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Ji hi creaked We looked at it

Another creak So heavy moved across the floor over our heads

Jim pushed ahead of me and we padded up the wooden steps upstairs

THE STAIRCASE WAS narrow and Jiave him a couple of feet tounpleasant

Magic saturated the staircase It dripped fro viscous droplets, it sli the wall so thick and potent I wished I’d brought a rain slicker Now, that was a totally irrational thought It seemed insane Jim couldn’t see it, but I knew he couldn’t

We reached the landing A hallway ran perpendicular to the staircase, and right across it, a dooras lit by a pale yellowish glow I smelled lamp oil

Ji and strode on, through the hallway into the room I padded after him

A lone la a naked woried strands down her back I inhaled, sa scent is hot, vibrant This was a cold odor, laced with traces of toxic stenches: feces, a touch of urine, and a revolting patina of putrescence, like aa cocktail before: cadaverine, putrescine, and a dose of indole for goodin front of me My nose told me she was dead and had been so for at least two days I trusted my nose It never lied

Jiiant GI Joe knife, dark gray with a wicked curved tip and a serrated edge near the handle

Michelle turned and looked at us Her eyes were empty Dead eyes, like two dark holes in her head And I had really liked her, too

Behind Michelle, another body lay in the corner on its side, long dark hair fanned out on the filthy floor like a black veil Roger, a werelynx Dead as well

Michelle’s left arht followed, like she was a puppet on a string

"What do you want?" Jie I didn’t have to explain that soured it out all on his own and wasted no ti weirded out by it

Michelle’s body turned, flipping her into a crouch

Many things controlled the dead I had to figure out who pulled the strings, before I could try a curse Think, Dali, think

"Any advice?" Jiure this out"

Michelle’sdark nasty teeth

"And try not to get bit"

Michelle launched froed at her He grabbed her arm, the knife sliced in a furious arch, and Jim hurled Michelle across the roo could’ve sent Michelle at us the h the door But no, it taunted us fro above us creak on purpose

Michelle rebounded fro at Jim He sidestepped, but she was fast Her nails raked his chest with unnatural strength, ripping through clothes Blood swelled through the tears Ji deep into Michelle’s shoulder So crunched and Michelle’s arm came away in Jim’s hand--he’d cleaved the ball joint fro from a chicken

Michelle spun around No blood spilled froain, swiping at hi hand Michelle was a jackal They didn’t claw, they bit

He’d have tochuckled in the corner, where theat us Playing a gaaan drawing my kanji "Kill her now, please"

Jim jerked Michelle down He cut in a vicious swipe and her head plunked down on the floor

A dark shape coalesced froer’s corpse I hurled id white strip hit it between the eyes Magic pulsed and I saw yellow cat eyes glowing like two er raht at e body knocked me off my feet I flew and the back of my head bounced off the boards

The cat clafetid breath into my face Pain punctured my shoulders like red-hot needles I tried to snarl, but I had no air and only a small squeak came out