166

MAXINE

We burst out of the monastery and into the sun right when the snake snapped its jaw. It hissed, recoiling back into the monastery. It was agitated, not staying in one place. But, it didn't chase after us any further.

It snapped its jaw at us some more, hissing but it seemed like it was unable to leave the monastery.

"Come on," Mr. Grayson said. "Let's leave this place."

We hurried back to the car, not speaking. That was a horror that we would never forget. And it wasn't even something we could tell people and they would believe.

Mr. Grayson drove for hours. Zel and I ended up nodding off to sleep at intervals, a bit tired from using our abilities. Finally, he pulled over in front of a cabin, hidden by the woods.

He got out of the car and we followed him curiously. "Why are we here?" I asked.

"It's a safe place," he said. "Taking this object back to the lodge is going to attract the curse's attention so, we're going to keep it safely guarded here."

He reached up at the top of th