Chapter Four #3
“After feeding time, tamers shall mount the elions to practice for the end-of-year assault course, where each student is timed on a series of assaults both on land and mid-air. The students with the fastest times are given recommendations that will prove in their favour after graduation and a place on the leaderboard. The Sun Gods very much enjoy this.” She looks up at the leaderboard on the wall behind us.
There are three hundred names on the board, one for every year Sun Sovereign has been around.
Nala’s eyes scan the board. “Natasha Reed, seven minutes, four seconds,” she whispers, smiling whilst pointing towards the board. “That’s my mum’s score. Best in her year.”
“She’s such a badass.”
“That will be me up there, come the end of the year. I just know it.” Nala beams in adoration.
Nala is still excited despite the sound of grinding bones and merciless killing right under her nose.
I hear a grumble behind me disrupting my gaze.
That wasn’t an elion. I look around, and Toby Pierce looks as though he is going to puke.
His hand clutches at his mouth as if he is trying to keep his tongue from falling out, and the other grips his stomach.
I nudge Nala and throw a concerned look in his direction.
Even Alex Rotherman looks a little faint.
The grumble gets louder, and all eyes are on Toby.
“Miss…” Toby says between gulps, “I don’t feel too good.”
Miss Worthington looks his way, but before she can react, Toby erupts like a volcano that has reached its pressure point, spewing his guts all over Ciara Moldova.
She looks down in disgust at the contents of his first meal saturating her pink boots and trousers.
A sickly slime clings to her fingers, webbing them as the putrid smell overpowers our nostrils.
Tears well in her eyes. She is about to blow, too.
“AHHHHHH!” A piercing shriek escapes her mouth like a siren. “GET IT OFF ME. GET IT OFF ME!”
Veronica shushes Ciara harshly placing her index finger over her mouth. Did she forget the number one rule? No loud noises.
I hold my breath as if letting it out would kill me.
Something tells me not to turn around, but the anticipation of seeing the damage Ciara has made is overwhelming.
The hairs on my neck stand alert as if about to go into battle.
I turn my head slowly. No sudden movements.
The elions are not feeding anymore. Their eyes are feasting on us.
“Now, students, do not be alarmed. Make your way back through the doors slowly. Do not turn your back on them,” Veronica whispers, trying not to move her lips much.
The tamers down below try to calm the beasts using the communicative clicking sounds in their direction, but they take flight ignoring them, and are frantically spiralling through the valleys.
I watch as the largest one soars high in the air and then swoops down like a bullet piercing the torso of a tamer.
A gut-wrenching scream is released as its talons work their way through the man’s flesh.
Other tamers run and try to take cover. The elions group together, feasting on the remnants of the ravaged man, pulling him from limb to limb.
I cover my mouth in shock. There is nothing anyone can do.
His head is torn clean off his body, and not even the Restorers can put him back together again.
Tension fills the air. I know I am not the only one who is afraid. The students back away from the ledge with trepidation, edging towards the door. A few are filing out, but what feels like a sea of students still lies between me, Nala and the safety of the door. My heart skips a beat.
“Holy shit!” I whisper, clutching Nala’s hand in mine.
She looks scared now, which frightens me even more.
A loud ‘bang’ emits from beside us. Jemima has slipped on the puke in the panic.
She lands with a thud, and the viewing platform shakes as if it is as terrified as we are in this moment.
Frozen in fear, she does not move. Now we’re in trouble.
The elion’s ears perk up and leave the tamer’s body to the Gods.
This is not how the day was supposed to go.
I watch in fear as the elions enlarge before my eyes.
They are getting closer. Without moving my head, my eyes dart towards the door, summing up the likelihood of us getting out of here in one piece.
Students are still shuffling back towards the door, trying not to make any sudden movements.
I know that they can’t, but I wish they would just hurry the fuck up right about now.
It does not look good. I feel the wind pick up as the beasts are getting closer. Veronica’s demeanour changes.
“RUN!” she shouts.
Panic spreads like wildfire, but we are the only ones about to get burned.
I turn to run, but I am immediately frozen by the feeling of hot breath on the nape of my neck.
I scrunch my eyes tight, helplessly waiting for impact, remembering the ‘do not make eye contact’ rule.
The elion is breathing heavier. Its deep bellow vibrates through my body.
I squeeze Nala’s hand tighter and pull her behind me in an act of bravery.
Now I am face-to-face with the beast. I’m not letting both of us die today.
The other students cower, still shuffling timidly towards the door.
Jemima is lying hopelessly behind Nala and me.
There’s no way out. My eyes are still closed as I wait to be devoured like the gazelle.