13: A Simple Victory

A pair of eyes reflected moonlight. Their owner, cloaked in shadow, crept across the fountain’s empty plaza towards me. Running was my only choice—the smart thing to do. I'd already proven that point, but none of my muscles moved.

My heart thumped at a record pace, echoing in my ears, and drowned out everything else. Seconds passed, and my chest tightened. My breath came in short, quick bursts. I was more than likely hyperventilating from the growing panic holding me captive. The creature didn’t have to do anything except wait. I’d simply pass out, and dinner would be served.

Stop it! Slower… breaths, just like… just like you've practiced.

What I knew to be true didn't matter. Logic had no control over me. My chest squeezed my lungs tighter, and my heart beat against my ribs from the inside like it wanted out. Each consecutive breath increased the pain and pressure.

The eyes watched without blinking, moving like a living shadow and slowly gliding around the edge of the emptiness within the ruins. The creature circled me and crept closer with every second.

What is it doing? Why isn't it… attacking? Is it waiting for me to make the first move?

A beam of moonlight broke through a passing cloud, a spotlight to illuminate the slow-motion horror show playing in front of me. A growl came first, then snarling lips pulled back to reveal large fangs curving down and back. This thing wasn’t simply a creature staring me down; it was a beast from my darkest nightmares. It had to be some type of saber-toothed wolf, or maybe a hellhound. I didn’t want to believe something so huge and pure muscle was real.

My eyes darted around, never letting the beast slip past the edge of my periphery. If only my legs and the rest of my body would listen. There had to be something I could do. I had the branches from my signal fire, but nothing large enough to fight anything like this. They were toothpicks compared to it.

The fountain was an option, but I slipped the last time I climbed it. Based on the creature’s size, sitting on the statue's shoulders would still leave me within its reach, and with no real means of escape. None of the buildings would keep it at bay, either. They were all in shambles. If I ran, how far would I even get? The beast would probably track me down again without much effort.

Maybe simple is best. A… rock? Nope. Too small, or… too heavy. Think of something, anything! Come on, you pathetic… Think!

Everything kept coming back to the impossible option of running. Take a step. Move. Do something. I was so focused on the inevitable outcome that I hadn’t noticed my body was actually listening to me again. My foot finally moved, albeit slowly.

Clunk.

I knocked over my pot of water. My eyes dropped to the growing puddle by my other foot.

Shit! No! Don’t look away!

The beast lunged.

I pushed my foot against the ground, kicking up water behind me. Now that it was a possibility, I’d run as long and far as it took to escape. I was already on the move. No. I wasn’t the one moving. The ground was, and it came up fast.

Splat!

"Uwa—!"

Face down and arms splayed out, a stinging pain spread out through my chest from the sudden impact. Instead of making a big escape, I slipped on the wet stone. Not again. Not… now! I went down, and the beast soared over me. Its mouth snapped shut, empty, where my throat had been a moment ago.

"I-I… I’m alive?!" Checking over my shoulder, the beast thrashed in the fountain to find its footing. "But not for long!"

Adrenaline surged through my veins. I pushed myself to my feet and finally took off. Darting in and out of the desiccated buildings, I scrambled through haphazard holes, squeezed into tight spaces, and climbed over rubble. My eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my head. I kept them wide open to find a hideaway for the deadly game of hide and seek.

"Dammit!"

My shoulder accidentally slammed into a wall, knocking it over like when I damaged my hovel. That was it. After that, I collided with anything I thought might collapse and end the threat chasing me. If it wanted to catch me, it had to work for its meal.

Unfortunately, my feet slapped hard against the stone and made it obvious where I was. I changed direction, aiming instead for the softer forest floor at the outer edge of the ruins where I'd been foraging in. The constant clouds passing over the moon didn't make things easy, though. Shifting shadows increased the obstacles and hazards in my path. I almost ran into a tree more than once.

The beast let loose a bone-chilling howl that bounced off the surrounding trees. They made it impossible to tell which direction my relentless hunter was coming from.

Is it a tactic? Intimidation? How smart is this thing?!

I obviously hadn't done enough to dissuade it. At most, I probably made it angrier by delaying its inevitable Skyler-flavored snack—a sweaty, salty treat. Maybe I'd even be delicious.

My body ran on fumes and poor instincts. I needed time to figure out my next move. I rounded a tree and stopped to catch my breath. Every part of me ached. Overexerting myself left the world spinning and my head swimming. My breathing, ragged and probably still too shallow for my own good, wasn’t any better than when I first saw the beast. I’d fought with everything just to move, but it all caught up and crashed down on me as soon as I stopped.

