By Odlan Solaz

My hand clenches
tightly around my pencil, a soft curse passing through my lips. My
eyes glare at the numbers on my paper, its black lines thick with my
failure. My eraser, furious and unforgiving, is quick to deal with
them. My eyes glance towards the clock at the end of the room, the
red numbers judge me silently. I clench my teeth, fire spreads around
my stomach. Only thirty minutes separate me from failing the curse,
thirty minutes and half a test. Get a hold of yourself, you can do
this. You can do this!

My minds swirls back
to my test, eyes scanning the sharp black symbols in search of
information. One hand inputs the number in the calculator, the other
writes down the numbers with desperate speed. My eyes jump through
the page like a wolf chasing a rabbit, never looking back, never
checking for mistakes. There’s no time, there’s no more time.

Number after number,
my hand diligently writes it down. My mind pulling double duty to
keep up with the frantic pace of my thoughts. My mind distills the
questions until they’re basic concepts, all flowery language or
clever trick never passes through; a necessary risk given my
situation. The equations flow from my head to my pencil like a river
during the seasonal rains, angry and relentless. My hand grows number
the longer I kept up my desperate writing, my neat script shifts into
a mess of sharp lines. I can do it, I can do it! I shout in my
head over and over again, as if praying to some nameless god for
help.

My burst of energy
meets a swift end when the final equation unfolds before my eyes. My
throat goes dry, the pencil falls from my fingers as I mutter to
myself in silent horror. My eyes scan the equations in search for a
way out, my mind throws itself against the question desperate for a
hidden path. But my gut already knows there’s no such a thing. The
only answer stares at me from the page like a monolith: An iterative
method. A quick glance at the clock confirms my fears, only fifteen
minutes remain before the end of period. Only fifteen minutes between
me and failure. It’s not enough, I can’t write that fast.

Acid burns in my
stomach like an angry dragon, my heart beats like a drum in my chest
and my hands grow sweaty. My fate is sealed when my calculator slips
from my hand and shatters into pieces when it hits the floor. Tears
slide down my cheeks, blurring the words in front of me. A curse is
halfway through my lips when I feel it. Hot air caresses the back of
my neck. Once, twice. No, not here, not now. I’m okay, go away,
please go away.

Thick furry arms
slither around my torso, the hot breath rising until it reaches my
ear. The hardness of my wooden chair shifts into the familiar
softness of fur, the pungent scent of sweat and earth suffocating me.
My body is paralyzed with fear except for my eyes that plead for my
professor for help. The old badger stares at me with fear painted in
his eyes. The strong arms pull me against the beast chest, the bone
crushing muscles drawing me towards him. A whine leaves my throat
when my back meets his rock hard torso, the arms tightening around me
in turn. A soft snort reaches my ear before the beast start to nuzzle
his large bovine muzzle against my head. His horn grazing my head
with every trip of his muzzle over my head. A silent but effective
threat. I can feel all the eyes in the room on us, their fear
mirroring my own. The screams all die in their throats moments later,
when a low rumble leaves the large beast, his thunder like voice
ringing through the room. “It’s not kind to stare. Not kind at
all.”

Loud screeches of
metal dragged over concrete fill the classroom as my classmates turn
their desks away from us, abandoning me to my fate. The beast’s
holds on me tightens when sobs leave my throat, a soft off tune
melody raising from his chest. A corrupted lullaby that only feeds my
fear. I’m okay, I’m okay now. Please go away, please. I
shout inside my head, but the words never leave my lips.

My arms fall limp by
my side, a warm heat robbing me of all sensation. My legs follow
next, my muscles refusing to listen to my commands. The beast
nuzzling grows stronger and more insistent, his warmth spreading
through my body like wildfire. I am left helpless as my muscles relax
one by one, his eerie song growing in strength. Another whine leaves
my throat, my heart crushed by dread and impotence. Shivers run down
my back when the beast grows still, his rumble coming to a stop. Not
a single sound fills the room. Not a muscle moves as the beast lowers
is snout until it rest against my ear, its hot humid breath blowing
against my hypersensitive skin. “Don’t worry. I’m here. I’m
always here,” the beast whispers in my ears, its words digging into
my heart. I shudder when his rough tongue licks my neck, coating it
with his slimy saliva. “No matter where you are or what time is it.
I’m always here, waiting for you.”

Its large meaty hand
rub my stomach, the strength behind it clear with every touch. The
heat spreads through my belly, soothing the acid on my stomach and
robbing me of even the discomfort of my body.

“Don’t worry.
Leave it all to me. Let go,” it whispers in my ears betweenn licks
to my neck. My eyes grow weary, the head spreading through my chest.
A thud turns my attention towards my desk where a brand new
calculator sits and my pen moves across the page on its own, jotting
down numbers at a frantic pace. “Just let go. Like you always do.
Just let go my friend. You can trust me. You always do in the end.
Give in to me, my only friend.” My consciousness is fading, the
bovine monster’s blowing out my will like one would a candle. The
darkness eats the border of my vision as my teacher’s eyes are
consumed by terror. A muffled scream reaches my eyes as those red
eyes draw me into oblivion.