Read Online She Lies Twisted by C.M. Stunich - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: C.M. Stunich
Tags: Fantasy
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that was as good as I was going to get and walked up to my grandmother. I placed my hands on her tiny shoulders and leaned down.
“ Come on, Mom, let's go back inside and I'll make you some tea.” Grandma Willa always responded better when I called her Mom. She thought I was my mother anyway and if I played into it, it just made things that much easier. She ignored me and bent down to pick up a rock. I looked up as she tossed it at a bunch of quivering leaves near the top of the tree. Bright colors flashed as something skittered down the trunk and disappeared into the bushes on the opposite side. My spine twinged in warning.
“ Watch out!” It was James. I ducked, taking Grandma Willa with me. A burst of red exploded above our heads and smashed into the tree. Bits of bark burst out at us like shots.
“ No dogs in the yard!” Grandma Willa screamed as she attempted to rise. I pushed her back down and stood. The red blur skidded to a stop in some of Anita's prized begonias. I swallowed a lump of fear and tried to ascertain exactly what it was that I was looking at. It was no bigger than a coyote and bore a striking resemblance to something I'd seen in Final Fantasy VII.
“ What the hell?” The words had barely left my mouth when the dog-cat thing turned and started down the brick walkway towards James. Tails like whips (I think I counted six ) slashed through the hedges on either side as the animal bore down on James. He paused briefly before turning back towards the house and slamming the door in the thing's face. I didn't blame him. It was scary but after crashing into the door and nearly taking it off the hinges, it turned around and came at me. Grandma Willa was still screaming and pointing and if I'd been a passerby, I would've sworn we were having a block party. Every house in the neighborhood was gawking from doorways and second story balconies, standing on their lawns and restraining their ridiculous dogs. They seemed concerned but not scared.
They can't see it! I realized as I moved to stand in front of Grandma Willa. But I had no delusions that it wasn't really there. I had seen firsthand what one of these things could do. But why didn't James just touch it and send it back like he'd done before? I shoved my grandmother out of the way and rolled just in time to miss the rows of double teeth and claws. The time for thinking was past, it was time to act. I searched around the grass frantically. I needed a tree branch, one of Anita's shovels, anything really. I was afraid to see what the creature would do to me if all I had to fend it off with were my bare hands.
A whistle broke across the night.
The monster's triangular ears swiveled back. It paused in the slow, stalking circle it had been pacing around me and twisted its neck 180 degrees back to look at James. He was standing in the doorway of the house with a fire poker clutched in his skinny hands.
“ You have to touch it!” James screamed as the thing shook its red fur and started to pick up speed for another charge. At least it was easily distracted.
“ Touch it?” I was confused. That was James' job, right?
“ Just trust me!” James yelled as he pulled his arms back like he was preparing for a grand slam. “I'll explain later!” His voice was starting to shake as the dog trotted closer. I shook myself and pulled my hood up. It was like putting on a helmet. It made me feel stronger. I started to run through the grass. The creature turned around again, almost lazily this time. It had started with such fervor. Maybe it's getting bored? I thought as I paused and waited for it to charge me again.
“ Two fingers,” James said and touched his forehead between his eyebrows. “The third eye.” I held out a shaking hand. The dog monster grinned. It grinned just like the sandman had. It was horrid and twisted and it made my stomach hurt. I faltered. Flanks bunched, muscles contracted. It was coming straight for my face.
James screamed something
“ Come on, Mom, let's go back inside and I'll make you some tea.” Grandma Willa always responded better when I called her Mom. She thought I was my mother anyway and if I played into it, it just made things that much easier. She ignored me and bent down to pick up a rock. I looked up as she tossed it at a bunch of quivering leaves near the top of the tree. Bright colors flashed as something skittered down the trunk and disappeared into the bushes on the opposite side. My spine twinged in warning.
“ Watch out!” It was James. I ducked, taking Grandma Willa with me. A burst of red exploded above our heads and smashed into the tree. Bits of bark burst out at us like shots.
“ No dogs in the yard!” Grandma Willa screamed as she attempted to rise. I pushed her back down and stood. The red blur skidded to a stop in some of Anita's prized begonias. I swallowed a lump of fear and tried to ascertain exactly what it was that I was looking at. It was no bigger than a coyote and bore a striking resemblance to something I'd seen in Final Fantasy VII.
“ What the hell?” The words had barely left my mouth when the dog-cat thing turned and started down the brick walkway towards James. Tails like whips (I think I counted six ) slashed through the hedges on either side as the animal bore down on James. He paused briefly before turning back towards the house and slamming the door in the thing's face. I didn't blame him. It was scary but after crashing into the door and nearly taking it off the hinges, it turned around and came at me. Grandma Willa was still screaming and pointing and if I'd been a passerby, I would've sworn we were having a block party. Every house in the neighborhood was gawking from doorways and second story balconies, standing on their lawns and restraining their ridiculous dogs. They seemed concerned but not scared.
They can't see it! I realized as I moved to stand in front of Grandma Willa. But I had no delusions that it wasn't really there. I had seen firsthand what one of these things could do. But why didn't James just touch it and send it back like he'd done before? I shoved my grandmother out of the way and rolled just in time to miss the rows of double teeth and claws. The time for thinking was past, it was time to act. I searched around the grass frantically. I needed a tree branch, one of Anita's shovels, anything really. I was afraid to see what the creature would do to me if all I had to fend it off with were my bare hands.
A whistle broke across the night.
The monster's triangular ears swiveled back. It paused in the slow, stalking circle it had been pacing around me and twisted its neck 180 degrees back to look at James. He was standing in the doorway of the house with a fire poker clutched in his skinny hands.
“ You have to touch it!” James screamed as the thing shook its red fur and started to pick up speed for another charge. At least it was easily distracted.
“ Touch it?” I was confused. That was James' job, right?
“ Just trust me!” James yelled as he pulled his arms back like he was preparing for a grand slam. “I'll explain later!” His voice was starting to shake as the dog trotted closer. I shook myself and pulled my hood up. It was like putting on a helmet. It made me feel stronger. I started to run through the grass. The creature turned around again, almost lazily this time. It had started with such fervor. Maybe it's getting bored? I thought as I paused and waited for it to charge me again.
“ Two fingers,” James said and touched his forehead between his eyebrows. “The third eye.” I held out a shaking hand. The dog monster grinned. It grinned just like the sandman had. It was horrid and twisted and it made my stomach hurt. I faltered. Flanks bunched, muscles contracted. It was coming straight for my face.
James screamed something
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