Free Crossroads by Mary Ting Page B

in a hoarse
whisper.
    “ Hisss. This isn’t a
dream, Claudia. I’ve been looking for you.”
    How did it know my name? What was it
saying? It didn’t make any sense.
    “ I’m going to enjoy you,
slowly. I could end this in one strike to your heart, but I was
ordered to bring you in alive. So, I am going to savor your moments
of suffering. Each strike will deliver just enough poison to make
you feel pain so intense, you will be begging me for death; but
don’t worry, I won’t kill you. I just want to have a little fun
before I bring you in. Let’s play!”
    Who would order her to bring me in? It
didn’t matter. I would rather die than be in the hands of who knows
what. This was it. This was how I was going to leave this Earth. I
was looking death right in the eye, and there was no one here to
help me. I could imagine Patty finding me, and the guilt that would
consume her for leaving me here alone. And my poor mom and Gamma, I
was all they had. I would be another tragic death my mom would have
to bear that would break her heart. As I closed my eyes to let fate
take over, the creature positioned itself and was ready to
strike.
    “ Please forgive me for all
the wrong I have done,” I prayed, hoping that the life I lived and
the person I was would be enough to take my soul to a peaceful
place, a Heavenly place.
    “ Hisss. How sweet, almost
sad. God can’t help you now.” It was mocking me.
    I opened my eyes again, hoping that
the snake would be gone and this was just a nightmare, but it was
still there. Without warning, it lunged toward me. I expected to
feel pain beyond what I have ever felt or could ever imagine,
but—nothing. Suddenly, the snake loosened its hold on my body, and
then let go entirely. As I looked around me, I could not believe
the sight that I witnessed.
    Michael was wrestling with the fog,
now in a beast form that looked like a hideous monster. I couldn’t
believe he was here. He wasn’t just a dream; or was I dreaming now?
My mind was frazzled. At one point, I had been so sure that he
wouldn’t lift a finger to help me, but I was so wrong. He was just
as much in danger as I was, and he was here to save me. Every ounce
of hope for survival that I had lost was regained.
    Somehow the beast wrapped itself
around Michael’s waist. I could see Michael struggle to take
control. I wanted to help, but I was unable to move or
speak.
    “ Michael!” the beast said
in surprise. “I thought you were dead.”
    Michael ignored her and started asking
questions. “Why are you here? What do you want?” Michael demanded
as he positioned his hands around the neck of the beast.
    “ I want her!”
    “ She is not an alkin! Get
that through your head! Can’t you tell the difference?”
    Michael was angry, but he, too, was
able to talk with the beast. I knew then that this was not my
imagination. He spoke almost with familiarity. This beast was
someone he knew, someone he was clearly trying to convince about my
existence.
    “ Who are you working for?
Who gave you the order?” Michael demanded.
    “ Hissss. You think I would
tell you? Tell me, Michael. How did you get down here? How did you
get through my barrier? I blocked anyone from passing
through.”
    “ You think I would tell
you? You think you’re the only one with that kind of power? I have
my ways.”
    “ Hisss. You used to tell
me everything.” Its voice was flirty.
    “ That was a
mistake!”
    “ Hisss! Hisss!” It was
livid. “Then you deserve to die!”
    “ Remember, Julia, I’m
stronger than you! You can’t win! Don’t do this! I’ll let you
go!”
    Julia? This beast had a name. This was
more than an acquaintance. How did Michael know it? What did he
mean by making a mistake? As Michael finished exchanging words with
Julia, he grabbed the tail and managed to set himself free. The fog
grew bigger, a huge shapeless blob, and swirled around like a
tunnel as it slid underneath Michael. It pushed him up and slammed
him against the wall.