Jake looked at Ms. Eastman and nodded his head, straitening his back and swallowing dryly; suddenly there seemed to be a lump in his throat. He turned towards the sound in the woods and took a step.

When Michi gave his hand a squeeze, Jakes face flushed red; he only hoped that she couldn’t tell in the darkness of the woods. “Thanks, Michi”, he answered, knowing now that he’d go through with this even if there was a dragon facing him beyond the trees.

Taking a few steps away from Michi and the professor, Jake produced a swiss army knife from his pocket and drew the blade across the palm of his hand, “Owww owww owww”, he rasped, “It never looks like it hurts in the movies”, he told himself. Jake had reasoned that the monster was a carnivore and so would be attracted to blood; he held his palm face out as the blood ran down and dripped from it. “Come on, you nasty beast, dinner time!”, he called into the trees. Jake continued to walk towards the noise…