I could feel light tapings on my cheeks and I tried to open my eyes. However, the direct sun rays falling on my eyes were making it difficult for them to function, therefore I allowed my ears to investigate my surroundings beforehand. I could hear a light beeping sound and neighing of a horse when suddenly a husky voice spoke from my side "Shut it, Aaron. It's because of you we are in this situation. You are the one who told me to help her. Look where it landed us. Now her belt is beeping and she isn't waking up."

I remembered the voice belonging to the man from the alley. It seems he was mocking somebody. Curious I opened my eyes to see him talking to his horse. "You can understand him?" I asked. However, my voice came barely a whisper.

The man immediately turned to look at me. "You are awake. Thank the heavens." He said his voice relieved. I nodded and proceeded to sit. Looking around I found myself in a park with the man and his horse on either side of me. The beeping I had heard earlier was coming from my belt.

"Why did you become unconscious? Did someone attack you again? I tried to find signs of a strike but couldn't find anything." he asked with a hint of concern in his voice. I don't know why but it made my lips curve in a genuine smile.

"Nothing of that sort happened. The information you gave me was too much to handle I guess." I answered him with a shrug, trying not to let him hear my inner raging emotions that were starting to resurface. This caused a visible relief on his features.

"You have too small a brain," he said with a smirk rising on his lips. However, he immediately sobered up and looked gravely at my chain belt "It's beeping for a long time. You have somewhere to be?"

I racked my brain to remember where I needed to be "It would be her maid of honour with a delivery for her only. I don't think it's really important. I think I'll miss it." I thought aloud.

"ARE YOU INSANE?" the man thundered. I turned to find him with clear anger shimmering on his face. "You don't miss any event in her life ever. No event is insignificant. No matter what has to happen you go back right now. Am I clear?!" he asked me with a murderous glare in his eyes with a hint of fear.

"Okay! First of all, you need to calm down. You are going to blow my ears out. Secondly, I can't reach my house in so little time. It's too far." I had no idea why he was behaving in this way. I could easily make an excuse to Ginny later. It was no big deal seriously. And the last part was an actual problem. So, I wasn't even going to try.

He looked at me all confused. "The fifth hook from the right. It's used for teleportation. Don't you tell me that you were going everywhere walking your legs out." he had a hint of amusement in his voice and the smirk was threatening to rise again. I, therefore, decided not to give him any more satisfaction. The fact was actually news to me. I looked at the denounced hook.

"You need to leave now," he said making his way towards his horse and preparing to leave. I seriously need to figure out what's with him and leaving. I also stood up and organised myself.

"So, where will I meet you again?" I cried after him, seeing that he had already climbed on the saddle and started to make his way to what I assume is the alley.

"You won't!" he shouted back.

I looked at his retreating back in disbelief. He was such a... ugh!! The beeping from my belt increased. I knew I had to go back. Even though I knew nothing bad would happen if I don't go, somewhere his fear had infected me. He knew something that I didn't and I was eager to find out.

Now what happened next, I blame it totally on my stupid and curious mind. Anxious for information I flipped the fifth hook from the right. However, instead of going home, I aimed for a hiding place, two lanes away from our present location in the direction where that jerk was headed.

A tingling sensation emerged in my waist near the chain belt as soon as I flipped the hook. The sensation slowly started progressing in both directions. As it reached the tip of my legs and my brain, a yellow light suddenly covered me. It diminished as soon as it had come and simultaneously my whole body froze, my lungs contracted, eyes and ears closed. Then abruptly everything became normal. I felt a little dizzy but as soon as I stabilised and looked around, I realised that I wasn't in the park anymore. I had been teleported to my destination. This was actually cool! At least the jerk was somewhat useful. Right, that reminds me.

I hid behind a dumpster and waited for that insolent man and his horse. By now the beeping of my belt had diminished and was slowly coming to a halt. I grinned internally at this. Maybe I could tell him that I did go back. That way I could be with him and he won't even be angry. I was deep in my thoughts when I heard a shuffling in front. I rose to see him. Only to find it wasn't him.

