It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down. Scouts are supposed to be sneaky, cunning, and quick. Clearly, I’m none of those.

This is the unfortunate predicament I now find myself in. Not just trapped in enemy territory, but hanging upside down thanks to one of the simplest booby traps of all time. I don’t know how the hell I missed it.

If I could only reach my foot to yank it free. The rope that snared it is tied in a single knot. If I pull the right strand free I’ll drop to the ground.

The blood rushes to me head in a steady stream of whooshes. It thumps in my ear like a drum, maintaining a thundering beat that threatens to make my head explode.

If I don’t get out of here soon I’ll either die from some sort of heart attack or be killed by enemy scouts. I’m not sure which would be the worse way to go. At least the heart attack would be quick.

I use the last of my strength to rock my body up toward my tethered foot. For about the twentieth time I grab hold of my ankle and pull my body up to my foot. The base of the knot is only twelve inches anice me. I just need to climb my own body to reach up there. Then, I’m home free.

I take a big breath and pull myself up one inch at a time. Deep breath in, pulll. Exhale out.Deep breath in, pull. I’m halfway there when the hear men yelling in the not-so-faraway distance.

Shit.

I scramble up four more inches, the knot is nearly within grasp.

“Almost… got it..” I breathe out. I grab the knot and pull it loose with shaky hands.

I hit the ground with a thud, pain erupting from my entire right side. My vision goes white and all I’m left with is the fire dancing across my body. The ringing in my ears drowns out every other sound, so I have no idea how close the enemy is.

I groan and remain motionless, trying with all my might not to pass out. My heart thuds in my ears, and the white of my vision pulses with each beat.

After a few minutes of utter misery, my vision starts to return in splotchy patches. The ringing slowly fades, and the sounds of the forest take its place.

I attempt to roll over and wince. Even with my two most important senses back, there’s no way I’m getting up any time soon.

“Now, what do we have here?” Says an accented voice I recognize all too well. “You’re a bit far from home, aren’t you, Lassy?”

It’s Homer’s squadron. I’m as good as dead.