• Her skirts fluttered. Her bare feet slid across the slimy filth as she comes to a sudden halt. She knew he would catch up within minutes. Kneeling down she scooped a handful of earth and began to spread it onto herself messily. Wasting no time she slapped it on, making sure not to leave any moonlight skin visible.

    His staggered run came into earshot. She threw herself into her ingenious thigh deep disguise. She lay on her side. She watched him wade towards her. He proudly held his knife at chest height. High enough to be out of the swamp, low enough to be at jabbing point. ‘I know you’re here somewhere.’ He grinned wildly as he circled the area; hunting. The viscous earth clung to his legs, but his torso was perfectly clean. ‘You don’t have to do this, Dominic.’ She shouted at the top of her voice. Dominic stopped still. His features briefly froze in apprehension but he quickly covered it up with a glazed expression. ‘You know that I do.’ He growled so she could only just hear him. Dominic glanced around trying desperately to pinpoint her. Despite his best efforts his nerves began to push their way though. ‘For that, I am truly sorry.’ She said as she rose out of the earth.

    ‘Ern tundra zokas.’ She began to chant. ‘Ern tundra zokas.’ Her body relaxed. Thought seemed to drift away as she swam into her trance. ‘Ern tundra zokas.’ The filth melted off her white skin as her veins burned blue. ‘Ern tundra zokas.’ With each chant her veins raged brighter. ‘Ern tundra zokas.’ Dominic dropped his knife. The struggle was evident on his face as the light streamed out of her eyes and attached itself to him without a thought. Against his free will Dominic was forced to his knees. ‘Ern tundra zokas.’ She walked towards him elegantly. Dominic closed his eyes. ‘May my soul go on to a better place.’ He dreaded what was to come. Simply, she raised one finger and placed it on his forehead. Dominic took a breath and slumped to the side. The blue glow peacefully dimmed.