First, I feel as if I’m put in a freezer. Then I’m put in a hot, sweltering oven. But these feelings are nothing compared to my leg.
Why did I have to bring the atlas into the forest? Why couldn’t I have brought the stupid book up to our dorm, without caring about the alarm? My mind was full of regrets.
My brain stops working for a while because of the pain. I don’t know if I’m conscious or not. All I know is that I put my life in danger- and Cora’s, too. Why did I tell her to come help me? I’d rather die than see the tiger killing her after she tried to rescue me.
I could see it, the tiger torturing her, tearing her apart bit by bit, her face full of agony while I watched, helpless…
“Cora! No! Stop!” I shrieked, and my eyes snapped open.
What was happening? Oh, yeah. Evil tiger, half bitten off leg, using my best friend to save me. I stared into the open, blue sky. It was freezing. I shuddered, and a musical, deadly voice spoke. “Ah… I see my guest has awoken. Hello, Felix Willow.”
I felt myself snarl back. “Let me go, you feline. What do you want from me?” I struggled to sit up, and immediately wished I hadn’t. I was at the edge of a cliff, and the bottom was so far down…
I slumped back, crying out with pain from my leg. The tiger smiled. “I said hello, child. Do you humans have no manners? I’ll spare you longer if you are nice.”
I cleared my throat, feeling so thirsty I could drink a lake. I croaked, “I don’t care if you kill me. Don’t hurt Cora. Please…” I could tell my pleas were nothing to the tiger. “Don’t you see, Felix Willow? I don’t want you. You are no more than bait. I just want Coraline Rose. I want revenge.” It snarled on the last word.
“Please…” I heard myself beg. The tiger snorted, put it’s paws on me, and shoved me so hard I fell about twenty yards away from where I previously was.
“Hmm… you know… you could send her a bribe. Convince her to come. What does Coraline like?” The tiger mused.
What?! Cora was already going to get here as fast as her legs could take her. She didn’t need a bribe!
“NO!” I yelled. It roared right back.
“You pathetic child. You’re under my power now. Tell me what to give her. Maybe she will enjoy a picture of you screaming in pain?”
“No- please…” I protested weakly. The tiger snorted, and then did a strange thing. It put a clawed paw on top of my chest, and I felt something inside me squeeze. When the tiger lifted its paw, a small orb of light emerged and expanded. It showed a memory of me and Cora- I remembered it clearly. We were sitting at the dinner table, having a casual conversation, unaware of the tiger and bloody boy before them.
“What pet would you most like to have?” The memory version of me asked.
“A cat,” she immediately responded.
“Yeah, and you’re going to name it Chocolate after your favorite food, right?” I teased, stuffing a spoonful of pudding into my mouth.
The scenario faded. The tiger looked at me thoughtfully. Then it mused, “Such little things make young children so joyous. We shall give her a cat, then… and chocolate.”
“WE will not give her anything.” I said angrily.
“Oh, yes we will. Because you will be writing her a letter, begging her to save you.” It looked at me wickedly.
“N-” My breath was knocked out of me as the tiger hit me with a blow so hard I was kneeling at its feet.
“I’m going to have a lot of fun with you, child.” The tiger purred, it’s cruel face above me again.
“Welcome to my humble home, Felix Willow.”