Her breath caught.
Crocodiles.
Many of them.
The river was full of them.
“What… what is this place?” Sarah whispered.
Agnes turned to face her fully. There was no pretense left in her eyes.
“This,” she said slowly, “is the big river of crocodiles.”
Sarah’s legs nearly gave way.
“Stepmother,” she whispered, “I’m afraid. How do people cross this river?”
Agnes stepped closer. Her face hardened.
“You are about to find out.”
Before Sarah could understand what she meant, Agnes shoved her with both hands.
Everything happened in an instant.
The ground vanished beneath Sarah’s feet. Her scream tore through the night as she rolled down the hill. Dirt scratched her skin. Stones tore into her arms. Just as she was about to fall completely, she grabbed a thick tree root hanging from the cliff.
Her body swung violently over the river.
Below her, the crocodiles began to move.
Their eyes glowed in the darkness.
They were watching her. Waiting.
“Help me!” Sarah screamed. “Stepmother, please!”