Humpty's bones

slammed into the wall above my head. Its wicked claws raked the tiles. As I ducked I saw the gouge marks. If that whip-tail had hit me in the face? Think of the savage cuts!

We all ran in different directions. It followed me at first. Its paws thumped the floor, then, when I ducked under a low doorway to a storeroom, it changed direction to race after Adam. At the same time one tentacle on its back snapped out to curl round Jenny’s waist. With an uncanny dexterity it gripped the back of her jacket. As it did that, it let fly with the whip-tail again. It struck a steel girder next to Pitt. Sparks flew.

Jenny was in deep trouble. It didn’t loosen its grip on her fabric. Quickly, it dragged the girl toward its huge mouth filled with champing teeth. Then it happened again. I found myself looking through Jenny’s eyes into the monster’s hate-filled face. The orange eyes blazed. Closer… and closer. The mouth opened. In total shock I yelled. A yell so loud that the Voggron glanced back for the source of the noise. Jenny took her chance; she slipped out of the jacket, leaving it swinging in the tentacle’s grasp, then she hid behind a row of water pipes.

Deciding to attack Adam from above, the beast chose to leap onto one of the cylinders but misjudged its landing. It slipped off the curving metal to fall into the narrow gap at the other side. Frantically, it struggled to free itself. Even so, it bellowed in fury. I could see tentacles whipping the air before they latched onto the cylinder. Once it had a grip it could begin to heave itself out. For a second I watched those thick, rubbery limbs in fascination. Suckers gripped the cylinder. I felt its effect on my mind grow stronger — the headache, the weakness. Lights grew dim. Jenny pushed me.

‘Come on! Now’s our chance to get back to the exit.’

Boy, how we ran! Summoning what was left of our strength, we belted along the tunnel lined with vehicles. Once we’d got some distance between us and the Voggron the ill-effects inflicted by its wicked telepathic power faded. The light grew brighter. Strength returned to our legs.

‘It’s coming!’ I yelled.

Adam gasped, ‘We’ll never make it.’

‘Adam, run!’

‘We’re going to die down here.’

‘Keep moving. Get up those steps.’

I was the last one to the stairwell that led up to the lounge. Quickly, I glanced back along that long corridor. In the distance I saw a yellow object. At first, just a little yellow blob. But it got bigger and bigger the closer it got. And that monster moved FAST. It soon became clear it was the creature from the cylinder store. The mane, the yellow body with red patches, the tentacles, the whip-tail with claws. Here it comes… the Voggron… legs pounding, jaws open wide. If those tentacles should grip your head? Slimy, wet suckers. And just imagine its teeth sinking into your throat. Taking a deep breath, I followed the other three as they clattered up the steps.

I shouted, ‘I figure we’ve got fifteen seconds before that thing reaches us.’

With a cry Adam collapsed. ‘I can’t run any further. I’ve got a stitch.’

All three of us grabbed him by the arms, then heaved him to his feet.

‘Keep moving,’ Jenny urged. ‘We’ll lock the lounge door. It won’t be able to follow us.’

When we reached the living quarters door I groaned with disappointment. ‘The lock’s broken. It must have done it when it escaped.’

‘What now?’

I shouted, ‘It’s coming up the stairs! We won’t reach the exit in time.’ Heavy paws thumped. ‘Scatter… hide… anywhere.’

‘It’s no good,’ Adam groaned. ‘It’ll find us.’

Yet fear drove us to find hiding places. We ran by sofas, looking for rooms to lock ourselves in. Only they had flimsy doors that the monster could shred in seconds.

Adam curled under the kitchen table. ‘We’re going to be eaten alive!’

I raced by the big TV screen — if only that six foot wide square of glass was a doorway to the outside world! An onscreen message read, GAME PAUSED.

