I paid $4 up front, and now I'm glad that I did. You have a great story-telling ability, and the emotions and images came through very well. I know too well the jitters of allowing your creation to be let loose to the whims of readers, and my honest opinion is that you should have nothing to fear. No matter if you get negative comments, you have the ability to create a scene and get a message across to your reader that few have. An interesting and impressive story (as is the imagination behind it)!