The tiger was shaking with mirth, not pain. “You think,” It cackled, its unpleasant voice spreading across the room, “That a oversized kitten and a little girl will get rid of me? I have bested the fiercest magical warriors! Nobody shall defeat me, unless by wisdom! And you brainless children don’t have the wits to do that. Look and see, Coraline Rose…” The tiger waved its paw, and I was submerged into a scenario.
Felix was nearly unrecognizable. He was covered in burns, but he was trembling from the icy weather. He was at the flat peak of a mountain, and his face was down, as if he had surrendered. Suddenly, a whip appeared out of thin air and started slashing at every exposed part of his body. He yelled, writhing in pain, and tried to move but he was evidently weak.
“Stop, please! Please, stop! Don’t hurt him!” I screamed. Seeing Felix in pain was worse than any casualty he was experiencing. But as I pleaded, I was shocked to see the tiger oblige and the whip to disappear. It was strange- I could see the tiger and an unconscious Choco to my left, but the rest of me was watching the vision.
“This is occurring presently, Coraline Rose. See for yourself. Speak to him if you must.” It didn’t have to tell me any more. I tenderly took a step forward, and was amazed when the tiger was more out of my view. I took another step, and I was right in front of Felix. He had heard my shrieks to stop torturing him, and he was staring around wildly. “My imagination…” He muttered. “C-could’ve sworn I heard Cora…”
“F-Felix, I’m here.”
His head shot up like a rocket, and I was astounded to see him look shocked and angry. “What are you doing? Run, it’s all fake! I’m just a hostage to make you come! Run, now, the tiger doesn’t want me! It wants you! Please, you have to…”
“Felix!” I was shocked by his outburst. “I’m not really here! The tiger… it’s showing me a vision of what it’s doing to you.”
He nodded, staring into the air behind me. That’s when I realized he couldn’t see me, only hear my voice. “Run, Cora. D-don’t save me.”
“I have to.”
“No, you don’t. You- you could get out alive. Don’t come after me, I’m just a- a-” He paused, and I seized the moment to make him see past his craziness.
“No! I’m coming, Felix! I’m going to help you! We’re both going to get out alive! Tell me where you are!”
“M-”
“That’s enough, don’t you think?” The tiger’s voice mused. “Can’t let her have too much information… correct, Felicia?”
“Why does it keep talking to someone named Felicia?” Felix mumbled.
“I think Felicia is Ms. El’fonte.”
“The librarian is inside the tiger?” He said, sounding puzzled.
“Yes.”
“Oh. Well, I guess I’ve f-faced stranger things. Now, listen. I’m on Mount-”
“I said it’s enough, Coraline. Let us deal with you now.” The tiger’s voice said.
“I have to go. The tiger is...it’s with me.” I said as offhandedly as possible.
“Oh no.”
“Yeah. I’m sure it won’t do anything terrible. It wants an adventure, doesn’t it?” I didn’t want Felix to worry about me.
“Cora…” He reached out his hand blindly, searching for me. I grabbed his hand, and I was relieved when I could feel it. He squeezed it lightly, and murmured, “Stay safe.”
At that moment, I knew I hadn’t fooled him with my reassurances.
I couldn’t look at his singed, freezing face again. I let go and turned around, taking two wide steps and reappearing back in the library.
I braced myself for what the tiger was planning for me next.