赤裸裸的滑稽故事

Six long, thick roots swayed in the air like snakes waiting to strike, and Peter held his breath as his eyes widened and his heart raced in his throat. All six roots immediately shot forward and wrapped around the monster’s limbs and body.

The beast struggled and pulled at the roots, desperately trying to bite at them as it let out snarls and growls and snapped its overgrown jaw at them. But it could do little as the roots squeezed around it and stretched its limbs away from its body.

Peter watched in horror as the beast’s growls turned to huffs and whimpers, and finally, with several popping and snapping sounds, it let out a pained cry before it went still. Peter could not look away as the roots continued to pull and stretch until the beast was torn apart.

He closed his eyes with a shuddering gasp as the white snow was painted black with the monster's blood.

Peter heard the shifting sliding sound of the roots moving against the dirt. He opened his eyes again, half expecting them to move toward him. But instead, he found they were moving back down into the earth, dragging the pieces of the monster’s body with them.

He watched in horrified silence as the holes left by the roots filled themselves in as they moved deeper into the ground. Leaving behind only small sunken circles and a pool of black blood as the only evidence of what had transpired.

“Peter...�

Peter gasped at the sound of his name and quickly turned to look behind him. A few feet away, she saw Myka, holding Sadie in his arms, her head pressed tightly to his chest as he stared back at Peter with his eyes glowing a soft green light.

“Myka...?� Peter questioned softly.

Sadie lifted her head and slowly looked back. The expression of concern and fear quickly replaced with relief as she pulled away from Myka. He let her down, and she ran to Peter, almost tripping into his arms as she sobbed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Peter held her and petted her hair.

“It’s ok,� he whispered. “We’re both ok.�

Peter looked up at Myka, who had followed Sadie. Standing beside them, he looked down at the large patch of black snow. The green light in his eyes faded as he turned back to look at Peter and Sadie.

They stayed silent for a few minutes, allowing Sadie to let out her tears while Myka watched for any danger.

Slowly, Sadie was able to calm down.

“Hey,� Peter whispered sweetly as she lifted her chin to look at him.

Sadie swallowed and looked away.

“Do you remember me?� Peter asked gently.

Sadie nodded.

“You were with Alice at the hospital,� she said. “Dr. Peter.�

Peter smiled and nodded.

“You helped us save Myka,� he smiled.

Sadie raised her eyes to look at him. She swallowed.

“You saved me,� she whispered.

Peter gave a gentle smile and nodded.

“And Myka saved me,� he whispered. “So, we have all saved each other.�

Sadie smiled, but it fell as she looked back toward the house. Peter glanced in the direction she looked. He swallowed.

“How long had you been hiding?� he asked softly.

Sadie lowered her eyes again.

“It’s ok to tell us anything, Sayds,� Myka said, kneeling beside them. He reached out and took one of Sadie’s hands in his. “I told you before, anything you need, I’m always here. Peter too.�

Sadie looked up at Myka with tears welling in her eyes again.

“It wasn’t long,� she said. “I was in my room when it came in... the people I was staying with... they were packing in their room... I was supposed to get some clothes. But I heard something... I looked out the door, and I....�

Sadie paused, closing her eyes and letting out a small sob. Peter pulled her close, laying her head against his chest.

“It’s ok if you don’t want to say anymore, Sayds. We won’t force you. I promise,� Myka said, squeezing the hand he still held.

Sadie nodded and turned to Peter, hugging tightly to him.

Myka stood up. He motioned to Peter that he was going to check the house. Peter nodded and focused on keeping Sadie as comfortable as possible.

A few moments later, Myka returned, a grim look on his face. He shook his head, and Peter understood that the couple that Sadie had been staying with had fallen victim to the beast.

He guessed that Sadie had seen the monster when it entered the house and that she had crawled under the bed without a sound in her fear. The beast had simply continued down the hall to the unsuspecting couple.

It likely had been at most ten minutes before Peter arrived. But in that time, Sadie had been forced to stay silent under the bed, listening to everything that happened down the hall.

Peter hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. Myka knelt and tilted his head, observing her.

“She’s asleep,� he whispered.

“She’s drained,� Peter replied. “Mentally and emotionally.�

Myka nodded.

“Let me take her,� he whispered. Reaching out and carefully taking Sadie into his arms.

“We need to get her back to the hospital,� Peter said as he got himself up off the ground, “we have no idea if there are any more of them out here.�

“Definitely,â€� Myka replied, and we need to let the patrols know aboutâ€"“

Myka’s eyes widened, and he turned to look up toward the mountain. Peter turned, expecting to see another one of the monsters, but he saw nothing.

“Myka?� he called to him.

Myka continued to stare, narrowing his eyes as though he were focusing on something.

“Myka, what do you see?� Peter asked, looking back in the same direction, trying to find what he was missing.

Myka shook his head.

“Not see,� he whispered. “Hear...�

Peter looked back at him with confusion.

Myka took a deep breath and then turned to Peter.

“We need to get Sadie to the hospital now,� he said. “And then we need to get whatever patrol we can.�

“For what?� Peter asked.

“The ley line....� Myka replied. “Something has changed... I think the gate has opened.