A fresh wind blew through the trees, rustling leaves on the forest floor.

  I cracked one eye open, blinking furiously.

  Where was I?

  I could’ve sworn there was somebody who’d—

  “GAHHGag!” I cried, clenching my fists as my nerves ignited in a flare of pain—for a moment—before suddenly disappearing.

  I groaned, flopping onto the soft ground.

  What was that?

  My head felt fuzzy, almost distant, and yet, I couldn’t escape the feeling that I was missing something, somewhere.

  I could’ve pressed further, but despite my many incredible talents, I was just too tired to deal with any of this, so I nestled in the ground with a contented sigh.

  Whatever was going on, it could wait a couple seconds, right?

  A large hairy object brushed against me, sending shivers down my spine.

  Hang on.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Fur. Furry fur soaked in morning dew.

  I cracked an eye open, staring into the glistening muzzle of a beast.

  I started screaming, sprinting into the opposite direction of whatever's sitting down beside me.

  It jumped onto its hind feet, startled—

  Hang on, was that a three headed bear?

  Huh. I couldn’t say I was surprised.

  Had I seen one before, in another forest. Or perhaps this just felt like a three headed beer kind of day.

  One head tilted, sticking a tongue out, and the other two snarled and then they were all growling and arguing with each other, until the second head nodded toward me, and the other two calmed down.

  And then all of their heads pointed in my direction.

  I took off running again, shooting past an older girl with silky black hair and a silky black dress and something like a thousand silver and gold chains wrapped around her body.

  Fashion aside, she was kinda cute—

  The woman smiled, ear to ear, showing all her teeth. “Need any help?”

  I started running again.

  Never trust anyone that happy about anything.

  That’s what my gut tells me, anyway. And my gut’s never let me down before.

  I bolted face-first into a tree.

  Today really wasn’t my lucky day.

  Before I blacked out, I could’ve sworn I’d heard a sharp metal whine, followed by a chime, like a bell, but subtler—further off, and growing further still, like a paling echo.

  The light faded, and, with a final puff of air, I died.