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of its remaining roots. Gripping it like a giant baseball bat, he
swung it at Brandon and Russell.
    Brandon launched into the air, narrowly
avoiding the tree. Russell's coils yanked hard on his neck,
however, sending him in an arc that plowed him right back into the
ground.
    Tommy made another great leap, landing
beside them. He seized Russell by the tail, and swung them over his
head, finally flinging them in the direction of a small creek.
    Brandon re-directed his path, bringing him
down into the creek bed. He turned so Russell was underneath him
and plunged into the water, grazing the bed of rocks.
    He still has to breathe, he
remembered of his experience in space. Let's hope he takes in
some water.
    Above him he saw Tommy leaping to intercept
them again. Brandon curved his flight and rocketed up to meet him.
At the last moment he turned and cut off his power, allowing Tommy
to collide with Russell's sputtering, fanged face. The jolt was
enough nearly to knock him out as well, but he managed to
reactivate his power and sail down. Russell's coils were loose now.
Brandon shrugged him off and threw him to the ground; he was out
cold.
    Suddenly, something hit him in the back: a
big tree limb. Brandon fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of
him.
    A massive hand wrapped around his neck and
Tommy hauled him into the air. He slammed Brandon into the ground
and leaned over him.
    "You're a tricky little nerd, I'll give ya
that," he said, "but it's 'Game Over' time. And you're all out of
extra lives."
    ______________________
     
    One of the ships hovered above Brandon, and
a light beamed down on him. Brandon tried to fly up to it, but he
couldn't get off the ground. It was as if his feet were glued to
the rooftop.
    Another ship returned, and another, all
casting beams down on Brandon. His arms splayed apart as they held
him, immobile.
    At the center of the aperture in the sky,
another light formed, this one blood red.
    A figure stepped forth.
    ______________________
     
    When Brandon woke up the next morning, his
body was sore all over. His feet were blistered and tender, but he
forced his socks and shoes on, somehow, and got back to work.
    I'm going to find her.
     
    Beth's father was glad to see him, but had
no good news. Beth was nowhere to be found.
    "Thank you so much for putting up all those
flyers," Beth's mom said, hugging him. "You're a sweet boy."
    "I was thinking I'd go out to that cabin and
look for her there," Brandon said.
    "The police have already been over the whole
area," Beth's dad said. "She's not out there."
    "Still, I'd feel better if I at least gave
it a try."
    Beth's mom embraced him again. "Such a good
boy. I'll give you the address."
     
    He arrived at the cabin around noon. He
wasn't sure how his dad would feel about what the gravel road had
likely done to the paint job on his Lexus, but at the moment he
really didn't care.
    The cabin was modestly sized, one main room,
a kitchen, bath, and two bedrooms. Beth's mom had given him a key,
so he let himself in and looked around. Beth had described it
pretty well. It was a cozy place, but the dusty old photos, the
antique furniture, the lack of anything modern, made it an eerie
snapshot of faded memories.
    "Beth?" he called. "Are you here?"
    No answer.
    He looked around in the nooks and crannies,
like the closets and attic, enough to feel comfortable that Beth
wasn't stuck somewhere in the cabin. Then he checked to make sure
he had everything he needed: his backpack, a full canteen, and his
cell phone, complete with compass app. Satisfied that everything
was present and accounted for, he went outside and locked the door
behind him.
    I'm going to find her.
    "Beth!" he shouted as he stepped into the
forest. No reply, unless you counted the birds.
    For hours he walked, calling her name. He
would range out in one direction until he feared he might get lost,
then turn back. Once back at the cabin, he'd go out in another
direction. He walked in diagonals each