Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #17 August 2015 | Page 56

glared at him and Jake found himself in a heap on the
ground as she sped off.

“No, no, no.” Lucas’s faint voice echoed
through the link. Margo knew that meant it was almost
over. She closed her eyes. “I’m not enough. I’m never
enough.”

***
Lucas could barely breathe as he was sliding
down a narrow tunnel filled with sap for what felt like
forever. He preferred that to what he went through
afterwards. The tendrils were actually the roots of a
large plant. It opened its bright yellow petals to reveal
a tiny mouth, a red tendril coming from it. It wrapped
around his body, overwhelming Lucas with singeing
pain. It slowly lowered his body onto its petals, and
cocooned him protectively with its leaves. Lucas’s
body started changing from human to demonic and
back like a light switch.
“Food.” a throaty voice sounded in his head as
his mind sank.
***
Margo hit the gas. The unit was right in front
of her. She closed her eyes as the car rammed through
the door. As she expected, the tendrils lunged at it. By
that time Margo was out of the car, running towards
Lucas and hurling fireballs left and right. A tendril
grabbed her by the leg. Another one by the arm. Third
by the neck. Then they slammed her against the wall.
Margo got up and ran again. I can dodge you. The
tendrils tried to grab her again, but missed her by a
fraction. As she was closing in on Lucas, preparing
a fireball, another red tendril shot out of the plant