Okay, nine arms.
But that was still too many.
One of the nine whipped close to his face, Gavin ducked, slashing upward, slicing through the limb. The creature lurched, spraying mud and debris in his eyes. Nearly blinded, he blocked another blow, raising his blade as he tried to steptoward me.
But the next strike went low.
A tentacle slammed into his legs, ripping him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, skidding backward through the mud as another tentacle coiled around his torso. His sword slipped from his grip.
“Gavin!”
He twisted, thrashing, but the limb only tightened.
“Go! Run—” His voice cut off, strangled.
The tentacle squeezed his chest. His fingers clawed uselessly at the slick, muscled limb. His wild gaze met mine, pleading.Run!Back arching in a spasm, he opened his mouth in a silent gasp.
It was killing him!
My dagger felt useless. Panic shook my hands as I slashed it against a swinging tentacle. Ooze spurted from the wound but did nothing else. The monster dragged itself and Gavin out of my reach.
“No!” I ran after it, slashing again. My heart thundered in my ears. Another limb with slimy suction cups coiled around Gavin’s feet.
Sucking—on something.
A flash of bright orange sap caught my eye. The resin covered the tops and undersides of Gavin’s boots. He must have stepped in it while carrying me.
Is the monster holding its prey still to lick Gavin’s boots?
Gavin’s eyes slid shut. His head slumped to the side.
No. No. No!
My frantic gaze searched the bog.There!A gnarled tree rose out of the ground, bright orange sap leaking from a hole in its bark.
I didn’t know if I was right or imagining things. It didn’t matter. If Gavin wasn’t leaving this place, neither was I.
Racing to the tree, I dragged my dagger through the wood until more sap swelled to the surface. I smeared the thick substance over my palms. Then with a hoarse cry, I lunged for the monster, wrapping my hands around one of its tentacles.
It slid through my grip.
The tentacle around Gavin tightened, just for a second. Then the scent hit. The monster shuddered. Its massive form swiveled in the mud. It dropped Gavin. The coil around his body loosened, then lashed toward me. I stumbled backward as the monster charged.
Was Gavin still alive? I couldn’t tell. The monster hauled its bulk forward, limbs writhing. Fear blurred my vision as I ran, boots skidding through the thick mud.
A thicket of twisted branches loomed ahead. There was a narrow opening between them. Barely wide enough to fit through. If I got stuck, I was bog monster bait.
I dove for the cage of branches, my mind blank with terror as I threw myself forward. The creature’s tentacle brushed my shoulder blade, and a slimy suction cup skimmed my neck. I choked back a scream and the shudder that nearly sent me to my knees. Then I was squeezing through the gap, wrenching my body and tearing my clothes.
A branch snagged my hair. Pain tore through my scalp. I was stuck! The ground trembled with the creature’s charge, a second away from slamming into me. Panic clawed inside my chest as I yanked my hair free, leaving strands behind as I tumbled into the mud on the other side.
I rolled onto my back. The monster slashed through the thicket, its limbs caught in the cage of wood. It let out a shriek,tentacles slipping through and thrashing inches from my face.
The trees groaned. Branches splintered with the monster’s force.
It wouldn’t hold.Snapping. Crunching.
My boots dug into the muck, sliding without traction as I struggled to run, only making it to my knees.
