Page 3 of Hostile Holiday

Grendel’s grandfather smiled. “She doesn’t drink at all, does she? Those organs will be in pristine shape. Perhaps her kidneys need a new home while they are in there.”

They all laughed and watched a projection of Orla’s car going off the bridge and into the frozen river, slowly sinking below the surface.

* * * *

Orla waited until she was firmly underwater before she gripped the window breaker and shattered it, wrapping her ugly sweateraround her arm to shove the bits of glass aside while she held her breath as the icy water surrounded her.

The river wasn’t horribly deep, but it was wide, so she moved under the ice and kicked toward the darker area that would be the shoreline. The ice was always thinner there. She punched through the crust above her and shot up, gasping and hauling herself out of the water.

She wished it was the first time her brother had tried to drown her.

She scrambled out of the water, shivering madly. Her wrap was gone, and she was in her formal gown and boots. The wool of the ugly sweater was the only warm thing, and it was tight around her left arm. She staggered away from the water and got into the woods as fast as she could. Her phone was in her car, and she couldn’t call for help.

The howling started in the distance, but at least that wasn’t her family. They hated dogs. She made it into the thickest trees and rested for a moment as she tried to remember where the nearest highway was.

The howling got louder, and then, it was quiet. She slowly moved through the woods, realizing it was night, and focused on the moonlight above her. She was losing her senses. Her body was hot, and that was a sign of hypothermia. She staggered forward in what she hoped was a straight line until there was something fluffy in her path. It was growling and in an aggressive stance.

“Hey, puppy. You look very fluffy this evening. If you don’t mind food frozen, I should be dead within the hour.” She chuckled and walked toward it. “Of course, if you just want to rip out my throat, you can go for it. It’s much nicer than what is waiting for me if they find me.”

He huffed and stepped toward her. She waited, swaying. The doggy was bigger than it should be, and she giggled. Hesniffed around her head and shoulders to the frosted gown and the white-red skin on her arms. The wool sweater around her forearm made him pause.

“Oh, I found that at a thrift store. It was an ugly sweater triumph, and it got me through the glass unscathed.” She chuckled. “My left arm is also warm, so you might want to start there.”

There was a soft snort, and the canine took her arm carefully in its mouth and led her through the woods. He stopped at one point and licked her left hand before she pulled it into the sweater with a giggle. A giant oval of light with snowflake edges suddenly opened ahead of her, and the canine made a huffing sound and pushed her through the portal.

* * * *

She tripped and fell, landing on numb hands. The woods were warmer than they had been a moment ago, but she was still numb.

Orla stood slowly and looked around. There was a clear path on the ground, and it seemed like she was supposed to follow it.

She staggered forward, her boots squelching, and the scents of late autumn were everywhere. Leaves, moss, mulch, it all had thick, earthy scents overlaid by a crisp frost. A huge structure slowly became visible, and she guessed she was going in the right direction when she saw two men on horses riding toward her. Their faces were grim and confused as they rode toward her and stopped. She shuffled forward.

“Halt. Were you sent here?” The man on the left spoke clearly.

“Yeah. Shoved through a portal by a big dog.”

The man on the right shrugged. “Good enough. Come with us.”

“Why?”

“We are putting you into the arena.” The man on the left nodded.

“Is there food and something warm?”

The left male frowned. “Yes. Basics only.”

“Nice. No communication with the mortal realm?” She looked at them hopefully.

“None. If you want to escape, you have no way out.”

She shrugged and started striding toward the structure with her boots squelching. “If I can be warm again, I am good. As for escape, it isn’t necessary. I have friends who will come for me as soon as they realize I am gone.”

The men were startled as she passed their horses and kept walking toward the building. She heard the horses, and lefty reached for her. She held up her hand and kept walking. “Stop. I am soaked and frozen. I drove into a frozen river. My feet are pruney, and when they come off, they are not getting back on. When I stand still, there is a puddle. Just keep up.”

Orla kept walking on the path, and the horses plodded on either side of her. She was checked into the gate and given a cell, a change of clothing, and some bread and cheese.

Lefty came by and said, “You will be brought for orientation tomorrow. Your skills will be assessed, and then, you will be allowed one day to train. When you win in the arena, you gain finances or other rewards, and if you lose, you get penalties. Weight and competency classes are taken into account.”

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