Then — BANG! The door shattered. The Voggron flicked aside what panels remained as if they were shreds of paper. Then it prowled into the lounge with all the menace of a hungry lion. Its tentacles curled in the air. Then a strange thing happened. The tentacles darted out to open cupboard doors, so it could check inside. Maybe it thought we’d hidden in them? And it was all so fast. Flick, flick — glance, glance. Those strange words it had used before came in a soft growl, ‘Neefer-ratt-saaar.’ The whip-tail came up as if to stroke the ceiling. Despite, the tail moving only slowly its formidable tail claws scratched deep groves into the plasterwork. It took pleasure in the action. An orange lip curled back in a weird smile. Sharp fangs glinted.

Remember, its hatred for humans? That shredded poster? And didn’t I sense its raging hunger? That it longed to sink its teeth into a fresh, living body.

So what are we? Snacks on legs?

Jenny hid behind a sofa. I ducked into a space between the kitchen sink and a dishwasher. Adam stayed under his table. Pitt stood with his back to the wall beside the giant TV screen.

All useless hiding places. The Voggron moved with fluid grace across the room.

As it approached, the headaches started. My legs turned wobbly. Pitt’s eyes became dull as if he’d fall asleep. And the blood-thirsty Voggron came ever closer… and closer.

Despite the pain in my head, and the way the monster could affect my eyes so it seemed to be growing suddenly darker, I forced myself to watch it. And I could tell it was vicious. Even the faint hum of the refrigerator enraged it. With one of its front paws it struck out. Easily, it ripped away the fridge door. Then it swept all those chocolate bars out over the carpet. The ketchup bottle cracked open. Sauce splashed out onto the carpet like blood had been spilt.

Soon real blood will be splattering the floor.

The Voggron saw Pitt standing by the TV. Those ravenous orange eyes fixed on his face. He froze, not daring to move. It took a step nearer. Sniffed the air. Then it took another step toward him. When he flinched it opened its jaws. Fangs glistened. Tentacles danced in the air. A snarl began in its throat. The weird mind effect kicked in. I caught glimpses of what Pitt was seeing. I saw through his eyes. I felt his fear. And all the time the monster’s face grew larger and larger the closer it got.

Jenny jumped up. ‘Naz! The remote controls on the table. Grab it!’

I stared at her like she’d gone mad.

‘You’re the closest,’ she hissed. ‘Quick, before it attacks Pitt.’

For some reason I grabbed the remote control but I didn’t know what good it would do. I could hardly thump the monster with it, could I? It wouldn’t even bruise its yellow lizard skin. Also, I was so dizzy by this time. The headache blurred my vision. Once again it happened. For a split second I saw through Jenny’s eyes. I saw ME standing there with the remote control hanging limply in my hand. My eyes were dull… as blank as dead TV screens… as if my mind had been disconnected from my body. Naz is in shutdown. He’s gone zombie…

Snarling, the Voggron moved closer to Pitt. The boy stared death in the eye.

Jenny hissed, ‘Naz. Hit Resume Play.’

‘Why?’ Her demand baffled me. Everything seemed hazy. Far away.

‘Remember, it’s a war game. The Voggron’s meant to fight enemy soldiers. You might be able to distract it long enough to — ’

The yellow monster took another step toward Pitt. Now only ten feet separated them. It tensed itself, ready to attack. The remote control felt as heavy as concrete in my hand. If it slipped from my fingers I’d be too far gone to pick it up again. My head throbbed… everything just so woozy… dream-like.

‘Naz!’ Jenny shouted. ‘You’ve got to press the button.’

I stared. My head hurt. All the strength had gone from my fingers.

Jenny pleaded, ‘Naz, you’re Pitt’s only chance. HE’S GOING TO DIE!’

Pitt, die? No! How I managed I don’t know. Bosh! I hit Resume Play. Instantly a silver android appeared on screen. It raced forward as if about to run from the TV. Bigger and bigger. In a second the android nearly filled the screen. It had long silver legs and steel body armour. The Voggron reacted instantly. It turned its attention from Pitt to the menacing android. But did it realise it was only a computer game? Did it really fear the silver warrior could hurt it?