The Moon's Fangs | 1
5 | no mercy

Death must have a claim on my life, because once again, it had come to collect.

I clung desperately onto the edge of the hole that shattered under my weight. Glass cut into my fingers while gripping on for dear life. My legs kicked at open, groundless air. Sand stung my horror-filled eyes as the glass spiderwebbed under my bleeding fingers.

“No, no, no, please—”

The glass shattered just as I tried to grab at a new spot to hold on to. Heart thundering, my body swung as the glass gave way from my left hand, leaving me dangling by one arm. Pain splintered up my side, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hoist myself up in time.

Sand spilled over the edges like a mini waterfall, carrying the black ring with its flow. My eyes chased its dive down. It clinked and ricocheted against beams before falling the equivalent of fifteen or more floors to the ground.

Warm blood trickled down my tortured fingers, staining charms on my bracelet.

The glass gave in before I did.

Desperation or instinct took over. I swung my legs towards a beam just as the glass shattered under my slipping grip.

I yelped, hands outstretched towards the nearest beam, but my bloodied fingers slipped across the surface like moss in a river - breath caught dead in my throat.

However, my hands clasped onto one of the ropes wrapped around the beam. I clenched it tight despite how badly my palms burned while sliding down it. I squeezed it harder, screaming through my teeth, forcing it to slow down my momentum before the next beam to get enough control over the fall.

Just as I ran out of rope, I braced myself for the pain to come and spread my legs in order to land on my butt on the second beam. The impact was jarring. I cringed, straining against the pain as tremors shot up my body from the landing.

But I was alive!

A strange laugh bubbled in my throat from the relief, however, it was short-lived. I looked up, then regretted it when sand sprinkled down in my eyes. I blinked, rubbing the sand out with the back of my hand.

I hugged that beam with all four limbs, eyes closed for a long moment. I focused on the cool texture against my cheek until my heart rate stabilized as much as possible. Even still, I couldn’t put a stop to the trembling.

I drew in a slow, semi-steady breath before looking back up.

Attempting to climb back up wasn’t an option. Even if I managed to climb up to the highest beam, I wouldn’t be able to reach the hole. Trying to make the jump would be stupid and far too risky. The glass already proved it couldn’t support my weight long enough for me to haul myself up - if I found the strength to do so. Blaire and I were both in great shape from our years in track and running drills for the fun of it at the fire station. I considered myself athletic. Even still, in my current state and with these conditions, it was highly unlikely I could pull it off.

One slip up may grant me a formal introduction to the reaper's scythe. A hard pass for me.

Plus, who knew how much more breakage the hole could take before the entire top caved in on itself. The weight of the sand likely played a factor too.

I scanned the mostly dim dome for other options. If it caved in, it would be like a waterfall of sand filling up a globe. But how would climbing down help me? If I managed to get down, I may end up just dying from starvation. Any doors on the ground would be trapped by sand.

I could intentionally try to break more of the ceiling… I brainstormed. If enough of the glass broke and let sand collapse in at my control, it may offer me the chance to get out if I stay on the highest beam. But if the beam collapsed along with everything else…

All the options were looking risky.

As I peered down, my stomach flip-flopped from the height. Hanging from most of the ropes, roots of withered plants dangled lifelessly. From what I could tell, the ground looked the same, covered in dead plants. I frowned, taking a closer look at the ropes - then realized they were actually vines. The realization made my skin crawl. I’d been lucky the one I slid down hadn’t snapped.

“A greenhouse in the middle of a desert?” As additional light filtered in from the top, I scanned for anything that may be of use until something on the ground level caught my eye.

All thoughts ceased in that single moment.

Holy hell.

It was him.

The handsome stranger - from my freaking dream - was inside an actual sphere at the bottom. Even from this aerial view, I had no doubt.

"Hey!" I started to pant, breathless all the sudden. “Up here! Hey!”

Nothing.

“Reks!”

It felt weird calling out to a stranger who never told me his name in the first place, let alone met me. Yet it still warranted no response from him.

I balled up my fists in frustration. The pressure stung my injured fingers and palms.

Either the guy was a deep sleeper, or that sphere was soundproof. Or something unexplainable that’ll probably push me off the edge of sanity. Whichever fate fancies this time, I guess.

“Okay…” I grimaced, readjusting myself on the beam. “Save him, save you… so says the talking snake. Yeah right. More like save yourself, and while you’re at it, help this guy out too.”

I had to find a way down now. I couldn’t just leave him here. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to be left alone. Not in a place like this, surrounded by death. And right now, he might be the only person I could help.

I bit my lip while plotting out the way down. There were two more beams I could slide down to if the hanging vines were strong like the first. I examined my palms, then winced. They were bloodied from cuts and raw from sliding so harshly down the first vine.

Man, Tarzan and Jane must have mad calluses from all their aggressive vine swinging.

One of my sleeves had ripped during the anarchy at my house, now only hanging on by threads at the shoulder. It just had to be my favorite graphic tee, didn’t it? With a sigh, I ripped off the sleeve the rest of the way.

