I swallow hard, the blood draining from my face as the word “human” pops into my mind.
“You want a drink?” Jamie holds the bottle out to me.
I reach out to take it, but the movement is abruptly interrupted by a distant rustling that quickly escalates into a cacophony of crashing foliage.
“Fuck, we’ve gotta move. Now.”
I scramble for the rifle as I latch onto Geralt’s reins and put my weight on one foot.
But it’s too late.
A ferocious roar rends the air. My whole body jerks as I reach for Jamie, urging him into his saddle.
A loud crunch of something heavy smashing against something hard, and I jolt, gaze snapping in that direction.
It’s here.
A deafening crash follows, echoing through the trees, shattering any semblance of safety I may have been foolish enough to believe existed. My heart leaps into my throat even as I manage to get Jamie up. If necessary, I’ll make sure he gets out of here. I’ll protect him with my life.
Purple horns come into view, emerging from the thick underbrush. They’re fucking huge. Monstrous.
“Holy shit,” Jamie gasps, and I swallow hard as a creature that’s the stuff of nightmares bursts fully into view, its six legs churning up the leaf-littered earth with each thunderous step.
Its grotesque form looms large, dwarfing everything in its path. Three gnarled purple horns jut menacingly from its twisted skull, gleaming with an otherworldly sheen in the dim light. Its eyes, burning with a hunger that makes me close to shitting myself, fix on me.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
With a primal roar that shakes the ground beneath my feet and has the horses rearing, the creature charges forwards, its intent unmistakable. The bastard thing wants to devour us for a tasty treat. Like hell I’ll make it that easy.
With trembling fingers, I raise my rifle, ignoring the onslaught of fear crawling through my veins. I squeeze the trigger, the deafening blast of gunfire echoing through the forest as shot after shot tears through the air.
Each bullet hits its mark.
Fuck, it’s not working.
“Uncle Jack.”
I cast a glance at Jamie even as I release the final shot in my rifle. He thrusts the shotgun at me. I take it willingly, pushing the rifle into his outstretched hand.
A loud blast from the shotgun, and my heart stumbles when the creature roars louder.
Pain. At least I hope the thing can feel the lead tearing through it.
With each futile shot, it draws closer and closer, its massive form casting a long shadow over me.
I’m going to die. Fuck it all to hell.
“Jamie,” I holler, “get out of here.”
As the creature closes in, its jaws gape wide in anticipation. I hope the fucker chokes on me.
“Jamie,” I shout again, not daring to take my gaze off the creature that’s maybe ten metres away.
What the fuck are we doing still standing here?
Fuck. We need to retreat. Need to?—
The creature stumbles. I gasp for breath, trying to work out what I’m seeing and what’s happening.
