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Desperate voices called to me, crowding my mind. This was overwhelming, much worse than when I arrived at the Castle cemetery and relocated the remaining ghosts. These people hadn’t been laid to rest, and their spirits had been trapped in the lake for years, possibly even centuries for some.
I had to help them.
I approached the edge of the lake. The wind picked up, blowing back my hair. It seemed to be a warning, which didn’t make sense. The spirits knew I could free them.
I closed my eyes and focused. I lost count of the number of voices I heard. So many lost souls begging for my attention. My skin began to crawl and the little hairs on my arms stood on end. I was the goddess of ghosts, not afraid of them. Yet my body seemed to know something that my mind failed to register.
My eyes snapped open just as the water parted to reveal the creature—or three. Three scaled heads, each the size of a T-Rex skull, fixed their attention on me. The middle mouth gaped open, releasing a funnel of fire. I dodged the streak of flames and was relieved to see the fire failed to reach the trees. A forest fire in Wild Acres would be devastating.
I turned back to the water as the trio of heads submerged. A serpentine tail broke the surface and smacked the water, sending waves in my direction.
Three heads plus one tail equaled one megamonster.
I had no doubt this creature was the reason for the skeletons. With three massive mouths to feed, the monster likely ate them whole and spat out their bones.
I remained a couple yards from the edge of the water. Now that the threat had passed, I became acutely aware of the spirits again. I tried to concentrate with my eyes open. I’d be a fool to close them again with a three-headed dragon lurking nearby.
The grey sky darkened as storm clouds formed overhead. A bolt of lightning hit directly behind me, and I jumped forward to avoid it, landing in the water.
The creature was there to greet me with the whack of its serpentine tail. I flew halfway across the lake and landed with a splash.
Any one of those heads could swallow me in one gulp, Jonah and the whale style, which was likely its plan. If there was no food left in the lake, the creature had to get clever. But why not leave in search of food? The forest was filled with tasty treats and the creature’s body was built for land as much as water.
I put my thoughts on hold as I swam for shore. I felt the creature’s presence below me, like a shark awaiting the right moment to attack its prey. The spirits began to crowd me, clinging to my body like barnacles. If the monster didn’t drown me, the weight of their despair would.
The shoreline was only ten yards away. My arms and legs pumped furiously. Nine yards.
The spirits grew heavier as more clung to me. Their terror seeped into my pores.
Below me, the monster sliced through the water. It was toying with me, letting me believe I had a chance to make it out alive.
Maybe the game had been a winner in the past, but that was all about to change.
I connected with the spirits and asked them to come to my aid. I’d intended to help them cross over; instead, I needed them to help me survive. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
My arms and legs grew weaker. I had to shed the spirits before they drowned me.
I could command them to help me, of course, but it was against my personal code of ethics. It was better if they came to the decision on their own.
You’ll be okay, I told them. The monster can’t hurt you anymore.
I didn’t need them to attack the creature; I only needed them to distract it long enough for me to flee.
Seven yards.
Something scraped against my shin. The creature was preparing to make its move.
Help me so I can help you. I could no longer keep the panic from my tone. The situation was critical.
One by one, the spirits peeled away from me. Their courage seemed to grow by the second as more spirits let go. A wave rolled past me, and I realized they were trying to manipulate the water to propel me forward.
Clever ghosts.
Another wave rolled toward me as a giant jaw unhinged below. The wave crested, bringing me with it. The jaws snapped closed and missed, but not before one of the scales tore open my shin. My adrenaline kicked in, numbing the pain. The force of the spirits’ wave launched me to shore. I didn’t look back. I dragged myself from the water and clawed my way across the mud.
I remained on the ground until my heartbeat slowed to a normal rate. When I finally rolled onto my back, the creature had retreated underwater. Playtime was over, it seemed.
I struggled to my feet and limped away, ignoring the pain that bit into my bone with each excruciating step. I’d heal, but not quickly enough.
