Page 80 of Their Pretty Little Monster

Heart in my throat, I jolt to a sitting position. And it all comes back quickly—the day with Nyko, the market, the truth about my father, the realization of why I’m really in this world. But right now, none of that compares to the immediate terror of where I’ve woken up.

Around me spreads out a strange room with polished stone floors, no furnishings, and the walls and ceiling resemble a cave. Grooves are etched into the walls, jagged stone hanging from above, and the small lights embedded in the rock steal enough of the shadows to show me I’m in really big trouble.

Where the hell am I?

“H-hello?” I call out, assuming I’m still on the vessel, not on some island, based on the spotlights in the room. Turning on the spot, taking in the large enclosure, I can’t see a way out, not from where I’m standing, but there has to be a way out, maybe in the shadows.

I rub the side of my neck where I was jabbed, fear tumbling through me as I realize that whoever attacked me in the woods has to be responsible, right? I was barely a few steps out of the courtyard when they struck. My skin shivers—they’ve been watching me the whole day?

Scanning the room, I start walking around, searching for a door… I entered the room somehow.

Then that hissing comes again.

I flinch hard, my heart slamming into my rib cage. Whipping around, across the cave-like room, something shifts in the shadows.

It slithers out, and the fear, the shock—it all crashes into me.

My scream rushes out involuntarily as I see the same creature from the woods. It’s here and has me trapped. I back up, hugging myself.

“Gods, this can’t be happening.”

An elongated body covered in black scales glistens in the dim light with six long legs with webbed feet. Being so much closer to it is terrifying, but I can see the details more now—the fangs from lips peeled back over them. It lifts itself on its hind legs, towering, and its long face with gleaming eyes pierces right through me.

Fates, I don’t want to be swallowed by the snake creature.

My breath hitches, my hands shaking as they search for anything to defend myself with. I have empty pockets, and there’s nothing around me. Shit!

“No, no, no,” I whisper, my voice trembling. I keep backing up until my back hits the cold, jagged wall. The thing hisses again, its forked tongue flicking out, tasting the air, tasting my fear, no doubt. Its eyes are locked on to mine.

“Stay back!” I shout, but my voice wavers, betraying my terror.

The snake beast doesn’t seem to care, dropping back onto its belly, those limbs bent and coming toward me. Its movements are slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment.

I try to think, try to find a way out, but my mind is a jumble of fear and panic.

Glancing around desperately, searching for any possible escape, I come up empty. My heart’s pounding so hard it feels like it might break a few ribs. That’s when I spot a small dark opening in the far left corner of the room, barely large enough for me to squeeze through. Seeing the snake slither from the right, deeper in the cave, maybe that’s my way out. Not overthinking, I dart toward it, my legs shaking, praying I can make it before the creature reaches me.

The hissing escalates, and my skin is covered in goose bumps. I don’t dare look back, fearing it’s right behind me.

Frantically, I drop to my knees, scrambling through the opening, spotting a light at the end. It’s narrow, but if that snake thing can slither through it, so the hell can I. The rough stone scrapes against my arms and back.

Hisses echo behind me.

I’m moving desperately, terrified out of my mind, not caring that walls are catching and pulling on my clothes. I tug against it, needing to escape.

Just as I think I’m there at the opening where a beam of light greets me, a sharp pain shoots through my ankle, and I’m yanked back. I scream, clawing at the floor, trying my best to pull myself forward.

“Help, someone help me,” I bellow, hoping I’m heard, but the creature’s grip is relentless. I don’t want to die here.

“Let me go!” I shout, twisting onto my back, kicking my other foot into its leg, the one latched onto my ankle.

Golden eyes glint in the dark passage, and it unleashes another hiss, then drags me back into the cave so fast that I stand no chance of stopping it.

The rugged walls scrape across me, burning sharply and feeling like they’re tearing me to shreds. I cry from the pain, but there’s no time for pity. I kick it again viciously in the face and yank my ankle free.

Scrambling up, the pain shoots up my leg where it jammed its damn claws into my ankle.

“You shithead!” I cry out, feeling just as angry as scared. Realizing no one is going to save me, I know I have to do it myself. I didn’t come this far to die by a snake. A new surge of energy pours through me, something I put down to adrenaline.

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