Chapter 18
Eighteen
Autumn’s stomach groaned as she trudged through the snow and ice. The heels of her go-go boots slipped through the elements. It was her greatest regret that she didn’t have something warmer to wear. How she missed her light-blue puffer jacket and duck boots that she’d sported back on Earth during the winter season. She relished the memory.
Armienti jogged after her. His crimson cape lashed through the harsh wind. Sleet pelted his golden flowing tresses.
“I knew you’d come to your senses. If we don’t act quickly, we’re going to starve,” she scoured the terrain. She hoped, upon hope, she could find another fish in the stream. If not, they were screwed.
When they arrived at the stream, her stomach twisted and tied itself in a hungry knot. A thick sheet of ice coated the water. The temperature was so cold outside that the water had frozen overnight. Her teeth chattered as she climbed down the bank, feet skidding over the elements. If she could somehow make a hole, they’d have a fighting chance at eating another meal and staying alive for another day.
Her fists trembled as she punched at the ice repeatedly. Stress cracks formed along the ice but at the speed she worked, the barrier reformulated in seconds.
“Crap,” she muttered underneath her breath. At this rate, they’d starve to death.
Armienti came up behind her and with the full force of his body, rammed his heavy black boot through the barrier. The ice shattered, particles scattering everywhere; creating just enough room to slide a fish through the gap.
She grinned. That should do it.
“I bet you’re glad I came along,” he ran a hand through his golden tousled tresses and smiled.
Although she was weak, she mustered the energy to roll her eyes. He was beyond infuriating, making light of a situation like this.
She reached through the cavity and swept her fingers through the steamy, pulsing water. Her vision was impaired as the storm continued to rage.
She sucked in a deep shuddering breath and dunked her head into the water, desperate to find a fish. It was clear and warm and calm, a welcome change from the raging storm above. She admired the stream floor as rainbow plants danced and swayed with the moving water.
A dark figure swam her way and her eyes snapped toward the shadow. Her adrenaline pumped with excitement. A fish, or at least, she thought. When she went to grab hold, she was pulled in and her entire body was submerged. Long twisting fingers dug through her frozen scalp. Her face and body burned as the creature latched on and slid her beneath the ice. She swallowed water as she twisted and turned trying to escape its grasp, but the creature was too strong.
She kicked and screamed, bubbles erupting from her mouth. She clawed her nails into its scaly hands. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape, couldn’t get the beast to stop. When her head collided with a rock, she saw red and tasted the metallic flavor of blood.
Her vision faded around the edges as the creature’s dead, inhuman eyes stared back at her. She inhaled and water shot up her mouth and through her nostrils. The cool pull of darkness began to overtake her. Lights danced before her eyes as water filled her lungs. Her limbs slackened as she faded from consciousness.
Armienti raced along the ice, his heart thundering in his chest. Snow piled, impairing his vision, but he was able to make out the dark outline of Autumn’s body as she was pulled beneath the ice and dragged away. Whatever had taken hold of her was fast, even for him. His boots skidded, as he jumped through the elements doing his best to outrun the creature, but it was no use.
To catch up, he had to be two steps ahead.
Screw it, he thought. He was wasting time. At this rate, Autumn’s going to drown.
He flew into the air and dove, fists first, shattering through the ice. Warm water consumed his body as he raced after the beast. A long slippery tail swished back and forth in a rhythmic wave. Autumn’s limp body hung tangled in its tentacles. She no longer moved or struggled.
He grabbed hold of the tail and dug his nails deep into the scales, stopping the creature in its tracks. A high-pitched shriek echoed from its mouth. Armienti let go to cover his ears. The sound was so loud that his teeth vibrated through to his brain.
The creature continued to swim. Oh, no, no, no. It was getting away, and he was running out of breath.
He swam up and inhaled, then exhaled through a pocket in the ice before continuing his pursuit. This time he swam deep down below. His boots hit the muddy stream floor. With all his might, he charged the beast, ramming the creature in the gut. Its body shattered through the ice and flopped onto the bank with a BOOM .
He raced over, desperately searching for her. Please let her be alive, please let her be alive.
But when he found her, her body was cold and wet and ensnared, and her golden-olive skin shifted to a pale pasty gray. He removed his glove and pressed his fingers to her throat. She didn’t have a pulse.