Costly Obsession: Animalize

by Sasha Pruett

  *****

  Jonathan felt useless and stupid fumbling in the dust for the light he had dropped and Gary’s had rolled to the far end of the cave worthless to him in the near pitch black, Aaron’s at least illuminated the coiled monster they were in search of, but found way too early. He had to help, to do his part, when his hand landed on the cold aluminum neck of his flashlight; redemption. A flashlight with a busted bulb; ruin. All he could do now was helplessly watch the standoff unfolding a few yards away, then he remembered Michael; terrified and alone somewhere in the dark. He prayed he was more successful with this search than he was the last one, leaving the others to a very large issue of their own.