SUNFALL

 It sounds again, this time too close for my liking. The ground beneath the carrier moves the glass-like structures crumbling ahead of us.

 "Don't look behind you boy!" Terri yells. His eyes are peeled on the massive 'bridge' ahead.

 It never has been in me to obey direct orders in a time of panic so I follow my nature. I regret it immediately as the most heinous and appalling creature I have ever seen. Large as two normal transporters bound together, black as any night in the Gutters and snake-like it rises from the greens of the fields. 

 I search for its head but my view is blocked as it dives into the green again shaking the ground as it goes.

 "What is that thing!" I ask almost screaming.

 "I said don't look didn't I boy! That there is why we need to get to the Bridge. Now hold on!"

 The bridge gets closer and closer but so does the shaking in the fields. It feels like the carrier might get swallowed any time as I look around the fear growing.

 Another sound, just like the one I heard every time the gates to the Goldilocks opened for its inhabitants comes from ahead. The monster's roar follows as it dives into the air right behind us. That's when I see its head and wish that the Black Gun had just killed me back in the transporter.

 It's the ugliest thing if that could even described as so. It's a mess of too many teeth clumped together in one opening, a single red eye with a green fluid flowing from the mouth. The thing could as well have chomped us into two in one bite and that wouldn't be the worst thing. I watch as the fluid falls onto a metallic piece of the carrier's rear and melt it off.

 Terri swears as it bites down on a space that the carrier was a second ago, the sand sizzling. It disappears into the sand just as Terri shouts that the gates are opening.

 I fall back on my seat hoping that we get there just in time but I guess the world does hate me. Terri's former yell of relief turns into anguish as the carrier starts slowing its speed. We're almost at the gates, some people beyond it shouting at us waving their hands.

 The thing actually stops.

 Dead. That's what we are. I was so close to seeing her again. Tears already form in my eyes as I look to Terri for any sort of solution. His own offer nae hope for me.

 "Get out!" He says.

 The words don't register in my mind. We're just going to get out and meet death then? That's the man's great idea! A simpler way for...

 The slap burns my cheek. He's already out of the carrier and on my side pulling me out. I rub my face as he drops me onto the sand. 

 "It's not too far boy. Run now!"

 Waits? No this guy's the real deal with staying alive. I get on my feet following him my hand touching my cheek ever so often. It's not my first time being slapped but not even my Da ever hit me the same way. I can't hear past the ringing in my ear either as I run.

 I almost swallow sand as I fall because of a misstep. I don't get the time to cry out as I watch Terri fly into the air. He falls instantly and right into the open mouth of the monster. I scream as it dives into the the sand again.

 I stand my heart beating.

 "Terri!" I call out.

 I am a fool I know but Terri was the only reason I had to feel any sort of bravery. I can't breathe properly as I track the shifts in the sand. I know there's no way he could have survived all those teeth but my hope encourages me.

 Finally, I get my answer as the creature appears racing directly at me. I fall on my arse crawling away as it nears me. I close my eyes praying that I die from fright ere the teeth get me but neither does.

 I open my eyes to the creatures head which is by some miracle half of what it was. The green fluid flows even more into the sand an acrid smell rising from it. I watch in awe as the man emerges from the pits of the monster all covered in its entrails. As he gets closer I realize that all his clothing has been burnt off and he stands before me dazed and naked.

 **

 We're in a room. A waiting room, the men who carried us into the Bridge called it. Its walls are all metallic nae windows in sight. It's a real shame because the place seemed delightful to me as we walked in. 

 Terri has a large thing that looks exactly like what he called a 'towel' back in the Citadel several days ago draped over him. He never meets my eye no matter how hard I try. He does however glance at me whenever I touch my burning cheek.

 "What was that thing?" I ask

 The better question would be how he survived it but I doubt he would answer me. I don't think that he's even going to answer my first question.

 "It's got many names but the people here call it a nymira. A sand demon. A terrible creature that feeds on anything it can and that it has done for centuries," he says. Still he does not look at me.

 "They usually hunt in groups of five so count yourself lucky boy,"

 I turn to the opening door shivering at the thought of even more than one of those terrible things hunting me. One of the men from before walks in with three more who are obviously members of the guard around here judging from the helmets covering their faces. Something is terribly wrong as he approaches Terri.

 I look up just in time to hear 'arrest' and a rifle hitting me on the head. The room fades to black as Terri yells.