there somewhere by himself, and he couldn't allow that to be a consideration.

     As Rhett sped down the road, he knew it was close to the turn he'd need to take to head toward the trail. Rhett turned without slowing down and he'd drifted slightly, and it had caused the tires to screech in protest. The animal had bound away from him at an unbelievable speed; something Rhett was sure had been paranormal. Once Rhett had reached the foot of the mountain and the animal had disappeared, he pulled the car to a stop and parked it. The moment he opened the door, he was greeted by a roar that pierced the still morning air.

     "Whoa." He hung onto his door and gazed at the sky, his mouth agape. Another roar signaled his legs to move, and he sprinted in the direction of the sound without closing the door. His lungs burned as he jogged through the trail. Sweat beaded his forehead and back, and made his shirt cling tight to his body. He called Link's name repeatedly as he ran. He'd stop to look through every nook and cranny of the trail for him. He heard another roar and his heart stuttered in his chest, more than it already had from the exertion of running.

     "Please," he said breathlessly as he doubled over. "Please don't hurt him." Rhett's muscles begged him to stop running, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He pressed on, and there was a sharp turn ahead, and as he came around the corner, he slid on the mud and fell to the ground. He landed on his hip and slid down the hill, and nearly landed in a puddle before he dug his heels and palms into the soft ground. 

     Rhett took a few sharp breaths. He felt as if he'd inhaled several sharp knives. A shrill scream permeated the air, reverberated off of the mountain, and forked through the trees. His eyes widened, as he'd never heard anything like it.

     "What the—" he was cut short and he crouched to the ground and covered his head with his arms. It came at him so fast, and leaped over him as if he were only an ant hill compared to the mountain. He felt fur brush against his bare arms and his body shook. Murmurs of confusion tumbled out of his numb lips. Rhett slowly lowered his arms and craned his head to look behind him, and he found himself face to face with the wolf. 

     It snarled lightly, saliva oozing off of its fangs. It reminded Rhett of a snot rocket and he shuddered violently. It was comparable to the ill sensation he would feel in the pit of his stomach when he was faced with eating liver. He covered his mouth with his hand and swallowed, and that's when the wolf opened its mouth and roared. It showered Rhett with its saliva.

     Rhett closed his eyes and mouth shut tight and screamed internally. He didn't want to show weakness but at the same time, he knew this thing was very capable of ripping him apart limb from limb if he made a wrong move. Rhett heard the shrill scream again and this time, he thought it sounded like Link screaming his name. His eyes popped open and the wolf was gone. He propped himself up on his hands, and took a couple deep breaths before springing to his feet. He took off where he heard the voice, and he hoped with all hope that it was Link screaming his name.

     It wasn't a pleasant happy scream that you would expect at a long awaited family reunion. It was a pitiful scream that dripped with forlorn. Link needed Rhett's help, and he ignored the ache in his feet as he pounded toward the end of the trail. The end of the trail overlooked Burbank and he doubled over on the spot, and had to catch his breath for what felt like the millionth time.  

     When he looked around, he couldn't see Link anywhere in the clearing. He didn't see his car either, and his heart sank into his stomach. Rhett dropped to his knees, a fire hot pain searing through his chest that brought a tear to his eye. "Link... where are you, man?" His voice was strangled as he rubbed his eyes, forcing the tears back.

     "I'm right here."