Sean clenched his eyes tightly and his heart was beating rapidly against his chest. 'This is so not going to work. We will never make it, at least I definitely won't. This was such a mistake. Why did I agree to do this?'
Rhia's hand tightened around his body and she whispered in his ears when they passed the 2nd floor, "get ready."
Sean didn't know what she wanted him to be ready for. It might be that she couldn't work her powers and they are finally going to hit the ground. He held her tightly waiting for the impact and it did come but wasn't as dramatic as he expected.
"You can let go now, we have landed." Sean opened his eyes very slowly. He was lying on the ground holding Rhia. He let her go with a jerk and sat to look around. It was a huge green field with nothing but only trees for as far as he can see. 'This place resembles a forest somewhat but if that's what this is then...' Sean looked at Rhia.
"What?"
"You got us out of Pordes! Like absolutely outside its borders. How? Why?"
"Yes, we are out of Pordes. That place would have been no good if we were trying to hide. About how I got us here, well, that's a secret."
Rhia stood up and started walking straight. "Hurry up, we need to get out of here before it's dark unless you want to be a snack of some vicious monster."
After walking for more than an hour, Sean was gasping. "Are you even sure we are going the right way? We are not reaching anywhere you know, maybe you can ask someone and then make a move."
"I know where I am going. It's taking time because we are walking super slow, especially you and who do you suppose I should ask for directions in here? Now come on, move."
"No, I am not going anywhere as long as I am sure we are on the right path. I will sit right here and wait for confirmation."
"Oh, come on." Rhia turned to throw a frustrated glare at Sean but what she saw instead made her body freeze.
"Sean, you need to stay calm okay, very calm. If you can help it don't even breathe."
"Is that your best? I think you can do even better. Here, I will stand up, jump, what? are you worried about how I am not scared?" Sean walked to her. "I know there's nothing behind me. Your trick isn't enough!"
Sean turned to look at where Rhia was looking. He was proud that he made her idea fail but what he saw made sweat beads form over his forehead in an instant.
"You should have said something."
"I told you to not move, remember?"
A red creature, with four sharp-clawed legs, and a blade-like pointed big tail stood in front of them. Its green eyes were focused on them and a thread of white liquid fell down from between its sharp jaws.
"What do we do now? Run?"
"You think we can outrun that?"
"Then what? Do we fight it?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"We will at least need to hurt it to slow it down, then we can run."
"Yeah, only if we are still alive."
Rhia knew Sean was right about it being dangerous to fight the beast but that might be the only way to save their lives.
"You stay back, let me handle this."
Before Sean could say or do anything Rhia charged toward the fiery-looking beast. It stood about 10 feet tall so she had to take help from the surrounding trees to land a kick on its face.
It didn't make much of a difference though and the monster was pissed and didn't even wait for Rhia to make it to the ground on two legs. It pounced on her mid-air attacking with its paws. The hit made Rhia fly in the air for about 6 meters and her body hit a tree making its branch break.
"Rhia" Sean ran to her. "Are you alright? Let me help you up." Rhia's right hand was snatched but now it was healing itself.
"I don't think even your powers are enough to handle this beast. We should think of some other way."
"Yes, I will make a portal and we can get out from there."
She stretched her hand and drew a clockwise motion with her palm. A few seconds of silence passed before Sean spoke, "what's happening? Where's the portal? How is this supposed to work?"
"Oh, my powers are suddenly not working. But that means..."
"What does it mean? Let me guess, it means we are going to die. Why? Why did I ever agree to get involved in this mad plan of yours? Surrendering would have kept me alive but now I will be eaten and get digested inside a stomach, what a great way to non-exist."
"Can you please stop? Look, even the poor creature is looking at you weirdly for your blabbering."
Sean saw the beast and it was surely glaring at him. He tried to reduce the tension by giving a nervous laugh but the red being had other plans.
Its hind legs hit the ground and provided enough strength for it to cover the distance between its prey. When the beast's body was right above Sean and Rhia, Sean clung to Rhia and closed his eyes as the sharp claws came closer. A gunshot was suddenly heard and the beast's body jerked back and fell to the ground. Sean opened his eyes to see the large, lifeless, red creature.
"What just happened?"
"Him."
Rhia gestured and looked over Sean's shoulder to the left. A man, probably in his early 60s held a rifle and stood in a relaxed pose. He saw Rhia and nodded his head with a small smile which Rhia reciprocated.
"Thank you, old man."
"You are welcome, young lady."
"Come on Sean, let's go."
Rhia got up and followed the old man and once again like a baby following her mother Sean walked after her.
ns 15.158.61.39da2
