Irish Mist - Sean's Story (Mary O'Reilly Short Story) by Terri Reid Read Free Book Online Page B

arm.  Twisting he swung the branch against the creatures head. Over and over he pounded away as the beast shook him. For a moment he thought he might win.  The limb was large enough to knock the creature’s head to the side with each new blow. Sean felt a strange surge of endorphins and he gritted his teeth and put all of his power into the strike.
    This time, the creature lost its footing and stumbled sideways.  Sean cried with triumph and was ready to strike again when he felt a pinch on his arm.  He turned and watched in horror to see one of the talons open and a narrow translucent bone-like needle burying itself into his arm. He struggled to pull it away, but the hold was too great.  Striking blindly with the tree limb in his other hand, he watched the creature’s bone darken as black liquid ran through its hollow core and flowed into his arm.
    “No!” he screamed and tried once again to pull away, but the instant the poison was in his system, he felt the numbing begin.
    “Help,” he whispered, as the forest began to blur before his eyes.
     

Chapter Three
     
    Mary reached the end of the trail in the grass and looked around. 
    Where did he go?
    She searched the fence line for traces of a foot print, but there was nothing.  She looked over the fence at the woods beyond and sighed. It was just like Sean. Just because someone said not to do something, he had to do it.  Their grandmother had warned them to stay away from the woods.  Of course Mary didn’t believe the stories about little people, but she did believe there could be wild animals in there or vagrants who might have less than reputable ideas on their minds.  Oh, well, there’s nothing else I can do , she thought as she stuck her foot in the same toehold Sean had used, I’ve got to go after him.
    Climbing up and over the fence was accomplished quickly and she soon found Sean’s trail leading straight into the woods.  “Sean,” she called tentatively. “Are you in there?”
    Moving further down the path, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and stopped.  Did she hear a sound from in the woods?  Was there something hiding behind the tree next to the path?  “Sean, I’m going to tell da you went into the woods,” she called, stomping her foot uselessly in the soft dirt. “You come out here right now!”
    She waited for a moment and then shook her head angrily.  She was not going to lose this game.  She was not going to let Sean tell everyone she was a scaredy-cat.  She marched forward and entered the forest, her heart pounding against her chest.  “Sean,” she found her voice was suddenly dry and only come out as a soft croak. “Sean, are you in here?”
    The woods seemed to be closing in around her.  The shadows were lengthening and the branches appeared to be getting closer, like the trees could move.  She stood her ground, twisting her head back and forth to watch for movement. “Sean,” she called again, clearing her throat so she was louder. “Sean, I give.  You win.  Just come out. Now.  This place gives me the creeps.”
    All she wanted was to see her brother pop out from behind a tree, laughing and teasing her.  She took a deep breath and counted slowly, “One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four…”
    Continuing for sixty long seconds, her heart echoing each second that passed, she realized her brother wasn’t coming. Something was wrong. Very wrong.  She weighed her options.  She could try and follow his path in the forest or she could run back to her grandmother’s house and get help.  She thought about her brother, even though he was annoying, she also knew he was strong, brave and smart.  If something had happened to him, she would need help.  She took a deep breath and then yelled as loud as she could, “Sean, I’m coming!  I’m getting help, but I’m coming back!  I promise!”
    Then she turned and dashed out of the woods running as if Sean’s