by Aisha Saeed
Diana tugged at the weapon, but it was stuck within the fabric. With a cloaked arm, the intruder yanked the sword from its body with such force that Diana lost her grip. It tossed the blade away, and the weapon skidded and slid beneath Diana’s bed. Before she could react, the creature rushed toward her again.
Diana leapt off the bed. The door! It was unobstructed now. Her heart beat against her rib cage. She needed to outrun this thing—she needed to reach the Amazons.
But before she could get to the brass handle, the creature dove across the floor. Diana gasped as it grabbed her by the ankle. She fell forward, her face hitting the marble floor.
“Let. Me. Go!” she shouted, kicking.
Firmly gripping her ankle, the creature began dragging her backward, away from the door and toward the window. What’s it doing?! Diana wondered. They were fifty feet above the ground! Was this thing going to throw her out the window?
Diana grasped at the floor, but the marble was too smooth for her to grip. Her sword was too far away. The being methodically dragged her toward the window, its hold frighteningly tight.
But then—a book! A thick tome on local history was splayed near her. She could toss it at the creature, distract it. It was worth a try. Straining, she inched her fingers toward the book. Her cheeks flushed from the effort and her arms ached, but then—she had it! Drawing the book to her, she glowered at the creature. Its back was to her as it continued sliding her toward the window. Gripping the book in her hands, Diana hurled it at the creature.
The being turned just as the book was a half second away from hitting its head. Instantly, a hand shot up, and a whirring sound bellowed from deep within its cloaked body. Before Diana could react, a burst of gold metallic powder sprang from one of its sleeves. The powder coated the book, which froze in midair and then burst into flames. Within seconds it fell to the floor, transformed into ashes. A chill passed through Diana.
The creature swiveled its concealed head toward her. She could feel its eyes glaring at her before it turned back to the window. It grasped at the glass and fumbled against the brass latch. Diana had only seconds until the creature would open the window and do whatever it was planning to do to her. She glanced frantically at the floor around her—there had to be some way to stop this. Suddenly her eyes brightened. A belt. A shiny silver one that had fallen to the ground. It was inches away from her.
The window latch clicked open.
Diana edged her hand toward the belt. Drawing her fingers around it, she grasped it—it was one of her longer belts, to her relief. Quickly, she yanked it toward her.
The window parted a crack.
Quickly she looped the belt, hurriedly fashioning it into a lasso. It wasn’t the Lasso of Truth—but it would have to do.
“And now,” she muttered under her breath, “I. Get. You.”
Channeling every ounce of strength she had, Diana kicked at the being.
The creature turned, its grip loosening for a fraction of a second. Instantly, Diana wrestled free, leapt up, and swung the loop of the belt around its body.
The being looked down and tugged at the makeshift lasso in a panic, but Diana’s grip was firm. Again, the whirring sound trumpeted from within it. Golden powder burst from the creature’s sleeves, but with its arms trapped tight against its body, only the marble floor beneath was scorched.
“Time for some answers,” Diana said in a low voice.
Suddenly the creature spoke. Or rather, it screeched. Diana shuddered—the yelping was high-pitched and terrifying, a noise she’d never heard before.
“Make all the noises you want,” she said as it struggled against her grip. “It’ll just make the Amazons come faster. You’re not going anywhere now.”
She tugged on the belt, drawing the creature toward her. She noticed markings along the edge of its green cloak. Diana frowned—the words looked to be in a different alphabet. What did they say?
All of a sudden the creature stopped struggling.
“Good call. Now let’s see who you are.” Diana reached to grab the hood of the cloak, but before she could push it back, the whirring sound buzzed once more, and then—
There was an explosion.
Diana flew back, her head hitting the wall. Stars danced in her vision. The burning cloak went limp against her lasso and fluttered toward the ground, disintegrating into a pile of debris.
The creature was gone.
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