Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 127

Then the snake-man screamed again, but this time even louder when I thought it wasn’t possible. All I could see was black spots. My ears rang, trying to block out as much sound as possible but it couldn’t block the snake man's screaming. The snake-man was so loud it made my entire body hurt. I looked up and saw Brendan shaking on the floor in a puddle of tears. I looked at the monster and I wondered, is it really worth it? And then I looked at Brendan on the floor. I thought about my life back home. I looked back at Brendan. I sighed. With much effort, I stood up on legs that felt like jelly. I slowly removed my hands from my ears, only to immediately get hit with the sound again. I fell backwards and immediately covered my ears again. The snake’s white eyes turned and narrowed at me. It flicked its tongue out like it knew that it could just eat me right now. This was a bad idea. But I had to do it. I turned to a person dressed differently to everyone else, whom I guessed was the captain. “Bring out the cannons!” Instantly, a massive group of people followed my instructions. I felt my pockets for the small white cube and flipped it open. I stared at the green light and the switch next to it. I had gotten this as a thank you for saving the future human race. They gave it to me for future adventures. The people told me that it was a cube that could let out enough poison to destroy entire forests. I kept it with me at all times. I looked up at the monster. I probably could put this on its back, and it would have no effect. No, I had to somehow get this inside the monster and then have enough time to get it back before I returned to my time. The snake threw back its huge head, preparing to unleash another feral scream and I noticed a scar on its throat. Someone must have fought this monster before us. If I could cut the scar open, I could put the cube inside. I stared at the dark and choppy water. This is happening. My greatest fear. I was about to jump into deep water. I pulled out my knife, held my breath, and I jumped. While I was underwater, I faintly heard the sound of a loud gun going off. Must be the cannons. I swam through the dark and murky water, trying to see where the snake was. I finally found the snake, only to see it moving scarily fast in a way that made me feel uneasy. It must be fighting above the surface, the cannons bouncing off its scales like they were absolutely harmless. How could I get it to come down here so I could cut it open? I felt my lungs bursting, trying to get some air so I swam upwards as fast as I could and took a huge gulp of air and the snake’s terrifying white eyes turned towards me. I guess that’s how I do it. I immediately swam back down under water. I could cut it open now. The snake lashed wildly, trying to hit me underwater, but the water was too dark for it to see clearly either. The monster had the advantage