He stepped onto the wooden walkway that led over the edge of the swamp. The wood creaked under his bare feet.
"They'll probably run toward you and devour you if you move too fast," Salvatore said from behind him. "But just stay calm. It's better that way."
Milo turned his head, his eyes filled with horror. "Sir?"
"Go in," Salvatore repeated.
Milo took another step. He looked down. A large crocodile just a few feet away opened its yellow eyes.
He looked at Salvatore again.
"I'm going to die..." Milo said, his voice cracking.
"Well," Salvatore said, "that depends on you."
How does it depend on me? Milo screamed inside his head. He looked at the beasts. They were starting to stir in the mud. They had noticed him.
"They're going to eat me," Milo almost screamed.
"Go in," Salvatore said again.
Milo's lips began to tremble. He was a loser. He knew it. He was a coward who had spent his life being pushed around, and now he was going to die because he didn't know how to say no.