In front of me were the three most peculiar creatures. They were like human shadows. They were black from top to bottom except for a red dot blinking on them. The dot was continuously changing position, roaming on their bodies. All of them were moving their heads as if looking for something. However, I wasn't really sure. The absence of eyes, ears and even a face for that matter, tend to leave me confused. On the other hand, I was absolutely sure that these things were screaming danger in every way possible.

I decided to take a chance and started making my way slowly from behind the dumpster towards the entrance of the alley. Howbeit, my efforts failed as soon as I stood up. The creatures who were all looking in different directions suddenly stilled. Steadily they turned to face me (or can I even say that since they don't have a face). My legs froze as they started coming toward me. My brain seemed to have cut all its ties with my legs. No matter how much the former was screaming to run away from there, my legs just refused to move.

I kept standing there, staring at them and they kept progressing toward me. As soon as they were at an arm's length, the middle one raised his hand and touched my shoulder. The touch burnt my skin. Literally. However, it was enough to bring me back to reality. Reflexively, I fell down to the ground. The three of them were towering over me so I crawled out of my cage from between their legs. While moving away, my shoulder again touched one of their legs which again produced a feeling of burn.

Emerging on the other side, I stood up and glanced down to see my dress actually burnt from the place they had touched. Alright! So these monsters could really roast me to my death just by touching me. I again saw them coming towards me. This time, I didn't need any motivation to run away. I started sprinting. However, the creatures were way faster than I anticipated. My speed was too slow and they were gaining on me. I removed my heels to run faster and threw one of them on the head of one of the creatures.

My aim was great but the creatures were just the opposite. The sandal just passed straight through them. I cursed my fate. Out of all the monsters that I could have the blessing to meet, hell decided for a permeable one. I tried to remove my second sandal while running. But I couldn't manage and I tripped. I turned to find them halted in their tracks. It was as if they were feeling disrespected. I guess they hoped for a little better competition from their targets. This thought suddenly ignited a fire in me and I saw all red. I wasn't going down without a fight. I still had to get answers from that stupid man and no permeable toaster can stop me from doing it.

I looked around to find something or someone who could help me. However, all I saw apart from me and the creatures were some colourful birds staring intently at us. From the books Dora read, I know that birds are excellent fighters. Nonetheless, these birds were simply there to watch my death show. Deciding to deal with them later, I willed my hand to start roaming on the ground grasping anything that can be used to hit the monsters. It found some stones and I started throwing them toward those monsters. I had no target in mind and just wanted to cause them as much harm as possible. I threw another stone. But unlike the others which were passing through them, this stone actually rebounded from the creature on the right. As if on the cue, the creature burst into the thin air.

I should have been proud of my small victory but all I felt was fear. The loss of one of their friends seemed to have triggered the remaining two monsters. They started advancing on me with greater speed and a more determined approach. Terrified, I closed my eyes, waiting to become a human barbeque when I heard the neighing of a horse. Curious I opened my eyes to find the insolent man from before. His horse had pounced on the second creature and was beating it with his hoof. He, on the other hand, was fighting the last monster using a knife.

From my little knowledge of fighting, I understood him to be aiming only for the red dot. Stunned I watched the two of them taking on the two monsters, while I kept sitting on the ground and staring at them. The man was a really good and trained fighter. He seemed to know his moves and within minutes the disgusting monster had met his end. After winning, he took one look at his horse to see if he needed any help. But the horse was doing fine itself. With raging speed, the horse raised and attacked the red dot and suddenly the monster crumbled. I heaved a sigh of relief. I managed to be alive today. My sigh was however too loud. Upon hearing it, the man turned towards me. I wanted to thank him, but one look in his eyes was enough to shut me up. Because in his eyes only one emotion was visible. Rage.  

Comment an emoji showing what you see beside yourself. Mine is - 📚(tbh that is all I see all day) :(

Also, if you sympathize with Anana for meeting a permeable toaster as an excuse for a monster, vote on the chapter!