Chapter Seven: The Digital Trap
322 Words
Leo’s heart hammered against his ribs. His phone was right there, sitting less than twenty feet away from the circle of shifting creatures.
Without that phone, he had no way to check a map, no way to call for help, and no light if his path went completely dark. But trying to sneak past a group of shape-shifters huddled directly around their only light source was a suicide mission.
He inched backward into the shadows of the ravine wall, his mind racing through options. There had to be a distraction.
He looked down at his backpack. Inside, besides a water bottle and a crumpled notebook, he had a small, heavy metal multi-tool.
An idea formed, risky and desperate.
Leo unzipped his bag with agonizing slowness, making sure not to let the zipper teeth make a sound. He pulled out the multi-tool, gripped it tightly, and looked around for a loose stone. Finding a jagged piece of shale about the size of an apple, he picked it up in his right hand.
He needed to throw the stone far down the opposite side of the ravine to draw them away from the fire.
Taking a deep breath, Leo wound his arm back and hurled the stone as hard as he could into the deep darkness down-channel.
Clatter-clack-crunch!
The rock bounced wildly off the metal side of an abandoned drum further down the creek bed, echoing loudly through the stone corridor.
Instantly, the murmuring around the fire stopped.
The figures snapped their heads toward the sound in unison, their movements terrifyingly synchronized. With a low, collective hiss, every single one of them stood up and surged down the creek bed toward the noise, moving with unnatural, spider-like speed.
The clearing around the barrel was empty.
Leo didn't hesitate. He burst out from the shadows, sprinting straight toward the green-flamed barrel.
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