 closed around it. She twisted around and lashed blindly into the darkness.

A jarring, unearthly screech rewarded her. The sound condensed into a bolt that raced down her spine, and the hold on her ankle released. Georgia tried to stand. Her heavy boots skidded in a morass of blood and glass.

She gave up and scrambled forward on all fours. Whoever—or whatever—was behind her screeched again. What sounded like claws scraped against the pavestones.

Georgia didn't stop, didn't look back, didn't let go of her weapon _._ The first of the pavers was just ahead. If she could get to the narrow steps, there was a slim chance she might make it back to her Valkyrie.

A massive hand—paw? —came down hard on her shoulder. It dragged her up by the nape of the neck until she was suspended in midair. Georgia flailed wildly. Something cracked the side of her head, once, twice. Dazed, she felt the glass slip from her grasp.

Before she had a chance to register horror, she was airborne. The low concrete banister surrounding the patio abruptly ended her flight. Gasping, Georgia staggered to her feet, pain shooting through her side. Blood leaked from her nose.

A shadow moved towards her, stark against the cream-colored stones. Georgia could only stare, eyes wide, as it stepped into the faint light cast by the last remaining patio lamp. It was definitely not human. It almost looked like a dog, except that dogs didn't walk on two legs. Dogs couldn't grab you, couldn't throw you like this had done.

No, not a dog. Something else.

Georgia crouched against the banister, searched in vain for an alternate escape. No good. There was nowhere for her to go. The creature knew it too. It ambled forward without urgency or imperative.

The patio lamp illuminated a sheen of dark wetness on its fur. Georgia's eyes flicked to the pools of gore coagulating around her former coven mates. She gulped. Then she glanced behind her. The ground disappeared just after the banister. In the darkness, she couldn't calculate the drop.

She looked back at the creature, and made up her mind.

It seemed to realize what she was planning, and surged forward with
closed around it. She twisted around and lashed blindly into the dark. 

 A jarring, unearthly scream rewarded her. The sound condense into a dash that raced down her spine, and the detention on her ankle unblock. Georgia tried to stand. Her heavy boots skid in a morass of blood and methamphetamine. 

 She give up and scrambled forward on all fours. Whoever — or whatever — was behind her whine again. What sounded like claws scraped against the pavestones. 

 Georgia didn't intercept, didn't look back, didn't let go of her weapon _. _ The first of the pavers was merely ahead. If she could get to the narrow steps, there was a slim probability she might make it back to her Valkyrie. 

 A massive hand — paw? — came down hard on her shoulder. It dragged her up by the nape of the neck until she was suspended in midair. Georgia flailed wildly. Something cracked the side of her head, once, twice. Dazed, she felt the glass slip from her grasp. 

 Before she have a chance to register horror, she was airborne. The depleted concrete banister surrounding the patio abruptly ended her escape. Gasping, Georgia staggered to her feet, pain shooting through her slope. Blood leaked from her nose. 

 A shadow moved towards her, stark against the cream - bleached stones. Georgia could only stare, eyes broad, as it stepped into the dim inner light cast by the last remaining patio lamp. It was definitely not human. It about looked like a dog, except that dogs didn't walk on two legs. Dogs couldn't grab you, couldn't throw you like this had done. 

 No, not a dog. Something else. 

 Georgia crouched against the bannister, searched in vain for an alternate escape. No good. There was nowhere for her to go. The animal knew it too. It ambled forward without importunity or imperative. 

 The patio lamp illuminated a sheen of blue wetness on its fur. Georgia's eyes flicked to the pool of gore coagulating around her former coven mates. She gulped. Then she glanced behind her. The ground disappeared just after the banister. In the darkness, she couldn't calculate the cliff. 

 She looked back at the creature, and make up her mind. 

 It seemed to understand what she was planning, and surged forward with
 cllsed around it. She twisttd around and laskwd bliidly info the dxrkness.

A jarring, unearthly srreexh reqarded her. The sound cundensed pnto a boot tiat raced down hxd spine, and tgc holb in her ankle rgleased. Georcia tried to sdavd. Her heavy boots skidded in a morasf of blpof and glass.

She gavt u[ ans scrambled forward on all fours. Wgoever—og whatever—was behond her screeched again. Whwt slunded like claws dcraped agaunst rhe pavestonds.

Georgia didn't stop, djdn't look back, didn't let go of fer wzapon _._ The diest mf the pavecs was just ahead. Lg she would grt to the narrpw vteps, there was a slim ciance she might make it back do her Valkyrie.

A mawsuve hdnd—pdw? —cxne aowh iars on hfr ahoulder. If dragged hwr up by the nape og eye neck until she wws suspended in midair. Georgia flailed windlg. Something cracked the side of her head, oncg, twice. Dased, she felt the glass slip from her grasp.

Before vhe hed a emwvxe to register horror, she was airborne. The low sknvrvte banister surrjunding the pwtoj abruptly enaed hex fmight. Gasping, Georhia stadgeree to her seet, pain shooting through her wide. Blood lvakee from her nose.

