[Rebelmeow's Choose Your Own Adventure] The Recluse Part IV

Part I・Part II ・Part III

Rebelmeow has chosen 1: Try to help her.

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Even though she's been a brat, she's still just a child. I don't know if I could live with myself if I left her to die.

I slowly creep forward, lower myself to a sitting position, and grasp the weapon in my fingers just behind its spearhead. I get the sense Sarah has noticed me, even though her eyes haven't moved for an instant from their lock with the tiger's gaze. It's easier than I expected to rub the sharpened head against the ropes, and moving the spear with one hand while periodically feeling out my progress with the other, I work through them in short time.

OK. Now I have my hands free, and a spear in one of them. All I have to do is kill a tiger with a sharp rock tied to a stick. Easy, right?

The two of them are still staring at each other like they're in love. Violent, threatening love. What's going to happen when the spell breaks?

Rather than wait around to find out, I aim to jab the tiger in the leg, but miss and hit its back instead. I leave even less of a dent in its pale hide than Sarah's jab to its rump. But it does do the trick: the beast instantly turns away from Sarah to attack me.

It tries to knock the weapon from my hands, but I already saw it try that maneuver with Sarah, and pull it out of reach. Taking advantage of its surprise, I dart forward and jab at its head. But the tiger is far too fast for me. It dodges easily, then takes a powerful swipe at me. I can't even blink before I suddenly find blood running from deep gashes in my leg.

"Spear!" Sarah shouts. Wincing away the pain, I toss it to her. She catches it nimbly.

Ever think you're the hero of your own story, only to discover that you're a mere side character?

The little girl moves faster than I could have imagined, leaping around the tiger, poking a dozen bloody wounds in every part of its hide. Try as it might, it can't seem to catch her. Just as I start to expect a dead tiger at my feet, the creature gives a final yowl before disappearing into the forest.

Sarah's heavy breathing is audible. Standing there in that brightly-colored t-shirt I'd expect to see on a metropolitan street, rather than in the center of a misty jungle, she no longer looks ridiculous to me. She is a hero.

"Wow," I say.

Stepping away from her defense posture and giving the spear a little twirl, she smirks. "Bet you're not thinking of running away now."

"I wasn't--"

"What a liar. Now are you taking me to your home, or what?"

"It's...back the other way."

Her face darkens. "If I had more rope, I'd tie you up twice."

It only takes about a half-hour -- I try to guess, although I no longer have a sense of time -- to reach my hut. She whistles. "Pretty nice. Gonna invite me in?"

"What are you, a vampire?"

"Huh?"

I open the door and motion her inside. "A vampire. Vampires have to be invited in."

"I don't like Twilight."

I roll my eyes. "It's not--" Oh well. I doubt she's interested in vampire lore disconnected from the stories, especially if her concept of vampires comes from Twilight.

She boldly brushes past me, steps inside. "Wow, books!" She runs over to peruse my small bookshelf. "Where did you find them?"

"They were already here."

"You mean you didn't build thi--" She looks me over disdainfully. "Naw, of course you didn't." A dismissive tsk. I find myself wondering just why it was I felt the need to save this girl. If she even needed saving.

"So do you mind informing me as to why you are here? What do you expect to find in my home?"

"I wanna know what kinda guy you are. This place is a mess." Admittedly, bedsheets, blankets, and pillows litter the floor. I think I wanted to turn the whole world into a bed and sleep forever. But now? I feel a flicker of confusion; and with it, a twinge of unqualified pain.

She turns to me with a book in her hand. Although she's covering the title, I know it by the cover -- I know them all by heart. Treasure Island. "I'm takin' this."

"No, stop, you can't," I reply in sarcastic monotone.

"OK," she sighs. "I guess you're not a threat. I'm off!" She walks to the door.

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1: "Wait! Let me come with you."
2: "Wait! I have some more things that might be of use to you."

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Dear Readers,

In this CYOA, I am trying something I mentioned before: readers collectively choosing what will happen. However, last time only @rebelmeow commented, so I guess this story is hers now, so there. If you want it to be yours too, please comment with the option you'd like to choose, and I will continue the story. You can also feel free to make suggestions of any kind. <3

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