by J Seab
Swiik pushed herself beyond endurance, burning the last dregs of energy from a body that was already decimated.
But it did no good.
The great beast pursuing her surged, its huge mouth gaping to expose sharpened spears of whitened teeth, and ripped a ragged tear along her flank.
Blood splayed in thick rivulets into the water as Swiik dived and twisted deeper, searching desperately for cover on the rocky seafloor as it gradually rose to meet the shore.
Swerving sharply around an upthrusting shaft of rock, she barely evaded another lunge from her relentless pursuer.
She heard waves slapping against the shore nearby and, fighting the agony burning along her side and the convulsions of her oxygen starved body, she turned and with a powerful surge leapt over a rocky ridge and crashed into a shallow tide pool beyond it.
Spasms racked her body as she gulped in the salty sea air, pushing back the tinge of darkness that threatened her consciousness.
Her spasms quieted but her mind was engulfed by a wave of fear.
Where was the beast?
Could it follow her onto the shore?
Then another fear tore into her heart.
Did she still have the made-thing?
Feebly, she raised her head and twisted around.
Yes! Its cord was still attached.
But her ordeal was not over. She must find the one for whom it was intended. She must go on. She could not die here.
But her pain and exhaustion were too much.
Rolling to her side, the world faded from her awareness.