Free Between the Realms by Elle Casey

friends, my feet and legs too numb to stand and my one shoulder nearly buckling with the pain.   Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me, I chanted in my head as I got closer and closer to the door, my legs and one usable hand scrabbling in the leaves and dirt.   I panted and cried at the same time, sounding like a wounded unhinged puppy.
    Two screams rent the air behind me - a chorus of angry dragons, ready to tear my bottom half off as I tried to get away.
    I saw a blur out of the corner of my eye, and before I could figure out what it was, I felt myself leave the ground, picked up into the air.
    I screamed bloody murder, knowing I was about to be eaten.   Goodbye, Here and Now.   It's been real.
    But then I fell through the door in the tree, landing in Tony's arms, a heavy weight at my back.   The door slammed shut behind me and everything went dead silent.   When the dizziness had finally passed and I could hear beyond the loud beating of my frantic heart, I realized ... Spike had carried me inside and delivered me into the void.

CHAPTER TWELVE

    IT TOOK ME A WHILE to get my breath back.   My stomach still rolled around uncomfortably inside me, but I slowly forced the sickness away.   This was no time to lose my lunch.   From the look of things and the weird vibes I was getting in this dark place, we were not out of danger yet.   I worried about the troll that demon-Spike had mentioned.
    "I haven't been in the Gray in over fifty years," said Tim in a quiet voice.   "I can see they haven't done anything to spruce up the place since I've been gone."
    "Yeah.   No interior decorating spirits here for sure," said Tony, standing and reaching down to pull me up.   The dim light that was coming from somewhere unknown outlined his form, giving me enough illumination to see his outstretched hand.
    I grabbed it and winced as I stood, my sore muscles on my ribs protesting with a burning pain.   "Fuck balls , that hurts."
    "Do you have a headache?" he asked.
    "That and I hurt my ribs, too.   I think I pulled something."
    "Can you walk okay?"
    "I can carry you, if you wish," said demon-Spike.
    "No, I can walk.   Come on.   Let's get the hell out of here."   I shuffled forward, not yet trusting my legs to work properly.
    "Jayne, I'm going to ride the mule if you don't mind.   I feel some hungry spirits in here," said Tim, his voice wavering a little.   He landed on my arm and crawled up the rest of the way up to my ear.   "Put your hair down so I can hide.   Oh, and nice one back there.   You totally blew that dragon away."   He giggled at his pun.
    "Shut up."   I knew I was never going to live that down.   Even if I tried to pretend it never happened, Tim would probably be talking about it into the next century.
    "Who knew elemental gas was so powerful?   I guess we shouldn't be surprised."
    "Tim, I swear to all that is holy, if you keep talking about my escape..."
    "Seriously, though," said Tony.   "All kidding aside ... how did you break that spell?   Was it really your intestinal problems?   Or your magical singing voice?   I wasn't sure if that was you or if someone was plucking a very large and very unhappy turkey nearby."
    "First of all, I don't have intestinal problems, okay?   I mean, fine, alright, if you had a couple of dragons at your back, your stomach might get a little queasy.   Is that a crime?"
    "To be scared shitless?   No," said Tony, giggling a little.
    I punched him in the arm.
    "Ow."
    "I don't know what broke the spell.   Ask the demon next to you."
    Tony abruptly stopped walking, causing me to bump into his back.
    "Hey!   Warn me when you're going to stop next time.   I'm on the injured list here in case you forgot."   I shoved him slightly, trying to get him away from me so he wouldn't jiggle my sore ribs again, but all I succeeded in doing was make it hurt worse.
    "Sorry.   I just wasn't expecting you to say that word: Demon ."
    "You have nothing to fear from me, wrathe," said