After getting it off, I struggled with the sleeve for another moment to rip it again. Once done, I carefully wrapped the torn shreds around both of my palms to help with the pain and hopefully prevent further injury. I used my teeth to get both tied and secured in place.

Some time passed while mapping out the route I hoped would guarantee survival. I’d think of one way, then find a flaw and have to start back over. But I couldn’t spend too much time trying to figure this out, because how much time did Blaire have? I already wasted too much time as is. Were they still fighting for their lives? Or did they find a way to escape?

I steeled myself against the upcoming tears. No. Crying helped no one. I couldn’t help anyone if I died, so getting this right was essential.

By the time I decided on a path, abundant light seeped through the hole in the roof, and I could see the pinkish-orange sun in the center of the strange sky. The sand sprinkling down sparkled as the light kissed each individual grain.

On any other day, I would've stopped to marvel at such a strange and beautiful sight. But today I learned monsters were real, and knowledge like that has a way of ruining pretty views.

My jaw clenched. If I waited any longer, I’d risk attempting this as it grew dark, or worse - attempt to stay awake until the following day.

It had to be now.

“Down two beams, get to the connecting wall… then very carefully scale down about two floors,” using those teeny tiny frames with my poor fingers and toes, “until I can grab onto those overgrown dead roots that may or may not be a death sentence…”

Piece of cake.

Or a recipe for disaster.

I shouldn’t have said the plan aloud.

Nevertheless, I scooted across the beam towards a wrapped vine and tested its strength with a couple tugs, then sharp yanks. It seemed to be okay. Even still, my entire body took on a violent tremble as I swung my leg over and gently lowered myself with the vine. It made the withered plant quiver unsteadily. I squeezed the vine in between my legs to keep it from shaking all over the place.

“S-stay calm,” I begged, taking it one centimeter at a time. “Just like Jane f-from Tarzan.” I wasn’t audacious enough to pretend to be like Tarzan himself.

When I reached the end of the vine, my arms shook when extending them. It sent pain to blister across my ribs. As soon as my toes touched the next platform, I released the plant and crouched onto the beam.

I hugged it, panting.

After collecting myself, I did the same with the next vine. “T-trust your heart… let fate d-decide…” I sang one of my favorite songs from Tarzan while climbing down to the next beam.

It creaked forebodingly under my weight after letting go of the vine. The far end of the beam groaned. The following brassy grind made my body freeze.

A single heartbeat later, the far end of the beam broke loose and plummeted towards the ground. I shrieked, clinging on to the higher end in blind terror.

When the back end slammed into the ground, my body lurched from the jarring impact being nearly bucked off. But my arms and legs clung together, refusing to let go. My body flung from the abrupt change of motion before swinging to the underside of the beam, all while sliding down with zero control.

My blood-curdling screams echoed off the walls, too scared to watch what happened next. My legs crashed into another set of vines, like an ill-placed speed bump on the highway. I yelped, losing my grip on the beam, and my butt abruptly… bumped a surface.

Still and unmoving.

I cracked open an eye. Hope bloomed in the form of dirt and shriveled roots on ground level. “Thank you.” my breath shook. The desire to kiss the dirty ground rushed through me, but I had enough dirt covering me as is. No need to add any more to the equation.

The cloud of dirt settled back down from the disruption the fallen beam caused while I got back to my feet - eyes trained on the man in the sphere.

The stranger the iridescent cobra claimed I needed to save was near the back of the desolate greenhouse inside a large holographic-like sphere. Sourcing from a matte black dais at about hip level, matching wires snaked under the sphere, embedding themselves into him. Dried blood stained the wires close to his skin.

The only movement he made was the slow rise and fall of his chest. My lips pressed together, heart pumping madly with anticipation. Something about standing in front of him caused a whirlwind of emotions to swirl in my chest. His name lingered fervently on the tip of my tongue.

When touching the sphere, ripples fawned across the entity, but my fingers couldn’t break through. I tried pressing my hand harder against it, but no budge.

I frowned up at him, then around the place. It seemed to have been abandoned for quite some time. And if that’s the case then how has he survived inside this thing all this time? By looks alone, he looked healthy and strong, as if he’d only recently been placed inside. He was just as handsome, if not more in person. He had a few faded scars on different parts of visible skin, from what I could see. Two jagged, uneven scars near the top of his right shoulder – one larger than the other. Another thin one across his opposite lat, then two claw-like scars between his hip and deep v of his defined stomach muscles. Gods. Being this close, he resembled some kind of warrior prince.

My face flamed up from the embarrassing thought, and I shoved it away.

“I expect a lot of answers from you once I save your butt.” I pursed my lips at the sleeping stranger and his strange prison.

With the strange sky and this tech, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out this is an alien planet of some sorts. I mean, freaking monsters made of crystals attacked my house! Anything goes at this point.

