Page 11 of Monsterland Mayhem

My heart beats faster in my chest, creating a thrumming in my ears that sounds ominous and chilling.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t swim.

I can’t do anything other than allow the black glue to take me down, down,down.

I hope Beast doesn’t follow me or try to help. There’s no escaping this bizarre fate. It’s so dark. And heavy. And… and…

My brow furrows.And gone,I realize as my hand suddenly meets air.

I wave my arms and kick my legs, surprised to find them free.

What…?

Another shriek escapes me as air whips around me, my long hair tangling in the wind as the sensation offallingspikes through my veins.

“Oh!” My limbs pinwheel as I try to grab something—anything—to stop my fall.

But there’s nothing here.

Just more darkness.

Light air.

And whooshing sounds.

My dress flaps around me, my shoes long gone thanks to the bizarre liquid. I’m not too upset by that last part. But I wish I knew what was?—

Blinding light has my arms flying up to meet my face, my palms instantly covering my eyes.

Then everything stops on a violent splash.

Gasping, I struggle, the icy water an unwelcome sensation against my skin. I know how to swim, but this… this has all been so jarring. So overwhelming. Soimpossiblethat I… I can’t… I just…

My lungs scream with the need for oxygen, my mouth threatening to open. But I’m submerged. I’m lost in this chilly sea of unfamiliarity. Drown?—

Something grabs my wrist, jerking me out of the waves as a sturdy band encircles my lower back.

I gasp as fresh air hits my face, my chest instantly filling on a much-needed inhale.

“You’re all right, sweetheart,” a deep voice murmurs near my ear. “I’ve got you.”

I freeze.

It wasn’t asomethingthat grabbed my wrists, but asomeone. And that sturdy band was a muscular arm.

My eyelashes flutter as I try to focus—to see—but all I end up doing is slamming them shut as water drips into my eyes.

“Shh,” he hushes.

I will notshh. I have no idea who is touching me, how I ended up here, or wherehereeven is!

I flail in his arms, earning me a grunt from my captor.

Or… orsavior, I guess. He saved me. Sort of. Maybe.

And he’sverystrong because those bands—arms—of his wrap even more securely around me as he drags me through the water.