The Dilemma

Before you start: you can read this one on its own, or as part of a series.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

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The baby dragon was bigger than the last time I'd seen him, before I went to hospital. Nearly twice as big. I'd just got back, my arm still bandaged.

Lex was toasting his scales on the small barbecue. He'd soon be too big to fit on it. I wondered how long until he was the size of his mother. Until he was too big, too dangerous, to hide here in the coalshed. When that happened, what would I do next? I sat on the floor in the soot and grime, and fed another piece of coal to the flames.

"Oh, Lex. What am I going to do?"

Mum wanted to stove his little head in with a rock before he could burn the house down. Dad wanted to study him, and get recognition for his (my) discovery. The suited men who visited me in hospital surely wanted to study him as well, find ways to control him, clone him, use him as a weapon. I'd been as close-lipped as I dared. They assured me they'd return.

What did I want?

My stump throbbed nine ways to Sunday. I looked it, this absence of hand, the cost of my impulses and empathy, and put another slice of raw chicken on the grill. Lex fixed his golden eyes on it and when it was scorched to his liking, snapped it down in three gulps.

I wanted him to be OK. That's all. I was happy to make him go back back to his own world, if I could just find a way, as soon as he was strong enough to manage by himself.

When he can flame, I told myself. The day he can flame, I need to take him back through the Door. That's when he will stand a chance by himself. But not a day later. I can't risk it.

The woman standing outside on the garden path was not wearing a suit. She has a lanyard around her neck, but she's wearing jeans and some of her dark hair has escaped her ponytail. She looks young.

She says, "I'd like to help you." I don't know if I can trust her. But I don't think I have much choice.

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Word count (excluding notes): 366

Submitted on 21st February at 22:18

Quick Author's Note

Pay no attention to the writer behind the curtain: This one continues the baby dragon story.

A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one makes a 52 day streak. You can find all of them in my Index post, which I do my best to update once or twice a week at least. It's also pinned to the top of my profile.

If you'd like to read another, here's my recommendation: Extra D (yes that is what the D stands for)

If you're joining me on this "story every day" madne adventure, please leave a link to yours in the comments! Whether you're on a creative bent like me, or if you have your own self-imposed criteria, I'd love to see what you come up with for today.

Thank you

As always, thank you so much for reading! I do my best to reciprocate all reads. Please do leave a comment and I'll pop over and read one of yours as soon as! If you enjoyed this story, the best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another 😁