With the Terror Beast of Akuma Seven
They were with the Terror Beast of Akuma Seven. With, trapped by, same difference. The large slug-like creature pulled itself off Emer, portly mother of two, and began oozing its way toward its last two victims. Emer lay screaming on the ground, just like the other fifteen member of their safari group.
“So, what have we learned?” Bobrick asked his protégé. She was enthusiastic, but not authoritative enough to run safari group on her own. That’s how they got in this mess to begin with.
“When someone on the tour asks to stop for a bathroom break, don’t stop at the Cliffs of Despair?” Marymay offered up. She was white as a sheet, watching the oozing terror approach. Bobrick didn’t blame her. This was a worst-case scenario, one which was fortunately covered in the tour waver, but still. People on Akuma Seven all shivered at the mention of the Terror Beast, and he had only seen glimpses of the beast while guiding groups. This was one thing he had never wished to see firsthand.
“That’s a good lesson to take out of this,” he said, stepping out in front of her to shield her. Of course, she had no chance of escaping, so he was really just delaying the horrific experience. Unless, it got full as it ravaged his mind. “Remember, every member of your safari group will be an idiot, and try their best, through their ignorance, to kill the entire group.”
“What’s it going to do to us?” she asked, her voice full of the fear which he felt inside himself.
“It’s going to eat all the hair off our heads and neck.” It was grim, alright.
Marymay relaxed visibly. Rookie. “Oh, is that it. Does the hair not grow back or something?”
“No, it does…after a time.” The hairs on his arm were standing up in a grim salute to those hairs which were going to be eaten.
“A long time, or…” The tone of her voice was incredulous. Easy for her to do, the slug was crawling up his boots.
“A regular time.” Bobrick answered. It was coming, oh lord, it was coming.
“And this drives people to insanity?” It was passing his belt now, getting its massive oozing frame off the ground.
“No, that is a side effect which lasts twenty minutes at most. The first members of our party to fall should be feeling better soon.” The Terror Beast was as ugly as they came, its beady stalk eyes focused on Bobrick’s beautiful hair.
“Alright, I’ll bite. Why is it called the Terror Beast.” The slime was soaking his shirt. The moment was at hand.
“Because, rookie, as it eats your hair, you are forced to experience drivers ed. all over again.”
Marymay screamed from the horror. Bobrick would have liked to be kinder, but everyone had to learn one day. The thing crawled over his head and darkness consumed him.
He woke up behind a steering wheel.
Michael Frutig 