Rose turned the open bag toward the teacher. A stray box took the opportunity to escape and fell onto the pavement.
"Ah." Ms. Mckillop said in an uncomfortable way and then turned back to Billy.
"As it turns out, you and Ms. Baker are the only ones who signed up for this field trip. I called the bus garage and told them I would take you myself."
Billy's eyes opened wide. His plan to escape in a large crowd of other children would be completely impossible if there were no other children.
Mrs. Mckillop noticed the change in facial expression and smiled. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll have lots of fun."
Billy was starting to not like Mrs. Mckillop's smiles.
*****************************************************************************
Alex was lost in thought, barely paying attention to the road. Emotions warred in his head, the strongest of which was fear. Nothing had worked out the way he had hoped.
He remembered the lake and the little man. Helpless and so confused, he had no way to protect himself. Reality had slipped away and he had battled for sanity.
At first the little man helped him. He saved his life with his device, and he sat and talked with him until his heart stopped racing. Everything about him whispered of comfort and safety.
Then she came. He shivered. Of all the things he'd seen and experienced, none were as mad and horrible as her.
When he first saw her rise up out of the water, he wanted to run. Of course he couldn't. All he could do was flop and scream.
The "woman" who came out of the lake was nothing but a watery blob filled with foul, rotting plant matter. Long thick tendrils reached out for him and caressed his tail, his fins, and finally his face. He fought not to gag.
The foul blob gurgled and made vile sucking sounds. It was no language he knew, but the little man seemed to understand. He nodded and turned to Alex.
"You're lucky. The mistress is growing stronger. She is going to send you back."
Alex tried to smile, but barely managed a grimace. The smell was overpowering.
"Of course." The little man grinned, "There is a catch."
"What catch?" He asked. The blob continued to caress him, and he shuddered.
"She needs you to do something for her."
"Ah." Ms. Mckillop said in an uncomfortable way and then turned back to Billy.
"As it turns out, you and Ms. Baker are the only ones who signed up for this field trip. I called the bus garage and told them I would take you myself."
Billy's eyes opened wide. His plan to escape in a large crowd of other children would be completely impossible if there were no other children.
Mrs. Mckillop noticed the change in facial expression and smiled. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll have lots of fun."
Billy was starting to not like Mrs. Mckillop's smiles.
*****************************************************************************
Alex was lost in thought, barely paying attention to the road. Emotions warred in his head, the strongest of which was fear. Nothing had worked out the way he had hoped.
He remembered the lake and the little man. Helpless and so confused, he had no way to protect himself. Reality had slipped away and he had battled for sanity.
At first the little man helped him. He saved his life with his device, and he sat and talked with him until his heart stopped racing. Everything about him whispered of comfort and safety.
Then she came. He shivered. Of all the things he'd seen and experienced, none were as mad and horrible as her.
When he first saw her rise up out of the water, he wanted to run. Of course he couldn't. All he could do was flop and scream.
The "woman" who came out of the lake was nothing but a watery blob filled with foul, rotting plant matter. Long thick tendrils reached out for him and caressed his tail, his fins, and finally his face. He fought not to gag.
The foul blob gurgled and made vile sucking sounds. It was no language he knew, but the little man seemed to understand. He nodded and turned to Alex.
"You're lucky. The mistress is growing stronger. She is going to send you back."
Alex tried to smile, but barely managed a grimace. The smell was overpowering.
"Of course." The little man grinned, "There is a catch."
"What catch?" He asked. The blob continued to caress him, and he shuddered.
"She needs you to do something for her."
