Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Forty Two

     After much deliberation, both Rhett and Link decided that their plan was not only stupid but extremely dangerous. If they had left the house at the same time with their families still inside defenseless, they knew the repercussions would end in a bloody massacre. "Rhett, what if I distract it while you go outside for the lights?" Link swallowed his nerves back and fidgeted with his wedding band. Did he really want to be alone upstairs with the wolf? Of course not.

     Rhett's eyes widened. "You sure you want to do that, man?" 

     Link stared off into space to think about it. It would be easier to just have Rhett stay inside with the wolf while he snuck outside to get the lights, but he didn't want to put Rhett in harm's way either. Somehow he felt compelled to face this thing alone. "Yeah. Even if I'm not that much smaller than you, I can move a lot quicker if I really put my mind to it."

     "Thanks for the vote of confidence brother," Rhett joked as he tried to lighten the mood.

     Link smiled only slightly as his stomach twisted into several disturbingly painful knots. "On the count to three, we both run upstairs. I'll stay in the living room and distract the thing while you sneak outside. Got it?" 

     Rhett nodded his head. He positioned himself in a crouch where he looked like he was doing a lunge. 

     "1," Link said as he squeezed his eyes shut. This brought him back to the episode of GMM where they ate the Carolina Reaper, one of the hottest peppers on the planet. He would eat 20 of those in one sitting without milk or ice cream rather than face this beast alone. 

     "2." Sweat beaded across his forehead and his mouth trembled. He flexed his fingers and balled them up at his sides with an elongated sigh.  

     "3." Link tore off toward the stairs first. Rhett waited at the bottom of the stairs, and Link looked over his shoulder and earned the nod to go ahead. He brought his foot up and kicked the door open. He was greeted by a clawed hand to the throat, and he was lifted into the air. His feet dangled aimlessly as he widened his eyes, his throat closing up as he gagged for a breath. 

     Link was then tossed through the air and he hit the wall behind the sofa. He landed on the ground hard, hearing the bones in his hip crack. He coughed, the air filling his lungs in a rush that made him choke. He covered his left hip bone with a shaky hand, his eyes watering as it felt like a bone was surely broken out of place. 

     His head swayed with confusion as the beast slowly walked toward him. It snarled menacingly and Link watched as Rhett emerged from the stairs. Rhett paused and eyed Link with horror before snapping his terrified gaze to the animal. 

     "Go!" Link tried to shout, his voice hoarse. "Don't worry about me! Just get the lights!" 

     Rhett took a few steps backward and then turned to run into the kitchen. The beast whirled its head in the direction Rhett just tore off in and started that way. Link forced himself up onto his feet. He winced but he shook his head as he set his jaw. He wasn't going to die this way if he could help it. Link jumped onto the back of the couch and bent his legs. He used the back of the couch as a springboard and hurled himself toward the beast.

     He landed on its back and wrapped his arms around its massive neck in a choke hold. It stumbled to the side from Link's weight and they fell to the ground. The beast roared and kicked itself onto its knees before throwing Link off of its back. Link slid across the carpeted floor from the sheer momentum of the toss, his shirt riding up his back. His back seared with pain from the fire that was a rug burn.

     Link propped himself up on his elbow after he'd composed himself. He eyed its chiseled back and arm muscles. He swallowed nervously, knowing well enough that he was no match compared to this thing. Its muscular composition was huge, and oddly disproportionate compared to its doglike head.