BURN IN HADES Read Online Free PDF Page B

than his head. He held the wing up to his mouth with both hands. The draggles claws tapped the surface of the floor as if they were scurrying away. Something had spooked them. He squinted his eyes and peered into the dark corridor in front of him.
    Three lanky figures skulked into the hall. Each of them was hunched forward due to pronounced curves in their spines and with knees that pointed backwards which forced them to bend even further forward. If they were crouched just a few inches lower they’d be standing on all fours. Squals.
    Cross held his breath as the three squals slinked around the room slowly as if they hadn’t seen him yet. The creatures investigated the area the draggles had just evacuated. If the draggles hadn’t signaled him, he wouldn’t have heard the squals enter. But they also could have been the reason he had just been found. If they were true friends, they would have stayed around to help him escape.
    Before he could blow out the candles, his stomach barked with hunger. At once, the squals snapped their heads toward him. If only they had showed up five minutes later after he had taken a bite.
    The squals stalked him from the other side of the room, drumming their claws on the floor and dripping with a nasty wetness. The light beams that poked through the haze of dust from above shined on the smooth sheen of sweat or slime that covered their hairless bodies and glistened off their leathery skin.
    “You have a mind,” said one of the squals, “beautiful enough to be worth nine objects-sss.”
    Cross’s mouth dried up. He had burned the last squal that came for his head. The ones standing before him now wouldn’t take any more chances. Seconds passed.
    The squals stood at the other end of the hall sizing him up through the layer of skin that grew over the top half of their faces, covering any trace of a nose or eyes. Only their mouths were exposed on their beady heads. Their tiny thorn-like teeth bared.
    Good thing they needed to take him prisoner before they chopped off his head. That was the only element fueling his confidence that he had a chance at to survive. If they had planned to kill him on sight, he’d have already met his second death long ago. Even if they caught him this time, he was determined to make it as difficult as possible for them to steal his memories.
    His insides squirmed as if worms were burrowing their way to the surface.
    “Do you mind?” He said to the squals and gestured down at the food on the table. “I know how important I am to you.”
    “Your head,” said the center squal, “or rather what’s-sss in-sss-side it is-sss important. Not you.”
    “Same difference.” Cross shrugged. “The thing is, you interrupted my meal, and I’m really hungry. My head is no good to you if I burn.”
    The squals turned to each other as if taken aback by his nonchalant attitude.
    “One bite is-sss all you need,” said the center squal. It must’ve been the leader of that particular posse since it did the most speaking.
    Cross raised the wing to his mouth and paused. “Where’s my manners? You three came all this way. You must be hungry. Sit down. Dinner’s on me.”
    “Eat quickly! Or we’ll feed your pet cornurus-sss to you.”
    Cross bit into the barbot wing, savoring the juicy chicken flavor. It was delicious. He had outdone himself and wished he could enjoy the rest or even share it with Cottontail. He’d even give her the wings. He chewed the meat slowly, buying time, trying to figure out his next move.
    The squals blocked his only exit. If he could draw them away from the main corridor, then he could make a clean escape. The squals would easily catch him if he ran to the compact cooking area. But that’s where he had left his obsidian blade, and if he could get to it, he could make a better stand against them.
    He sat there and swallowed his food hard. His stomach settled and relaxed. He licked his fingers then wiped his mouth and hands on his bib.
    The