The Shape-Shifter’s Wrath by Sarah Ruth W.

“No! Please! Don’t!” she screamed as loud as she could manage.
The shape-shifter looked up to see the young girl’s horror struck face, and smiled sinisterly.
“Please! I beg you, don’t hurt him!” she yelled.
“Get back, Heidi, before he comes after you!” the boy yelled frantically.
The shape-shifter shot a rancid glare in his direction, and then smiled auspiciously at her once again.
“What would you have to give me in return for him?” he asked sourly giving the boy another menacing look.
Heidi looked at the ground, and then looked into the boy’s pleading eyes. She knew what he wanted. He wanted her to get out of this wretched place and run to her family. He wanted her to be safe. She stared at him unable to speak until the sound of the shifter’s voice startled her.
“Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Come now, my dear, we don’t have all—“
“Take me instead of Ben,” she blurted out.
“NO!” Ben cried, but then silenced by the shifter’s kick to the face. The shifter looked up, and gave Heidi another stomach-churning smile.
“Hmm…. I see you mean a lot to ol’ Benny-boy here,” he said gesturing down at Ben. He looked down at Ben—who was giving him a glare of pure hatred. The shifter continued, “and, as I can see, she means a lot to you, too, Ben. Hmm? Am I not right?” he asked as a rhetorical question.
Ben looked up at Heidi; she could see the resignation on his despairing face.
“Ahh… I’m assuming that would be a yes,” he said amused.
Ben looked up at the shifter with another ferocious glare and said, “Leave her out of this, Malik.” He emphasized the name and continued, “The quarrel is between you and I.”
“Ah, ah, ah…” Malik replied shaking his finger at Ben.
“You made her a part of this as soon as you brought her into our world,” he continued seething wickedness.
Heidi stood—half confused—as she listened to their conversation. Malik looked up to see Heidi and understood her confused expression.
“Oh! This is just excellent!” Malik said with a delighted smile, “you haven’t told her what we are,” he paused, “what we’re part of.”
Ben looked up to see Malik’s evil-looking face.
“C’mon now, Ben! Get up! Tell her what we are,” he said pulling Ben up vigorously and pushing him towards her.
He stumbled into her and said, “I’m so sorry.”
She knew he wasn’t saying sorry for bumping into her, but sorry for the huge catastrophe she had been thrown into. He held onto her—not only for support, but to embrace her.
“Aw! How sweet,” Malik said mockingly.
Ben turned slowly around to face him, and put himself in a protective-like stance in front of her.
“Let her go,” Ben said firmly.
“Tell her what we are and maybe…” his words trailed off as he gave a terrorizing chuckle.
For the first time, Heidi looked at her surroundings. They were in some sort of tomb underground. They were in some sort of tomb underground. There were beautiful bas-relief carvings on the walls. The only light wax coming from torches set along the far walls. How had they entered this place? She could not see an exit anywhere until she looked at Malik. He stood in front of the only exit—they’re only way to escape….
She noticed Malik eyeing her; his foot tapped impatiently, but other than that he seemed perfectly at ease.

To be continued…