The Planter's War
an excerpt

The cool air felt fresh on her hot, sweaty face. Miffy was walking away from all the greenhouses, towards a large cottage standing on a hill. Unwillingly, Alexa floated along. An itch grew along her spine, and she struggled against the vines, which only grew tighter.

“Miff, where are you taking me?”

“We are going to see our father. I told you that already.”

“Yes, but why is he here?” A sudden horrifying thought pressed into her brain. It wormed itself around other, non important thoughts, such as why her sister’s face was green and how she was going to get out of here. It crept along to the front, showed itself, and settled in for a terrifying experience that Alexa was not quite ready to handle.

Her breath came in short bursts, and she struggled to not pass out from extreme fright. The only adult that lived anywhere near the greenhouses was Apricus, and she bet that the cottage was his.

“Miff?”

“Yes, Alexa baby?”

The dizziness washed over her as she suddenly fought very hard to break free of the vines. “Our father … please tell me that it isn’t Apricus.”

With a snap of her fingers, two grubby children guarding the door of the cottage pushed open the doors for Miffy with Alexa following behind.

Alexa writhed and screamed in her mind, short of breath but not running anymore. Her skin prickled and danced with horror and dread as the two girls entered the cottage.