beyond the sounds of distant screams and cackling fire and her drumming heart, she heard the wings of death flapping as he approached fast, soaring over rooftops, his eyes running over the smoking buildings, the bodies on the ground – who to take first?
then he spotted someone huddled inside one of the burning houses: a girl, trapped in the fire, her heart like a frail little bird. a shadow fell over the ruined street as he swooped, gleefully.
she heard rushing in her ears, and knew that he had come. please, no. a sob constricted her throat; her vision blurred, her feet fumbled. she felt his presence looming over her in the smoke. please.
no.
but death was a possessive being, known for his cruelty, with long fingers that plucked away lives from the world like petals from a flower.
yes, he whispered, as he closed in. a second later, he had risen into the air, with the girl in his arms.
- excerpt
