Page 72 - Fallen Thoughts

I climb on top of the swing set to get a better vantage point. The shadow

from the nearest bench rushes towards me and I use it to fashion a suit and mask to

hide my face.

The Angler is bounding towards me and I only have time to leap off the

swing set before it tears the metal to pieces. I can’t lead it into a heavily populated

area- a.k.a. anywhere surrounding the park.

I huff, “Okay, Angler, let’s play tag.”

Shadows bend to my will and create a dome-like wall around the perimeter

of the park to stop people from getting in and the Angler and I from getting out. I

sprint towards one of the other playgrounds, and bend the shadows of the nearest

slide into a long dagger. I’m not sure what a blade could do to a monster like this

but I’m going to find out.

I climb under the slide and as I’m waiting for the Angler to barrel into the

play structure, a head of bright blue hair on a fire escape, outside my shadow dome

catches my eye.

Meagan.

I’m caught off guard as the monster rips apart the playground, with me

underneath it. The sand cushions my fall slightly and I try to stop the metal poles

from falling on top of me. The Angler is rummaging through the wreckage,

looking for me. I can’t move. A piece of metal is pinning my foot down. Above

me, I see the dedication plaque for the park. So much for keeping Brian Taylor’s

memory alive.

My breathing is shallow as the Angler rips the wreckage away. The lights on
its body are brighter than before. In a desperate attempt to get the Angler away

from me, I throw undefined shadows at it. This gains me about three meters of
space, I kick off the metal holding my foot down and grapple my way to standing

up amid the rubble. My ankle screams in pain, but I ignore it.