Patrick Carman - Atherton 03 by The Dark Planet

Author:The Dark Planet
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-11-27T15:24:47+00:00

CHAPTER 16THE CENTURION

“Keep running!” cried Samuel. “Whatever it is has caught our scent and it’s following us!”

Isabel had already loaded a sling and was ready to face the oncoming enemy when she felt something warm at her back.

“It’s getting hot in here!” yelled Samuel.

“Run faster!”

Glancing back, Isabel saw a growing tower of red fire shot through with spiraling black smoke.

“This is worse than the Inferno!” said Isabel. “We’re about to be set on fire!”

The extra light from the flames gave Samuel a chance to see his surroundings a little better. Whatever was behind them would soon catch up. Their only hope was if the tunnel narrowed far enough so whatever it was could no longer advance, or if they could find -“There!” said Samuel, pointing to a small opening in one wall.

Isabel saw it, too, and they both scrambled inside.

The sound of crashing feet and a snapping tail was practically on top of them and a new bolt of flames came shooting through the tunnel. Isabel burrowed deeper into the hole and Samuel fol owed, crunching his shoulder into her side and knocking her flat on the ground.

It was dark inside and they quickly discovered that the space they’d entered turned downward and opened up. When they stood, the opening was at eye level and they each looked out as flames drove past their line of sight.

And then, as quickly as they had arrived, the flames and the sounds of pounding feet and a snapping tail were gone. All was dark. Samuel sat down and pulled Isabel to the ground next to him.

“Should I take out the pen?” whispered Samuel. He’d put it in his pocket to hide the light, but now he wondered if it wouldn’t be a good idea to look around.

“No!” whispered Isabel. “Just be quiet and let this thing pass so we can get out of here.”

Outside the hole the tunnel glowed softly from seeping points of light hidden from their view. An enormous clawed foot stepped in front of the hole. The creature was tracking them, searching out the passageway.

Isabel felt Samuel touch her shoulder and shrugged away his cold hand. She listened as the monster outside crept down the descending tunnel and sniffed the air.

Samuel touched her again—his hands were so cold—and this time she brushed him away, but soon felt his hand on her other shoulder and then on her head.

“Stop touching me, Isabel!” Samuel whispered. “You’re scaring me.”

“I’m not touching you,” Isabel replied, shivering as she realized something truly terrible: Something was in the hidden space with them.

She could barely breathe. Isabel watched as Samuel took the pen from his pocket and blue light escaped. Like a nightmare growing in intensity, they began to understand what had happened. They were the intruders in someone else’s quiet home.

Along the walls they could now see dark spheres entangled with long tentacles, glowing slick in the light of the firebugs. The many twisting arms pulsating along the floor were moving toward Samuel and Isabel, surrounding them, touching them.

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