What Doesn't Kill You - Part 7

The following is a short story revolving around the fantasy story 'The Wall Outside'. There will be serveral parts. It uses some of the characters of 'The Wall Outside', but is not part of main book. 'The Wall Outside' is currently available in digital format at http://www.amazon.com/The-Wall-Outside-Series-ebook/dp/B009FLOMLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350814435&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wall+outside+by+james

What Doesn't Kill You - Part 7

It is the bone knocking that alerts you.

You turn just in time to avoid a slap by a skeleton hand that would have knocked you silly.  Without a second thought, you snatch up a burning log and slam the skeleton in the middle.

The bones crunch loudly, flying in all directions.  Since it no longer has a middle, the top and bottom of the skeleton crash to the ground.

“Batter, batter up!”  Bob calls, appearing beside you.  “Great swat!  Can you do it again?”

Both skeletons Bob faced are down on the ground, but one is moving to rise.  Another comes up from the other side of the tree.  He’s fanning the flames so they will burn faster.

“No you don’t!” You jump forward brandishing the log.  He jumps back, picks up his own longer, narrower, log, and stands ready.   His skull eyes seem to glow in delight.

“Swordfight!” Bob leaps with glee.  “This will be fun!”

“But Bob, I don’t know how to sword fight!”

“You don’t?”  Bob flies between you and the skeleton.  “Look, uh, mister,” he studies the skeleton’s pose.  “Uh, mister swordsman skeleton.  You see, my friend really doesn’t know how to fight, and well, if you’d just put the log down---”

The skeleton laughs, swishing the log in Bob’s direction.  Bob leaps back, and shrugs.  “Sorry, I tried.”

“Thanks.”

The skeleton lunges.  You parry the blow, but only barely.

“Bob, the fire!”  You throw a look at the groaning tree.

“Fire, gotcha!”

Bob takes off to put out the flame, while you parry a second blow.  The skeleton is playing with you.  He knows you can’t sword fight, and he’s going to enjoy the kill.


~ James William Peercy

For those interested, what is 'The Wall Outside' about?

Step across the barrier and what will you find?
A place of magic just out of sight?
A pixie, a leprechaun, or even a sprite?

What starts as a vacation, turns into a mess. For Jonna, there's
more at stake than meets the eye. Through pouring rain,
misdirection, and a curious mind, Jonna crossed the barrier
between our world and magic.

Now forced to return across the barrier, Jonna battles Dark Mages, angry leprechauns, and a ruthless Minotaur, all in an effort to find his wife. To do this, he must locate the stolen Rune Blade and rescue a beautiful elvish princess.

But what can a human do when faced with a world of magic?