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The two Phaelix on the deck steal glances at Betty.A third appears at the doorstep, holding something that resembles a slingshot in one hand and a big rock in the other.

They must think Betty is circling them to pick one of them off the ground as a meal, and that slingshot is their best chance at protecting themselves.A hit to the head could be fatal.

I’m about to hightail it to safety when someone else stumbles through the door, someone with blond hair.

Holy cow.

It’s not a Phaelix.It’s a woman.She screams and hangs back, trying to duck into the house, but the Phaelix with the stick grabs her wrist and pulls her roughly onto the deck before pushing her toward a rope ladder.She screams again, lifting her dirt-streaked face toward the sky.Her clothes are in tatters, and her arms and legs are so filthy they look brown.

Hold on.

I know that face.

Oh, my god.

It’s the woman from the slave barge, the one who spoke to me in English with a British accent.

The Phaelix leading the party drops his basket to the ground.It lands with a thud, sending a cloud of dust into the air.He barks out something to the others before climbing swiftly down the ropes.The Phaelix with the stick shoves the woman toward the ladder, inviting even louder screams.The one with the slingshot takes up a position on the deck and fixes a menacing gaze on Betty.

The leader snatches up his basket and turns it over next to the fire.A heap of rocks falls at his feet.Ammunition.It looks as if they may try to stone poor Betty to death if they can’t get her with a single rock from the slingshot.

By now, the woman and the Phaelix with the stick have also climbed down the ladder.The Phaelix grips the woman’s arm and drags her a short distance away before forcing her onto her knees.Her sobs and pleas have no effect on him as he points the stick at her and tells her in his rough accent, “Shut up, slave.”

It’s a trap.They’re using the woman as bait to lure Betty closer.They have no qualms about sacrificing a slave, turning her into dinosaur meat to save their own skins, or I should say, scales.

Bastards.

I steer off to the right and land behind a hill where we’re hidden from sight.

“Go home,” I tell Betty, giving her a quick hug before clambering off her back and jumping to the ground.

There’s no way I’m allowing them to hurt her.I also don’t want to give Betty a chance to be tempted by the human meat waiting for her in the clearing.She may be as tame as a poodle with me, but I haven’t had a chance to test the extent of my power yet.Betty remains a wild animal, and a dangerous, giant predator at that.

She tilts her head.

“Go on,” I urge.

She’s hesitant, but I can always call her back if I need her.However, if my plan works, I’ll be on Earth before sunset.

Fuck.

I may never see Betty again.

I won’t be able to explore this parallel world and its dinosaurs.

I’ll never see Aruan again.

The notion hurts with unexpected force, but I push it down.I need to focus.I need to think about Mom and Dad.

Putting everything else from my mind, I run to the foot of the hill.When I look back over my shoulder, Betty is hovering in the long, fatty blades of swaying grass, following my movements with unblinking eyes.

“Go,” I say again, trying hard to speak normally when my voice is close to breaking.“Go home before it gets dark.”

It’s not until I’m halfway up the hill that Betty finally lunges into the air.I stop, shading my face with my hand.She circles me once, twice, and then flies back in the direction from which we came.

“This was awesome,” I whisper.“I’ll never forget it.”

Tears burn at the backs of my eyes, but I blink them away and carry on climbing until I reach the summit.