I wake up to the reality that life is never going to be fair or equal. As that woman stands over me drentched in blood, I didn’t fight back, I let her have her way with me, and now I see the nature of things. I see the truth as the blood drips from her naked body to mine. Even in this horrific sight, I find this woman to be more than captivating. She is a lure, and I am the animal that is chasing her.

  Slowly, I begin to remember why I am here. I start to remember who I am.

  “I’m Ezra Taylor,” I say, “My wife is Lenora, my daughter is Evelyn. I’m fighting for them! To save them!”

  I remember their faces like pictures in my mind. Lenora, with her hair up, held it together with a fork. Fighting with me about something stupid that we will both forget about, or coming home with another stray cat for us to take care of. She is there before me, projected by light so bright that it burns into your eyes. Evelyn, laughing at my stupid jokes, fighting through the pain, and always running to meet me at the door when I came home. They are more beautiful than this wretch that stands before me. But I’m pulled by that soft glow of violet that she gives off.

  Daulity.

  As I push myself from the ground, she stumbles backwards. Her face contorts into a panic. She thought she still had her hold over me, but now I remember them. I remember the fight against the demons so that I can save her from that disease! So, I can find my way back to the city and find them!

  They’re out there. Alone or captured. I will not let them down. I cannot let them be harmed. Blood drips from my naked body like a glob of water rolled down a hill. I know what has happened between us, of the sins that I committed, but I will not stop until I have them back.

  I’ll be damned if the divine tried to stop me from getting to them.

  My clothing sits against the wall behind her. I must grab my things and leave. I don’t want to have to hurt here. The goat is gone, and the circle that was below it is semugged and leading away from the shack. Chanting oozes in through the door like toxic lava, melting and poisoning my ears. It takes everything that I have to fight against the pleasure that could be had by loving this woman and letting her continue to use me for my own doom. But I fight it with their voices echoing through my head like they are screaming into a cave.

  I charge towards her, ducking under her arms and sliding against the wood grain into my clothing. I draw my dagger and sword, dashing towards the door before she is able to get her hands on me. Under the deep blue moonlight, they stand, holding hands, chanting, and rotating around the shack. Women of all shapes, sizes, and ages drawn naked and unafraid. They do not stop for me, they begin to speed up, and grow louder. They move and speak as if they are one. I grip my weapons and dash toward one of them, dagger ready to pierce, sword ready to slice. I do not want to kill these girls, but I will do what must be done for my wife and child.

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  I clash against the woman; she is slick like oil, and I bounce away from her. I slice at another, but they move in unison to jump over the blade. I let loose an onslaught of attack, but not one connects as they continue to pick up speed, moving inhumanely. They are so fast that my eyes are having trouble looking at any specific one of them. They’ve welded it into something inconceivable, moving like they are nothing but arms and legs. No tenicales would be better to describe them as they slither around, avoiding my attacks.

  that raspy voice calls.

  “Why!” I scream, “All you are going to do is kill me in the end! I know the end of this tale. I will continue to use you until I’m consumed, and you take over.”

  I take a breath, trying to release my emotions, which now stir in a heating pot. I know this song and dance that we are going to do; I’ve seen it before. The devil took him away from me when I was so under. I was hopeless then, but I won’t be hopeless now.

  “You’re a liar!”

  “Then give me proof!” I scream.

  My tongue is hot with the blue flame of the demon trying to expel itself again. It pushes against me, trying to weigh me down. Trying to gain control over my mind, but I fight it with thoughts of Lenora and Evelyn. I push past their memories and see them in these moments. Lenore is walking the streets of Rapna looking for me, calling my name into the darkness. Evelyn is with the pope but is fast asleep in a chair beside him. He stares into the abyss like there is nothing there, but he must continue to search. He notices me and cocks his head.

  I’m pulled further into my mind, falling through thoughts until I stand before a locked cage with a monster behind its bars. It’s nothing more than a black shadow with teeth the size of buildings, sharpened to points, red moons set in blank space. He blows out smoke, which flies towards me. I inhale, and a funny gas starts to fill my nasal passage. I find myself laughing at the world before me.

  it asks.

  They now spin so fast that they’ve taken flight. Their chanting is inconceivable. A mass of tentacles swimming around me, slicing through the air. Do I understand? I truly have no idea what to do. This demon could be telling the truth, and if I don’t listen, I will die here and now.

  “Yes…” I reply as the shift begins.

  I grow taller by at least a foot, and my dagger begins to look more like a toothpick. I cannot hear anything or move, yet I do. I walk closer to the melted woman, shooting blue flames from my hands. They connect and spread among the masses. Flowing evenly through everyone to engulf it in flame. It burns so hot, but I cannot feel the heat on my skin.

  There is nothing.

  I watch the women wither into ash, being taken away by the wind. I wheel around to see the other woman coming from the house with a long piece of wood in her hands. She is still a beauty to behold, even when mixed with this rage and malice. I begin to get lost in the shape of her body, growing distracted with everything happening around me.

  Before I know it, she is standing over me, something digging into me. She holds my arm, pulling it away from me. She whispers something into me, but I only see her lips move. Her hand presses into my forehead.