Have you ever wondered why would you hear them screaming every night in Slaborough? Well, Grandma always told me those screams came from coyotes. If you don't know what coyotes are, just go to the library and search for the meaning inside an Encyclopedia. I'm sure you'll get your answer. Anyways, it all started when Em and I were in our room, doing our own thing. I was reading the 'Art of War' by Sun Tzu while Em was feeding her virtual pet on her Tamagotchi.
The window was wide open to let the cool breeze inside our room. As I flipped to the next page of my book, that's when I heard the screams outside the window. I closed my book and stared at the grassy fields, with the waning crescent moon shining. I glanced downwards and noticed a few locals who were wandering the streets.
It was just coyotes, I told myself and continued reading where I left off. The screaming continued as I analyzed Sun Tzu's advice in dealing with your enemies. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer, I read. The screams grew into a high-pitched sound, making me cover my ears. Dear God, those coyotes won't shut up. I can't hear this every night.
"It's just coyotes, Bugsy," Em told me. "You'll get used to the sound every night."
"Thanks for the reminder, Captain Obvious," I snarked. "But coyotes can't be screaming every night."
Em looked at me, as she placed her Tamagotchi on her pillow. "You can't be serious, Bugsy."
"I'm always serious, Em," I pointed out. "From what I learned from Mr Bridger's class, coyotes only yelped as a celebration within a small group."
Em stroked her chin. "If it's not coyotes, then maybe we should check it out, she suggested. 587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn9wRy5a60
I rolled my eyes. "You could get yourself killed, Em," I warned. "If not coyotes, then maybe something even worse."
Em opened her drawer and took out a flashlight. "Oh come on, Bugsy," Em whined. "I thought you always love to take risks and discover something new."
"I do, Em," I defended. It's just that-"
My mind suddenly pondered towards the stage, with the audience clapping for me as I held a huge, golden trophy. "Congratulations, Meredith Tan," said the announcer, in a deep voice. "For discovering a new species in the animal kingdom."
I grinned as I waved when the stage began to shake. "Bugsy," Em called me. "Earth to Meredith Tan.
"Tan Mei Hui," she shouted. I jumped in fright, as I tumbled from my bed. Rubbing my forehead, Em laughed. "Daydreaming again?"
I shook my head. "Of course not, Em. I was thinking about how brilliant your idea is and it sounds great."
Em squealed in excitement as she dragged me out of the room and sneaked out through the back door. We ran towards the grassy field as the night breeze blew, letting my blonde locks flew in the air.
The grass stalks were tall, covering our knees. The screak filled the night, covering me with goosebumps. "We should get out of here," I whispered in my sister's ears. "Grandma will probably be upset at both of us."
Em groaned. "We came all this way just to be sure whether those screams are coyotes."
"I know," I clenched my teeth. "But I changed my mind."
In a moment, I heard a rustle behind me. "What was that?" Em shuddered. I didn't answer as we walked a little faster towards town. The shrills around us became unbearable for me to handle. As fast walking became running, the surrounding screams suddenly stopped. Not a single sound was heard, including the songs of the crickets.
Sweat poured from my forehead as the rate of my heartbeat increased. It is too quiet. We stopped as we heard the dead leaves crunched behind us.
We looked behind and saw red, glowing eyes among the grass stalks. I panted as it jumped at me, causing me to land on the ground. A tiny creature, with a body like a grass, peered closer towards me before it jumped off me. I stood up and dusted my trousers. Em smiled at the creature and carried it on her palms. "They're so cute," Em stroked its head. "Can we keep it?"
I bit my lips. "No, we can't," I told her. "Aunt Inara and Grandma wouldn't like it."
Then, more of these grass creatures appeared from the shadows and surrounded us in a circle. "There's just so many of them," she was in awe. I chuckled. They look so fragile and harmless. I wonder what they are?
