Page 81 of Their Pretty Little Monster

I back away as it hisses, long green fangs bared. My whole body is shaking. If I get behind it, maybe I can strangle it. The idea of touching it terrifies me, but what other options do I have?

The sting on my shoulder and jaw burns from the cave’s scratches. I rub them, my hand coming back bloody from where I got scratched up in my escape. I gasp. My arms have scratches, too. Glancing down quickly, I see the tears in my shirt and pants, blood staining them. Then I spot a few drops of blood on my new necklace, on the pearls. Somehow, my brooch is untouched.

As much as I’m pissed at being trapped in here, I’m also annoyed that the beautiful necklace is tainted. I never receive gifts, so this means a lot to me.

“You’re going to pay for this,” I sneer at the snake. I have no idea where my newfound bravery comes from, but maybe deep down, when it comes to facing life or death, I’m a fighter, not weak like most in the village assumed.

Another hiss, and this time, the creature strikes fast with bared teeth.

A whimper spills from my throat as my body darts into action. I shove myself out of the way so quickly I’m left confused by my strength, yet I feel invincible, stronger, faster. There’s no time to think about it. I’m buzzing all over, and I welcome this new part of me.

I hurl myself to its side again, knowing this is my chance. As I leap toward its back while it’s twisting around, I crash against it, bringing us both down, me on top of it.

It’s a strange sensation to be cringing and screaming at touching its scaly body while forcing myself to throw my arms around its neck. I know this isn’t me, but all my terror and facing death must be affecting me.

Inside my chest, my heart’s on fire, my head screaming, but my body… it’s floating on an energy I don’t understand. I embrace it, knowing this is the only way I’ll survive.

The snake convulses, and in a sudden thrust, it bucks me off. I fly across the room, hitting the wall with a thump, the air expelled from my lungs.

“I’m going to die,” I gasp, pushing myself back up.

“What the hell am I thinking? I can take that on.”

Lifting my gaze, I watch the creature beneath the lights, and I swear I must have hit my head because I see two of them now. Well, not quite—the second one is a shadow of the first, with a mauve hue. It’s not mimicking its actions but lingering there, staring at the creature.

I blink, trying to clear my vision, but the shadow remains, watching. The snake hisses again, its attention diverted to the strange shadow. Taking advantage of the distraction, I push myself up, every part of me aching. I have to find a way to use this. I have to survive.

The creature lunges at the shadow, but it passes right through it. The serpent slams into the wall from the momentum, then spins around, shaking its head.

The shadow is staring at me now, and for a moment, I swear it’s waiting for me. Eyes glowing, its mouth isn’t gaping open, and it’s not in a striking pose. It’s strange to say, but it doesn’t feel threatening.

I press my back harder against the cold, rough wall of the cave.

In the eerie silence of the cavernous room, the shadow serpent and I stand frozen. The actual snake creature, realizing its shadow counterpart poses no threat, turns its attention back to me.

This is just great!

Panic claws at me as it slithers toward me, body tight as if preparing to strike.

Trembling, I’m trapped.

“Do something! Help me!” I shout at the shadow, desperation tainting my voice, figuring if it’s here, there’s a purpose, right?

The real danger approaches, its forked tongue tasting the air, and it lunges at me.

I instinctively dodge to the side, the buffet of air from his attack shoving me farther away. I snap around fast, and that’s when I spot the shadow sliding rapidly across the floor in a fluid rush toward the snake. Heart pounding in my ears, I watch the shadow serpent lunging at the snake, throwing itself at him, knocking them both over.

Wait, it’s taken a solid form now?

I dart out of the way, wanting to be nowhere near them. In that same heartbeat, the shadow slithers away, then it stands there again, staring at me once more from a few feet away.

My chest’s pumping so fast now as terror consumes me.

“What the hell is going on? What are you doing?”

I swing my attention to the fucking snake, arching up, dripping venom from its gaping mouth, eyes huge and clearly furious. It rushes at me, and this time, it’s as though I’m ready, the overwhelming energy in my body shoving me forward to duck and weave out of its path.

I’m terrified.

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