Get down and get inside! Mama Jack’s hands under his arms helped him slide to the ground as wind grew stirring the rubble.
“This way.” Grandfather drew him to a side door.
A chunk of the abutment, half the size of Finny’s head, flew up and toward him. It grazed his head, then crashed into the wall and crumbled. “Ouch!” The word blasted the quiet. A second chunk of wall flew up and followed the first. Finny ducked and dodged as he ran for the door his grandfather indicated. Before he entered, he turned. What about the others? He worried that Zeuflin and Misty couldn’t fit through.
We’ll meet you inside. Take care of yourself, said Misty.
A third stone crashed into the façade over his head.
“You can’t escape me,” a strange unearthly voice cackled.
Finny turned to look back. A beautiful white lace flooded into the cavern. It stopped short of wrapping around the fountain. A little too close, overflow from the fountain dripped on it. Hot molten lava sizzled and popped. Cold blackness spread, as natural heat was lost. The lace pulled back.
One long strand broke away from the main thickening mass. Formed into a hand with twisted fingers it reached out, but stopped short of his face. Stiff, they quivered in anticipation. Long nails scraped the air before his eyes. Before he could react, the hand raced down and wrapped around his right ankle. A strong jerk sought to pull him off balance, as fingers dug in, painful and deep.
“Mama Jack!” he screamed.
Finny looked around, hoping to find someone, something, to save him. Only unlit torches in sconces on the wall were in sight and none of these were close enough to grab.
Another stand broke away and raced to help the first. This one grabbed his throat and started to squeeze.
“Mama Jack! Misty! Anybody! Help me.”
Use your magic. It was the girl’s voice.
We can’t help you. You must help yourself, said Misty
“But. But. But.” Finny wanted to run away and hide.
“Shhhhh,” The others chorused.
Help yourself and we’ll be there with you. You must find that spark from within. If you can’t, then there is no hope for any for us. Zeuflin joined in with his advice.
Start with what you know, then look around to find more, said Raskee.
A vice twisted into a knot and dug fingers deeper into Finny’s throat. He’d heard about seeing spots when you couldn’t breathe. Now these swirled before his eyes. If I don’t do something soon–