Read Banshee Worm King: Book Five of the Oz Chronicles for Free Online

I’ll send the girl after
you.”
    I hooked up to the zip line and jumped out into the open
air.   I felt my body drop for just a split
second and then my stomach dropped even deeper as gravity pulled me down the
zip line.   At first, I gasped and
struggled to catch a clean breath, but once I settled into the gliding motion,
I felt a smile form on my face.   I found
myself hoping I would never reach the other side.
    But I did.   I broke
through the fog and soared past some sturdy overhanging branches, missing
getting struck in the face by mere inches.   I peered ahead and saw the silhouettes of the others waiting to catch
me.   My foot hit the deck and Lou
bear-hugged me as I slowed to a stop.   She held the hug a beat or two longer than necessary.   I didn’t mind.   In fact, I was disappointed when she let
go.  
    April woke up half way across the zip line and let out a
horrible ear-piercing screech that lasted until Tyrone and Wes brought her to a
gentle stop on the deck of the new platform.   I didn’t take time to notice the shelter until Ariabod arrived.
    It was not your average treehouse.   It wasn’t even your average house,
period.   It was practically a castle in
the sky.
    “Bostic wasn’t kidding. It is a mansion,” I said.
    “Got a feeling we’ll fare better in this one,” Wes said.
    “Couldn’t do any worse,” Tyrone said.
    Lou tugged on the line to let Bostic know that a single
harness was ready to travel back.   “It’s
a roof over our heads.”   She tilted her
head toward Gordy, who was propped up against the wall of the treehouse.   “Gives us a proper place to tend to his
wounds and to plan our next move.”
    The harness disappeared into the fog.   We all watched and waited for Bostic’s large
frame to come barreling through the haze at any second.   We waited and waited and waited.
    “Where is he?” Wes asked.
    Just as the words left his mouth a squeal soared through
the tree tops followed by a howl that obviously came from Bostic.
    We stood silently.
    Another howl by Bostic.   More squeals.
    “What do we do?” April asked.
    I grabbed one of the remaining harnesses and put it
on.   “We go back and help him.”  
    Wes grabbed the other harness.
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” April said.
    “No it ain’t, little girl,” Wes said.  
    “I should go,” Lou said.
    Wes growled.   “Why
should you go?   You some kind of
superhero?   I’m the full grown adult
here.   Let me act like it for a change.”
    He clipped on the zip line and leapt off the platform.  
    “Wes!” I said as I hurriedly tried to clip on.
    He soared past the fog before I could secure my harness on
the line. I looked at Lou.   “Stay
here!   No matter what!”
    She reluctantly nodded in agreement.
    I was off the platform and zooming across the zip line
faster than I had on the trip over.   The
cool air was beating against my face.   My
heart was racing.   I had no weapon.   No plan.   No idea what was waiting for me on the other platform.
    When I was in the thick of the fog, I heard Wes let out
what sounded like a warrior’s cry.  
    “Wes!”
    He didn’t reply.
    The outlines of two large men came into view.   They were crouched and ready to pounce on
something.   I couldn’t make out what it
was.   The haze was too thick.
    I landed on the platform with a thud and quickly unhooked
my harness.
    “It’s in the tree,” Bostic said with blood pouring down his
face.
    Wes was breathing heavily, and his hands were balled into
fists.    “It’s quick as all get out.”
    “What is it?” I asked with my eyes on the branches above my
head.
    Bostic shook his head.   “It’s new.   Ain’t never seen it
before.”
    Whatever it was shrieked so loudly it felt like it was just
inches from my ear.
    I saw a branch shudder.   “There,” I said pointing.
    The creature screeched again and swooped down on top of me.   It was long, dark, and bony. It came down so
fast