But I didn’t have any time to waste on speculation and theory crafting right now. Not when Blaire and Nolan could be running for their lives at this very moment. Just the thought of my best friend in life-threatening danger made me sick with fear. I was taking too long, and I knew it.

I bet Nolan regrets ever helping me in the first place. He probably wishes he never begged his brother to stop and help me on the road.

I took in a deep breath, letting my hand drop from the sphere.

“Okay… this seems promising.” I stepped in front of the black dais. When touching the flat top, it lit up like a screen tablet. My brows rose. Extrinsic runic symbols of a foreign language decorated the screen in unrecognizable patterns. My nose scrunched up, like it always did when staring at a difficult math equation I hadn’t studied.

I spoke too soon.

All that promise flushed right down the drain while staring at the possibly alien puzzle. I hated puzzle type games involving anything math or mechanical back on my planet, so I would definitely hate them on another planet too!

“What the freaking hell is this?”

Minutes went by while I tapped various things on the screen. I used the tips of my fingers in order to not dirty the screen with blood. Frustration began to kick in after attempting numerous different sequences, failing to find any sort of solution or pattern. It was all I could do to keep the angry tears at bay.

And to make matters worse, the sunlight began to fade.

I banged a fist against the matte screen. “What if I’m too late?” my voice cracked.

I eyed the wires, wondering what would happen if I yanked them out. How deep were they embedded into him? If I pulled on them, would that kill him? Hell. If I could just wake him up, maybe he could tell me the right code.

A greenhouse would have a pair of scissors, right? If I cut them... but what if the wires were acting as a lifeline? Maybe if I snipped just one...

Don’t overthink this.

I turned around, scanning the area for something useful. Withered plants drooped everywhere and on everything, partially covering a dirtied marbled path throughout the dome. Next to an empty pond, overlapping rocks were stacked together, looking to have once been a cascading stream of water.

Directly under the hole in the roof, a pile of sand laid in the center. Sprinkles of sand still trickled down, resembling gold dust in the dimming ray of light.

I walked over and picked up the black ring in the pile, then clenched it tightly in my aching fist. I pocketed it for later examination as a bad idea struck.

Around one side of the dome, a long counter wrapped around a third of the way with a few rusty chairs. I went over and snagged one, making my way back over to the stranger. Pain lanced across my side as I hurled it at the sphere cage. My ribs screamed in protest and the chair ricocheted off, skidding against the ground.

Holographic wavelets surged wildly over its surface. But he remained undisturbed - like the epitome of what it means to be a deep sleeper. The male version of Sleeping Beauty.

When I chunked the chair at it again, I noticed an air bubble escape his lips. Coincidence or not, I kept going. I threw the chair over and over again, crying out when the pain in my ribs couldn’t take it anymore.

The snake’s message once again looped in my mind, and I screamed until my lungs wanted to burst. My cheeks were soaked with tears by the time I kicked the dais and collapsed against it, smearing blood on it when slumping down to my knees in defeat.

But not a second after my knees hit the ground, the dais suddenly vibrated as if a couple dozen phones went off at the same time from within it. I pushed away from it, then noticed the top of the sphere began to dissolve. Little holographic atoms melted into the dissolving orb like acid eating away at the shell, sending gelatinous fluid spilling to the floor.

I flinched, hand clasping my mouth as the wires pulled free from him like snakes extracting their fangs. His body lurched from the action, and he gasped out the same moment the sphere had completely dissolved. His feet touched the floor before his body collapsed under him.

I scrambled towards him when the realization hit, barely catching his head in time.

Shock shivered through me. I stared down at him dumbfoundedly, completely uncaring of the weird gelatinous fluid we sat in. My fingers shook, hesitating before pushing obsidian-black hair from his handsome face. My fingers hovered over him, then pulled back against my chest in excited uncertainty.

His breath hitched, chest rising.

Holy hell.

I survived a monster attack, scaled-slash-fell down a crazy distance, and managed to save this guy too? I’m amazing! I’m like one of those fairytale princes who fights a dragon before heroically saving the princess. Well, save for a few teeny tiny differences. But still!

I pressed my lips together, swallowing past the knot in my throat. “It’s okay now. You’re safe.” I kept my voice as reassuring as possible, despite my racing heart. “I, um, don’t think whoever did this to you is still here.”

Which obviously had to be an evil scientist. Am I right? This had evil scientist written all over it.

His eyes blinked open, dark and unfocused, and struggling to pinpoint me. They were so dark, I could feel myself falling into them. His eyes were an absolute black, darker than his hair, rivaling the darkest corners of the night sky itself.

Heat rose in my cheeks. “Do you, uh - can I help you stand?” I hadn’t thought this far. When was the appropriate time to tell him I needed his help, like, effective immediately? I should at least wait until he gets to his feet, says a few words… before explaining it was his turn to do the mean cobra’s bidding.

The muscles in his arm tightened when he pushed himself up from my lap. He spoke in smoky, sleep-riddled tones... but I couldn’t understand a single word of the strange language.

Dread hit me almost the same moment his hand snatched my neck.

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