The roar was louder than any of the thunder crashes from overhead in the sky beyond the trees. The creature tore through the ropey bushes in front of her and charged.
Tara screamed. The darkness of the storm wouldn't allow her to make out the details of the horror but flashing lightening lit up enough of the beast. Too much. It was a creature unlike anything she had seen before. It was huge; at least nine feet in height. It was coloured in thick long fur which the heavy rain poured off and which blew violently in the wind. It was bipedal although it lurched towards her with a loped, guerrilla like, knuckles and feet run. The second flash of lightening illuminated some more of its muscled body. It had two huge tusks. It had evil yellow eyes.
Tara ran. She twisted out of the rain soaked hollow and threw herself into the bush beside her. The creature roared in rage. Scrambling, her hands and knees deep in mud, she pushed through the torns and vines to escape out the other side.
It was there almost immediately. A single leap landed the beast almost immediately behind her. Tara could feel hot breath on her now bare shoulder.
She threw herself down again. Tara bundled herself into the next bush, wrapping her arms in front of her face for protection, and squeezed her eyes tightly closed.
The drop was sudden and unexpected. As Tara rolled out of the bush, covered in twigs, angry blue coloured leaves and blood from the many scratches across her toned body she felt the ground vanish beneath her. The teen tumbled down the slope of the sink hole, bashing into rocks, vines and bushes with each bounce.
Behind her the beast roared in frustration again. There was danger ahead too. Even as she span wildly out of control Tara could just about make out a boulder below her at the bottom of the sink hole. If her head hit the stone at this speed she would surely die. Tara knew she had cheated death when she survived the Luxor. Was fate about to catch up with her? |