Chapter 35: Choices

My breath caught in my throat as I took in what had just happened.

She was so fast. I wasn't even able to catch her movements at all, much less arm myself if she had been planning to attack me.

The idea that I could have died without really comprehending what had just occurred frightened me, and I struggled against the sudden oppressive force that had pressed against me in order to take in a breath. My hands trembled without my permission and I could not bring myself to look down at her knowing gaze, for fear my knees would buckle from underneath me.

Who was this girl, this small person who made me shake in my skin so easily? I had probably faced death more times than she ever did in her entire existence, and yet here she was, wrecking havoc and terror in my life. I swallowed hard, my saliva running down my suddenly dry throat as she gave another innocent, childish giggle.

"I think we should try this again. Do you want to do this the easy way, or the hard way? Think carefully now," she added smoothly.

It vaguely occurred to me that this little person had not drawn any weapons against me, but there was a feeling of something dangerous behind me. I turned my head to look behind me very slowly, unsure of what she would do if I made a move, and was greeted with a sight that filled me with dread.

The two weapons in the she-devil's hands were slim silver harpoon guns that glistened in the lowering sunlight. The one in her right was pointed directly at Iggy's forehead, and I could imagine the painful image of the dangerous item easily cutting through his skull and directly into the chest of Fang, of who he was resting on. The weapon in her left was pointed toward Gazzy, and Nudge sat on the side, her head swiveling from me to the rest of our group, looking completely helpless.

"Time's ticking…," said the girl, and the harpoon aimed at Gazzy inched itself closer to him ever so slowly… At this movement, I noticed Nudge's determination to protect solidify in her eyes and she got ready to spring on the little girl.

"Don't move, Nudge!" I barked suddenly, and she froze, turning her attention to me with shocked bambi eyes. I glanced at Fang and our eyes met each others for a few mere seconds, and it didn't surprise me that there was no real fear in them, but dislike, as if he could clearly see what I was about to do next and didn't like it one bit. Oh well, he would just have to deal with it.

"I'll go with you," I murmured as I turned back to the little girl, who gave me a solemn grin.

"No way!" cried out Nudge and Gazzy simultaneously. Iggy gave a disagreeable grunt, which sounded as if it were on the borderline of anger at having to back out of a fight and relief. Fang said nothing, as usual. But I ignored them all and stared down the little girl with renewed resolve.

"But on one condition," I added, forcing my voice not to falter as she narrowed her eyes at me.

"…Condition?" she asked in a threatening tone, and her eyes shifted to her targets behind me. I didn't follow her gaze, but kept my voice as even as possible.

"You have to swear that you won't hurt any of them."

The little girl stared up at me in utter shock before amusement broke through her facial expression. "You are in absolutely no position to bargain with me," she said after she had quelled the laughter that had attempted to bubble up to her lips.

"That may be true, but I'm sure Jake would not be too pleased with you if you hurt me, and that includes emotionally."

I was in uncharted waters now; I could only hope that Jake wanted me brought in perfect condition, like one of those Barbie dolls that you aren't supposed to take out of the box.

Worst case scenario: he ordered for this pint sized twerp to retrieve me by any means necessary as long as I was alive. I would give that option a 70-80 percent chance…those were not the best odds for me.

Nevertheless, I saw her hesitation before she gave a resigned sigh. "Fine," she said before she retracted her weapons away from my friends just as quickly as she had brought them out. Without another glance at the group behind me, she did an about-face before silently walking ahead.

Figuring that was the best answer that I was going to get, I looked back at the faces that I had grown so fond of; Nudge's tear-stained face, Gazzy and Iggy's almost identical looks of defeat, Total's shock mixed with downright fury, and Fang's stoic expression with those eyes that said it all for him. I took it all in, engrained them in my mind for what might very well be the last time, then turned away from them and began to follow the little girl.

No matter how much I wanted to stay with them, I could think of no way to back out of this and not put them in danger. I felt better knowing that they were relatively safe. Plus, this gave me a chance to find out where Angel and Melody were, if I got to see them at all.

This day just keeps getting better and better.

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