Saturday, April 21, 2012

A to Z Challenge - S is for Swallowed

This is part of an ongoing story throughout the Challenge.
If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

S IS FOR SWALLOWED

Go to the attic. That's where most of the characters are killed in Burrows' book. Tawa informed them. It's also where Jessica tells Matt that she kissed his best friend, but he still protected her and got eaten.

"What else does the book say?" Abby followed Demetrius up the stairs. Her steps were careful and silent. Her heart was still pounding and her lips still tingling. "Seems kind of soap opera-ishy for a kids' book."

Matt was the older brother of the protagonist. His death helped motivate her. Not soap opera-ishy. I just have a mature appreciation for the story, Tawa said. The attic is through the door at the far end of the hall.

Abby reached the top of the stairs and stood beside Demetrius. She could feel the heat of his body and had to battle the temptation to touch him. She silently chastised herself, demanding focus. There were five doors between them and the closed one at the end of the hall. All five doors opened slowly and green glowing cat's eyes locked onto their prey.

"Of course," Abby groaned. "At the end of a hall filled with monsters."

"I'll clear the way." Demetrius tapped his club on the floor and crooked a finger at the beasts. "Come here, kitty, kitty, kitty."

The answering growls didn't sound feline at all, but the monsters had a big cat's grace as they padded out of the rooms and fell into a synchronized prowl. Demetrius raised his club and roared, barreling down the hall at them. He smashed two against the wall as a third bit into his forearm. A fourth jumped high into the air over the others going for his head.

Abby threw her blade with her right hand. It twirled in the air leaving a pale blue contrail and hit its mark.
The monster fell motionless to the ground, but there were still four. Demetrius snarled and slammed the beast attached to his arm onto the floor. The position allowed him to headbutt another as it charged him as Abby moved forward to join him.

Abby! Tawa screamed.

Turning around, but not quick enough, Abby faced another green eyed beast that had come from a linen closet. It had snatched Tawa from her backpack and, with a technique like an alligator, it swallowed the stuffed hippo with two hungry gulps.

26 comments:

  1. Noooo! I wasn't expecting that, and I am genuinely gutted that Tawa has been eaten! :(

    What will they do now? :(

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  2. no don't do that---such great surprises you give!

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  3. Oh funny! I love your comment "sucks to be a stuffed toy!" I'm on the edge of my seat and now I have to wait til Monday for the next part? Good stuff!

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  4. This is a great piece, have been reading it on and off on my reader...the tension and the fight scenes were very well written. Hope to read it in one sitting once the challenge is over.

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    1. Thank you very much! I'm flattered so many people like it.

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  5. A monster in the linen closet explains some things. Now I wonder if there is one in the sock drawer.


    Lee
    A Few Words
    An A to Z Co-host blog
    My Main blog is Tossing It Out

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    1. If you imagine one there, one just might appear! There's definitely one in the dryer eating socks, though.

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  6. OMG this is fantastic. I have to go back read all the pieces.

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  7. Oh no, not Tawa!! I'm totally freaked out as I love the hippo.

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    1. It was a hard one to write because Tawa is one of my favorite characters I've written.

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  8. Heh. It hurt me as much as it did her!

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  9. Oh no! I hope Abby can rescue Tawa. Thanks for adding The Backworlds to your sidebar.

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