InsaniKey 2

I sprinted up the fallen tree trunk and stood a few feet off of the ground, looking around cautiously. “You let me wander around knowing there’s a wolf on the loose?”

“It’s your journey.” Jake said, mostly hidden by a shadow in his tree.

Why does everybody keep saying that? “Jinxx?! Are you missing another Cerberus?” I yelled.

“You already took care of him.” Jinxx replied flatly.

“Is Ashley here?” I asked Jake.

“He left hours ago.” Jake shrugged.

“Which way did he go?” I folded my arms and stared up at the sky defiantly. “Are you both ignoring me now?” I stood watching the moon for what felt like the start of eternity.

“He went that way…” Jake pointed and sighed. “But I wouldn’t follow him.”

“Why? Did the wolf get him?” I asked, staring down a cutline in the trees.

Jake swung his legs over the edge of the tree branch. “I know this is hard to believe.” He sighed, leaning forward into the moonlight, showing his face for the first time. He looked concerned.

I stared up at him expectantly.

“Don’t tell him.” Jinxx said suddenly.

“Tell me what?” I interrupted.

Jake bit his lip.

“Jake, tell me.” I tried. “I’m alone in the woods and nobody gives a fuck, Pitts. Halp me.”

“Don’t tell him.” Jinxx repeated.

Jake’s arm pointed in the opposite direction and my eyes followed to where he was pointing. At the corner of my eyes a large shadow lowered itself to the ground, hiding from me.

“What the Hell is that thing?” I stared at the shadow and failed to observe anything familiar about it, it had an odd shape and it didn’t make a sound, it moved faster than my eyes could observe and it didn’t have a scent.

In the time it took me to glance at Jake and back at the shadow it moved another ten feet closer and crouched in the grass, still a huge looming dark blurry creature.

What had they seen? “What happened to Ashley?” I stared it down, careful not to look away. I drew myself up to full height, drawing in a sharp deep breath as I attempted to appear larger. I couldn’t have exhaled if I tried to, I was terrified.

“Get out of there!” Jinxx shouted.

“I can’t outrun it.” I said, still holding my breath.

“Don’t move.” Jake said quietly.

“Try playing dead.” Jinxx said, fear tinging his voice.

“Don’t move Ceese. I think it’s a jaguar.” Jake said quietly. I remained in place.

I decided to go with Jinxx’s theory, inhaling quickly while dropping to the ground on my side and covering my head with my arms. I did my best to hold my breath and focus on the way the moonlight covered the ground. It worked until that light disappeared as though the shadow creature was blocking it. “CC don’t move.” Jake whispered.

I felt something push my arm away from my head and did my best to let my body go into rag doll mode, my arm flailing out to the side next to me. When my leg suddenly went flying and my body rolled over with it, I accidentally gasped for air and opened my eyes to find myself face to face with a huge set of eyes staring me down.

“Run CC!” Jake shouted.

Notes