CHAPTER FIFTY -ONE

When her eyes opened again, Riley's blood turned cold immediately.

A very fetid smell came to her nostrils and she suddenly realized what was happening when her blurry eyes saw the black, ominous objects around her. Vultures! They had surrounded her, four of them, thinking she was dead.

She was so tired and weak, but the fear of the sharp beaks of the ugly birds digging into her flesh made a rush of adrenaline fuel her for a short period. The birds watched with their crooked necks and hideous bald heads keenly and when their prey moved, they took steps back.

Riley's groping hand found and gripped a stone and she hurled it at one of the big birds. They scampered away, but not too far, they hung and waited on low branches of nearby trees.

With a desperate effort, Riley struggled to her feet and tottered forward. Her knees felt wobbly and like they were going to give up on her anytime soon, her body was burning with exhaustion. She was starving, her whole body was weakened, languid,