It's a Trap!

David crept forward. It got lighter and lighter in the cave, until he was in a well-lit spacious cavern. Dark corners meandered off, and David kept checking them reflexively. He still couldn't see the monster.

"David, help me!" He heard a cry. David crept cautiously inside.

The cavern was about half the size of a football field, and to one side he could see wavelets crashing in a small pool. The whole area smelled strongly of fish and salt. Hanging from the ceiling were cages of animals: a badger, a deer, a fox, an owl, and others. They looked at him with solemn, desperate eyes, eerily silent. Treasure was scattered throughout the room in mounds, like pictures of a dragon's cave. Glowing fungi seemed to caste a spotlight on the mounds of gold and silver coins, goblets, and jewels. Crowns and even a few weapons lay scattered about. A few statues stood in the corners.

Far to the back of the cavern was a larger cage hanging low to the floor. Inside a familiar face with mascara-stained cheeks looked at him hopefully. "Hurry," Claire said, "The hag just left. She said she was getting a trap ready for you. Where's Hod?"

David advanced slowly, aware of the water, pointing a stick he'd grabbed out in front of him like a sword. Halfway through the room he paused to grab a sword he'd noticed earlier. Some nails scattered on the floor might be used to pick the lock, and he grabbed a shield as well.

"Come on!" Claire whispered everything, but in the silent cavern her voice echoed strangely. "She could be back any minute."

"When we started tracking you down," David said in a friendly voice, "We discovered that their were at least two creatures working together. A big troll-thing and a shape shifter. Hod's taking care of the troll, but we have no idea where the shape shifter went. I'm just trying to be cautious, Claire. How do I know you're not the shape shifter again?"

"Because I'd tell you." Claire said desperately, "I saw the troll and the hag. The troll was horrible, he tried to give me rotten fish. He kept talking about eating me. And the hag... I saw her change into my step mom Sheila. I saw her change into me." Claire's voice grew quiet. "I suppose it makes sense not to trust me. You're probably the hag anyways, just in another form. She said you and Hod would come for me." Her eyes widened, "I'm not going to fall for it! You've made your point, now leave me alone!" She pulled a knife from her pocket. "Don't come any closer," Claire warned, her voice shaking, eyes wide.

David kept advancing slowly, keeping his voice low. "I'll tell you something only you and I know, so that you know it's me. Then you tell me something else that only you and I know. That way we'll both know we're the real deal." David kept looking up, to where the animals followed him with their eyes. It was nerve wracking. "Remember last summer, when we had a pool party at your dad's house? And you told me about Freckles? Your cat died, and you had a funeral for him."

"I remember," Claire said, standing up from her defensive crouch. "I don't think I told you how we did it? We put him in one of Sheila's jewelry boxes, and set it up in a tree, where Freckles could be with the birds. He loved chasing birds."

"Exactly," David said. He was almost to her cage. "And last month, just before school started, and I told you I was nervous. Why?"

"Because you weren't sure you'd do a good job as student body president," Claire answered. "You were worried because you think people like you more for your looks than for what you can do."

David reached the cage, fiddling desperately with the lock. He couldn't figure out how to get it open, "I wish your dad were here," David muttered. "He could unlock things in all kinds of crazy ways."

"I think I saw the key over their somewhere," Claire whispered. "Hurry! I don't know when she'll be back, it sounded like she was going to be gone for just a second." Claire pointed to the wall where a couple of statues stood.

David hurried over, pausing to look for a moment. Their was a statue of Claire with terrified eyes, and one of Sheila, and one of Peter... and one of himself. The eyes of the Claire-statue almost seemed to watch him, and for a moment David wondered if the hag could make herself look like a statue. The keys were in the statue of Sheila's hand. David reached out and grabbed them, shuddering as a low moan seemed to come from nearby. He whirled, sword up.

"Hurry, David! I think that's her!" Claire whispered.

David almost ran back to her cage, jamming the key in the lock and turning. The cage door slid open, and Claire fell on him slightly.

"Sorry," Claire said. "I haven't eaten in a while. I guess I'm a little weak."

David tried to lift her up, twisting around to get to her side. He adjusted the sword so that it was in his other hand. "That's alright, I'll help you."

Suddenly he was thrust into the cage and the door was slammed shut. He heard laughter, starting lower than any human voice could reach and ricocheting higher until it culminated in a shriek.

"I've got you!" The Claire outside snarled fiercely, showing way too many pointy teeth. Slowly she began to change, growing taller, thinner, greener, scalier. Her blonde hair sunk down into a matted brown heap around triangular ears, and fangs jutted randomly like splinters from her mouth.