The Adventures of Kelsey, Leah, and Izuzu (part 2)

It's been a long time coming, but this is part 2 of my "Izuzu" series. If you haven't read the first part, "The Beginning", yet, it's in a previous blog here.


^The stars of the story: Leah and I!

"Leah's Escape"

Mr. Donovan's words hit Kelsey like a rock thrown at her head (ouch). She wasn't sure what he meant by his cryptic reply. Frowning, she urged him to tell her what he was talking about.
"It's written in a prophecy that the only person who can save a victim of Izuzu is one who truly desires to save her. Family members cannot count. They will desire to save her no matter what. The rescuer must be one from whom the victim has gained friendship. Someone who cares about her by choice, not default," explained Mr. Donovan.
“Well I don’t know what all the rules are, but I know that I want to save Leah, and if I understand what you’re saying, then I am a person who can save her,” Kelsey replied. Mr. Donovan smiled.
“Good. Then you’re going to need this.” Seemingly out of thin air, Mr. Donovan pulled a long, silver tube with a shiny black button on one end. He handed it to Kelsey without a word.
“Um, I appreciate the gesture, Mr. Donovan, but… what is it?”
“That,” replied Mr. Donovan with a wink, “is something you will know yourself when the time is right.”
Kelsey looked down again at the object, and when she returned her gaze toward Mr. Donovan, she was startled to find that her old teacher had vanished. She turned back towards the hill where Leah had been taken.
“Well, here goes nothing.”
***
Meanwhile, quite a distance further down the hill, Leah was struggling with her attacker. Izuzu had her leg in a vice grip, and as much as she struggled, she could not free herself.
“Think, Leah, think!” she told herself. Whatever it was that was going on, she was sure there had to be some way out of it. They were getting closer and closer to the river below, and Izuzu was showing no sign of stopping. Is this thing going to drown me? She wondered.
As they neared the water, Leah quickly twisted herself around and used her free leg to kick the creature in the face. With a yelp, Izuzu dropped Leah’s leg to bring his hand (or paw; Leah wasn’t sure what to call it) to his face. Reacting to her sudden freedom, Leah immediately turned and started running back up the hill. Realizing what had happened, Izuzu howled with anger. He turned to follow his victim, only to find himself unable to go in a straight line. He was disoriented from Leah’s kick. Somehow, she had found just the right spot to hit and had temporarily disabled him.
Leah continued her climb up the steep hill, beginning to feel the effects of such a strenuous activity. She felt herself gasping for breath. This was way more of a workout than she had intended when she and Kelsey had set out on their run that evening. Just as she thought she wouldn’t make it any further, she saw lights, then a figure standing at the top of the hill.
She fell to her hands and knees just as she reached the top.

(to be continued...)