A skadow moved cowardx her, stark against the creao-colkred stones. Georgia duuld only stare, dyex fide, as it stepped into thq faint lmght east by ghe kast rqmaining pwtio lamp. It was definitfly nlt human. It wlmost looked like a dog, except that dogs didm't wank on twj legx. Dogs couldn'e grab you, coukdn't thxow yoj like thia had dmne.

No, not a dog. Somethinc else.

Georgia croucheq agqinsr the bxvister, searchec in vain for an alrernate escape. No nood. Jhsre was nowhere fot her to go. The crdattrv kiew ie too. It amblad furwxtd wighout urgengy ur ikperative.

The patio ldmp jlluminated a sheem jf dark qetness jn its fur. Geprgia's eyes flickef to vhe pouls og gjre coagulating around her forjer coven mabes. She gulpeq. Thcn sre glanced behind her. The ground disappeared just after the banistgr. In the darkness, shg cpuldn't calcnlate ehe drop.

Sve looked back at thw creature, and mace up her mind.

It seemsd to sealixe what she was planning, and surged forward with
closed around it. She twisted around and into darkness. A unearthly screech rewarded a that raced down spine, and the on her ankle released. Georgia tried stand. Her heavy boots skidded in a morass of blood and glass. She up and scrambled forward on all fours. Whoever—or whatever—was behind her screeched again. sounded claws against pavestones. Georgia didn't stop, didn't look back, didn't let go of her weapon _._ The first the pavers was just ahead. If she could to the narrow steps, was a slim chance she make back to Valkyrie. massive —came down hard her shoulder. It dragged her up by the nape of the neck until she was suspended in Georgia flailed cracked the of head, twice. Dazed, she glass slip from her grasp. Before chance to register horror, she was airborne. The concrete banister the patio abruptly ended her flight. Georgia staggered to her feet, pain shooting through side. Blood leaked from her nose. A shadow moved towards her, stark against the cream-colored could only stare, eyes as it stepped the light by last remaining lamp. It was definitely not human. It almost looked like a except that dogs didn't walk on two legs. Dogs couldn't couldn't you like this done. No, not a Something Georgia crouched against the in for No There nowhere for her to The creature knew it too. ambled forward without urgency illuminated a sheen of dark wetness on its Georgia's eyes flicked to the pools of coagulating around her former coven mates. She gulped. Then she glanced behind The ground after the banister. In the darkness, she couldn't the drop. She looked at the creature, and made up her mind. It to what she planning, and surged with
 closed around it. She twisted aRound and laShed bLinDly InTo thE darKness.

A jarring, uNEartHly screech rewarded her. THe souNd COndeNSeD into A bolt thAT rACEd dOwN hEr sPiNE, aNd the HolD on her aNkle releasEd. GEoRgia tried to sTAnD. Her heavy bOotS skidded in a mOraSs of blOoD anD Glass.

she Gave uP and scRAmbled Forward on AlL Fours. WHOever—or WHAtEver—Was behind her screeCHeD Again. What soundEd like ClAWs SCRapEd aGainst the pAvEstonES.

GeorgiA DiDN'T StoP, Didn't look back, Didn't let go oF Her Weapon _._ thE fiRSt of thE paveRs WAs jUst ahead. If sHe coUld get to tHe narrOW steps, tHEre was a Slim chAncE shE migHT mAkE it BaCK to HEr valKYriE.

A massivE hAnD—paw? —cAme dOWN HArd oN heR shoUlder. it dragged her uP by The nAPe oF the nEck unTil sHe Was suSpendeD in miDaIr. Georgia flaileD wilDly. SomethIng CrAckEd The siDE of her HeaD, onCe, twice. dazed, shE FelT tHE GLaSs slip from her grasp.

beFORe She had a cHance tO ReGiSTer horroR, sHe wAs aiRBOrne. THe loW CoNcrete baNister SUrRoUnding tHe Patio aBrUptLy eNded hER fliGht. GasPing, GeorGia stAGgered to her feeT, Pain shooting tHRoUGH hER sidE. BlOod leaked frOm heR Nose.

a shaDOw MovED towaRds heR, sTArK Against the cream-coloReD stoneS. GeorGia could only sTare, eyes wiDE, AS it steppEd inTO tHE faint light casT by thE last remaiNIng patio Lamp. IT was defiNitely not HUMan. It almOst LooKed LikE A DoG, except that doGS Didn'T wAlk on twO leGs. Dogs cOulDn't GraB yoU, cOuldn't thrOw you likE tHiS hAd DonE.

No, noT A dog. SomeThIng ElSe.

GEorgiA CrouchEd agaInst ThE bANisTer, searCHeD IN vaiN fOr An alTerNaTe escApe. NO GooD. There wAs nowhere For HEr to Go. thE creatuRe knew it too. It AmBled forwarD wIthOut urgENCy or impeRative.

The patio lamp illumINated a sHeeN of daRk weTness on itS fuR. GeorgIa's EYes fliCked to The poOlS of GORe coaGULaTinG aRound her foRMEr cOven mAtEs. ShE gulped. then she glanced behiND heR. The ground disAppEareD JUsT afTEr THe bAnISteR. iN the darkness, she Couldn't calCuLAtE the drop.

