Page 39 of Fanged Temptation

Maxine plunged in behind me, a bright blur under the water before breaking the surface to cough and splutter at my side.

Our heads bobbed in the ripples and I treaded water, lifting my eyes to see Myrtle fully engulfed, angry flames kicking out the windows and hatches. The screams of those wax nightmares echoed from inside the burning hull, a grotesque chorus muffled by the crackling blaze. None of them came lunging out after us.

“My boat,” I croaked, tears stinging my eyes. Smoke still clung to my throat, making every breath a raspy effort.

Maxine floated beside me, breathing heavily, watching Myrtle crackle and burn. “Come on.” She tugged at my arm under the water, paddling backward towards the jetty.

I kicked my legs out to follow her, but stiffened in a blink when something solid clamped around my ankle like a vice.

I let out a strangled scream, yanked under so fast that water rushed up my nose. The cold dark swallowed me and I writhed and struggled, fighting against whatever it was that snaked bony fingers up my leg.

In the distorted underwater world, through the bubbles of air rushing from my throat, I caught the outline of a waxy figure. Its face was half-melted, its mouth twisted in a silent snarl.

My lungs burned, and my thoughts spiraled. I kicked frantically, but it wouldn’t let go, dragging me deeper and deeper. My chest ached with the sudden lack of air, panic flaring in every nerve. Overhead, a dullboomsounded as the flames finally reached the fuel tank and I caught glimpses of Myrtle burning, an orange glow on the water like a lantern in the dark.

Through the roiling shadows another figure took shape, spearing through the water toward me. Maxine.

She seized the wax figure’s half-melted head, her hair swirling like ink in the water. In the murky gloom she reeled back, wrenching the figure's head clean off its shoulders. A wave of black sludge billowed around us. The figure’s limbs flailed, but Maxine struck out with a savage efficiency – ripping, pulling, tearing it apart.

At last, the hand around my ankle gave way and Maxine caught hold of my arm, kicking us both to the surface.

We exploded from the water in a scuffle of limbs and sputtering coughs. Air rushed into my lungs and I sucked itdown, ignoring the scraping burn in my throat. The taste of salt and smoke burned my tongue.

Somewhere close by, Myrtle’s remains crackled and hissed.

Maxine slung her arm under my armpits, towing me toward the jetty. My limbs felt leaden, each kick an effort, but I forced my body to move, making for the battered wooden planks looming just ahead.

When we finally reached the jetty, Maxine hauled me up onto the slick surface and clambered up beside me, collapsing in a tangle of limbs. I choked up brackish water, heaving on my hands and knees, my lungs shrieking and my chest wracked with ragged sobs.

Neither of us could speak, sucking in wet, desperate breaths in our soggy clothing.

Sparks still rained down from Myrtle’s blazing hull, the flames devouring what was left of my home. My stomach twisted, tears mixing with the salt on my cheeks.

I turned onto my side, watching the sturdy boat’s silhouette crumble against the night sky.

19

Maxine

I slumped at the edge of the jetty, watching Myrtle’s smoldering remnants dip below the rippling water. The flames had sputtered out, leaving nothing but curling smoke that dissipated into the night. Beside me, Leah shuddered, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees.

Say something,my brain urged my tongue.But what was there to say?

My chest tightened with all-encompassing guilt. That was her home going under. Myrtle was shabby and cobbled together with grit and duct tape, but that boat had been a sanctuary to the both of us. And now… it was nothing but char and ash, sinking out of sight.

All I could manage was a trembling hand on Leah’s shoulder. She sniffled, nodding faintly like she appreciated the gesture. Her clothes were waterlogged, her hair frizzled where the fire had caught it.

I rubbed her back in slow circles, stiffening when shouts started up from somewhere nearby. No doubt the rest of theharbor residents had caught on to the chaos. They’d be coming to see what all the commotion was about.

“I’m sorry, Leah, but we can’t… we can’t stay here.” My voice came out shaky, but I had to push. As much as I wanted to give her time to grieve, there was no telling when more waxen nightmares would crawl out of the woodwork.

Leah lifted her head, eyes rimmed red and bruised purple with exhaustion. “Okay.” Her voice was hollow, but at least she stood when I tugged gently on her arm.

We stumbled down the jetty, my arm around her waist to keep her upright, both of us worn raw by fire and water – razed down to the bone.

The marina’s security lights cast long streaks of white across the parking lot and I kept my head swiveling, scanning for whatever fresh nightmare might be lurking in the shadows. My bare feet scraped along the tarmac and I shivered in my sparse, damp attire.

A horn honked loudly to our left and we were both startled out of our skin.

---