A Dangerous Journey

• Samantha Williams
• Short Story
• 2008

Leah let out a shuddering breath as she entered the dark domain.

In the corner of the room, Leah could hear the faint breath of the monster, and could see the faint movement of its chest rising and falling as it slept.

This did nothing to boost Leah's confidence. There it was - the one fact that proved to Leah how dangerous this quest really was and what depended upon it.

Leah swallowed as she took another step into the darkened room. Memories flooded her brain as she finally saw them, sitting silently, nervously, innocently in the opposite corner of the room.

The day she had met them, she had fallen in love with them. From that day they had been inseparable, the three of them armed and dangerous.

Her thoughts filled her with a new found confidence and she bravely took another step into the room. Silently, she edged towards them, her arm outstretched to its limit as she yearned to feel them in her hand.

Finally she made it, feeling her hand grasp around their rough surface she grasped it firmly. Her relief was so large that for a moment it completely controlled her body and Leah whispered, "I'm here now..."

Clapping a hand over her mouth Leah's eyes darted to corner where the Monster lay sleeping and felt her heart stop.
The Monster was not there.

Fear gripped at all of Leah's senses and suddenly her only thought was to get out of there. But her feelings of fear were instantly replaced by dread as the light switch flicked and the brightness temporarily blinded Leah.

Standing at the doorway stood the monster, glaring at her as if willing her to drop dead.
"Get. Out." was all she said, in a deadly whisper.

Thoughts of rescue fled Leah's mind and Leah mindlessly let her friends drop as she sprinted from the room.

Once she was inside she sighed in defeat.
Never again would she venture on that dangerous trail. Nothing would ever get her to brave the danger that was her sister's room.
No matter how much she loved those shoes.