Blood Red Road

like we’re all holdin our breath. Like we cain’t believe our own eyes.
    Then, Yee ha! Ash yells. Her an Epona jump around, punchin their bows in the air. Did you see that, Jack? Hey Ike! Did you see them bastards go? They grab Emmi’s an Tommo’s hands an whirl them around in circles.
    Somehow it don’t seem right, them celebratin an makin lots of noise. I dunno why, but it don’t.
    I look at Jack. His jaw’s set. A little nerve jumps in his cheek.
    What is it? I says.
    We didn’t scare ’em off, he says. They was gittin the better of us.
    Well, if we didn’t scare ’em off, I says, what did?
    Ike moves over to stand beside us. Him an Jack stare out over the lake.
    The earth shakes agin. This time louder an longer.
    Dammit, Jack, I says, tell me what yer thinkin.
    Epona an Ash stop their celebrations. They come over, with Tommo an Emmi, an we all draw in close together.
    Emmi slips her hand into mine. What’s goin on, Saba?
    Some people say the hellwurms got a master, says Ike.
    There’s another rumble.
    A master? says Emmi. What does that mean?
    What it means, says Jack, is there’s somethin down there so big an bad, even the hellwurms run when they hear it comin.
    I let that little fact sink in. Then, If runnin’s good enough fer hellwurms, I says, it’s good enough fer me.
    An me, says Jack.
    We stare at each other a split second. Then, at the ezzack same time, we yell, Run!

    We all scramble, grab whatever weapon’s closest, start to run fer it. Ash an Epona take off fast, with Emmi an Tommo. But before I can take more’n a couple of steps, there’s a almighty roar. The ground heaves. It lifts. It splits open at my feet. I’m slidin down into a giant crack. I scrabble wildly. I cain’t stop myself.
    Jack’s there in a flash. He grabs my hands an yanks me out. I lie on the ground, pantin. My heart’s goin like a hammer.
    Thanks, I says, it jest about had me there. I—
    Suddenly a long tail whips up from the crack. It wraps around my ankles an pulls me in.
    Jack dives. Grabs hold of my hands agin. He’s laid on the ground on his belly, hangin on fer dear life. Ike! he yells. I need you here!
    Ike throws hisself down beside Jack. Now they each got one of my hands.
    I feel like I’m bein slowly ripped in half. The tail pullin me down, Jack an Ike pullin me up.
    I cry out. I stare into their faces. Their eyes is desperate, their faces strainin with the effort. My hands start to slip outta theirs.
    Jest then, Ash an Epona appear above me at th’edge of the crack, their crossbows loaded. They aim down an fire past me. There’s a high pitched scream an the tail loosens. Jest a bit, jest fer a moment. Ike an Jack heave me up an out.
    Go! Go! Go! yells Ike. He scoops Emmi into his arms an takes off at a fast run, headin north. Epona, Ash an Tommo’s right behind him. I snatch my crossbow but only got time to scoop up one arrow. Then Jack an me sprint after ’em.
    There’s a angry roar behind us. I glance back.
    A giant hellwurm’s jest crawled outta the crack. It stands up on its hind legs. It’s twice the size of th’other ones, at least thirty foot high, with a long lizard tail.
    Ohmigawd, I says. I’m still runnin but I slow down a bit to look back.
    The hellwurm’s catched our scent.
    It’s followin us! I says.
    Jack takes my hand an we run faster. I shoot another look over my shoulder.
    It’s gainin on us! I says.
    Jack stops runnin. Stops dead. Without a word, he turns around an starts walkin back towards the hellwurm. He’s headed fer it an it’s headed fer him.
    Jack holds Ike’s shooter in his hand. He must of picked it up without me noticin. As he walks, he loads it with quick jerky movements.
    Jack! I shout. What the hell d’you think yer doin?
    I’m sick of this bastard! he yells.
    Jack! Don’t be so crazy!
    He keeps on walkin.
    Jack! I scream. Don’t!
    He stops. Lifts the shooter. Takes aim. He waits till the hellwurm’s twenny paces away. Then he fires.
    The shot slashes the hellwurm’s arm. It roars, but keeps on comin. Jack fumbles fer the pouch with the bolts while he keeps one eye on the hellwurm.
    I can see he ain’t got time to reload. An he ain’t got his crossbow. He must of dropped it earlier. I start runnin towards him.
    The hellwurm’s on top of him. It rears up to its full height. It lashes out, swipes at him. Jack’s thrown into the air, like Emmi’s peg doll. He lands with a heavy thump on the ground. He don’t move.
    The red hot races