Page 70 of A Cock and Bull Story
Now, just to get my feet.
Holding my nose, because I really don't want to smell it anymore and keep puking, I sling the vomit down at my ankles. My feet are harder to get through the tough knots—even lubed up—and I end up scraping myself severely.
But, finally, I get free.
I look around the room frantically looking for an escape route when my gaze snags on a dirty window. Through the grime, I see a familiar face peering through the window.
It's Arthur—my horny toad knight in shining armor.
“What the fuck have they done to her?” Jack wonders as we stare down at Belle through a small dusty window.
She appears to be the only one in the room, and her arms are coated in a sickly-looking orange substance.
“I don't know, but we need to get her out of here, though,” Jude says, looking around vigilantly.
“I'll stay behind,” Jack offers. “You know I can't enter.”
We all nod. His ass is too big to fit through the window, but a cockchafer, a slippery Dick, and a horny toad can easily fit. I nudge the window open, and Jude quickly shifts and flies in. Arthur shifts and follows suit.
I'm the last to go.
It's tricky being a water animal andnotshifting into water. I can easily die if I don't shift back into my human form in time. Being soft bodied and free falling through a window into a building, I can easily land on something and pierce myself—but Jude knows the drill and will catch me.
Hopefully.
Taking a deep breath, I quickly shift into my fish and drop through the window. Not shifting in water is like having an out of body experience—and it's not a very pleasant one. As soon as Jude catches me, I instantly morph back into my human form, greedily sucking down air.
We're all naked—except for Belle, who I can now smell is covered in vomit. Her ankles are bleeding, and I can faintly scent the metallic tang of blood, a more subtle odor underneath the stench of vomit.
“Poor lass, what happened to you?” Arthur croons, walking right up to her, not bothered by the smell or appearance of vomit.
Belle's shaking violently and doesn’t answer him.
“We need to get out of here now—before the Tershes return,” I prod.
Belle nods, on board with Plan Get the Hell Out of Dodge—the only problem is she's too big to fit through the escape route.
“What are we going to do?” I ask Jude, who I know is already thinking the same thing.
“She's going to have to go through the only exit available for her,” Jude responds. “You and Arthur need to go back through the window, though.”
I stare at him.
It's almost impossible to do unless he tosses me back up and out it. From the look on his face—that’s Jude’s plan.
“No,” I disagree firmly. “We’re in this together. I know I'm just a fish, but I can help!”
Jude’s face softens.
“I didn't mean it like that—”
“I know you didn’t,” I cut him off, “but I’m not going anywhere.”
“And neither am I,” says Arthur. “As Theo said—we're in this together. Jack will cover our asses once we get out there. Sian and Elise are waiting at the cousin’s flat and will meet us somewhere on campus. Once we return, we're going to get the hell out of here.”
“Will I have time to shower?” Belle wonders absently.
I try not to chuckle.