If only I had a way to fight back. I shut my eyes to focus on something else and wiggled my freezing toes in some loose dirt. I desperately hoped for a moment of calm to come up with a plan. The pounding in my chest didn’t stop, but my heart wasn't on the verge of exploding anymore.

Seriously, how long can I really last out here? I can’t keep this up all night. I’ll get lost. Even if I miraculously survive… this.

I frantically searched for a landmark. I had to find my bearings. Another cloud passed over, allowing the moon to highlight the fountain statue in the distance.

Perfect. You. Why… you? The only other one around, and you're more useless than me. "Oooh, look at me. I have a sword, and you…? You don't."

The time was now. Somehow, I needed his sword. A deep breath in, then another, and I bolted to the fountain with speed and agility that I didn't know was possible for someone like me.

I reached the stone ground after only a few seconds. Suddenly, I was in the air, leaping to the basin bench, and then to the statue's base before even processing it. As if pulling the brakes, my white-knuckled grip had an immediate hold of the handle the second it was within reach and heaved on it with everything I mustered.

Pull harder—Give up. Don’t be ridiculous, Skyler. You don’t know how to use a sword. Even if you actually remove it, you’re just as likely to hurt yourself. You'll be doing the beast a favor, dumbass!

"Shut up. I can't think like… I have to… I need—"

The sword moved, but it was only a fraction and far from being mine. I planted my feet against the statue's legs and twisted my body. My muscles screamed in agony. Even bracing myself against the statue failed to provide enough leverage to wrestle it away. The statue's effortless grasp held the sword in place, denying my struggle.

"C-come on… Come… on! Is that… it? Is it?!"

I gave it another yank. The handle was slick with sweat, and my grip faltered. I slipped and fell into the basin. Resurfacing from the sudden submersion, I gasped for air, then climbed back on the statue’s base.

Reaching for the sword again, I hesitated. My wet arms trembled from strained muscles and the cold night air. I looked up at my silent observer and his disdainful expression. He blurred from more than just the water dripping down my face.

"P-please, I… I need… it. I need your… help," I whispered. "I-I thought maybe… I know your sword is… special. It has to be. It's here. You're… You wouldn’t be here, holding it if… if it didn’t… if you… didn't… matter. Even if… I don't—I'll never… I'm not like… you, but… but maybe with… your help? I don’t… I don't know what else to… do. I’m… alone, and such a—I have n-nothing left to… to give, to… fight with. I’m so tired… of always…"

The beast's growl interrupted my pleas. It found me. My time ran out. I turned to see it approach from the same direction I came from, tracking me, stalking me, hunting me. Instead of claiming its prize with ease, it watched with amused, pale eyes. They held a sense of superiority, mocking my attempt to flee. It knew I had nowhere else to go. The beast could simply wait for my surrender and relish in victory.

"Every time I… You’ve… seen me, right?… W-watched me… over and over… never… Are you there? C-can you hear—Can you help… me? Please? N-no. Of course not. No one…"

I took the handle and pulled once more. Sweat, dirt, and water mixed on my hands from my failed escape attempt. They immediately slipped off, too sore to get a decent grip. I almost lost my footing again, but fell to my knees at the statue's feet instead. The sword was a mess. I was a mess. Holding on was impossible. Each time I tried, I was weaker than the last. Placing my hands on the sword’s crossguard, it dug into me. I refused to let go.

"Not… like this. Please," my voice cracked in desperation, and I hung my head. My fingers, numb and tingling, slipped again. My hands fell to my knees with a soft thud. "I… I’m begging you."

The world fell silent. Only the sound of the fountain’s flowing water accompanied my pleas. Then the beast snorted, as if deciding the time for my final words was over. It advanced. Each step closer sent another wave of dread flowing through me, its claws scratching the stone ground.

"Yeah, o-okay. I guess… that's it," I whimpered. "Always a… I never wanted… to be like… this. I hoped I could’ve… maybe, just once… but… why?"

Something above me cracked. The statue’s remaining hand broke. It released the pommel and fell to the water below. The sword was free and fell into my embrace.

"Huh? B-but… how? Was it…? Did…? Did you?"

My fingers wrapped around the handle, and I searched the statue's face for meaning. The beast must have sensed something change, shifting in my favor. It charged at full speed towards the statue, barking and snapping its jaw. It leapt at me to reclaim its victory.

"Ungh—!"

Tackling me, it hammered the air from my lungs with its front feet. The world flipped as I plummeted to the ground with the weight of the beast pressed into my chest. I shut my eyes and hit the ground.

Gngh!

Thud!

The beast let out a noise from on top of me, making my entire body rattle and quake. A dead weight settled in. Everything went numb. Any chance of moving, let alone breathing, suddenly became a grueling chore. Laying there, I prepared for my end, warmth gradually spilling over me.

I thought… death… was supposed to be cold.