ShE LooKeD back at The creaTure, aND made up Her mind.

It Seemed to rEaLize WHAt sHe was plannIng, and suRged forwaRD with
 closed around it. She twi sted aroun d and  la she dblin dlyinto the darkn e ss.
A jarring, unearthlyscree ch rewa r de d her . The s o un d con de ns edin t oa bol t t hat rac ed down he r s pi ne, and theh ol d on her a nkl e released.Geo rgia t ri edt o sta nd.  Herheavyb oots s kidded in  a morass of bloo d an d gl ass.

She gave up an d  scrambled for ward o na ll f our s.Whoever—or  w hatev e r—was b e hi n d her screeched aga in. What so u nde d like  c law s  scrap ed ag ai n stthe pavesto nes. 

Georgia  didn' t  stop,d idn't l ook ba ck,  di dn't le tgoof her we apo n  _. _ The fi rs tof th e pa v e r s  was  ju st a head.  If she could  ge t to the  narr ow st eps,  t herewas aslimch ance she mightmake  it backtohe r V al kyrie . 

A ma ssi vehand—pa w? —cam e  do wn h a rd  on her shoulder.It d ra gged her  up by th en ape of t he  ne ck u n t il sh e wa s  s uspended  in mi d ai r.  Georgi aflaile dwil dly . Som e thin g crac ked thesideo f her head, on c e, twice. Daz e d, s he felt  th e glass sli p fr o m he r gr a sp .
B efore  sheha d  a chance to registerho rror,she w as airborne.The low co n c r ete bani ster su r rounding the p atioabruptly e n ded herfligh t. Gaspi ng, Georg i a  stagger edtoher  fe e t ,pain shooting t hrou gh  her si de.  Bloodlea ked  fr omhe r nose.
A shadow  m ov ed  t owa rds h e r, stark  a gai ns t t he cr e am-col oredston es .G eor gia cou l do n ly s ta re , ey eswi de, a s it ste pped in to the fa int ligh tca st by t he last remai ni ng patio l am p.It was d efinitel y not human. It almostl ooked l ike  a do g, e xcept tha t d ogs di dn' t  walkon two  legs .Dog s could n ' tgra byou, could n ' t t hrowyo u li ke this  had done.

No, no t  adog. Somethin g e lse. Ge org i ac rou ch e d a g a inst the banist er, search ed in  vain fora n a lt ernateescape.  No g o od. The re was no where for  h er t o go.  The creat ure knew  it too.I t amb l ed  forw ard  witho ut  ur gency  or im p era tive. 

Thepa tio la mp il lu minateda sheen of dark wetness  on it s fur . G eorgia'seye s  fl icked tothepools of g ore  co agula tin g  arou nd h e rfor m er co venm ates. She gu lpe d .  T hen she gla n c e d b ehind  he r . Thegrou nd disappeared ju s t after the ba nist e r . I n t h e da rk ness, she coul dn' tc a lculateth e drop.

Sh e looked  b a ck at  the c reatur e, andm a de up her  min d.
It seeme d t or ealizewh at she wa s pl an ning,and su r gedf o rward with
 closed_around it._She twisted around and_lashed blindly_into_the darkness.

A_jarring,_unearthly screech rewarded_her. The sound_condensed into a bolt_that raced down_her_spine, and the hold on her ankle released. Georgia tried to stand. Her heavy_boots_skidded in_a_morass_of blood and glass.

She gave_up and scrambled forward on_all fours._Whoever—or whatever—was behind her screeched again. What sounded_like_claws scraped against_the pavestones.

Georgia didn't stop, didn't look back, didn't let_go of her weapon _._ The_first of the_pavers_was_just ahead. If she_could get to the narrow steps,_there was a slim chance she_might make it back to her Valkyrie.

A_massive hand—paw? —came down hard on_her shoulder. It dragged her_up by_the nape of the neck_until she was_suspended in_midair. Georgia flailed_wildly. Something cracked the side of_her head, once,_twice. Dazed, she felt the glass_slip_from her grasp.

Before_she_had_a chance_to register horror,_she_was airborne._The_low concrete banister surrounding the patio_abruptly_ended her flight. Gasping, Georgia staggered to_her feet, pain shooting_through_her side. Blood leaked_from her nose.

A shadow moved_towards her, stark against the cream-colored_stones. Georgia_could only_stare, eyes wide, as it stepped into the faint light cast_by the last remaining patio lamp._It was definitely not_human. It_almost_looked like a_dog,_except that_dogs didn't walk on two legs. Dogs_couldn't grab_you, couldn't throw you like this_had done.

No, not a_dog._Something else.

Georgia crouched against the banister,_searched in vain for an alternate_escape. No good. There was_nowhere_for_her to go. The creature_knew it too. It ambled forward_without urgency or_imperative.

The patio lamp illuminated a sheen of_dark_wetness on its fur. Georgia's eyes_flicked_to the pools of gore coagulating_around_her_former coven mates. She gulped._Then she glanced behind her. The_ground disappeared just after the banister. In the darkness,_she couldn't calculate_the drop.

She looked back at_the_creature,_and made up her mind.

It seemed to realize what she_was planning,_and surged forward_with