All Things Are Possible

“Boom!” Kiki jumped, startled by the sudden explosion as it shook the walls of her underground cell. Uncurling her exhausted and abused body, she limped quickly to the cell bars. Being locked up underground in the dark for 10 years, made her eyesight adapt to see into that of the inky darkness around her. It also helped that she was part shape shifter. If her dad hadn’t sold her, she’d know how to do more than turn her eyes into those of cat, but as far as actually shape-shifting, unfortunately she never got her proper training. “Boom!” Another ear splitting explosion rocked the ground, making her gasp and hold tightly to the bars to keep from falling. What is going on? she thought, as she started to make her way across the shaking floor. Looking around the dark room, she made her way to the only real piece of furniture in there. A heavy, thick wooden table, reeking of her blood, and various other bodily fluids. It was the one thing she always tried to avoid touching or looking at when she was forcibly strapped to it. Suppressing, a shudder, Kiki slid underneath it, managing not to bush against the underside. Making herself as small as possible, she laid there waiting for the next explosion, so sure that it will bring the ceiling down on her. Minutes passed before she noticed it. The silence. It was an erie silence, the type that made the hair on her arms stand up. Her breath caught in her throat as she strained her ears for any sound. Before the explosions she could hear a party going on upstairs, which wasn’t unusual in this household. Her “masters”, Mr. Andy and Mrs. Jewel Splicers, were widely know for their exquisite and sometimes over the top parties. The Splicers parties could carry on for days at a time, often ending only because Mrs. Splicers was tired of the noise. Of course, the parties were only a cover up for the salve trade, or their various other trade deals. Their hired help could go through with the transactions while they hid and relaxed at home, and the hired help inevitably takes any blame if they’re caught. Suddenly, a clanking sound from above pulled Kiki from her thoughts. That…sounded like…rattling? She thought with a frown. Lifting her head off the dirty floor, she listened, unsure if she actually heard something, when it came again. This time it was followed by a low growl, causing her blood to turn to ice as terror filled her. As she laid there, listening to the sounds coming from above, her mind scrabbled as fear turned her stomach and dried her already dry mouth, the first ear splitting scream shot through the air. Biting down harshly on her lip to keep herself from screaming too, her eyes wide with fear, Kiki shook violently, as a responding deafening roar ripped through the air. Another scream rang out, this time more filled with terror, as feet suddenly pounded against the floor in an effort to get away from whatever had roared. A effort that was wasted as the creature gave chase with a screech and the turbulent rattling of chains. Its chase cause the house to start shaking again, causing the already weakened ceiling to start to collapse. But no sooner had the person whose desperate scrabble away started, did it end with a yelp that broke into a scream of pain and terror. With a roar followed by squishy chomping, silence descended once again over the house. Kiki squeezed her eyes shut, as realization dawned on her, it’s a Cur, she thought as her rebelled against the reality of her situation. A Cur was a tall, fur less, creature that resembled a bat in the face but had the body of a Great War Bar. It’s a creature said to have the hands and feet of a man, but they ended in 7 inch razor sharp claws. Apparently they also have the wings of a bat and their mouths have four rows of sharp jagged teeth. It’s a creature that usually lives in the Desert of Echon, and is only seen at night by the only village that lives close by. Cur’s aren’t creatures that like to travel far from their home, Kiki ponders, as the Cur continued to enjoy its meal. As terrified as I am right now, she thought, why is a Cur here of all places? I might not know where “here” is but I do know that we’re no where near the village of Desert Echon. A shudder passed through her as it finished its meal and proceeded further into the house, she could hear it stiffing now as it passed directly over her cell. Even though there was a least one floor separating her from the top floor, the Cur’s sniffing and shuffling can be heard clearly. Realizing that, she couldn’t help but wonder just how big this thing was and if she’ll survive to see another day.