Happy Friday, my frightening feline fans! It’s a long weekend here so I am ready to curl up with a good read and enjoy the sun.
Speaking of good reads, time for another chapter of my b-movie creature feature mayhem that is Lava Cat Cruise Ship! As always, if you missed the latest chapter, find it here. And if you are new to LCC and want to start at the beginning, you can find the first chapter here!
You can also access the full ebook - and the ebook for the companion novel, Zombie Shark Highway by becoming a paid subscriber! What?! Two books?!
Also, Word of mouth is the most important way humble internet serial fiction finds its readers, so if you’re enjoying these fiery felines, I would love if you told a friend, shared it with a reader you think might like it.
ANYWAYS, let’s get to the LAVA!
NINETEEN
The door shuttered on the hinges -- Celia had been through this before. It was only a matter of time, she knew, like Franklin knew, clinging to her waist, before the creature managed to force it's way inside. Her grip on the spear tightened.
Melvin Bruce held a finger to his lips as he quietly approached the door. He hugged the wall as the door shuddered again, the top hinges breaking off with a ping.
Celia shuffled sideways, Franklin shuffling with her, trying to get out of the way of the door. If -- no Celia, when -- the Smilodon made it inside, she didn't want to be the first thing it saw.
Another chest rattling thump as the creature rammed the door, the rumble of it's growl vibrating through the floor. Franklin's hold on her middle squeezed tighter. Her grip on the spear twisted -- she couldn't use a spear with Franklin hooked to her like a belt.
Gently, she peeled his arms off. He tried to grab hold again but she cupped his cheek in her hand. His face was stained with tears, his wide, wet eyes begging her not to leave him. And she wouldn't leave him. Franklin was just a little kid, terrified and alone. All he had was her. The responsibility of it was crushing to Celia, but still, she couldn't deny that it was the truth. With no parents, no family, Franklin was depending on Celia to do for him what family would do. Celia had never really had a family of her own, taking care of herself since she was younger than Franklin. And still she wished sometimes that there had been someone, anyone, who cared about what happened to her. She could be that someone to Franklin. And whatever it took to keep him safe, she'd do it.
She took his hands in hers, squeezing -- it's going to be alright -- and nodded to the far side of the room. Franklin turned his head to look.
A wall of cabinets. He could hide himself inside. If anything happened to Celia, at least he could lock himself in and maybe the creature wouldn't find him.
He looked back at her, unsure. She nodded. She could tell he didn't want to leave her, but he'd trusted her this far. He let go of her hands, hurrying over to the cabinets. He crawled into the farthest one, and met her eyes one last time. She smiled encouragingly, and with a trembling lip, he closed the door. Celia was surprised to feel an ache in her heart at not being able to see him. But this was for the best. This was the safest thing she could do for him.
A roar erupted behind the door and the Smilodon knocked it clean off the frame, sending the heavy door flying so that Celia had to dive sideways. She scrambled deeper into the shadows, hoping it hadn't seen her. But when she looked up, those red, unfeeling eyes were on her. Her body trembled, and she held out the spear, forcing a growl from the cat as it slunk towards her.
Melvin pushed off the wall, unseen by the creature, and drove the spear into the creature's back.
The Smilodon bellowed in agony, rearing up on its hind legs and turning on it's attacker. Melvin stepped back from the creature, the weapon no longer in his hands. Celia could see it, stuck in the haunches of the beast.
It stalked toward Melvin, seemingly unbothered by the spear buried in it's flesh. Whatever Melvin had hit on the creature, it wasn't enough to stop it. What would be enough to stop it?
Melvin backed up as the creature advance. All it had to do was pounce. And then it would come for Celia.
Her eyes darted around the infirmary, desperate for an answer, for a way to stop this. But there was nothing. There was only her -- and the spear in her sweat-slicked grip.
The Smilodon let out another mighty bellow, it's saber-toothed jaw opening wide as the sound -- that earth ripping thunder -- rattled Celia's bones and an instinct, primal and thoughtless, burst to life inside her. Before she could think about what she was doing, Celia ran at the Smilodon, grabbing the spear lodged in it's backside. She pulled, and the creature hissed as Celia wrenched the weapon from it's flesh with her right hand, her other spear clutched tightly in her left.
The Smilodon spun on her, and this time the creature wasn't interested in playing with his food. The massive form of muscle and fur leaped at her, sending Celia falling backward, her tailbone hitting tile and sending pain radiating up her spine.
The creature loomed over her, it's putrid, blood stinking maw gaped open, fangs flashing as Franklin screamed from somewhere by the cabinets.
With every muscle she had, Celia thrust both weapons upward, the sharp tips finding meaty flesh and penetrating, the Smilodon's own strike-force driving them deep into it's throat.
With a groan, the creature collapsed, it's weight crushing Celia so that she cried out beneath it. Hot liquid drenched her body -- the Smilodon's blood draining from its wounds. Hands pulled at Celia's shoulders, and Melvin hauled her out from under the beast.
Franklin threw himself at her, weeping, hugging tight despite the slick red that coated her. She hugged him back, unable to stop her own sobs from shuddering out of her bruised and tired body. She'd nearly died again, nearly been torn apart by one of those monsters. But she'd survived. And this time, she'd left more than a scratch of her own.
She looked down at the beast, dead eyes staring out at nothing.
One more Smilodon down.
Three more to go.
Melvin Bruce circled the creature, scratching at his chin thoughtfully. He lingered by the head, bending over to get a closer look. When he stood up, there was something in his eyes -- some new fear Celia couldn't understand. The beast was dead.
Melvin marched over to the counter by the cabinets, rifling through its contents. When he came back, he had a long pair of forceps and a glass jar.
"What is it?" Celia asked.
He stuck the pincers into the Smilodon's ear, and pulled. With a lot of effort, he wrenched the forceps free, something long and grey writhing in it's grasp -- a long worm-like creature. Celia scrambled back, pulling Franklin with her as Melvin shoved the creepy crawler into the jar, sealing it inside.
"What the hell is that!?" Celia shouted.
Melvin held the glass up and peered inside. "A parasite," he said.
"And all the Smilodons are infected with one of those?"
"They are indeed, girly." He looked at her, eyebrows raised. "That gonna be a problem for you?"
Celia shuddered. "No," she forced herself to answer. It couldn't be a problem. No matter how much the parasite repulsed her, it couldn't stop her from doing what needed to be done.
Melvin nodded approvingly. "Alright then, let's go finish this."