Page 40 of Voices in the Stars
“Sal!” I called out to them.
I ripped my hand out of Atlas’ hold right as he turned toward my yelling. It was too late for him to stop me, as I had already started running toward the only other person who had shown some care while I was here.
My name was screamed again, though I wasn’t sure if it was Atlas trying to call me back or Sal while he stared up at me in shock.
“Are you stupid?” they cried out, thrashing against the beast once again.
A laugh escaped me as I tried to find a way to free their leg. I pushed against the wall of muscle. There was the smallest give as I started to roll it over. It only lasted a second before the muscles constricted, causing Sal to cry out.
“I might be,” I agreed, ripping their dagger out of the sheath as I stood.
“Cece!”
This time it was distinctly Atlas. I glanced at where he was standing, most likely waiting for me to return so he could hide me away. I looked over the ship. Some people had given up and were jumping off the sides. Water was starting to flow onto the deck from where the sides had been ripped away. The dragon’s head was closer than I thought. It snapped at some of the crew that were trapped behind a crate across from us. It was either going to get everyone here or sink the ship. Maybe both. I straightened, tightening my grip on the weapon.
“Something drastic,” I muttered, a half thought through plan forming in my mind.
Sal started questioning me, but I ignored them. Any extra doubt and I would never see this through. I glanced back at Atlas. He was trying to cross the deck, but it was futile. Everyone seemed to be fighting for his help, grabbing at his sleeves. He snapped as one of them started pulling him backward. His fangs were barred as he yelled atthem. His eyes were wide with panic as he looked over at me. I smiled at him. A part of me was going to miss him. It was a larger part than I would’ve liked to admit. Atlas shook his head, yelling my name once again before I turned back to the creature.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I took off running. People bounced into me as I ran in the opposite direction of them. All they needed was a good enough distraction. Something to pull the dragon’s attention away from them. It would either be enough for them to get their standing to fight back, or give them an opportunity to swim away. Either way, I sent a plea to the gods that this wouldn’t be in vain.
My blood ran cold as I came to a stop. The head was directly in front of me now. It gnawed through a wooden crate that had people hiding behind it. Saliva trickled from its lips down onto the deck, creating a small puddle underneath it. Fish fell from the holes in the crates.
“Hey!” I yelled at it.
The large head titled my way, the crate stuck between several of its sharp teeth. The lips curled back as the creature snarled at me. Its hot breath wafted over my face. I gagged at the smell of rotten fish that followed it. The crate tilted out of its mouth, shattering against the floors, fish sent sliding everywhere.
“I’m ready to go home,” I muttered as the dragon roared once again.
I found every instinct my body had as the dragon’s head lurched for me, jaw spread wide. A scream ripped through me as I was snatched into its jaw. A fang tore through my clothing, down my side. Tears streamed down my face at the burning pain that coursed through my side. I clawed at the creature’s nose, trying to keep myself from sliding further into its mouth. I already used up most of my luck still being alive. Most of my body was nestled between the large teeth. My feet kicked at the tongue as it slipped around my legs.
The ship below me shuddered as the dragon loosened its hold. All its attention seemed to be used on making a meal out of me. Relief flooded me as I watched Atlas run over to Sal. Though it was short lived as I watched Atlas get in Sal’s face, screaming as he kept pointing up to me.
The attention wasn’t on me for long, though. The cracking of morecannonballs being shot toward us soon started back up. I twisted my body, shoving my face against a scaly nose as one went flying past me, too close to where my head had just been. I cursed as I tried to pull myself out of the creature’s mouth before one of the crew hit me.
It tightened its jaw in response. I held my breath as an upper fang came too close to my stomach. The thump of it being hit in the side caused it to loosen their jaw again as it growled at the people below. I sucked in a deep breath, tightening my hold on the stolen dagger.
“I want to go home!” I screamed as I plunged the blade deep into its eye.
The monster roared, whipping its head from side to side. I kept a hold of the knife, using my other hand to dig my nails into the scales to keep from flying out of its mouth. There was enough space for me to wiggle myself out of its mouth until I was mostly standing. My body was hunched over its nose, legs dangled and smacking into the side of its head when it moved. Fear coursed through me at the thought of being sent flying away from the ship. My options were quickly becoming limited. My fingers were ripping the scales out. The dagger was slowly sliding out. I glanced down at the churning water. Dread sunk like a weight in my stomach. There really was only one option. Falling back onto the ship from this height would most likely be fatal. Plus, it would just bring the dragon’s attention back to the crew, and this would’ve all been pointless. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes before pushing myself off the creature.
There was a loud crash as icy water rushed over me. The hard impact made me gasp, sucking in a lung full of cold water. My arms flailed uselessly, legs thrashing against the water. It was hopeless. There wasn’t any water in Donnaway to learn to swim. I was at the mercy of the river.
My body jerked as it tried to take in oxygen that didn’t exist. Bubbles streamed up to the surface as I kept gasping in the water. My hands clawed at the burning sensation in my throat. The world around me started to dim as I sank deeper into the water. The swishing tail of the dragon became a blurred shadow. I closed my eyes as my hands fell away from my throat.
This was what I wanted. Thoughts of my family flooded my mind. The multicolored flowers that would bloom in frontof the house during the spring. Being yelled at for picking said flowers and turning them into small crowns for me and Josi. I could almost hear my name being yelled now. I smiled as I succumbed to the darkness. Brown eyes and horns filled my remaining thoughts as I drifted further away from everyone.
Her teeth were chatteringas I dragged her out of the water. I ripped my jacket off, throwing it on top of her. My heart sank as her lips turned pale blue. I tugged at the base of my horns. Why would she do something like this? None of it made sense. The way she spoke to me. How easily she risked herself to save everyone. I had been lied to, but it wasn’t by her.
“Josi,” she stuttered out, “why is it so cold?”
My hands were on her in an instant.Please open your eyes, I wanted to beg her. There wasn’t a care in my body at being called her sister. If she was still alive, that was all that mattered. All the feelings I had shoved down came roaring to the surface.
There was no fighting them off as I dropped to the ground, pulling her into my lap. My fingers ran through her hair as she finally opened her eyes. A smile tugged at my lips as she looked over me. Until her brows furrowed before she spoke.
“I’m still here,” she groaned out, closing her eyes again. “It didn’t work.”
My hand dropped to my side. All of this to get away from here. Away from me. I hadn’t been the kindest to her, but I was trying. It had been better on the boat.
