Victoria nodded her thanks. Ahead of them, she could see a bridge. The river it spanned was at least thirty feet across. She didn't know if the creatures chasing them could swim, but the bridge itself was narrow. If they could get across, they might be able to lose their pursuers. She clapped the reins across the team's back, but the animals needed no encouragement; the buggy thundered toward the river at a breakneck speed. Leaning forward, Victoria watched as the bridge loomed closer in the moonlight. Her fingers curled around the reins. They were going to make it.
A black shadow leaped up from the river. Fierce yellow eyes glowered at them as it landed on the road just before the bridge. Victoria slapped the reins again, urging the horses to charge through the creature. Instead, the animals panicked and veered to one side. Ahead of them, the surface of the water spread out like a vast pane of black glass. She pulled on the reins, desperate to steer the buggy away from disaster.
When they jumped the bank, Victoria found herself weightless. Horses, buggy, and passengers seemed suspended in midair, floating above the moonlit water like ghosts. She could see each white-tinted ripple and count every reflected star. The driver's seat drifted downward toward the river, but she remained aloft, sailing through the night. Looking down at her hands, she realized she had let go of the reins. Her father's voice reached her ears from a great distance. He was carrying on about something, but she couldn't make out what. Not that it mattered. She'd discovered she could fly. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head skyward and smiled, letting the cool air kiss her face.
The shock of icy water numbed her arms and legs as it closed in around her. She gasped at the impact, pulling a mouthful down into her lungs. Spasms shook her body. Her arms clawed frantically at the darkness, seeking a way out. The weight of her dress and coat pulled her downward, away from the surface and its life-giving air. She began kicking. Her shoes slipped off her feet and floated away. After a few more agonizing seconds, she felt her toes scrape against something solid, and she pushed against it with her remaining strength.
Frantic splashes filled Victoria's ears as her head broke the surface. She filled her lungs with night air and was rewarded with a violent coughing spell. Beating her arms against the water, she managed to keep herself afloat long enough to spot the closest bank. It wasn't far. She forced her legs into action and made for it.
Pulling herself up onto the riverbank, she collapsed as another coughing fit wracked her frame. Fire scorched her throat, making each breath a sweet agony. Her dress clung to her legs as she brought them up to her chest, but she barely noticed its cold, clammy touch. The world consisted of nothing beyond her aching lungs.
When the coughing fits finally subsided, she pushed herself up into a sitting position. The night was still and quiet around her. With a start, she remembered the shadowy creatures and the frantic chase, and an ocean of panic welled up inside her stomach. Victoria struggled to her feet, eyes sweeping up and down the river for the buggy or her parents. The water flowed past her, dark and placid. She wrapped her arms around herself with a shiver. Standing there, dripping wet, she suddenly felt very cold and very alone.
Upstream. If her parents were anywhere, they would be upstream. Victoria shook herself out of her stupor and began walking. It was slow going. The wet folds of her dress wrapped themselves around her legs with each step. She kicked them away as best she could. Her toes sank into the cool mud that lined the riverbank. As she walked, she kept her eyes on the river, searching for any sign of the ruined buggy.
A splash in the river behind her made her jump. Looking toward the sound, she saw a set of rings expanding outward across the surface. A fish, or maybe a frog. Not one of those dog creatures. The thought of them sent chills skittering across her body. She turned in a slow circle, watching for any telltale yellow eyes, but the fields around her were empty. Taking a deep breath, she continued the journey upstream. Her renewed fear added urgency to her steps. Every sound, real or imagined, turned her head and