Page 20 of Scream for Me

“But what if it burns?”

“I’m not putting you in harm's way, even if my fur turns to dust.”

There’s no sense arguing. I nod, staring straight ahead, holding onto him as he carefully makes his way down the steep hill. We’re at the edge, the line of sunshine just a reach away. “I’ll always love you,” he says, and I look up to catch his searing gaze.

I pat his arm. “Good. And I love you. Now, let’s go. I’m hoping there are cheeseburgers on the other side.”

“What’s a cheeseburger?”

“Way better than human screams, I can guarantee that.”

“Nothing’s better than your screams.”

“Cheeseburgers first, and then you can make that call.”

He chuckles, taking the first step forward. I hold my breath, hardly believing that this is the moment. I shut my eyes, a chicken shit thing to do since Scully should be more worried than I am, and he’s the one carrying us out. Warmth coats my skin, and I gasp. I open my eyes to find sunshine all around me. We’re still in woods, but there is grass and trees with green leaves.

“Scully!” I shout, sitting up and turning to him.

His eyes are clamped shut, and I laugh, studying him. “Are you burning?”

“No, but it’s warm.” He pops one eye open, the other quickly following. “What is this?”

“It’s sunshine. Your mother was right. We’re in a place with sunshine.” I struggle out of his arms, an easy task since he’s too in awe. My bare feet hit a paved road. “There must be a civilized species here. We should follow this path.”

I step forward, but he yanks me back. “What if they’re dangerous? Whoever lives here lives too close to the woods, too close to monsters.”

“Monsters that can’t get out because they’ll burn from the sunlight. Maybe it’s other monsters like you, monsters that found their humanity.”

He sighs, shaking his head. “That’s assuming a lot.”

“I just really fucking want a cheeseburger and hope they have enough humanity to make me one.”

“Fine. We came all this way. We might as well see what’s at the end of this journey. But if they look at you like you’re a cheeseburger, I’m slitting everyone’s throat and carrying you out of here.”

I pat his arm. “I don’t doubt you will.”

He grabs my hand and we walk, climbing over winding hills. It probably would be faster if he carried me, but I don’t want to look defenseless to whoever we discover. I shouldn’t be as excited as I am. Scully’s right to have some reserve of what we might find. There’s been nothing but terror in this realm. What makes me think there’s anything rosier here? But so far, the blue sky, dotted with clouds, something like birds tweeting in the distance, can’t make me think anything different. The more we walk and the longer the hope rolls around in my stomach, the more I start to worry. I’m already anticipating too much. I don’t know if I can bear the heartbreak if this new place isn’t anything but wonderful.

“Look,” Scully says as we come over a hill. He’s nearly two feet taller than me so he can see what’s up ahead much quicker than I can. I scramble to catch up. In the distance sits a quaint town. Stone buildings surround cobbled roads, chimneys belch smoke, and laughter and voices bounce over the hilltops.

“I knew I smelled cheeseburgers.” I can’t take it anymore, I sprint ahead.

“Wait!” Scully calls, but there’s no holding me back. The town looks even more human-like the closer I get. Perhaps this is the edge of the realm and we’re back in some version of Earth. I slow, realization dawning over me. What would happen to Scully if humans lived here? Surely, they wouldn’t welcome him with open arms?

By the time this very logical conclusion comes to mind, it’s too late. I’m too close. A small building faces away, and the door opens with a ring from a bell above. I strain my eyes to catch what’s leaving. A short, green circular figure walking on two legs, emerges, carrying a brown box in front of his large, singular eye. It’s a monster, not like one I’ve seen in the forest, but they all seem to vary in appearance.

Scully catches up beside me, a low growl in his throat as we stare down the tiny green figure. The creature stops in his tracks, looking up and catching us in the distance. His eye appears to grow in size. Will he yell and run after us with razor-sharp teeth? I don’t move, hoping Scully does the same so we can gauge his intentions.

The stillness breaks as the green beast raises a skinny arm and waves at us with a grin that takes up his whole face. “Hello!” he shouts. “Welcome to the light.”

The words warm the last part of my heart, the part holding all my nerves. I breathe out, smiling, looking up to Scully.

He sighs, still staring at the stranger in the distance, growing closer, calling back to people coming out from their shops and homes.

“Well looks like you might get your cheeseburger after all,” Scully says with a sigh.

I laugh, throwing my arms around him. He picks me up and I grab his face. “We’re home.”