I crossed the eerie clearing, wishing I didn’t recognize her defense mechanism—lashing out when vulnerable. Wishing I didn’t care.
“The first time the character returns, it’s this whole cute, clever thing.” She grew more agitated with each word, rattling the chain every few seconds for emphasis. “But then they keep dying and popping up over and over, and soon everyone just wants them to meet their graphic end on-screen so we can be done with it.”
I drew up short behind her. “You think I’m cute and clever?”
Ignoring me, Courtney slammed the chain against the side of the barn. “Why is any of this our problem, anyway? We don’t even live here. Isn’t it unrealistic for these fantasy worlds to expect one person to save them?”
“I… guess?” She was upset and rambling, and I was having a difficult time keeping up.
“Back home, our own world is falling apart, but no one is expecting a single random pedestrian to save us.” Courtney grew more impassioned with every word. “But go to a fantasy world and suddenly everyone looks to the least qualified person in existence for salvation. If they say no, suddenly they’re the selfish bad guy.”
“What’s with the barn?” My fists clenched. “What are you up to? Are you all right? You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
“No, I’m not all right. I’mangry.” Courtney wiped roughly at her brow. “Don’t you see what I’ve been driven to? It’s disgusting. An all-time low. I’ve set aside my personal beliefs and betrayedeverything I’ve ever stood for.” She shuddered. “I’m out here, sweating my butt off,working. Because—stupid Amy and stupid Charisma and stupidyou. You’re ruining everything.”
“How am I ruining everything?”
“With yourbothering,” she said, like that explained everything. Shaking her head, she dropped her voice to a condemning tone. “You feel something for me.”
What?What gave herthatidea?
Perhaps internally I’d been experiencing some weaknesses toward her, but she couldn’t know that. I needed to shut this down now so she wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
“Sure, yeah, you do make me feel things.” I shook my head ruefully—a man bested. “You make me feel the same kind of intense irritation I experience when I step in water while wearing socks.”
She rolled her eyes, but her shoulders eased slightly.
Stepping around her, I took the lock from her hands. “Here. Let me try.”
“Don’t tell me you conveniently know how to pick a lock.”
“I don’t conveniently know how to pick a lock.” Stretching, I plucked the key off the top of the doorframe. “But I am taller than you and saw the key.” I twisted the key in the lock and gave the chain a sharp tug. “What’s in here, anyway?”
Courtney pushed me aside, using all her body weight to pull open one of the doors. It creaked. A slit of sunlight slashed across the dusty barn floor. Something stirred in the shadows.
“Courtney,” I asked, trepidation tightening my muscles, “what’s in there?” For the first time, I noticed the bag at her feet—some kind of white material stained with red. A red that resembled blood.
She hoisted the Disturbing Sack (possible band name?) and pushed the door open farther. A low clicking issued from the depths of the barn. Something glinted and shifted in the far corner.
Courtney strode inside. I tiptoed after her, blinking as my eyes adjusted. The barn smelled of decaying straw and musty grain. Heavy cobwebs coated every surface like sheets over furniture in a mansion.
“The prophecy says—” Courtney began.
“You were paying attention to the prophecy?” I failed to keep the impressed tone out of my voice.
Her back stiffened. “Actually,” she said, as though she were a stranger in a social media comments section about to say something deeply untrue with a great amount of confidence, “yes. But don’t get used to it. The prophecy states the dragon will help the Chosen One.”
I choked and almost tripped over my own feet. “Dragon?”
Her teeth flashed in the gloom. “Scared?”
Snick tick tick tick.
The sound slithered forward, sending the hairs on the back of my neck on end.
Something peeled itself off the far wall of the barn. I staggered back, cursing under my breath, heart hammering the inside of my chest. “Courtney,” I whispered.
Ignoring me, she opened the Disturbing Sack, withdrawing a slab of raw meat. “Even if I’m not the Chosen One, I’ve always been pretty good at taming strays.” She extended her bleeding offering, inching farther into the barn.
