“Let’s check out the upstairs.” Dad says.
“I think Loki has other plans.” I reply as I look over at my “not-so-subtle-”dog, going around in circles and barking towards the door. “I’ll take him for a walk.” I offer.
“No, not in that rain. I’ll go.” Before I can object, Dad cell rings. He says it’s the company and he has to take it. “That’s fine, I’ll walk Loki.”
I reply as I scour the first floor of the house for an umbrella. I find an old red one in the hall closet.
“Okay, be back soon.” I call out.
“A quick walk Biscuit, it’s bad out there.” Dad says whispers before going back to his conversation.
“Sorry about that Jeff” He says talking to his new boss.
“C’mon, Loki. Let’s see what wondrous trees await you here in Whisper.” I open the door, Loki walks out. Dad calls out to me once again, “Biscuit, thank you for giving this place a shot. I love you.”
“I love you too Dad. Be back soon.” I reply as I close the door behind me.
The rain is not letting up, if anything it’s getting even louder and even harder. Loki sniffs the flowers at the base of the tree just outside our new house. The wind wrestles with blows with such force, it’s bending my umbrella sideways, making it damn near useless. The roar of the storm echoes in my ear and my clothes are soaked though.
“C’mon Loki, I’m shivering my butt off here. No time to get real personal with each tree okay?” He looks up at me and howls in a high pitch, pitiful tone. “Alright, fine. We are going around the block, once. Then back inside.”
Thunder rumbles overhead and an arc of lightning strikes so bright I see dots and my hair stands on end. A branch groans and snaps plummeting to the ground a few feet in front of us. Unfortunately, it scares the hell out of Loki; he rockets off into the tree lines and I panic.
“Loki! No!” I shout as I drop the broken umbrella and take off after him.
I search through the clearing calling his name, but it’s so dark I don’t see any sign of him. I go deeper into the woods and scold myself for not dressing warmer. My teeth chatter as goosebumps erupt across my arms.
“Loki, it’s okay. Come here boy. I’ll give you a treat when we get back!” I shout, patting my damp pants in hopes he’ll run toward me.
A bright flash catches my eye, a few yards away. “Loki?”
I walk towards the light hoping Loki does the same, but as I get closer, I freeze at the scene unfolding in front of me. Between a large group of oak trees, a brilliant light carves into the air, creating a small narrow hole. It shimmers a bright gold, glimmering like those rings of fire at a circus, but the light doesn’t dance like flames. Instead, it pulses, as if it’s alive and breathing.
What the fu--…?
I move closer to the hole, reaching out with my hand.
Just as my fingertips touch it, A woman bursts through, inches from me and I scream, falling back on my ass hard enough to grunt. I scramble on my hands and knees trying to push myself up out of the mud. My heart is racing as I lock eyes with the mystery woman.
She has impossibly luminescent skin and long flowing silver hair. Her eyes are full of terror as she leaps forward. A massive skinless hand with black claws reaches out of the opening as it starts to close.
“Look out!” I scream, jumping fully to my feet, not sure what the hell I’m doing or why.
I can’t let him, or it, get to her. It’s not what a hero would do, and when you’re fantasizing about adventure, no one wants to be the villain do they?
I feel my feet pushing me forward. I lunge for her with no real plan other than to protect her. The hand snatches her before she can get away. It wraps itself around her neck and lifts her high off the ground. She struggles desperately trying to loosen the creature’s hold. Her silver hair spills over the sharp claws, as her feet dangle and kick frantically in the air.
I reach behind me and pull my pocket knife from my back pocket, I open it and lunge as I slash down, plunging the blade into the creature’s forearm. It doesn’t react. Not even a roar or grunt.
The hole opens back up, as the rest of the creature emerges. Nothing could prepare me for what stands in front of me. I have never seen anything like it, not even in a movie, and I know if I don’t help this woman, she will die for sure. I look into what should be the creature’s face and take a deep breath as I plan my next attack.
A gaping hollow hole sits where his eyeball should be and one side of the ugliest face I’ve ever seen is poking through the hole. It turns trying to get through the hole as it narrows and I see it’s twisted, drooling jaw lined with razor sharp teeth.
Oh shit.
I try to think of what all my favorite heroes would do and attack it again, this time harder and without stopping. I hack at its exposed wrist until it growls and releases the woman’s neck. She falls to the wet forest floor and quickly turns toward the rip in the air.
Now the woman is safely out of the creature’s grip, I step back away from its reach and help her to her feet. She begins to chant something as her eyes light up the same color as the sparks. The opening starts to close up as she chants, but the creature’s second hand emerges and tries to pull the opening apart. It manages to come
