Chapter 14
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Zalantha
As I approached the front door, a wickedly familiar scent darted up my nose, and fear lodged in my throat.
Was I too late?
Had those creepy bastards already abducted Lyra”s Mom?
I took a deep breath, clenched my fists for battle, and kicked down the door. A foul stench blasted out, and I almost heaved. I was sure the Mesothraxians had scooped Lyra”s Mom away and taken her to Mesoterra.
Stepping inside, I glanced around. The house was a mess and smelled like a rotten, awful egg stench. The once-familiar corridor, adorned with family photos, now stood as a haunting testament to intrusion. The frames lay scattered on the floor, their glass covers shattered, and memories frozen in time disrupted.
Then, I noticed even more evidence of my enemy”s intrusion. A gooey, transparent, glittery slime covered the walls and floor. Its presence was ominous, like an otherworldly residue marking the passage of evil forces. The sparkling glossy surfaces of the images reflected the eerie glow of the slime, creating a surreal and petrifying sensation.
The air in the corridor carried an unsettling stillness, broken only by the occasional creaks and moans of the damaged structure. It felt as though the very essence of the place had been violated, tainted by an alien presence that left an indelible mark.
As I ventured further along the corridor, searching for signs that she was still on Earth, I couldn”t escape the feeling that each step took me deeper into the unknown. The air became thicker, almost suffocating, with the acrid stench of the foul slime intensifying. With every passing moment, the evidence of intrusion became more pronounced. The fabric of the corridor seemed to whisper tales of a struggle, a clash between the familiar and the foreign.
Memories of my escape from Mesoterra flashed vividly. I remembered how I had fought with powerful determination against the Mesothraxians. The confrontation with Mesothraxus had been brutal. The leader had nearly claimed my life. Yet, fueled by survival instinct, I”d found a way to turn the tide. With swift precision, I”d driven a long spear into his stomach, momentarily incapacitating him and creating a fleeting opening. I seized my chance and escaped, fighting against his guards. The struggle was intense, the odds stacked against me, but resilience and resourcefulness prevailed, paving the way for a narrow escape.
But that freedom seemed to be fading away. Mesothraxus had sent his army for me, hitting me where it hurt. I paced into the lounge and froze, almost gagging. Traces of blood were smeared on the floor and over smashed bottles of gin. Slime was everywhere: on the sofa, armchair, and walls.
The Mesothraxians had taken Lyra”s Mom. There was no doubt about it. She was probably already in a pod, having her veins pinched and the alcohol extracted to feed his army, those parasites. My stomach twisted. If they could come for her, who else were they after?
Maybe it was time to return to Mesoterra, back to that nightmare. But I needed help, and I knew who could come with me.
I was about to turn and speed out of the house when an enormous pulse of pain shattered in my skull. A high-pitched squeal deafened me, and then, in the corner, came a familiar-looking tentacle. It was long and slimy, slithering around the door as it headed for me. I”d seen one of those before on Planet Mesoterra. It belonged to an Aracoterrapus.
”Come back to Mesoterra,” said a creepy, high-pitched voice. ”Your ruler misses you.”
”No fucking way,” I said, growling as anger pulsed through my veins.
”Oh, don”t speak so rudely,” it said, appearing in the doorway.
My body tensed as the alien creature, a grotesque fusion of spider and octopus, with limbs sprawling in eerie coordination, skittered towards me. Its movements were predatory, akin to a nightmarish dance. As it lunged toward me, mouth agape, I instinctively paced into the kitchen to find a weapon. It dashed behind, growling in its venomous way. I opened the first draw, seized a long knife, and spun around to face it.
”Oh, mighty Zalantha, what”s wrong? You look angry.”
”Get back,” I shouted, waving the knife.
”I don”t think so,” it said, towering higher.
”I”m warning you.”
A wicked grin appeared on its foul face as it leapt at me. In a swift, precise strike, I thrashed out my knife and severed one of its menacing tentacles.
Undeterred, the monstrous Aracoterrapus pressed on, relentless in its pursuit. Each movement carried a malicious intent, a predatory force that propelled it forward, pushing and thrashing.
The beast went for me again, but I moved to the side and slid on the floor.
It turned, whacking me in the back. I fell forward but managed to spin around and hold my composure.
”So, we see you have met someone,” it said. ”Someone who excites you.”
”Shut it.”
”Oh, no need to get so defensive. Finding the woman of your life is cute. Shame she”s a drunk, like so many of the fools on Earth.”
”She isn”t a drunk, not anymore.”
”That”s what you think. Anyway, it doesn”t matter. Lyra will be abducted very soon. Now, come here and let me taste your delicious skin.”
It screeched, a taunting echo reverberating in the kitchen. With relentless determination, the monstrous freak powered towards me, its movements a grotesque dance of predatory intent.
As it closed in, a vice-like grip seized my ankle, yanking me off balance. I fought back, kicking and struggling to break free, but it tightened its hold, dragging me along the floor.
”Get off,” I cried, kicking hard.
I managed to break free, but blood oozed from my lower leg, a testament to the ferocity of the struggle.
Desperation fueled my actions as I lifted myself and sprang towards the kitchen cupboard. Grabbing whatever I could find, I hurled pans, cutting board and peelers, but it retaliated with intensified fury. Despite my efforts, the creature persisted, relentless in its pursuit.
Dread exploded in my gut as it got nearer. I was getting desperate now. I opened the final draw and spotted a large kitchen axe. I grabbed the handle and held it behind my head.
”Get the fuck back, or you”re going down.”
”I don”t think so.”
The Aracoterrapus roared as it sprung at me. I threw the axe with all my energy, and it whizzed through the air, lodging straight into the front of its head. It squealed in pain as it dropped with a thud. Thick slime oozed from its torn brain and stiff tentacles, covering the floor. The creature convulsed, withering and breaking down into a pool of glittery goo.
The air hung heavy with the residue of the confrontation, and as I stood amidst the wreckage, I realized I had to get to Lyra before the Mesothraxians found her.
The perilous journey ahead promised to be more challenging than I had imagined, but I had to keep fighting I had to save my Lyra, and then, her Mom.