The Plain White Room by Oliver Phisher Read Free Book Online

flying creatures, crashing against one another. They were falling, interlocked in melee flashes.
 
    Colours of bright beauty, before hitting the ground. Only one rising back up with triumphant flapping. Lepus crouched to the ground, trying to make sure none of the vicious creatures saw him and attacked.
 
    He tottered forwards and ducked down behind a rock jutting out of the ground.
 
    Watching the battle rage on in front of him.
 
    There were pieces of wings and insect legs littered everywhere. An enormous fat wasp floated over a group of ants, wielding a massive hammer, and swinging long arcs. When the hammer connected, it would propel the ants up into the air. Leaving them scattering them on the ground, their bodies bloodied and broken. The ants underneath shot rifles between bouts of dodging swings of the hammer. Many of their bullets hit the Armor of the terrifying creature and bounced to the ground. Each shot which found its mark caused blood to spew onto the ground, yet seemed to slow down the wasp only for a moment.
 
    A group of ants went flying near to Lepus as a centipede ran through them. It then ran up to a slug which was beating itself against a group of ants. The centipede leaned back on then back on its legs and started hitting the slug. The slug began to bleed and with speed began to back away from the centipede. Lepus then saw the knives covered in salt, one in each of the centipede’s hands. A large canvas bag of the salt attached to the centipede was dragged close behind by its back legs.
 
    A butterfly with vast emerald green wings swooped down from behind Lepus. Its wing brushed the top of his head. It landed in front of him and folded its wings together. One of the butterfly’s wings filled with tattered holes and tears. Something having attacked it in the air.
 
    Seconds, after it had, landed a group of spiders surrounded it. Screeching as they each took bites at the butterfly. One by one chomping with incredible speed as the beautiful creature sunk to the ground. Lepus yelled “Stop!” at the top of his lungs, taking a step out from behind the rock.
 
    The group of spiders turned to him in an instant as a group. There was around six of them all in armour and all with eight blank black eyes and white gnashing fangs. By now the butterfly was lying on the ground motionless. The spiders all started edging forwards towards Lepus.
 
    “Brave boy!” one seethed. Lepus’s eyes grew large. Despite their weaponry, it hadn't crossed his mind that these strange beasts might be able to talk.
 
    “Stupid boy!” another hissed, and they all started to chuckle in terrifying unison. Their voices were bizarre and echoed through the wooden cavern. Seeming to come from all around, not just from their mouths. They hissed every word menacingly.
 
    Lepus looked behind him, trying not to take his eyes off the ground for too long. Seeing if there was somewhere for him to turn to. There were only the bushes to run to, which he now realised were up a relatively steep hill he had run down without thinking. He stepped backwards and his foot caught something, causing him to stumble. Once he found his balance he looked down to see that there was one of the ant’s guns at his feet. He grabbed it up without thinking and started waving it at the spiders.
 
    They all began to laugh with gusto.
 
    “Don’t be a foolish boy! One cackled. We know you, boy. We serve the Scorpius. Master of the golden sword! He has told us all about you. Oh yes, you are a coward. You stay inside all day. You have no friends, all day long scribbling over all those worthless equations. Your teacher hates you, do you think he cares when you do all that extra work. What are you!? You’re nothing and no one.” Lepus lowered the gun. Feeling weak and helpless.
 
    The spiders started laughing louder and louder. They moved around him as they did, forming a full cackling circle.
 
    ***

Chapter 4
Tony & Theodor