One of those creatures, who was holding a staff, came forward. Unlike the others, it was a few centimetres taller and wore a headband. That must be the leader, I believed.
The leader gazed at me and my sister with curiosity. My sister lifted the leader up and hugged it. It didn't look happy. With a small kick, my sister fell on the ground and scraped her knees. I gasped and lifted her on my back.
The leader of the grass creatures ordered the others to ambush us. Em managed to flee but I didn't. My legs were aching as I tried to crawl my way out, but those grass creatures held me down and tied me up with a rope.
With his staff, the leader whacked me on my arms, leaving me with blue-black bruises. I yelled in pain as I was whipped on the back by the others. The grass creatures cackled in glee as tears welled up from my eyes.
The bruises on my body stung as I could barely move a muscle. The creatures tightened the surrounding ropes, making me battle for air. My arms felt cold as they turned purple.
I began to feel light-headed when one of the creatures was hit by a rock. I glimpsed my sister, carrying a bunch of rocks. "Leave my big sister alone, you nutcase," she cried out.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFIOFhMSm0
The creature growled as it moved toward my sister, with a threatening look. My sister threw another rock, leaving them scattered. She reached me and untied me. I staggered my way out with my hands gripped on my sister's hand. 587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME2t4rAjnv
They tailed us from behind as we headed towards town. My grip started to loosen as I felt the grass creatures were about to yank my blonde locks. "Em, you have to let go of me," I pleaded. "I'm only going to slow us down."587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YO0g4BaKB
"We're almost there, Bugsy," Em budged. "We can make it."587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOki7FfL7de
As we almost reached Slaborough, my hands slipped from Em. I tumbled on the grass, as the creatures hopped on me. Em turned around and yanked me towards town. "I got you," she panted.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5QFPyvesC
My feet touched the surface of the road, making the creatures turn fiery red and hissed at us and sprinted away. I guess they don't like the town of Slaborough. 587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVLYnAnJ1a
I sighed in relief as we embraced each other. "Why didn't you just leave me behind?"587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pmkylU4q5
"Because you're my sister," answered Em. "And I can't imagine life without you, sister."587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP5Bp7PnVk
We walked back home, only to find Aunt Inara and Grandma sitting at the counter, staring at both of us. "Where have you two been?" Aunt Inara demanded. I stepped forward and gulped with fear. "Em and I heard screaming outside," I explained. "I thought they were coyotes but when we looked, it was some sort of grass creatures."587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzeoBLf4Ju
Grandma froze. "You mean the Unseelie Court?" she stuttered. "Those little creatures with red eyes and looked like grass?"587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LijbZtZbE
We nodded. Grandma shook her head and walked towards us. "Those things are dangerous," she cried. "Did they hurt you?"587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sdt9Shbdl
I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt and revealed my blue-black bruises on my arms. Aunt Inara rushed towards the medicine cabinet and rubbed some ointment on both arms. I lifted my shirt and showed them where I was whipped. "You could've gotten yourself killed, Bugsy," scolded Aunt Inara. "What were you thinking?"587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfnYuwoMBt
"I didn't know, Auntie," I defended. "I thought they were coyotes." 587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKAofizirc
"If you hear something at night, do not approach it, Bugsy," she scolded. "You should know better. You're 14 for Christ's sake."587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopUjAX4hC2
I sighed. "Maybe if you told us all the dangers out there, then none of this would happen, Auntie."587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun59wTEw71
Aunt Inara shook her head. "Go to your room, both of you. It's past your bedtime."587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKxxw6wva5
Em, and I kept our mouths sealed as we hit our sack. I can't believe it. Aunt Inara is not doing anything to solve this problem. She's always avoiding arguments with me. Good gracious!587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLV3MM73b4
On a short note, if you're a traveler who's staying overnight in Slaborough and heard screams at night, listen to them. Don't try to see for yourself. After all, you wouldn't want to be killed by those Unseelie Court.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLRXBTKFls
