Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Forty One

     Rhett clasped his arms around Locke tightly, and he pulled him back away from the window with a hard yank. He eyed the silhouette of the beast, his heart thundering with the force of a stampede in his chest. They waited with bated breath for it to move when it finally roared, as if sending a warning that it was about to attack. 

     The roar shook the house like an earthquake, and it rattled the windows so hard that Link's house turned into a store of wind chimes. Christy and Jessie both screamed and Link stumbled backward. He lost his footing and stumbled into a side table, and the lamp crashed to the floor. Rhett and Locke fell into the recliner while everyone else scrambled to their feet with haste. 

     Link recovered quickly and seized Shepard and Lando by the underarms. He darted for the stairs that led to the basement as fast as his legs would carry him, which was fairly fast considering he was six foot tall. 

     "Everyone follow Link!" Rhett ushered the rest of the kids down the stairs first, then Christy and Jessie, whose legs wobbled like they were cups of jello. Rhett took himself down the stairs last and just as he made it midway, he heard glass shatter like somebody had thrown a brick through the window. His eyes widened, and he took the rest of the stairs three at a time.

     He watched as Link ordered the kids, Christy, and Jessie to file into a large walk in closet. Rhett joined him at his side, and he swayed from his emotions. He was hardly able to believe any of this was happening, and he too wondered why. 

     Christy and Jessie huddled to the floor with the kids in their arms and they looked up at Rhett and Link with terror in their eyes as Link readied to close the door.

      Christy's eyes widened. "Link! Aren't you guys coming in here too?" Her voice was small and her body shook, and Link had to bring his hand up to his mouth to keep from breaking down in front of them. Locke, Lily, and Lincoln had realization dawn on their faces in what their fathers were about to do. 

"If— if," Lincoln started. His eyes had watered. "If you have to use my Nerf blaster dad, you can." Link closed his eyes, the sentiment from his oldest son warming his heart. Lily's lips trembled and she rocked back and forth. 

     The wailing from her little brother and Shepard caused her chest to tighten, and she set Jade down before springing to her feet. Christy caught her by the shirt which made Lily freeze. "You can do this, dad. I believe in you." 

     Link opened his eyes, a tear trailing down his cheek as a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 

     Locke rose to his feet too. "Yeah, you guys can do anything when you're together." 

     Rhett was a pretty big guy and looked to be tough on the outside, but his insides melted to butter. Even his eyes own eyes watered. He took his son into his arms for a quick hug and he pulled away with a grin on his face. "We can take this sucker down no problem at all. Help your mothers calm your little brothers down and before you know it, we'll be back to let you guys out." 

     Locke grinned and he turned to look at Lily and Lincoln, who grinned also. They thought it was the coolest thing that their dads were about to wrangle a giant man wolf beast. 

      Christy and Jessie on the other hand looked as if they were going to spill the contents of their supper at any moment. "Come back in one piece, you two," Jessie said sarcastically, knowing that Link was prone to getting hurt. Link smiled halfheartedly, ushering for Rhett to join him. Rhett stepped out and the both of them faced their families.

     Link wanted to say something but his voice had been squeezed away by fear. He locked eyes with Lily, and he remembered the promise that he had made to her last night. Somehow he was able to find his voice again. "I'll come back," he said, reinforcing the promise that he made to her before he closed the door. 

     His heart thundered in his chest as he held the door shut with the palms of his hands. His world and everything in it that brought him happiness and enjoyment was behind that door. Rhett padded around the room and pulled several drawers open in Link's dresser to find flashlights. He took a couple and tossed one to Link. 

     Link swiveled on his feet and snatched it before it'd hit him in the face. He stared at it with wide eyes, his eyes crossing a bit from it being so close to his face. 

     Rhett moved toward him slowly. "Did you see that coming?"

     "How could I? I was facing the door."

     "I mean, did you perceive it with a sixth sense?" 

     Link slowly lowered the flashlight. His lips had parted as he suddenly nodded his head. 

     "Yeah, I think I did." 

     Rhett made a face like he was impressed. "Wicked. Well, we need to start looking for something to protect ourselves with. I heard it smash a window upstairs so it's gotta be in the house now." He tore the cushions off of the couch and took the remote to the tv up into his hands, scrutinizing it for a second and relishing in the possibilities before he tossed it to the side and moved on.

     Link pushed himself away from the door, then walked over to the window. He looked outside and could see the solar lights illuminating the darkened path in a brilliant blue hue, and he got an idea. "If we can get back upstairs, we can sneak out of the house through the kitchen. There are plenty of sharp knives that would make great weapons to protect ourselves. We just have to figure out exactly where it is." He raised his eyes to the ceiling and listened. That's when they heard a sound upstairs that was equivalent to an elephant taking a thunderous step.

     "It's in the living room," Rhett whispered as he leaned close to Link. Link hoped with all hope that it wouldn't come down the basement stairs and foil their whole plan.